Cherubplay

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"That's what makes them so infuriating. I suppose the fact that the government's been pumping this out for sweeps doesn't give them much room to think in general," Vriska checked the clock, gauging that there wasn't much time until Sollux would be leaving to gather books and the like that were normally offlimits to anyone else. As if on cue, Sollux stood and left briefly to dress in his uniform, as was customary, tucking in his shirt and fixing himself up to look presentable.

Bursting into laughter, Tavros wrapped his arms around his neck, easing his matesprit down as he kissed him all over his face and jaw, "I cannot get over how absolutely, positively adorable you are," He beamed, "I do not know what I did to deserve you, but I surely am not complaining." The brownblood purred deep in his chest, a loving, red sound as he nuzzled his nose with his own in an eskimo kiss, "I cannot play along when you are so cute."

2014-08-30 02:25:53
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Gamzee grinned widely at the laughter. He didn't really know if he was adorable or cute, certainly not in the ways Tavros was, but if Tavros liked him how could he possibly complain? He purred in response, hugging Tavros tightly to his chest as he received copious kisses from the brownblood. "I ain't playin! This is some real serious jive all up in here, you're in serious danger of being loved. And look, you're just fallin' into it, I gave you an out, you better remember when you're complainin later like, 'I can't stand this damn purple and how affectionate and shit he is'. ...But if you don't mind my horrible reputation that's just now come to light, that's cool too, I suppose." He giggled and gave Tavros more light kisses just to prove his point.

"Looks like we'll all have work to do soon," Eridan muttered. "A lot of reading to do, I guess." He snuggled into Vriska a little more, wanting to enjoy this quiet time they had as much as possible. "I wonder what kind of crazy shit we'll find hidden away."

2014-08-30 02:45:46
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"This is a fate worse than death, truly!" Tavros exclaimed dramatically, "Whatever did I do to have this thrust upon me?" He questioned, laying his chin on Gamzee's chest and watching him lovingly, his eyes crinkled from his smiling, "Though, I cannot say that I did not, uh, adore falling for your brutality. If this is the extent to which you are so maliciously affectionate, then I must state that I am not quite threatened of you. You must have other tricks and ploys up your sleeve to rattle my nerves, Mr. Makara."

Sollux pulled his shoes on, and Kanaya set down her sketching for the time being to listen to his instructions, "I don't know when I'll be back," He began, "But I've got to head before Gamzee and Tavros to avoid suspicion, just in case people are lurking."

"Sure thing, dear," Kanaya agreed, crossing her legs the opposite way, "We will, you know. Be lounging about."

"Could you. Uh. Do a bit of shopping for me?" He questioned sheepishly, fishing in his pocket and taking out a slip of paper with a list on it, "Food's going quickly with so many of us here. Do you mind?"

Taking the paper, Kanaya could not stop her giggles and the chuckles that escaped her when his face flushed yellow in embarrassment, "Shut up."

"Don't worry, I will do it, no need to get your britches in a bunch, dearest," She assured, watching as he finally departed with one last glare.

2014-08-30 03:08:29
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His purr was deep and loud for a moment, almost rattling his bones before he got it back under control, laughing afterwards in slight embarassment. "Mhmm, loads of 'em... but you said you didn't wanna find out about 'em yet so I'll keep these tricks of mine all mysterious like." He supposed he could come up with things as he went along; for now he only could think of a nice muscle rub for Tavros, which would have to wait.

Karkat had woken up, but neglected to move from his cozy warm nest on the floor, so had gotten to take all of this in without them knowing. It was quite sweet, he thought, and hid his smile under the blanket covering him.

"He's so embarrassed, it's adorable," he said to Kanaya after her moirail had left. "The both of your interactions are so cute... I'm sorry, is that a weird thing to say? I'm not terribly used to people anymore. Maybe those novels did get to me but I really like watching all of you interact."

There was just so much love in this little apartment. Maybe that would make the difference, he thought. All their caring against the hateful oppression of the current government.

2014-08-30 03:21:41
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Kissing his cheek, Tavros sat up again, feeling energetic from their encounter, "A lilt of mystery is still appealing," He winked playfully, giggling as he sat up and smoothed out his dress, "Your purrs are so lovely, I am honored that I am the recipient of them."

