dave mamahecking strider (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
callbacks) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
route_10652016-03-08 07:06 pm
callbacks) wrote in route_10652016-03-08 07:06 pm
Taking it slow, but it's not typical
Who: Dave Strider callbacks and all y'all's lovely faces!
Where: Goldenrod City
When: Throughout the month of March
Summary: Come bug Dave at his part-time gig at the nice combination café/bookstore. OR, if we have plans (or you'd like to make plans; hit me up at![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
asherdashery, it's public) I can write up a starter just for you!
Rating: Probably nothing over PG-13.
Log:
[Food service is...well, it's everything movies told him it would be. But as far as workplaces go, the café isn't half-bad. The bookshelves make everything seem quiet even during busy hours, and the comforting scent of paper and coffee fills the space. Dave actually kind of looks forward to his shifts there.
The best part, though, is making the latte art. It took him a while to get the hang of it, because it's got to do with as much science and math as it does art, but Dave is nothing if not a master of timing. Most customers will get a heart, leaf, or tulip, but at slower times of day, he might experiment with drawing a little more.
(He has, of course, also figured out how to draw a dick in your latte. But that's neither here nor there.)
He's a quiet, friendly server, and as long as it's not caffeine crunch time, feel free to request your favorite Pokémon. Or if you're the only one there on a slow day, just wait--he might surprise you.]
((OOC: So! Since this log is open all month, please give me the date you want our thread to go down. I'll also be updating a thread tracker of sorts below so it'll be easier for all of us to find the right thread. Threads do not have to take place in the café! I just provided that as a starter for people who just want to chill with Dave. I'm gonna be throwing a bunch of non-coffee-related starters in here, too.))
NAVIGATION
March 4 - Carolina and Karkat, lunch
March 7 - Kaneki, café | March 8 - Maka, café; Chihiro, café | March 9 - Naoya, Honeyed Souls | March 11 - Jimmy Two-Shoes, text-->action
March 13 Banjou, café | March 14 - Karkat, pale confession
callbacks and all y'all's lovely faces!Where: Goldenrod City
When: Throughout the month of March
Summary: Come bug Dave at his part-time gig at the nice combination café/bookstore. OR, if we have plans (or you'd like to make plans; hit me up at
Rating: Probably nothing over PG-13.
Log:
[Food service is...well, it's everything movies told him it would be. But as far as workplaces go, the café isn't half-bad. The bookshelves make everything seem quiet even during busy hours, and the comforting scent of paper and coffee fills the space. Dave actually kind of looks forward to his shifts there.
The best part, though, is making the latte art. It took him a while to get the hang of it, because it's got to do with as much science and math as it does art, but Dave is nothing if not a master of timing. Most customers will get a heart, leaf, or tulip, but at slower times of day, he might experiment with drawing a little more.
(He has, of course, also figured out how to draw a dick in your latte. But that's neither here nor there.)
He's a quiet, friendly server, and as long as it's not caffeine crunch time, feel free to request your favorite Pokémon. Or if you're the only one there on a slow day, just wait--he might surprise you.]
((OOC: So! Since this log is open all month, please give me the date you want our thread to go down. I'll also be updating a thread tracker of sorts below so it'll be easier for all of us to find the right thread. Threads do not have to take place in the café! I just provided that as a starter for people who just want to chill with Dave. I'm gonna be throwing a bunch of non-coffee-related starters in here, too.))
March 4 - Carolina and Karkat, lunch
March 7 - Kaneki, café | March 8 - Maka, café; Chihiro, café | March 9 - Naoya, Honeyed Souls | March 11 - Jimmy Two-Shoes, text-->action
March 13 Banjou, café | March 14 - Karkat, pale confession
no subject
He's feeling abnormally content with the world as the explanation continues, his own eyes drifting shut multiple times because it's just so fucking weird existing in a space where all-encompassing rage doesn't dominate his thought processes. He doesn't even care where or how Dave is touching him, just that he is and that he's here, safe, and preferably happy. The attention Dave's giving his hand is making his human stomach flip its shit repeatedly anyway; it's hard to concentrate on much of anything else.]
