5 ∅ [Anonymous Text]

[callbacks]

[You'd think Dave would have learned his lesson about anonymity, but maybe learning doesn't stick so well at ass in the morning when he can't sleep. At least it doesn't seem like he's really trying to mask his identity, here. It's just...a plausible deniability thing, maybe. Probably, given the content of his message.]

what was growing up like for you
like
how was your childhood
were you happy

Comments

text

[veggie_vamp]

[Well, she doesn't have a clue, but then even if she knew him that well, she'd still not click things together...]

Awwww, that's so sweet! So that means you and I are going to get along really well!

text

[callbacks]

you think
you dont even actually know me

text

[veggie_vamp]

This conversations' told me a lot about you!

text

[callbacks]

uh
really?

[Shit. That was not his intent.]

text

[veggie_vamp]

Yep! Now we can be besties!

text

[callbacks]

well
you might have to take it up with my best bro for life for the honor
but if we meet some time when i dont have the online equivalent of a paper bag over my face then like sure i dont know i guess we could hang out

text

[veggie_vamp]

Awesome! Keep an eye out for me!

[action]

[quadrangle]

I know you.

[It isn't much of a defense, assuming it's a defense at all, but Karkat doesn't care about that. So what if he's just saying stuff? It's still true, and if Dave is this fucked up over all of it, any and all cultural differences don't make an iota of difference.]

It doesn't matter if he wasn't going to eat someone. He fucking scared you and made you feel unsafe, right? That's—that's wrong no matter what species you are, don't try and say it wasn't so bad just because he wasn't a giant fucking spider.

[The fact that Karkat can throw together a sentence like that and see absolutely nothing wrong with it probably says all that needs to be said about trolls. Whatever, not the issue, Dave is shaking and that needs to stop. He deserves a moirail who doesn't let that shit happen to begin with, but since he's stuck with Karkat...

Stifling an exasperated sigh at himself, he adjusts his hold on Dave so that he's no longer squeezing him half to death, instead gently cradling him and stroking his hair. Shh, shh, it's okay.]

Whatever he did to make you feel that way about him was wrong, and I know you wouldn't just say that shit if it wasn't something really fucked up. I know you, Dave.

[Not everything about him, which is abundantly clear from this whole conversation, but enough to know that Dave wouldn't exaggerate anything if it would make him seem weaker. He wouldn't admit the truth if it made him seem weaker, and what kind of stupidity is that? Is that because of his lusus, too?]

[dreamsofahero]

You asked whether people were happy. If hearing about those who were would make yours seem worse, or if hearing about those who were not would make you feel poorly for having been better, then if someone were on one extreme or another it would be reasonable to hesitate to answer, wouldn't it?

[callbacks]

lets not bring my feelings into it
consider it a scientific survey
particularly since people here are from so many different worlds
i want as full a range of answers as i can get and i dont want people pussyfooting around whatever delicate sensibilities they think i might have

PRIVATE 5ever

[soundmind]

Sorry, I have to confess that I'm not a fan of putting up false pretenses.

So, did you wanna talk about it?

[callbacks]

if i wanted to talk about it i wouldnt have even made an attempt to mask my identity
am i the kind of guy who ordinarily has a problem talking about things i want to talk about

[soundmind]

Honestly yes, yes you do.

But that's why I asked? I'm not gonna try and force you to talk about what's bugging you.

[callbacks]

[...........]

if you had to hazard a guess




what would you say is the thing thats bugging me

[soundmind]

[...]

A person.

How this person raised you.

Coming to terms with getting older and trying to get your shit together.

The usual teen stuff.

[callbacks]

its that transparent huh

[wing_attack]

That sucks. No one deserves that.

What about now, though? Are you happy?

[callbacks]

its better


but no

[soundmind]

I've already been through that, I'd have to be pretty oblivious to not see it on your end.

[wing_attack]

At least it's a step up.

Do you know what's making you not happy?

[callbacks]

youve also got an advantage over most of these cats in that youve actually met the guy

[callbacks]

in some sense yeah
its kind of obvious
in another no because ive got no frame of reference for what being happys even supposed to be like so how could i know whats keeping me from getting there

[soundmind]

Also that.






Ha


Cats, Dave, really?

I didn't know you were into the old school gangster thing.

[wing_attack]

Honestly? I kind of understand that. Do you have at least moments where you're happy, even if happy's not like a baseline thing for you?

[callbacks]

ugh there was this one greasy troll ghost
what the fuck was his name
idk it was probably some variation on carlos
anyway he thought he was john travolta and god he was so slimy and insidious and he was like a human fanboy and he hit on EVERYONE
E V E R Y O N E
anyway unfortunately i guess some shit rubbed off even though i avoided his smarmy cigarette chewing ass like the black death
and you know someones got a hideous personality if even i dont want to talk to them