Karkat was ushered out of the house and the slight tension in Eridan's shoulders was alleviated as soon as the door shut behind him. Karkat wished there was a bit of common ground for the two. But it seemed bad blood ran deeper than one generation by how Gamzee had put it. Karkat didn't quite know what they had done to each other but it was not something to just place a bandaid on it and forget it. None of that mattered however. He was not some fucking peace maker between mafias and assassins Damn it! He was here to have a good time with a friend. That was exactly what he planned to do.
Eridan was quick to open the car door for Karkat, it seemed to be some similar black car to the first night they had met. At least this time he was sober and not held at gunpoint. He settled back in his seat with Eridan slipping in next to him since they had a damn driver and everything got. Fuck this was nothing like Karkat had done before. He felt out of place, his back pressed against the seat with his muscles tense. Though there was a gentle hand squeezing at Karkat's shoulder, ringed fingers rubbing at his shoulder blade to relax him.
"You okay Kar? Come on I promise it wwon't be that bad." Eridan spoke with a soft smile on his lips as he reassured Karkat. It wasn't quite the fact he was going to some party with fuckers that could pay to have him killed ten times over. More than everything felt like a different world. Karkat really wasn't wanting to embarrass Eridan because he didn't know the proper edicate for fine dining or the like. However it didn't seem Eridan was too keen on socializing with his peers with the wanted distraction that Karkat brings.
"I'm fine Eridan damn. Just never really attended anything like this. Hell it is nice in movies, looks cute and romantic and everyone there knows damn well what to say. I just don't know if I can fake that." Karkat explained as he still had his arms crossed over his chest. His body language was completely guarded and a bit more tense than he would like. However the hand on his shoulder did alleviate some of it. Karkat tilted his head back, raven hair still a mess but he attempted to comb it a little more to the side. Those grey eyes giving the smallest side glance to Eridan.
"You are goin to be fine Kar. I wwould rather you be yourself than try and act like some up tight douche bag. Just be your normal pissy douche bag self." Eridan smirked as he teased the other. His hand gripping his shoulder and gently shoving him. Karkat did relax a little and shove back. The teasing did lighten the air. "You look nice by the way. Getting all dressed up looks good on you." Karkat couldn't stop the heat rising to his face with that sincere tone.
The ride only lasted twenty minutes before they were out into the middle of the city. Some large venue that seemed to be almost mansion-like structure. Looking almost like the perfect ballroom esque feeling of marble flooring and pillars. It looked as though this should be the set of some prince and princess style romcom. Karkat still couldn't quite believe he was on some mock dinner date to a place like this. The door was opened by the driver after they parked, it was odd to be treated almost like royalty. Eridan stepped out soon after Karkat, motioning him to follow up to the main entrance where Eridan's father and brother were waiting for them. Shit were they late?? Damn it this is a horrible first impression. Karkat had yet to formally meet Eridan's father. He had seen him in passing when he came over but they never spoke once.
The man was tall with black hair slicked back and his shoulders stiff, he was in a similar suit to Eridan's, he also had a purple streak, however it seemed a little more clean and brushed through his hair. Making it loom seamless peak of color through the star black contrast. Two scars ran down his face, going from left to right all the way across his face and dug into the bridge of his nose. Violet Wes stared down at Karkat for a good moment before he greeted him better. This man was the damn leader of theactual fucking mafia. Here he is offering his hand up to the smaller man as if they were on equal footing. Regardless, that pale hand gripped onto the man's hand in a firm handshake. He seemed amused by this.
"Mr. Vwantas, correct? Nice ta officially meet ya, sorry I'vwe been a bit too busy ta talk ta ya. Just glad to see Eridan finally found someone he can stand more than a fewv wveeks." Mr. Ampora joked as their hands were still locked together. He had an odd accent like the other two Ampora's. Maybe slightly closer to Cronus' accent. Karkat looked right at him with grey eyes meeting those violet ones. He had stared down Gamzee's father like this quite a few times. So he didn't even flinch while speaking to him.
"Yeah well it's fine. I can't imagine your job had damn near any down time." Karkat shrugged his shoulders lightly. "You can just call me Karkat by the way. Or whatever the fuck else you can come up with. Seems like everyone has some shitty bastardization of my name they like to pick out." This seemed to be a little too casual a request. As Eridan sort of eyed him at his side. But the man cracked a smile, then a snicker.
"Ya knowv, I can see wvhy Eridan likes ya so much." Mr. Ampora respected the way he spoke. He did not change his tone or mannerisms around damn near anyone. That might however cause problems if they weren't careful. There was a slight look shot at Eridan to flag this to his attention. He didn't want anything to get in the way of his little shoulder rubbing of his peers and even some competitors. But in the same breath this could be a net positive in thinking that someone his child would pick isn't a pushover. They just have to find a nice balance.