recollé ic inbox 2.0;

[parodeity]

DAVE STRIDER

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

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[splinten]

It isn't forgiveness I care about. It's making someone remember, forcing that on you—letting people know and see. I can't. I won't.

[He grabs his phone from his pocket and flips it on. He's going for Jake's number. He's going to stop this now.]

[parodeity]

Someone will eventually. What are you even doin'?

[splinten]

I'm telling Jake that I can't talk to him about our memories. I'll tell him that I just can't handle it.

[He is legit typing up the message. Assuming Dave doesn't stop him from typing, this is the message he is composing and will send.

Jake, bro. I've been thinking about our memories. I've decided I don't want to talk about them.
I want to face you in this life. I don't want the baggage from our last one. Can we agree to just focus on what's here and leave out the rest?]

[parodeity]

I'm not gonna change my mind, Dirk, so you don't have to. Don't...do this to yourself. You can still go to everyone else. The only change is I'm not an option.

[splinten]

[He looks at Dave calmly, certainly.]

Even if I've lost you, at least I'll have protected you. No matter what, I intend on doing everything I can to keep you safe.

[He hits send.]

[parodeity]

[ he hadn't read the message, and dave just shakes his head. ]

When you need to backtrack on this, I won't be mad. Just...keep that in mind, I guess.

[splinten]

I'm not going to. [He shows Dave the message.] Like I said. I don't want to be the one who makes someone remember that about you.

[parodeity]

[ ... ]

Then I guess let me know when it gets to be too much.

[splinten]

This is the only choice I can accept makin'.

[He stands up from the roof's edge.]

Sand castle or horse mural?

[parodeity]

When it gets to be too much, I'll make the other one for you. So let me know when you can't handle it any longer.

[ dave sits a moment longer before standing, shoving his hands into his pockets and shrugging. there's no relaxation or half-smile or any of the usual signs of contentment that admittedly have been fairly rare. ]

Whichever you want. I said it was your choice, and it is.

[splinten]

[It gets him to freeze.]

How are you going to make the other choice for me?

[parodeity]

You'll find out someday. Mural or beach?

[splinten]

Dave. [He can guess and it terrifies him.] Please don't ever tell anyone for my sake. That is the exact opposite of what I'd want.

[parodeity]

Mural or beach?

[splinten]

[He pushes his shades back on, so Dave won't see him shut his eyes tight.]

Beach.

[parodeity]

Sure. It shouldn't take more than like ten minutes tops, if that.

[ he steps off the roof and drops to the ground, only bothering to slow down when he can just step onto the ground itself. ]

[splinten]

Dave—[Dirk jumps after him on instinct and tries to catch him. Something like that terrifies him.]

[parodeity]

[ assuming dirk catches up before dave reaches the ground, he'll jerk away to set himself down, hands in his pockets. ]

I changed my mind. I want you to do the thing where you ask before touchin' me. And I would prefer you to not, just now.

[splinten]

[Dirk freezes completely and stares.]

...Okay. Sorry.

[parodeity]

It's whatever. Let's get this done.

[ he will head towards the beach. ]

[splinten]

[He stops, though.] Do you want to stop this? Do you want to stop Saturdays, cancel beach and mural plans. [He doesn't dare ask about the ReConvention. If Dave says no to these, then—then he probably will say no to those, too. And his stomach feels sick at the idea.]

[parodeity]

[ the answer isn't yes, but it isn't no, either. dave comprimises in the interest of honesty for his stupid bingo with: ]

We can. It might be easiest. [ facts, no opinion. ]

[splinten]

That isn't what I asked.

[parodeity]

I can't give you a resoundin' "no".

[splinten]

I can listen to the mixed answer.