N.A:: And here we have to second installment of "Homestuck brain drivel aboard the insanity express", or at least that's how I view this story. -3- Very sorry if this seems a tad angsty and not at all alike the roller coaster of random crap I promised. I have a handful of ideas in the form of one-word prompts saved in a Word document somewhere but i'm attempting to set things up a bit more, this is also a thought I've had for a while so... here we go.

Title:: Face to Face
Word Count:: 2,133
Warning:: Swearing~
Summary:: As the initial excitement begins to fade the kids are left to reflect a bit on how incredible it is that they made it to this point, but not without a few challenges along the way

Overall the attempt at laying down ground rules didn't get very far. If you listened carefully one could pick out something about "keeping all idiotic nooksniffers out of personal space" as well as "filthy mits off of each other's shit" but the ordeal mostly degenerated into a chaotic shouting match with arm flailing for emphasis. Karkat ended up storming off with a long chain of expressive expletives trailing in his wake and after that the others trailed off to be left to their own devices.

A few more curious glances between troll and human were exchanged before the separate groups truly parted ways but ultimately the four humans were left to sort out a place to crash. John, Jade, Dave, and Rose meandered somewhat aimlessly down the monotonous hallways occasionally glancing into a room here and there and chatting as they pretty much lost themselves in the meteor's maze. The initial excitement still buzzed through each of the children though it was now muted by the sudden rush of exhaustion as the chaos of the day finally set in. Anyone who had ever claimed suffering through a "long day" should have their skull caved in with a bucket.

John seemed particularly enthusiastic over his friend's God Tier outfits and pointed out Jade's furry ears on multiple occasions, causing them to twitch irritably and only egg on his teasing. In spite of this a lax and content aura settled over the group and there was a heavy feeling of reluctance in the air as a pair of suitable rooms were discovered for the night.

The distance was only mere feet across the narrow hallway lit by long trails of fluorescence but an unspoken agreement was formed as the boys and girls split off to the adjacent spaces. After what had happened, leaving each other's sides was not an option.

Most of the bedrooms conjured within the complex network were the same in format. However in an interesting turn of events what had once been a recuperacoon or two was now replaced by a rather lumpy yet still enticing bed topped by a white quilt. None of the humans felt any need to question how such accommodations had been made for the new species and instead settled onto their own spaces with varying degrees of grace. Shoes were cast off haphazardly into corners along with an article of clothing or two to better serve as sleep-wear and lights were immediately clicked off, plunging the rooms into impressive degrees of darkness.

"Hey, Dave?" Came John's sleep ladened voice from across the room of one Dave Strider. With the combination of total darkness and overall I-don't-give-a-flying-fuck-I'm-too-tired attitude his ever present shades were shifted up to rest among the blond strands curling above his forehead and he wasn't even attempting a "cool" sleeping position. You know, arms crossed loosely behind his head in a make-shift yet ironically effective cushion and a general sense of chill settling over his person. Yeah. To hell with that.

This dude saw absolutely nothing wrong with sprawling face-down onto the thin mattress with his gangly limbs strewn about and shades most likely forming decidedly not cool imprints into his pale flesh. However he managed to lift his head ever so slightly at his best bro's sleepy tone and stifle a yawn. "Hmm?"

"Isn't it cool that we get to see everyone now?" John asked with a childish sense of wonder creeping into his voice, it was enough to make Dave crack a small smirk. Because even a dead tired Strider kept to his coded smirks. "Not just the trolls, but I actually got to see what you, Jade, and Rose looked like. The people behind the multi-colored text."

"Yeah I guess it's pretty awesome," Dave conceded as his gaze slid to where the ceiling was presumed to be, not that he could see it. "Being able to get an eyeful of all these godly Strider looks has that affect."

John snorted at that though it was audibly muffled by pillow fluff, seemed like facedown relaxation was a habit for those who had recently gone through Armageddon and back. "Obviously. But you know I'm serious right?"

Dave paused before giving a loose shrug, fully aware of the fact that it wouldn't be seen in their current situation. All the same he was momentarily unsure what to say. Damn, if that didn't spell the end of the world, possibly universe, he didn't know what would.

"It's actually kinda funny how close we were before even seeing each other's faces," John continued as his fingers idly played with the end of his God Tier hood.

"You are right about that, bro. Pretty mind blowing. What, afraid I was going to be even more put off from your derpiness than before thought possible? I'm immune by now."

"Oh har-dee-har. You're an ass."

"Says the one rambling about how fucking close we are, like peas in a cozy pod."

"Heh, you got me there. I'm… still glad though," John's voice had thinned out now and seemed to quiver ever so slightly, gog his emotions were so easy to read. He didn't even need to see his face.

However, Dave wasn't far off. Not that he would ever show it. "Same here," He mused as he wrestled with his mind to keep his tone neutral. Fuck it, might as well rip off the metaphorical bandage. "We actually managed to make it out alive."

