The date had been set. Only about three days from when Gamzee had messaged Karkat. It was a little frustrating to get immediately shut down before he could actually try talking to Karkat. However it was nice to know that he was alive and doing well enough to threaten trolls still. The purple blood wondered what Karkat would do in seeing him. Would he recognize him? Would Gamzee recognize Karkat? He wasn't sure, so much time has passed he was sure they both look so very different. He knew damn well he wasn't the same clown he had been on that beach sweeps ago. There was a deep sigh going through his nose as he closed his husk top. Gently tipping it off his lap onto the floor below, as his back pushed into the horn pile. The rubber and metal spoke out in objection to the new pressure. But he didn't really care. Why did he ask if they were still moirails?! How stupid could he be? He sounded like a desperate wriggler.

Whatever. What's done is done. He rubbed at his eyes and smudged his make up as he tried to force himself on to think about it. He would really need to clean up before he does see Karkat. Hell he may even attempt to brush his hair this go around. He looked down at his stained and mess of clothing before huffing and standing. Hopefully the ablution block was still intact in this place. At the very least Gamzee could look semi presentable for his ex moirail. Show him that he wasn't that same helpless sap that didn't even bother to change clothes most nights. He had grown up, he was now more than capable of handling himself.

In just a few nights he would see Karkat. It made his past feel more real. Ironically enough this moment felt like a dream in contrast. While he was in the training camps he had many dreams of seeing Karkat. Seeing Tavros too at times. But they would always be slightly out of reach. Just inches away from his fingertips. Never quite tangible. Ghosts of the past that haunt his dreams. Now at least one has been brought into flesh. A tangible entity. It was insane. Just thinking about it made his head hurt. Why did things always have to always be so complicated?

"Motherfucking bullshit." He grumbled to himself as he looked at himself in the mirror. Deep purple eyes watching themselves. Then trailing over the rest of his face. His face was still covered in paint. While he changed his clothes daily he wasn't so keen on doing the same with his face paint. He wiped it off with the towel and was met with a completely different troll. One that looked as though he had gone through a meat grinder. The most notable scar ran over the left corner of his lip. More up his cheek and the rest of his face. Fuck he looked like a mess. But he slipped into the shower. The warm water running over his being and relaxing his tense muscles.

As excited as he was to meet Karkat in person for the first time he was terrified. For the first time in a long time he was mortified. But he was sure things would go well. Why wouldn't they? This was Karkat they were talking about here! He was extremely abrasive but he cared for most trolls so deeply, he wouldn't hurt him… but Karkat may hate him for what he has become. That was what scared Gamzee. To be left alone again.

The nights seemed to drag on from there with unwanted anticipation of what was to come. It made his stomach do flips every time he was stuck thinking about it. Part of him almost wanted to back out right then and there. But Gamzee Makara was no coward. He couldn't run from this. The night of, he donned the best clothes he could find, tried to comb through his almost mane like hair and even made sure his face paint was perfect. He looked like a proper Subjugglator. Was this the best way to present himself to his mutant buddy? No. But he couldn't hide his new role and he wasn't going to lie to Karkat. Pretend like the last few sweeps didn't would spit in the face of their entire friendship. Gamzee straightened out his black and purple shirt, he didn't tuck it in but it at least looked clean and well managed. His fingers gently grazed the fabric as he stared at himself in the mirror. It was time.

Karkat awaited the day he would meet "Gamzee" with baited breath. He was ready to kick this trolls ass. Though he made sure that at the very least Sollux would be close enough that a simple call and he had back up. But he didn't want to seem like a coward here. So he was going to keep his back up at least a street or two away. Within earshot if he didn't have a chance to contact him any other way. He didn't want to tip off this troll that he may have backup or that they may be in actual danger, otherwise the troll could become violent right from the start. No one needed that if this was some higher mid or blue blood fucking with him.

