parodeity | recollé ic inbox 3.0;

[Apparently John's a bad cat-dad either way because the kitten squirms and kicks out of his hoodie and straight into Dave's hands, blinking and meowing up at him again. And John just narrows his eyes at the cat.]

True. You've also been dealing since February. I'm surprised nobody has done, like, a study on this and how it effects our brains and stuff. Why some people remember faster than others.

[ dave picks the kitten up fully and holds it up towards his face tbh. it’s a cute freak of nature ].

Eh, I wouldn’t want to be involved in that. The nearest I got was some bullshit with some of the adults who...well, they said they were changed, but they didn’t quite get it. I think there are a few people who do now though.

[And the kitten responds by booping Dave in the nose with a little paw. Hi Dave. John makes a face instead.]

What do you mean they didn't get it? What exactly happened back there? [This is more important than their mutant kitten but. You know. Cats.]

I do not remember your name. [ to the kitten, casually, as he starts scratching behind her ears. ]

And I mean someone was talkin' to me about how their friend had felt...changes - this was back a few months ago, when I was still wavering - and then came out to say they'd had, like, two? Or three maybe - memories and it was affectin' them and at the time I just didn't have it in me to be super sympathetic. I also got kinda played and used against someone who he was mad at I think but - eh. It was just a useless avenue to pursue.

Do you even remember meeting it? Maybe you never knew its name.

[The kitten purrs and pushes up into Dave's hand while John returns to his computer, apparently ordering cat food and other items from Amazon.]

...but that's kind of bullshit. That is the one thing it's. Hard, I guess? To really compare experiences since we are all going through the same thing but not in the same way. I wish it wasn't like that.

I saw her.

[ but it's possible he never knew the name...he just keeps petting the cat. ]

I think it's pretty hard, yeah. At the time I was sort of a mess. [ like he isn't now. ] So I was sort of relieved to hear there was someone else who had similar shit, but it was just an overstatement and some kinda power play against another dude, like I said. Well - it's not like that guy wasn't kinda ridiculously crazy, but live and learn.

When? How, actually.

[The kitten will bat and chew at Dave's fingers but mostly content to purr and cuddle. Enjoy it while you can, Strider.]

That is kind of a huge letdown, yeah. [He sighs a little.] I was hoping people would be different with this sort of thing. Maybe it's just me. [But...] ...to be honest I haven't really talked to people about everything I am remembering either.

You do understand how server player shit works, right?

[ dave shrugs, eyeing john as he handles the cat oddly gentle. or maybe not so odd? dave rarely tries to hurt anyone or anything and tends to be careful about how he moves, if not how he speaks. ]

Yeah, I’m aware you remember things you keep quiet on. Not sure it’s a big deal?

I have guesses based on what I remember. Rose could see me but that does not explain why you could see me. [...wait hang on. Dave has all the time in the world to cuddle with the kitten as John thinks this through.]

Jade was your server player, and Rose was mine which means that...you were Rose's and I was Jade's? Since I do not think we can have the relationship go both ways to work in the game. So you saw the cat on Rose's planet.

[...shrug.] I guess it is not a big deal, no, but at the same time I sort of feel bad telling people we should be able to talk about this kind of stuff when I am definitely not doing that.

That is how it happened, yes, although I handled everyone's bullshit at some point.

[ or so he told jade. ]

...Well, I'm not gonna blame you? You're not makin' me tell you the shit I'm not, it'd be majorly hypocritical even for me to expect otherwise.

I assume that has to do with time shenanigans and I will not ask further. [But he settles for a shrug instead.] I know. I do and I do not want to talk about things with people for pretty much the reason you just said. I don't like the idea of accidentally invalidating somebody else.

You’re not that brand of oblivious when you can help it. I know. ...it’s not a thing you can do to me at this point on this topic, for the record.

But what about other people? Can they still do that to you? And even so, I know it's not something I do when I am aware of it but there are still more than enough people who are split on what to think about this place.

[ ...he laughs. ]

Nah, they've systematically been destroyed. I'm left with tickin' time bombs, none of which have gone off yet.

[The cat cuddles into Dave's hands and John simply watches him for a moment before his gaze drops.]

...I know you're a Time player and that makes you sort of morbid like this, but you do realize that I don't really find the idea of you getting hurt by some belated blast you took from someone else particularly funny, don't you?

Look, I know all about inevibilities. But I'll avoid that particular path as long as I can. For now...

[ for now? ]

You didn't name the cat, right? Should I? Are we co-parenting the cat?

[There's a very, very long pause.]

...we are co-parenting the cat, yes. And I did not name the cat here, but I did back on Rose's planet.

[It's not everything he's remembered, but this is the safer topic.]

[ dave blinks, and slants a look at john. he doesn't ask, even though when he told john once he wanted to know what he remembered he was serious.

(what he's waiting on is any of those terrible conversations where he alluded to the truth, and what john might get from them.) ]

I'm goin' to guesstimate you named the poor thing some terribad movie reference, and am renaming her to Mewpac Macklemeow.

[Not now, Dave. Luckily this isn't about Bro but he needs time to really register what he's thinking. Maybe he's misremembering. Yeah. That's it. He'll tell him when he's ready at least.]

Like Mewpac Macklemeow is any less terrible than Dr. Meowgon Spengler. [He's not actually annoyed but it eases the tension and also proves that yeah, he kind of remembers this now.] You're sure it's a she?

You’re in charge of checking. I think? She might be a clone of Rose’s cat? But that doesn’t mean jack shit re genders. You mix someone else for that too and get somethin’ new.

[ Why is he bothering to discuss the ectobiology ]

Yes I sort of figured that out based on the idea that somehow I cloned all of us out of slime. Which is pretty gross. Is the cat made out of slime, too? [He gestures to where Mewpac's rolled on her back in Dave's hands.] Also? I cannot exactly check right now since she seems to like you instead.

Then she is definitely a lady, because they all fall for me. [ he's joking. but he will check the kitten over? ] Granted, obviously so do the dudes. Everyone just linin' up to kiss my feet and whatever.

Yes, it is understandable because you are really attractive. [A quote, not an agreement. He just raises his eyebrows playfully before he shakes his head.] ...I think she likes it though? Mewpac, I mean.

Whatever, you know you love me. [ he catches the quote but responds flippantly, flipping john off and. still playing with the cat. ] So, Mewpac it is. We need to throw ourselves at Keito's feet and ask him to like, benignly overlook this. I think he may or may not have cats smuggled in his dorm? So we should be safe.

In your dreams, Strider. [A spin in his chair and then everything's ordered for their new cat friend. Mewpac is busy trying to climb on Dave's shoulder by now.] If throwing ourselves at his feet doesn't work, I think me giving him the heimlich earlier while he was choking on rose petals might give us some leverage.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject