Chapter Text
"Go fish, brother."
A chorus of groans echoed through the metal walls of the ship. Karkat stood and threw his cards to the ground with a frustrated screech.
"How is it that you don't have ANY of the cards anyone's asked for? You haven't given away a single card all game!" He resisted the urge to stomp his foot like a wriggler, crossing his arms tensely instead.
"I hate to agree with a Karkat Brand Temper Tantrum, but we've been playing this shitty game for hours." Dave spoke up, expression unreadable as always as he tossed his own cards into the middle of the circle.
"Thank you!!" Karkat said. "I'm glad we all agree that Gamzee is clearly cheating and should just admit it now!" He tapped his foot just a little too fast to look relaxed, turning his head to glare at the troll in question. The clown didn't even have to sense to look guilty, only shrugging with that relaxed, half lidded expression of his.
"Ain't no cheating here, brother. Only motherfuckin miracles." His standard grin widened with no doubt faygo-induced bliss.
Karkat opened his mouth to start screaming again, but he was cut off by Kanaya standing up beside him to brush herself off.
"Miracles or no miracles," She said carefully. "I think we can all agree that this game is over." She looked relieved to have an excuse to leave. In fact, no one really looked sorry to be done playing at all.
Karkat had only managed to drag about half a dozen people downstairs in the first place. He thought card games might be a relaxing way for them to all spend time together without devolving into idiotic banter, but clearly that wasn't the case. He wasn't even sure how many people had actually wanted to play in the first place. Kanaya and Rose only came so they could sit across from each other and make goo goo eyes over their hands. Dave came to satisfy some daily irony quota no doubt.
And Gamzee...well why did Gamzee ever do anything? Whatever the reason, he brought his matesprit along. They rarely did anything apart anyway. She was sitting next to him now.
Wait.
What was her name again?
ENTER NAME?
Her name is ARYA, and her appearance is kept purposefully ambiguous so as to remain relatable. She HAS EYES and ENJOYS HOBBIES, some of which might be revealed later, but may just as easily remain a mystery so that you can impart your own interests on an empty shell. But that would probably get boring, wouldn't it? Whatever the case, Karkat does not find her particularly interesting. She doesn't talk much.
Karkat realized that he had been staring at her for quite a while now, while he went over her various traits in his head. He wasn't sure why he did that in the first place, but now he was feeling pretty rude. She seemed to be doing her best to avoid eye contact, looking pretty uncomfortable. Karkat averted his eyes sheepishly. He didn't even have an explanation for why he was staring.
"Are we calling it a motherfuckin tie then? " Gamzee let his own cards drop - face down of course, so no one could actually see what he had. He stretched lazily, draping one arm over Anya's shoulders. She relaxed into him immediately, setting her hand down as well, silently as always.
"I think that would be the easiest solution, yes." Rose was looking at Kanaya like she had an entirely different solution in mind. Karkat made a face, purposefully looking away from the two. Everywhere he looked, two people were getting all hot and bothered at each other. He just couldn't get away from all these couples.
"Gross." Dave seemed to read his mind, as all the people in the room slowly got to their feet. "Get a room, maybe? Just not this one." He gestured at Rose and Kanaya, who were by now standing quite close to each other.
"Jealous, Dave?" Kanaya pulled back, leaving Rose pouting. Had she been drinking again?
"Okay I'm gonna stop this conversation right now before one of you ass gobblers says something disgustingly inappropriate." Karkat scowled, gesturing wildly at the door. "Anyone who was planning on following that trail of thought is fully encouraged to leave. Right now."
He didn't have to ask twice. Rose practically dragged Kanaya upstairs while Dave gagged loudly, leaning against the wall like some kind of hoodlum. Karkat rolled his eyes.
After a heavy pause, Gamzee spoke up again.
"We better be motherfuckin goin too. I can hear a horn pile all callin my motherfuckin name, brothers." He waved lazily, before turning to walk away in that weird slinky way that he does. He didn't even pause in his steps when he called over his shoulder. "You comin, flush sister?"
Anya flashed an apologetic(?) smile, before scampering off to follow him.
There was one, blissful moment of silence. Just one.
"So that was a whole lot of mental making out we just witnessed. Like damn, I know there's not much else to do but do they gotta occupy ALL their time like that? Can't they keep an hour or two a day for being decent? Jesus." Dave shook his head, clearly grossed out. Karkat didn't quite understand the bond of human siblings, but even he didn't want to be privvy to so much flush action.
"I'm just going to stop inviting them to things if they're going to make everyone else uncomfortable." He crossed his arms stubbornly. They both knew he wasn't going to do anything like that, but he was still having a hard time letting go of his earlier fit.
"Dude, yes. We should put up a sign at all these things that's like. 'No screwing people with your eyes in the main room'. They can't do it if we put up a sign forbidding it. That's like, rule number one."
Karkat grunted in agreement, crossing his arms sullenly. As much as he complained, the journey had been...nice. No running for their lives, no looming death. Just hanging out, like friends. Dave seemed to be having the same thoughts, the annoyed set in his jaw obviously forced.
He should say something. Continue the conversation. He willed himself to think of something witty, or at least interesting. Even if that failed, something dumb would probably work. It would give them an excuse to stay down here and keep talking. He tried so hard to think of something, and the longer he stayed silent the harder it became, and the more awkward he felt.
In the end, he said nothing.
"I guess I'll take off too then." Dave said finally. Was that disappointment in his voice? "Try not to blow a gasket screaming at anyone, Vantas." He flashed a single half smile, before pushing off the wall in and leaving in the same instant. God he was fast.
"Yeah!" Karkat said a moment too late. "You too." He was left alone then, in an empty room.
He bent down and started picking up the scattered cards.