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[ Rude. Rude. He hates that. The feeling of something tugging at his head is uncomfortable. Lightly prodding to draw something out further. Even if it's only a moment accompanied by warmth and reaching for a happy picture - even if it's Dave doing it, Dirk doesn't like it.
It feels invasive. Like someone's trying to steal control from his own brain. Dave caught himself on it so the discomfort lasts a mere second. But "No." hit the surface instantly. The memory pulling back in favor of Dirk internally flinching that someone else other than him reached out in there. Don't do that.
He doesn't pull back once Dave's asking. The initial reaction was probably harsh. Of course Dave wants to see that. Dirk's the only one with answers. ]
Yeah. Sure.
[ Of course. It's jumbled for a moment while he tries to pick a starting point to share. Then it's flashes. The memory is fuzzy. (The world is spinning and Dave is reaching out to catch him. Everything goes dark.) Jane smiling down at him while he feels so relaxed - nothing hurts. That was because (Dave, rushing at him with a sword and he closes his eyes to let go because Dave's going to-) That's the wrong way to share. He goes back to Jane smiling down and how she made him feel like a child full of awe. She's all that is good in the world. He wants to hug her but Dave's got a firm grip on his shoulder when he sits up and they're smiling at each other. He's so proud of him. He respects him. He looks up to him. Terezi says something with a laugh above them. He fears her. He adores her. (The world spins into view. Terezi has her fingers on her temples and Dave is doing something and he feels like he's split into pieces and yanked back together. The look at him then start fighting in perfect sync. He's so fucking confused. They know what they're doing. They're a force to be reckoned with. He's an amateur. They're heroes. He has to help them.)
Roxy and Rose are smiling at each other above them. John's loudly sharing, retelling their side of the fight (Two Jack's above them. He's focused on the one glowing, caked in blood. Eyes flashing with numbers. Dave and Terezi holding their swords at his side. He hears lightning and thunder. Heart pounding. Grip tight. "Why are we so fucking awesome?" Dave asks. )
He's thinking hard to see if he can remember John was saying but it was in the background. He was too busy looking them over. No scrapes. No bruises. Jane deserves so much. They owe her. He only has pieces of their words. A detail about how Roxy took down the Condesce with his sword sticks. He doesn't have his sword. (Dave rushing at him and it's in the way. It needs to break. Let go.) Rose and Roxy exchanging looks of approval at each other. They never stop smiling. Roxy is happy so he's happy. There's another troll that takes Rose's hand and intertwines their fingers. The grip is tight. Dave beelines for the troll with the black sweater - Karkat. They keep trying to go to each other casually but Dave's walking fast enough for the cape to flow behind him. The troll holding Rose runs to the same person Dave went to and Rose is yanked along behind her.
Jake shows up and he's so relieved and terrified and wants to hold him and wants to run from him. They're tense and awkward. Feelings of remorse. Embarrassment. He's so sorry. He's so so sorry. Jake forgave him. He wants to collapse. Powerful feelings. They'll never be the same as they were. That'll be a good thing. His eyes linger on those stupid yellow underpants. (They're alone, breathing hard. Jake's face is trickled with sweat. There's a stupid smile on his face. He can wipe off if he puts his lips- ) ]
Shit. Sorry. [ It's a confusing mixture of emotions and he mentally curses at himself for subjecting Dave to it. He tries to focus on everyone else. He wasn't watching anyone but Jake for a while.
Jade and John's gleeful laughter is SO LOUD that Jake turns to look at them. It interrupts their talk. He sees them holding hands. They're jumping up and down. They're smiling so wide he can see all of Jade's teeth. Sharp. (Her Imperious Condescension beckoning him forward with a finger while he lunges for her. A flash of green and Jade is there. Growling and colliding into him with a fist. It hurts and-) They have no shame. They're so fucking happy. Jake says something about being envious. He agrees. Roxy is clinging to a green skeleton next to those two. He guesses that's Calliope. (A flash of grey text on his screen. A smile made of capitalized Us. Jane's bright blue and Jake's forest green being linked through it) She's so small. He owes her. Roxy yanks Jane by the collar towards the two of them.
