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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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[parodeity]

[ he leaves his tie undone but around his neck and just gives john a little smile. ]

Curious about what part two of your date is? [ not what john meant ]

[windeity]

Not nearly this intensive. [But he looks pleased and motions for Dave to follow.] We're making another field trip. [The door's held open for him and once Dave is situated, he gets in the car and begins to drive.]

If you can guess where we're going, you'll get a prize.

[parodeity]

Do I get a hint? [ he holds the seatbelt a little aside on his chest. ]

[windeity]

Do you really need one? You know me by now. [But they're heading to campus...]

[parodeity]

You wrote a song?

[windeity]

You say that like it's a real surprise. [He parks on campus and he's careful to move his hand before he's up and getting Dave's door.] The building should still be unlocked.

[parodeity]

I can pick the locks if not. [ stop breaking into places...he gets our though. ] So that's what you mean by presents, right?

[windeity]

One of them, yeah. Did you really think I'd only get you one thing?

[parodeity]

You've already given me everything.

[windeity]

Not everything. There are still some things I haven't yet but I'd like to someday.

[parodeity]

[ he gives john a curious look but doesn't ask, following him to the music room instead. ]

[windeity]

[He leads him to a very specific practice room and a very specific piano. It's the same one that John brought him to on his birthday and he gestures to Dave to sit on the bench.]

...do you want your song first, or your other present first?

[parodeity]

Song first. [ he's sitting with one leg to either side of the bench, eyes on john. ]

[windeity]

Okay. [He's being careful because of the tattoo.] So...do you know why I brought you here, exactly?

[parodeity]

You played my birthday song in here. And also kissed me.

[windeity]

Yup. And then I stalled for like almost two weeks like an idiot before we got together. At least this time I won't stall. [He says. As he stalls. But he's playing a light, gentle melody.]

[parodeity]

You can't really stall on getting together at this point.

[windeity]

Nope. And I don't want to. I never want to stall with you ever again. [...] It's not particularly romantic, maybe, but...I wrote this for you. [Give him a few moments to figure it out before he starts to play slowly but surely. The notes are solid, like he's been writing and practicing for a while. He doesn't look at Dave but his eyes aren't on his fingers either. They're on his right wrist instead.]

[parodeity]

[ he doesn't have to look over at dave. eventually dave shifts to bring his other leg over to the piano side of the bench and leans against john as he listens to him play. ]

[windeity]

[A slow and pretty song, stable and sure. It doesn't last for long, given it's short, but Dave leans into him and John turns his head just slightly to press a kiss to his hair.]

...everything I feel for you is something I can never hope to accurately describe to someone else. They would never understand, and I don't need them to. I don't need a label for what this is because I love you and that's pretty much the entire point. So...I called it Unlabeled.

[parodeity]

...you're ridiculous. [ his fingertips brush john's wrist, just under the bandage. ] I love you too.

[windeity]

Am I ridiculous when I have a new muse like you? [Just throwing that out there. He tries not to move when Dave's fingers touch his arm.]

[parodeity]

Yes. [ but he turns and presses a kiss to john's cheek. ]

[windeity]

Shut up. [But he allows it and he grins.] Was that okay?

[parodeity]

You know you're my favorite composer.