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TELEPATHY | TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO | ACTION
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TELEPATHY | TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO | ACTION
GO HERE FOR NEW THREADS PLEASE
[Bug hunting is an important activity. For this day, Dirk has decided to helpful. Not only has he gathered food for them for their mission, he has also made them hats which they don't have to wear but definitely have to have, and bug catching nets. Are these ironic? Is the Pope a clown?]
The hat will fuck up my hair. [So he won't be wearing it, is the implication. And yet.... he had to make one?
Yes, because he is taking it and hanging it off of his neck by the dumb little string. He looks so uncool.]
The hat will fuck up my hair. [So he won't be wearing it, is the implication. And yet.... he had to make one?
Yes, because he is taking it and hanging it off of his neck by the dumb little string. He looks so uncool.]
[Dirk always looks forward to sparring sessions. Dave doesn't exactly love fighting but it's an instinct in Dirk, a constant drive to push himself to his limits: to get better than he is, to overcome his opponents, to exceed. Dirk likes Strifing and he likes learning from Dave, so doing both at once is a pleasure.
Even if Dave invariably keeps him on his toes and will probably never once get hit. It's a particularly frustrating challenge, but Dirk couldn't live with a handicap so he insists on things as they are. He will just have to keep pushing himself to get on Dave's level—or at least close to it.
It's a handful of lightning passes before the end and Dirk comes to a halt opposite his brother, sword still up. He is pretty sure they're going to stop about now but he won't drop his weapon until they do. He does not want to get caught off-guard.]
Even if Dave invariably keeps him on his toes and will probably never once get hit. It's a particularly frustrating challenge, but Dirk couldn't live with a handicap so he insists on things as they are. He will just have to keep pushing himself to get on Dave's level—or at least close to it.
It's a handful of lightning passes before the end and Dirk comes to a halt opposite his brother, sword still up. He is pretty sure they're going to stop about now but he won't drop his weapon until they do. He does not want to get caught off-guard.]
[ this is a fair instinct - not wanting to get caught off guard. while dave isn't the taskmaster bro was - he explains himself nearly constantly or at least will speak up when he thinks he needs to, and he never, ever tries to score a legitimate hit more than a light blow - he's very casual about loopholes and dirty fighting. he'll do things on a whim as often as he'll do them on a tactic, and it's kind of fun that dirk actually doesn't always find dave predictable.
fighting isn't and never will be his favorite thing, but keeping up to spec is kind of a necessity and dave's well aware that he'd probably be a bundle of raw nerves if he stopped cold, because he always feels like he should be training himself. he thinks maybe it's okay that in recent years he's handled it his way, and with dirk it hasn't been in line with training sessions with bro at all. dave's the one setting the pace and he never toes the line of insanity but instead tries to pinpoint and correct the things dirk never had someone to, you know. do those things for.
not that dave really did either, in the way he goes about it.
his sword doesn't lower, but dave's eyes - behind shades - take in dirk's stance and there's something like a smile at the corner of his mouth. dirk isn't wrong that they're near the end; dave always times these things precisely by his internal clock and how much he thinks either of them can take. when he speaks up his tone is as light and casual as it ever is in these sessions. ]
A'ight. You got like all the shit I said last time, not that it's super surprisin' [ since dirk listens and that's always still a kicker ] but I gotta say I'm proud of you. [ if he were thinking about what he were saying beyond saying what he's thinking, that might come out more awkward, but it's just a genuine truth and dave's actually relaxed, so there's nothing more than that, unvarnished and easily said, before he continues: ] End session?
