video; action

[potentite]

[It's a gloomy day according to the video taken from the base island but Jake seems happy.]

Um, salutations fellow crew members!

This week has been... well, frankly it's sucked giggleberries! But I've been working on my powers and, uh, I won't bore you with the details of that? Unless you really want them. Anyhoo! C'mere you rascal...

[A little... bull fairy thing flies into view. Jake pets it and it seems pretty happy with that? So it must be nice.]

You should come play with them. They're awful sweet. And maybe it might turn some frowns upside down! It's worth a try, isn't it?

[He's still so awkward at ending these though so he just kind of waves at the end.]


[Action;]

[Meanwhile Jake really is hanging out with some tinkerbulls. Specifically five of them. Despite looking exhausted, he's in high spirits for once and seems to be enjoying the affection from the critters.]

Comments

[potentite]

Hinata tried to kill you??

[despairing_hope]

Hmmm, I wouldn't say it was Hinata kun at that time. It was, but it wasn't. And I'm still the Super High School Level Lucky Student! So something else probably would have had to be done to actually kill me. Maybe he was testing me? I can't really say. I don't actually remember it at all. But I got to see it from Hinata kun's point of view! I think in my heart I can remember it.

I think it may have hit my Student Handbook? But to think anything got so close to my heart, it truly is amazing!

[potentite]

[Komaeda he's so concerned for you.]

But you're so happy that you almost died...

[despairing_hope]

[That was a natural reaction to learning anything meaningful about Komaeda.]

Of course! Someone who could potentially break my luck. Nothing like that had ever happened. Even when my parents died, there wasn't a scratch on me. Despite the entire rest of that part of the plane being completely destroyed, and most people not even identifiable, I was unscathed! But, a single person, was able to almost kill me. To end this miserable cycle of luck.... I can't be anything but happy.

That is the sort of luck needed after all. The sort of person that probably won't die when around me too much. And, I suppose if it had actually killed me; though it's obvious it didn't since it was in the past and I wouldn't be having this conversation, I wouldn't have to worry about luck anymore. It would be done and over. And everything resolved.

[potentite]

[That's a lot to process but he thinks he gets it.]

So Hinata... is someone you can be around without being afraid?

[despairing_hope]

Yes!

[It seemed Jake had figured it out more or less.]

[potentite]

[Okay he thinks he's getting this. Komaeda's luck is so bad (good? bad good??) that something always happens to people he knows. Including his parents. And Jake can understand that, can't he? Sure it wasn't his fault grandma died but it made it harder for him to be open to people...]

I think I catch your drift. You want to be around people your luck won't ruin.

[despairing_hope]

It would be preferable, yes. Especially since the alternative is to not get close to anyone else and stay alone. That's what I did before.

[potentite]

I can't really be that mad at you when you've had such a rough life.

[despairing_hope]

Though bad things happen, good things always do follow. For example, when I was kidnapped by a serial killer I found a lottery ticket and won ten million yen.

[potentite]

Does that really make up for the bad though?

[despairing_hope]

It's just how things are, good luck follows bad. Hope follows despair.

[He had to believe it did, otherwise his fragile world would crumble.]

[potentite]

[He supposes that makes some sense. Or, well, it makes enough sense, but...]

It sounds awful lonely. But you're safe now, I think, so maybe you can unwind a little?

[despairing_hope]

You're right. I think I can actually not worry too much about it right now.

[At least until late the next thing that happens that convinces him it's all his fault and his luck.]

[potentite]

Then... try having a little more faith in the people here, too. Like Karkat. It might be too little too late now but apologies are always a good place to start.

[despairing_hope]

Ah... so this is a situation where I'm suppose to apologize too....

[The last time he had apologized it was for setting up his own murder.]

Does thanking him count? Or should I do this as and aditional thing?

[Listening to Jake seemed reasonable though, so he wasn't dismissing get the idea of apologizing outright.]

[potentite]

If you thank him, make sure to explain why you are first. Otherwise it might sound insane!

[Instead of just plain weird.]

[despairing_hope]

Oh I already did!

[potentite]

How did it go?

[despairing_hope]

He said I would make a good troll? I also suggested ways that he could be easier to deal with, but I don't think he liked that very much. But don't you think more people would like him if he toned down the sarcasm a little bit? But, that's alright, it might be part of his charm in the end.

I think it went well ultimately.

[potentite]

I think it's a charm point, personally. Like his shouting! It's just good old Karkat. I'm so glad it went well! You might want to apologise to the others involved, though, if you haven't already.

[despairing_hope]

Others?

Who else should I appologize to?

[potentite]

[Jake ticks off his fingers.] URSULA, Dirk, Roxy, Dave, Hinata... ...I think that's everyone who'd be upset over this or was involved.

[despairing_hope]

I've already talked to Hinata kun. But I suppose I can speak to everyone else as well.

[As reluctant as he felt about that.]

[potentite]

They might not be good results but you should do it.