Karkat's hesitance lingers, and he eyes Linden in turn for eying up his pastry bag. He clutches it closer to himself as he steps over closer, albeit with a respectable space between them still.

"I heard the rough outline," he says in a measured tone. "And so long as I'm a tribute, I'm not going to be slapping or grabbing anyone without seriously good reason." Especially not after that time the Initiate slammed him into a wall. If not for Nill...

He plunks the bag on the tabletop. "I got doughnuts, and they were for myself, but if you give me the full story of what happened I might be persuaded to share. You did get me sponsors last time, and I'm not a complete selfish bastard."