Karkat Vantas is up at the crack of dawn holding a small suitcase. He is just leaving his apartment building to be greeted by two friends. One of those friends holds a long slip of paper more commonly known as a ticket.
"This is your pass Mr. Vantas," jade blooded troll Ms. Maryam informs. "I hope you have a delightful and safe vacation." Karkat takes the ticket out of her hand and slips it into his jacket's pocket.
"Thanks Kanaya. I'll try to get some relaxation out of this."
The troll's other friend grabs him into a tight hug; "I'm going to miss you bro!" he sniffs.
"Gamzee get the fuck off of me!" Karkat pushes his moirail away. "I'm only going to be gone for a week, so calm the fuck down."
"Sorry bro, you're just my favorite motherfucker," the high blood troll wipes his nose on this hand, and then to the much disgust of Ms. Maryam, he proceeds to dry his hand with his ridiculous pants.
Kanaya holds back her bile, "Mr. Makara I thought I gave you a fair supply of tissues!"
"I'm sorry sis," he pulls out a bundle of tissues from his pockets, "I all forgot about these crazy shits. I'm such a horrible motherfucker sis!" Gamzee throws his arms open to Kanaya sobbing, "I need a motherfucking hug!"
"Most certainly not!" The female troll lifts a knee just a little for readiness, "I do know several styles of self-defense Mr. Makara. I'm not afraid to use it, and I will tell you that I'm quite fond of a punt between the legs." The tall troll just continues to let his tears run down his face.
"But-"
"Gamzee fucking stop it!" Karkat orders. "You don't need to be charged with sexual assault again." The troll rubs the tiredness out of his eyes, "Sorry about that Kanaya; he can't always control that idiotic brain of his."
The female slowly lowers her leg cautious, "Yes well then. You have the directions for the trip Mr. Vantas?"
"Yeah and you really outdid yourself this time Kanaya," the officer compliments. "A fucking cruise. I can't even afford those."
Kanaya reveals a small smile on her face, "Indeed, but with a last minute registration, the prices are conveniently low."
"Not to mention the best part," Karkat continues a rare grin starting to form, "No fucker is going to drive five fucking hours to get to the boat. I'm the only one desperate enough for the task. A cruise away from everyone I hate is a fucking dream come true!"
"Well I'm sure everyone is going to miss your positive attitude Mr. Vantas."
"What was that?"
"What was what Mr. Vantas?"
Karkat cocks an eyebrow up, "Was that sarcasm?" The female troll thinks for a second.
"I do believe so Mr. Vantas."
"Well it's annoying like a bratty teenage girl getting her 'change to womanhood,' whatever that is. The movies treat it like the apocalypse."
"Then I'm sure your knowledge is a hundred percent accurate Mr. Vantas."
"There it is again. Who's the fucker that taught you sarcasm?"
Kanaya starts to inspect her nails with a newfound interest, "Oh just some . . friend."
"Wow someone I already hate. Do I know this asshole?"
"Would you look at that," Kanaya says with her cellular device out, "You should leave and I need to go back to the department. Have fun." And the troll dashes as properly as she can to the police department.
Karkat rolls his eyes, "Great, now I have that to think about when I'm supposed to be relaxing. Fucking thanks Kanaya."
"Don't worry bro," Gamzee encourages trying to hold himself together, "I'm sure you'll have the best motherfucking time. You just need to clear out your head and slam a cold one."
"I'm sure that's easier for you than it is for me Gamzee," Karkat criticizes. "Some of us actually have things to think and worry about."
"Whoa seriously bro? Do we have to have a feelings jam before you get your ass outta here?"
"No Gamzee, we definitely do not need a fucking feelings jam." Karkat sighs, "I just have a lot on my mind about the mayor's kidnapping."
"You still got your mind surrounded by that guy? You need to relax like a motherfucker bro. Maybe when you get back you can slam a Faygo with the fucker, and you could invite your best bro along for support!"
"Yeah Gamzee, I'm sure inviting some leader of an evil organization will totally want to drink a fucking fizzy drink with me. I just need to find his Grub damn phone number!" Karkat tugs at his messy hair, "Are you an idiot?"
"I don't even want to know bro. What you call idiots, I call life's little miracles."
"You know what Gamzee? I got to get the fuck out of here now." Karkat walks over to Gamzee's car that he is borrowing. "I'll see you in a week. Try not to get hurt, and don't stick anything into the microwave. I mean it. Nothing goes in there."
"Sure thing bro, I won't even though my pies bake so much faster in there. And sticking things in there is so motherfucking cool. They can either twist all up around themselves or just plain explode into millions of tiny miracles."
"No see Gamzee, this is exactly why I'm forbidding you from using the microwave," Karkat says from inside the horribly purple car.
Gamzee kneels next to the car and wraps his fingers around the open car window of the driver's, "Hey bro, can I come?"