Noticing that Karkat had woken up, she glanced down at him, an eyebrow raised as he began speaking. His words made her cheeks flush in partial embarrassment, and she fiddled with an earring or two, "It is not weird, just flustering to someone like me, I suppose," She smiled, glancing to Vriska and Eridan, who seemed to be so invested in each other that it would probably take intentional conversation to get them from looking into each other's eyes, "And what about you, then? Are you interested in the state of your own quadrants, perhaps thinking of venturing out red or pale when the time comes?"

2014-08-30 03:30:48
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He smiled fondly and sat up too, smoothing out Tavros's hair marginally from when it had been laid on. "Well, you make me feel like purring, so you can have plenty of them." He straightened his own clothes, and ran fingers through his own hair to try and get it manageable, pulling out the black ribbon he'd worn the night before from his pocket.

"I don't think the time will come for a while. I've neglected to think about them, honestly. Too hard to forge anything new when there's all this stressful stuff going down." Even if it might be nice, he didn't add. He didn't really know how well he'd do in a red romance, but he'd like something pale. They always seemed like the best sort of quadrant to Karkat, maybe why he tended to gravitate more toward Kanaya and Sollux rather than the others. He had been trying to keep to himself a little more, though, not wanting to be a third wheel to any of the pairs.

2014-08-30 03:44:21
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Pulling up his stockings, Tavros located his favorite sweater and tugged it on to keep himself warm out in the courtyard today. "Hmm. You make me feel all types of things," He decided, lifting up the collar of the sweater to give it a tiny sniff. With a pout, he looked up at Gamzee, being intentionally dramatic, "Auh, this is a catastrophe! My favorite sweater of yours does not smell like you, anymore."

"Understandable," She smiled, "You seem like the busybody type, anyways. I feel if we were not in this predicament, you would be preoccupied with any manner of other items that required your immediate attention." Karkat didn't seem like the sort of person to sit still, always with his nose poking someplace and trying to fix someone or something. There were too many problems in the world and not enough Karkats, it seemed. "I think pale suits you, though, if anything." Kanaya didn't mind that Karkat lingered around herself and Sollux; the extra person was nice, and it gave her more fuel to tease him, though, she supposed it also gave her moirail his own ammunition in which to tease her about her barren red quadrant. She wasn't about to detail this to Karkat, though.

2014-08-30 03:57:05
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He smiled and laughed at his matesprit's adorableness as he pulled back his hair nicely. "We could always trade, you could wear this one and I could wear that one to smell it up for you," he offered, "or you'll just have to sit close so I can snuggle you like that sweater and you can get the aroma from the source." He did love Tavros's smell and would not mind a bit if his sweater smelled like his matesprit.

He'd figured that was what the earlier teasing was about while he was reading. "Thanks for the blanket and pillow, I figure you did that?" he smiled a little. "I do like the idea of pale best..." He trailed off, thinking of things intently. "I don't really know if I want to stay in Starnette, though. I would much rather leave. I don't want to be cooped up in this damn city my whole life, blood color or not. Perhaps I could get away with traveling to other cities to reform things. News probably won't travel all that fast, right? So I could do the job but also get the heck out of town."

2014-08-30 04:15:01
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"Can we just switch? I will not be able to focus if I am cuddling you the whole time," He grinned playfully, shedding the sweater and holding it out to Gamzee. Tavros would have worn his standard Alice dress again with a sweater to hide the torn sleeve, but that would have made him stick out further and that was the last thing he wanted. When he got Gamzee's sweater, he pulled it on and chirped in delight at the scent of his matesprit, "This is much better."

She nodded curtly, looking proud that her motherly instincts won out again, "But of course. Sollux disapproved and said I am babying you, but I do not see it," Kanaya waved it off with a flick of her wrist and a small smile, "You could travel, yes, but someone will have to accompany you." Even if Karkat told her that he would be fine alone, she didn't trust a majority of the cities out there and the people inhabiting them, "Perhaps a second adventure for our little ragtag group?"

2014-08-30 04:27:59
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Gamzee shed his sweater easily and handed it to Tavros, taking the other in it's place and pulling it on, bringing the neck to his nose. "Hmm, yea, we gotta do this more often. It's like you're giving me a fuzzy warm hug all over; I guess I know why you like it so much now," he grinned. "But what will we do when it's too warm for sweaters any more?" he asked dramatically. "Oh the perigees of waiting we'll have to face!"

