First Entrance

[bloodyvirgo]

After a particularly interesting arrival, Kanaya arrives at the back door with her sleeping friend still in her arms. It takes a moment of shifting and juggling around, but eventually the troll manages to coax the door open and takes a step inside-

Only to take a hasty step back with a muttered curse she's picked up from Karkat.

"Oh" she says,

Comments

[crabbycustomer]

Karkat hits the ground with a startled, flailing squawk. "WHAT THE FUCK, MARYAM!"

"FIRST YOU KNOCK ME OUT WITH YOUR BULLSHIT SYLPH POWERS AND THEN YOU DRAG ME IN HERE AND WAKE ME UP BY DROPPING ME ON THE GROUND LIKE A MATERNAL FEATHERY ASSHOLE DROPPING STRIPS OF CHOLERBEAR INTO THE PEEPING MAWS OF HER HATCHLINGS, PUBLIC HUMILIATION AND GRIEVIOUS HEAD INJURY!"

"HELP ME THE HELL UP."

[bloodyvirgo]

Kanaya's still staring at the bar at large, Karkat's rant barely reaching her ears as she holds her lipstick in one hand tightly. She does, however, reach down with her free hand to help heave her friend to his feet, and if her grip on him is a little tighter than usual, it can be forgiven. Right?

"this is" she pauses as her voice wavers and, clearing her throat, she tries again. "This Is The Place You Were Informing Me About Correct"

[crabbycustomer]

"YES, OBVIOUSLY. CALM DOWN, I REALIZE THIS SEEMS LIKE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE TO HAVE IN ONE ROOM, LET ALONE STRANGERS, BUT NONE OF THEM ARE GOING TO TRY TO KILL YOU. REMEMBER, THEY'RE HUMANS, OR MOST OF THEM ARE. COME SIT DOWN AND PUT THAT THING AWAY BEFORE YOU FLIP OUT AND CUT SOMEONE'S HEAD OFF. OR DRAW SOME REALLY SHIT MODERN ART ON THEIR FACE."

[bloodyvirgo]

She takes a notable, steadying breath at his reassurance, some of the tension easing from her face and shoulders.

"My Apologies" she says, her lipstick disapearing and her grip on Karkat loosening some. He was her friend and leader, and if he said she was safe, then she is. "And It Was Not My Intention To Relinquish My Hold On You I was Merely Startled"

[crabbycustomer]

"YEAH, YEAH."

He gently steers her to a booth, the better to shut out some of the noise and tumult. (Although, it's an early morning crowd, nothing like the full swing of a weekend evening. But... little tiny grub inching, to start with.)

"STAY HERE WHILE I GET US SOME FOOD. SOME PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY COME UP TO BUG AND FUSS AND MEDDLE IF THEY REALIZE YOU'RE NEW, TRY NOT TO KILL THEM."

[bloodyvirgo]

She allows Karkat to lead her to a booth, staring curiously as they go.
"Why Would I-"

She cuts herself off and offers Karkat a serene smile.

"Very Well I Will Wait Here For Your Return And Refrain From Slaughtering Anyone However Well Meaning They Are"

[crabbycustomer]

He returns with--well, something like steak fajitas, if instead of beef you had cholerbear meat and instead of tortillas you had broad, slightly bitter leaves to wrap things in and instead of peppers you had sizzling bits of glands and brain. You know what, let's just call them fajitas. He also has a few cans of Tab, a bit of luxury for trolls in their blood range. "OKAY, FOOD. SO, WHERE THE HELL DO I START."

"THIS PLACE IS CALLED MILLIWAYS, AND IT IS A TRANSITIONAL DWELLSTEM, WHICH I REALIZE YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT FAMILIAR WITH, LIVING IN THE ASS-END OF THE DESERTY NOWHERE. IT'S A LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN RENT RESPITEBLOCKS AND GET REFRESHMENTS WHILE TRAVELING, EXCEPT IN THIS CASE THEY ARE NOT TRAVELLING SO MUCH AS INEXPLICABLY KIDNAPPED TO A SMALL AND DYING UNIVERSE. SO THAT PART SHOULD BE FAMILIAR."

[bloodyvirgo]

Kanaya frowns some while reaching for one of the not!fajitas.

"You Mentioned Something About Being Stuck Here
Does This Mean No One Can Return"

[crabbycustomer]

"NO, THAT IS A MISCHIEVOUS TRICK THE UNSEEN DOORMAN PLAYS ONLY ON A SELECT FEW. A REASONABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COME AND GO REGULARLY, SOME ARE STUCK HERE, AND SOME, UH, DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO."

"BECAUSE THEY ARE DEAD," he adds. SORRY, I THOUGHT THAT WAS OBVIOUS."

[bloodyvirgo]

Throat tight, Kanaya instinctively presses a hand flat against her stomach where she remembers Eridan's attack striking.

"oh
alright"

[crabbycustomer]

"YEAH..."

Awkward...

"I GUESS I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN HOW THAT PART OF IT WORKS," he says, uncomfortably.

"MOST OF THEM ARE HUMANS, BUT ALMOST NONE OF THEM ARE FROM THE TIMELINE WE HAVE INTERACTED WITH. I HAVE SOME THEORIES ABOUT THAT BUT WHO KNOWS, REALLY. THE MAIN THING IS THAT MOST OF THEM ARE NOT ON TRACK TO GET SLAUGHTERED BY METEORS AND SOME OF THEM ARE EVEN FROM LONG AFTER IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED."

[bloodyvirgo]

"I Suppose You Dont"

...yeeeah. Awkward.

"So Not Everyone Here Is Doomed Then
That Is A Good Thing"

[crabbycustomer]

"YEAH ONLY SOME OF US." He looks down and studies the table. "LOOK, I DIDN'T WANT TO GET STRAIGHT INTO THIS BEFORE THE ORIENTATION BIT WAS OVER BUT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD WARN YOU ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON BEFORE WE GET TOO DEEP INTO ANYTHING OR TOO USED TO THE NEW STATUS QUO."

[bloodyvirgo]

Frown deepening, she reaches across the table to squeeze his hands gently in her own.

"Karkat
What Is It
What Are You Beating Around The Stunted Foliage About"

[crabbycustomer]

He sighs heavily.

"ERIDAN IS NOT THE ONLY ONE ON A RAMPAGE BACK THERE. GAMZEE IS OFF THE SLIME AND ALL THAT ANTIQUATED SUBJUGGULATOR BULLSHIT... HE IS TAKING IT SERIOUSLY. REALLY SERIOUSLY. I ASKED EQUIUS TO TRY AND STOP HIM BUT GAMZEE KILLED HIM. JUST FUCKING KILLED HIM."

"NEPETA SAW IT. I THINK HE KILLED HER TOO, BUT IT'S NOT... WE'RE NOT SURE. SHE CAN'T LEAVE, ANYWAY, AND SHE GOT HERE FROM THE DREAMBUBBLES." Like you.

[bloodyvirgo]

"Oh Gog" she breathes, squeezing his hands again. "Im So Sorry Youre Dealing With That Without Me There
But At Least Nepeta And I Are Here And Safe
And Out Of Danger From Jack"