[That he isn't going to let stand. Dirk gave up the only secret he'd really had. Since then, it's been all Dave. Dirk brings out his sword, the katana. It doesn't sit right in his hands; he has a certain instinct for it but it isn't a trained knowledge.
Btw his shirt has a rainbow koala on it and he isn't wearing biker gloves I just want to point out how ridiculous he looks right now.]
...Well, you probably have at least one thing you ain't told me.
[ unless he failed to deliberately trigger dirk, but.
dave has been wincing periodically whenever he looks at dirk today, i see. though this time it's more a subtle frown and less at the shirt and he steps forward and actually initiates contact for the first time since...the shadowy dark in the crack where he'd tried to comfort dirk. he hasn't tried to touch him since, has he?
but all he does now is readjust how dirk is holding the sword. there's tension in dave's posture but it's hard to spot, because he's carefully casual even if the sword makes him Slightly Uneasy. ]
No, more like this. Your stance ain't half bad, though.
[ he still nudges one of dirk's feet over a bit more though. ]
You already know that, dude. It's why you drew it on my hand.
[Then, more genuine, and perhaps a little pained because it shouldn't be this hard, because he should know his brother better and he shouldn't have to ask]
Was I supposed to tell you that I finally made it to the party you've given up waitin' for me to arrive at?
[He does adjust stance and grip. He notices Dave's weird body language but doesn't comment on it immediately.]
I don't know what you got. I know what I thought you should get, but I once told Rose somethin' exactly and she got somethin' else out of the bargain.
[ it makes him uneasy, even though that's...extremely unfair. ]
Okay. I'm gonna ask you to attack me but we're gonna do this slow, and I'm gonna show you how as you go. Monkey see, monkey do. Watch how I block when you go, and we'll trade off. Chill?
I got classpect bullshit. Knight, Prince, Maid; Mind, Life, Void. The rest of 'em. I've got inferences on what I am but I don't know.
[Then Dave gives instructions and Dave says 'chill' but Dirk isn't. If anything, he's frozen.]
I'd rather attack not you. A wall, maybe.
[Anything but his baby brother. The sword feels wrong in his hands and he doesn't want to go for it, he doesn't know if he can. The idea of swinging a sword at Dave—he does krav, he's practiced sparring, he could do that. But he's always been gentle in play-fights and worried about hurting Dave and that's the thing. Dirk knows how to playfight with Dave and not hurt him. He feels confident in that.
Knowing, abstractly, that Dave will kick his ass before he does damage can't fight off the wrongness of trying to imagine himself striking at Dave without knowing exactly what he's doing.]
[ he apparently already knows which aspect. that aside: ]
Dirk. Come on. This is exactly how I got it. You can't hurt me here. [ or...he's not sure, but he's pretty damn sure not. dirk's faster than he was, but dave's always getting faster, and better with his sword; he knows he has an edge here.
more importantly, he needs to be really fucking sure dirk gets back what he needs.
he knows the easiest way to break dirk but dave isn't certain how far it goes, sometimes. ]
No idea. I just assumed you drew the heart on me for a reason.
[Dave tries reason and Dirk knows he's right but his back is stiff. But then Dave tries asking. And Dirk snaps, like he does every damn time.
He closes his eyes. Dirk breathes in. Slow, careful, he exhales.
He opens his eyes, and like he was told to, he makes a swing. But it's slower than he's capable of and there's a frown as he makes himself go through with it. He knows Dave can stop him, he just... Doesn't want to swing a sword at his brother.]
[ blandly. he is apparently not going to commit to explaining the classpect shit any further? than he already did? which was not at all. he's pretty sure dirk doesn't know anything about the game, yet, but dave isn't going to ask.
dave's aware this is actually maybe a bad idea. he doesn't think dirk will remember attacking him at all, but asking someone to attack him with that sword is tempting fate.
he doesn't have anything else for dirk to use, though, and it's not like it matters much in the long run at this point. dave's still weirdly wired, but he's smooth when he brinds caeldfwch up to block. ]
You're too tense. You gotta loosen up. [ his voice goes focused and calm, and he takes his own advice to the extent he can; the nerves are filtered back and shoved down and he focuses on the task at hand. ] That's too slow and you need to aim it more. Weak points, you should know 'em. If not, follow along.
[ he's going to stay WAY THE FUCK AWAY from any blow towards dirk's neck, but dave will demonstrate other strikes, patient and stubbornly determined. unlike dirk, he doesn't frown when he makes himself attack, and he doesn't go as slow; still, he's clearly holding his speed in check to at least some degree. ]
[ dave's about to protest, but he's...not sure he can get dirk to actually do what he wants, here. after a moment, he just nods, and lets his sword disappear.
later on in the month he'll just try to fight himself instead, so clearly this works out for dirk. ]
[He feels like he's disappointing Dave. He feels like he did the wrong thing again and he doesn't make his sword vanish but it hands limp in his hand, touching the dirt.]
