slams hands on table best friends

[parodeity]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[parodeity]

My mom's a piano teacher. [ it's been a while since he played straight, because usually he likes to mess around with music, add effects, work with gelling different instrumental tracks into something new - but he had the lessons, even if he put more time into dance. ] I didn't play before, but I mixed still. I can do a few different instruments, though I gotta say I mix better, and this is about the best I do with other ones. Rose refuses to let me touch her violin.

[ he can't play that so well. the corner of his mouth tilts upwards, but he keeps his gaze on the keys, and it's probably possible sitting sideways to actually see his eyes through the gap of the shades. ]

You play - past, present, future tense - better than I do, bro.

[windeity]

[A nod. That makes sense at least. Even given how he's been sort of digging his heels in over the subject, music is something he appreciates on all levels. His fingers continue pressing on the keys idly though it's not without reason. There's the beginnings of a tune there as he reacquaints himself with the keys, starting out slower.]

I don't think I've ever thought of mixing. It never really occurred to me to remake music in different ways. [He kind of likes the way he can at least see behind the shades. Somehow it makes Dave seem more real and not just some elaborate hoax. He's embarrassed to admit he hadn't been quite sure even up to this moment but went along with it because it made sense. But the more information he receives and the more he learns about this Dave Strider, the better.]

I keep telling you it's been a while since I've played. [And even so, he's steadily sliding into a song as he speaks.] But I guess some things make sense. [And from there he goes quiet again, focusing solely on playing until he finishes. His eyes are on the keys the whole time, watching his hands fly on their own accord and finally settle in the middle despite not saying anything in the aftermath.

So yes. Present-tense John can absolutely play, too.]

[parodeity]

You haven't told me why yet, though. [ it's a question without being a question, exactly. and rest assured, john, dave is a real dude. with real-person flaws. his eyelashes are way too light? his hands have weird callouses from a sword, even though he'd never held one until a few months back. probably he needs to get a trim for his hair, which curls at the ends and which he could maybe also stand to brush. he's at least the kind of guy who takes care of his clothes, but his sneakers have doodles of terrible art on the edges, like he got bored and took a sharpie to them at some point, because he definitely did.

see? real.

john stops playing, and after a second, waiting to see what he'll say, dave starts up again, far more hesitant because it's a half-remembered tune, and the one he remembers best was a remix. how did the original go...? ]

[windeity]

[And he doesn't say anything again, instead he's watching Dave just as carefully as before. It's easy to memorize the person sitting next to him and see how they could have fit together in a past life, but at the same time it's still something like starting a new adventure.

He doesn't think beyond that. This is definitely how his life is going to go now, and even as Dave is slowly plunking at the keys John's hands move in again to pick up the slack, guiding along and filling in the blanks of this song.

He remembers this song. He's never played it before but he remembers and it's easy and familiar. His shoulders relax and he's content this way enough that he can at least explain.]

My dad taught me to play. And it was weird to keep playing without him. [No other reason. It was just something that felt off about it.] So I switched after a while.

[parodeity]

Do you mind playin' now? [ with john filling in the song properly, dave shifts to a more backup role, able to follow along with less hesitance now that someone is carrying the melody better.

he wonders how much like john's dad from before his dad in this life is. he wonders if john's dad died, again, or if he left (can't be much like him if he left), but dave thinks maybe there are things you don't ask.

asking if john minds what they're doing, however, feels relevant and maybe okay. he stops watching his hands on the keyboard and looks over and watches john, intent. ]

[windeity]

[He doesn't mind when Dave pulls away and he's fine carrying the tune on his own, easily remembering a time in a house that isn't his current one where he played this same song. It was his thirteenth birthday then, wasn't it?

Dave is allowed to watch him because John knows he's starting to do the same the longer they're together. It's less weird now that he understands.]

No. [It's second nature. It's music and it does make him happy even if he's ignored it for so long. He finishes it out and he turns to face Dave again, quirking an eyebrow.] Not so much, no. It's another thing that carried over, that's all. But I wonder if he taught me in that lifetime, too. Stupid. [He shifts on the bench, sitting sideways so that he can face Dave properly.] So what do you think? We could probably create something cool?

[parodeity]

Everythin' I make is cool, obviously, so yes. [ another of those statements that sounds asshole-confident, said in a very slightly joking monotone. ] I think we could make somethin'. Lots of different things, really? What used to happen was just getting sent tracks, I think, from all of you, and doin' whatever. But you're, like, right here.

[ obviously. but it's said like that's kind of amazing, shut up, ]

So it can be more, you know, interactive than just one side and then the other?

[windeity]

How could I forget. [They're falling in a rhythm at least, and it's only belatedly he realizes the phrasing could have been better and he even goes as far as smacking his palm against his face.] Aw jeez that's not what I meant. I mean it is, but not that kind of forgetting. But that sounds like something I would do, so I can believe that.

