caughtinanetwork

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In light of recent events, I'm postponing my proposed celebration on December 21st to the 27th.

Since this is no longer the last palindromic date of the year, the nature of the party will also change. Coincidentally, Yukio and Rin Okumura's birthdate falls on that day, so it's only prudent to call it a birthday party.

[Ladies and gentlemen, the most unsubtle suggestion to go cheer Rin up ever.

This announcement completed, all while in the impeccable, symmetrically arranged confines of Kid's room, the young grim reaper changes the subject, holding up a small box, and in his other hand appears to be the (gently wrinkled) precisely folded square of the wrapping paper that previously covered it.]

The second order of business has to do with this gift I discovered earlier.

[It's a gorgeously-crafted silver ring with an absolutely stunning (and rare) blue diamond. Kid looks none too pleased to be in possession of it, however.]

I'm afraid I must decline your proposal publicly, since you couldn't see fit to present your request in person.

[Guess who was too busy carefully preserving the wrapping paper as he unwrapped the present to notice the tag? THIS GUY.]

If you're willing to go this far, then offer me a matching set. Besides! [There's a loud thumping, as Kid is apparently stomping his foot in outrage.] You have the order all wrong!! I'm not the one who receives a ring!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A few things. What do you mean, no longer the last palindromic date? Why the 27th? Why do you think a single ring in a package from, if other examples hold true, "Sandy Claws", would be a marriage proposal? Why do you have issue with being the one to receive the ring?

But unless this is different than expected, no one is asking you to marry them, moron. A bunch of people have been getting things they don't want for no good reason.

December twenty-first is the last palindromic date of the year, Karkat. 12/21, it's the same whether you read those numbers from left to right, or in the opposite direction!

In any case, the twenty-seventh is a day commemorating the day Rin and Yukio Okumura first drew breath.

Rin hasn't been himself lately-- [Well, of the little he's sort of... come to know of Rin.] --I thought a birthday party might cheer him up.

...As for the ring, y-yes, that matter's been cleared up now. I'm relieved that it was all a misunderstanding, a death god can't be distracted from his duties by marital indulgences.

[...Oh.]

I misinterpreted your phrasing, alright? Cut me a break. At least the party has a worthwhile reason this time around.

That still doesn't answer your objection about the order. What's the deal there?

Considering the fact that it's not an Equinox, I agree with you.

Oh... That.

[Even a death god has it in him to blush. This is pretty embarrassing.]

My disinterest in matrimony aside...

I don't want to wear the dress.

And why does you receiving the ring mean you have to wear a dress? You're not a girl - unless there's something you haven't told me - and even if you were, why wear one if you don't want to? It would be your hypothetical wedding, so if anything, you should decide what you wear. It's a celebration of romance and a relationship you want to last, not an ordeal of unwanted regulations to force yourself through.

Because, traditionally, the ring is offered the bride, and the bride always wears a gown! No one's ever heard of bridal pants.

To do anything else is highly unorthodox! If you're going to do a ceremony as steeped in tradition as matrimony, do it precisely by the book! Attention to detail only suits the fulfillment of such a contract.

[Boy, they have somewhat different concepts of the purpose of weddings, don't they?

This conversation sure is happening.]

[Deadpan:]

And what if it's two guys?

Although it's as possible for a man and woman to love each other romantically as it is for two women to, or two men, the State of Nevada doesn't legally recognize rites of marriage conducted between members of the same gender.

That is, just last year, they banned it entirely.

[It's 2003 back home, Karkat.]

It would be preferable if laws could be uniform and balanced throughout the entirety of my father's domain.

[State? Nevada??]

What do you mean, they banned it? Why would they do that?

Humanity divides themselves up by cultures and sub-cultures for a multitude of reasons. These various groups do not always share the same ideas or opinions. When a dominant group holds political power in a region, their influence transforms the 'law'.

The local laws of the state in which Death City exists are so influenced.

Whether certain combinations of genders are permitted to marry, or to have their marriage acknowledged by others, is dependent on the law of the land.

Just when I think you humans can't top all the pointless idiocy I've seen or heard of from you, you go for the gold medal, and win it, no contest. You are the champions of dumbfuckery. You did it, congratulations, and I hate you all for subjecting me to the display.

I mean, what is even the point of dividing yourself about who wants to marry who? I still don't understand why you make such a big deal out of what gender you like, even when it's been explained to me why it's a thing for your species. ... Not that that makes much sense either. This whole sexuality division thing is stupid, and making laws about it is even worse. And marriage isn't even native to my culture!

When it comes down to it, my objection lies in the fact that the law does not apply equally to everyone. The matter of 'gender' and 'sexual orientation' don't concern me, as a reaper, it's my duty to maintain balance.

But my father is no tyrant. Humans will decide for themselves the additional laws they enforce within their own cultures.

Besides, presently, there are bigger problems threatening the world than whether two people decide to marry. The threat of global madness, for example.

It's still fucking stupid.

[Grumble.]

But what do you mean, global madness?

It's complicated, but our world is presently poised on the very brink of falling into madness.

To summarize, there is a very powerful enemy called the Kishin, whose corrupted soul resonates with such powerful madness that the insanity itself manifests in forms that only seek to self-propagate. Like a highly aggressive cancer, this insanity seeks to spread across the entire world. To prevent that fate, my father has sent some of the faculty and students of his academy, and his available Death Scythes from around the world to fight those who would bring it to fruition.

[The existence of universes don't hang in the balance, but this is still heavy stuff.]

Karkat, so grave is this threat even mankind's long time enemies, the witches, have lent us their aid.

If the outcome of the current battle does not work out in our favor, there may be nothing we can do to stop the infection of insanity that will spread like a plague across our world. Order will collapse. As the maintainers of order and leaders of that world, my father and I, as reapers, simply cannot allow that to happen!

[Karkat listens intently to the whole of the explanation. The more Kid goes on, the more his expression hardens. He knows the danger of non-literal cancers, being the cause of one himself, but it's the details around this one that make it so disturbing. He sits back at the end of it. He needs the moment to roll it around.]

Shit, man. Part of me wants to say at least you're not trolls, but if Maka's told me anything, it's not just some light thing in your world, is it? And if the witches are that bad, and there are people who turn into weapons, and freaky soul abilities, then it's not like... I don't even know where to begin on what makes an "average" earth, but that is shithive maggots if anything ever was. You don't have to be a maintainer or order to see that much.

You understand, then, what kind of danger Maka is in. Although she has certain advantages that can protect her from the spread of the Kishin's corrupted soul wavelength, she is among those left to fight against this threat personally.

[Troubled, the reaper pushes on past this subject:]

Madness removes fear, and without fear -- of pain, or loss, of consequences, of any number of things -- one taps into a great amount of power. But this strength is a double-edged sword.

[Karkat takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. It's a lot to consider, still: a whole world riding on the hope of those who can fight - and that those who do won't fall to that same threat. It's a lot different than his own situation, where there's not so much at risk. When his world is already gone.]

Yeah. She's brave as hell.

[His tone is awed, if still overwhelmed.]

I get what you mean there, though. One of the people on our team--one of the strongest of us with the powers she has, she thought she could take on the demon that was after us. She wanted to leave to challenge him. But another teammate, she knew that if she did, it would just lead the demon back to the rest of us to kill us all. She... She killed her to save the rest of us.

[And that is a feeling he knows. He doesn't look at the screen.]

It's definitely not the same as that whirling blade pitcher of chaos, but the point is I get what you mean by not knowing fear enough to temper how strong you think you are.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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