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[Cutter is patiently holding it out for however long it takes for it to be taken (or refused), not minding giving the other time to consider his reaction to the gesture. When his hand is finally taken he grins wide and pulls Karkat up with the ease of somebody who has helped people up multiple times before.]

Kids actually think that's fun? [He shrugs his shoulder and smiles again.] I've been learning parkour recently and I have, like, way too much energy at times so it seemed like a good idea. Especially with that stupid song's that's stuck in my head, I figured if I just vented it all out I'd be fine afterward.

[Tilting his head he frowns lightly, but then dismisses whatever idea crossed his mind with a shrug.]

It's the same with cats and dogs at times, right? Sometimes you're just itching to move to get rid of all that energy and it feels nice!

[ there are... a lot of things that cutter just said that kk finds questionable. he isn't even sure what to first address here. the parkour? the cats and dogs reference? some song? actually the parkour thing is the most ???? ]

Oh my god. I didn't know people who did parkour actually existed in real life. It seems like one of those dumb things that youtube made up. Also, what song?

That stupid one from the bingo challenge, "never lift you up, never let you down"?

And you bet they do! I'm learning it from a stuntman, so it's the real deal!

[ hm, so that means this guy is a retrospec user. ]

Okay well, first of all, never mention that song ever again because I have vicious caroling flashbacks from it and do not need to get reminded of them. Second, learn from the stuntman better.

I'm learning what to not to do, one mistake a time!

Caroling flashbacks? Pffft, don't tell me you did it for real! Though I don't know whether to call it good or bad luck to happen upon another retrospec-affected.

[He gives him a look.]

Those "memories" didn't make you think that you're some superhero, fantasy dragon or alien, did they? Cause if they did I'm out of here.

[ things they definitely did: make him think he's an alien. he even has horns now? but they're hidden under a beanie at the moment, so.

karkat makes a Face at the comment though. ]

Fuck off, of course I did it. Isn't it better to trigger the memory yourself than just sit around waiting for them to happen?

So you enjoy going insane? I wanna know what's up with people and actually wanting that shit. Did they book me into the wrong club or something?

[But there is something undeniable and even admirable to Karkat's logic, so Cutter's voice ends up sounding way more neutral than he usually is on the topic. Facing things head on and even taking the initiative is manly.]

I didn't say that I want it, just that if there's a choice of me having a choice in the matter versus me eating cereal in the morning and randomly remember the time someone attempted to murder me with a bowl or something, I would want to go with the former.

[ that is not an actual regain he has received but at this point he would not be surprised if it happened. ]

[There is a long pause as something in Cutter's eyes turns dark and distant.]

Trust me, that's not fun to remember no matter what you're doing and when.

It's not. That's why I'd still want it to be less of a surprise.

[ he opens up his bingo card on his phone. ]

I'm almost done with mine.

[He scrunches up his face in frustration.]

No. What I mean is ....death......!

[Wait, why is he trying to bring this up again to a stranger? It's Cutter's private problem and no matter how much it keeps bothering him whining about it won't help!]

No, you know what? Just forget it. Remembering in general sucks and messes with your sense of self, but that's just my two cents on it.

[Eager for a change in topic he pulls out his phone as well and flashes his own bingo card, which is mostly a mess.]

This 's mine.

[ he blinks when cutter stresses the death part. this seems like an actual conversation to have, and he would like to be nosy and keep prodding?? but he also wants to fill out this bingo card.

he makes a decision to deal with the bingo now, and then get back to the other topic later. ]

Sing to me right now.

....what.

I thought you don't want me to sing.

[Well, it'd been more of a general "stop doing this shit whatever you're doing" but the idea's the same.]

I don't, but I am about to do a killing two birds with one stone thing here, so you can either sing to me or you can shut up and I will sing to you, and then proceed to live the rest of my life in exile immediately after.

[ the fact that he truly does not seem happy about any of this should show that he doesn't want either of them to sing. he just really wants to complete bingo. ]

[He opens his mouth and then closes it again. Cutter crosses his arms in front of his chest.]