He chuckled lightly. "Well if you are babying me I don't mind it.... It would be nice to actually travel with you all. Hopefully they'll be up for it. I think I'm the freshest of all of us, besides for Sollux, who might be impossible to get to leave unless you persuade him. The rest of you have traveled a ways, especially the original pair of lovebirds. They might be tired of traveling so much. But we'll see, I'm sure."

2014-08-30 04:39:56
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Tavros had never even considered that issue until now, and he gasped, looking legitimately concerned, "Oh, gosh, no, this is actually an issue!" He held his face, wondering how on earth he was going to get those imaginary hugs from Gamzee without wearing a sweater, "My clothes are much too small to fit you...Oh!" The copper came to a conclusion, and he grinned, readjusting his Mary Janes, "When it is warm out, I can just wear one of your longer shirts, like a tunic or something, as a dress. And then we can switch every once in a while. I am short enough, right?"

She felt a laugh bubble in her chest, "Oh, yes, Gamzee and Alice, especially the latter, may be fond of settling down sooner than the rest of us, but he is so excitable that I cannot see him siting idly by for very long." Kanaya picked up her sketchbook and rifled through it, wondering where some inspiration could come from for a new summer and spring line, "There is much time, though. I do not mind going out and about, I really only went a couple hours. Sollux is such a homebody that he will likely opt for our hive base again."

2014-08-30 04:49:41
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He was a little surprised Tavros was taking him so seriously, but upon hearing his solution, he bent, cupping both of the brownblood's cheeks in his hands as he bent and gave him a lingering kiss. "You are so brilliant, Tavros, that is a perfect solution," he said after straightening up. He looked over Tavros, determining his appearance to be as adorable as always, even without the cute morning frumpiness. "And you are also quite adorable, and pass princess tea-time inspection, well, but I might be a bad judge. I always think you look nice." He walked toward the door, ready to hold it open for Tavros. "Ready?"

Karkat smiled. "I bet he'll be somewhat relieved to have the place to himself for a little while. I think the hodge podge may have grown on him a little. What do you think? Will he miss all of our antics?" He sat up from his blanket nest, ruffling his own hair to straighten it out some and wiping the sleep from his eyes. It had been a very satisfying nap.

2014-08-30 05:01:26
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Inquisitively, he directed his gaze up at Gamzee, noticing him nearing his face and feeling a blush burn on his cheeks at how strangely intimate the moment felt. He wasn't sure why those couple seconds of a longer kiss felt like something more than all the time they had spent cuddling and kissing, but it made his heart flutter like they had kissed for the first time and Tavros directed a shy smile to the floor as he nodded and took Gamzee's hand, "Aw, you always know what to say to make me blush. I think you, uh, look fantastic as well."

"He is lonelier than he lets on," Kanaya stated with a somewhat saddened smile, "He's the kind that will not ask for assistance with bigger things like that. He will definitely miss all the hubbub going on around here. It is certainly more excitement than he bargained for, but I think he prefers it to the dismal silence that he supposedly prefers."

2014-08-30 05:14:04
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"Well, why thank you, Tavros, darling," he smiled brightly and opened the door, interlacing their fingers as he stepped out of the door after Tavros. "You've got everything you need? I think I've got all the little things I could think might be useful, which isn't really much in my case." He was keeping a light attitude even though he was worried about going out of the apartment again.

"Well, I'm sure no matter what happens we'll be sure to check up on him once in a while. He's been a patient host to say the least, and I think I'd like a visit at least every once in a while. He's quite kind through his somewhat grouchy exterior... I'm one to talk, huh?" he chuckled some as he stood and folded the blanket he'd been using neatly, then picked up the pillow and fluffed it a bit. "I'll put these back."

2014-08-30 05:25:34
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The rainbowdrinker was positive that the only reason why he had been so accommodating was, initially, because of her, and later because he had gotten so invested in the journey as a whole; he couldn't back out now even if he tried. Lost in her thoughts, she gave a nod, blinking twice before smiling some, "Yes, sure. Perhaps you can see now why I think grouchiness is adorable, hm?"

