HI GUYS! I'm not back in the USA yet (I return tomorrow morning) but technically as of today my study abroad classes are over AND it is late July. If I'm not mistaken, I promised you all a little something when study abroad was over. *waggles eyebrows suggestively*
For anyone who actually cares: France was freaking awesome (oh, gog, the FOOD IS SO GOOD), but I was a little homesick, and I missed being able to write at my leisure. And I missed my lovely readers who leave me so many reviews ;n;
I do not own Homestuck. Peanut butter was not a thing in France. Nutella was a thing, though. Does this mean Karkat won the fight? o_o
Well holy shit.
Vantas finally managed to look up. Between the mussed strands of black hair Dirk could easily see the red Alternian eyes staring at him.
"You alright?" Dirk asked stupidly, not really sure what was going on anymore.
Karkat wheezed a few more times. "I'm fine," he snapped, turning to the puddle of juice. He started cussing between small coughs and set to work cleaning the mess.
"Christ, Vantas, way to waste the juice," Dave muttered. "Where are Makara, Captor, and Maryam anyway?" he asked a little louder.
"Gamzee's still asleep. I was trying to get him up when I heard John being obnoxious. I have no idea where Rose and Kan got off to, and I haven't seen Sol since this morning. Probably went to buy a new laptop," he muttered as he scrubbed the floor way harder than necessary.
"We should probably go find them," Terezi said. "I hate to ask this of you already, since we just met, but would you mind staying with Karkles for a few minutes while we round up John and your friends?" she asked the older Strider.
Dirk blinked behind his shades, not really sure what to say at first. It seemed Dave had similar reservations until the older Strider finally replied. "I don't mind."
"See you in a few!" And with that, Terezi dragged her boyfriend out of the room before anyone could say another word.
Karkat Vantas remained on his hands and knees, refusing to acknowledge Dirk. Dirk wasn't having that, though. Not after having some sort of bullshit coincidence-miracle-cliched-plot-twist thing popping up on him out of freaking nowhere. They were online friends, they weren't just supposed to randomly meet up and realize they had mutual acquaintances. "Is it seriously you?"
"Of course it is!" the Alternian snapped, finally looking over his shoulder. "Unbelievable," he muttered, turning back to his work once more. Dirk moved across the kitchen and knelt near the agitated boy. "What are you doing?" Karkat snapped again.
"I drew you too tan." That was definitely not what he had intended to say, but it was worth the embarrassed look on Karkat's face.
"That's your main concern? Why the fuck did you look so surprised anyway?"
Dirk was a little taken aback. "It's not like I knew you were living here." As if he ever would have guessed either.
Karkat snorted and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. I bet you were just having fun with me as soon as Tav told you my name. Heck, I bet your brother helped you set this whole joke up. Real funny, you got me." He looked away again.
"I had no idea, honestly. Dave never even mentioned you." At that Karkat winced ever so slightly. Dirk had to pause for a moment. Did that mean that Karkat used to be in love with Dave? It had to be. Terezi was GC, then.
He wanted to facepalm so badly. So not only were they online friends who somehow managed to meet by chance, one of them used to be in love with the other one's brother. Had his life devolved into some sort of shitty romcom? Stiller could play Dave, he thought bitterly. "Didn't you think I looked like Dave when I sent you that picture?"
"You were a blond guy with sunglasses and a shitty tattoo, and he's a blonde guy with sunglasses and a shitty attitude, how was I supposed to know you were related? That's like asking if all golden retrievers are siblings!"
Dirk quirked an eyebrow. "You have a point. But, honestly, I think you're being a little hostile."
"I pay rent to live in this goddamn house and I will be as hostile as I want," the Alternian snapped.
"Vantas!" A voice called from the stairs. Karkat nearly leapt off of the ground at having his last name shouted so suddenly, especially since, from what Dirk understood, they were supposed to be the only two conscious people in the house.
Karkat stood so suddenly he clipped his head on the corner of the kitchen table. He let out a string of cusses while Dirk asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fucking fine," Karkat spat at him. Then he looked at something, or rather someone, behind Dirk. "What do you want, Ampora? I thought Piexes told you to quit bugging her."
The Strider stood and turned to see another Alternian boy. He was taller than Karkat. His eyes were violet and he had dyed part of his hair to match. The weird look was completed with a black and violet striped scarf and a black shirt with a violet Aquarius symbol stamped on the front. Dirk remembered Karkat's lesson on the hemospectrum. This guy was a highblood, and he was displaying his color proudly for all to see. Dirk disliked him immediately.
"Well, who's this?" Ampora asked in a rather heavy and affected accent, taking in Dirk's presence with genuine interest. Dirk, behind his shades, was doing his own appraisal, though it was considerably less favorable. "If this lowblood is givin' you trouble, you could come hang with me instead." Behind Dirk, Karkat made a small noise of irritation but remained silent otherwise.
