...how kids plan parties...

[basic_powers]

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.

Comments

Re: Meet and Greet

[crabbycustomer]

Karkat has shoved himself into a corner and is quietly observing the shenanigans. In the human disguise, he more or less fits in, although his awkward posture will always set him apart; he looks like he is ready to be attacked, with the collar of his dark corderoy jacket snugged up tight around his neck. There is a box jammed under his arm; it looks like it would be hard to get it out of there with a crowbar.

[nepetaleijon]

"Karkat!"

INCOMING POUNCEGREET.

[crabbycustomer]

SQUAWK.

FLAIL.

Karkat manages somehow to not drop his box.

[nepetaleijon]

"You came you came you came!"

Nepeta is beaming.

[crabbycustomer]

He has to consider how to answer this; claiming he didn't is subject to immediate disproof. But surrendering on such a minor point foreshadows larger compromises to come. "I JUST DROPPED IN TO MAKE SURE YOU WEREN'T UP TO ANYTHING TOO DUMB OR DESTRUCTIVE AND ATTENTION-GRABBING," he hedges.

[nepetaleijon]

Nepeta disregards that entirely, with the ease of long practice, and reaches to tug at his hand. "Come s33 the decorations! And there's snacks and things!"

[crabbycustomer]

Karkat allows himself to be dragged along. "I CAN SEE THEM, IT LOOKS TACKY AS FUCK. WHERE ARE YOU STOCKPILING THE CHARITABLE DONATIONS?"

[nepetaleijon]

"Ofur here, on the little eat mesa."

The coffee table in question does indeed have presents on it. (Nepeta has been eyeing the extremely large one.)

[crabbycustomer]

Karkat adds his little unwrapped cardboard box to the pile. "WAIT, IS THIS YOUR HUMAN DISGUISE?" he says belatedly. "I HAVEN'T SEEN IT BEFORE."

[nepetaleijon]

Nepeta preens a little. "Do you like it? I like yours."

[crabbycustomer]

"THAT'S BECAUSE MINE IS AWESOME," he says off-handedly. "YOUR HAIR IS TWO COLORS, WHY IS YOUR HAIR TWO COLORS? IS THAT ALLOWED?"

[nepetaleijon]

"It's called highlights, for your infurmation," she says loftily. "Humans make up for only having one color of blood by having lots of hair colors."

[crabbycustomer]

"IT IS WEIRD ENOUGH THAT YOU HAVE BLONDE HAIR, HAVING IT BE BLACK UNDERNEATH IS CHEATING," he says, decisively.

Re: Meet and Greet

[basic_powers]

...for a moment, Tyler's too busy herding the other guests and refilling the snack bowls. He manages to walk by Karkat twice before the third charm proves enough to make the kid pause mid-step and blink quizzically at him.

Re: Meet and Greet

[crabbycustomer]

Karkat stares at him deadpan. It might be he has forgotten the diguise he's wearing, or he might be enjoying himself.

Re: Meet and Greet

[basic_powers]

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!"

Re: Meet and Greet

[crabbycustomer]

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.

Re: Meet and Greet

[basic_powers]

...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.

Re: Meet and Greet

[crabbycustomer]

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.

Re: Meet and Greet

[basic_powers]

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?"

Re: Meet and Greet

[crabbycustomer]

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

Re: Meet and Greet

[basic_powers]

...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."

Re: Meet and Greet

[crabbycustomer]

"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."

Re: Meet and Greet

[basic_powers]

"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."

Re: Meet and Greet

[crabbycustomer]

"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."