parodeity | subnautica ic inbox 2.0;

Apparently you wouldn't learn Hindi because we're going to learn Spanish.

[The. Two of them? Apparently? Like, Dirk isn't going to disagree. He will sign on to learn this thing he probably doesn't need to know. Why not. But. ???]

Uh. [ there's that typical moment of belated uncertainty that dirk displays so often after making a decision for the both of them. it is probably precisely like dirk's, really, mirrored back entirely in tone and stance. ] If you want to learn Spanish, I mean? Since. That isn't really immediately useful I guess like, say, Kharaa or even learnin' to read Alternian or whatever, but.

[Good job, kids.]

It isn't like I've ever based my educational choices on what would be immediately or even potentially useful.

So you do want to?

[ confirmation is key ]

I just figured since you're always, like, gung-ho about the Texan cuisine it...kind of counts as a thing we might maybe give a fuck about. As Texans.

Yeah, I do.

[NOW HE FEELS. Slightly called out on this.]

It is apparently our heritage. So is being space babies, but I don't jump to get in touch with my ghostbuster backstory.

Well, yeah. Doesn't bein' Texan mean more to you than that though? You literally forcibly picked up the accent.

[ the calling out continues although dave mostly sounds baffled as to why dirk is suddenly sounding vaguely tsundere about texas ]

You're correct in your observations [even if they're SHAMEFUL CALL OUT POSTS] but you're focusing on the wrong source here. I did not pick up the accent because my meteor happened to land in the ocean where Houston used to be.

[He's hesitant here. He doesn't want to cause a thing about his Bro. But it is related, and he has to try to explain it.] It was a way of connecting to family that I could never actually encounter. I was trying to close an impossible distance.

Now, it's a way of bonding with the family I have, which is a different exercise. I just, uh... like it as a way of being closer to you.

[He really, really hopes he didn't mess this one up.]

[ at this point, dave's eyebrows just raise. ]

No, I know. I mean - I know it was about him. [ he's...not sure he knew it was about him, not the other dave. that's a weird thought he's not sure how to process, or how to quite believe. ] I always knew that? We've mentioned it before sideways. I figured if he'd been from somewhere else you would've been into, like, wherever that was. But, paradoxes. Source-wise.

Right. But that's the thing. The accent made sense because of him, but that is no longer the motivating force behind my interest in Texan things. [Sorry for the reinforcing of that thought, but there it is.] I like learning Texan cuisine from you because I get to join you on the level of that good. Learning Spanish, by which I mean specifically that rather than any general activity, only matters as a thing on whatever level it connects you and me. My heritage, as it were, is relevant only on those grounds.

[so. yes. congratulations, Dave: you are now his focus. have fun!]

It didn't matter a whole fuckin' lot until you took an interest.

[ a shrug, deflecting. but it's an honest deflection: for all he has the accent and some of the culture and has mentioned being southern before in conversations, it's not like dave ever felt super connected to the state he lived with on the level where he cared and it mattered. the things he connected to were mostly online, mostly solitary, and it's not like he spent much time talking to people outside of that. bro was kind of not huge on meeting the neighbors.

or the neighbors weren't huge on meeting bro.

one of the two. ]

It's...cool. To share whatever about it that you want to know.

[ he's still not sure what to do with the whole "it's because of you" thing give him a bit here ]

[That makes sense. The first part, that is. The second part takes time and consideration. (These poor neglected textbooks.)]

So you're okay with doing Texan things with me as a thing that is an us-thing, initiated by my interest but not undesired in terms of yours.

[He thinks they should be clear on that. He thinks being clear on things is their best shot at a saving grace in most situations.]

It's one of the things that actually has some sort of meanin' now, in relation to you, yes. And in relation to me, I guess? It's -

[ he nearly says "you know", pauses, and explains as though dirk didn't know. ]

There were a lot of things I was...disconnected from to at least some degree 'cause it was easier. This was one of those things, for a few reasons. I never mind doin' the shit I didn't give a fuck about before with you, or...lettin' myself start to give a fuck?

[ or. ADMITTING to giving a fuck. both things are hard. ]

[It has meaning now and it's because of him, and that hits.] Yeah?

[He just said so, Dirk. Obviously yeah. Dirk recovers after a minute and reaches a hand out for a fist bump across beanbags.]

Don't mess with Texas.

[ he's said it jokingly to people over the course of his existence, that very phrase. dave quirks a smile and reaches out to return the fist bump. ]

Only state with a catchphrase as iconic as that. Or the only one I'm acknowledgin'.

Your argument can sell itself easier on my ignorance.

[He literally only knows 'Don't mess with Texas' because of Dave.]

Ready for your next book?

You're lucky I've never actually tried to troll you 'bout the US of A or like, cultural shit.

[ he did it to the trolls all the time. but he's never bothered with dirk. ]

Sure, hit me up. How many more math books do I have to go?

Just thirty or so.

[JUST]

[ jfc dirk ]

Yeah, ok. [ MAY AS WELL, HE GUESSES. this would be so fucking boring if he were doing it with anyone other than dirk? ] You've made this a project fully in your head, haven't you.

It was always a project. I'm just helping it be a successful one.

[Dirk has committed to this.]

Have I ever told you that you're a super huge nerd?

[ said with, like. all the affection. not that it raises the even monotone that much for most people but w/e dirk knows him well enough to catch it. ]

Like. Poindexter levels. Except not lame?

You are literally going to school for fun. You're outnerding me by miles, bro.

[It's something Dirk thinks is good, admirable even. He's proud of it.

But boy is it nerdy.]

Yeah, maybe. I was never any fuckin' good at bein' cool, really.

[ it feels weird and wrong to actually say it out loud, but. he never got bro's ideal of it. if there even was an ideal. dave's never going to be certain how much of the bullshit standards he just...made up. ]

Tho I'm never gonna like earn a diploma with honors or anythin' on the grounds schools don't really exist. So I'm still safe.

[Dirk glances over at Dave. It is not about the 'cool' comment.]

What made you think there wouldn't be a diploma at the end of this? I am committed to your education, bro. A fancy piece of paper acting as an arbitrary signifier to your knowledge is requisite.

If you stay on your game you might even make the Dean's Roll. [Dirk gestures towards the Magister which means that apparently the Magister is the Dean]

Ok, but there's no way I'll be top of the class when I'm competin' with a super nerd.

[ he does not actually see them as competing right now. he's just talking to talk. and to avoid the thought of a diploma because now he's not sure? how much of that was a genuine desire but he thinks maybe he really does want something stupid and arbitrary and he doesn't want to like admit to it. so. ]

I have no idea what I would study in college if I "graduated" high school though.

We both know that I'm gonna deliberately flunk my tests as a protest against the system.

[He also does not see them as competing, or himself as even taking 'classes' in the same way Dave is. He thinks that what they're both doing here is a little different from each other.]

You can take a general major until you decide what you want to specialize in. You won't have to worry about tuition costs there due to socialism, and also money not being a thing.

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