I know about human marriage. From movies. [Like he needs to specify. Also, petting temporarily on hold while he toys with a lock of Dave's hair.] Seems like it'd be nice to have that kind of symbol, except trolls would need five if we had all of our quadrants filled. That'd be a pain in the ass.
[This is, after all, the same species that widely regards fashion as being stupid, so any "bling" is kind of superfluous. He guesses they could probably use it as a weapon? But who the fuck would ringkind as their strife specibus, that would be stupid. Dave might do it for the ironies, but he is also stupid.
Karkat's hand drifts back to his cheek anyway and hovers by the corner of his mouth. Why do humans have such flat, useless teeth? They're not even strictly herbivorous.]
There are still problems between married couples, though, right? Did I ever make you watch The Wedding Planner?
[Dave, quick, change the subject before he goes into any more depth, you're our only hope.]
no subject
Yeah, obviously. [Obviously what? That he watched the movie? Sure. He puts Karkat's hand in both of his again, absently massaging the sides as he talks.] Something like, I dunno, forty percent of human marriages end in divorce, and that's after all the time we put into dating around and convincing ourselves we've found "the one." But even if it doesn't work out in the end, the gesture's a big deal to saying you wanna try.
[He looks down at that poor captured hand he still hasn't released, then turns it over so he can see the back. His fingers weave through again; the spaces there are getting more natural to fit.
It seems this is fascinating. That, or Dave really likes holding hands. He makes a thoughtful noise.]
Hmmm. I guess five rings would get kinda clunky. And expensive. Maybe a charm bracelet would work better. You know, like, hooking on the signs of the people you're with and little diamonds and spades or something.
[He looks up again, then shrugs a little. Lightly taps the spot just beneath the dip of Karkat's collarbone.]
Or those break-apart BFF pendants girls like. Those'd suit the concept pretty well, too. Everyone gets a leaf off the applesauce symbol.
[He's not even going to pretend he can pronounce auspistice.]
no subject
... Yeah, he's got it bad. Damn Dave Strider anyway.]
It'd be nice to celebrate filling a quadrant like that.
[He says it without without thinking, and although the ensuing blush is much fainter than the ones he'd been wearing earlier, it's still noticeable. Dammit.]
Don't tell Jade I said this, okay? But marriage sounds really... really special.
[IF I HATE MYSELF SO MUCH, WHY DON'T I HATEMARRY MYSELF. Haha no.
He inches a little closer, clearly self-conscious.]
I've told you about serendipity before, right? We believe that for every quadrant, there's some troll or pair of trolls who were hatched for us. [Or not-troll who was born fokay no, not finishing that thought even if Dave has to be aware he's thinking it. Maybe?] So having formal ceremonies to recognize finding those people would be appropriate, you know?
[No he does not realise that it sounds like he's asking Dave to marry him, if in a tremendously roundabout way. Sort of. He's more focused on gently taking hold of that hand and splaying the fingers before pressing their palm together again. Why the hell is Dave's hand so much bigger than his, argh. Time to pretend he wasn't comparing the size of their hands and link their fingers.]
I'm starting to think you actually do want jewelry. [Oh, wait.] And it's "auspistice." You can say "ashen" or "clubs," you know.
no subject
[Yeah, now Dave's just fucking with him, but he needs to, after hearing that, or risk breaking out into a stupidly touched, disbelieving smile all over the place. Look at this nerd getting all gooey over human marriage, about soulmates and junk. It's unbearably cute. Is that okay to think about his non-concupiscent bro-romance? Aw, whatever, everyone knows Karkat's adorable. Adorabloodthirsty.]
Anyway, nah, jewelry's not really my thing. I'd worry about getting it caught on stuff while I parkour my way through the city streets.