He wants to say more to Jake but Terezi interrupts. They're talking to each other and Dirk's not entirely focused on what they're saying. He locates Dave again. His hand draped around Karkat. The don't look away from each other. ("How did you tell your friends?") He turns from them when he hears his name and Rose waving at him from behind Terezi. She wanders off before he can talk to her. A ping of longing and slight regret he didn't say more to her now. He thought he could reach her after at the time.
Terezi's distracted the only one not smiling. Someone's missing. He looks around to see if he can spot them. (Blue screaming about being a loser.) Jane's Dad shows up and lifts John into a tight embrace. Jane's happy so he's happy. There's a bright light that everyone pays attention to after that.
He's not really sure if Dave wants to see the birth of a universe. Bright frog that zipped through space. It's cool, he supposes. It doesn't matter much right now. His own personal feelings were skepticism, fear, excitement. Jade has the whole world floating in her hand. Dave's focused on it. Jane's with them to breathe life into it, he thinks. He doesn't know when they pulled that out. He wishes he was paying more attention. It goes from mostly blue to mostly green. The last traces of where he came from wiped from its surface. (His planet in the distance from where he's standing. A big chunk of it missing. What the fuck?) He belongs with them now. He never belonged there.
The light from the house behind them all had gone from red to white. John and Karkat exchange looks or words or middle fingers. He isn't sure. John reaches for the door - ]
And then the universe was Pokemon. [ Did that help? ]
It feels invasive. Like someone's trying to steal control from his own brain. Dave caught himself on it so the discomfort lasts a mere second. But "No." hit the surface instantly. The memory pulling back in favor of Dirk internally flinching that someone else other than him reached out in there. Don't do that.
He doesn't pull back once Dave's asking. The initial reaction was probably harsh. Of course Dave wants to see that. Dirk's the only one with answers. ]
Yeah. Sure.
[ Of course. It's jumbled for a moment while he tries to pick a starting point to share. Then it's flashes. The memory is fuzzy. (The world is spinning and Dave is reaching out to catch him. Everything goes dark.) Jane smiling down at him while he feels so relaxed - nothing hurts. That was because (Dave, rushing at him with a sword and he closes his eyes to let go because Dave's going to-) That's the wrong way to share. He goes back to Jane smiling down and how she made him feel like a child full of awe. She's all that is good in the world. He wants to hug her but Dave's got a firm grip on his shoulder when he sits up and they're smiling at each other. He's so proud of him. He respects him. He looks up to him. Terezi says something with a laugh above them. He fears her. He adores her. (The world spins into view. Terezi has her fingers on her temples and Dave is doing something and he feels like he's split into pieces and yanked back together. The look at him then start fighting in perfect sync. He's so fucking confused. They know what they're doing. They're a force to be reckoned with. He's an amateur. They're heroes. He has to help them.)
Roxy and Rose are smiling at each other above them. John's loudly sharing, retelling their side of the fight (Two Jack's above them. He's focused on the one glowing, caked in blood. Eyes flashing with numbers. Dave and Terezi holding their swords at his side. He hears lightning and thunder. Heart pounding. Grip tight. "Why are we so fucking awesome?" Dave asks. )
He's thinking hard to see if he can remember John was saying but it was in the background. He was too busy looking them over. No scrapes. No bruises. Jane deserves so much. They owe her. He only has pieces of their words. A detail about how Roxy took down the Condesce with his sword sticks. He doesn't have his sword. (Dave rushing at him and it's in the way. It needs to break. Let go.) Rose and Roxy exchanging looks of approval at each other. They never stop smiling. Roxy is happy so he's happy. There's another troll that takes Rose's hand and intertwines their fingers. The grip is tight. Dave beelines for the troll with the black sweater - Karkat. They keep trying to go to each other casually but Dave's walking fast enough for the cape to flow behind him. The troll holding Rose runs to the same person Dave went to and Rose is yanked along behind her.
