[I'M SORRY DAVE, DID YOU WANT DIRK TO FOCUS ON ANYTHING BUT WHAT YOU JUST SAID. DID YOU WANT ANYTHING BUT A LOOK OF BLANK HORROR? BECAUSE THAT IS NOT HAPPENING.]
Why.
[THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE OTHER TOPIC, DIRK CAN'T EVEN DEAL WITH THE OTHER TOPIC RIGHT NOW]
Again, it's just gonna be a tiny little cut. No big.
[ uNLESS IT WORKS he might try a bigger one but. shhhh. at least he hugs back? ]
But yeah. I think I promised to do experiments like that with you around? And it wouldn't be for a bit, I want to make sure I'm over the whole portal thing for real and absolute serious before I bother with anythin' new. You dropped the other conversation.
[ does dirk feel this sense of aggravation about every conversation dave has ever dropped or dodged, ever? wow. dirk is a fucking saint? ]
You drop half the conversations we have, let me worry about you for a few minutes.
[Shut up and let him hug you? With fret and concern. He didn't want to drop the other conversation but then DAVE MENTIONED THIS SORT OF THING]
It's a relief you're waiting until you're sure you're feeling better. [There. Positive reinforcement. That's good. Let Dave know he approves of some things so Dave doesn't hesitate to come to him again? Also so Dave knows what he's doing right.] And that you'd have grabbed someone else, presumably Rose, if I didn't go. Also, for agreeing to try it on me after. [why does that help? it does though] Thank you.
[He makes Dave let him rest his chin on top of Dave's head. He has now encapsulated Dave in the protective bubble of his embrace.]
We can do the other conversation now. Do you not know you're already there?
Yeah and now I'm actually startin' to feel bad about it. [ IT IS SURPRISINGLY? NOT FUN? TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A DROPPED CONVERSATIONAL THREAD YOU WERE INTERESTED IN?
also there's a vaguely irritated sound as he gets boxed in further by the chin on head but there's no actual attempt to free himself. dave just takes a moment to shift around so he's more comfortably boxed in, instead. ] Why are you thankin' me for agreein' to experiment on - no, actually, I get that.
[ HE'S DONE THE SAME RE: sOUL SHIT SO
also despite just complaining about it he like doesn't know how to reply to the idea he might already be a reliable person so he kind of trails off and drops that for a second himself
I was contemplating doing something just for fun, but I haven't decided what yet.
[Dirk has not let Dave out of his box of brotherly protectiveness yet. However, the lid comes off as Dirk pulls his chin off of Dave's head and looks at him.]
Maybe we should keep the other conversation going. Do you want to talk about it more?
[ it is not an exciting view since when he was boxed in dave just shut his eyes. he opens one of them to kind of eyeball dirk before shutting it again, though. ]
Flash mob. And did you want to talk about it more? I'm, uh, willin' to believe that is a thing that is true.
[ or like he is willing to decide to try to believe that which is Essentially the same thing. he does believe the part about living together lessening dirk's loneliness more readily than, like, the part where he apparently is reliable like he wants to be somehow. ]
It's less the big things like that though. [ or: ] Those count. But I mean - it's just tied into the other thing. [ clear as mud, but he means: dirk saying when he's tired or letting him mess up his hair or just. seeming human in dave's direction and admitting to weakness when it occurs. ] I guess? I'm not really sure.
Helping me make food. [ letting him is one thing, helping him is another. helping is more this thing than that thing. ]
Treatin' me like a combatant you rely on is one thing; when I say I want to be reliable I mean I want you to rely on me like I'm actually your brother. In the stupid normal people ways.
[It's the second time he has said that, but he offers this one again now that Dave has said his terms more clearly.]
You know I'm hugging you right now because you scared me. So... this is me being comforted by you. [Even though he was the one who dragged Dave into the hug?
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Why.
[THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE OTHER TOPIC, DIRK CAN'T EVEN DEAL WITH THE OTHER TOPIC RIGHT NOW]
Cut a plant instead and fast forward it.
[NOT! DAVE!]
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I'm not gonna cut myself like a lot, just a little bit.
[ this makes it Better. ]
Literally just a little tiny slice. No big.
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[It doesn't???? it does NOT have to be dave?????!?!?!?!?!]
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[ if it works on him he'd try it on dirk if asked but like ??? no
but he will relent and give an actually good reason: ]
I have far more practice movin' myself through time than I do anyone or anythin' else.
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It also won't take pain, because it's a plant and not my brother.
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[ fast-forwarding plants is easy mode. ]
So anyway I brought that up 'cause if you want me to make sure you're around whenever I do that I will? Even though it will be tiny and stupid.
