Chapter Text
The following is a confidential transcript of a recorded session between Dr. Vasques and patient Karkat Vantas – 05/22/13
Dr. Vasques: Okay, I've started the recording now. Will you please state your name and date of birth?
Karkat Vantas: Karkat Vantas, June twelfth, nineteen ninety-six.
DV: Good. You understand what we're doing here?
KV: I'm not a fucking idiot, we've talked about this at least five times already. Let's just get this over with.
DV: Alrighty, then.
DV: My name is Alyssa Vasques. I'm a psychiatrist who's been working with Karkat for the past couple of days since the previous incident. It would be extremely helpful if I could talk to whoever's willing.
KV: I don't think this is-
DV: Karkat?
??: Nice to meet you, Dr. Vasques.
DV: Oh? And who am I speaking to? [papers shuffling]
AM: My name is Aradia Megido. It's a pleasure to talk with you.
DV: Likewise. Are there any others, besides you? And how aware is Karkat at the moment?
AM: Yes. Eleven, including me. And Karkat is is still present.
DV: I see. And why did you decide to come forward today?
AM: It was a general consensus that I would be the best option in this situation. I seem to be the most clear-headed of our group, along with Kanaya.
DV: Kanaya?
AM: Yes. She acts as the mediator most of the time, almost motherly. It's thanks to her that this is the first time Gamzee was able to get out. Karkat would undoubtedly be in a lot more trouble than he is now if he had before.
DV: Gamzee would be... the one who hurt that boy? Is he particularly violent?
AM: Correct, although he's usually more amicable. He does have his... outbursts, to say the least, but he usually has Karkat in mind.
DV: Could I talk to him? Is he willing?
AM: ...
AM: He seems open to it. I would suggest you have someone ready to restrain him. He can get unpredictable.
DV: Already done.
AM: ...
??: Hey, motherfuckers.
DV: You would be Gamzee?
GM: Hell yeah, Gamzee Makara. This shit here, gettin' to be out, it's like a mother fuckin' miracle, sister.
DV: I could imagine. If you don't mind me asking, why did you do what you did to that boy?
GM: Fucker didn't know what he was talking about, had to set him straight. I had to make him understand. Had to make him see.
DV: Understand? Understand what?
GM: He was talking about that time, mother fucker. We don't ever talk about that time. It be sacrilegious.
DV: I'm just taking a guess here, but would that be the murder-
GM: What did I just. Mother fucking. SAY. We DON'T TALK. About. That. Time.
DV: I think it's important that we talk about it.
GM: You bitch. If you undo all I've done to keep my bro safe-
[sounds of a scuffle, patient being restrained]
GM: I'll paint the walls with your BLOOD, I'll flay you with your own teeth until you're open wide for everyone to see, you'll be screaming for my mother fucking mercy-
[noise suddenly stops]
??: I am extremely sorry about that You can let go now, I assure you I mean no harm.
DV: It's okay, Mr. Detram, let them go. And you would be...?
KM: Kanaya Maryam. Again, I apologize for Gamzee's behaviour. He can become very protective, but his heart is in the right place.
DV: It's no problem. If anything, it's my fault for pushing at it so early on. Aradia mentioned you're something of the maternal figure?
KM: Yes, I suppose you can say that. I have been trying to keep everyone quiet since the... incident, to keep something precisely like this from happening. It has worked fairly well until Gamzee managed to push past me. Of course it did not help that Terezi was egging him on.
DV: Terezi?
KM: She has a strange sense of justice. In her opinion, that boy got exactly what he deserved. Most of us agree, in theory, at least, but we never intended to end up in a situation like this.
DV: From what I've gathered, you seem to be the one who knows how to handle everyone best, if I can presume to say so. I was hoping to have us all under a mutual understanding for Karkat's benefit by the end of this appointment. Do you think you'd be able to work with me on this?
KM: Yes, of course. We have our own terms as well.
DV: No problem. Let's get this out of the way, shall we?
///
DV: I know this must be extremely strange for you, Karkat. I don't know what I'd do if I was in your position.
KV: I don't need your fucking pity.
DV: Fair enough. Do you at least have an idea for what you have to expect?
KV: Yeah, I guess. It's just, It's weird as hell feeling and seeing but not being able to control anything. And what even are they? Are they me? Are they different people? What the hell am I supposed to do with all of this?
DV: You're touching on decades of moral debate when you ask those questions. In the end, it's something for you and your alters to decide together.
KV: Whatever. It could be worse. They could all be total douchebags. Or I could be – fucking hell this is confusing as shit.
DV: Remember, there's only been actual contact with only three of them, we don't know what the other eight are like.
KV: With my luck I'll get some hipster shitstain-
KV: Oh fuck no. Hell fucking no.
DV: Karkat?
KV: No. I did not sign up for this. This can not be happening.
DV: What's wrong? Is this still Karkat I'm talking to?
KV: Yes, just, fuck. That, co-concious thing or whatever you called it. It's like, in reverse right now. I just, there's an actual hipster shitstain yelling at me in my head, jesus fuck someone kill me now. No. No. You go back to the thrift shop you crawwled out of, fuck off, oh my god he's giving me the accent?!
DV: Karkat, calm down. Yes, sometimes speech can be affected when an alter is co-concious. Maybe if you ask him he'll stop.
KV: Oh thank fuck, I think Kanaya pulled him back. I'm liking this chick more and more. Oh no.
DV: Hm?
KV: God, she says I owe her one for later. Owe her one what? What do I owe her? If anything she should be paying me rent for giving her a decent meat suit!
DV: Karkat, our time is almost up. I'm sure she
End of transcript.