[It's a while into the hangout, which definitely featured Dirk taking Dave out to have some food (and if Dave asked to pay for his half, Dirk did not argue as much as normal and let Dave) and then probably they just dicked around playing with music and other random things until eventually Dirk asked,]
So am I going to get an explanation on why I was told to bring a sword? Because that is rankin' up there on ominous instructions that could terrify a bro if I didn't know what an actual catdog you are.
[I'm not sure what they're doing. Maybe they're playing with legos. Maybe they're building lego X-Wings. Who knows.]
[ for once dave did not ask to pay his half MOSTLY BECAUSE HE RECENTLY SPENT A BUNCH OF HIS SAVINGS TAILORING HIS ENTIRE WARDROBE SO HE DOESN'T...have much left although he absolutely didn't get anything expensive to eat or much, but.
he would have agreed to build lego x-wings and mindlessly put them together in semi-silence, honestly. probably while listening to music. ]
a non memory way. he abandons the probably legos and rolls up to his feet in one smooth movement, dusting off his jeans though there's. no dust on them. they are notably fitting once again, like all his shit, although it's...definitely still needs-more-meat dave. cool. ]
[ beyond what dirk DID TO HIMSELF. it's a flat question, even as dave leaves the room v...ia his window what the fuck dave, but.
also poor ma strider has probably been complaining to Everyone about dave's weight and how he doesn't eat as much any more and MAYBE SHE SHOULD MAKE TEN APPLE PIES? EVERY NIGHT? ]
Mm. [ like, he doesn't disagree? just. ] Should've done this last week, but I didn't [ want to see the damn unbreakable sword ] think of it.
[ it's a white lie and he's out of his window and in the back yard, and dave's pretty sure the only time they did anything remotely like this they had foam swords and dirk wouldn't even agree to really play fight. he was always too unwilling to attack. ]
Not that we've been sharin' shit really of late. [ mostly on dave, but he's unsure of how much of that has become dirk not telling him shit, and he's not sure he actually wants to ask? ] A'ight, sword out, let's see your stance. Luke did this for me and it worked, though you're gonna be way the fuck behind me for...a while? Longer? I don't know. I keep gettin' better at it.
[That he isn't going to let stand. Dirk gave up the only secret he'd really had. Since then, it's been all Dave. Dirk brings out his sword, the katana. It doesn't sit right in his hands; he has a certain instinct for it but it isn't a trained knowledge.
Btw his shirt has a rainbow koala on it and he isn't wearing biker gloves I just want to point out how ridiculous he looks right now.]
...Well, you probably have at least one thing you ain't told me.
[ unless he failed to deliberately trigger dirk, but.
dave has been wincing periodically whenever he looks at dirk today, i see. though this time it's more a subtle frown and less at the shirt and he steps forward and actually initiates contact for the first time since...the shadowy dark in the crack where he'd tried to comfort dirk. he hasn't tried to touch him since, has he?
but all he does now is readjust how dirk is holding the sword. there's tension in dave's posture but it's hard to spot, because he's carefully casual even if the sword makes him Slightly Uneasy. ]
No, more like this. Your stance ain't half bad, though.
[ he still nudges one of dirk's feet over a bit more though. ]
You already know that, dude. It's why you drew it on my hand.
[Then, more genuine, and perhaps a little pained because it shouldn't be this hard, because he should know his brother better and he shouldn't have to ask]
Was I supposed to tell you that I finally made it to the party you've given up waitin' for me to arrive at?
[He does adjust stance and grip. He notices Dave's weird body language but doesn't comment on it immediately.]
I don't know what you got. I know what I thought you should get, but I once told Rose somethin' exactly and she got somethin' else out of the bargain.
[ it makes him uneasy, even though that's...extremely unfair. ]
Okay. I'm gonna ask you to attack me but we're gonna do this slow, and I'm gonna show you how as you go. Monkey see, monkey do. Watch how I block when you go, and we'll trade off. Chill?
I got classpect bullshit. Knight, Prince, Maid; Mind, Life, Void. The rest of 'em. I've got inferences on what I am but I don't know.