Dave could hear John's breath hitch before he uttered a dry laugh. The sound made the Knight want to flinch in its borderline emptiness and found himself continuing in an attempt to take stock of the damage. "I mean we must be pretty fucking special to slug through all that crap. Jegus, I do sound like an ass."

John laughed again though it seemed genuinely amused this time around, much to Dave's relief. "Who's the derp now?" He teased warmly earning a rough grunt from the other boy. "But yeah I get what you mean… we made it out with super cool powers to boot. I'm just really happy that I can say that about all of us."

"Me too dude, me too."

"Who ever though I'd be glad to see a bed?" Jade exclaimed as she threw herself bodily onto one of the mattresses landing in a rather unceremonious heap of dark hair and cloak. Rose only smiled softly in reply as she sank down onto her own bed, managing to retain as much grace as possible in her movements before simply laying herself across the pillow and tugging the blanket up over her form. Jade groaned into her pillow as the continued presence of the annoyingly bright lights was recognized and heaved herself back onto shuffling feet to move towards the entryway, slap the light switch repeatedly before it clicked, and then stumble back to her bed.

"I'm so tiiiiiired," The Witch whined and Rose could practically imagine a puppy producing a similar noise as it begged for table scraps. Irony at its finest, Strider would be proud.

"I'm aware of that and share similar feelings," Rose replied in a practical drone as the last of her energy seemed to bleed into the mattress cradling her below. Under normal circumstances the object would be considered unbearably lumpy and uncomfortable but in the current circumstances it was a godsend. "I planned to remedy that actually."

A faint giggle floated across the impossibly dark space and Rose momentarily raised an eyebrow, delirious possibly? It wouldn't surprise her.

"Same," Jade drawled before a yawn escaped her and her eyelids sagged over dulled green irises. "But I just can't believe we got to this point."

Rose paused at this producing a thoughtful silence before she hummed in recognition. "Yes it's quite the feat. We all managed to beat near impossible odds and come out mostly unharmed."

"Unharmed?" Jade echoed before silence once again fell over the two, this one heavier than the last as Rose waited for an explanation of her friend's quizzical tone. She bit her lip before continuing. "Rose… I know what happened to you and John. I saw it in the clouds."

"Oh," Was all that Rose said in reply, truthfully stunned by the revelation and not quite sure what else to say. Rather than mentally hunker down to map out her reply the Seer simply allowed her mouth to move without thinking, she just didn't have the energy.

"I see what you mean now," She breathed gazing across the room into nothingness. The corners of her eyes stung rebelliously but the result of such a sensation would never be seen from Rose Lalonde, may paradox space strike her down before-hand. "It was… distressing."

"Distressing?" Jade seemed dubious now and there was a hollow creak as she sat up to stare in her direction with ears pricked. "Don't give me that! They were your parents, I'm surprised that I couldn't see it in either of you today. I wouldn't have had a clue otherwise."

"I don't see how it was your business," Rose snapped and immediately regretted it as yet another bout of silence began to creep into the air, not on her watch. "No, Jade, I apologize for that. It's just… left me very weary. All of it I mean."

Jade cracked a weak smile at that and nodded more to herself given the low light. "I'm sorry too, it really wasn't my business if you guys had no intention to tell us. I just don't want you to feel like you have to be so indestructible, we… we're all broken now after all." The last bit was spoken with a sad sort of wistfulness and a punctuating sniffle.

"I actually feel like the lucky one. Your Mom, John's Dad, Dave's bro; my guardian was gone before all of this even started. Even Karkat mentioned something about his lusus or whatever being gone."

"Don't say that," Rose chided, pushing aside the truly twisted nature of their conversation. "You have suffered just as much as any of us. You feel as if we're putting up a front? I'd be unhappy if you did the same."

Another giggle reached Rose's ears and she felt a rush of relief before allowing a yawn of her own to slip delicately past her lips. She was fading quickly as sleep clawed at her subconscious and she couldn't imagine Jade was faring much better across the way. "We can both promise to be open among friends, no? Now that we've finally come face to face."

"Exactly. Goodnight, Rose."

"Goodnight, Jade."

N/A:: Well then, as always, thoughts? I've recently realized that Homestuck in general is freaking SAD, I mean seriously. Everyone's "parents" die in some form or another, home planets are utterly destroyed, and a bunch of 13 YEAR OLDS are the ones left to deal with all of it. Welp. Anyway you don't have to worry about me cranking out any more angsty bits unless they tie in with an idea or request I happen to receive since I dislike unhappy endings. Bittersweet is alright, but never as utterly heart-breaking as some that I've managed to stumble upon q.q Oh that's another thing, if you happen to have a specific OTP or general pairing you wish to see hinted at or flat out fluff stuffed don't be afraid to drop it by in a review. There are multiple ideas I have that could possibly include a lot of pairings at once and I'd like to keep it from being totally about my personal likes, since I don't even have them quite sorted out xD

Reviews to a writer

Are like chicken soup to the soul

So then, mind passing me a bowl?

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