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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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Comments

[parodeity]

They suit you. [ granted he’s never actually objected to anything john wears...the most he’s said is the hair gel thing john apparently took to heart. thinking of that, dave reaches out to ruffle john’s hair before subsiding to be a good passenger. ] So, does this count as some kind of christening?

[windeity]

[He allows the hair ruffle because he's driving and can't take his hands off the wheel, but he also just doesn't seem to mind. His hair's softer and a little messy but whatever.]

Christening of our relationship? I think so. Does that kind of thing need christening?

[parodeity]

Do boats, really? I think it’s one of those things you decide for yourself, like what anniversaries you want to celebrate, or whatever?

[windeity]

That makes sense. What's your stance on anniversaries and stuff anyway? Have we talked about this?

[The restaurant they're going to isn't that far and John parks soon enough, moving to do the thing where he opens Dave's door and holds out an arm since Dave seemed into that.]

[parodeity]

We haven’t. What’s yours? [ a pause before he says ] I did the thing didn’t I - ummm. Time player.

[ as he takes john’s arm. ]

I like marking time. I don’t expect other people to do it with me though.

[windeity]

[There's a tilt of his head which is enough to say it's fine, he knows they both kind of suck at being straightforward so he doesn't say anything. He's just waiting for Dave before he locks the car and leads them inside.]

I think marking time for you is more instinct than it is for most other people to be completely fair. And...I like acknowledging the big ones. Like six months or years or birthdays. I don't always remember little things like first kisses or first dates or whatever but I think with you it will end up being easier just based on how the dates lined up.

[First kiss was Dave's birthday. First date was the day after new year's. Hard to forget that. They don't have to wait long since John apparently put in a reservation a while ago (probably where he was earlier today) and they head for a table away from the doors and in a warmer part of the restaurant.]

[parodeity]

[ he drops the topic until they’re seated, and clarifies: ]

It is, and I mark time from everything without thinking about it. But I think anniversaries like you mean are a different kind of marking time. I know when time spirals out from this event or that but it isn’t always something I’d do shit for even if I remember it. Tomorrow’s a month for you chronologically since we first kissed but while I’m aware of it I wouldn’t really do anything about it. I’d just know, and maybe think about it in a normal way, but it’s not like an anniversary you do shit for.

[ he says, a person who definitely makes sure later in the month that john will have dinner with him on their one month anniversary without explaining the occasion at all. ]

I’m hardly gonna mind if shit slips by you. It ain’t your aspect?

[windeity]

[Yeah I was wondering why the fuck they're going on a date on Friday goddamnit, Dave. Either way they're brought menus and glasses of water and John debates all of that carefully.]

My aspect just means we can make out for long periods of time. [Dryly.] And...I know. I think people feel differently about it based on experience and if you wanted to celebrate stuff like that, we could. But I think pretty much every day with you is something worth celebrating anyway even if it's not like a huge date or a fancy occasion or whatever. So I was just curious.

[parodeity]

[ the 12th is their one month anniversary and dave wanted to go out but didn’t feel the need for john to know why... ]

It means you can while I gasp around like a fish. [ WRYLY ] ...my estimation of you as a heartbreaker stands, by the way.

[windeity]

I could probably figure out--okay, no, that's dumb. [A grin.] What makes you say that now?

[parodeity]

How to give someone else air? Might be handy.

[windeity]

I could probably CPR you or something if I had to, but it is weird thinking of my aspect that way. I meant the heartbreaker thing, idiot.

[parodeity]

Every day is a day worth celebrating?

[windeity]

Tell me I'm wrong about that, I dare you. [There's another too-enthusiastic grin.] Maybe that was cheesy but the sentiment is true.

[parodeity]

Like I said: you’re a heartbreaker, Egbert. But okay, consider me informed on your opinion on anniversaries.

[windeity]

[Give him a second before his fingers begin tapping out the rhythm to a song instead.]

Cool. Any other ground rules and opinions we should cover before we get too far?

[parodeity]

[ it gets a soft laugh anyway. ]

You tell me. Got somethin’ in mind?

[windeity]

Hmmm. Well, Shouto and I decided we are going to burn all of your ugly Christmas sweaters if you ever start in on a 30-day campaign ever again? Does that count?

[parodeity]

You stay out of my clothes. Rose got me most of those and made others. And I mean...you know what I mean. Jokes aside, is there anything?

[windeity]

Like I would burn anything Rose actually made you. [An eyeroll. But they should maybe order so give him a moment to look over the menu.] Anyway I am sure there is but I can't think of what's really important right now? We've covered our stances on a lot of things that I could think of like dates and anniversaries and physical stuff so...[Shrug?] I am guessing that is a perk of dating you in particular.

[parodeity]

What is? [ distracted by what john might consider a perk ]

[windeity]

Knowing you the way I do? Being able to actually talk to you? Stuff like that.

[parodeity]

...huh. [ maybe? it occurs to dave not for the first time he never tried to say even halfway the important and heavy things to everyone else he’d tried this with. ] I guess we have covered an amount.

[windeity]

[He has that idea, too, but he won't pressure him to say things he's not ready to. He just has to hope maybe someday Dave will talk on his own. On the other hand, he's said a lot more than John expected and he's proud of him regardless.]

Yeah. We kind of have? It's a little weird to think I didn't even know you existed a few months ago and now it's almost like we were never really separated. [He makes a circular motion with his hand.] Lifetimes.

...what looks good to you? [Food. Right.]

[parodeity]

Pasta with alfredo sauce I guess?

[ right, food. dave stops scanning john and starts scanning the menu. ]

...you’ll let me know if you think of something though?