Jake shows up and he's so relieved and terrified and wants to hold him and wants to run from him. They're tense and awkward. Feelings of remorse. Embarrassment. He's so sorry. He's so so sorry. Jake forgave him. He wants to collapse. Powerful feelings. They'll never be the same as they were. That'll be a good thing. His eyes linger on those stupid yellow underpants. (They're alone, breathing hard. Jake's face is trickled with sweat. There's a stupid smile on his face. He can wipe off if he puts his lips- ) ]
Shit. Sorry. [ It's a confusing mixture of emotions and he mentally curses at himself for subjecting Dave to it. He tries to focus on everyone else. He wasn't watching anyone but Jake for a while.
Jade and John's gleeful laughter is SO LOUD that Jake turns to look at them. It interrupts their talk. He sees them holding hands. They're jumping up and down. They're smiling so wide he can see all of Jade's teeth. Sharp. (Her Imperious Condescension beckoning him forward with a finger while he lunges for her. A flash of green and Jade is there. Growling and colliding into him with a fist. It hurts and-) They have no shame. They're so fucking happy. Jake says something about being envious. He agrees. Roxy is clinging to a green skeleton next to those two. He guesses that's Calliope. (A flash of grey text on his screen. A smile made of capitalized Us. Jane's bright blue and Jake's forest green being linked through it) She's so small. He owes her. Roxy yanks Jane by the collar towards the two of them.
He wants to say more to Jake but Terezi interrupts. They're talking to each other and Dirk's not entirely focused on what they're saying. He locates Dave again. His hand draped around Karkat. The don't look away from each other. ("How did you tell your friends?") He turns from them when he hears his name and Rose waving at him from behind Terezi. She wanders off before he can talk to her. A ping of longing and slight regret he didn't say more to her now. He thought he could reach her after at the time.
Terezi's distracted the only one not smiling. Someone's missing. He looks around to see if he can spot them. (Blue screaming about being a loser.) Jane's Dad shows up and lifts John into a tight embrace. Jane's happy so he's happy. There's a bright light that everyone pays attention to after that.
He's not really sure if Dave wants to see the birth of a universe. Bright frog that zipped through space. It's cool, he supposes. It doesn't matter much right now. His own personal feelings were skepticism, fear, excitement. Jade has the whole world floating in her hand. Dave's focused on it. Jane's with them to breathe life into it, he thinks. He doesn't know when they pulled that out. He wishes he was paying more attention. It goes from mostly blue to mostly green. The last traces of where he came from wiped from its surface. (His planet in the distance from where he's standing. A big chunk of it missing. What the fuck?) He belongs with them now. He never belonged there.
The light from the house behind them all had gone from red to white. John and Karkat exchange looks or words or middle fingers. He isn't sure. John reaches for the door - ]
And then the universe was Pokemon. [ Did that help? ]
[Does Dave just, like, HAVE this picture saved to his 'Gear at this point? It's probably his phone background. Look at this piece of shit.]
my moldy turtle pasta son
my moldy turtle pasta son
what the fuck is that?
who thought that would make a good pokemon?
who thought that would make a good pokemon?
why are you calling it your child? that is so weird.
it's like... an alien coming out of a meteor. but not a cool human alien like karkat.
like a gross slime alien that probably eats people.
it's like... an alien coming out of a meteor. but not a cool human alien like karkat.
like a gross slime alien that probably eats people.
i do not even want to know why you like these things so much.
anyways, this just means that you should try and get here as soon as possible! so that you can catch a bunch!
anyways, this just means that you should try and get here as soon as possible! so that you can catch a bunch!
['There was a lot of smiling.'
No fucking kidding, dude.
Dave absorbs it all with wide-eyed wonder (literal; why are Gallades' eyes so huge?), and what he picks up is more than just the final battle's play-by-play.
Nothing is stranger, more jarring, than seeing himself through Dirk's eyes, his own mouth an unreadable line in a face made impenetrable by his shades. That's Caledfwlch in his hand and it's weird, it looks like it belongs there, like it isn't a toolish too-wide shitty Welsh broadsword he had to break to get out of the stone because he's not a hero, he's--
(Dirk sees him as one, and it's such a turn Dave feels physically dizzy to realize it.)