[Then Dave gives instructions and Dave says 'chill' but Dirk isn't. If anything, he's frozen.]
I'd rather attack not you. A wall, maybe.
[Anything but his baby brother. The sword feels wrong in his hands and he doesn't want to go for it, he doesn't know if he can. The idea of swinging a sword at Dave—he does krav, he's practiced sparring, he could do that. But he's always been gentle in play-fights and worried about hurting Dave and that's the thing. Dirk knows how to playfight with Dave and not hurt him. He feels confident in that.
Knowing, abstractly, that Dave will kick his ass before he does damage can't fight off the wrongness of trying to imagine himself striking at Dave without knowing exactly what he's doing.]
[ he apparently already knows which aspect. that aside: ]
Dirk. Come on. This is exactly how I got it. You can't hurt me here. [ or...he's not sure, but he's pretty damn sure not. dirk's faster than he was, but dave's always getting faster, and better with his sword; he knows he has an edge here.
more importantly, he needs to be really fucking sure dirk gets back what he needs.
he knows the easiest way to break dirk but dave isn't certain how far it goes, sometimes. ]
No idea. I just assumed you drew the heart on me for a reason.
[Dave tries reason and Dirk knows he's right but his back is stiff. But then Dave tries asking. And Dirk snaps, like he does every damn time.
He closes his eyes. Dirk breathes in. Slow, careful, he exhales.
He opens his eyes, and like he was told to, he makes a swing. But it's slower than he's capable of and there's a frown as he makes himself go through with it. He knows Dave can stop him, he just... Doesn't want to swing a sword at his brother.]
[ blandly. he is apparently not going to commit to explaining the classpect shit any further? than he already did? which was not at all. he's pretty sure dirk doesn't know anything about the game, yet, but dave isn't going to ask.
dave's aware this is actually maybe a bad idea. he doesn't think dirk will remember attacking him at all, but asking someone to attack him with that sword is tempting fate.
he doesn't have anything else for dirk to use, though, and it's not like it matters much in the long run at this point. dave's still weirdly wired, but he's smooth when he brinds caeldfwch up to block. ]
You're too tense. You gotta loosen up. [ his voice goes focused and calm, and he takes his own advice to the extent he can; the nerves are filtered back and shoved down and he focuses on the task at hand. ] That's too slow and you need to aim it more. Weak points, you should know 'em. If not, follow along.
[ he's going to stay WAY THE FUCK AWAY from any blow towards dirk's neck, but dave will demonstrate other strikes, patient and stubbornly determined. unlike dirk, he doesn't frown when he makes himself attack, and he doesn't go as slow; still, he's clearly holding his speed in check to at least some degree. ]
[ dave's about to protest, but he's...not sure he can get dirk to actually do what he wants, here. after a moment, he just nods, and lets his sword disappear.
later on in the month he'll just try to fight himself instead, so clearly this works out for dirk. ]
[He feels like he's disappointing Dave. He feels like he did the wrong thing again and he doesn't make his sword vanish but it hands limp in his hand, touching the dirt.]
I don't know.
[He doesn't. He doesn't know what he's doing. He doesn't know how to use a sword or why they need to train with live weapons when there are substitutes. He doesn't know what Dave wants anymore or how to be a good brother to him.
[ there's shit he could or should say. he could ask if dirk remembered laser tag, and how dave had admitted he felt alone with the shit he could do. he could explain that more and more he wants to be certain he can do this, that he's still getting better, because there's a quiet terror of what happens if he doesn't keep it up. he needs to be sure he's strong enough for...everything that's going to happen, and he doesn't even know what it is. he could explain he'd spent most of the past week worried about everyone in his family and at least he wants to worry a little less about one of them. ]
...Nevermind. I think there's some in the garage if you want me to grab 'em real quick. Then we can finish the lesson whenever it clicks for you.
i guess icon selector just doesn't want me to have icons for a while FINE THEN
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the 13th and not the 20th i guess
So am I going to get an explanation on why I was told to bring a sword? Because that is rankin' up there on ominous instructions that could terrify a bro if I didn't know what an actual catdog you are.