[That is not even close to a thing he does. Though maybe he could? It might be fun, when the weather finally decides for good that it's going to be warm and sunny. Oh, man, or he could get a new skateboard, that would rock.
He should look into getting new sound equipment, too. He could make Karkat a mixtape. Damn, it's been months, too. The public must be waiting on his next track with bated breath, he's letting them down.
With the hand woven through Karkat's, he reaches up to poke idly again at Karkat's hair with one finger. This is an incredibly silly way to get anything done. Dave doesn't care.]
What about you, what do you like for presents? Besides movies, we already do movies, I can't think of a single relationship I have that isn't either saturated with or basically built on an unshakable foundation of movies. Oh, and dates? Are there paledates, what are those like.
no subject
He does notice that Dave completely sidesteps any definitive answer about what he might like as a present in the future, but that's fine for now. He can press again later, and besides, it's not like he doesn't know Dave well enough to guess.]
You can stop drawing human dicks in my coffee when I visit you at work, how's that for a present? [Hah, now who's not giving a straight answer? Asshole.] But, uh. Gifts between moirails can be a lot of things. It's the same with dates; the only real criteria is that it's something enjoyable and, you know. Soothing.
[Conciliatory. Calming, like a soft blanket or relaxing in a pile together. A way to keep each other balanced, if not happy. And, well—]
They're not that different from human dates. Or bro dates, I guess. [His head lifts a little but not enough to stop or even discourage the poking at his hair.] What the fuck is with humans and specifying things are "bro-whatever" anyway, I don't get it.
no subject
Dave finally lets go of Karkat's hand so he can play with his hair more properly. The texture is different, Dave's is so fine; Karkat's reminds him more of Jade's, but springier, maybe? He cards his hand through and sifts it through his fingers, then laughs a little.]
Uh, you know, actually, I'm probably not the best person to ask about that? I'm so deeply enmeshed in that particular cultural practice that you could probably stick the word "bro" in front of any noun or participle and I'd jump at it without thinking. Like, bro jury duty. Sure, sign me up. Bro state fair vegetable show--sold. Bro terrible haircut decisions. ...Actually, that sounds hilarious, I should look into that.
[Pet, pet...his hand slows, and then he sighs a little and keeps going.]
But yeah, it's probably...a dumb masculinity thing. Gotta make sure everyone knows you're doing Guy Things like a Real Cool Guy. But someone else could probably explain it better.
no subject
Argh, what were they talking about again.]
That's stupid. Your species is stupid.
[See, he was totally paying attention. All right, no, he'll make more of an effort.]
We had something like that, too, I guess. I used to give Tavros a lot of shit for "playing games for girls."
[Once when his friend had been at the bottom of a cliff and trying to tell him that he'd been paralyzed, not that Karkat still beats himself up over that anymore or anything.]
And Vriska made fun of me for watching romcoms, sort of like you do. She was more of a bitch about it, though.
no subject
[Wow. He's never seen Karkat so chill, or so...like, pleased. That's more than enough incentive to keep going, combing his fingers back from Karkat's hairline through the spot where his horns should be, fingerpads rubbing across his scalp, slow and rhythmic.
He watches Karkat's face as he does. Imagines how it'd look with his proper coloring, with his teeth. Watches for signs of the grief he's always known was there, that lay over that whole damn meteor.]
Tavros and Vriska. [They're familiar names, Vriska in particular, but still. Dave never knew them. He keeps running his hand through Karkat's hair, cups his jaw for a warm, fleeting moment before moving up again.] Wanna talk about them?
no subject
The hand on his jaw is expertly timed, too; Karkat is already melting but not so much that that question wouldn't have made him start to freeze up again. As things are... that was basically a pap, right? Or close enough? Fuck it, he doesn't care, he's going to say it counts.
And... right. That question.]
... I've been thinking about them a lot lately. All of them.
[Tavros and Vriska. Nepeta and Equius. Feferi, and even Eridan. He doesn't say the names, but he's responding, at least. He isn't shutting Dave out.]
