4th Time in Text

[knightime]

what do you while waiting for the sleep paralysis to wear off?
i mean it was kind of terrifying the first time
and maybe even the second time
but at this point its like the hugest fucking waste of time to be stuck lying on your bed waiting to get feeling to your fingers again
but now im curious
what is the longest you got stuck lying in bed for
like an approximate if you werent sure of the exact time

Comments

[heirterosexual]

Oh my God stop it already. [He shakes him.]

Look-- I'm not really one to talk, here, but I haven't told anybody how much it fucking hurts that I saw my dad dead. There, now you know. It fucking hurts, still, and I'm not gonna lie and tell you I haven't cried myself to sleep a good couple of nights on the damn boat because I miss him and there's nothing I can do about it. Your stupid shadow talked about that, too, and I about slugged him. Not talking about stuff isn't okay, Dave. Especially not when it's this bad.

[He shakes him a little again.] So, jeez, I dunno. If you won't talk to me for whatever reason, just promise me you'll talk to somebody. You're gonna kill yourself like this.

[knightime]

Because that really makes a difference? Whether it kills me or not? Because I'll just come back. Because not talking about it isn't heroic or just. it's just fucking cowardly. Even if I do die, I just wake up back in my bed good as new. It doesn't matter. It's not like I'm really good at staying alive anyways. Did you know this is only the third or so death that's counted. Let's not forget the countless time loops I've fucked up while in this Tower or all the times someone has killed me off because they fucking lost it somehow. [He shouldn't really throwing so much vitriol at John. John just wanted to help, but now that he's started, he can't really stop himself from continuing.]

I'm sorry. There wasn't anyway around all of out guardians kicking the bucket. And at least he isn't here. Here, where my stupid self got my Bro killed again. Because he needs to know what it feels like dying here. He didn't even know he's going to die. They thought it would be cute to pull him before shit hit the fan in our session.

Is this what you want to hear, John? I've been here since Valentine's Day. I died twice on my first day here because of some fucked up circumstances. Whether I talk about how the Tower has wronged me or not isn't going to somehow save me from dying.

[heirterosexual]

[John recoils from him when he first starts spitting acid at him, his hands slowly letting go of his shoulders as he takes a small step backward. Since he keeps going, John just stays quiet and lets him, because it's what he wanted, wasn't it? For Dave to talk.]

[By the time he's done John's hunched his shoulders a little and is staring at his feet, hands balled into awkward fists at his sides.]

...Sorry, I guess I won't ask anymore.

[Maybe it had helped. Probably not. He was no good at this comforting thing. So now he just stood there in an awkward silence and tried to decide if it was a better idea to walk off or let Dave storm away from him, because he figured he was about the last person the Strider wanted to talk to right now.]

[knightime]

[Dave immediately regrets raising his voice at John. This is why he doesn't do the whole feelings thing. Volatile and how do properly feels?

In some way, he's technically gotten himself out of talking about the labyrinth, but the accomplishment is bitter in his mouth if it was making him unapproachable. John was his best friend. You're just a great friend right now, Dave. Yelling at your best friend who didn't know better like he should have known. Grade A material right here.]

I think I'm gonna get something to eat.

[It was so obviously a flimsy excuse to try and abscond. There's no food in the cafeteria since Jason was being a sore loser.]

[heirterosexual]

...Dave if you're pissed at me, that's fine, but you don't have to run away.

[knightime]

I'm not mad at you. Holy shit, why would I even?

[He thought you were upset with him. Tbh.]

[heirterosexual]

Well you did just kind of shout at me, and I figure I crossed some kind of unspoken Strider line or something. You're hard as shit to read, and I just want you to be okay, like I said.

[His hands go in his pockets, and he's looking anywhere but Dave.] ...but if you want food, you mind if I go with you? I still don't really know my way around.

[knightime]

I yelled, because I'm fucking stupid. [And he just completely lost it for a moment. It was just hard to accept the fact that he needed to talk to it. For the sake of his mental health. But really. When has he thought about his own needs while being here?]

Unless you want to catch shit, there isn't really food for the rest of the month. Jason kind of threw a hissyfit because we didn't completely play his game like good little shits.

[heirterosexual]

You're a little dumb sometimes, yeah. [A gentle punch to his shoulder.] But so'm I, so whatever.

...Lame. Guess we could go play Indians like we're five and stab some fish with sticks or something. Is there even water around this place.

[knightime]

Man. Fuck off. [Dave shoves at John lightly.]

Have you even gone through the Tower yet? Holy shit. Should I give you the grand tour of things? [Also, you can go stab fish with sticks. Dave can't swim. Not that he'll tell you.]

[heirterosexual]

Dude we're dumb together, it's totally not an insult. Dumb and Dumber. I'm pretty sure I'm Dumber. The Dumbest.

[A little shake of his head.] By all means, show me around Mister Valentine.

[knightime]

Our lives are not going to turn into a cliche movie. Not happening. No fucking way.

Fine. Come on. I'm such a good friend, looking out for you. [Dave just heads out. He will give you the grand tour.]

[heirterosexual]

Good, 'cause that was actually a pretty awful movie.

[And John trots along behind him, just honestly happy to spend time with Dave.] You are a pretty awesome friend, to be honest. My best, in fact.

[knightime]

Your movie tastes is questionable as ever. Nice to know that doesn't seem to change.

[Dave just starts climbing the stares to the next floor.] Laying on the compliments pretty thick there, pal. Me thinks you're trying a little too hard to flatter.

[heirterosexual]

[Rolls his eyes.]

Wow, shut up. Am I not allowed to drown you in bro love now that I've finally met you? It's only been forever. [Punch.]

[knightime]

[Dave punches back.]

Gross, man. Gotta ease me back into it. I'm not used to such a concentrated amount of goober love. I need it to slowly grow on me. Like a mold slowly taking claim of the corner of the bathroom.

[heirterosexual]

...Okay, now who's gross? Clean your friggin' bathroom, jeez.

[knightime]

One day, you'll understand the genius behind my words. But that day is not today.

[heirterosexual]

Bluh.

[knightime]

Bluh yourself.

[heirterosexual]

Bluh bluh.

[knightime]

Oh my god. Don't make me end this tour early, you shit.

[heirterosexual]

Bluhhhhhh.

[knightime]

[Dave just shoves John and continues through the Tower.

Surprise John. The Tower is huge and actually has shit that might actually be interesting.]

[heirterosexual]

[John goes quiet after a while and just sort of marvels at stuff, periodically stopping and forgetting to follow after Dave for a minute so he has to jog to catch back up.]