basic_powers | ...how kids plan parties...

If they're dreamers, they want bouncy castles and pony rides and giant tigers.

If they're the children of superheroes, oddly enough they still want those things, but you can't find a good pony that resists nuclear radiation as Tyler's learned. So, in the interest of keeping things simple and within his budget, a party has come together in the backyard of the house of one Augustus Fenwick.

Inside, there's plenty of soda in the fridge, and bowls of chips, dips, crackers, pretzels and ofcourse candy and little paper favor bags. The coffee table between the couch and TV already has one large present wrapped in brown paper (decorated with green watercolor cats) and an absolutely HUGE box wrapped in a myriad of wrapping papers next to it.

Outside in the fenced backyard is a good sized stick, branch and log structure, waiting to be set on fire as soon as the sun really starts to set, and that isn't that far off as the afternoon sunlight reveals. There's a kid in a black trenchcoat that looks about eight sizes too big poking about said structure as Tyler holds open the door for the guests. And decorating the walls, counter top are little decorated brown-paper flags saying 'Happy Birthday Nepeta!" in green letters.

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Could be either, but Tyler's been trying his darndest to keep track of who's coming to this party.

And he's pausing just to keep watching this guy...he's not from school, but he could be a neighborhood kid who heard about the party too.

Then he's turning around to call out on something that feels like a very appropriate long shot.

"CECIL! NO COAT TRICKS!"

"Aww...come on!"

Karkat tucks his black corduroy jacket around himself more tightly at that. It is covering up his usual shirt, at present, but the dark grey cargo pants are his usual. There is something drawn and self-deprived, too, about the dark narrow face he has chosen.

He mooches along, inspecting the table full of presents before gingerly adding his flat unwrapped box to the heap.

...that...that action does nothing to dissuade Tyler from very quietly getting the bag of pretzels set onto the counter while keeping an eye on Karkat..

And one seriously wary eye on the unadorned package, a look that borders on complete paranoia.

Karkat personally considers an expression of complete paranoia to be a good start to any social gathering. He is not watching Tyler in particular that closely, though, amid all the other possibilities of the room. He finds an inobtrusive place to lurk and watch for Nepeta.

Finally it just gets to be too much for Tyler...

He has no idea who this guy is and it's really starting to bug him.

He probably shouldn't ghost up beside someone before asking in a rapid soft bark.

"Hi, enjoying the party?"

"NOT REALLY," he grunts. "BUT I WASN'T REALLY EXPECTING TO."

...voiceprint confirmed, identity confirmed, and cue the eyebrows going way up before Tyler adopts his normal voice, and a more relaxed posture.

"Wasn't really expecting you to show up, Karkat."

"I HAD TO DROP OFF A PRESENT FOR NEPETA AND MAKE SURE SHE ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TOO DUMBASSED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HERSELF. IT WOULD SUCK IF THIS LITTLE CULTURALLY INAPPROPRIATE SHINDIG ENDED WITH AN OLD-FASHIONED DISSECTION BY HAM-FISTED HUMAN SCIENTISTS."

"That wouldn't happen."

...that wasn't a growl Karkat just heard.

"We just have to keep her from using claws on things and I have to keep Cecil from using his dang demonic coat in the backyard."

"THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN ISSUE I CHERISH MY IGNORANCE ON," Karkat says. "ANYWAY IT IS JUST A DROP-IN TO GIVE HER THIS DUMB MOVIE ABOUT SINGING LIONS, UNSPOOL YOUR LOWER BIFURCATED GARMENTS."

"Didn't recognize you in the holographic disguise. Thought you might've been a neighbor kid who'd snuck in past Cecil." Tyler offers, by way of an explanation. "If you wanna pick something out from the movie collection to sit and watch go ahead, I think everyone's more interested in the bonfire right now."

"I DIDN'T REALIZE I WASN'T RECOGNIZABLE, DOES SKIN COLOR MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE?"

"It changed your face structure a bit too, and your hair to fully cover the horns."

Karkat finds a mirror and stares in it for a while. "HUH. YEAH, I THINK IT IS THESE FLAT TEETH." He can feel his fangs under his tongue, but in the reflection it is a pink tongue running over dull mashers.

"And you've got your usual symbol shirt covered up."

So the biggest give-away of all...

"OH..." He glances down at his front. "I SHOULD GET A PATCH FOR THIS JACKET OR SOMETHING. I GOT IT FROM THE BAR, IT'S PRETTY OKAY." Plain. Serviceable. Utilitarian.

"Plenty of pockets in it." Tyler agrees, heading back towards the party. Nothing wrong with a good plain sturdy coat.

Eventually he's going to get pushed aside by the other kid here his age, with black hair, holding onto a...whimpering and singed trenchcoat.

"S'cuse me! Bathroom!"

...how kids plan parties...

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