And talking about them. With Ashley, mostly, because it's easier to just... use them as examples.
[There's a brief pause, and he covers the pair of still-linked hands with the only one left he has available. Dave had better not fucking stop touching him; he's not sure he'll get through this without that unspoken support.]
But then we started talking more about them as people, and I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with that.
[At least before, he'd been able to wait for a dream bubble or go to sleep and maybe get a chance to see one of them or their doppelgangers, but here, on this world, that option didn't exist. They're all gone and yet he feels closer to them than ever, what the fuck even is that? They're not even all from his timeline, so why?]
I'm being stupid, right? It's been three years.
no subject
Shit doesn't have to be recent to fuck you up, bro. There's no statute of limitations on junk like this.
[He pauses, fingers above Karkat's ear, then pulls his hand away, but only for a second. Awkwardly, Dave pulls the blanket out from where it's wadded under his head, shakes it open again, and drapes it over both of them, Karkat first, then him. He tugs it up fussily over Karkat's shoulder, making sure he's properly covered before he smooths the hair back from Karkat's forehead again.]
It's not stupid. You're not stupid. You...you never got a chance to talk about it before, right?
[None of them were available. None of them had the capacity to be. And none of them took anyone else up on it, had they had the opportunity. Not Rose, not Terezi, not Dave, not Karkat. Maybe Kanaya, but who was there for her? Who was there for any of them?
(Besides the Mayor. The Mayor is awesome, and an exception to every shittiness rule.)
Dave's hand moves down. He brushes his thumb over the rise of Karkat's cheekbone, follows the curve of his cheek with his other fingers. Just lets his hand rest there, warm, framing Karkat's face.]
Even if you did, you wouldn't have to be over it. ...I'm not.
[He waits. He's patient. Karkat can throw whatever at him, he won't go anywhere.]
no subject
For now, he's more focused on drawing what comfort he can from Dave's presence, which as before is a whole fucking lot. How the hell this human could ever have though he wouldn't cut it as a moirail is beyond him; Karkat's personal standards are warped, but he's devoured enough romantic media to recognize when someone knows what they're doing, all right? And Dave is good at this.
Karkat is fairly certain he's smiled more times in this conversation than any other, but oh look, here it is happening again as Dave spreads the blanket over the two of them and returns his hand to Karkat's hair. Is it possible to sprain face muscles, this is getting fucking ridiculous. If their conversation had been about literally anything else...
The smile drops again. Right. That.
He redirects his gaze toward their joined hands and, remembering the way Dave had touched him, runs his fingers lightly over his moirail's knuckles. It's much easier to see the tracery of blue veins underneath Dave's paler skin, and intrigued, Karkat tugs the hand closer. He will talk, he just needs a fucking distraction.]
You have to tell me, too. Even if you did ask first.
[It would have sounded sullen if Dave had asked him sooner, before he'd gotten him so completely calm. Now it's merely accepting.]
... I don't know where to start.
no subject
You can talk about what happened, if you want.
[But Dave doesn't think that's it, not really. Besides, they both already know what happened. He's seen some of the bodies.
He shifts his head a little, getting more comfortable, finding a better angle to watch Karkat's face.]
Or you can just...talk about what they were like. I only talked to a couple of them, I think. [Scritch, scritch. He moves his hand down, flattening dark hair against the back Karkat's neck--lifts and smooths it down again, warm and steady.] You can tell me what you liked about them, the shit you miss. Or how annoying they were, whatever.
[Then, because his name's already floating around--and because the alternative is Vriska, and thinking about Vriska means thinking about Terezi, and Dave would rather ease into that more slowly for his own sake, if nothing else--he offers:]
Which one was Tavros?
no subject
He focuses on returning his breathing to normal as Dave continues, somehow resisting the urge to close the remaining gap between them and just hug him for all he's worth. This is not the fucking time, they're having a conversation and he's not going to interrupt it for something so minor. What is wrong with him?