He nodded, having patted down his pockets to make sure he had things like his map and his coins, but, otherwise, Tavros hadn't any possessions. He walked out into the main room, where Vriska had finally found it in herself to pull from Eridan for the time being to look over Tavros, "Heading out now, I see."

"Yes," He nodded, pushing up the sleeves of the sweater so that his hands could be exposed, "We ought to get going, lest we keep the princess waiting, right?"

"Sure, sure. Do be careful, Alice." She wrinkled her nose, "Neither I nor Marchie want to spill any blood. Well." Vriska smiled mischievously, "More blood than necessary."

Tavros rolled his eyes some at her, laughing, "I will do my best, no worries." Kanaya sent them both her best wishes for speaking with Aradia and her usual concern regarding their safety, but she was sated if Tavros thought they would be alright.

2014-08-30 05:31:52
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"You'd both better come back in one piece; I don't want to test Kanaya's theory that I absorb all the books I read and have to become the chef," Karkat grouched in his way. Gamzee just smiled and gave him a one armed hug, whispering something to him that made his eyes light up. The cherry blood glanced at Kanaya during whatever was being whispered, but only for a second before the pair moved off and out, Eridan wishing them luck and safety as they departed.

Karkat then darted into the back to put the pillow and blanket away, returning a little later to where the rest of them were. "Do you think I could go grocery shopping with you?" He asked Kanaya, positively brimming with repressed excitement.

Eridan was essentially still lounging and hadn't cleaned up that much, so he headed into the back to spruce up some as Vriska had released him to do other things. He thought he might change out of pajamas and maybe take a cold shower.

2014-08-30 05:44:58
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"With me? Um." Worry crossed her expression. What would others think or do? The party was one thing but normal public...? Kanaya had thought that she and Vriska would just have to go, considering that there was plenty on the list they had to get, but if Karkat was so willing, who was she to deny? "Well, if you are so certain, there mustn't be too much harm in it." It wasn't like she could tell him no with how excited he was, anyway, "Let me fetch the grocery money and another tote and we will be on our way, hm?"

Most everyone knew of Gamzee and Tavros's relationship, but that did not mean everyone was ecstatic about it. Some people seemed relatively unfazed, but there were most that could not help openly staring or whispering amongst themselves. They thought themselves too refined to yell at the violet, but there were a passing few that made loud enough comments, and the police were none too kind. Finally, they made their way to the courtyard, Tavros having clutched Gamzee's hand the entire way. Looking around, he questioned, "Do you see her?"

2014-08-30 05:56:48
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Karkat beamed at her, trotting off to make sure he was presentable and also fetch something for notes and a few coins just in case. Secretly he was also being sent on a mission to check pricing and see if there was anything good for more desserty items to be made from. He was prepared to take his mission with pride and what he hoped was an eye for quality and budgeting. His stomach certainly wouldn't mind the end results if his foray was successful. Soon he was back near the doorway with his coat, ready to venture forth with Kanaya.

Gamzee took any rude comments or looks in stride, paying more attention to Tavros's hand in his and their general surroundings than specific words. When they got to the courtyard, the purple stood tall to look around all over for the princess in the little raised gazebo structures. Eventually he saw some movement that he glanced over to, which was the princess waving to them amiably. Gamzee waved back to let her know he saw where she was, then indicated where she was to Tavros. "Over that way, Tav... this path looks like it'll take us over there quickest." The stone and gravel pathways twisted and turned among the plants and shrubbery, and could possibly be somewhat confusing in the taller areas, almost a maze in some remoter parts.

2014-08-30 06:08:57
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She looked over the list carefully, and she noticed Sollux's real attempt at being all encompassing when it came to his guests' tastes. There were normal things like flour, eggs, and milk, but then there were items tailored to his new friends: sweeter fruits for Tavros, fish for Eridan, (with an extra couple of coins to make up for how expensive it would be) macaroons, if available, for Vriska, and beef and new spices for Gamzee to experiment with and Karkat to taste test. Kanaya smiled as she read the list, noticing that he wrote a note at the bottom: 'don't pay for your own blood.' He was such a sweetheart when he thought no one noticed. Kanaya handed over a second tote to Karkat to gather their groceries, a heavy cloth pouch in her own to pay for the various items Sollux wished to buy. She already had her coat on and a different pair of shoes to deal with the slushiness in the streets left over from the snow, and she left with Karkat after a short 'be back soon!' to Eridan and Vriska.

