recollé ic inbox 6.0;

[parodeity]

DAVE STRIDER

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

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

Comments

[parodeity]

[ dave is very obviously hovering near the small presents - jk he glances at them and then goes to hang out by the fireplace. ] We got enough supplies to be snowed in, yeah? I mean, we totally do, I did shopping a few days back. Hey.

[ then he drapes himself on john so. ]

[windeity]

[He reaches up for Dave's arms draped over him and just kind of hugs him that way even while they camp in front of the fire.]

Yeah. We have enough, and I picked up some things when I dropped off the kids earlier. [He tilts his head just a bit to face him.] Happy birthday, babe. Sorry you got the worst present ever from the sky.

[He knows how Dave feels about snow ok.]

[parodeity]

Your present to me can be not makin' me go out in it. What'd you pick up earlier?

[ nosy much...he hooks his chin over john's shoulder, fairly content. his eyes are shut and obviously so, since inside he tends to leave them off with john now. they have some heavy duty curtains and all. ]

[windeity]

I'm not telling you? Not yet, anyway. It's for later for dinner and stuff, plus some stuff for tomorrow since it looks like it's still snowing out there. [He reaches up to pet Dave's face gently.] It's just you and me tonight.

[parodeity]

Rude. [ not rude. he nuzzles john's hand. ] Do I have to wait on presents or is that whenever? [ he's curious. ]

[windeity]

[What a good cat.] That's whenever. I think our only real plans were dinner and a movie of your choosing so we can do presents in whatever order.

[parodeity]

Preference on what order I open those in, or...?

[windeity]

It's your birthday. I do not have a preference, but those also aren't the only presents. [The presents on the table are two small boxes, two medium boxes, and a little bag. Sorry about him.]

[parodeity]

This is way too many presents, you dick. [ ...he'll let go and go for the bag though. ]

[windeity]

We've been dating for almost a year, babe. If you're surprised I am spoiling you on your birthday I really don't know what to tell you. [The bag reveeeeals...these monstrosities.]

[parodeity]

[ he obviously immediately puts them on. ] I'm so getting you back in April. Oh my god. I look hideous, I love these. [ too delighted...


what are the smal boxes. can he get tackier ]

[windeity]

[Glad that this is just Dave's taste.] I sort of thought you would. [There's no comment about payback though because leave him alone. But okay. The small boxes turn out to be his standard of film for Dave's film camera, and also a box of scrolls like these. The scrolls, however, have a bunch of holes punched in them in some sort of pattern? Hm...]

[parodeity]

Do these go to a music box or something? [ he has no idea ]

[windeity]

Maybe. [A half-smile.] You'll have to open the rest, won't you?

[parodeity]

[ onto the final boxes!!

what did john do... ]

[windeity]

[Well. One of those boxes contains a large model dinosaur skeleton for Dave to build and put together because why the hell not. The second box, however, contains a wooden music box that's carved on top. Half Breath symbol, half Time symbol. Space and Light are carved in around the base in an alternating pattern and the wood itself is dark and shiny.

So yeah. It's a music box.]

[parodeity]

[ well. he won't do the model right away, but he will feed the music scrolls through the box? ] ...did you commission this?

[windeity]

Sort of. [What he's not saying: he got the box partially made and did some additional work himself. He's not very crafty but he can at least follow a pattern.] It was mostly a commission though, yes. Obviously the scrolls are not.

[Once Dave cranks the box and feeds the scroll, it begins to play his original birthday song, but it's also blended with undertones of this. The tempos are evened out and match up at least. The other scrolls are similarly all songs he's sent Dave before but in paper form.] I know it's a little lame but...I thought you'd make like it.

[parodeity]

John. This is the complete opposite of lame??? [ he loves it? like. impossibly so. he always likes john's music and he likes the callbacks and the box is beautiful. dave's gentle when he sets it down on the table and draws close enough to lean in and down a little for a kiss. ] I was totally right: you always give the best presents somehow. I think you topped my christmas gifts for you already even.

[windeity]

[He meets him for that kiss and it's too easy to see he's relieved. They've been dating for almost a year and he still sometimes gets nervous about actual serious presents.]

It's not a competition, dude. [But there's a smile.] Anyway you're my favorite Christmas gift so I am seriously doubting I can ever top that.

[parodeity]

Okay, that's going into the hall of fame for cheesiest things you've ever said to me. [ soon to be kicked out by even cheesier shy probably. ] I love it, babe. Thank you. You realize I'm going to be playing this like nightly right?

[windeity]

I keep trying to outdo myself. I think it's working. [He can at least make fun of himself...but there's a nod.] I kind of figured. I...sort of thought it'd maybe help you sleep if you're up and I'm already passed out and you don't want to wake me up.

[parodeity]

...you just outdid yourself. [ no, he didn't. rather than that being cheesy it's genuinely sweet and dave kisses john's forehead because it's deserved. ] ...thanks. I love you, you know?

[windeity]

[He's very happy with himself at least.]

I do know that, yeah. [It's a nice thing and he shifts just a little to lean against him. VALIDATE HIM...sometimes he needs that, too, even if he doesn't like saying so.] I love you too, obviously. And speaking of love, your dark room's upstairs.

[parodeity]

[ dave just adjusts his posture and slides his arms around john's waist, bracing them against the table so john can lean away. ] Okay, Egbert, now you're just trying to make me look bad. Music room set up for you too?