He doesn't understand three fourths of what Dirk shares, and that's fine, he doesn't think he's ready to see whatever it is that Dirk is so conscientiously keeping from remembering, him with the sword and the cape and the way his grip shifts on the hilt right before Dirk closes his eyes--anyway, Dave doesn't follow everything, especially not from such a confusing perspective (so, so strange to look at those mostly-strangers and feel such fierce fondness for them, such profound care, and then to see his closest friends as almost unrecognizable, weirdly young but almost adult for all that, has John always been so tall, Rose so womanly?)--but the what isn't so important. It's the how. The adjectives and adverbs, not the noun. Laughing and smiling and joking and holding, hand to another's hand and fingers woven like Rose's knitting. Joyful and full of color and sound, and maybe that busy, over-saturated scenery is too much; maybe it's too like where he died, all three times, in bullets and explosions and battle, but Dave's own flashback-associations are minimal, pings of teeth and steel and fear without escape, and then John's dad turns up and Dave inhales sharply.
He barely really notices the creation of a new universe, even if it's projected right there in his head like his skull's a movie screen, surround sound and IMAX. Something about seeing John together with his dad again (Jane's dad? They're the same dude, practically), something about seeing that hug--it's right. It's. John is home. John made it home, and they're all...they're all home.]
Sorry. Sorry, I...Shit.
[Dave turns and paces a few steps away before stopping, little green hands fisted, trying to get shove down the tidal flood of--of emotion, too great to differentiate into relief, joy, longing, regret; it's bigger than anything he could name with a simple word. Not that he'd be able to, anyway, even if he weren't currently limited to the syllables of Wart's species. The lump in his throat is thicker than your mother's dick joke, and his eyes are blurry behind his shades.
It's over. They won.
He can stop fighting.
He breathes in again, as steadily as he can, and tries to run his hand back through hair he doesn't currently have. Tries to swallow the lump down.]
I. Uh. I don't have anything like that, to show you, but if there's, like...anything you want to know?
[Gratitude is winning out, now. Thank you, thank you, he needed to see this. He needed to know. It's over, he can rest. He can...he can stop waiting for the next scrape of steel behind his back.
He can't express it, but Dave is glad, heart-achingly glad, that Dirk is here.]
Anything.
No fucking kidding, dude.
Dave absorbs it all with wide-eyed wonder (literal; why are Gallades' eyes so huge?), and what he picks up is more than just the final battle's play-by-play.
Nothing is stranger, more jarring, than seeing himself through Dirk's eyes, his own mouth an unreadable line in a face made impenetrable by his shades. That's Caledfwlch in his hand and it's weird, it looks like it belongs there, like it isn't a toolish too-wide shitty Welsh broadsword he had to break to get out of the stone because he's not a hero, he's--
(Dirk sees him as one, and it's such a turn Dave feels physically dizzy to realize it.)
He doesn't understand three fourths of what Dirk shares, and that's fine, he doesn't think he's ready to see whatever it is that Dirk is so conscientiously keeping from remembering, him with the sword and the cape and the way his grip shifts on the hilt right before Dirk closes his eyes--anyway, Dave doesn't follow everything, especially not from such a confusing perspective (so, so strange to look at those mostly-strangers and feel such fierce fondness for them, such profound care, and then to see his closest friends as almost unrecognizable, weirdly young but almost adult for all that, has John always been so tall, Rose so womanly?)--but the what isn't so important. It's the how. The adjectives and adverbs, not the noun. Laughing and smiling and joking and holding, hand to another's hand and fingers woven like Rose's knitting. Joyful and full of color and sound, and maybe that busy, over-saturated scenery is too much; maybe it's too like where he died, all three times, in bullets and explosions and battle, but Dave's own flashback-associations are minimal, pings of teeth and steel and fear without escape, and then John's dad turns up and Dave inhales sharply.
