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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 considers saying "I know" but decides to just squeeze Dave's hand between his.]

That's okay. Do...[How to say this...] ...can I just kind of hold you for a bit? [And he can figure it out from there. Physically affection usually works for him, but he knows how dodgy Dave can be sometimes.

[parodeity]

I don't know. Yeah? [ he just swallows. tries to figure out what to say. he's not about to explain bro, but. ] I...saw something. Saw you.

[windeity]

[He's moving as slow as possible so Dave's aware of all of his movements, shifting to sit against the headboard and pulling Dave with him and kicking a blanket up to wrap around both of them.]

...you saw me?

[parodeity]

[ he lets john drag him and tries to figure out if this is easier or harder not looking at john. ] You wanted me to kill someone. I think you were sayin' shit about being disappointed.

[ he hadn't been able to register it. ]

[windeity]

[...hm. The blanket gets a little fluffed around him and he shifts so Dave's head is down on his chest near his heartbeat.]

Oh yeah? Disappointed because...what, you would not kill whoever it was I wanted you to? That sounds awful.

[parodeity]

Eh. Anyway, you got killed. [ and that wasn't even the part that freaked him the hell out. ]

[windeity]

Oh. [Why does that keep happening.] Then what happened...?

[parodeity]

Then I was reminded I might not exactly ever be okay.

[windeity]

[He sighs carefully.] Because of whoever I wanted you to kill? [But maybe that's still pressing too much so he shifts to lay down a little more and keep Dave pressed to him.] And that's when you told me to call you. Right?

[parodeity]

[ not...wrong. ] A little after. [ he pulls away, then shifts, sliding into john's lap instead and cupping his cheeks between too-cold hands. ] John?

[windeity]

[That's disturbing. He'd thought maybe something was up but not that something was drastically wrong during all of that. He doesn't even flinch when Dave moves and instead he puffs out his cheeks under Dave's hands to make a face and try to make Dave smile a little. Or at least his faint amused look.]

Yeah?

[parodeity]

[ john for fucks sake...he slides his hands into john's hair instead, rolling his eyes. ]

Have you figured out what I wasn't telling you when we had a picnic with the star projector or not?

[windeity]

Um...[...] I have a few guesses but I never really know how to make them. Or say them. And sometimes I think when you talk about boundaries and not pushing you don't want to tell me things because you're worried about how I'll take them.

[parodeity]

Kind of. Or I really do worry about pushing you.

[windeity]

Are you scared I'll leave?

[parodeity]

...sometimes, but no. I'm scared of pressuring you.

[windeity]

Pressuring me in what way, exactly?

[parodeity]

Egbert. [ you're killing me here doesn't need to be said and isn't entirely accurate. dave leans back, letting go, and his left hand plays with his shades idly. ] John.

[windeity]

What? [He's not sure if he's talking about things from the past or something else but he's trying.] Words, Dave. I'm lost here.

[parodeity]

You have guesses. Am I allowed?

[windeity]

[He has no idea what the question is for, but:]

Yes.

[parodeity]

[ great job, john. dave captchalogues his shades - definite dark circles under his eyes - and the stone and then just kind of examines john, quietly, the fingers of his left hand tapping out a nervous rhythm on john's neck.

finally: ]

I'm in love with you. [ that's it. he knows it's stupid and he knows he's a fucking idiot and shouldn't be yet. it has nothing to do with the stone despite the fact he was ignoring this, too. ] ...just so you know. Thirteen year old Dave had a crush and I refined it into idiocy.

[windeity]

[It's a bit to process and yet...it makes sense to him. He's not as alarmed as he should be and he's quietly thinking as he reaches forward to rub his fingers under Dave's eye to try and wipe away the exhausted circles. His own stone's busy radiating what can really only be described as relief and a little hope and a little nervousness but he simply nods instead.]

I don't think I would call that idiocy. Why would it be?

[parodeity]

[ exhaustion and a swirl of anxiety as he considers that stone and what might happen if it breaks.

the circles under his eyes go nowhere, but his gaze skates to the side. ]

Chronologically it's stupid. But just in case...Anyway. [ moving on, apparently, he forces his gaze back over and frowns, left hand stilling before he starts fidgeting with the ends of john's hair instead. ] You could probably use a trim.

[windeity]

Chronically my butt. It's...not stupid. I promise you. Also you are the dude of time. Your timing can never be wrong. [A light frown as well, if only because the timing is hard since they're leaving again.] Unless you want to cut it for me I think that can wait.