parodeity | subnautica ic inbox 3.0;

I don't know. [Hm.] I don't see why I ever would have. But I could have survived you disappearing at the start.

[And now they're here.]

Well, obviously. Not Dave Strider.

[ gestures to self with red pencil. ]

But even so I figured you're generally super bad at pushin' people away? Like. I didn't think it mattered that I wasn't really relevant as much beyond a proxy back then, I can't see you really pushin' anyone away as such? Is it even a matter of "would have" so much as "not in your personality type"?

[What the fuck, Dave.]

A few things.

[SO MUCH WRONG HERE]

You were already relevant as more than a proxy, to start. Like, do you think that 'way better dude than I imagined him to be' line was meant to imply you were the same guy? You'd made yourself distinct already. So that part is wrong.

I've had approximately four friends, kinda five, my entire life. Opportunities for pushing people away have been brief at best. Back then, I probably could have only guessed if I was capable of shutting down on people. In the past year, I've learned that I really fuckin' can.

[ ok ignoring the first part entirely: ]

Who have you been shuttin' down on?

[ wtf????? news to him??????? ]

You did it like a grand total of once to me and when I told you to knock it off you did.

When did I ever shut down on you?

[He has no memory of this instance? He has been yelled at about trying to contain his emotions but]

Believe it or not, I was getting along with Komaeda before I decided not to have anything to do with him except in m obligations to the well-being of the crew.

After you attacked me. Also, what the fuck, am I the only person who got creep vibes from the dude?

[ what does that say about him, exactly?????

dave gets halfway through "you don't" before breaking off and frowning. ]

Oh. Yeah. [He remembers that. Not as clearly as he could; he likes to not think too much about it. He still has awful, obsessive thoughts on that front.] I knew he was creepy. Circumstances had me talk to him, and I got the mistaken idea that he was not so fucked up he couldn't be dealt with.

[And now we're here.

Also.] What don't I?

He...set me on edge.

[ back then, before the bombs, dave means. it wasn't enough he'd bothered to say anything to anyone, but then, he never did that so much even when it was enough. ]

I was goin' to say you don't have to like...cut people out if you don't want to, but you do, don't you?

Mention that to me next time someone does. You've got a better sense for that kind of thing than I ever could.

[The extreme opposites of their upbringing. Dirk can't really tell people who are harmlessly weird from those who aren't without clear warning signs. Dave probably can.]

Yeah, I do. I'm not okay with Komaeda. So I'm not gonna deal with him.

Can do. No one else sets me on edge in that particular way, who I've talked to so far. There's people I'm not fond of or don't want much to do with, but no one...

[ a vague, helpless gesture. no one he feels the need to watch his back around to a significant to dave degree?

his eyes skitter towards dirk's sketchbook again. ]

Your call.

I'd like to know who you don't like or want anything to do with. [He doesn't know if Dave will tell him. He has a feeling he won't. Still, he wants to ask.

Dirk's drawing starts with light outlines of shapes so. tbh unless vague curves with round circles nearby are evocative of puppets, it doesn't look much like a cookie monster yet.]

I...don't want that to impact who you like or want anything to do with?

[ vague curves and round circles are ok. he can DO THIS. ]

[Hm.] Yeah, maybe. Wouldn't you be bothered by people I don't like being near?

[ .............

i mean ]

Who don't you like bein' near?

[ double standards ]

[Wow.]

Same for people that Rose doesn't like being near. It's normal.

That didn't answer who you don't like bein' around.

[ NOW HE'S GOING TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WHICH. ]

I get your point, yeah.

It's just Komaeda. [No one else actually bugs him.] Pretty sure you'd kill me if I let my uncertainty about Hinata cut him out at this point.

I think you already know who I don't wanna be around, anyway?

[ so. why are you asking, bro. ]

But yeah. I think you lose out on enough in this that you don't need to add more to it, like, ever?

There's always a chance someone has slipped past my attention. You can dodge me too. [Mm. He tries to be clear about his feelings.] It isn't like you take anyone away from me. Any injury to you is an injury to me.

[ dirk has a feeling dave won't tell him. he's usually right about that kind of thing, and dave's neutral stare isn't very encouraging in that regard.

he's quiet for a fairly long time, considering.

then he proves dirk wrong at least this once. ]

...The two of them. [ reluctantly, he actually answers. ] Not really interested in hangin' around Rin, but that's a different sort of "don't want to". Kind of don't like hangin' around either troll at the moment.

[ karkat for obvious awkward reasons and kanaya because her moirail is komaeda and dave's not sure he trusts her to have their backs if it comes down to a choice. he feels bad thinking it, and hasn't vocalized it to rose, because who the hell would do that. it's a dumb thought. ]

[Oh. Dave told him.

Dirk leans over, and he hugs Dave.]

Thanks.

[ DRAW YOUR DAMN PUPPET, DIRK ]

Yeah, yeah. Just don't do anythin' stupid.

[He's distracted by needing to hug Dave! but fine he'll let go]

You'd be an idiot about anyone I told you I disliked.

You definitely don't know that for sure.

[ dirk mostly knows that for sure. well, dave might tolerate people more? but admittedly not gelling with people he loves is a quick way to get him to bother less. ]

I do. This knowledge is that which I take with absolute certainty.

[also he'll draw more cookie monster now i guess]

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