It's no real surprise that he readily latches onto the new direction, nodding just a little and taking another slow, deep breath while he composes his thoughts. No more thinking about the meteor. Time to remember Tavros.]
His trolltag was adiosToreador. He stammered a lot, used to piss me off.
[Already it's clear that Karkat is sticking to a recitation of facts, but that's still talking, right? There's no need to delve into actual emotions.]
He was pretty close to Aradia—they were on the same FLARP team and all. A lot of our friends were into FLARP, it was kind of fucking annoying.
[There, wasn't that easy? He takes another slow breath and goes back to examining Dave's hand, setting gradually. Fine. Everything's fine.]
I didn't join in because it—because people died from it. And I'd probably get cut or something and expose my blood color. Nepeta wanted to, but Equius stopped her for the same reason. It wasn't safe.
[He turns the hand over, unfolds it carefully, and looks at the veins crisscrossing Dave's palm. They're blue, same as his as a human, and what the hell is that, anyway?]
He... had an accident. [Karkat stops, scowls.] No, it wasn't a fucking accident. Vriska did it on purpose.
no subject
[Dave's petting hand slows while Karkat examines the other one. He didn't think about it when he was the one getting handsy with the merchandise, but it's sort of...a strange feeling, letting someone else manipulate a part of him this way, so carefully and aimlessly. The way Karkat does it, it's like being studied, and not a dare or a giggling challenge like when Terezi would get her teeth too close to his throat.
He moves the pad of his thumb to the spot below and behind Karkat's ear, where Dave finds tension tends to build up on his own damn self, when he's over-tired and clenching his jaw too much. He presses gently, rubs in a little circle. It's an apology, too, for causing that spike of--something, of pain or fear. Shh, dude. Shhh, it's okay.]
I guess the other team would've been her and Vriska. So. I can't really say I'm surprised, looking back on it.
[He puts his fingers against Karkat's cheek again and scoots in, trying to catch his eye. Trying to make sure this is right, that this is okay. His own gaze is steady, now, if still a little redder than usual after the brief bout of crying from before.]
Still sucks, though. What she did, and everything. You can gloss over that part if you want, I got the basic facts about it.
no subject
... Anyway, he'll seize the opportunity to move on as it's presented, meeting Dave's eyes easily enough and clasping his hand to indicate that he's all right. Mostly all right. It'll do.]
It was this whole thing between all of them, yeah. But... anyway, I was going to say that he was in a wheelchair because of it. Through the whole game, too.
[And then Kanaya had chainsawed his legs off, but more importantly—]
It's fucking stupid. He would've been culled back on Alternia because of that, you know? Unless we'd managed to get Equius to fix him up sooner. I'd like to think we would've.
[Somehow. Call in a favor, somehow. Get Nepeta to talk him into it, something. She and Tavros liked roleplaying together, so it could have worked, right? Fuck, he keeps thinking about Nepeta and Equius even though this is supposed to be... ugh.
He shudders minutely and releases Dave's hand for the sole purpose of lightly dragging two fingers down the center of his palm. It's a little petty, but seeing whether or not Dave reacts the same way to it he had would brighten him right the fuck up.]
So he makes it through all that shit and having metal legs grafted to his fucking body and then—then that happens. He didn't even—
[Fuck. Fuck, wasn't Karkat going to keep this facts only? Goddammit, maybe if he just backs up—]
He—he liked Fiduspawn and his stupid fucking lusus and I didn't—I didn't know him nearly as well as I should've.
no subject
(Because no one ever treated him delicately. Because he's been as starved for kindness as for affection, for trust. Because it's Karkat shelving the spines and fury he wears as armor to talk to him softly, to brush fingers across his skin like the act is sacred.
'If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this...'
...Wait. What?)
Dave blinks a few times, then, as surreptitiously as possible, presses his cheek further into the quilt to see if it'll help get his face under control. Enough with the pure maiden blushing already, Jesus.]
You know, I. Think I remember him. AdiosToreador, right?
