Homestuck Re-read Part 17: ASCEND
I don't know why, but for some reason I feel like I'm missing something today. I don't have, anything to do really. I don't know. I'm just doing the update today.
homestuck
We're opening with Dave killing a bunch of minions and then talking with... Oh god, is that a prototyped lil cal? This is our first look at an alternate timeline, and more specifically a null one. John died in the jetpack incident seemingly, Jade couldn't enter the medium and the trolls have lost communication with them. Dave and Rose are living out whatever is left for them in a pointless existence now. Dave is about to jump back in time to prevent it seemingly and Rose is left to an... uncertain fate.
We see the conversation John had with Dave right before takeoff, but from Dave's perspective this time around. Except Dave stops him at the last moment because his future self just appeared and is warning them. Future Dave (this is gonna get common at some point) drops some captcha cards before self-prototyping. Davesprite. He isn't much to look at in this kinda panel, but there is some good shit with him later.
Future rose ceases to exist, but simultaneously sort of merges with current Rose? I haven't read the epilogues or hs^2 but I think thats what they're supposed to be about in some way? Davesprite tells Terezi to knock the suicide baiting off. H3Y D4V3, 1S TH1S YOU?
John remembers a letter Dave sent him and decides to take his advice. yay friendship.
Karkitty tells us about what's going on with the trolls on the meteor. How the game is supposed to go, the veil, the reckoning, etc.
idk. I feel like I'm just not feeling it today. theres nothing i have any real comments on.
Then, very suddenly; A whole lot happens all at once.
[S] Jack: Ascend
We get to see Derse again, as Arch-Agent Jack Noir is doing his clerical duties. He is harassed by the Black Queen and is nearly put to death for it. In a single instant everything changes, when Jack eviscerates the black queen and takes her ring for himself: he is not even at the apex of his power but he has already become the first major villain of Homestuck: the SOVEREIGN SLAYER. Wearing the ring conveys him the powers and attributes of the prototyped kernalsprites. The impaled sword, the wings, the tendrils. There is still one kernel left to prototype before he reaches apotheosis.
Rose awakens on Derse and sees the writing on her walls, it swaps from MEOW to GCAT.
The first year of homestuck ended here. This is an epic culmination for the first year.
ACTIVATE FOURTH WALL.
A scene put back in my head by the pilot, Andrew introduces himself into the story. Strangely, he's hanging out with Lil Cal. This will, somehow, be important later.
TROLL JEGUS
I forgot about that guy. Alternian culture is very interesting and I remember it being very cool and fleshed out in the games. I should do a thing with those at some point. That would be fun. Oh hey google LOWAS thats a good bit.
John is on LOLAR with Rose after passing through his second gate instead. John talks with Davesprite, its interesting to see that the facade hasn't fully cracked yet. He does take a bit of offense to not being 'real dave' but hes not opened up enough to be sincere. I wonder if he was with future Rose or if he was still like this when it was just them two.
Dave is, I guess pirating? Rose's diaries. Meanwhile Rose is waking dave up on Derse. Oh god why is cal there??
THE BUNNY IS IN THE BOX AGAIN?
John opens an unsent gift intended for him and finds the bunny is inside it. Rose apparently used to own the same rabbit plushy that John currently possesses but received from Dave. Oh hey I forgot John kidnapped Casey.
OF COURSE. THE STRANGE TROLLING/FLIRTING OF ROSE SCHEME BY KANAYA WAS CAUSED BY JOHN ANSWERING ON HER COMPUTER. I FORGOT. FUCK.
SOLLUX
We get to see our first troll-to-troll conversation and get to meet Sollux for the first time! He's their essentially IT guy (the hacker from last update) and is gonna set Kanaya's viewport functionality up so she can see what Rose looks like. There's also a peculiar horn in the bottom right of the frame.