[FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW YET, THIS STORY IS BEING RE-WRITTEN]
There we have it! The very first chapter. Or well, part of it. I cut the other part off for now, but you'll find it back in the next chapter.
So this is sort of my new writing style. I hope ya like it.
Also, all the cake and applause for Darkgirl and Neisha b/c they're some chill motherfuckers.
Disclaimer: I don't own shit.-Not implying Homestuck is shit, because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be writing fanfiction for it if it was (Also, it's a masterpiece). Just saying I'm a no good hobo trying to impress people online with my so-so writing.
Have fun reading~
Absolutely beautiful. Had you asked Kurloz what his thoughts were on the customer that just walked in, that is exactly what he'd sign.
He took the kid's appearance in as carefully as he could with his possibly limited time, if he was here for a tattoo, he'd be led to the back room. His skin first, rough and cut at certain places, especially his hands. He had a lighter tone than Kurloz, but he was still relatively tan. His face had traces of paint on it, which were also caught in his curly, tangled, jet black hair. He had pretty sharp facial features, but he couldn't be older than 21. He was slender, yet he had broad shoulders. Kurloz could define the hidden muscles. Muscles that were moving along with his body movement, movement that came closer.
Kurloz stopped his observation immediately, snapping his eyes back up and coming in direct contact with his nameless customer's purple orbs. How could he have missed those? He remembered a vaguely stored fact about only 3% of the world's population having purple eyes. He only knew this because he had this particular colour himself, but he could never compete with this kid's colour. He'd probably never seen this colour of purple before, he would have remembered if he had.
Unlike Kurloz' deep purple eyes, his were lighter. Not by much, but they seemed so much lighter due to the sparkle in them. The colour was even more defined by his bloodshot eyes. He'd been smoking the green, Kurloz could tell, but he didn't mind. He looked content like that, as if he didn't have a single care in the world, it was also apparent in his slight slouch. And, personally, Kurloz liked blood shot eyes better, they seemed more lively. He wondered how the kid's eyes would look while crying for a moment, but was ripped out of his thoughts by a voice that seemed to rip through the building, for Kurloz it seemed that way, at least. Maybe because he'd been dying to hear it.
'''Sup, motherfucker?''
His voice sounded gruff, but smoky. It fit him. He clearly damaged his throat a bit over the years, which went perfectly with his entire appearance. Had Kurloz been able to voice a greeting, he was pretty damn sure he still couldn't, not out of oath, but more out of embarrassment and fear of having his voice slip and fail him.
His eyes caught a slight movement behind the kid. He honestly wasn't surprised he hadn't noticed before. Behind a tall and broad built was a skinny, frail boy. He looked pretty cute, actually. While his built looked as if he'd easily be pushed into submission, his face said he'd take on every motherfucker who dared try. Right now, they seemed like each other's complete opposites. The smaller's unchanging expression reminded Kurloz of something his mother would say to him when he was younger. 'If you keep making that face, it might get stuck.'
Kurloz was way to professional to start laughing over his own thought during work hours, but he couldn't help but snort, as a quick relief from the impending need. His mistake, however, was to look straight at the boy while snorting. He apparently took it as an insult and started screaming at the top of his lungs.
''Do you have a problem!?''
The boy questioned in a croaky voice. Kurloz could only imagine how many times the kid's pushed his shout sphincter to the limit, for him to already sound like that at his age. He knew better than to take offense, and simply shook his head, indicating a 'no'. He leaned back a bit. He's seen a program once, about hostile animals and how body language could also affect them. Not that the boy reminded him of a hostile animal, but this was just the way Kurloz preferred to deal with people. Treat them like you would treat an animal, since humans would mostly react in the same manner animals would.
''Calm your tits, Karbro, motherfucker probably didn't up and mean anything by it's. It's all cool.''
The taller placed his hands on his friend and squeezed lightly, trying to get the other to keep his heart rate in check.
''Can't go dying of overexertion.''
A deep chuckle escaped from the back of his throat, and by the way the other's eyebrows fell again, Kurloz could tell the comment was a mistake.
Surprisingly, 'Karbro', let it go. He sighed, let his shoulders fall and looked back up at Kurloz. Kurloz was expecting an apology by the way he looked at him, but none came. He guessed the boy had tried to express it with his eyes. Kurloz shrugged it off and let his eyes travel between the two.
'Which one of you shall I be piercing?'
He signed. A silent prayer to the messiahs was made, asking them to please let these kids know sign language, or it'll be a bitch trying to communicate. He realised he was shit out of luck when he received two confused looks and slightly raised eyebrows. He tried a different approach and mouthed it instead, using hand signals to back the form of his lips up. They seemed to get it, since the smaller took a step forward.
