Part Of Their World | Homestuck AU

|Chapter 8|

A loud crash is heard from the dining room by all the guests and hosts currently in the room, Carlotta bowing before smiling, "I think I'd better go see what Equius is up to" She says before leaving the room, heading towards the kitchen as Cronus looks amongst the rest of the group with an awkward and shy smile.

Back at the kitchen, Equius is growling a bit as he throws every knife he can find and lifting any cabinet in his way in order to try and catch Karkat, broken plates, utensils and pans littered along the floor along with stray food having landed on the floor also. "Come out you crustacean and fight like a real man with honour!" He says angrily, unaware of Carlotta standing in the doorway.

"Equius!? What are you doing!?" She barks and Equius jumps, turning to her and flashing a nervous smile. "W-Well I...I was j-just...er...er...I'm sorry, madame..." He says, sweat glistening on his forehead as he quickly bows his head in shame of the mess he had created. Unaware to him, Karkat is now hiding under the cover of a plate that Carlotta is now picking up, along with 2 other plates, to take out to the dining room.

Once the plates are given to Cronus, Kankri and Porrim, Carlotta returns to the kitchen to deal with Equius whilst the other 3 begin their meal with a bit of small talk. "You know, Kankri, perhaps our young guest might enjoy seeing some of the sights in the Kingdom, something in the way of a tour?" Porrim suggests, Kankri raising an eyebrow as he looks over to her. "I'm sorry Porrim, what was that?"

Porrim rolls her eyes and lifts up the cover on her plate, revealing Karkat trembling on her plate hiding under a piece of lettuce, "You can't spend all your time moping about, you need to get out. Do something, have a life! get your mind off-" Kankri interrupts her however, laughing a bit and rubbing the back of his neck out of slight embarrassment.

"Easy Porrim, easy" He says, Cronus spotting Karkat and looking around before lifting up his own plate cover and signalling for Karkat to hide there. The said crab quickly rushes and hides under the cover while no one is looking, Porrim and Kankri too busy talking to notice. "It's not a bad idea...if he's interested. Well, what do you say? Would you like to join me on a tour of my Kingdom tomorrow?"

Cronus nods vigorously with a smile as he leans on his plate cover, hoping to hide Karkat from them so he doesn't get eaten. "Wonderful, now let's eat before this crab wanders off my plate-" Porrim says, only to be very confused when she sees only salad on her plate and no crab in sight.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Later that night, Cronus is watching Kankri play with Dirk on the beach from the balcony of his new room, smiling dreamily as she stares. "Come here boy!" Kankri calls and laughs as he pets Dirk, spotting Cronus watching and waving with a smile. Cronus grows embarrassed and quickly goes back inside, a blush on his cheeks as he continues to smile.

Meanwhile, Kankri is busy pacing to and fro on Cronus' new bed, grumbling to himself. "This has got to be, without a single doubt in the universe, the most fucking humiliating shitty day of my life. I hope you appreciate what I go through for you, Cronus! Now, we've got to make a plan to get that...boy to kiss you. Tomorrow, when he takes you for that tour, you gotta look your best! You gotta bat your eyes, like this" He says, batting his own eyes and causing for Cronus to smile more. before yawning

"Then, then you gotta pucker up your lips, like this-" Karkat demonstrates but soon shakes his head when he sees that Cronus as fallen asleep on his bed, soon slowly smiling. "You are hopeless, Cronus. You know that? Completely fucking hopeless" He says, closing his eyes and letting himself dream of his life back in the sea.

Meanwhile, in that very same place, a seahorse swims straight to Dualscar, who is frowning and rubbing his temple in thought. "Any sign of them?" He asks the messenger, the seahorse shaking his head with a sad look. "No, your Majesty. We've searched everywhere...we've found no trace of your son, or Karkat"