lucybox | slams hands on table best friends

slams hands on table best friends

[ dave strider ends up choosing cinematography to study because, fuck, why not? it's almost graduation when he finally decides, and it's sort of at random. it's not that he doesn't like video-taping shit (he does) or that he isn't into special effects and sound stuff (he is) but there's a lot of shit dave is into and he wasn't sure how to translate that to college. he loves music; he loves dance; he's really into the film shit and his shitty comics, but he definitely can't do art because the shitty comic quality isn't shitty on accident. but he consults with his siblings and he thinks about it hard and he makes a decision.

and god, it was easier to be excited about that decision before memories and past lives and powers came into play, but it's still kind of cool. dirk hated college but dave likes the idea of it. he likes the routine normality that it seems to suggest, the way he feels kind of grown up and like a half-competent adult when he packs up his shit and heads off to university. it's still in the city so it's not like he's really gone, but it's enough of a distance to allow him to pretend.

these days, somewhat to his surprise, dave wants to pretend. rose doesn't remember a thing about anything going on and his parents probably never will, and it's strange and too much like playing pretend every day to live there. he can't tell them about anything. he can't even tell roxy, because he doesn't want to mention most of the things he knows to anyone. even the tiny things are seeming more and more dangerous, because then it's just a chain of memories, all the way down the line, and eventually they'll all remember the shit he doesn't say, but -

but. well. he can, for now, pretend to be an ordinary kid at college. he has a schedule? he has a mini fridge. he has a room, and he's carefully pinned up a few posters and sorted all his things. he's mindlessly listening to music with his earbuds in when the door opens, and he tracks the movement even behind his shades and sits up. ]

Yo - [ he's absolutely never met the guy who just waltzed into his (their) room but dave absolutely knows him. he reflexively reaches up to adjust his shades. okay. shit. that's john egbert - or...someone? maybe his name is different? but it's john, egderp, the dork who really likes mc...whatever and hates cake and who gave dave these shades, once upon a time, and he's here and really a real live person and ok dave maybe stop staring you're being weird.

shit he's in kindergarten again? how the fuck did you make someone your best friend back then. did you just go up and say "mine" and call dibs? does someone else have dibs???? can dave fight them for dibs -

STILL STARING, DAVE ]

Uh, [ internal screaming ] I'm Dave. Sup.

[ an attempt was made. i guess. ]

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Oh. [Again, it doesn't matter. It was mostly because he was trying to understand with this giant bomb in his lap. He isn't sure if he should still be holding the shades or not. They're Dave's and John gave them to him but he kept them on for a reason but now he has them because Dave them back and ahhhhhh.

Okay. One thing at a time.]

So there's a lot of us here from the same before. [Is that correct to deduce? He's unsure, but he's pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around his shins, leaning his chin on his knee.] That is what I mean, but whatever you think I should know, maybe. I still don't understand what is happening or why this is happening, but maybe hearing that will make sense.

Uh. Kinda. I mean - my bro, my eldest sister, a guy I don't really like, one of my childhood best friends, the dude my bro likes, and a pretty cool middle schooler. Fuck, I guess she's a high schooler now. So seven. Eight with you.

[ he counts them off on his fingers, though he doesn't...say any names...? dave, why. ]

We need like a welcome guide but basically that app on your phone? Like. A few hundred people have it. Only people with it notice shit like the horses, and they get back...memories, physical changes, powers, whatever. I'm pretty sure groups of people are from different "befores" but don't quote me on that bullshit in case I'm egregiously wrong.

[ he's not sure what other warnings to give, really? he still knows fuck all, he feels like. ]

You were a cool dude. I mean, from talkin' to you now, I'm pretty sure that's still super true even if there are differences. [ like the pastry thing. ] Terrible taste in movies, but still probably one of my top favorite people in the universe. [ "because i love him" "i know" why is dave strider an embarrassing mess of a friend. ] Like, just awful taste in movies? Con Air is not an acceptable movie, Egbert, but there was somethin' almost admirable about all those defenses of it I remember sittin' through.