He barely really notices the creation of a new universe, even if it's projected right there in his head like his skull's a movie screen, surround sound and IMAX. Something about seeing John together with his dad again (Jane's dad? They're the same dude, practically), something about seeing that hug--it's right. It's. John is home. John made it home, and they're all...they're all home.]
Sorry. Sorry, I...Shit.
[Dave turns and paces a few steps away before stopping, little green hands fisted, trying to get shove down the tidal flood of--of emotion, too great to differentiate into relief, joy, longing, regret; it's bigger than anything he could name with a simple word. Not that he'd be able to, anyway, even if he weren't currently limited to the syllables of Wart's species. The lump in his throat is thicker than your mother's dick joke, and his eyes are blurry behind his shades.
It's over. They won.
He can stop fighting.
He breathes in again, as steadily as he can, and tries to run his hand back through hair he doesn't currently have. Tries to swallow the lump down.]
I. Uh. I don't have anything like that, to show you, but if there's, like...anything you want to know?
[Gratitude is winning out, now. Thank you, thank you, he needed to see this. He needed to know. It's over, he can rest. He can...he can stop waiting for the next scrape of steel behind his back.
He can't express it, but Dave is glad, heart-achingly glad, that Dirk is here.]
Anything.
[The acceptance is so far from what Karkat had been expecting that he flinches, then glances up. Dave is... god, and thanking him, like he's done anything deserving of thanks, what the fuck. He's too stunned to call out this aberrant behavior for what it is, much less try a "you're welcome," because that would be fucking normal, but there may be the start of a disbelieving smile on his face when Dave peeks back again. It's really okay? It's okay.
... Cool.
Fuck, did he actually just think—whatever, Dave told him to get under the covers so under the covers he'll get. Karkat is keenly aware of the dampness of his sweater, though, along with the fact that he should probably do something about that, so before actually getting into the bed, he quickly changes, too. Warm, dry pajamas for both of them. Good.
He's only just gotten around to pulling back the covers when Dave emerges again, and more easily this time, he looks over once more, his smile reappearing... and then fading because what in the name of that human red chimney asshole is Dave even talking about. Sorry? For... god. Fucking. Dammit.
Karkat sighs, drops his gaze to the fluffy red blanket he'd been not-fondling, and tries to ignore the twisting sensation in his repulsive human stomach. If Dave is still bringing it up, then he can't really dismiss it, can he? Even if he really fucking wants to.]
Tell me how any of that was your fault, Dave, and I'll listen. But... I mean, I guess I can understand why you'd think it was. Because you're stupid.
[... How was that not dismissing it again? Argh, he's always so fucking terrible at this. How can he stop Dave from blaming himself for something he had no control over?]
... Cool.
Fuck, did he actually just think—whatever, Dave told him to get under the covers so under the covers he'll get. Karkat is keenly aware of the dampness of his sweater, though, along with the fact that he should probably do something about that, so before actually getting into the bed, he quickly changes, too. Warm, dry pajamas for both of them. Good.
He's only just gotten around to pulling back the covers when Dave emerges again, and more easily this time, he looks over once more, his smile reappearing... and then fading because what in the name of that human red chimney asshole is Dave even talking about. Sorry? For... god. Fucking. Dammit.
Karkat sighs, drops his gaze to the fluffy red blanket he'd been not-fondling, and tries to ignore the twisting sensation in his repulsive human stomach. If Dave is still bringing it up, then he can't really dismiss it, can he? Even if he really fucking wants to.]
Tell me how any of that was your fault, Dave, and I'll listen. But... I mean, I guess I can understand why you'd think it was. Because you're stupid.
[... How was that not dismissing it again? Argh, he's always so fucking terrible at this. How can he stop Dave from blaming himself for something he had no control over?]
[Branding. Right.]
I'm rolling my eyes, just so you know.
[And he is, a little, but he's mostly still trying to make certain that Dave isn't about to collide with anything. Maybe they'll get back to the hotel without incident after all? Who the fuck is he kidding, it's all going to go pear-shaped eventually. He just has to make sure he doesn't lose his fucking head again when that happens.]
People don't keep you around for your looks, either. Hate to break it to you. Why did you think you were so popular?