[I'm not sure what they're doing. Maybe they're playing with legos. Maybe they're building lego X-Wings. Who knows.]
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he would have agreed to build lego x-wings and mindlessly put them together in semi-silence, honestly. probably while listening to music. ]
Can you use it yet.
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Not for anythin' but hackin' into spiderwebs to free trapped people.
[and almost decapitating himself w/e]
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in like
a non memory way. he abandons the probably legos and rolls up to his feet in one smooth movement, dusting off his jeans though there's. no dust on them. they are notably fitting once again, like all his shit, although it's...definitely still needs-more-meat dave. cool. ]
A'ight. Let's hit the back yard, then.
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I take it this means lessons time.
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[ beyond what dirk DID TO HIMSELF. it's a flat question, even as dave leaves the room v...ia his window what the fuck dave, but.
also poor ma strider has probably been complaining to Everyone about dave's weight and how he doesn't eat as much any more and MAYBE SHE SHOULD MAKE TEN APPLE PIES? EVERY NIGHT? ]
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[After that shitty conversation, Dirk is pretty sure he'd have to account for every injury at Dave to even start atoning.]
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[ to gauge like. how reasonable his worries are, here. ]
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[A pause, feeling like he has to justify himself:]
He was defenceless. I couldn't let it get him.
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[ it's a white lie and he's out of his window and in the back yard, and dave's pretty sure the only time they did anything remotely like this they had foam swords and dirk wouldn't even agree to really play fight. he was always too unwilling to attack. ]
Not that we've been sharin' shit really of late. [ mostly on dave, but he's unsure of how much of that has become dirk not telling him shit, and he's not sure he actually wants to ask? ] A'ight, sword out, let's see your stance. Luke did this for me and it worked, though you're gonna be way the fuck behind me for...a while? Longer? I don't know. I keep gettin' better at it.
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[That he isn't going to let stand. Dirk gave up the only secret he'd really had. Since then, it's been all Dave. Dirk brings out his sword, the katana. It doesn't sit right in his hands; he has a certain instinct for it but it isn't a trained knowledge.
Btw his shirt has a rainbow koala on it and he isn't wearing biker gloves I just want to point out how ridiculous he looks right now.]
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[ unless he failed to deliberately trigger dirk, but.
dave has been wincing periodically whenever he looks at dirk today, i see. though this time it's more a subtle frown and less at the shirt and he steps forward and actually initiates contact for the first time since...the shadowy dark in the crack where he'd tried to comfort dirk. he hasn't tried to touch him since, has he?
but all he does now is readjust how dirk is holding the sword. there's tension in dave's posture but it's hard to spot, because he's carefully casual even if the sword makes him Slightly Uneasy. ]
No, more like this. Your stance ain't half bad, though.
[ he still nudges one of dirk's feet over a bit more though. ]
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You already know that, dude. It's why you drew it on my hand.
[Then, more genuine, and perhaps a little pained because it shouldn't be this hard, because he should know his brother better and he shouldn't have to ask]
Was I supposed to tell you that I finally made it to the party you've given up waitin' for me to arrive at?
[He does adjust stance and grip. He notices Dave's weird body language but doesn't comment on it immediately.]
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I don't know what you got. I know what I thought you should get, but I once told Rose somethin' exactly and she got somethin' else out of the bargain.
[ it makes him uneasy, even though that's...extremely unfair. ]
Okay. I'm gonna ask you to attack me but we're gonna do this slow, and I'm gonna show you how as you go. Monkey see, monkey do. Watch how I block when you go, and we'll trade off. Chill?
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[Then Dave gives instructions and Dave says 'chill' but Dirk isn't. If anything, he's frozen.]
I'd rather attack not you. A wall, maybe.
[Anything but his baby brother. The sword feels wrong in his hands and he doesn't want to go for it, he doesn't know if he can. The idea of swinging a sword at Dave—he does krav, he's practiced sparring, he could do that. But he's always been gentle in play-fights and worried about hurting Dave and that's the thing. Dirk knows how to playfight with Dave and not hurt him. He feels confident in that.