[His hand travels down to Karkat's shoulder, but goes back up again. There are too many layers in the way. Dave knows his hand is warm, and warm is good, right? He cradles Karkat's face another moment, then returns to stroking his cheek slowly.]
He tried to troll me, way back at the beginning. But I backsassed him so hard he actually blocked me. Never heard from him again.
[He tries a small, honest, self-deprecating smile.]
I may have insinuated some things about his alien sexuality and made him feel slightly uncomfortable. Guess I'm kind of a huge bitch, too.
no subject
... Should he be trying to make his moirail blush. Eh, fuck it, he doesn't care.
He's feeling better by the time Dave gets around to confessing that he's a giant bitch (about fucking time), and while he's not up to smiling again just yet, he can and will nuzzle the hand on his cheek. Because it's there. Shut up.]
I could see that happening, yeah. Tavros was—always really sensitive, for a troll.
[Maybe even for a human. Fuck, he should have kept a closer watch on him, why had he let any of them leave the computer lab? If he'd just made everyone stay in the same room, maybe—ugh. No, he's not thinking about this.
He traces the three most prominent lines on Dave's palm next, then the veins, following them all they way up to the his fingertips. Human nails are weird. Why are they clear?]
I think he took his lusus's death the hardest out of all of us. He had a—
[Fuck. Karkat swallows, tries again.]
He had a plush of him. On the meteor.
no subject
Some people are really close with their family. I guess maybe it helped, for him.
[He knows trolls don't think of people in family terms, knows the word doesn't mean a whole lot. But what's a lusus--a caretaker linked literally by blood, if not species; a presence in the troll household, a constant--if not family? That's the only way he knows how to think about it.
...Then again, what does Dave know about that shit.
He strokes Karkat's hair back again, then sighs.]
C'mere.
[He doesn't pull his hand out of Karkat's, just folds his fingers around his palm for a moment and scoots in, slips his other arm under the blanket so he can wrap it around Karkat's back. He rubs between his shoulder blades, pats the nape of his neck.]
'S better. I was cold.
[It's transparent enough not to count as a lie, he thinks, while still allowing Karkat his dignity. If that matters, really, when they've opened this much.]
no subject
He glances up and blinks when Dave moves, confused and then relieved because fuck his dignity anyway, what had it ever done for him? He doesn't need a convenient lie to hug Dave, either; he'd only needed some indication that his moirail was ready for it. Permission was one thing, but with how skittish Dave had been... he just wasn't going to fucking go there until he was sure, all right?
Now that he is, there's only one thing to do: hug the shit out of this stupid human. Releasing Dave's hand, Karkat sneaks an arm around his waist and—fuck it. Fuck subtlety. Fuck waiting, he's just going to invade Dave's personal space and burrow against him, hiding his face because okay maybe this is a little embarrassing but not entertaining the thought of letting go for a second.]
Idiot.
[It's muffled but still distinct enough that Dave shouldn't have any trouble deciphering it. Nobody ever said moirails couldn't insult each other, shoosh.]
... I'll get you more blankets. And that stupid sweater. [He tucks the red mass of fluff around them more securely and resumes his highly important Dave hugging duty.] Someone has to take care of your stubborn ass. Might as well be me.
no subject
When Dave gets his other arm back, he wraps that around Karkat, too, pulls him right up close and snug into his slim, bony shoulder.
The words still shiver right through him, still make something flip over all wobbly in his stomach. He curls tighter around Karkat, lets out a wavering breath past his ear.]
I don't wanna hear 'stubborn' from you, fuckface.
[Never ever go away, ever.
Now they've stepped back from the deep feelings examination, though, so maybe it's time for a breather. Time to check in, time to...be self-conscious and clingy, apparently. Karkat's made sure Dave's okay with shit, but what about him?]
Is this working for you? How am I doing so far. Like, on a scale from one to ten, how would you rate your moixperience, we at Strider Industries, LLC appreciate your feedback.
no subject
Until then, he's sighing contentedly and closing his eyes, feeling warm and safe and honestly sort of like taking a nap, which is too strange to even process. At least Dave has gotten around to that moment-ruining.]