[ it's phrased like a question but said like a statement as he lets his sword drop into his sylladex; once dave puts his sword away he doesn't actually pull any tricks, to date. it's a clear sign of "okay i won't mess with you any longer, for real we're done. ]
fighting isn't and never will be his favorite thing, but keeping up to spec is kind of a necessity and dave's well aware that he'd probably be a bundle of raw nerves if he stopped cold, because he always feels like he should be training himself. he thinks maybe it's okay that in recent years he's handled it his way, and with dirk it hasn't been in line with training sessions with bro at all. dave's the one setting the pace and he never toes the line of insanity but instead tries to pinpoint and correct the things dirk never had someone to, you know. do those things for.
not that dave really did either, in the way he goes about it.
his sword doesn't lower, but dave's eyes - behind shades - take in dirk's stance and there's something like a smile at the corner of his mouth. dirk isn't wrong that they're near the end; dave always times these things precisely by his internal clock and how much he thinks either of them can take. when he speaks up his tone is as light and casual as it ever is in these sessions. ]
A'ight. You got like all the shit I said last time, not that it's super surprisin' [ since dirk listens and that's always still a kicker ] but I gotta say I'm proud of you. [ if he were thinking about what he were saying beyond saying what he's thinking, that might come out more awkward, but it's just a genuine truth and dave's actually relaxed, so there's nothing more than that, unvarnished and easily said, before he continues: ] End session?
[ it's phrased like a question but said like a statement as he lets his sword drop into his sylladex; once dave puts his sword away he doesn't actually pull any tricks, to date. it's a clear sign of "okay i won't mess with you any longer, for real we're done. ]
I don't do hats. [ not even a bro thing, he just...doesn't like them (it's a little bit a bro thing) but he takes it anyway??? and ok dirk that is a little. hm. dave's inner fashion sense...can't take this...or can it????
after a moment of intense angst he decides he can take the hat around his neck, since it is hilarious, but also, this is the least fashionable he has looked since arrival. rose's sweaters aside? ]
Ok, so, my plan was..........we go hang out by the lake and see if there are bugs.
[ his plan is not detailed. ]
after a moment of intense angst he decides he can take the hat around his neck, since it is hilarious, but also, this is the least fashionable he has looked since arrival. rose's sweaters aside? ]
Ok, so, my plan was..........we go hang out by the lake and see if there are bugs.
[ his plan is not detailed. ]
[Dirk also drops his sword. To the ground.
Its clattering does the job of saying what Dirk can't as he stares at Dave in blank confusion. His shades are still on but that makes it no less visible, or audible in the form of total wordless silence.
Nice job, Dave.]
Its clattering does the job of saying what Dirk can't as he stares at Dave in blank confusion. His shades are still on but that makes it no less visible, or audible in the form of total wordless silence.
Nice job, Dave.]
That plan seems doubtful in its scientific methodology. [By which he means it lacks rigour.] I'm good with it.
Taking a picture of this by the way. [He taps his glasses, which is an unnecessary gesture but is his way of signalling to Dave what he's doing.]
Taking a picture of this by the way. [He taps his glasses, which is an unnecessary gesture but is his way of signalling to Dave what he's doing.]
[ little less proud now dirk!!! i mean.
clearly...something has gone wrong here because dave can't actually remember dirk just dropping his sword in surprise at literally anything? he has to freeze and try to remember what he's just said. it was basically "good job i'm proud" was that a bad thing? maybe dirk didn't want to end the session? no, wait -
how the hell would he have ever reacted to bro telling him he was proud? not that anyone but rose has said it to him really - and she does, whenever she thinks he's being "emotionally mature (though not as much as you could be, dave)" - but why would it surprise dirk when dave tries to tell him he's doing a good job?
a rapid fire review of conversations implies he never said those exact words about pride, but -
ok he's not even sure that's the issue. someone should pick up dirk's sword? if dirk won't, dave will actually close the distance to do that? ]
Dirk? Earth to Dirk, you still with us? Or are you up in space? What's the forecast like? Don't say meteor showers.
clearly...something has gone wrong here because dave can't actually remember dirk just dropping his sword in surprise at literally anything? he has to freeze and try to remember what he's just said. it was basically "good job i'm proud" was that a bad thing? maybe dirk didn't want to end the session? no, wait -
how the hell would he have ever reacted to bro telling him he was proud? not that anyone but rose has said it to him really - and she does, whenever she thinks he's being "emotionally mature (though not as much as you could be, dave)" - but why would it surprise dirk when dave tries to tell him he's doing a good job?
a rapid fire review of conversations implies he never said those exact words about pride, but -
ok he's not even sure that's the issue. someone should pick up dirk's sword? if dirk won't, dave will actually close the distance to do that? ]
Dirk? Earth to Dirk, you still with us? Or are you up in space? What's the forecast like? Don't say meteor showers.