I don't know.
[He doesn't. He doesn't know what he's doing. He doesn't know how to use a sword or why they need to train with live weapons when there are substitutes. He doesn't know what Dave wants anymore or how to be a good brother to him.
[ there's shit he could or should say. he could ask if dirk remembered laser tag, and how dave had admitted he felt alone with the shit he could do. he could explain that more and more he wants to be certain he can do this, that he's still getting better, because there's a quiet terror of what happens if he doesn't keep it up. he needs to be sure he's strong enough for...everything that's going to happen, and he doesn't even know what it is. he could explain he'd spent most of the past week worried about everyone in his family and at least he wants to worry a little less about one of them. ]
...Nevermind. I think there's some in the garage if you want me to grab 'em real quick. Then we can finish the lesson whenever it clicks for you.
i guess icon selector just doesn't want me to have icons for a while FINE THEN
I'll look up shops and pick up a new sword after this.
[Dirk feels a vague attachment to the sword, like he should keep it. That does not match up to his strong attachment to his brother. The sword can be put away somewhere else and he can grab whatever they still make in modern times. Maybe he'll finally call in Jake's ridiculous resources and get his best friend to buy him something seriously workable. A ridiculous rich kid has to be capable of that kind of pull.]
[He swings the sword and it's better. Faster, closer to the right form. Dirk has always been a fast learner. The thing that he's lacking here is an inability to stop the last-second flinch. It never comes to it with how easily Dave can block him, and it's something he's long since learned to suppress in krav, but as someone who has barely handled a sword trying to swing it as his brother, some part of him can't stop holding back, can't stop being ready to flinch the weapon away at the last second to keep Dave safe.]
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[That he isn't going to let stand. Dirk gave up the only secret he'd really had. Since then, it's been all Dave. Dirk brings out his sword, the katana. It doesn't sit right in his hands; he has a certain instinct for it but it isn't a trained knowledge.
Btw his shirt has a rainbow koala on it and he isn't wearing biker gloves I just want to point out how ridiculous he looks right now.]
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[ unless he failed to deliberately trigger dirk, but.
dave has been wincing periodically whenever he looks at dirk today, i see. though this time it's more a subtle frown and less at the shirt and he steps forward and actually initiates contact for the first time since...the shadowy dark in the crack where he'd tried to comfort dirk. he hasn't tried to touch him since, has he?
but all he does now is readjust how dirk is holding the sword. there's tension in dave's posture but it's hard to spot, because he's carefully casual even if the sword makes him Slightly Uneasy. ]
No, more like this. Your stance ain't half bad, though.
[ he still nudges one of dirk's feet over a bit more though. ]
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You already know that, dude. It's why you drew it on my hand.
[Then, more genuine, and perhaps a little pained because it shouldn't be this hard, because he should know his brother better and he shouldn't have to ask]
Was I supposed to tell you that I finally made it to the party you've given up waitin' for me to arrive at?
[He does adjust stance and grip. He notices Dave's weird body language but doesn't comment on it immediately.]
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I don't know what you got. I know what I thought you should get, but I once told Rose somethin' exactly and she got somethin' else out of the bargain.
[ it makes him uneasy, even though that's...extremely unfair. ]
Okay. I'm gonna ask you to attack me but we're gonna do this slow, and I'm gonna show you how as you go. Monkey see, monkey do. Watch how I block when you go, and we'll trade off. Chill?
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[Then Dave gives instructions and Dave says 'chill' but Dirk isn't. If anything, he's frozen.]
I'd rather attack not you. A wall, maybe.
[Anything but his baby brother. The sword feels wrong in his hands and he doesn't want to go for it, he doesn't know if he can. The idea of swinging a sword at Dave—he does krav, he's practiced sparring, he could do that. But he's always been gentle in play-fights and worried about hurting Dave and that's the thing. Dirk knows how to playfight with Dave and not hurt him. He feels confident in that.
Knowing, abstractly, that Dave will kick his ass before he does damage can't fight off the wrongness of trying to imagine himself striking at Dave without knowing exactly what he's doing.]
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[ he apparently already knows which aspect. that aside: ]
Dirk. Come on. This is exactly how I got it. You can't hurt me here. [ or...he's not sure, but he's pretty damn sure not. dirk's faster than he was, but dave's always getting faster, and better with his sword; he knows he has an edge here.
more importantly, he needs to be really fucking sure dirk gets back what he needs.
he knows the easiest way to break dirk but dave isn't certain how far it goes, sometimes. ]
Please. I need you to remember this much.
