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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]

Not particularly? I was not used to it at first because most people do not really do the photography thing. But I'm getting used to it.

[parodeity]

None of us ever really did normal hobbies. [ a pause, and he clarifies: ] I mean, Dirk and the girls and me. Or I guess we do normal ones sometimes, but then we take those too far or in weird directions? It is a thing.

[windeity]

I don't mind, Dave. [He's keeping their pace slow and his hand curled around Dave's and even if he isn't looking at him he's talking anyway. This is fine. This is normal.] I can't say much given I spent most of my childhood playing and writing music instead of like. Doing other stuff. I think it's really cool you have something you like that much.

[parodeity]

I have too many things I like that much. Choosing a major was a bitch and a half and I still did it last minute and I'm still all over the place. [ and he doesn't think it...matters...the universe will probably END he's been in how many that ended? also presumably john has dave's right hand in his left so they can drink their cider with their favored hands? ]

And I like that you spent most of your childhood fuckin' around with music. It's been...a huge thing both sides for me but I like to keep super busy. [ too busy to think. ]

[windeity]

It's why I do not like picking favorites for anything. Why can't I like multiple things and want to do a lot with multiple things? I still think you will be happiest with cinematography since it allows a lot of creative freedom. [Yes, that is how that ended up. John's observant enough to figure that out.]

It's kind of dumb. I used to come home after school and speed through my homework so that my dad would let me into the study to play. He gave up trying to teach me when I was about eight because I started teaching myself and writing really basic things. I tried to have something accomplished every Friday before he got home for work so I could show him.

[...] We used to play a lot together during the holidays for neighborhood Christmas parties and stuff. That was one of the first times I played by myself in front of people. Eventually it was just me playing but I usually ran the set list by him while he and Nanna were working in the bakery. [Why is he rambling about his dad?] You've been busy pretty much from the minute I met you. I remember the work you were putting into the timelines on the other side, too, and it's...[Well anyway.] I like that you make time for stupid bullshit like this.

[parodeity]

[ dave has no idea why john is rambling about his dad. he just listens. ]

...I'll always have time for you. Even if I lose time travel. [ if he has to rearrange his schedule the mundane way. his fingers are cold but his grip on john's hand is firm. easy to get out of, but solidly there. his half-smile is wry. ] Avoiding you the one time kind of sucked.

[ so yeah ]

I like when you tell me shit like this.

[windeity]

I like when you don't avoid me. [Just casually mentioning that even as he keeps his thumb running over the back of Dave's hand to keep him warm.] And I think I will let you do the embarrassing rambling for us since I am not great at it.

[A shrug.] Even without the time travel I would always have time for you, too.

[parodeity]

No, I mean...I like it when you tell me things.

[ the dumb family anecdotes. random thoughts. he's said it before, he thinks, but he just...likes that.

it makes it feel like they're best friends. ]

[windeity]

I could tell you pretty much whatever you wanted. It would just...be rambling sometimes, I think? [But he's comfortable enough to do that and he doesn't mind at all.]

[parodeity]

It just...gives me the illusion of feeling special. It's nice. [ since john is john and makes friends as easy as breathing, and dave is perfectly well aware of that. ] And I seriously doubt I can really judge anyone for rambling. So, which is your favorite so far?

[ light displays. ]

[windeity]

The one with the giant polar bear. [He points toward a house with lots of lights and a huge inflatable polar bear.] And that one with the multicolored twinkling lights in the branches. It looks cool.

[But.] ...you do know that you are, don't you?

[parodeity]

Cool? Yes, I do, it's like my thing. [ lmao what if we don't. dave gestures towards a different house with his cider. ] Personally I like the penguin parade. Santa fell off the roof, which I do not think was a deliberate choice though it should have been?

[windeity]

[Then John will just take note of that and verbally back off a little.] I always worry about Santa up on icy rooftops. I feel like that is really dangerous for someone so old. [He drifts to the next house with Dave in tow.] Anya and I tried to teach the penguins at the zoo how to sing.

[parodeity]

[ good because they don't need to have an argument about how special dave is or is not ]

I guess Santa is kind of like Tony Hawk? And I assume the try means you failed.

[windeity]

[Thanks Dave.]

How exactly is Santa like Tony Hawk? And not quite but some of the penguins were way too easy to convince.

[parodeity]

Both of them are old and into potentially dangerous shit still?

[windeity]

Tony Hawk is not that old, come on. He's like...in his fifties probably? Which is still way too old to be on a skateboard but who am I to judge? I was watching some old Ninja Warrior courses when we were still training and there was this eighty-year-old guy doing the course. I want to be that cool when I get old.

[So here they are on their walking tour, holding hands, gazing at Christmas lights, and comfortable with the background noise of some Christmas music probably and the occasional hoot of an owl or a bark of a dog. As far as John's concerned this is perfect.]

[parodeity]

Oh, yeah? And what else do you picture eighth year old John doing?

[windeity]

Traveling. Exploring the world, maybe. And apparently trying my hand at stand-up in at least one lifetime.

[parodeity]

You were apparently very successful.

[windeity]

[A shrug.] Maybe someday, but that won't be for a while. I have other things to think about before then. [...] This girl at your birthday party was talking to me about this life compared to our old lives. I kind of agreed and kind of didn't.

[parodeity]

Since I wasn't there for the conversation, I'll need a little more explanation than that if you want me to know what you're talkin' about, dude.

[windeity]

I don't know if the specifics are important but it was just...a lot of people are in agreement that the people we were back then aren't the people we are now. I'm still not sure I fully believe it since who I was has definitely helped me figure out who I am now, but at the same time the stuff I do in this life is really the most important part.

[parodeity]

[ there’s just. a smile that’s a little off somehow.

dave misses thinking it wasn’t him. ]

I’m the same person with a few extra chronological experiences at this point. But it depends on the person.

[windeity]

I am the same person but I like the person I am right now. Kind of like how I like the person you are, or Rose, or Eleanor or Yukiko or Karkat or any of our other friends. I'm not going to tell someone that they are wrong for thinking this way though.