one (video) ♊ go on ahead; will you ever make it back?

[viiru2alert]

[The feed clicks on to show a very angry black-haired boy, his background a striking contrast of gently shuffling leaves; it's obvious by the scenery that this kid hasn't gotten much farther than New Bark, and one might even be able to catch a glance of houses in the distance. Slightly visible off-screen is the limb of some kind of small brown Pokémon, spinning around rhythmically and humming its name in a low drone: Bal-toy. Bal-toy. Bal-toy. It seems this unfortunate tendency has put the newbie Trainer in something of a... mood. He turns around and swats the thing lightly with one hand, the other still holding onto his PokéGear.]

Will you shut up? I already have this music playing, I don't need you too.

[The Baltoy squeaks in surprise, but obliges, spinning silently now. The boy sighs deeply and returns his attention to the PokéGear. He commences speaking to the microphone now; several of his teeth are visibly pointed and oversized, to the degree where they give him a noticeable lisp. He's also wearing glasses with red and blue lenses -- making him immediately identifiable if you knew him in a past life.]

Okay, I don't know what kind of terrible fucking joke this is supposed to be, but I am really not in the mood for it. So congratulations, ED. You've actually managed to throw your shitty magic at things enough to do something of moderate skill and importance. Good job.

Now get me the fuck out!

[Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.]

Comments

[viiru2alert]

He-- [At least you got a word in.]

[Immediately Sollux is flailing wildly, attempting to get the thing off. Unfortunately, his noodly limbs do nothing to subdue the Giant Freaking Bat currently attacking him, hungering for hugs and kisses. It's really pretty fun to watch; if only he had accidentally left the PokéGear on for this, it would have made a great accidental network post.] What the fuck, KK?!

[usedshooshpap]

[ he stares. then he starts laughing. AND LAUGHING. finally, Karkat comes over and tugs gently on one of those lower wings. ]

Off, Josie. No blood sucking for you.

[viiru2alert]

Don't you fucking laugh at me, you goddamn--

[...Oh.]

[And the result is one very scuffed-up looking Sollux, readjusting his glasses and glaring daggers at either Josie, Karkat, or both.] Very funny, KK. Hilarious.

[usedshooshpap]

I can't help it that she LIKES people, dumbass. She also hasn't seen you in about a perigee.

[ he smooths over some of her fur. ]

Which is why you'll be riding on her while I dig out Huckleberry.

[viiru2alert]

...Of course you make me ride the rabid fangbeast... [But it was more to himself than anything else. Even if he doesn't feel entirely safe riding on that thing, it's still better riding with Karkat and this Vanitas person than walking along with only a 'faithful' clay top by his side.]

[usedshooshpap]

Would you rather ride the beast that Terezi had?

[ seriously, Sollux. pick your poison! ]

[viiru2alert]

[...]

I'll take her.

[Damn you, Karkat Vantas.]

[usedshooshpap]

Good. I'll introduce you to ~ATH at the Center.

[ and then Karkat tosses a ball. out comes Huckleberry, the Salamance. the thing already came with Fly, so it's a bonus. just means that Karkat doesn't have to use the swing-style saddle to carry an extra passenger.

Sollux you should adore him. ]

Just hop on and we'll go.

[viiru2alert]

[He is forever indebted to you and your stupid bat.]

[Speaking of the stupid bat, he waits for her to finish sniffing him and chirping excitedly before he gets on. Everything secured. Nothing left behind. Yes.]

Then let's go.

[usedshooshpap]

Aye fucking aye.

[ Karkat jumps onto Huckleberry's back. within a minute, both flyers take to the air. it's a good 6 hour flight this time. Karkat's taking it easy on Josie for rushing over here.

so they'll reach the Center at about 6 AM. Karkat's shift starts in about two hours. he vaguely wonders of Vanitas will even be here at the moment, but shrugs it off. ]

Welcome to Goldenrod, the place no one seems to want to fucking leave. Crash on my bed if you want. It's not like I'll be using it.

[viiru2alert]

[See, now this? This Goldenrod place? This is much better. Look at it. No grass or trees anywhere. Sollux can totally understand why no one wants to leave, considering the alternative is the verdant green woods of fuckall. Sollux valiantly stays awake throughout the entire flight, being very intimately acquainted with sleepless nights, and also very intimately acquainted with Josie's fucking jaws.]

Yeah? You leaving for wherever with that guy soon?

hay thur 8Db

[shadowdive]

[He's got a small break at this hour and is just stepping outside when the two land. Snorting, Vanitas quirks his head and takes the few steps over to be within conversation distance.]