[ unless it works and he has to experiment further but he wouldn't push it that far with dirk around. ]
Also it's not gonna hurt that much oh my god. It's not like I'm suggestin' I break my own ribs or somethin'.
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[He is pretty damn sure Dave won't. He would VASTLY prefer it if Dave did.]
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[ it seemed pointless to make plans for what he was going to do with this knowledge after if it doesn't even work? ]
Um. You don't have to stick around for it if you don't want? I can always find someone else willin' to sit with me or whatever.
[ "someone else" in this case being rose because rose is the person least likely to be freaked out by the idea in his repertoire of friends.
dave figures it probably wouldn't be bad to clarify that he doesn't plan to waltz off and try it all alone. maybe. ]
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[The hand which Dirk has a grip on is used to tug Dave over. The hug is bordering on protective.
He breathes out.]
Thanks for letting me know. And come.
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[ uNLESS IT WORKS he might try a bigger one but. shhhh. at least he hugs back? ]
But yeah. I think I promised to do experiments like that with you around? And it wouldn't be for a bit, I want to make sure I'm over the whole portal thing for real and absolute serious before I bother with anythin' new. You dropped the other conversation.
[ does dirk feel this sense of aggravation about every conversation dave has ever dropped or dodged, ever? wow. dirk is a fucking saint? ]
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[Shut up and let him hug you? With fret and concern. He didn't want to drop the other conversation but then DAVE MENTIONED THIS SORT OF THING]
It's a relief you're waiting until you're sure you're feeling better. [There. Positive reinforcement. That's good. Let Dave know he approves of some things so Dave doesn't hesitate to come to him again? Also so Dave knows what he's doing right.] And that you'd have grabbed someone else, presumably Rose, if I didn't go. Also, for agreeing to try it on me after. [why does that help? it does though] Thank you.
[He makes Dave let him rest his chin on top of Dave's head. He has now encapsulated Dave in the protective bubble of his embrace.]
We can do the other conversation now. Do you not know you're already there?
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also there's a vaguely irritated sound as he gets boxed in further by the chin on head but there's no actual attempt to free himself. dave just takes a moment to shift around so he's more comfortably boxed in, instead. ] Why are you thankin' me for agreein' to experiment on - no, actually, I get that.
[ HE'S DONE THE SAME RE: sOUL SHIT SO
also despite just complaining about it he like doesn't know how to reply to the idea he might already be a reliable person so he kind of trails off and drops that for a second himself
like
an idiot ]
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No?
[ no he doesn't know he's already there it doesn't seem like a thing he was aware of? ]
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[Eloquent also.]
Okay, then so you know, you are.
[There we go, confusion solved. Nice.]
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...Okay.
[ he agreed to try to not...do that...so he is not gonna do that. good job. ]
What robotics shit are you doin' today in particular?
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[Dirk has not let Dave out of his box of brotherly protectiveness yet. However, the lid comes off as Dirk pulls his chin off of Dave's head and looks at him.]
Maybe we should keep the other conversation going. Do you want to talk about it more?
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Flash mob. And did you want to talk about it more? I'm, uh, willin' to believe that is a thing that is true.
[ or like he is willing to decide to try to believe that which is Essentially the same thing. he does believe the part about living together lessening dirk's loneliness more readily than, like, the part where he apparently is reliable like he wants to be somehow. ]
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[He. thinks? Not the point.]
Are there ways I can demonstrate it more often?
[Trying to believe things is good and appreciated but Dirk would like to help a bro out, as it were.]
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[ obviously? the question, though. ]
I'm not sure. You told me the other day when you were tired? Are there ways I can demonstrate it more?
[ is dirk sure it's a thing, or not? somehow this is more immediately a concern when it comes to mind than dave's own thing. ]
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[Since, you know. Dave has asked him not to keep seeking out boss fights, so he hasn't.]
You were my first text when we were about to hit the planet soul. You're who I go to for advice on my powers or fighting.
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[ he. did not realize that. ]
It's less the big things like that though. [ or: ] Those count. But I mean - it's just tied into the other thing. [ clear as mud, but he means: dirk saying when he's tired or letting him mess up his hair or just. seeming human in dave's direction and admitting to weakness when it occurs. ] I guess? I'm not really sure.
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Little things like me saying I was tired. And letting you mess my hair up.
Letting you make food, or is that a different thing?
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Treatin' me like a combatant you rely on is one thing; when I say I want to be reliable I mean I want you to rely on me like I'm actually your brother. In the stupid normal people ways.
[ the ways that aren't really that stupid. ]
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[It's the second time he has said that, but he offers this one again now that Dave has said his terms more clearly.]
You know I'm hugging you right now because you scared me. So... this is me being comforted by you. [Even though he was the one who dragged Dave into the hug?
Yes.]
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