[He's doing his best to try and pull memories out, associate names with people and it's not entirely clicking as it continues to miss its mark. He looks at the phone again, staring at the offensive app before he clicks the button at the top to plunge the phone into darkness again.

Hearing all of this is overwhelming if he's honest, and yet at the same time he can sort of accept this? Well okay no it's still bugshit bananas and he's not sure how to cope with a past him and a past Dave and knowing they were friends and hearing that Dave thought he was cool and knowing he apparently felt the same? It's a lot and he's confused but he also knows that if what Dave's saying is true it's going to keep happening.

All of this circulates in his head, but instead what he says is:]

We're still getting matching filthy wifebeaters, jackass. Even if that movie is pretty terrible. [In this life, anyway. The words are quiet and he's just going to stare at his knees instead. He's juggling fragments that make zero sense in context but are sliding into place somewhat with this explanation.] So an app is making all of this happen to us. But I don't know if I'm the same me you knew before or if there are other mes and yous out there and this sounds stupid. Right? The whole thing is stupid.

[ okay, that's a specific, and it gets a startled noise out of dave that doesn't quite make it into becoming words. he definitely remembers remarks about the stupid filthy wifebeaters thing. didn't he write a letter once? something about larping con air or something stupid.

john's this naive pinocchio guy who tumbled ass backwards off the turnip truck and - ]

Ghostbusters. [ right, another terrible film he remembers john-from-before being into. it doesn't really matter if he is now or not, or maybe it does, and dave's first instinct even prior to memories was not the most comforting when it came to comforting people. he's not sure if he should reach out or not, particularly since john has only known him for less than an hour.

he keeps trying to not think about that part too hard because it hurts even though he's grateful john egbert exists. ]

You're whoever you are, dude. I don't think it actually matters if you like Con Air or hate baked goods or if it's the other way around. If you go on shopping trips for nosehair trimmers and ask me to help plan your demise or if you never use your damn phone to text people really. If you're a suicidally heroic idiot or a film student.

[ like, it matters, but - ]

You're still a person I want to know. [ he doubts that's, like, useful at this juncture? so it's said rather hesitantly. ] Whether it's stupid or not. You had a pretty happy life up 'till some ridiculous bullshit, so I don't think it'll be that bad for you. Like, uh, rememberin'. If that helps to know.

[Yeah that's how he felt, too. He remembers fragments of a letter but not the full thing or the present, he doesn't remember hours of conversations and it's sort of frustrating. He wants to understand, and there's a wry smile at his lap and his hands instead of directly at Dave. The cascading effect has started on its own, it seems.]

Little Monsters. [Since they're naming shitty films past!him liked. Or likes? He's not clear on that part and though he hears and appreciates what Dave's saying he has to wonder.]

Why would I go shopping for nosehair trimm--you know what, never mind. [He finally looks up, and he offers the glasses back. He believes him, mostly. For once, he's grateful he had enough forethought not to say "what about you?" Since. That implication is kind of there even if he can't glean anything from it.] ...we have a whole year to get to know each other. But whatever's going on with this app and whatever you're remembering and whatever I think I might remember could just speed up that process. There's no way around this?

[ dave takes the glasses automatically, but. scowls at john for "little monsters". ]

...You complete asshole, you ruined my aj? "What about Howie Mandel" what about I kick your ass. [ THAT, OF COURSE, HE REMEMBER CRYSTAL CLEAR. @ JOHN EGBERT: HOW DARE YOU RUIN THE IDEA OF UNTOUCHED AJ FOUND IN THE CLOSET? dave unfolds the shades and shoves them on his nose, and that lets him relax, a little, because he's used to the shield. ] The only way out is to randomly get booted from the app and forget everything you remembered. That's what happened to Rose, months ago.