[...that's cute, Dave.] I'm right here. We could co-write something together without having to wait for timezones and stuff to sync up. Hearing things in real time to make a good song. Think anybody in the dorm will get mad if we bring a keyboard back to the room?

[parodeity]

I mean, even if they get mad, fuck them? [ #best way to make friends, but he's biased and only cares about the one friend currently. ] I think as long as we don't drag a drumset back we should be solid, maybe.

[ that would be pushing it. ]

[windeity]

Have you ever tried to move a drum set? Shit's heavy. And anyway I don't really want to get kicked out in our first week but we can probably also borrow some strings. I can't do violin like Rose but I can kind of figure out guitar enough. [John tried to be cool once. It didn't work out.] Whatever you want, I'll match. It's more interesting than homework.

[Never mind that school hasn't started yet.]

[parodeity]

I could probably put some of it in my 'dex.

[ IT'S CONVENIENT when you aren't fucking flinging stuff from it on accident. ]

Keyboards, then. This'll make stealin' them easier, just watch.

[ dave don't - okay yeah he's just going to put a keyboard in his sylladex. ]

[windeity]

[...well. Uh. That was cool.]

So when do I get mine back? That's totally unfair, dude. [A grin.] Also they're probably going to notice if we don't bring it back before tomorrow so we can't keep it for that long. Anything else you feel like conveniently shoving in there?

[parodeity]

What all do you want? I have...seven spaces left over. Dunno if I wanna test it on anythin' livin' though I know you can do it.

[ he just feels bad... ]

[windeity]

Well if you have a keyboard already...[He's getting up from the bench, wandering through the music room and picking up a few books of sheet music and...a triangle.] These? And leave room for snacks. [#priorities.]

[parodeity]

Sure. [ he can combine the books to one thing, and the triangle to another, which leaves plenty of room for snacks? INTO THE ABYSS OF HIS SYLLADEX THEY GO!!! ] But what kinda snacks are we talkin' here? Nothin' healthy, right? Like...doritos and hostess snacks?

[windeity]

[Look, he's mostly having this happen because it's cool as fuck to watch things disappear and also, he doesn't have his own sylladex yet so Dave gets to be his packhorse. With that he moves, playing a little tune on the piano keys as he passes by and heads for the exit.]

I mean sure if you want less than superior snacks, that would work. [But there's a smirk.] There should be a store nearby too we can grab stuff but uh. Maybe we shouldn't steal those? [Why is that only a maybe and not a definitely....]

[parodeity]

I have cash. [ IS HE GOING TO TRY TO PAY FOR ALL THE SNACKS yes. he does this to dirk, too. it is an ingrained thing since his siblings NEVER LET HIM PAY FOR FOOD he tries. to pay for food for people all the time.

someday he's gonna fucking buy dirk dinner god ] Also what the hell are you callin' "superior snacks" that ranks above doritos??? Apple wedges?

[ he literally suggested he was anti healthy snacks 2 seconds ago And Yet ]

Because if you're rankin' anything less over doritos I think we're gonna have to throw down.

[windeity]

[DAVE!!! But he actually pausing and squinting because:]

Wait, what? [Whether the "wait what" is about having cash or about apple wedges he doesn't immediately say, but the hilarious part is that he still can't tell if Dave's serious or not.] You know that apples and doritos are two totally different snack classes don't you? You can compare chips to chips and apples to apples but comparing chips to apples is a huge margin of error.

[What.]

[parodeity]

Apples are in their own snack class, dumbass, you can compare them to everythin' since they work on every level.

[ what. ]

[windeity]

That doesn't even make sense! [Oh my god, why.] And since when are you the authority on apples in particular anyway?

[parodeity]

Dude, I've always been the authority on apples. I have a printed out internet degree and everythin', which means shut your face?? [ they're in college. and yet. ]

[windeity]

I refuse to shut my face about apples of all things. [Come on, Strider.] I was serious earlier by the way, I kind of want a pizza. I can cover half? [Please don't pay for all of his food, Dave.]

[parodeity]

[ ...half is more than dirk lets him cover, so. ]

I can go half and half. Do you want super greasy unhealthy pizza or pizza with lots of toppings or what, here. So I know which place to angle us towards? Or order from. Do we want delivery?

[windeity]

What's the difference? [A shrug.] We could always just go get it. It's still nice out and I don't mind walking. The sylladex doesn't weigh you down or anything does it?

[Truthfully, he's just content to hang out with Dave more so the walk sounds like a good idea.]

[parodeity]

Nope. All I gotta do is make sure I don't accidentally rap anythin' out of it.

[ ...

because that has been known to be a thing that can happen. ]

In thaaaaat case...let's go to the pizza place two or three blocks away? They let you build your own pizza, with toppings.