#splintd

While they were lost in thought, ears perk at the sudden sound of the transportalizor. Just then, the kettle whistles too! Equius trots over to move it from the stove, before heading over to greet Karkat.

The other may be surprised to see that Equius isn’t a troll today, but a centaur. Without addressing it, he gives the other a wave. “Hello, Karkat. How was your trip?”

okay, this is awkward.  well, not yet—but it’s about to be, considering how long it’s been since eridan had last spoken to karkat, let alone actually seen any of him.  one finger taps a hasty rhythm out on his knee where he sits, seeming ill enough at ease to draw more than a single look in his direction from various passersby.  why’d he have to go and pick a public meeting place—how stupid was that?  he curses to himself, glancing up from the questionable pavement stain he’d so far fixed his eyes on, and suddenly, there standing over him is karkat himself. 

“ oh, fuck, ”  he stammers, straightening himself.  “ uh, hey, kar. ”

it’s been far too long—and he knows that, but all that lost time feels that much more tangible when the real thing is staring right back at him.  and now he’s got to say something to accommodate, maybe start to mend that space he knows he’d gone and put between them, if that’s even still possible.  come on...  say something friendly.