You're going to use me to fill out this bingo thing, aren't you?

[Everything inside of him screams no, but he does owe the guy something for using him as a mattress.]

Fine. What do you want me to sing?

It has to be a ballad.

[ ... cutter doesn't look like the kind of guy who would know ballads. ]

The Titanic song.

[ that one is well known enough so he figures cutter would know it? or at least know the chorus. ]

[That earns him a sputter and Cutter visibly drawing back.]

What the hell?! NO! You can sing that if you want, but I'm not gonna sing something that mushy- I don't even know the lyrics for that!!

[Taking a deep breath, he tries to calm down. Okay. Ballad. Ballad. What the heck even counts as a ballad?!]

Oh, goddamnit, don't you dare laughing!

[Giving him a glare he clears his throat and starts intoning "Hero". The lyrics come shaky at first, but Cutter gets quickly into it and even manages to show off a pretty strong soulful singing voice.]

I can be your hero
I can kiss away the pain
I will stand by you forever
You can take my breath away

[ he is deeply offended that cutter doesn't know the lyrics to that iconic hit song? he's like, five seconds from ranting about how could anyone not know the lyrics to it (despite the fact that he didn't think cutter knew the lyrics for it before he even suggested it), but then the guy starts singing.

this... this is deeply embarrassing, holy shit. he knows that this is just for bingo, but getting serenaded is still a very "oh my GOD" moment regardless. ]

[He takes pleasure in seeing Karkat fluttered like that. Flashing him a roguish grin Cutter increases his volume a bit and starts acting out the lyrics, putting even more emotion into it until he hits the first passage where he has to improvise because he doesn't know all of the lyrics for Hero either.]

Am I in too deep? Have I lost my mind?
[Uh...]
You and me together can make wrong right!

[ yeah those are the wrong lyrics. karkat is a sap to romantic, iconic songs so he Knows, but he's also too embarrassed to be a know-it-all at this exact moment.

for now, he'll focus on other things. like... ]

Okay! Okay okay oh my god that's enough! I have been serenaded with a ballad, your mission is completely, jesus christ.

...and I will always! Always love yOOouuuuuU!

[He finishes of with an over the top howl, clutching his sides when laughter starts to spill out of him hard instead.]

Haha, your face. Your face! Do you really like love songs or was my performance that good?

[ i can't believe karkat has to murder cutter now for making him suffer through that?? ]

There is absolutely nothing fucking wrong with my face. My facial expression is the same as it always is, which is normal, shut the fuck up.

[ he huffs, stuffing his hands into his pockets. he's definitely still flustered. ]

It's not as funny when you're on the receiving end.

[He's welcome to try but that might bear the considerable risk of Cutter taking it like a big puppy and attempting to play wrestle with him in return.]

Haha, really? 'Cause you're looking pretty constipated right now! You wanted me to sing to you, remember? So it's your own fault~

[He likes his reaction, its funny! This is almost as if they've been friends for a while already!]

You think so? Wanna try?

If I look constipated it's just because I had to suffer through your lackluster performance.

[ no he doesn't want to try. this is awful. wrestling actually seems like the best option out of all of this, since somehow wrestling on the pavement with someone you just met twelve seconds ago is less embarrassing than singing to them. ]

Of course I'm going to try. I just said I was, didn't I? And I won't fuck up the lyrics either.

[ @god strike him down with lightning right now

there's a pause, before he starts singing. he isn't a good singer, and he mostly sounds like he wants to die. but he does, in fact, know the lyrics. ]

Every night in my dreams... I see you, I feeeeel you
That is how I know you go ooonnn...

Wh- Lackluster?! [That hits a nerve.] I'll give you lackluster!

[But it's rude to try and punch or shove somebody who's preparing to sing, so he is going to pout at him about for being that way as well.]

Heh. You sound like a frog.

[and to prove his point he is going to provide a second voice for contrast even though he has no clue what song it is they are singing]

On and on and onnnnn
Without youuuouou~

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