[Dirk flashsteps to get the sword before Dave can on battle reflex and then is back to staring at Dave.]
What made you proud?
[Nope, not the intended first sentence. Shit. The blank look snaps and now we move to stoic flusterment.]
No. You said. Okay, cool. Thanks. We should hydrate.
[yeah he's smooth!]
What made you proud?
[Nope, not the intended first sentence. Shit. The blank look snaps and now we move to stoic flusterment.]
No. You said. Okay, cool. Thanks. We should hydrate.
[yeah he's smooth!]
[ dave promptly pulls a face. this is not to like, stop or protest the picture, but mostly because dirk told him he was taking it. his reaction to knowing these things tends to be 1) selfie duckface or 2) a dumb face. very rarely his reaction is to do nothing stupid, but. this is not one of those rare times. ]
What plan would you suggest with more scientific methodology? Aren't I following it. I like, hypothesize there are bugs by the lake?
What plan would you suggest with more scientific methodology? Aren't I following it. I like, hypothesize there are bugs by the lake?
[There is like. A full minute, and then some, of total silence while Dirk's desire not to be mocked by Dave does battle against his desire for this positive reinforcement, which is under siege from his self-loathing and hatred of his own narcissism. Somewhere in there, his desire for clear and direct critique would like to be heard, but the emotional cacophony is really taking up most of the battlefield.
Eventually, he manages something.]
If you think that would be helpful for my learning.
[Yeah. Got it.
All the armies fall into screaming and horror.]
Eventually, he manages something.]
If you think that would be helpful for my learning.
[Yeah. Got it.
All the armies fall into screaming and horror.]
[ dave crosses his arms, though it's not a closed-off gesture; he just tends to need his arms to be doing something. either crossed or his hands in his pockets or...whatever. the personal review remark had only been halfway teasing - it had also been a genuine offer, no matter how amused he was by the result of what he'd said earlier. ]
I think it's important to know what you do right. [ it's a weird concept for dave, but he's pretty sure - that's what he would like to make sure people know. when he's teaching them. sure, the things you do wrong are important to note and correct - but it's probably helpful to acknowledge when they're corrected, isn't it? there's a shiver of uncertainty for a millisecond before it evens out. he's usually pretty calm when he's doing these lessons; dave's not naturally confident at his core, but he at least learned through fire that he can fight. ]
Specifically, when I said it, I was thinkin' that your stance is way better than when we first started. You're a lot more on your toes about shit I might throw at you. [ because. he keeps doing that. lmao he has not even fully breached the amount of time bullshit he could do - even with dirk's soul senses, which make things interesting, dave is. stupid. ] You're not always defaultin' to offense when you could defend, instead.
I think it's important to know what you do right. [ it's a weird concept for dave, but he's pretty sure - that's what he would like to make sure people know. when he's teaching them. sure, the things you do wrong are important to note and correct - but it's probably helpful to acknowledge when they're corrected, isn't it? there's a shiver of uncertainty for a millisecond before it evens out. he's usually pretty calm when he's doing these lessons; dave's not naturally confident at his core, but he at least learned through fire that he can fight. ]
Specifically, when I said it, I was thinkin' that your stance is way better than when we first started. You're a lot more on your toes about shit I might throw at you. [ because. he keeps doing that. lmao he has not even fully breached the amount of time bullshit he could do - even with dirk's soul senses, which make things interesting, dave is. stupid. ] You're not always defaultin' to offense when you could defend, instead.
If I'm not on my toes you do something incredibly annoying.
[This is not the response to positive feedback, Dirk. But. Okay. Yeah.
Okay.
Watch out! It's a flashstep forward as Dirk goes for—a quick hug, by his standards, which is because he's still shy and flustered.]