[There's an apologetic smirk because yeah, he remembers that now, too.] Sorry that thirteen-year-old me thought that was the funniest thing in the world. [Not that sorry though seeing how he's still smirking about it.

This time he notices. He doesn't know what to make of it, but he notices Dave relaxing a bit and it helps.]

Ugh. That sounds even more annoying than remembering all of this stuff in the first place. [With this in mind, the name "Rose" means something with a little more context now.] Dirk and Roxy are still on the app though? What do you think happened to Rose?

[ the smirk negates the apology and dave picks up another cupcake and smooshes it into john's cheek, frosting-side skinwards. this will in no way bite him in the ass. ]

Wow, maybe thirteen-year-old you had a point about this kinda humor. [ WHY IS HE BRINGING THIS ON HIMSELF - ] Also Dirk and Roxy are but I straight up don't fuckin' know about Rose. She just thinks all this bullshit is normal and I don't talk to her about the memories, since. Well, she wouldn't say I was crazy, but she wouldn't buy it as...real. Except on complete faith. And I think somethin' might stop her doin' that, anyway.

[ ........................he just keeps talking like normal after the cupcake thing what the fuck ]

[Oh. Okay. John will just let this happ--]

Hey! [What the fuck?! He cringes at the cold sticky frosting on his face and immediately whirls to retaliate, scraping off half of the cheek frosting to shove up Dave's nose. Somehow, he's also taking care not to disturb the shades and also he's continuing to wipe his face.]

I guess that makes sense. I wouldn't talk to someone about this stuff either if I didn't think it would make some kind of sense. Even knowing you're telling the truth it's still kind of weird. [...and for extra measure he dabs a light dollop of frosting on the tip of Dave's nose. Why? Because fuck you, Strider, that was rude and yet totally well-timed, John is weirdly proud.]

[ dave could dodge? dave could totally dodge. he's faster than john will ever be (...although eventually john will be able to do windy shit that can oppose that) and he's facing the dude and sees it coming and catalogues the attack.

he does not dodge and he gets frosting up his nose and makes an offended noise of protest. he doesn't dodge the extra dollop, either. there is something weirdly comforting about stupid rough housing at this point. its comforting to have someone in his personal space bubble that neither half of him - before or after - is ringing alarm bells about. ]

Hey. [ john avoided the shades and dave doesn't dodge though he peers at john over the top of the frames with a mock-glare. ] ...Sorry for springin' it on you, but I'm all over the damn app so you would've figured it out pretty quick.

[Another wide smirk of victory because he doesn't quite know the level of their friendship yet. He's busy preening and also wiping frosting off of his face, but eventually the smirk melts into a real grin instead, even when the mock-glare comes into play.

It's awkward, maybe, but not really. Knowing what he knows now it's about figuring out boundaries and the like and what Dave is and isn't okay with. Apparently shoving frosting up his nose falls in the "acceptable" category.]

Is that why you need to have your phone all the time?

[ oh. okay john is grinning and hasn't run out the door and doesn't seem to be, like, opposed to everything. he seemed to be accepting it as being a thing more or less, but the grin is...better. dave feels instinctively that the world is a little more correct if john Egbert is grinning about something. it's cool he's involved. dave's lips quirk up again. ]

That? Nah, though I do check it a lot. But my phone was on me all the time before because I, unlike you, am a proper millienial child and not a heathen. I'm always checkin' social media or whatever and I have phone games and I text people a lot and it has all my music...seriously, how can you be so phone illiterate?

[He'll try, at least. It's going to be Weird, but if a different Dave was his best friend once upon a time, this Dave can be, too.]

I'm not phone illiterate, dummy. Things keep happening to them and so there wasn't a point in investing a ton on a new phone all the time. This one's barely big enough for a few CDs worth of stuff and my social media apps that I forget to check. Plus I use my laptop most of the time anyway, so why bother?

Are you sure you're actually a teenager.

[ like. just checking??? ]

I feel like you might be an alien posin' as a teenager. Quick, what's your opinion on pizza?