Karkat, just go to bed. I already said I'd take your shift.

[At least it looks like he ate the noodles; there's a small piece still stuck to his cheek.]

welcome to the fiasco

[usedshooshpap]

[ Karkat jumps a bit at the voice, whirling around to fix Vanitas with a glare. putting Josie and Huckleberry away, he huffs. ]

I can pull an all nighter just fucking fine. You two both have horrible sleep habits.

Just show Sollux where we are in there. I'll hop in the shower and be right as fucking rain.

hi o/

[viiru2alert]

[So this would be 'that guy', Vanitas. Sollux looks him over -- not much different from any other human, to him at least. Fair enough.]

[Sollux greets him by way of flicking up one hand in what might be called a wave.]

sup not-blind-anymore guy?

[shadowdive]

You're going to be a zombie by the next few hours. Go to bed. [Lifting his hand to return the greeting, Vanitas pauses and steps closer to Sollux, reaching to slide the glasses down his nose a little.]

You have eyes this time. Means Karkat won't be working extra shifts just to take care of you then.

oh god

[usedshooshpap]

I was staying up late before you were even fucking born...

[ hold on now. Karkat just... Face meets palm. Vanitas really didn't need to do that. nor does he need to worry about any extra fucking shifts Karkat may or may not be taking! ]

Augh! Wigglers. All of you.

sup not-psycho-anymore guy?

[viiru2alert]

[More from force of habit than anything else, Sollux recoils noticeably when Vanitas clops up and pulls on his glasses. You don't touch the glasses, bitch.. But yeah, those sure are eyes there, one's red and one's blue, and they're both narrowed at you.]

Yeah. Thank god I'm not a liability anymore, huh?

sry he's such a kid still

[shadowdive]

[He doesn't make anymore motions to touch the glasses after getting a look, shrugging lightly.] He was working to feed three people because the princess wouldn't work, and you couldn't work. He's an idiot, you know.

[Offering something in his hands then, he waits for Sollux to take it it's a pair of earplugs and YES KARKAT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU WHILE YOU'RE STANDING THERE.]

[usedshooshpap]

[ because you're going to need them. Karkat stands there, twitching. ]

I CAN HEAR YOU, SHITSPONGES! CAPTOR WAS NEVER A FUCKING LIABILITY AND I'LL BE DAMNED IF YOU ACT LIKE A FUCKING LUSUS, VANI! YOU CAN'T EVEN PROPERLY TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF LET ALONE OTHERS!

AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON WHAT A PILE OF BONES SOLLUX MOTHERFUCKING CAPTOR IS...

[viiru2alert]

[...Good call. Maybe there is hope for this Vanitas yet.]

[Sollux takes the earplugs without batting an eyelash and sets them up, right in time. Well, at least Karkat's vocal chords hadn't been damaged that much, he could still scream like a lunatic. Though it was much louder, he noticed, when there wasn't a million other people screaming at the same time... but yeah. They're just going to carry on their conversation, if you don't mind, Karkat.]

Yeah, alright. Where do you people work anyway?

[shadowdive]

[He's putting his earplugs in as well without turning to Karkat yet, continuing to talk with Sollux.]

Centers, Marts, wherever people can be hired. You can do pretty much whatever you want, job wise, or make your own sort of business. [After answering, he turns to Karkat now that his own earplugs are in.. and cracks something of an awful smile.]

Sanaa, sing. [Oh, hey, how did that Altaria get behind you, Karkat? Probably while you were raging..]

[usedshooshpap]

[ Karkat stops his ranting. that smile. THAT FUCKING SMILE.

eyes go round in understanding. here is Karkat, throwing his hands over his ears and attempting to abscond! ]

[viiru2alert]

[Okay, so Sollux doesn't get enough to understand the significance of Sing, but he does get enough to see that Karkat has a hilarious expression on his face. So have some very raspy sniggering, along with the Altaria's good-night song.]

[shadowdive]

[Since Vanitas has earplugs, he reaches out and pulls Karkat's hands away from his ears to let Sanaa's singing get to him, keeping a firm grip on his wrists.] I'll see you in eight hours.

[usedshooshpap]

I fucking hate your guts. When I wake up, I will be certain to rip open your well defined torso and feed said organs to you on a platter of my choosing...

[ as he says this, the further along he gets? the more slurred his voice sounds. he struggles to keep his eyes open and to push Vanitas away.

but alas. twas not meant to be. and Karkat is out like a fucking light. ]