Tomorrow, others' lips will recount

[theflyingone]

Who| Altaïr ibn La-Ahad and Karkat Vantas crabmunicator
What| weapon swap! (it's like wife swap but with 10x more violence!)
Where| the forest
When| aug 10
Warnings/Notes| Mention of prison brutality, idk what else yet

The shifting icebergs were simply a matter of timing his dashes and jumps, but he couldn't bring anyone else along. Soon he was disappearing into the forest in the chaos. The trees grew thicker, closing a green curtain on the sun. He'd ditched the pole of his spear, breaking off the head to keep as a long knife. He had to move fast, and he couldn't afford to get it tangled in the bushes. He also had a sickle, though it wasn't his first choice of weapon. His tent and sleeping bag were rolled tightly on his back.

One did not simply happen upon Altaïr when he was on high alert. Altaïr happened upon them. Still, fighting off doppelgangers took its toll; he was sweaty and dirty enough to make him worry about people scenting him, not to mention whatever beasts were in the forest. After fighting his way here, the quiet made him uneasy.

When he saw someone who wasn't attacking everything like the false doubles, he moved aside a few branches for a better look. The troll from that too-vivid dream. He called out softly,

"Is that you, Karkat Vantas?"

Comments

realized like 2/3 through I was in the wrong tense. go ahead in past, I'll correct next time

[crabmunicator]

You know bug spray? That stuff in a can that you spray and bugs fuck off elsewhere because holy shit that's nasty? Funny thing about that. Karkat got some in this backpack of his, one he's no longer carrying after having relinquished its contents to his districtmates. The bug spray with it, because as came the startling discovery, that shit includes trolls. While at least Phil didn't spray it in his eyes, as he'd mentioned in an idea for self-defense, just having the stuff sprayed in his vicinity was enough to spawn hacking, coughing, and a firm decision to fuck off elsewhere. He'd rather not have his spongy aeration sacks eaten away by whatever was in that can.

From there he's ventured further into the forest, trying at least to keep nearer the more human structures than to the mountains. His supplies didn't include anything for the wintry chill, and this thermal suit ain't so thermal as he wishes. He is not, however, empty-handed. While it's slowed down his travel and made him less stealthy, Karkat does carry the conspicuous boon of a morning star. There's some blood adorning its spikes now; like the weird dude in the tree, he's run into a few hostile creatures by now. It's not his first choice, but he's adapted.

Still, he's not really expecting someone to happen upon him that way. He jolts at the voice, soft though it is, and his head jerks up to look.

"Altaïr?" His eyebrows bunch. He may have met him first by dream, but the dream wasn't usual, and by one source or another he's surely learned the name of the guy who prompted his Escort to quit. His posture stands wary, weapon lowered but hold firm on the handle. "Yeah, it's me. What are you doing up there?"

He looks gross at a glance, though he can't see him the best from down here. His sunglasses, the only other thing he took from the pack, may cut the sun's glare between the trees, but they aren't the same as solid night vision. Or, you know, not having a bunch of leaves in the way.

do whatever you're most comfortable with, i'm just stuck in the past lol

[theflyingone]

"Trying to avoid being killed by the doubles. I see you've had a fight already. Animal or man?"

He might be asking about the weather. Though unintentional, that casual tone certainly helped his image as a bloodthirsty, violent Tribute who attacked innocent Capitolites. It didn't help that Karkat's first encounter with him had been in a strange dream about being imprisoned after said attack.

Cautiously—the arenas always made him cautious of just about everyone—he dropped to a branch closer to the ground to look at Karkat properly. He carried a European-style weapon, one Altaïr was familiar with. Earth's apparent future had some relics from the distant past, Altaïr's present. It was jarring in its own way. He wondered if Karkat had things like that in his own land. He wondered if Karkat was afraid he'd kill him.