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

[selfhatred]

[Karkat blinks at the older man for a moment before undoing the flap of his bookbag, shoving the novel in there and unceremoniously letting it flop shut.]

What the fuck do you want?

[jasmineofthewest]

Just to talk, really! How are you?

[selfhatred]

Fucking peachy.

[jasmineofthewest]

Yes, I can certainly tell.

Would you like to talk about what happened?

[selfhatred]

[He shrugged loosely, his hands finding their way to the pockets of his robes.]

What's there to talk about? The guy's a fucking jackass. End of story.

[jasmineofthewest]

Yes. Yes he was.

[He knows he shouldn't say things like that about another student, but he really rather was, and there is not sugar coating that.]

But it looked like you let him get to you. You're free to deny this, as you have every right to do so, however. I am, after all, being a nosy old man and attempting to understand your feelings. I've come to find that this tends to be the greatest offense an old person can make.

[selfhatred]

[He's a little surprised the older male was willing to admit that freely. He hated it when people bumped their noses into his business, especially when it was people like his Uncle. Karkat snorts a little, forgetting about the promise he'd made Tavros about swearing around teachers for a moment.]

Please. He didn't get to me. I'm a fucking ball of rage all the fucking time. I can deal with prejudiced bullshit like that.

[jasmineofthewest]

Alright, then I will not push the issue. But if you ever wish to talk about it, then I hope you'll consider me as someone you can trust to talk to freely and someone who will not judge you.

With that said, what book are you checking out? It isn't often I see students reading anything other than the required texts! Well, besides most Ravenclaws, that is.

[selfhatred]

Just a random romance novel. I've never read wizard romance fiction before. [He's a little ashamed of that, given how much of a romance buff he is.] Never saw the reason to I guess.

[jasmineofthewest]

Oh, how wonderful! I've been known to indulge in a nice romance novel from time to time myself. I would offer to lend you a few of mine, but sadly they were all destroyed in my office fire some months back.

[selfhatred]

Oh... [What do you say to something like that.] That's too bad.

[jasmineofthewest]

[He seems to realize quickly that he has made things awkward, and he waves a dismissive hand.]

Oh, no, don't worry about it! The students helped me renovate and now my office is very lovely, and a million times better than it ever was before.

Anyway, back to books. You really should get around to reading a few of the wizarding ones, they can be very different from the muggle variety!

[selfhatred]

[Well it wasn't really all that awkward. Karkat subconsciously shifts his bookbag where the novel is resting, hefting it slightly.] I'm kinda hoping that. Though the usual method is okay it'd be nice for a fucking change of pace.