Chapter Text
“How doesn’t your throat hurt from all that talking?
Kankri gets asked that a lot, and his default answer was “I have grown rather used to it.”
Porrim chuckled. “I can tell. You’re so accustomed to it that I bet you don’t even think twice before speaking.”
Kankri scoffed a little as he set his book down. “Well of course I think twice before speaking. It is in my best interest to not offend anyone by speaking my thoughts, which I hope to be deemed as the truth. Nothing is more correct than the truth and I will go far out of my way in order to speak it, as the Signless once did, and I hope Karkat will. If I did not ‘think twice before speaking’ as you say, then surely I would be offending many more people and losing hold of whatever relationships I have. Of course I decide my words before speaking them. How can I talk if I do not know what I am going to say?”
Porrim sighed and then chuckled. “You’ve got a point there. I’m just so surprised you can come up with your words so quickly. Consider that a compliment.”
Kankri smiled. “Why, thank you. And might I compliment your fashion sense as well; I do not believe anyone else in Alternia dresses as you do.”
Porrim beams. “Thank you! I designed it myself actually-”
“Of course that is probably because you designed it yourself and have not yet opened a shop yet,” Kankri ranted, “You should really consider opening a shop, you know. Your sense of attire is so mature and put together, and yet revealing and carefree. I do believe that many others in Alternia would swoon for your designs and would be lining up for miles just to see them. There are plenty of open buildings in town that you could pick from. I would recommend starting small for now, as there is no promise that you will hit things off immediately, but that does not mean you would not with time-”
“Okay Kankri!” Porrim laughed, “Okay! Okay, I got it.” She won’t tell him that that rant of his just gave her the last of the motivation she needed to try; he would rant about how helpful he is then.
Kankri smiled gently. “Very well.” He looked at his phone. “Oh, I should be going for my afternoon walk now. Karkat should be home from Sollux’s around 7. Could you watch for him?”
“I sure can,” Porrim chuckled, “but honey, you know he’s never home on time. He stays later and later every visit. I think he and Sollux are getting closer… you should let them spend more time together.”
Pulling on his shoes, Kankri sighed. “Matesprit-ships are so overrated. I truly do not understand how some people devote their lives to-”
“Kankri!!” Porrim laughed. “Your walk! Go!”
“I am going!” Kankri goes out the door, “I am!”
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Kankri did not just take walks to help keep his slim figure beneath his baggy sweater; they helped clear his head. Obviously, someone who talks as much as he does probably has a lot on his mind.
Grand Highblood has been more… well, as the younger trolls would say, “crazy,” as of lately, much more oppressive against the Lowbloods. Kankri’s stomach churned as he thought of all the possibilities of what could be. Would the Lowbloods all be forced to relocate, or would they be slaughtered? The decision was all in its entirety in the hands of GHB.
Kankri shook his head. “Don’t think about it… do not think about it...” He sat on a park bench and rubbed his face. It was not like Kankri to be this open about his stress, rubbing his face and all, but sometimes he just couldn’t help it. It’s a natural thing to be scared to die.
“Someone looks a little tuckered out~” A male voice cooed to him, and Kankri looked up to see Cronus leaning against the tree, grinning.
Kankri sighed a little, but he didn’t exactly mind Cronus; he was the only one that actually listened to the Highblood, anyway. “Mayhaps… I just have a lot on my mind, I suppose.”
“Tell me all about it babe,” Cronus sits down next to him, “I’m all fins~” He grins endlessly.
Kankri scooched away a little. “I would rather not.”
“What~!” Cronus fake-gasped, “Kankri not ventin’ endlessly about his problems? Mus’ be somefin real heavy.”
Kankri winced a little. Cronus of course genuinely cared about him, though why did not make any sense. Cronus was a Highblood after all, and he should have been kicking Kankri into the dirt. But, he wasn’t. Here he was with his arm around the Lowblood, encouraging him to talk about his feelings, and for once, Kankri didn’t want to. It involved people like Cronus anyway, so he would probably get offended.
“Heavy… would be the right word, yes,” Kankri sighed softly, “Shocking I do not wish to talk, I know. But it’s… more for the sake of not offending-.... Anyone that may or may not be listening.”
“Then don’t talk,” Cronus smiled into Kankri’s eyes. “We don’t gotta talk. I’m perfectly fine just sitting here with you.”
Again Kankri sighed. “Truly I do not understand why you seem to enjoy being around me. I mean I’m a Lowblood-” Kankri covered his mouth quickly, though Cronus heard it and looked just as surprised that he said it.
“Chief, your blood type don’t matter to me,” He patted Kankri’s back, “and if it did I wouldn’t be sitting here. I care about you, you know. You’re one-a the only people that care about me so… you’re important to me, you know?”
Kankri winced a little. No one’s ever really said that to him before. “But I should not be… should I? You are a higher blood rank than me, surely you should despise me-”
Cronus reaches out his hand to caress Kankri’s cheek and gently press his thumb to his lips to quiet him. “But I don’t.” He smiles. “I couldn’t ever, Kankri.”
Sighing shakily, Kankri looked down. “Truly… your kindness knows no bounds… th-thank you.”
“Awe~ babe don’t get all sentimental on me~” Cronus hugged Kankri into him, “Or do, I don’t mind...” He smiled and rubbed Kankri’s back. “If anyfin it’s your kindness that doesn’t have boundaries. I figured you’d be sick-a me by now.”
Kankri hated hugs, but this one felt different, so he let Cronus hold his head to his chest and he listened to his heartbeat. Cronus’s heart was POUNDING, and Kankri couldn’t help but smile a little.
“I couldn’t ever, Cronus...”
Cronus smiles big. ‘He’s actually letting me hug him!! God what I WOULDN’T give to just kiss his cute little face all over.’ “You’re too sweet Chief. Can I buy you a drink? To help you feel better.”
Kankri sat up. Being seen in public with a Highblood was a big risk to take, but… “Oh, sure. I don’t have much else to do. Thank you Cronus...”
Cronus leapt up and took Kankri’s hand. “To the bar we go!”
Kankri groaned quietly. “To the bar we go...”