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[Dave tries reason and Dirk knows he's right but his back is stiff. But then Dave tries asking. And Dirk snaps, like he does every damn time.
He closes his eyes. Dirk breathes in. Slow, careful, he exhales.
He opens his eyes, and like he was told to, he makes a swing. But it's slower than he's capable of and there's a frown as he makes himself go through with it. He knows Dave can stop him, he just... Doesn't want to swing a sword at his brother.]
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[ blandly. he is apparently not going to commit to explaining the classpect shit any further? than he already did? which was not at all. he's pretty sure dirk doesn't know anything about the game, yet, but dave isn't going to ask.
dave's aware this is actually maybe a bad idea. he doesn't think dirk will remember attacking him at all, but asking someone to attack him with that sword is tempting fate.
he doesn't have anything else for dirk to use, though, and it's not like it matters much in the long run at this point. dave's still weirdly wired, but he's smooth when he brinds caeldfwch up to block. ]
You're too tense. You gotta loosen up. [ his voice goes focused and calm, and he takes his own advice to the extent he can; the nerves are filtered back and shoved down and he focuses on the task at hand. ] That's too slow and you need to aim it more. Weak points, you should know 'em. If not, follow along.
[ he's going to stay WAY THE FUCK AWAY from any blow towards dirk's neck, but dave will demonstrate other strikes, patient and stubbornly determined. unlike dirk, he doesn't frown when he makes himself attack, and he doesn't go as slow; still, he's clearly holding his speed in check to at least some degree. ]
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Can we train with sticks or somethin'? We've gotta have old play swords around somewhere.
[You don't like looking at me like this. Seeing Dave calm down made the tension more transparent.]
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later on in the month he'll just try to fight himself instead, so clearly this works out for dirk. ]
If you won't do it the other way, fine.
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[He feels like he's disappointing Dave. He feels like he did the wrong thing again and he doesn't make his sword vanish but it hands limp in his hand, touching the dirt.]
I don't know.
[He doesn't. He doesn't know what he's doing. He doesn't know how to use a sword or why they need to train with live weapons when there are substitutes. He doesn't know what Dave wants anymore or how to be a good brother to him.
He just doesn't know.]
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[ there's shit he could or should say. he could ask if dirk remembered laser tag, and how dave had admitted he felt alone with the shit he could do. he could explain that more and more he wants to be certain he can do this, that he's still getting better, because there's a quiet terror of what happens if he doesn't keep it up. he needs to be sure he's strong enough for...everything that's going to happen, and he doesn't even know what it is. he could explain he'd spent most of the past week worried about everyone in his family and at least he wants to worry a little less about one of them. ]
...Nevermind. I think there's some in the garage if you want me to grab 'em real quick. Then we can finish the lesson whenever it clicks for you.
i guess icon selector just doesn't want me to have icons for a while FINE THEN
Just what?
[What did Dave almost say? It seems so precious with all the things that never even make it to being not-quite-said.]
i just open my icon page in view all and grab from there. OR REMEMBER KEYWORDS.
I need you to get this back.
[ it a distilled form of all the things he didn't say. it's true, too. ]
well now you're just problem solving??? ? unfair
[There's a pause, and his voice quiets.]
Did he have this sword?
yw
You're only gonna wave it vaguely.
[ that's not an answer. ]
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I'll look up shops and pick up a new sword after this.
[Dirk feels a vague attachment to the sword, like he should keep it. That does not match up to his strong attachment to his brother. The sword can be put away somewhere else and he can grab whatever they still make in modern times. Maybe he'll finally call in Jake's ridiculous resources and get his best friend to buy him something seriously workable. A ridiculous rich kid has to be capable of that kind of pull.]
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[ it's a question, but more like he's trying to pinpoint why than checking for an opinion. ]
It's not gonna break. [ he doesn't think. not if he doesn't use his sword against it, full strength, in desperation. ]
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[He isn't sure but it can't be mythical, right? It's just a stupid weird sword.]
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This sword hurt you.
[Another Dirk a past life and a sideways existence ago hurt Dave with this sword, or one just like it.]
There isn't any sword good enough that it could outweigh that kind of past. Not to me.
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[ he's pretty sure he knows how that worked. besides: ]
It's not exactly the same. And that's not the main point. Holy shit, Dirk, I want you to use...whatever the fuck is gonna protect you most, okay?
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He nods, and raises the sword. It's a better grip, but not the one he needs to have one day.] Okay. Let's try again.
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Like this. [ he reaches out to fix the grip again. then he holds out his hand when he steps back, calling the sword back. ] Come at me again, faster?
[ a request and not a command, but he is waiting, here. ]
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