recollé ic inbox 4.0;

[parodeity]

DAVE STRIDER

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

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[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.

[parodeity]

You’ve actually said that part a lot. [ sort of??? ]

[windeity]

I think I like saying it. It feels right. [And also he's not sure Dave believes him anyway as they continue.]

[parodeity]

Yeah, well. I have to keep correcting myself. We got into bad habits.

[windeity]

[There's a confused look then.] What do you mean? What habits?

[parodeity]

[ deadpan: ] I love you.

[ but he means it the way he always meant it, it’s just. now an awkward sentiment. ]

But it’s a little awkward to say when it’s to someone you’re dating and you don’t mean it the way it’s normally meant in that context? But I almost got used to saying it.

[windeity]

[He gives him another contemplative look because he sort of thought that's what Dave was referencing but didn't want to believe it.]

...love is kind of a broad term, I think. And I think even if it's not used in the way it's normally meant yet, I still love you. That part's true. Is it still true for you?

[parodeity]

No, John, you completely stopped being one of the fundamentally important people in my life the second you kissed me. I lost any and all appreciation for you as a person at that point in time, and absolutely none of the bullshit that resonates before does anymore. Like your laugh and dumbass sense of humor and how you genuinely care about people even if you’re an oblivious asshole sometimes, and your inexplicable love for winter, and how you always come back.

[ that was obviously sarcasm ]

Of course I still love you. You’re my best friend.