At least he hoped it wasn't anything like that. If word got out to any of the higher bloods… Karkat shook his head, no he shouldn't be thinking about that right now. He needed to focus on today. Not the worst case scenario. Just reality. It will be fine, just have to scare this fucker into silence. That is the only way with most trolls. Which was annoying and he almost found it barbaric at times, but it was the way the world worked. Karkat dressed as he would any other day. In time he was forced to hide his more hemo anonymous appearance in favor of a more rust blood look. So he had his usual cancer sign in that deep red, along with the same contacts hiding that bright hue. His hair was still a wild mess, but a more controlled wild mess since it was short and choppy. Still doing his own hair cuts it seems. Some things just never die.

Karkat looked well dressed overall, nothing too fancy, just a clean shirt and some grey washed out jeans. Did he really want to go all out and wear the best pants and shirt combo he had to this bullshit? Hell no! This was fine. Then why was he overthinking everything? A small part of him hoped that this was really Gamzee, that he had come back to check up on him. That they were still fine, that everything would go back to how it used to be. But that could never happen. He chose his role in life and he couldn't run from that even if it was the Makara on the other end.

So with an apprehensive step into his shoes he started out towards the main street of his town. It would be best to meet on a small side street so Sollux could look like one of the masses on main. No one is going to second glance a yellow blood out wandering around. Hell there are always a few that just loiter about the streets anyway. Karkat grabbed his palm hust and strapped his sickles to his hip, keeping them hidden under his shirt. It wasn't like open carry of any weaponry was frowned upon, he just wanted to seem as least threatening to those around as possible. As his foot went past the threshold of his doorway he got a message.

- twinArmageddons [TA] began trolling carcinoGeneticist [CG] -

TTA: You know a2 well a2 II do that thii2 can end horriibly.

TA: For both of u2.

CG: YEAH I ALREADY FUCKING KNOW THAT CAPTOR.

CG: YOU REALLY THINK I HAVEN'T ALREADY THOUGHT THIS OVER THE LAST THREE NIGHTS? YOU REALLY DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T MULLED THIS OVER WITH EVERY GODDAMN

CG: DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO? THE TOLL THAT FLIPS HIS SHIT OVER THE SMALLEST OF DETAILS OF A PLAN.

CG: LOOK IT WILL BE FINE I SWEAR, IT IS PROBABLY JUST SOME MID BLOOD ACTING TOUGH.

TA: Whatever you 2ay kk.

TA: But what iif iit ii2n't?

CG: THEN WE'LL DEAL WITH IT.

-carcinoGeneticist [CG] Has ceased trolling twinArmageddons [TA] -

With that Karkat locked his palm husk and pocketed the device. He didn't need this right now. He needed to just focus. Watch body language and wait. He couldn't make drastic moves early on and risk not only his life but also Sollux's. He looked through the crowds of trolls, slipping off down a side road to get to the meet up place. It was out of sight of the crowds and almost no one went down the old path. It was perfect if things went around looked like it was any other day. Seems no one has spotted any highbloods or they would be more on edge. His miniscule hope of actually seeing Gamzee was dwindling to absolutely nothing.

However his steps only quickened against the cobblestone street. Shops lined the street and trolls rushed in and out. Some were just wandering from lack of funds. It was sad the way the hiveless trolls trolls were treated worse than dirt, mostly rust and bronzes that aren't welcome in the nicer side of town. Being hatched into a world that treated them like dirt. It made Karkat's blood boil to see it. Only giving him more reason to keep his operation a secret at all costs.

He slipped into the almost deserted street, more of a back alley with a let out on the other side to more hives. It was only about two streets away from the main where Sollux is walking. There was on one around, just the trash cans and litter about the walls. Spray painted symbols of anarchy against the empress. Other than that nothing. Not a single living soul. He felt almost foolish for thinking anything would happen- Then he saw him. A large troll peeking in from the side road. Only half their body moved from the wall as they glanced around. Then their eyes narrowed on Karkat. But almost instantly he could tell, this wasn't Gamzee. Indigo stared him down where that soft purple should be, a sickening grin spread across their face. Shit.