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[parodeity]

DAVE STRIDER

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

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

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[windeity]

Shut up. [A dab of black paint winds up on Dave's knuckles. Oops.] You know what I mean! It'll be good for both of us this way.

[parodeity]

Yeah, I know, you mean the "spending too much time together is bad" thing. I don't actually mind how we spend our days as long as I get to come home to you. I wouldn't be a huge fan without that - I don't know, security? I mean, I'd live, obviously. But it's nice to have a home base.

[windeity]

I like home base and I like you being part of my home. That part was never out of the question. So yeah...I agree. [He's painted his music on the bowl and he moves to start painting a large blue stripe on the bottom.] Somehow it feels a lot less empty than my house with my nanna.

[parodeity]

[ is this music dave would recognize. ] It feels...better, than home used to. Not that I don't love my family. But I felt uneasy there after February and anyway my room was lonely after Dirk moved out. I like having someone in my space, even though I'm kinda fuckin' picky about who's there.

[windeity]

[It's definitely Dave's song John wrote for his birthday so probably.] No, I get it. I love Nanna and everything but when my dad left there was this weird gap I didn't know what to do with. I still don't. I was not really sure how I felt about going home this summer but...Nanna understood when I told her I didn't think I wanted to. I like having people around, too.

[parodeity]

I like...specifically, I like having you around.

[ cool. he likes that song. he's focusing on painting on some flower patterned sunglasses on the dino. because yeah. ]

Or who you are as a person. You agreed to what I asked pretty quick, when I was serious about it, and you're...comfortable. I don't know, there are not a lot of people I would be entirely chill with that much in my space. If I'd shown up and found I was roomin' with someone else, I probably would have just slept on rooftops or couches or whatever until I was okay with them, or I wouldn't have slept at all in my bed but just lay there awake? I would have been better about it before everything, probably.

[windeity]

I didn't see a reason not to agree to it. I wasn't sure who I'd be rooming with or if I'd be rooming with someone at all, so it made sense to try and be agreeable and make it comfortable for us.

[A pause in his painting.] Also I'm glad you didn't go to sleep on the roof. That is not really a thing that sounds like a good plan even if I get why.

[parodeity]

Today I considered talkin' to Minato. [ half-randomly, because he feels like saying it. ] Do you ever feel like you kind of miss a moment?

[windeity]

[There's a light hum of acknowledgement.] Sometimes, yeah. You ever think you could make up for that moment later?

[parodeity]

Well, I specifically keep askin' you to make up for some with me. ...But, yeah? I just...it's weird to think about. I mean, I know I'm bein' vague as fuck, but I don't know, I guess when I was with him I realized I feel a little more grown up than I did a few months back?

[windeity]

I'm trying. [But this isn't about John, this is about Dave and he nods along because it's definitely vague and that's okay.] Do you feel like that's a good thing? Being a little more grown up.

[parodeity]

Still talking about makin' out at work. [ will he let that go ever PROBABLY NOT... ] And I think maybe a good thing?

[windeity]

We will make out at work when we're at work, Dave. [Calmly. But.] Is there a scenario where it would actually be a bad thing, you think?

[parodeity]

I think that sometimes people can grow in the wrong directions?

[windeity]

I think it's possible, but I also think that requires...like...a very drastic change of events. And not coming back from that change. But I also believe that people will always be able to grow the right way eventually.

[parodeity]

...Have I mentioned recently I enjoy your boundless optimism deal.

[windeity]

[A surprised laugh.] Not recently. But I mean it. I think it's just...I don't know. Sometimes I think the people who do change for the worse and grow in the wrong direction are just people that need extra help and didn't have people who would stick with them. And it's sad because everybody needs someone even if, like, they're just someone who teaches you what you don't want to be. Why do you think the idea of soulmates and stuff is so popular? Romantic and otherwise.

[This is all said while he's finishing his blue stripe on the bottom. The top of the bowl starts to get a stripe of red.]

[parodeity]

Someone who teaches you who you don't want to be...?

[windeity]

Yeah. [He's painting and not really looking at Dave since he's concentrating.] There's this saying that's like. "The only good luck many great men ever had was being born with the ability and determination to overcome bad luck." People can get stuck with some really shitty circumstances but as long as there are people who are patient with them and will let them grow toward them and away from what they don't want to be, I think people can turn out perfectly okay.

[parodeity]

[ huh.

dave paints polka dots down the dinosaur's spine. ]

Hey, Egbert, guess what?

[windeity]

Hm? [That is not how dinosaurs work but okay Dave.]

[parodeity]

[ yeah his dinosaur looks like an 80s reject but what can you do?? ]

Love you.

[windeity]

[A somewhat quizzical look but he shifts enough to kiss his forehead.] Love you, too. Your dinosaur has a lot of colors going on suddenly. [...but anyway.] Minato will still take your moment even if it's a little late. I can pretty much guarantee that.

[parodeity]

Yeah. He said he'd take me to a special place and everything. [ dave rainchecked it. he tilts his head to the side, looking at john. ] You, too?

[windeity]

Sounds important. [He lifts his eyebrows.] You're always going to have chances with me, dude. I think that is kind of part of the best bro and boyfriend thing.