Did you know that there are people in the world annoyed with all the other people in the world

[selfhatred]

WHO: Karkat Vantas and YOU (open to all)
TONE: angsty, fluffy
RATING: T for KK's mouth
WHEN: afternoon/evening of January 13th
WHERE: starting in the library and going onward to Gryffindor tower
WHAT: Set after this. Karkat needs to cool his tits, so of course going to the library to find a crappy romance novel is the best thing to do. Unfortunately the universe hates you if your name is Karkat Vantas.
STATUS: Ongoing! Will alternate between action tags and prose as needed.


If there was one thing Karkat Vantas hated more than Dave Strider's ironic bullshit, it was people that felt the need to stare at him as he browsed the romance section of the library. He hadn't consumed a good (or bad as the case may be) romance novel all winter, so was it really that much to ask that he could just be left alone to his own devices and they got on with their studying? That would be great. Seriously. He should've known it was a bad idea to come down here and browse when dinner wasn't in session. Sometimes he just attracted the people who would rag on him about it and sometimes people would leave him alone and snicker behind their books.

Today was a day where the former happened.

Karkat had been leafing through some horrible novel or other when he heard someone make an obscene comment about him. Something along the lines of 'wonder if that fag over in the romance section has a boyfriend' or something like that anyway. He wasn't really paying attention and he didn't really care. Sadly such catcalls came with liking romance novels. As he moved through the section though, the twitch on his face got more irritating. Finally, he turned to the source of his annoyance, pointing a finger.

"Look here, nooksniffer. I like romance novels, yes. It's no big fucking deal. No, it doesn't make me a gay little fag, it just makes me interested in things above the norm for boys my age. It sounds like someone's in fucking denial, but I'm gonna have to turn you down. So sorry to do that. Maybe you should find someone else to be on the receiving end of your fucking fantasies before you go projecting onto another person's ass."

Glowering at the upperclassman, Karkat reached for the novel he'd been browsing and turned, whisking it away to the counter before the other boy could react. You do not make fun of Karkat Vantas' obsession for shitty romance, novels or otherwise. Period.

As if he wasn't pissed off already.

Comments

[magichairbrush]

"What have you got there?" Rapunzel asked, nodding down towards the book he was holding.

[selfhatred]

"Something random. I've never read wizard romance novels before." Usually he brought his own to school so that what happened in there wouldn't occur. "Hopefully it strays from the fucking norm that's usually a girl falling in love with two guys and obstacles keeping them from being together."

[magichairbrush]

"Oh, I see." Rapunzel nodded. "I hope it's good. Clichés get annoying." An awkward cough. "Listen, I'm sorry about -- And you probably don't want to hear this, I know... -- those guys being jerks." She glanced over to where Karkat had been teased. "I didn't notice. I would've said something if I did."

[selfhatred]

He glances back over his shoulder just slightly before shrugging and tucking the book under his arm to pick his book bag off the counter and slinging it over his shoulder. "I'm used to it. It's no big deal. Something just pissed me off earlier, s'all." He pauses, looking back at her. "Karkat Vantas. Third year Gryffindor."

[magichairbrush]

"Well, it's a shame that it happens that often, then," Rapunzel said, awkwardly, before he gave her his name. She smiled at that. "Rapunzel Gothel. Fifth year Hufflepuff. Nice to meet you."

[selfhatred]

"Uh...yeah. You too." Hufflepuff. Should've figured. Not that he had anything against them, just half the time they seemed to be idiots from the ones he'd encountered. Karkat shrugged a little, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Look, you don't have to worry about me or anything. I can handle myself fucking fine."

[magichairbrush]

"Oh, I'm sure you can!" Rapunzel assured him genuinely. "I just-- I like to help when I can. But I'll leave you alone, I get it, just... If you change your mind! Yeah."

[selfhatred]

"I...guess I get that. S'a Hufflepuff thing, right?" Wow this was getting awkward. Time to abscond. He was starting to sound like Tavros. "Uh...yeah. See you around?"

[magichairbrush]

"I guess so," she said with a shrug, before giving him a nod. "Yeah, I'll see you." She wasn't sure she would, of course, but it wouldn't be something she avoided. He seemed like a good kid, really... Just angry.