Holiday Ghost Event: Road Less Traveled

[shnpc]

WHO: Everyone, affected and not
TONE: Not of this world
RATING: PG
WHEN: December 11th through 12th
WHERE: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
WHAT: Due to visiting holiday ghosts, some students and staff find themselves living as they would have if something in their lives did or didn't happen. An alternate version who could be better or worse off!
NOTE: This signals the event start. Use any posting format you want, and feel free to post about this as well on the journals!

Comments

[mo_cara]

[Gamzee whips his head up, an absolutely crazed expression on his face, his eyes slightly unfocused. He twirls the cricket bat in his hand the way someone might a juggling club, an act which takes a hell of a lot of strength and dexterity, but then, he looks a little thicker, somehow, under the robes. It's hard to tell, though.

Then his attention focuses sharply on Karkat, like the irising lens of a camera, and he cocks his head to one side. He likes Karkat, but the other boy is usually polite but kind of distant.]

What do you care, Vantas?

[candycrabapple]

[He swallows a little, some of his bluster gone, he was kind of expecting to be ignored as Gamzee seemed really caught up in destroying hand forged steel. He stops about 3 metres away from him, Karkat's always felt the need to get into peoples business to make sure they aren't getting themselves or other people hurt, however with Gamzee he actually feels the need to try. though when other people were around he was less than inclined to.]

I care, Makara. Because if you aren't caught and lose points for it. Everyone will get in trouble. And last I looked everyone including myself actually really like going to Hogsmead.

Just because it's Christmas and we get to go home for two weeks doesn't mean you can just be a massive typhoon of douchbaggery. Which even for you is a higher category than usual.

[His need to sooth, builds in the background. But his unease around the taller boy keeps him from acting on it. Like always.]

[mo_cara]

[The anger that boils up all over again at having someone insult him and tell him off is tempered by confusion. Karkat's never talked to him like this, even when he was annoyed with Gamzee. The redhead had always seemed slightly disturbed by the taller boy, which was a pretty common reaction, really. It bothered the Slytherin, for some reason he couldn't really pin down, but what could he do about it?

But what was this?]

Ain't nobody gonna get in trouble. [He took a few steps closer, chin tipped up as he looks down at Karkat.]

Why you even talking to me, motherfucker?

[candycrabapple]

They aren't? Why are you giving yourself up for doing it? Because I'm really not believing that one for a second.

[He watches him get closer, a small voice was trying to encourage Karkat to take the same steps back to keep him away. But something else in him just tells him to pull his shoulders back and not to be scared.]

Because you're being a dick right now. What's the point of destroying armour? Sure they're about as useful now as a catapult or dandelions. But this isn't your house, those aren't your things. It's called respect, you might want to try it out some time. It might blow your mind because you might actually enjoy it.

[mo_cara]

[Gamzee starts swinging the cricket back again in lazy circles, and it makes a slow 'whum, whum' sound in the air as he approaches Karkat. His expression is unusually thoughtful ... and dangerous. Eyes narrowed, lips thinned - it's not an expression the older boy has ever directed at the other boy before.]

There's a motherfucker INSIDE what had some SHIT TO SAY that can't be tolerated. And you ain't never said nothing before when I was being a dick. Why now?

[candycrabapple]

[His eyes lock onto the cricket bat, taking a step back cautiously.]

Of course I have. I've done it twice this term.

[When no one was around. of course.]

And what if it's just peeves. Acting like that's only going to encourage him.

[mo_cara]

It IS Peeves. [But his voice is dismissive now, as though that's all in the distant past. His gaze is focused, laser sharp, on Karkat now, focused in a way Gamzee can rarely manage.]

And no you ain't. Why are you speaking some vicious untruths to me, bro? That ain't right.

[candycrabapple]

Then if you ignore him, he goes away. Even I figured that much out, but then it's not really all hard you know.

I have too. "Vicious untruths" wow, when you want to make something over dramatic you really go all out don't you. The first time was the start of the year when you yelling at the one-eyed witch statue for stealing something, the other was two weeks ago when you were just looming around looking generally unpleasant and more than a little irritating. How many substances do you have to abuse to forget stuff like that. Sure it wasn't exactly thrilling or eye-poppingly memorable. But is still happened.