Vriska had taken to roaming about some, brushing her hair and wondering if Eridan would like some pampering of his own. "Looks like we are all alone," She hummed quietly.

"This is confusing," He muttered, but nodded to show he understood, swinging his and Gamzee's hands as they walked. "How did you know? Did you see her?" Tavros stood on his toes as he walked, trying to peer over the shrubs and plant life; even with the cold weather, the plants seemed to be flourishing, and he wondered if it had anything to do with magic. The royal palace he worked at back in Alternia certainly did not prosper like this. "Sometimes I forget how much, uh, taller than me you are."

2014-08-30 18:17:34
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Karkat was more excited than he wanted to let on about getting out of the apartment. Sure it was a comfortable place and he felt at home with all of them, but the open air, no matter how cold now, was really liberating. Maybe it wasn't the wisest to go out, but the queen probably had bigger fish to fry than worrying about a cherry blood who wasn't actively or openly trying to usurp control. That didn't keep him from sticking close to Kanaya as he looked around the city.

"It does look that way, doesn't it?" Eridan stepped out of the ablution block in a towel, fresh from a cold rinse, and passed into the guest respite block to change into a loose tunic and some flowy breaches, things he would have worn for a casual day of swimming and hanging with other seadwellers.

"Yea, just saw her over one of these shrubby things wavin' us to her." He indicated one of the hedges, not having seen one so big before. There were smaller versions in the city he was used to, but he'd never gone as far in as where the highbloods tended to hang out more often, so hadn't seen anything quite as large as the more shrubby plants here in the queen's garden. He laughed lightly at Tavros's last comment. "I'm like a... what was the word, giraffe? Weird hoofbeast with a super long neck that all up and makes it taller than most everything else. Saw it in a book somewhere."

2014-08-30 18:55:30
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The jadeblood walked briskly, looking over the list and trying to remember which place would be the cheapest or was the closest. Starnette was not like Undlegire, which only had two marketplaces; there were two separate ones in Starnette, which were then further divided into food and shopping. However, she couldn't remember which was cheaper or easier to go through. Before she could come to a conclusion of just where to go, she looked up and saw two yellowbloods in police uniforms, and she groaned inwardly. "Look alive, dear," Kanaya stated, giving a small nod of her head and a smile that was friendly enough, "Good afternoon," She greeted, but the yellowbloods, noticing her jade eyes and the mysteriously bright red ones of Karkat, ordered them to stop.

Vriska followed after him, brushing out the tangles in her hair with a small fuss. She swore she would chop it all off, but she enjoyed the elaborate hairstyles she could create with her hair being so thick and long. She stopped in the doorway, her shoulder against it as she spoke, "I like the privacy." Then, as an afterthought, she asked, "Can I brush your hair?"

Tavros had never heard of a giraffe before, or even seen one, and he appeared amazed that Gamzee even knew of one, "Ah, wow," He remarked, laying his head against his shoulder sweetly as he smiled, "You are incredibly smart. I would, uh, love to see all the different things you know about, 'Zee." As they approached the princess, he curtsied politely, noting the customary two attendants and four guards, the first pair pulling out his and Gamzee's chairs at the decorated table.

2014-08-30 19:15:16
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'Oh dear,' thought Karkat. He wasn't terribly sure he could stand any harassment of himself or Kanaya without attempting to put these couple of assholes in their place. He stopped with Kanaya, though, making his face seem pleasant and unobtrusive enough. What the hell did these guards want now?

"Sure, if you want," he tossed Vriska his typical comb with a smile. "Do you want me to do yours after? Maybe play with it a little, a nice braid or two?" This flushed stuff really was great, being so nice together and not having to worry about pissing each other off too much from their kismesitudinous annoyances. He went back out into the living room, sitting in front of the fire to tend it and allow her to reach his head easier.

"Hell, it's just stuff from books, Tavbro," Gamzee said modestly before they got to the princess. Gamzee bowed nearly in sync with Tavros's curtsy, and shyly thanked the attendant as he sat with Tavros across from the smiling princess at the small table.

"It is so nice to see you again!" the princess said as they sat. One of the attendants poured tea for each of them while the other doled out some small teacakes to go with it. After they had finished Aradia waved them off along with the guards. The attendants easily stood back, but of course the guards were a bit more reluctant to go anywhere but a few feet from her.

