001 ▼ first level

[pristinestar]

[ A kid, wearing a red hat, is currently staring out at the large... empty-looking set of buildings above this street view.

That is, until a voice calls his attention. He leaves his little daydreaming session for now, in favor of turning his head to that certain voice. ]

Eh?

[ The figure walking up to the kid moves swiftly, briskly as if there's too

Comments

West Side

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat is wandering the west side with his items in hand. He is looking for a place to settle down and try to gather his thoughts, but he hasn't found one that's sufficient. He realizes how stupid he must look, wandering around with a handful of random personal possessions.]

[hailforward]

Don't call me that. [Really, what is so difficult about romance? Or quadrants? How hard can it be to understand where Karkat could be coming from?]

And how can you be so sure that no one of us humans will get it? Try me. [A scoff. Really, Karkat, he's almost an adult. That has to count for something.

Right?]

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat sighs and takes around fifteen minutes explaining troll romance, with plenty of swear words and annoyance thrown in. Afterwards, he wrapped his arms across his chest.]

Get it?

[hailforward]

[...]

[What. Seriously. This is way more headache inducing than one of Red's silly smiles or rants or mock-oblivious behavior and.

And. It's not... actually that stupid. Not that the whole 'more than one romantic partner' thing doesn't boggle Green's mind. Because it does. But he can understand the theory behind the quadrants.

Or something.]

Could this be any more complicated? Is everything about your culture this long winded?

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat pauses for a minute before he gives a few shakes of his head.]

No. This is the only thing, and none of us understand it either.

[hailforward]

[That gets a quirky grin out of Green. At least Karkat isn't throwing a fit over insulting his culture.]

Ever tried asking someone about why it is so long and complicated?

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat groans. Here we go again.]

No. It just fucking is. That's just the way it works biologically. You need the quadrants to [he looks around and his voice lowers for the next few words] fill buckets.

[hailforward]

[Why does Karkat make it sound like the buckets are about something naughty?]

You need them to fill buckets? Really? Can't you do that by yourself, it would be much faster and easier for everyone involved.

[inflictedknight]

Don't-- You're a disgusting pig. I've never seen anyone act so fucking flippant about that! You can't do it by yourself, idiot. And if you keep talking so loud, someone's going to hear.

[hailforward]

Karkat, get your panties out of that twist. [Honestly, what is Karkat getting so worked up over? It's just a bucket.]

A bucket is just a bucket! I don't know what you use it for but we use them for cleaning.

[inflictedknight]

God. Quit fucking screaming that! People are going to think that we're flushed together!

[hailforward]

[The possibilities to tease Karkat are so endless right now, giving people headaches is something Green enjoys doing. But he pulls himself together and simply rolls his eyes.]

Fine. No more questioning the why you would need two people. Are you going to stop freaking out like a little girl now?

[inflictedknight]

Listen. The only reason I'm freaking out is because I don't want people to get the wrong impression. If you go around screaming about buckets in my vicinity, people are going to think that we're talking dirty to each other. It would be like me going around yelling... I don't know if there's a human equivalent to it even. But if you continue, I'll be forced to shut you up myself. It's not something I particularly take pleasure in, but if I have to claw your arm off and beat you unconscious with it, I'll do it.

[hailforward]

Did you hear me utter that word in the last three sentences? I'm not going around yelling about- [Look at that Karkat, he's lowering his voice, just for you.] -buckets just to embarrass you in public.

Maybe I'll do it for shits and giggles if we're ever alone again but right now or with anyone nearby? No. So calm down.

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat thinks he's lowering his voice just for the sake of not getting his arm ripped off.]

Wait, you want to be alone with me again?

[hailforward]

[Green does like his arm where it is, true.]

Sure. [A beat.] Don't take this the wrong way, you're just fun to rile up.