[Is really finding the gaze un-nerving but isn't really sure what's going to happen if he breaks the eye contact they have. So why tempt fate when you don't have to? Because Karkat certainly isn't.]
]

[mo_cara]

[Something's wrong here.]

Did someone come up and all whack you upside the nugbone? I ain't never done those things and I don't put no wicked poisons all up in this body. It puts HOLES in your PAN. [whum, whum goes the cricket back and then it stops, pointed at Karkat, while Gamzee's eyes narrow to dark slits]

You been a lot of things, Vantas, but I ain't never known you to be no liar. [he finally breaks eye contact to look around] Got the suspicion there be some wicked magic at work.

[candycrabapple]

[As Gamzee speaks, Karkat starts to look confused at what he has to say, and taking a nervous step back as the cricket bat is pointed at him]

Yeah, something has to be up if you have a sensible idea that doesn't have to be deciphered...

[He rubs at his neck really trying to figure out what's happening.]

[mo_cara]

Why're you acting like we're always talking or something? You ain't never say BOO to a motherfucker, leastwise not much. Something been fucking around in your pan, bro? Like with some of them WICKED SHARP memories?

[He seems about to say more, when there's a stirring from behind him, and his eyes light with suddenly rekindled fury. He spins, bat raised, in a pose of natural athleticism that is completely at odds with Gamzee's usual relaxed and sort of slouchy posture. The helmet on the suit of arm goes flying as he hits it, hard, and Peeves comes tumbling out, laughing, and then shoots towards the ceiling.]

GET BACK HERE SO I CAN MURDER YOU AGAIN, MOTHERFUCKER!

[candycrabapple]

We... Well we don't really talk, when people can see at least.

[He shuffles a little uncomfortably.]

And nothing's been 'fucking around' with my head or my memori- Stop that! Bloody hell!

[Starting to sound like his patience is thinning when it comes to yelling at him right now. Because lets face it, it's Karkat, no matter what kind of timeline he's been in, a long wick has never been in them.]

[mo_cara]

[The voice jerks him up short again, and he looks over his shoulder with cold, cold eyes, though there's curiosity there, too.]

Or what?

[candycrabapple]

Or...

[He squares his shoulders.]

Or nothing! Just stop it.

[mo_cara]

Daaaamn, motherfucker, you done grown some big brass ones on you.

[grins, suddenly, and slings the bat over his shoulder, sauntering over to Karkat again] So what're we doing instead?

[candycrabapple]

We? What we? Why should we be doing anything. I just want you to stop being a dick. It's what all Gryffinfor's are like.

[mo_cara]

Most Gryffindors are more on the being a motherfuckin' dick end of that wicked spectrum, bro. [grinning nastily]

[candycrabapple]

Wait? Are you really going to tell me that we're on the dick side? Really, because I really find that hard to believe.

[mo_cara]

Yeah, 'cause all that valor and shit makes you lot self righteous pricks. [matter-of-factly]

[candycrabapple]

[His eyebrow twitches and his crosses his arms defensively.]

Better than acting like a pack of mightier-than-thou, manipulative, and backstabbing jackals.

[mo_cara]

[grins, and there's an awful lot of teeth in it] I don't be knowing about 'better'. Just different.

[candycrabapple]

Having the moral high ground, generally means better. Because we wont do anything to get what we want. Unlike Slytherin who lie, cheat, and steal.

[He pouts at the teeth, trying to look like that doesn't seem freaky to him.]

[mo_cara]

Ah, now, my brother, that's being all motherfuckin' biased of you on what's better and what's not. Some other motherfuckers might be saying that acting like everything you do is right is worse than just doing what needs to be done, you hearing what I'm saying?

[candycrabapple]

You don't do 'what needs to be done' at the needless cost of others in any sense of the word from their dignity to their lives.

Hurting someone in the name of what needs to be done is still hurting someone and you shouldn't do it.

[mo_cara]

[sly look] What if it's to protect some motherfucker? Aurors and shit, or people in the war? Is that wrong?