I'm rolling my eyes, just so you know.
[And he is, a little, but he's mostly still trying to make certain that Dave isn't about to collide with anything. Maybe they'll get back to the hotel without incident after all? Who the fuck is he kidding, it's all going to go pear-shaped eventually. He just has to make sure he doesn't lose his fucking head again when that happens.]
People don't keep you around for your looks, either. Hate to break it to you. Why did you think you were so popular?
well the storm seems to have mostly passed over the town by now i think?
it just looks really bad out over the water.
i do not know enough about ocean storms to say how strong it is, though.
it just looks really bad out over the water.
i do not know enough about ocean storms to say how strong it is, though.
[Dismissive or not, that happens to be the magic combination to get Dave both to look at Karkat and to shut his mouth, to eschew arguing his point. How do you protest "Because you're stupid," said in such a matter-of-fact tone? Like, words like that, they just feel normal. It's good. Like Dave's not irreparably broken, like this is all merely some facet of some incontrovertible Dave-ness that Karkat knew about when he signed up for this, even though Dave knows that can't be right, who the fuck would agree to the maggot-ridden horseshit of the last half hour?
He stays still for a second, as if an answer will strike him, but then just crawls into the bed with a little huff, lies on his stomach and pulls the covers all the way up to his ears.]
Well, it wasn't your fault, either.
[That much is fucking true. He doesn't like Karkat trying to blame himself for not being there, refusing to let Dave take responsibility for his own fucked-upness. Like...like Dave is some kind of natural disaster that can be measured and gauged and prepared for but can't control itself. Like Bro messed him up so badly as a kid he'll never be able to manage his own feelings like an adult, like all he'll ever be is the result of what Bro did to him.
Fuck. Bro.]
...Or--or Dirk's. [The name feels downright wrong to say aloud, and Dave cringes a little without realizing it, like he could somehow get away from the sounds of his own mouth. He clears his throat, though his voice remains at about half-volume.] He didn't do anything.
He stays still for a second, as if an answer will strike him, but then just crawls into the bed with a little huff, lies on his stomach and pulls the covers all the way up to his ears.]
Well, it wasn't your fault, either.
[That much is fucking true. He doesn't like Karkat trying to blame himself for not being there, refusing to let Dave take responsibility for his own fucked-upness. Like...like Dave is some kind of natural disaster that can be measured and gauged and prepared for but can't control itself. Like Bro messed him up so badly as a kid he'll never be able to manage his own feelings like an adult, like all he'll ever be is the result of what Bro did to him.
Fuck. Bro.]
...Or--or Dirk's. [The name feels downright wrong to say aloud, and Dave cringes a little without realizing it, like he could somehow get away from the sounds of his own mouth. He clears his throat, though his voice remains at about half-volume.] He didn't do anything.
Edited (There was extraneous punctuation and I am a perfectionist) 2016-06-20 14:12 (UTC)
Whoa, you take that filthy slander back right the fuck now.
[The response is so automatic he only registers popular? (a brush of surprise-pleasure-uncertainty) a second after he replies, but he apparently doesn't find that worthy of comment--or, more likely, of risking the vulnerability of letting anyone know he didn't think he was popular.]
People want me for my body exclusively. Multitudes gaze upon my pasty chicken legs and whisper benedictions upon them, blessing all forces that be for the opportunity to bear witness to someone so goddamn fly.
[The response is so automatic he only registers popular? (a brush of surprise-pleasure-uncertainty) a second after he replies, but he apparently doesn't find that worthy of comment--or, more likely, of risking the vulnerability of letting anyone know he didn't think he was popular.]
People want me for my body exclusively. Multitudes gaze upon my pasty chicken legs and whisper benedictions upon them, blessing all forces that be for the opportunity to bear witness to someone so goddamn fly.
[ He thinks he might've overdid it at first. Because what Dave gives back is surprise and dizziness. Disorienting impressions. He isn't sure what Dave thinks of his opinion on Dave.