Kurloz pointed at the stretch, signalling him to sit down. He was slightly disappointed. He'd hoped for the taller to want to get pierced, he just wanted to touch him. See how rough or soft his skin actually was, feel the structure beneath the flesh. He got over it at light speed, though, and gave his customer a look. Before he could start, he needed to know what kind of piercing he wanted. When he went without response, he let a fingers go over a few of his own piercings, with a questioning look in his eyes. The message finally got across.
''Shit. Yes. Ehm. Lower lip, left. A ring, please.''
He took quick note of how the boy's voice seemed to always sound irritated and loud, but then a self-entitles brilliant idea passed through his mind.
He spun in his chair, now facing his desk that held his material and laptop. He opened YouTube, moved like a hurricane trying to wipe out all of Texas and clicked on the video. 'Beyoncé – Single Ladies'. He could hear a very satisfying, irritated grunt as soon as the song set in, followed by an even more satisfying laugh. Kurloz could've drowned in the sound. His laugh was higher than the voice he talked in and reminded him somewhat of a horn. He's never loved horns more than in that moment. Shaking his head and pulling himself back into reality, he got a blank paper and pencil, mostly used for sketching tattoo designs, and wrote down a quick message.
'Come on, it's motherfucking perfect and Beyoncé is queen.'
He spun around again, pushing the note into the boy's hands, and spun yet again to get back to the material he was going to need. He picked up a few tightly sealed bags, one holding the actual piercing, the others needles and the like. Already disinfected, but just to be save he re-disinfected them. He placed it on a clean cloth and turned towards his costumer, sneaking a glance at his companion as he did so. He was happy he did, because how else would he have known that the kid had actually been looking at him? His heartbeat picked up slightly, maybe the kid was actually taking Kurloz in the way Kurloz took him in. He fought down a blush. Stay focused.
Kurloz cleaned the spot he'd be stabbing a needle through and used a kohl pencil to make a dot where he thought the piercing should be. He showed the boy, for conformation, and received a voiced okay, which gave Kurloz all he needed to lock in the boy's lower lip. He picked up the needle and as soon as he brought it closer, the boy flinched. And we're not talking the slight flinch, where you push your shoulders back and take in a fast breath, no. We're talking full out arm flailing and head averting and Kurloz was having none of that shit.
''Fuck! Karkat. You can do this.''
'Karkat' seemed to try and encourage himself this way, but his body still gave him away to be a little bitch about it. Kurloz rolled his eyes and tch'ed. He pointed to a sign that he had personally made and hung up.
'NO BITCHING' it read. The glare he received after Karkat read the sign did little to him. Kurloz put the needle back on the cloth and signalled for Karkat to sit on his hands and lock his feet behind the bars of the stretch. The boy looked like a shock hitter and Kurloz was in no way receiving one to the face, or anywhere else for that matter. Luckily, Karkat caught on to his instructions quickly and obeyed. Kurloz gave him a final warning look. The boy took a deep breath and gave Kurloz a nod, as to indicate he was ready for the penetration.
Kurloz pushed the needle through, closely watching, but letting his eyes slip after it was almost through. Karkat's eyes seemed glassy, and Kurloz thought, for a second, he might cry, but the boy held it in without even making a sound. After that, he worked quickly.
When the piercing was in, Karkat took another deep breath.
''Motherfuck!''
You nearly fell out of your chair at the exclamation, not having expected it, but couldn't stop your mouth from forming a smile. You covered it with your hand and pointed towards a full-body mirror that hung just a few meters away. Karkat took his directions and viewed himself, apparently approving what he saw. Narcissistic brat, Kurloz grinned to himself. The grin faded, however, when the taller of the two walked up behind Karkat and closed his arms around the boy's waist, dropping his head on the smaller's shoulder.
''Looks motherfuckin' legit.''
He breathed it out. Right next to the boy's ear. Kurloz was dangerously close to either performing a ritual to swap bodies with Karkat, or rip them apart with some PDA excuse of whatever. But he didn't do either, because he was twenty-motherfucking-two years old already and that shit was high school level. He's too old for having crushes.
''Yes, I know. I look fucking gorgeous, or wait: motherfucking miraculous. Now get your hands off me so I can move!''
He had already grown, or rather forced himself to become, accustomed to the boy's voice. He might be closer to loving it, now that it's caused the taller to retreat and throw his hands up in the air as if he was under shot. Karkat shoved him, successfully making the other stumble and nearly fall on his ass. Nearly, if it wasn't for Kurloz catching his back, maybe having his hand linger a bit too long and a bit too low, as he walked the duo to the front, to the cash register.
Karkat was fumbling around with his wallet and money, nervously trying to get the right amount but losing count every time he glanced back up at Kurloz. Kurloz could understand, just now he was at eye level, leaning back and not intimidating in any way. Now, he stood high at 6''4 and he'd always been told he looked rather scary.
