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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 keeps up, feet moving along as the song picks up its tempo and he doesn't even notice what Dave's doing.]

The fact that you even got that reference is part of the reason I like you so much. [A grin.] You make me really happy, you know that?

[parodeity]

[ how long until he actually notices... ]

It’s a music reference, of course I got it. [ but if you don’t date someone who breathes music maybe they wouldn’t have. ] ...you typically make me really happy, too.

[windeity]

[Probably a while honestly but he won't mind really.] Not everyone would have. Typically is pretty good, isn't it?

[parodeity]

You're never trying to do the opposite. [ he's allergic to yes/no answers. ] And everyone worth knowing? Well, no, I don't know if Chiyo would have caught it. We can try it on her next time?

[windeity]

We should definitely try it on Chiyo next time we see her. Even if she doesn't get it I would have an easier time forgiving her than other people. [It's a joke, but.] I don't like making you unhappy even on accident.

[parodeity]

She is cute. [ he tries to up the tempo some more. ] ...I know. I don't like making you unhappy, either. But I think maybe we need to accept sometimes we will and then...do something about it? I am not exactly the poster child for healthy relationship decisions when ignoring it or cutting and running are my usual go-tos.

[ but that's wry and self-deprecating and he laughs. ]

So I don't mind if you make me unhappy sometimes as long as you're still around after and we can talk about it, or whatever. I don't know, does that sound stupid?

[windeity]

[He follows rather easily.]

That's kind of just one of the things about relationships, isn't it? Knowing we can't always be perfect but being willing to work on it anyway. I'm not going anywhere and I want you to be able to talk to me if something happens. [So no, not stupid.]

[parodeity]

It hasn’t been for me to date. [ he didn’t talk about things with jade or terezi or karkat. not really. he doesn’t exactly with john as much as he should. but even so. ] Call it an experiment.

[windeity]

I can if you want but I don't want any part of us just being an experiment, dude. You understand that right?

[parodeity]

[ lmao no he does not understand that and there’s a weird quiet stare. ]

Sure. [ read: i’m pretty sure i’m an experiment but ok ] Is Footloose in here?

[windeity]

[It's enough to make him a little uncomfortable and wonder what, exactly, Dave's thinking about. But he doesn't call him on it.]

The song? It can probably be pulled up on YouTube so yeah. Why? Wanna switch?

[parodeity]

[ john will never know unless dave cracks probably ]

Not that your playlist isn’t amazing, but kinda.

[windeity]

[Goddamnit Dave.]

I can switch it if you want. I'll just need to switch apps really quick.

[parodeity]

[ well john cant figure it out on his own so that’s the option!! ]

Maybe later?

[windeity]

You just said you kind of wanted to switch. I don't mind switching?

[parodeity]

I changed my mind. [ he doesn’t want to let go. ]

[windeity]

Okay. [He pulls him closer instead.] Next time then. The list is almost over anyway...I think there's one more song?

[parodeity]

Some kinda grand finale? [ it’s hard to guess what john would pick for that. ]

[windeity]

Yeah. Are you ready for it? I think it's after this song.

[parodeity]

Well, now you’re just building up the hype.

[windeity]

We'll see if it lives up to the height then. [And so, the song ends and the last one begins, allowing John to spin them in tempo and pick up pace again.]

[parodeity]

[ since dave had been upping the pace consistently he doesn’t mind. he hears the song and remembers calling john a stupid pet name dozens of times. ]

- I like you way too much.

[windeity]

Coincidentally I feel the same. [There's another grin.] Sometimes I think I have never liked anyone quite so much. It's strange, isn't it? In a good way.

[parodeity]

[ he remembers a conversation about maybe being in love but probably not and the way he has felt and remembers feeling for other people. dave would destroy everything he was for rose, and he would miss john every day they were apart. those are facts, at least, easy to hold onto.

rose is his counterpoint and counterpart and the dark to his light and light to his dark. he doesn’t know how to be himself without other people sometimes. ]

...I like you, too.

[windeity]

It's the other Carly Rae Jepsen song I haven't made you listen to. [Whatever that means, and he hums along with the song playing as they dance.] I thought about it and thought maybe it was overkill but I really like you. A lot. Even if sometimes I am not great at saying so.