3 ∅ [Anonymous Text]

[callbacks]

[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.

Comments

Re: [Action]

[in4apounding]

[There is precisely no one involved here that wanted this information.]

Do you- ...do you think she'd figure it out anyway, if you didn't tell her?

[Action]

[callbacks]

I don't know. I mean, there's no one here from our world who could possibly tell her but me, but she's smart, and someone else told me once that I'm really easy to read? And I'd feel like shit if she found out some other way.

Re: [Action]

[in4apounding]

[Dave you are literally having this conversation precisely because you're easy to read.]

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]

[callbacks]

[But he?? Is so cool??? HE'S TOO COOL TO BE AN OPEN BOOK, HE DEMANDS A REFUND ON HIS FACE.]

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]

[in4apounding]

I'd care! And I bet Jade would too.

[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]

[callbacks]

[It takes a while, but eventually he masters himself enough to swallow and breathe out.]

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]

[in4apounding]

I'm sorry. I don't know what I'd do, either.

[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]

[callbacks]

[He laughs weakly.]

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]

[in4apounding]

No, it's okay!

[Hiccup.]

...Well, no. None of this is okay. But you shouldn't feel bad asking for help about something this terrible!

[Action]

[callbacks]

...Yeah?

[His voice is quieter. He wasn't thinking about it like that.]

...Well. Thanks, P. For being here.