He could imagine, with the stitched up mouth, piercings, tattoos, clothing and face paint. It wasn't for everyone. He ignored the pink flush on the boy as he focused on something much more interesting, namely watching the kid that came in with him. Such a shame he wasn't here to get helped, Kurloz would've known a perfect back tattoo for him. Kurloz step his elbows on the counter, and rested his head on his hands as he watched the other move. He was dazing off, he realised, but he didn't actually mind.
Not until Karkat waved money in front of his face to get him down to earth and his brain started working properly again. He took Karkat's cash, counted it and placed it in the cash register. Couldn't the kid have stretched it longer? He shook his head, still facing downwards, but looked up anyway and waved them off.
Or well, he would've, had they not stopped right before the pin board. Kurloz seemed to have focused a bit too much on the kid, instead of what the kid was focusing on himself, because that would have given him the perfect excuse to interact.
''Still looking for a place, Gamzee?''
Karkat asked him, approaching carefully. Kurloz took note of the name, vowing to himself to never forget. Maybe search him up online like he did back in high school to all his crushes. Even though this wasn't a crush, as noted before, Kurloz was too old for crushes. It was… a love interest, maybe simple attraction.
It seemed to be a nasty subject to Gamzee, since he clicked his tongue and snorted. His voice came out rougher and lower than before too.
''Yeah, haven't found any that looked legit, or even up and liveable, since that sea-goat of a dad kicked me out.''
They almost made a move to leave, but Kurloz caught up. He tapped Gamzee's shoulder, gaining his attention and placed his finger on his own ad. His prior roommate had just left, going back to his parental home and Kurloz kind of missed having someone around to fuck his shit up. Or someone to fuck at all. You get used to the presence.
''This?''
He asked as he scanned the ad.
''Is it yours?''
Kurloz nodded. Gamzee turned his attention back to the piercer, and smiled at him. Kurloz swore those teeth were way too white for a stoner, but he didn't mind one bit.
''I'll give you a motherfucking call then.''
He watched as the other tore off the number from the sheet and it sort of made his heart skip a beat. This was progress. Kurloz might actually get somewhere.
He waved the duo off and quickly got back to his booth, maybe freaking out mentally.
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
Kurloz was lying down on his bed, as he has been since he got home. He put of making dinner for two hours now, finding that staring at his phone was way more useful.
It wasn't. All he's really been doing is cursing, praying and flipping it over when he got bored.
'Ring, you over-prized piece of shit excuse for advanced technology.'
That had been the dominating thought in Kurloz' mind, since the kid said he would call. He'd wondered is the other's voice sounded different over phone, or maybe if the other'd been wanting to call all along but was nervous too. Maybe he was being considerate of Kurloz' work hours.
He came back in his room with some mac 'n cheese, nearly dropping it when he saw his phone lighted up, vibrating and playing tunes. Kurloz pretty much threw his dinner on his desk, jumped on the bed and took a second to collect his sanity as he answered.
Then he remembered something really important, that he couldn't believe he hadn't thought of before. He didn't speak. Calling was literally the most useless thing for him. Why did he even own a phone? He heard a string of variating greetings. At least it wasn't for nothing; he got to hear Gamzee's voice over a seemingly bad reception.
He hung up and settled for texting.
'I WASN'T EXACTLY THINKING WHEN I AGREED TO CALLING.'
Great, he made himself look dumb. He opted not to worry; after all, Gamzee seemed to desperately need the place. He'd text back. And he did.
'YeAh It SeEmEd PrEtTy MoThErFuCkInG wEiRd BuT wHaTs A gUy To Do?'
Kurloz wondered how he could text like that. That style seemed to require a lot of effort. Maybe he downloaded an app? Kurloz wasn't one to speak, he made his text show in a bone font, the most horribly terrifying font he could find.
'I'M TAKING A WILD GUESS AND SAY YOU WERE CALLING ABOUT THE APARTMENT? YOU COULD COME AND CHECK IT WEDNESDAY, THAT'S MY DAY OFF #:O)'
He wanted to add something a little flirty, like maybe 'if not then it must be date time', or something along the line. He opted against it, he'll get to that point. Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success, right?
'YoU mUsT bE a MoThErFuCkInG mInDrEaDeR, tHrEe Pm SoUnD gOoD?'
Kurloz rolled on his back and kicked his feet up in the air, with a force trying to match the Hulk. He might have let out a squeel. Jegus Kurloz. You're neither a pig nor a school girl, stop squeeling like a little bitch.
'YEAH #:O)'
He really couldn't fight the smile any longer, so he let it be.
Alright! So, that's where I'm going to leave it. Now, if you still knew what the deal was with the very first chapter, you'll know that this isn't nearly finished yet. Yeah, I'm trying to keep to the deadlines and only finished it up 3/4 but didn't feel like cutting it off there.
THERE IS GOOD NEWS HOWEVER HOHOHOH
Being 3/4 finished means it won't even take me a week to get the second chapter up, depending on how good my procrastination game is this week.
So.. Let me know what you think of the writing style, constructive criticism and all that.
Have a great day, ya lovelies~