"What the- No Gamzee you can't come! There's only one fucking ticket," to prove it Karkat holds up said ticket.
"Naw not for that, for the ride. I want to ride alongside with my bro gazing at the motherfucking trees and shit. Won't the ride be hard for you?"
Karkat is not impressed, "I'm sure your influence is more likely to cause me an accident. Besides, I have all I need with this," he holds up in his right hand a ridiculously large cup of coffee, "and this," and in his left hand he holds a pack of cigarettes with a lighter. "I'll be fine."
"Did you say goodbye to all your officer friends?"
"Nope, they'll find out soon enough. The only people who have to know are Chief Jack-Ass and Kanaya. You too because I know you'll somehow get killed trying to find me."
"Well bye then bro," Gamzee back away and waves good-bye. His moirail brings up the window and reeves up the car. Karkat signals goodbye and leaves the street to soon leave Skaia.
After a five hour drive; which was long and draining, Karkat finally enters a small city by the seaside.
The troll pulls into a parking station nearby the sea. He abandons the car and walks over with his suitcase. Ignoring all the markets and other citizens of the city, he arrives at the docks.
At the docks there are all numerous boats of every type waiting to depart. Karkat quickly finds the cruise boat towering over the others. He walks up to an attendant woman waiting to receive tickets. She quickly takes his ticket, examines it and greets him aboard the S.S. Trident. The troll walks up the ramp and onto the boat. On the deck Karkat can see families, young groups of friends and fresh couples aboard settling in.
Karkat heads towards the front desk inside to check in. He rings the bell, "Hello sir," the receptionist salutes. "You are aboard the S.S. Trident, named for the famous symbol of troll history. How may I help you today?"
"I'm here to check in."
The man takes notice of the troll's luggage, "Ahh I see, well if you give me your name I can find your room."
"I'm Karkat Vantas."
"Mr. Vantas," the receptionist hums, "I found you! Your room is number 669; a suite room." Karkat silently thanks Kanaya for this great opportunity. "If you'll sign here," he lends the troll a sign-in sheet and pen. Karkat quickly fills out his name and returns the paper. "Wonderful, I'll have a bellhop bring your things to your room. Here's your key," he hands Karkat a plastic key card, "and in your room you'll find a list of activities. Along with the list of what you already signed and paid for. I hope you have a wonderful visit with us on the S.S. Trident."
Karkat nods his head and turns away as a lowly bellhop takes his suitcase away. The troll decides that he deserves a nice smoke outside to say farewell to the land for a week.
He moves to the railings and with ease pulls out his over half empty pack of cigarettes and his grey lighter. Karkat brings a cigarette to his lips and lights his bitter delight. Inhaling and exhaling, the troll feels like he can finally start to relax. Nothing can stop his isolation on this boat. Just him and the servants caring for his needs. A chance for him to get away from the mess that is Skaia.
The troll's thoughts move to his coworkers; a task he would rather avoid. Karkat starts to wonder if he should have said goodbye. It's not like they will be sad that he left, but it might have been polite to say a few words. Maybe he'll get Jade and Vriska a cheap key chain from the gift shop; that'll keep them happy, right? He's already going to get Gamzee something stupid to lighten the imbecile's stricken demeanor. Maybe a child's toy, he likes those stupid things; maybe one that honks but those tend to make Gamzee scared. Whatever, Karkat will figure it out later. However he will have to get a real gift for Kanaya for this trip. What does she like?
Suddenly, out of the blue, a large, white German Shepard canine bounds towards him from across the ship. The dog jumps on the troll; causing Karkat to drop his smoke into the sea, "Shit! What the fuck are you doing?" He pushes the creature away with all his might, but his efforts are pointless. "What do you want you stupid dog?"
"Bec! Bec!" A woman's voice calls out. "Come back here!" Karkat looks up from the dog to see a woman with rich black hair running towards him. Despite her change of clothes to a comfortable summer appeal; Karkat recognized her immediately.
"No. No! Fucking No!"
"Karkat?" Jade says surprised, "What are you doing here with my dog? Come here Bec!" The dog retreats back to his master for hugs and licks.
"No!" The troll turns to the exiting ramp to find out that the ship has already set off from the land. "No! I can't stay here!" Karkat turns around and tries to abandoned ship only to have Jade predict his actions and hold him back.
Somewhere five hours away, two females sit at a small coffee shop.
"You know Rose, I still don't understand your sudden inspiration to have Mr. Vantas and Ms. Harley aboard on the same ship for vacation," Kanaya converses. "They both expressed a supreme dislike for sharing a vacation."
Rose adds a little sugar to her tea, "Trust me Kanaya, they'll have a blast. It's good for them to spend time together where they can avoid Skaia's stress."
"Whatever you say, but they'll probably get mad at me."
"You worry too much dear. Now how's your new outfit coming along?"