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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]

[ haha no. he's faster than john and drags his hand away and has the box open in a second. what the hell is in there? ]

[windeity]

Hey! [Yeah no Dave is a lot faster which means he opens the box and he'll find a small, gold ring. It's a basic band and looks like this.

It's attached to a chain though.]

[parodeity]

[ okay, dave isn't sure what he's looking at. it's fairly obviously not one of the usual kinds of rings people get in relationships because haha he doesn't even have so much of a second of misunderstanding that since why would john. a promise ring also seems semi pointless and he's pretty sure john can't have one of those.

or is virginity a requirement? he's not actually sure. jewelry isn't his thing. it's almost definitely not john's thing either so dave's reaction is less weird and more complete bafflement. ]

I give. What's this all about?

[windeity]

...this was one of the first things I ever received from Retrospec way back in October. Like before we even got the cat. And I never understood what it was until I got some memories back and remembered conversations with Vriska to put it all together. It's like...a life ring. Supposedly it brings ghosts back to life, and...you know. You kind of fixed a lot of my life by just being here. So it only felt right for you to have it. The chain is just so it doesn't get lost.

[parodeity]

[ that makes more sense and sounds more johnlike. dave doesn't get weird, exactly, but he's a little quiet and uncertain. ] ...thanks.

[ it doesn't seem appropriate to argue he didn't fix anything just now. ]

[windeity]

[...he bites his cheek.]

You don't have to wear it, obviously, but I thought it made sense for you to hold onto it since you gave me the other thing. [The heart stone, he means.]

[parodeity]

Hey. [ he'll slide the chain over his head anyway, reaching out to grip john's chin and hold him in place for a chaste kiss, less quick than the first time they'd ever kissed in this room. ] I'll keep it safe for you. Thank you for trusting me.

[windeity]

[He leans in for the kiss at least, lingering and leaning into Dave's hand.]

I really do trust you with my life, you know. It's not just a metaphor.

[parodeity]

I've always known that. [ his voice is a quiet reassurance as he thumbs john's cheek. ] I love you.

[windeity]

I love you, too. [He leans further into Dave's hand.] And I know maybe it is ridiculous to be so sentimental when it's only been six months, but you are really, really important to me. I don't want to stall on stuff anymore just because I think it might be too much.

[parodeity]

It's been over a decade. [ a small shrug. ] And you're not the only one who stalls.

[windeity]

It's been a lifetime. [A soft correction.] ...think we can try not stalling? Or working on it.

[parodeity]

...I think there are some things you can't rush.

[windeity]

I didn't say anything about rushing. I said trying. I promised you I wouldn't rush things.

[parodeity]

So what's the midway?

[windeity]

The midway is an attempt when you're ready. Or at least a promise that someday you'll consider it.

[parodeity]

Okay, pause. An attempt at what?

[windeity]

An attempt at not stalling but only when you're ready.

[parodeity]

I'm not... [ a pause. ] Some things we need to do at your pace too. We'll talk whenever, okay?

[windeity]

...[He doesn't immediately reply.]

Close your eyes for a sec?

[parodeity]

[ there's zero hesitation when he shuts his eyes, sliding his shades up into his hair in order to make it visible. ]

[windeity]

[Two things happen. One, he leans forward to kiss him because he can. And two, he moves to press something in Dave's hand. Whenever he looks, he'll see the shitty burger badge for the Big Bang Burger challenge.]

[parodeity]

[ he keeps it chaste and not so desperate like he has been doing, but it's still a few minutes before dave pulls back to see what the hell john gave him.

this gift gets an immediate laugh. ]

Oh my god.

[windeity]

It's a few months late, but...[A grin.]

[parodeity]

Your gift is so much better than mine. [ he loves it?? it's stupid and he loves it?? ]