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[parodeity]

DAVE STRIDER

consider this your warning about stairs. itll just keep happening bro. im telling you man

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

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[parodeity]

What's what for? [ blankly. ]

[splinten]

You gave a flat 'oh' and then did the thing where you surrender all directive power over the situation.

[parodeity]

Couldn't think of anythin' else to say. And I frequently try to surrender all direction power over a lot of situations.

[splinten]

I know. But you asked who, presumably for a reason. And then had nothin' to say.

[parodeity]

You told me who. I have zero commentary to share.

[splinten]

Why did you ask?

[parodeity]

I wanted to know how you got rid of the memory squares.

[splinten]

I obviously got the Retrospec one with you. The one I got rid of with a stranger was someone who randomly dialled me up for their card. I told them about a stupid almost-kiss thing I had with English, the kind of thing that's happened so often I don't bother to bring up all of them. [He has told Dave about plenty of them, in anguish, but this one was so blase he didn't bother.] What about you?

[parodeity]

Oh. [ FOR LACK OF A BETTER THING TO SAY. he's already on record as not enjoying not being the person dirk goes to for things, but refuses to clarify why he's blanking out on dirk. ] Shared somethin' that wasn't mine with a lady in the park and shared somethin' that was mine with a dude who has a twin sister.

[splinten]

[He frowns, because that's exactly why he picked that memory: so it wouldn't be upsetting Dave.] I chose that because it was a particular incident that hadn't come up between us, but I always tell you everything essential about my situation. It wasn't confiding in him or anything, and I didn't give him a name or time. It was just... a random thing.

I'm sorry. I thought it worked to meet the requirements without... [He gestures.] I'm sorry.

[parodeity]

It did. [ that's not an issue. ] There's no reason to be sorry, I just have...no comments to share? It ain't like I bothered to play by any kinda rule.

[splinten]

I'm sorry because it feels like I went to someone before I went to you, even though it was exactly my intention to find something that wouldn't be like that, which is why I picked a commonplace.

[parodeity]

It ain't a thing you need to be sorry about. I'm not, like...mad or whatever.

[ a shrug. ]

I just shared the other guy's thing. For the stranger.

[splinten]

That doesn't mean you aren't hurt.

[If they're going by exact truths.]

I thought about it. Dante's is too intimate to share with anyone, though. You're the only person I've told.

[parodeity]

I got a thing that - well, if I talk to you about it, you'll probably get a thing.

[ fucking horrorterrors in the sky. ]

...But everyone else should be safe from it. Like, not our people, but like...unrelated people. Except people with whatever the fuck I am currently.

[ he just doesn't address the hurt part. ]

[splinten]

You know that pretty much confirms it. So, I'm sorry. I tried to pick a thing insignificant enough that it wouldn't hurt you if I told someone else. But it didn't work and I'm sorry.

[He doesn't really expect a response.]

I don't mind hearin' about it. You know I'm trying to remember things. I have still kept my shit to myself.

[parodeity]

I know why I am, but why are you?

[splinten]

Why I've done which?

[parodeity]

Why're you tryin' to remember.

[splinten]

There's more than one reason. [He is playing with the edge of his shades again. Realizing it, he puts them aside.]

I don't like being ignorant is one reason, plain and simple. It feels important, and I have havin' those gaps. I also don't like being surprised by shit and would rather have some control on when it came to me.

[But. There's one other thing. His voice is quieter.]

And I want to go with you throughout this entire thing. So I want to try to keep pace, for as far ahead as you are.

[parodeity]

I'm basically three quarters to one hundred. Keepin' pace might be hard.

[splinten]

It's basically a marathon where I'm miles behind and you have a higher top speed. I'm still going for it.

[parodeity]

I never know if I tell you this shit because I want to or because I have to.

[ but it's a corner and he's in it, so he says: ]

I took off my shades and looked up.

[splinten]

You don't have to anymore if you choose that.

[He says it calmly. A memory may or may not hit him with what Dave is saying, but he wants to say that.]

That was going to be one of my offers. I intend on sticking to my side of not telling others anything they don't know already and telling you the memories I get. I was going to offer you the opportunity not to have to do the same in return, without me backing out of my end of it.

[parodeity]

One of your offers.

[ how many offers is dirk even making. ]

The memory I gave away was a monster moon in the sky. Not sure what the fuck that was about. But over Derse, you know, if you looked up - that's where they were. You could see them, or hear them, if you didn't ignore it. The elder gods, the horrorterrors, whatever.

Rose told me to go out and take off my shades and look and listen, so I did.

[ it's a tiny memory, one that barely matters in the long run of things. there's more that matters that he hasn't said. even this tiny thing is a trial to get out. ]