You don't even know what "LLC" stands for, do you?
[Not that he does, either, but Dave's the one who said it.]
And you've been... really, really great. [Fuck, that sounded stupid.] I mean, I—this is... everything I wanted. Thank you.
[He shifts a little, insinuating himself all the more closely and absolutely not as a way to conceal how self-conscious he also is. He's not turning red again, either. Goddammit.]
... Is this... helping you, too?
no subject
Nope, time to bury his face in Karkat's shoulder, to release a breathy laugh into his collar.]
Yeah, if you're gonna keep saying shit like that to me. Fuckin' palequad Casanova, how the hell do you even do that.
[How very dare. After a moment, Dave props his chin more properly on Karkat's shoulder, breathes out on a long exhalation.]
Real talk for a second--[And he tightens his grip for a moment, snuggles in.]--not that that wasn't real just now, I just--I just gotta. You know how you said I had to talk about my old junk, too?
[Mmmmnnnhhhhhh. He doesn't want to, but. Yeah. Okay.]
I will. I just... [He sighs.] There's stuff. From before three years ago. And I'll get into it with you, especially since you're dealing really closely with, like, the repercussions of the stuff. But for me, it's...I'm still figuring out what the stuff even is. So...
[He nuzzles down into Karkat's shoulder again. Maybe Karkat will pet his hair more. That would be nice.]
Is it okay if we like...table that, as something to work towards? I just don't know if I can talk about it, I...the words aren't there. I mean, there's other stuff I can talk about, but. Yeah. ...Okay?
no subject
He's silent for several seconds, not because the question is all that difficult but because phrasing his answer is going to fucking suck. If he weren't so determined to make this moirallegiance work, to keep any relationship at all from crumbling under the weight of things unsaid...
Goddammit.]
It's the same for me.
[Quiet again. He can be quiet if he really, really tries.]
I don't... I mean, I know what it is, it's just. [ Huff.] I'm a goddamn coward, is what it is, I can't even think about it without losing my shit all over the place.
[Or on Ashley, apparently. Goddammit, how is that the closest he'd ever come to talking about it, what is wrong with him? But he'll deal with that later; Dave is his priority right now.]
So... take as much time as you need. We'll both get there, and... just know I'm always here for you, all right?
no subject
God, Terezi was way too right about the two of them. In how many ways are they this similar, and how many hasn't he noticed? When Karkat finally answers, Dave squeezes him gently, because right now, there's nothing he needs to protect more in this world than this dumb, idiot, precious troll.]
Yeah, all right. Me too. [After a pause, he rubs his head under Karkat's ear, like a cat.] Remind me once in a while. I'm a repetition learner.
[Okay. He's comfortable again, and Karkat is actually nice and warm. Not like Missy Elliott, but then again, Elliott can't hug, her little legs are too short. Dave makes a contented noise and just. Cuddles up.
Congratulations; Karkat has successfully unlocked Koala Mode. Dave's smiling slightly as he speaks again.]
You're like, supremely snugglable, did you know that? You might almost be as good at hugs as the Mayor.
no subject
I know.
[Scritch, scritch. This is just as relaxing to do for someone as it is to be on the receiving end, what the hell is that? Moirallegiance is what. And, while Dave's lack of horns does rob him of convenient targets, Karkat is keeping a close eye on his reactions to see which spots on his scalp yield the most favorable response. Prepare to be spoiled, Strider.]
I still don't get how you didn't figure it out sooner. I wasn't... trying to hit on you, but it was hard to, uh. I mean. [Fuck, why did he introduce this topic, Dave can't see him blushing again, right?] Okay, let's mutually agree this part of the conversation never happened, all right?
[aslkdjfgd every fucking time]
And shut your blasphemous mouth, no one's as good at hugs as the Mayor.
[Yes he did notice Dave said "almost," he's just trying to change the subject.]
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