Knowing, abstractly, that Dave will kick his ass before he does damage can't fight off the wrongness of trying to imagine himself striking at Dave without knowing exactly what he's doing.]
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[ he apparently already knows which aspect. that aside: ]
Dirk. Come on. This is exactly how I got it. You can't hurt me here. [ or...he's not sure, but he's pretty damn sure not. dirk's faster than he was, but dave's always getting faster, and better with his sword; he knows he has an edge here.
more importantly, he needs to be really fucking sure dirk gets back what he needs.
he knows the easiest way to break dirk but dave isn't certain how far it goes, sometimes. ]
Please. I need you to remember this much.
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[Dave tries reason and Dirk knows he's right but his back is stiff. But then Dave tries asking. And Dirk snaps, like he does every damn time.
He closes his eyes. Dirk breathes in. Slow, careful, he exhales.
He opens his eyes, and like he was told to, he makes a swing. But it's slower than he's capable of and there's a frown as he makes himself go through with it. He knows Dave can stop him, he just... Doesn't want to swing a sword at his brother.]
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[ blandly. he is apparently not going to commit to explaining the classpect shit any further? than he already did? which was not at all. he's pretty sure dirk doesn't know anything about the game, yet, but dave isn't going to ask.
dave's aware this is actually maybe a bad idea. he doesn't think dirk will remember attacking him at all, but asking someone to attack him with that sword is tempting fate.
he doesn't have anything else for dirk to use, though, and it's not like it matters much in the long run at this point. dave's still weirdly wired, but he's smooth when he brinds caeldfwch up to block. ]
You're too tense. You gotta loosen up. [ his voice goes focused and calm, and he takes his own advice to the extent he can; the nerves are filtered back and shoved down and he focuses on the task at hand. ] That's too slow and you need to aim it more. Weak points, you should know 'em. If not, follow along.
[ he's going to stay WAY THE FUCK AWAY from any blow towards dirk's neck, but dave will demonstrate other strikes, patient and stubbornly determined. unlike dirk, he doesn't frown when he makes himself attack, and he doesn't go as slow; still, he's clearly holding his speed in check to at least some degree. ]
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Can we train with sticks or somethin'? We've gotta have old play swords around somewhere.
[You don't like looking at me like this. Seeing Dave calm down made the tension more transparent.]
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later on in the month he'll just try to fight himself instead, so clearly this works out for dirk. ]
If you won't do it the other way, fine.
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[He feels like he's disappointing Dave. He feels like he did the wrong thing again and he doesn't make his sword vanish but it hands limp in his hand, touching the dirt.]
I don't know.
[He doesn't. He doesn't know what he's doing. He doesn't know how to use a sword or why they need to train with live weapons when there are substitutes. He doesn't know what Dave wants anymore or how to be a good brother to him.
He just doesn't know.]
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[ there's shit he could or should say. he could ask if dirk remembered laser tag, and how dave had admitted he felt alone with the shit he could do. he could explain that more and more he wants to be certain he can do this, that he's still getting better, because there's a quiet terror of what happens if he doesn't keep it up. he needs to be sure he's strong enough for...everything that's going to happen, and he doesn't even know what it is. he could explain he'd spent most of the past week worried about everyone in his family and at least he wants to worry a little less about one of them. ]
...Nevermind. I think there's some in the garage if you want me to grab 'em real quick. Then we can finish the lesson whenever it clicks for you.
i guess icon selector just doesn't want me to have icons for a while FINE THEN
Just what?
[What did Dave almost say? It seems so precious with all the things that never even make it to being not-quite-said.]
i just open my icon page in view all and grab from there. OR REMEMBER KEYWORDS.
I need you to get this back.
[ it a distilled form of all the things he didn't say. it's true, too. ]
well now you're just problem solving??? ? unfair
[There's a pause, and his voice quiets.]
Did he have this sword?
yw
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