5th Time in Text

[knightime]

how many times have you gone back quote unquote home?
this would be my second time going back
also how long do you get sent back for
both times for me it was like a fucking month
god a fucking month of this shit where you have nothing to do
do you even realize how boring that is?
its like making angels in the fucking ground pretending its actually fun
i assume making snow angels is the shit
but tv programming could be a lying fuck
i only saw snow once and we kind of had shit to do
its cold anyways and why the fuck would you like snow
because freezing your ass off is so much fun
but thats not the point
im back i guess

...
it feels emptier than usual

Comments

[plushaeusrumpified]

Nope, not good enough. It's not just a stupid crush- or maybe it is, I mean, I really dunno. But the point is it's a stupid crush that matters.

[He's not giving in, goddamn it. He's WAITED FOR THIS. He wants to know who it is really badly.]

Tell meeee.

[knightime]

[But Dave doesn't want to talk about it.] But it doesn't matter. It's not like I'm gonna tell her. [Bro, please stop. He is not ready for this. Relationships in the Tower is scary.]

You're making a big deal out of nothing, Bro.

[plushaeusrumpified]

I'm not making a big deal out of nothing, I'm making a big deal out of a huge deal. So in fact, I'm making less of a deal out of it than I could be. So there. Besides, it doesn't matter if you don't intend on telling her. I just wanna know. You can trust me with this knowledge, Dave. Your secret is safe with me.

[He's preemptively crossing his fingers where Dave can't see, because fuck if he won't try and matchmake at some point or another.]

[knightime]

It's not even a huge deal! I'll get over it and everyone can live their lives not having to be awkward because a friend of yours liked you when they don't like them back. [Dave making subtly jabs at himself. The series.]

Her name is Naminé. There. Now you know who it is.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Namine. Finally he has a name. Hell yes.]

Isn't she the one who was talking about hearts and shit the one time on my post when I asked people about your birthday, back when you were in wastelandville? Shit, dude. She's a total keeper. Why the fuck are you not gonna make a move? She'd totally go for you!

[knightime]

I don't know? Why did you tell people about my birthday anyways? Mother of fuck. [He shrugs a bit, and he looks kind of like a kicked puppy.] I don't think she'd say yes to me. It's not a big deal, Bro. She probably already has someone who's been here longer than me who she likes more.

[plushaeusrumpified]

Because you wouldn't have, and people needed to know it was your fuckin' birthday. [He says it like it's the most obvious thing ever.] And that's bullshit, Dave. Ain't no way anybody could like anyone else more than they like you. You're a Strider. Striders naturally come first. So quit with that line of thinking right now.

[knightime]

I don't see why. What's the point celebrating your birthday when there's jack shit. [Your reasoning is dumb, Bro.] You know that's a load of crock. Tell me one reason why someone would want to fall for me. [It was funny before. To be the shit and say you're covered with bitches. Now? It's just kind of sad, especially in this place.]

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Bro just gives him pretty much the flattest stare in the history of flattest stares. Any flatter and it'd practically be a disabled ramp.]

You say it like there isn't a reason. If I were to name every goddamn reason, we'd probably be here several hours. I'm actually half tempted to do that just to hammer in the point that you're not as worthless as you seem to think you are.

[knightime]

[I laughed really hard just now.]

I can't protect anyone here. There's nothing I can do here that can help anyone here. I can't even use my time powers all that well. It gets blocked after a certain amount of time, and this place can shut off our skills without warning. Not being able to properly finish a stable time loop when I know I can is like some really huge middle finger at my face.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Yes, good.]

What the hell does any of that do with somebody liking you? News flash, Sburb wasn't always a thing, and you had likeable qualities then, too. You don't need to protect people or make stable time loops for a girl to like you, Dave. That's ridiculous, and you're being ridiculous right now.

[knightime]

I'm not being ridiculous. I have nothing to offer in this place. I'm going to be the worst significant other who's gonna let everyone starve cause the proverbial bacon is never coming.

Even if I have likeable qualities, that doesn't mean she'll like me back anyways. I'm pretty sure she doesn't.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[He honestly couldn't roll his eyes any harder if he tries. And after he rolls them, he's just going to walk over and then slap Dave upside the head.

And then he does it again, because he's decided to reenact a scene from the Incredibles like the most mature adult in the history of the world. He hits him again and again as he yells,]

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!

[Jesus Christ. At least he wasn't hitting too hard, though. It was mostly a joke.]

Seriously, you're a Strider. Stop with the downing yourself bullshit and have some confidence. Why do you think that she wouldn't? That's the most bullshit thing I've ever heard. Stop. Just stop. You're the raddest motherfucker I've ever seen and she would be downright lucky to have you. So shut the fuck up with the insecurity bullshit and ask her the fuck out!

[knightime]

Ow.

[Oh hello. This is a Bro lecture. Dave just shuts up. Yep. Alright. Cool.]

Why does it matter if she does or not? Let's say I ask and she says yes. Okay, cool. Who's to say I won't disappear soon after. What if she does instead?

[He's scared. Scared of people disappearing. It's become such a constant in his life being here and he really doesn't want to be.] It hurts a hell of a lot. Getting up and checking the usual rooms and their names aren't listed anymore. That can happen to her. It can happen to me or you. [He doesn't want to end up being with someone only to lose them in that way.]

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Bro is quiet for a long moment after that, mulling over Dave's words. He can't help but see Dave's point. It would hurt. It would hurt a lot to get attached to someone and then lose them. But just because that's a thing doesn't mean he's just going to let Dave give up on the idea of it.]

You just gotta ask yourself. Is she worth it? What would you go through for her, Dave? Because if you think for one fuckin' second that she's worth all that, then you go for it.

[knightime]

[Even if he didn't ask her out, it would still hurt a lot. Dave wishes he could let this constant pain numb at some point. He's tired of missing his friends disappearing.]

And if she does say no?

[plushaeusrumpified]

Then you tried, and that's better than giving up before you even gave yourself a shot.

[And if you don't try, then he's going to be severely disappointed, Dave. Seriously. You don't just give up your one chance at happiness in a place like this. The risks are worth the potential suffering.]

[knightime]

[He let's out a bit of a nervous chuckle. God he's a terrible Strider. How can Bro deal with him?

He opens his mouth and closes it. Nope. He'll keep it to himself.] I guess.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Shut the fuck up, you're not a bad Strider.]

Nah, what were you going to say?

[knightime]

It doesn't matter what I was gonna say. I didn't say it because it was fucking stupid. That's what happens when people decide not to say shit.

[plushaeusrumpified]

Quit with your smartassery. Tell me what the hell you were going to say! Because knowing you, in this context, it was probably something self-depreciating and I have to tell you what a load of shit it was.

[knightime]

Holy shit. Now I'm definitely just not gonna say whatever it was. Not interested in a verbal beatdown. Kay thanks.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Bro just facepalms. Yes, you've driven him to face palming.]

Dave. Seriously. Come on.

my favorite icon ever.

[knightime]

No.

Can we not? Can we just get over it?

it's a beautiful icon

[plushaeusrumpified]

No, we can't! Now fucking tell me before I get angry. And you know what happens when I get angry. I cause trouble. And causing trouble just ends badly for every one.

[He's being a manipulative asshole and he knows it, but goddamn it he wants answers. And Dave should know by 'trouble' he means trying to destroy parts of the tower.]