WEEK ONE: MONDAY, 8PM, THE POOL

[parodeity]

[ for the record, dave actually shows up at the dinner served by the motel for some reason on monday, drifting over to sit with velvet, so he. kind of ate? she probably glared at him until he ate. why is she terrifying.

he's been probably a wreck most of the day but what else is new and he kind of slides onto the opposite side of the picnic table if that's where dirk is, looking anywhere but dirk for a minute or two before focusing and saying: ]

Yo.

[ he has to find a better way to start these things. ]

Comments

[splinten]

[Yes he is, and his grip tightens every time Dave mentions going off.] I'm not what?

[parodeity]

[ ok cool so with how much he's mentioned that he'll probably get a bruise or something go team ]

You're...you can't be risked. [ it's unclear if that's what he was going to say or not. but he still doesn't really trust the alternate universe guardians, so it's possible it wasn't. ]

[splinten]

[Look he's nervous sorry Dave??? He'll be super sorry when he realizes.]

Yes I can. [His voice is quiet.] Dave, please.

[parodeity]

[ is he even gonna realize, the kid constantly wears long sleeves and hasn't even flinched at the pressure.

he does start to shake his head, though. ]

I'd have to... [ he'd have to trust dirk. that's the sticking point, here. he'd have to tell dirk everything, and he'd have to trust him. ] I still don't. I'm sorry.

[splinten]

[Dirk's grip relaxes, but there's a little fall in his face. But he nods, still watching Dave, like he'd rather do anything than accept this..]

That ain't on you, Dave.

[Dave doesn't trust Dirk and that's Dirk's fault.]

[parodeity]

Ain't it?

[ he should, or he should fall in line even if he doesn't. it's always on the tip of his tongue, but it wars with a desire not to go back. ]

Tomorrow. [ a pause, and he clarifies: ] I can spend tomorrow afternoon with you, if you want, instead of...

[ this. the usual evening meetup. ]

[splinten]

You aren't the one who raised you like this and treated you like that.

[Dirk taught him to be distrustful, and Dirk was the one who deserves his distrust most. It's not on Dave.]

Then you're goin' tomorrow night.

[parodeity]

No. But like. [ ... ] This has been remarkably shitty for you, probably, which isn't your fault, but like. If I fuck this up I guess you should maybe have one afternoon where I do not inevitably snap?

[splinten]

[Okay now he's going to get a bit wry.] So you're gonna give me an afternoon of fake smiles and fake calm to remember you by if you bite the metaphorically Russian bullet?

[parodeity]

Not exactly.

[ MOSTLY EXACTLY ]

- There was a thing I wanted to do, but it was probably stupid.

[splinten]

[He's curious.] What was it?

[Btw it isn't a death grip but that hand is still there. Dirk has clingy genetics.]

[parodeity]

[ it's resting on a sore bruise area now probably dirk thanks. ]

...Nothin'. You can decide if you want to meet up with me tomorrow afternoon or not. I'll be out from of the motel.

[splinten]

Please tell me at least that. [It's more plaintive than demanding. He has learned so little from Dave but if there's something he wants, Dirk maybe could try to give it to him.]

[parodeity]

It might be stupid. I'll...if you come, we can. See. If you think it's stupid, uh.

[ lmao shit. ]

I'll wait out there around eight? Or. Come and find me in town, actually, I'll be...waitin' somewhere.

[ this cannot possibly be more awkward than just admitting to whatever it was he wanted to do. ]

[splinten]

[And yet Dirk accepts it.]

Okay. I'll be there.

[parodeity]

Okay. Uh.

[ ... ]

Was there anything else, or can I...

[ DIRK'S STILL HOLDING HIS now super bruised ARM. ]

[splinten]

No, I—sorry. [He lets go of Dave's hand, shoving it into his lap.] I didn't mean to—sorry for the clingy bullshit.

[parodeity]

It's fine.

[ he rubs at his arm absently, but. ]

People just normally don't - [ touch him, whatever, sometimes there's interaction but like. ] Anyway I have to get back or the domino mask brigade might worry. Haha, totally kiddin', they straight up would not give a fuck. But. Later.

[splinten]

See you tomorrow.

[Despite himself, he lets Dave go.]