There's a strange feedback. Teeth and fear and caring. Dirk to Dave to Dirk again. John's the best friend but the person Dirk hardly knows all at the same time in a flash. Love and relief and sadness. It swirls and he has no idea what to make of it. What to do. He pulls Karkat's sleeves over his hands, picks at the edge of the fabric for a lack of anything else to do while he stands there like an idiot trying to decide what to do.
Should he hug him? Can he do that or...?
He lets out a breath when he realizes that Dave released a huge weight off of himself. He needed to know that. It was cathartic. He's okay.
Okay with him being there ]
You don't have to show me anything back, as interested as I am in your entire life. But I do have a question.
There's a strange feedback. Teeth and fear and caring. Dirk to Dave to Dirk again. John's the best friend but the person Dirk hardly knows all at the same time in a flash. Love and relief and sadness. It swirls and he has no idea what to make of it. What to do. He pulls Karkat's sleeves over his hands, picks at the edge of the fabric for a lack of anything else to do while he stands there like an idiot trying to decide what to do.
Should he hug him? Can he do that or...?
He lets out a breath when he realizes that Dave released a huge weight off of himself. He needed to know that. It was cathartic. He's okay.
Okay with him being there ]
You don't have to show me anything back, as interested as I am in your entire life. But I do have a question.
[Dave's feelings towards Dirk and the entirety of his life to this point are, of course, still disgustingly complicated, but they're not such an unwieldy, horrifying mess that he can't handle them anymore. He does the mental equivalent of haul them onto a shelf for later and tilts his head with an untroubled, gently lapping wave of curiosity.]
Sure. Shoot.
[A very faint, almost residual unease: He's leaving himself open to talking about Heavy Shit, and this whole psychic leak is already making him more vulnerable than he likes to be, ever. But it could be described as a willing discomfort. The first budding and tender growths of trust.]
Sure. Shoot.
[A very faint, almost residual unease: He's leaving himself open to talking about Heavy Shit, and this whole psychic leak is already making him more vulnerable than he likes to be, ever. But it could be described as a willing discomfort. The first budding and tender growths of trust.]
Dave, come on.
[There's a sigh on the other end, it sounds like she's gotten up and is walking.]
I dated your sprite self, nobody would question if I was dating Pokemon you. John would probably be like "oh so you're dating Dave again, you'd better stay together this time."
[She means that as an ironic comment but there's a slight edge of annoyance. Not at Dave but at John and how he felt the need to rub it in that they broke up and it was the worst thing to happen to him.]
[There's a sigh on the other end, it sounds like she's gotten up and is walking.]
I dated your sprite self, nobody would question if I was dating Pokemon you. John would probably be like "oh so you're dating Dave again, you'd better stay together this time."
[She means that as an ironic comment but there's a slight edge of annoyance. Not at Dave but at John and how he felt the need to rub it in that they broke up and it was the worst thing to happen to him.]
are you still in goldenrod?
[There, that's a half-cough, half-throat-clearing noise in actual audible format rather than psychic overshare. The psychic overshare part though is all awkwardness, faintly amused, but underlain by a whisper of regret and jealousy, it's not fair.]
You meant dating-dating?
[Wait. That's not what he meant to say.]
I mean, well, shit, I don't know, Jade, whispering sweet nothings to a half-bird macaroni ghost is one thing, but are you really ready to commit to the whole bestiality enchilada? Bestchilada. Wait, that actually sounds good. What do you say to PokéMexican for our whateverdate.
You meant dating-dating?
[Wait. That's not what he meant to say.]
I mean, well, shit, I don't know, Jade, whispering sweet nothings to a half-bird macaroni ghost is one thing, but are you really ready to commit to the whole bestiality enchilada? Bestchilada. Wait, that actually sounds good. What do you say to PokéMexican for our whateverdate.
yeah, i think so!
i just dropped in on the lobby and it sounds like as long as i help out with cleaning up after the storm i can get free room and board.
the joke is on them, though, because i would have helped clean up anyways.
i just dropped in on the lobby and it sounds like as long as i help out with cleaning up after the storm i can get free room and board.
the joke is on them, though, because i would have helped clean up anyways.
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