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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]

[Silence. It makes sense, yeah. Of course it makes sense and he doesn't move beyond letting his hand crawl over the mattress searching for Dave's to hold. He still doesn't say anything, but there's that.]

...I didn't really know what I was doing with Vic either and we kept going anyway. It was just how things were. [There's a point.] She had more experience than I did at the time so I kind of just followed her lead on stuff and that's why I slept with her after we were dating for, like, eight months. And obviously we did other stuff before that and I just figured nobody knew what they were doing, this was just how things were.

…I don't regret it because it doesn't matter anymore and it's a part of my old life in this lifetime. But I do get what you're saying. I just…I love you. A lot. And I'm not sure how to express it all the time, but I do and so sometimes I think doing stuff like that is the answer.

[He makes a face.] Am I the only one who sees the irony in maybe not being totally ready for physically doing stuff despite the fact we have a fucking house and share a bed? [But he chews his lip.] …as far as I am aware, I like you, I think you are really attractive, and I think about you in that context even if I don't tell you that. So…take that as you will. It doesn't change what I said about staying forever.

[parodeity]

[ he lets john take his hand, anyway. ]

It doesn't really matter if you're never ready. I didn't exactly expect you to ever be and that isn't why I stay with you. And maybe I won't be either. [ he's smart enough not to mention where his issues there come from. bro, yeah, but john isn't wrong to think it's being completely unconvinced john wont flip out at the last second or that it just won't be enough.

dave's own issues, in the long run, and not john's responsibility. ]

So why don't we not worry about it until and unless you actually want to do anything. There ain't any lead that needs following. I already have what I want. Stuff like that ain't an answer to a question or anything that needs doin'.

[windeity]

[He'll just lace his fingers through Dave's.] Then we just figure it out as we go. And that's fine with me. I just don't want you thinking I'm not interested or that it's anything about you or anything. That's not the thing here. I am very much interested.

[There's a huff then.] Then what should we be worrying about?

[parodeity]

You don't need to be interested in me in every way, John. I do know you love me. And I dunno, I guess we don't have to worry at all maybe?

[windeity]

[He shifts enough to kiss at Dave's knuckles anyway because shut the fuck up, Strider.]

So...let's just take the day off. I'll make you breakfast, and we can do whatever. I love you, I think you're hot as fuck, and you can put a shirt back on if you're uncomfortable but I kind of like you like this.

[parodeity]

I love you too. [ but he will go grab his shirt again, yeah, pulling away from john to go collect it. ]

[windeity]

[He suppresses a sigh and lays on his back, still staring at the ceiling and not bothering to get his shirt.]

What time is it anyway?

[parodeity]

Six thirty eight. [ he doesn't give seconds, but comes back to bed and gets in on his side. ]

[windeity]

On a Friday. [He doesn't try to touch him again immediately but he shifts closer.] ...how's your head? [Back to this question again.]

[parodeity]

I'll survive. [ john doesn't try to touch him and all dave does is curl up against john's side like he often does. ] Go back to sleep for now.

[windeity]

[Dave curls up and John's arm immediately moves to pull him closer. The no-touching thing lasted a grand total of five seconds.] You're not going to sleep, are you?

[parodeity]

I intend to lie here and think about nothing.

[windeity]

That sounds...very boring. But peaceful. Does that help?

[parodeity]

Yes. [ his eyes are shut. ] You don't have to stay. [ if john gets too bored, although he'd have to shift his boyfriend off his shoulder first. ]

[windeity]

I don't have to, but I'm going to. So deal with it. [There's a quiet sigh.] ...what if we thought of something better than nothing?

[parodeity]

What do you want me thinking about?

[windeity]

Stuff we can do this summer now that we have our own house? We should definitely get a pool. [He's not serious, but it's a distraction.]

[parodeity]

I definitely don't have enough saved up for that.

[windeity]

Like one of those little inflatable ones, you can probably buy them from Walmart or Target or something.

[parodeity]

If you want, sure. You can get yourself floaty pool noodles too.

[windeity]

No, those things are dangerous. [Moving right along...he's also letting his hand idly play with Dave's hair.] Is it dumb I can't get over how glad I am to have an actual kitchen and a laundry room we don't have to share with a bunch of people?

[parodeity]

[ it's stressful and soothing at the same time, dave can't tell which is stronger. ] I miss the college laundry experience of one weird creepy person in the room whenever you have to use it at all times.

[windeity]

[If it's stressful, Dave, say something. It's idle motions and John not knowing where to go.]

Thanks but no thanks. I'm a lot happier without people stealing my socks at least.

[parodeity]

[ the touch is soothing, the conversation stressful, but he likes johns voice too much to ask for silence. ]

99% sure you just honestly lost half of those.

[windeity]

Yeah, maybe. [Silence again.] ...things are okay. [But that's all he says for right now.]