[Thanks Dave.]

What is this "pizza" of which you speak? I'm afraid I've never heard of this unusual delicacy. [Jerk.]

[ he slugs john on the shoulder, but it's. so light? he could definitely hit harder than that, he has the strength to do so - though at some point he figures john might out mangrit him. that's how it used to be, right? ]

We can try to save you from premature old man syndrome and order this rare delectable for dinner or somethin'. Bury your tastebuds in cheese and hope you don't spontaneously develop the need to use a cane to get around and a deep seated desire to yell at people to get off of your lawn.

[It's enough to get a laugh out of him and he uses a hand to swat at Dave's, happy to continue on with this stupid game. It's all he can do, isn't it?]

I don't know, Dave. It might be too late for me. Save yourself and order one with extra cheese and pineapple. It may be our only hope. [But even with that, he finds himself rotating to lay on his back and stare at the ceiling, a thoughtful look crossing his features then.]

So...that means I'm going to start getting a lot of these weird memories and stuff, too. Are my eyes going to change colors or anything cool like that?

Edited 2017-05-08 03:37 (UTC)

Oh no, are we gonna get into pineapple on pizza discourse? Suddenly I'm less sure about gettin' to know you.

[ that's a lie. while john lays back, dave...gravitates to his computer chair, sitting on it so he can cross his arms on the back, resting his chin atop them. ]

Nah. I mean, to the eyes. They were blue back then, too. But you may make your username more of a reality than it is currently.

Wow, thanks a lot, jerk. [Casual shade thrown? Casual shade thrown and he's even closing his eyes for a bit despite. Having frosting on his face still. Dave is allowed to do as he wishes, John's not going to stop him.] Half then.

That's a bummer though. [He likes his blue eyes, but at the same time they're pretty standard.] I may do what now? [He definitely hasn't remembered the whole "god tier windy thing" so.] I don't know how that's possible since I made it all up.

Either or. I'll actually eat whatever gets put in front of me, although I do think pineapple on pizza is a little eh. [ but. he'll still eat it..........especially if other people want it more. dave, what the fuck. ]

Learn to do the windy thing. Grace us all with Eau d'Egbert, the only cologne for the forward-thinkin' man.

Then what about a compromise of extra cheese and light on the pepperoni? If we're getting my pizza education on and whatever sticking with the classic choice isn't a bad idea. [He lifts an eyebrow.] That sounds kind of dangerous, Dave.

[Also? What?] I don't know what that means. That sounds sort of gross though? [Fragrances are not something he wants a hand in what the fuck.]

I am always okay with extra cheese, and we can even get pineapple on at least half if you were for serious about that.

[ ALSO, LOOK, YOU'RE NOT TO THAT YET BUT LET IT BE KNOWN DAVE STRIDER IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL IDIOT and would die before ratting john out on anything ever ]

You do windy stuff. It's not gross, it's actually kind of fuckin' cool, and I'm pretty sure you were like our...rpg party tank, or whatever.

That sounds good. [John didn't you just. Okay, whatever.

What in the fuck I hate this comic and I hate this friendship AUGH.] We have time, I'm not going anywhere. Probably.

[He looks a little pleased though, dorky grin slipping to his features once more.] I've always wanted to be a party tank. What does that make you and...whoever else is in our team? Do you know yet?

Me? I'm support. [ DAVE...but that's how he views himself. ] Or a reset button, take your pick. But I'm more a lightning bruiser dealio. And the rest of the team would be Rose and Jade.

Whoa, really? [Look at this idiot full of surprise. That's not what he would expect at all.] You must be good at it if all of us survived...whatever we were doing! Like the guy who swoops in last-minute and helps us save the day. [John...but he suddenly opens his eyes, sitting up a bit to give Dave another curious look.] ...Jade?

[He's starting to grasp vague memories of Jade, but nothing concrete. Enlighten him, Strider.]

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