The Palace

Karkat put his hand on Eridan shoulder to stop him.
NOW HOLD THE FUCK UP. THIS IS *SENSITIVE* INFORMATION. THIS ENTIRE FUCKING PALACE IS RIDDLED WITH BULLSHIT HUGE HOLES EVERYWHERE. IF WHAT ERIDAN TOLD ME IS TRUE, THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES WE WANT TO BE SPOUTING OFF IMPORTANT EMPIRE SECRETS. WE CAN'T TAKE *ANY* CHANCES OF THIS INFORMATION GETTING OUT THERE, OR WE'RE ALL FUCKED LIKE A MOTHERGRUB FIGHTING A FADRAMOV.

Innsta snaps back to reality, still a little flustered.
O-oh! It's alright. This is my um. Friend? We're trying to give eridan his gun back. He lost it at the docks. Have you seen him?

Innsta waved.
Hi Karkat!

After a minor heart attack, Karkat immediately turned to eridan with his arms crossed and stared a hole into his soul.
I NEVER WANT TO HEAR YOU QUESTION ME AGAIN.
His head turned over to Innsta.
HEY INNSTA? WHO THE *FUCK* IS THIS PERSON?

*Eridan stares at the weapon he snatched out of the air, looking a tad pale, before looking at Karkat with what was intended to be a sarcastic smile but ends up looking mostly neutral*

hey kar im about to question you again check it
wwho the fuck do you THINK the telleportin cobalt blood passin by to drop off MY gun wwas

*He captachalogues the gun and turns away to start angrily checking behind pillars and archways*

fuckin dont tell anyone about my powwers stinkin bs is what it is you dont havve to fuckin threaten me to keep your dramatic entrance it wwasnt evven good

Karkat's eyes narrow.
OF FUCKING COURSE I KNEW WHO SHE WAS. IN FACT, I WAS HYPER-FUCKING-AWARE OF WHO SHE WAS AND THAT INNSTA WAS WITH HER. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHO *WASN'T* SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHO THE ACTUAL PSYCHOLOGICALLY SCARRING LUSUS FUCK THAT WAS??? FUCKING *ME* YOU COMPLETE CHUM BUCKET.
He huffed in annoyance.
NOT THAT IT FUCKING MATTERS ANYMORE. YOU ALL HEARD WHAT SHE SAID. THIS JIG IS UP.

*Eridan peeks out from behind a column*

the same one

*He walks back to the group*

an since it seems she apparently doesnt care for secrecy anymore might as wwell get to the point
shes wwith the endemic an as you may havve noticed shes both dangerous and finicky as all hell
the good newws is wwe might be able to tempt her ovver to our side wwith a position wwith the hunters

Karkat snorts.
YEAH SURE. *YOU* OF ALL PEOPLE SAYING WE SHOULD GO FOR THE "DIPLOMATIC" APPROACH. GOOD FUCKING LUCK WITH THAT ONE. WHILE WE'RE AT IT MAYBE I'LL DISCOVER HOW TO BLITZ MY FUCKING CHAKRAS AND FIND INNER PEACE.
Karkat shook his head.
BUT FINE. IF YOU THINK LETTING THE DANGEROUS ASSASSIN WHO'S ON THE ENEMY TEAM JOIN THE CLUB IS A GOOD IDEA, WE'LL PUT IT TO A VOTE, WITH NEPETA GETTING FINAL SAY ON LETTING THE LUNATIC JOIN THE HUNTERS.

you cant TAKE her shes a teleporter
best case scenario is shes outta the room by the time youvve taken your first swwing

*He narrowly avoids doing a long, overly dramatic, exasperated sigh and manages to turn it into something between a normal sigh and a cough*

look i knoww this is dangerous but the point is fightin her is at least twwice as awwful an idea so wwhy dont wwe try this BEFORE irrevvocably removvin the option

Karkat nearly jumped out of his exoskeleton.
JESUS SHIT, ARADIA! WHERE THE ACTUAL GRUBBING FUCK DID YOU COME FROM?
Karkat struggled in the air angrily trying to kick around.
AND WHAT IN THE 9 COCKSUCKING CIRCLES OF TROLL HELL ARE YOU DOING?

*Eridan mutters something under his breath about the number of trolls girls appearing out of nowhere today and how this has turned out to be a far less pleasant thing than he'd have expected*

givvin us another fine example a your palace security for one thing

*He (very slowly and with much effort turns) to Aradia*

okay ar wwe get the idea this all real impressivve an mildly terrifyin but do you evven havve any guarantee thisll keep her from teleportin out

SO YOU'RE SAYING WE HAVE OUR OWN BULLSHIT SUPER POWERED GIRL TO TAKE CARE OF HER. FUCKING A.
Karkat turned around to look at where Esdret appeared moments before.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM ALL ANSWERED WITH A NICE BOW ON IT, I HAVE ANOTHER SERIOUS QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED. WHY THE ACTUAL LUSUS-FUCKING BULGELICKING SHIT WAS INNSTA HANGING AROUND WITH THAT PSYCHOPATH?

Eridan shrugs.

beats me
either this is a neww devvelopment or you should be keepin a closer eye on your subordinates

THANKS CAPTAIN FUCKING OBVIOUS. REALLY NEEDED YOU TO GRAB AHOLD OF THAT CONTROL CIRCLE AND STEER US RIGHT INTO THAT FUCKING SHITBERG OF "NO DUH". NOW IF YOU'RE DONE BEING AS USEFUL AS SOLLUX ON A PIRATE SHIP WE SHOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER THIS TOMFUCKERY AS A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE SITUATION.
Karkat paced back and forth on the palace tiles.
NOW OBVIOUSLY THIS SHIT IS NEW. IF INNSTA WAS SECRETLY WORKING WITH THE COBALT THIS ENTIRE TIME (WHICH WOULD NEVER FUCKING HAPPEN) THEY WOULDN'T HAVE JUST PLAYED THEIR HAND RIGHT THERE. PLUS, INNSTA WAS WAY TOO FRIENDLY RIGHT THERE FOR ANYTHING TO BE GOING ON THAT SHE WASN'T ALRIGHT WITH. I KNOW HER AND SHE CAN'T HIDE ANYTHING FOR SHIT. IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG SHE'D BE SQUIRMING LIKE A FLAMING STARCH ROOT BEING TOSSED AROUND A CIRCLE.
Karkat stopped walking and looked back to the group.
WHICH MEANS WE MIGHT HAVE MORE OPTIONS THAN WE THOUGHT.