Dirk's lip twitched, not even enough to show his disgust, but it was more than he wanted to reveal to someone he had never met. "For your information, I happen to be fond of lowbloods," he stated, moving to stand beside Karkat. The red-eyed teen flipped out and tried to run away when Dirk threw an arm around his shoulder. "This lowblood in particular."
"Well, I never!" Ampora huffed. "Nobody talks to Eridan Ampora that way!"
"I just did," Dirk challenged, giving Karkat's shoulder another squeeze when the teen tried to make another bid for freedom.
Eridan's face contorted into something resembling a fish as he huffed and made a quick exit. It wasn't until the front door shut that Dirk finally released Karkat and prepared for an earful.
"What the hell was that about?"
Dirk shrugged. "I didn't appreciate that fact that he was trying to hook up with me while insulting you."
Karkat grabbed fistfuls of his own hair. "That is not the point. Ampora's a desperate idiot, but it's not as though I don't deal with him on a regular basis."
Dirk scowled. "But it still bothers you, doesn't it? You don't like being called a lowblood."
The teen crossed his arms, looking frustrated, and not speaking. Dirk knew he was right, and Karkat knew that Dirk knew, so arguing was pointless. That wasn't going to stop Karkat Vantas, though. "It's not your business, I can take care of myself."
"I already told you, you're my friend." Dirk stated, loudly enough to get Karkat to shut up, but still not loud enough to be considered a yell. Karkat stared at him, wide eyed and slack jawed. Clearly, he hadn't been expecting that. "I know we don't know each other extremely well, and now that we're meeting it isn't exactly a joyous event, but you're still important to me. Even if you weren't, I wouldn't just stand by and let you be treated like that."
Karkat finally closed his mouth. He stared at Dirk as though weighing his options. "What's your deal, Dirk? What are you trying to accomplish?"
Seeing that the antagonistic tone had been dropped, Dirk relaxed slightly, leaning up against the kitchen counter next to his newest friend. "Who says I need an ulterior motivation?"
Karkat eyed him in his peripherals. The light caught his eyes, and if Dirk wasn't aware that the guy was cranky and not dangerous, he might have interpreted the red glint as threatening.
"We're back!" John shouted on the heels of throwing the door open. Karkat scowled and moved away from Dirk before anyone had the opportunity to enter the kitchen and see them standing side by side. "Hey, Dirk, come out and meet everyone!" the Egbert boy popped his head into the kitchen, sensing nothing unusual between his two friends. "I see you met Karkat. Don't let his attitude fool you; he's really a good guy!"
"Nobody asked for your opinion, Egderp!"
Dirk chuckled. "Thanks, John. I'll keep that in mind." When Karkat flipped him off in response he let out a full blown laugh. John looked rather surprised, but Karkat was not amused if the glare he was giving was any indication. "Okay, let's meet some people."
He followed the excited boy into the living room to see a crap-ton of people, including his close circle of friends. "You know Dave and Rose and Jade of course!" John started, giving the two girls a chance to give Dirk a greeting hug before continuing. As they stepped back, Rose moved to stand next to a girl in a black shirt and red skirt. Her eyes were Jade, but Dirk couldn't remember her trollhandle from the website.
John pointed to someone else, however. "This is Feferi Piexes, she's Jade's roommate." Fuchsia eyes, so she was the highest of highbloods. She smiled pleasantly, though, and Dirk doubted Jade would willingly share a room with someone who strongly believed in caste domination bullshit.
"And this is Rose's roommate, Kanaya Maryam." The Jadeblood smiled shyly, moving slightly closer to Rose. There was something a bit romantic going on there, Dirk could tell. He wondered if Roxy knew.
"This is Aradia Medigo. And this is my roommate, Sollux Captor." A Burgundy and Ochre, respectively. So Sollux was the one running the website where Dirk met Karkat.
"And this is Equius Zahaak and his little sister, Nepeta Leijon." A big, beefy, sweaty musclebuilder with sunglasses and a small girl in an olive coat and a blue cat-hat. Dirk's lips twitched, but he refrained from frowning at Equius who was frowning himself. This must be centaursTesticle and arsenicCatnip. When Nepeta smiled at him he returned the gesture. She was a sweet girl, even if her adoptive brother wasn't so friendly.
John seemed oblivious to the exchange, and continued with the introductions. "This is Vriska Serket." There was only a tiny change in his tone, but Dirk got the feeling that little John finally had a crush. "Oh, and Tavros Nitram," he added almost as an afterthought, gesturing to a boy with forearm crutches.
As Dirk turned to look at the last two strangers, he finally noticed that Jake had his eyes glued to Vriska. The green eyes kept moving up and down as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing. It sort of ticked him off, but it wasn't the girl's fault. Although, based on her arrogant smile she knew she had the attention of the two dark-haired boys.
It looked like she had Tavros' attention as well, if the way he scowled at John was any indication. Actually, it was pretty pathetic as far as scowls went. Dirk felt sorry for him, really. Maybe he should take lessons from Karkat.
