>Kanaya: Panic

[chastesaw]

[Phone]

*Kanaya's voice sounds as precise and collected as ever... for the most part. If someone knows her very, very well they might be able to hear that she's speaking slightly faster than normal.* Hello, everybody.

I hope that the adolescent populace (and perhaps some of the adults as well) enjoyed themselves at the hiveapproaching soiree this past weekend, and that they all learned valuable lessons whether personal or otherwise. For example, I am now aware that it is in poor judgment to trust human beverages no matter how sweet and fruitlike they may smell.

It was heartening to see the combined attendees make some attempt at "cleaning up," so to speak, and I would like to remind you all that there is no reason to cease caring about your appearance simply because there is no formal event to attend. This may have been a good start but I dearly hope that you will all continue going forward.

If you need sound advice on the matter I will gladly render it.

[Private to Karkat 1338 Benny Road]

*And here, Kanaya sounds more outright distressed.* Karkat? Karkat, are you there? I believe I have found myself in a rather severe dilemma and I'm not altogether certain how to proceed.

I can't really offer any explanations for my thoughts at the time, if I was in fact thinking anything at all, but I kissed her. Momentarily. For a brief fleeting instant that might as well not have existed except that I am positive it did.

This has become a very precarious scenario.

*Kanaya believes she has just phoned Karkat. She has, in fact, phoned his entire house.*

Comments

[grimmdark]

I think people shouldn't really spend more than the bare minimum on their appearance if they don't plan to attend a event that demands so. It's not an excuse to sport deplorable looks though, so maybe I happen to agree halfway with that reasoning; it's not as if I didn't enjoy knowing my appearance is in top notch state.

...h-hi.

[What is awkwardness.]

[chastesaw]

I. Well, I disagree naturally, but.

Hello.

[grimmdark]

Naturally?

[Is that a tangent? SHE'S TAKING THAT TANGENT.]

Disagreeing on principle then? I don't know how to take that.

[chastesaw]

I meant that I was disagreeing with the sentiment that people should not take more pride in their appearance than the bare minimum. As should have been obvious, Rose Lalonde.

[grimmdark]

Well that's- that's obvious, all right. I shouldn't have tried to pick up an argument I knew I had no way to win.

Has someone offered themselves to be evaluated and educated by you?

[chastesaw]

I should hope you would know better than that, yes. *There's a slight pause here as though she wants to continue before thinking better of it.*

As of the moment, I have received precisely zero requests. I would say I remain undaunted, but I'm actually feeling fairly daunted about my chances at the moment. It doesn't seem to be a high priority for people.

[grimmdark]

[Biting her tongue. So hard.]

And thus why I said so before. It would make sense people would focus on more pressing matters while on Mayfield, don't you think?

I think you will find someone willing to oblige sooner or later though. It's just the way this town operates.

[chastesaw]

I will endeavor to keep hope.

*An awkward pause.* How... are you?

[grimmdark]

I'm fine. Perfectly. Like never before. Peachy. How about you?

[Anxious? Pffft.]

[chastesaw]

As circumstance would have it, I am feeling the same.

Exactly the same.

[grimmdark]

Good. Very good. Exceedingly good.

There is nothing to discuss and or converse at this current point, then. Correct? Nothing at all.

[chastesaw]

I cannot for the life of me think of a single thing that warrants discussion, no, so I think that.

Well, I think that. Maybe we should just. Not?

[grimmdark]

Not what. What we should not talk about, Kanaya?

[chastesaw]

Anything, really.

[grimmdark]

Like Homecoming? Is that one of the topics we should not speak about, perhaps?

[Suddenly she sounds slightly irritated.]

[chastesaw]

I would think it safe to say that yes, Homecoming would indeed fall under the general umbrella of "anything."

But it could be a specific embargo if you'd like.

[grimmdark]

No, what I would like is some insight on what the hell transpired that night. But...we don't need to get to that right now if you don't want to.

[Le Sigh.]

[chastesaw]

...Rose Lalonde, are you insinuating that you would like to talk about what happened?

Because if you would really rather never mention it ever again to anybody I would be okay with that too. Probably.

[grimmdark]

I don't want to talk about it. But I equally don't want to pretend I don't remember about it. Ignorance won't do in this case.

[chastesaw]

I don't think a mutual agreement to refuse to acknowledge it counts as ignorance, really.

But if you're certain...

[grimmdark]

As if, Kanaya Maryam, as if.

I am not, but I hate being idle. So it's your decision.

[chastesaw]

I hate when something like this is my decision.

If it helps, I'm not sure it's very explicable myself. ...what happened, that is. My thoughts were, er, very much impaired after the consumption of that strange fruitnectar.

[grimmdark]

I wasn't the one k-- let's just get over this.

Are you implying you had no desire whatsoever in...in k-ki-kissing me?

[chastesaw]

*She makes a kind of strangled sound in her throat.* Well.

That is to say.

If we are certain that we are discussing the matter and there is to be no putting it off for another day, week, or perhaps decasweep, then.

Will you accept "I don't know" as a genuine answer?

[grimmdark]

Yes, I can accept that. I don't know if I wanted it, anyway. I just...don't know.

[Was she angry? Because she sounds rather conflicted.]

If you must know, I didn't hate it, but I didn't realize what was going on right away so I was taken by surprise. And I most certainly don't know how to feel about this. All I'm certain is that I wouldn't want to make something obstruct our...friendship...

[They are friends right?]