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[parodeity]

DAVE STRIDER

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

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[windeity]

[He doesn't address the question directly.]

What do you think I could be lying to myself about? I can sort of see lying to other people a little but not really much.

[parodeity]

A lot of things. I don’t always bother to call you out on ‘em, but be real: how many times have you smiled at me and changed the subject away from something you don’t like, or do? I don’t think people who are always willing to cop to their shit are easily found. I also don’t think that’s a bad thing.

[windeity]

[He doesn't say anything at first because haha called the fuck out. But there's a light hum as he highfives a werewolf on their walk.]

So what does that actually make it? Just...a thing?

[parodeity]

It’s a human being thing, John. Congrats, you’re not a robot.

[ Why is John high fiving werewolves? ]

I don’t expect you to be some weird genuine ideal? Like I said, no one is.

[windeity]

[Because he appreciates their jumpscare efforts ok.]

What a shock. My entire life has been a lie, the walls are closing in, the sky is falling--maybe I should not be joking about that kind of stuff when that is a distinct possibility here. [But they're still going along.]

I think being someone's ideal is a lot of pressure honestly. Which sounds kind of dumb, but...just a thought I had.

[parodeity]

You’re not a genuine ideal, but that doesn’t mean you ain’t a benchmark for other shit. Tough break? Also, drama club, dude.

[windeity]

Being a hero and a leader and whatever else? I heard. [He makes a face.] What about drama club?

[parodeity]

You missed the most important one. [ mildly. ] Also, have you given thought to joining one?

[ because of the joking dramatics a second ago ]

[windeity]

Which, best friend? [And he rolls his eyes, elbowing Dave lightly as they walk through a curtain of spiderwebs.] I am not being dramatic enough for a drama club, but nice try.

[parodeity]

Yeah.

[ like, maybe john was joking, but yes? that's the most important one? although: ]

And...good person.

[windeity]

...what even defines a good person at this point? Like besides me, supposedly, I mean in general. [And through a house of mirrors they go.]

[parodeity]

It's not "supposedly". You're... [ he doesn't want to say you were because he doesn't think it's past tense. ] Like...you're not a perfect person, but you are a genuinely good guy, Egbert. It's comforting.

[windeity]

[...given what he can infer from Dave's nightmares and his own memories, it makes sense.]

...thanks. [What else do you say?] I mean. You know I think you are a good person too, don't you? You skipped school to come with me to a dumb haunted house just because I wanted to. That's awesome.

[parodeity]

Yes, Egbert, I know you think that. [ doesn't mean dave does. he knows the opposite is true. but it's always been easy to smile and be flippant and never admit to the things he knows to be true about himself.

it's the reason he recognizes when people pull the same shit on him. ]

I'm pretty sure that more falls along the lines of bein' a kickass best friend?

[windeity]

[He's busy staring at himself in one of those stupid mirrors that makes a person bendy and like 10 feet tall, and he's also busy trying not to laugh. Their mirror-house is a confusing maze.]

What makes you think the two are not mutually exclusive?

[parodeity]

And did I say they were?

[ dave seems more at ease around the mirrors, oddly. he doesn't quite look at himself but he's good with mazes and it's less jumpscares.

(he does think they're not connected.) ]

[windeity]

[He'll follow Dave's lead through the mirrors then.]

I might be using that phrasing completely wrong, so maybe?

[parodeity]

New topic, [ dave says which is all the warning before he segues into ] Opinions on walkie talkies?

[windeity]

[He bumps into one of the mirrors but he's quick to recover.]

I had a set as a kid. I thought having them made me like some sort of secret agent or something. I always had one when I was in the treehouse and my dad would have the other? [There's a small laugh.] He used to send me on missions around the house and I had to make sure I wasn't caught by the enemy spy...Nanna, usually.

[...] So. Cool nostalgia factor?

[parodeity]

[ dave absently reaches out to grab john’s wrist so he doesn’t walk into any further mirrors. he can lead them through this without that?

he thinks it’s the first time John has mentioned something he and his dad did together in this life, aside from music. ]

I still have a set somewhere. Maybe in the attic? I used to use it them to talk to Rose when we were supposed to be asleep.

[windeity]

[He steps closer to Dave to let him lead. Unfortunately there is also a fog machine in the room so that's fine.]

You guys were still really close in this life, weren't you? I would not be surprised if you had walkie-talkies and, like, a record player and other cool old stuff.

[parodeity]

[ yeah okay dave drags John a little closer so he doesn’t wander off in the fog, and treads lightly. he could just try to hold john’s hand but no it’s just a light but firm grip on john’s wrist. there’s a certain tension as he scans the area, his free hand on his camera, before he proceeds. ]

We do have an old record player. No real room for it in a college dorm, though. There’s a lot of stuff that had to get left behind.

[windeity]

[The fog gets his attention, too, and it's enough that he even stops walking. The jumpscares haven't gotten to him, but this is putting him a little on edge anyway. He's not stopped for long though before he follows Dave again and sticks close.]

So whenever we move into the new apartment or house or whatever we will go collect stuff from your parents' house. That is what I am getting from this.

[parodeity]

[ don’t stop, john. dave tugs his wrist and watches his step, fairly certain something is lurking in the fog. he reminds himself he can’t draw his sword on dumb haunted house actors and that’s the thought that has him let go of john’s wrist to grab his hand. the other he drops and shoved in his pocket, trying to forestall a bullshit response.

- wait, what? ]

House?

[windeity]

[He should not be this concerned about the fog, but he's also grabbing Dave's hand anyway and immediately pulling to head forward and try to avoid people lurking in the shadows and whatever else may be in there

But, a distraction.]

Maybe. The Narukamis are renting that house, remember?