2014-08-30 19:38:19
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"What's in the bags, you monster? Blood?" The first questioned, and he looked to be an absolute brute. Tall and muscular, he was nearly bursting out of his uniform, heavy brows furrowed as he held his large hand out for the totes. The second yellow, a woman roughly Karkat's height and with a slight build, did the same, "Standard protocol for the problem castes, you know that."

Kanaya handed her bag over with little argument, but she was never one to be talked down to so easily, "It is truly sad when authoritative positions are dished out to those with bigger muscles than thinkpans."

Halfway through his rummaging in the pockets, the yellowblood glanced up at her, and the second policetroll seemed hardly interested in Kanaya's words. "What'd you say?"

"Nothing, dear, nothing at all," She smiled, holding out her own hand for her tote, as she knew there was nothing there that could get her in trouble, "It is astonishing that you understood my words at all, though."

"You can, if you would like," She caught the comb and moved to stand behind him, gently smoothing it through his hair. "Who would have guessed that I would not be detangling your hair rather than yanking on it?" Vriska joked, leaning down to kiss his cheek. She felt less hindered and boxed in now that it was just the two of them. "I believe I have brushed out most, if not all, the tangles, but this mane of mine is so messy it is liable to become tangled all over again."

"I should say the, uh, same for you," Tavros replied, thanking the attendants for their help as he placed a sugar cube or two into his tea, "How are you? Well, I presume," He felt like a princess himself like this, all dolled up and sitting with royalty and his proclaimed knight to his side. "You look as radiant as ever, after all."

2014-08-30 20:19:26
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Karkat handed over his empty tote to the smaller of the yellows. "He seems like a joy to work with," he commented amiably to her. Real friendly sort, god, Karkat just wanted to punch him in his stupid nose. Calling Kanaya a monster? Who the hell was he kidding?

The yellow didn't react much to his sarcasm, just scoffed in a confirming sort of way as she riffled rather carelessly through his bag. Karkat had to try very hard to not laugh at what Kanaya was saying and the big brute's perfect reactions that did nothing but prove what she was saying. He received his own tote back, and waited for the yellows to move on before proceeding with Kanaya.

"Well, a nice braid will keep it from tangling too much, and out of your face. I'll do a fancier one, just for you." Eridan hummed at the pleasant sensation of someone else combing his hair. "And who says you can't yank it every so often?" he teased, smirking and arching an eyebrow.

Aradia giggled at his compliments, "yes, I'm quite well! The ball was nice, except you left so early! Though you did look tired..." She waved a little more vigorously at the guards until, with some grumbling of 'what about the purple, isn't it too dangerous for you?' and her essentially telling them to politely bugger off, they backed out of the gazebo, still in quick visual distance but not in direct hearing range unless the three were loud. The four guards took up positions around the cardinal directions to cover all areas. She continued after they had left in a quiet but conversational tone. "I almost came over when that man started harassing you both so loudly. I am so sorry you had to deal with his bullshit," she touched both of their hands lightly in apology before leaning back in her seat again.

2014-08-30 23:52:21
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She rolled her eyes, moving along the cobbled streets with partial irritation, "Oh, the nerve of these policetrolls. They love to push you around and shove their authority in your face but haven't the sense to put it to good use." Kanaya made her way to the first stop, a general store to pick up flour and whatnot. "Anyways...Sollux has put quite a hefty sum in for groceries, do you want to pick out anything specifically for yourself? I am sure we could stop for tea and scones someplace, as well."

She couldn't stop herself from questioning with a laugh, "Will it be a fishtail braid, honey?" Vriska wased herself around his horns, brushing gently before peeking down at him curiously, "Oh, don't give me the temptation! I am just becoming accustomed to this, admittedly peculiar, kindness."

He sipped his tea, eyes a bit wide at her cursing. Tavros had always assumed that a princess like her would never utter something Vriska would say in normal conversation. Swallowing his tea, he smiled, "Oh, um. It is okay, really! It was nothing too horrible, at least, it was nothing we could not handle. I am glad that you did not get involved, thought," Tavros mused, "It may have proven to be problematic, uh, if you stepped in."

2014-08-31 00:20:27