"Did you meet Eridan yet? He was just here, but I guess he left already, so we'll have to find him again. And you still have to meet Gamzee too," John whined while Dirk went around shaking everyone's hands and memorizing their names. Vriska discreetly winked at him, and suddenly he understood why Karkat didn't like her. She might be fun to talk to online, but she was way too full of herself.
Finally he replied to John. "Yeah, I met Eridan. But who's Gamzee?"
"My juggalo roommate," Karkat responded, finally leaving the kitchen. His hood was back up, forcing some of his hair over his eyes.
Terezi cackled. "There you are, Karkles. I was beginning to think you really did choke to death earlier."
"Wouldn't that have been a riot!" Vriska laughed.
"Nobody asked you," Karkat snapped in reply before Dirk could say anything. The older Strider wasn't the only one who was surprised. Roxy and Jane both winced. Jake didn't react, but honestly Dirk would have been surprised if English would react to a singing squid at the moment, he was so distracted.
Serket flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Relax, Karkat. You're no fun to tease anymore."
No one said anything in response. Dirk guessed this sort of interaction was normal, considering the nonplussed looks on everyone else's faces.
Dave broke the not-so-awkward silence. "Whatever. Let's just round up those two and get moving. We already made hotel reservations." The last comment was directed at Dirk, who simply nodded. "Just let me go grab the confirmation." He extracted himself from Terezi's grip and bounded up the stairs.
"Is it time to go, my motherfucking pals?" came a voice from behind Kanaya. She and Rose both yelped as they moved away, revealing a rather lanky looking Alternian in purple polka-dot pants sitting on the floor.
"Makara? How did you get there?!" Vriska asked, putting a hand over her chest as though she'd been startled as well.
Dirk had to admit he was impressed as the boy stood. He was even taller than Dirk, yet had managed to sneak in unnoticed, even by the older Strider himself.
"Gamzee, seriously, what the fuck are you doing?! Why do you always have to sneak around like that?!" Karkat snapped.
Gamzee shrugged, a lackadaisical smile plastered on his face. "Chill out, best friend. I just wanted to introduce myself to these cool looking motherfuckers." His purple eyes glanced around at the four new arrivals. Jane looked a little unsure, but Roxy was giggling, and even Jake finally looked away from the Cerulean blood and smiled affably. However, Gamzee turned back to Dirk and held out his hand. "My name is Gamzee Makara."
"Dirk Strider," Dirk replied, taking the proffered hand.
Gamzee's smile widened. "Dirk, huh? It's a motherfucking miracle that we get to meet each other. I hope that you and me and Karkat will get along like the best of motherfucking bros." So saying, he gave Dirk's hand one final, very hard squeeze. Dirk met the Alternian's gaze through his sunglasses and returned the gesture.
Dirk was no fool. Gamzee had obviously seen the picture; he was Karkat's best friend, after all. Karkat, and possibly Vriska, probably mentioned the online conversations. If Gamzee could ninja his way into a full room unnoticed, then the clown had probably witnessed the earlier conversation in the kitchen as well. Now Makara was telling him to watch his behavior around Karkat. Play nice or else.
With the silent exchange over, Gamzee introduced himself to the other three strangers. Finally Dave came back down the stairs with a printout. "Oh, so that's where the juggalo went. Now we just have to find Ampora."
The moment the words were out of his mouth, the front door opened, and the man in question walked inside.
"It seems everyone is present and accounted for," Rose stated.
"All we have to do is figure out who is riding with who," Jade responded, looking around the mostly quiet room.
Suddenly, shouts erupted as people called riding with other people. Dirk stood off to the side near Karkat, who was also refusing to participate in the cacophony. After several minutes of arguing, in which Dirk picked out a few new Alternian curses, things seems to get settled.
Feferi would take Rose, Kanaya, and Jane (a rather amicable matchup)
Eridan would take Aradia, Sollux, and Jade (Ampora and Captor seemed to have some issues, but the girls could keep the peace)
Equius would take Terezi, Dave, and Roxy (again, an amicable matchup)
Vriska would take John, Jake, and Tavros (Dirk didn't even want to imagine what sort of shit would happen in that car)
Which left Dirk with Karkat (much to Karkat's chagrin), Gamzee (much to Dirk's chagrin), and Nepeta (much to Equius and Karkat's chagrin).
If sorting out the cars ended up like this, everyone had to wonder how they were going to split up amongst the rooms that Dave had reserved.
During the trip, Karkat stared out the window, Gamzee talked about religion, and Nepeta somehow managed to inch her way rather close to Karkat despite the fact that they were sitting on opposite sides of the car.
The ride down with Jake hadn't been half as awkward for the older Strider.
Every now and again he would glance into the rearview mirror and catch Karkat staring at him. The red-eyed teen would either quickly look out the window or glare at Gamzee or Nepeta. Nepeta didn't seem to mind, and would start talking about the fun things they would do in Skaia. If Gamzee noticed the glares directed at him, he didn't bother reacting.
This was going to be a long four days.