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3 ∅ [Anonymous Text]
[Cleared font formatting, check. Autocorrect, check. Masked I.D., triple check. Dave's been wrestling with this question for over a week, and he's no closer to an answer than he was eight days ago. No closer than he was three years ago.
Where's Dear Abby when you need advice?]
Have you ever been in a situation
Where you knew something somebody else didn't
And you weren't sure if you should tell them or not
Like you knew that if they found out they'd be really upset but there's also nothing they could do about it
And you don't want them to blame themselves
Or
Get mad at you
But pretending it didn't happen feels
I don't know
A lot like lying I guess
What would you do in those circumstances?
I'm asking for a friend.
Where's Dear Abby when you need advice?]
Have you ever been in a situation
Where you knew something somebody else didn't
And you weren't sure if you should tell them or not
Like you knew that if they found out they'd be really upset but there's also nothing they could do about it
And you don't want them to blame themselves
Or
Get mad at you
But pretending it didn't happen feels
I don't know
A lot like lying I guess
What would you do in those circumstances?
I'm asking for a friend.
Re: [Action]
[She thinks? She didn't think her speech was all THAT distinctive.]
[Still, she sits quietly next to Dave, hands folded on her lap.]
...Are you going to be all right?
[Action]
[He shifts so both his entire arms are crossed over his face, now, hiding all but his mouth and nose from view. After a moment of tense silence, he finally breaks.]
You've talked to Jade, right? My friend from home.
Re: [Action]
[She said they were friends and everything, it was fantastic.]
[And then her expression reluctantly shifts to something much more somber.]
...did she actually die, before she came here?
[That was just some really unfortunate Striderism, right?
Please say yes, she'll believe you.][Action]
Finally, he just nods stiffly and croaks one word.]
Yeah.
[Sorry, when Strider Honesty Hour starts, ain't no getting off the pain train, Penny.]
Re: [Action]
[Penny.exe is processing, this may take a few minutes.]
...oh no. No, no...
[And awkward as it is given their relative positions, she's going for a hug. Sorry, Dave.]
That's- it's not fair. I'm sorry.
[She's not exactly crying per se, yet, but her eyes are definitely starting to leak.]
[Action]
Penny's probably been around Dave long enough to know that he isn't exactly the touchiest of dudes, but after his usual initial moment of what do, he actually bends his arms to return the hug awkwardly, gently pat her back.]
Or--ordinarily it wouldn't be such a big deal, because there are mechanics in place where we're from that would actually, um. Reverse that. But, I, uh.
I kind of fucked up securing one, so.
[His voice gets mumblier as he talks, like he could retreat into himself.]
Probably not gonna happen.
Re: [Action]
[Dave's not alone in sounding miserable, at least. Penny squeezes a little harder, as much for herself as Dave.]
...I'm sorry. I understand why you don't want to-
That's so awful. Just- ...she's so nice, she doesn't deserve that. You don't deserve that.
[Action]
I guess--I guess shit just happens.
[It takes a while, but eventually he gulps again and says in a small, sincere voice:]
I don't want her to know.
Re: [Action]
Do you- ...do you think she'd figure it out anyway, if you didn't tell her?
[Action]
Re: [Action]
Well... if she's going to find out no matter what, maybe you should tell her to get it over with?
[Her experience here is less than helpful.]
This is hurting you so badly, I don't want it to get worse!
[Action]
But I don't care if it hurts me, I just--
[He's all wound up, shoulders hunched and taut, and finally he wriggles away from Penny onto his side, hands pressed over his face again.]
Okay. That sounded shitty. I retract that from the record.
[Even if he doesn't have a statement to replace it with.
Even if it might be true.]
Re: [Action]
[And if she can't hug him any more, she's at least squeezing his shoulder to make sure he knows she's still there.]
[Action]
I know. That's why this sucks.
[Breathe. In, out. He doesn't move his fingers from over his eyes.]
I don't know what to do.
Re: [Action]
[He should probably just tell her, logically, but knowing the specifics makes it so much more complicated somehow.]
I just don't like seeing you hurt like this.
[Action]
Post secret, it's not a lot of fun on my end, either.
[Finally, he feels okay enough to just flop onto his back and rest his hands on his chest.]
Christ, this is such a heinous mess. Sorry for dumping on you, Penny.
Re: [Action]
[Hiccup.]
...Well, no. None of this is okay. But you shouldn't feel bad asking for help about something this terrible!
[Action]
[His voice is quieter. He wasn't thinking about it like that.]
...Well. Thanks, P. For being here.