Thanks.
[This is not the response to positive feedback, Dirk. But. Okay. Yeah.
Okay.
Watch out! It's a flashstep forward as Dirk goes for—a quick hug, by his standards, which is because he's still shy and flustered.]
Thanks.
To keep you on your toes.
[ okay you say it's quick, but dave's flashstep fast too and he immediately attempts to return the hug so how fast are you going to try to get out of it, dirk? ]
Well, it's true? So. I - well I'd say I thought I should say it but as usual with most things I say I just kinda thought it and said it immediately sans consideration.
[ okay you say it's quick, but dave's flashstep fast too and he immediately attempts to return the hug so how fast are you going to try to get out of it, dirk? ]
Well, it's true? So. I - well I'd say I thought I should say it but as usual with most things I say I just kinda thought it and said it immediately sans consideration.
[ yeah whatever dirk dave will just slot his chin on dirk's shoulder this is going to be a thing until dirk steps off? ]
Ok, well I guess maybe I should say so when I am more often if you find it this surprisin', was my point. I mean, I had a point. I didn't even try to make that point, did I.
Ok, well I guess maybe I should say so when I am more often if you find it this surprisin', was my point. I mean, I had a point. I didn't even try to make that point, did I.
[He can't??? step off??? if Dave is hugging him, though? Like that's a wild idea.]
Not initially. [Hm. This makes him wonder.] Do I tell you I'm proud of you enough? It's a recurring concern of mine that you find my attempts to express that condescending or unappealing.
Not initially. [Hm. This makes him wonder.] Do I tell you I'm proud of you enough? It's a recurring concern of mine that you find my attempts to express that condescending or unappealing.
[ oh. it's really stupid that genuine family bullshit is enough to make dave's heart nearly stop, but hey. it's not something he was ever prepared to deal with for most of his life.
dirk has never explicitly said the words i'm proud of you even if dave's edged around the idea that it might be true in the space of his own mind. it's a weird alien idea, that any iteration of his brother might actually look at him and not find him wanting to the point he's proud. ]
You've never said it like that. You...say you think things I do are the right kind of cool sometimes, or that you respect a decision, or...that you think things I do were the right idea or a good idea. Is...there an instance where I made you think you sayin' those things was either condescendin' or unappealin'?
dirk has never explicitly said the words i'm proud of you even if dave's edged around the idea that it might be true in the space of his own mind. it's a weird alien idea, that any iteration of his brother might actually look at him and not find him wanting to the point he's proud. ]
You've never said it like that. You...say you think things I do are the right kind of cool sometimes, or that you respect a decision, or...that you think things I do were the right idea or a good idea. Is...there an instance where I made you think you sayin' those things was either condescendin' or unappealin'?
[Well now they get both to be awkward, so at least Dirk's taking Dave down with him. It's a comfort.]
It's, uh... some of the choices you made in the past few months, where you acknowledged things that were issues and took necessary steps to respond to them. Once or twice I've tried to express support of them and it's gone... badly. And I can see how saying I'm proud of your development in terms of handling problems you have and taking steps to progress further could be unwanted, and then obviously saying I'm proud of you for wanting to learn things or deciding you'd like to pursue the peaceful path even where it's difficult, sort of implies I have any right to be proud of you, which maybe I don't, so—
[Yeah. He should stop. Wow, Dave's shoulder sure is comfortable.]
It's something I worry about how to express or if it's even appropriate to do so.
It's, uh... some of the choices you made in the past few months, where you acknowledged things that were issues and took necessary steps to respond to them. Once or twice I've tried to express support of them and it's gone... badly. And I can see how saying I'm proud of your development in terms of handling problems you have and taking steps to progress further could be unwanted, and then obviously saying I'm proud of you for wanting to learn things or deciding you'd like to pursue the peaceful path even where it's difficult, sort of implies I have any right to be proud of you, which maybe I don't, so—
[Yeah. He should stop. Wow, Dave's shoulder sure is comfortable.]
It's something I worry about how to express or if it's even appropriate to do so.
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