OPEN.

[parodeity]

WHO: dave strider + open as heck!
WHERE: various places
WHEN: various times through the end of the month
WHAT: time shenanigans! if you need a time travel related regain this may be relevant 2 you. or if you just want to go wtf @ dave, also. also, a sord...
WARNINGS: idiocy

WEDNESDAY MAY 17TH OPTION A

[ it might be imperative to know how to track dave down or contact him in person for this one, because while you might see him, you'll basically see him messing around with some floating records. he scratches them, and a strange red gear (or a lot of them) pop into existence and turn and then dave is just Gone. his expression before he disappears is at least entirely startled, even though he's usually pretty good about keeping a poker face.

clearly this was an alien abduction. oops. ]

WEDNESDAY MAY 17TH OPTION B

[ the first time, it was an accident. he woke up to a new bullshit item, he fucked around with new bullshit item, and...

...well, shit happened. the second time it wasn't so much an accident, and the third time it was on purpose, but it's a whole chain of events that leads to idiocy like this: dave strider standing beside himself in intense conversation in apprassage, in one of the many walk-around paths. it's not like he's ever been secretive about having a twin, but that twin is a girl, and shorter than him, and not...you know, dave, duplicated. and also there is only one of her, but there seems to be a third dave jogging down the path in the opposite direction, and

this is so STUPID

what are they saying? well, if you're close enough, you'll notice that one of the daves is significantly more frustrated than the other, who just looks Tired As Hell. ]

- don't understand why you won't.

[ the response is: ] Because you didn't. Anyway, just do what you're gonna do, man.

With what - oh, shit. [ apparently he didn't expect to get caught doing...whatever the hell he is doing. ]

SATURDAY MAY 20TH

[ there's just one of him right now, but dave looks absolutely fucking exhausted. there are probably dark circles under his eyes, but who can tell with the shades? he approaches you apparently at random and says: ]

Yo. So, I gotta talk to you, if you got a second?

[ ...it's mostly because of Really Stupid Reasons, and his deadpan tone conveys the idea that he finds this entire thing really. dumb. ]

TUESDAY MAY 23RD

[ tuesday the 23rd dave doesn't seem to be doing any time travel practice or anything Weird, except he's kind of hanging out in the park at some point kind of idly holding a terrible sword. like. its not even worthy of a "w", this is a sord... of idiotic proportions.

he can recognize most network people by face, but even if he doesn't know you, there's one relevant question to ask: ]

Yo, do you see what this is doin' to my hands or is it, like, all in my head? [ he has to know. what the hell is this piece of crap and why has he not thrown it out. ...also why is he hanging out in the park alone after school, actually, but whatever. ]

FRIDAY MAY 26TH

This is a dumbass idea. [ says one dave to another, near the edge of the recollé woods. it's pretty late, so why are you up, and why is he up, but whatever. they both seem to be facing off with a sword in their respective left hands. ]

Yeah, maybe, but am I actually gonna do it or not? [ there's no reply, so: ] Thought so.

You know what they say about countin' chickens? [ the other one says, gesturing behind the first. hey. you've been spotted. ]

WILDCARD

[ if none of the above work feel free to throw me a different prompt / pm me or w/e to bang out an idea and i can write you up a specific prompt. i am more than happy to do so, esp if you'd like to work towards some kind of specific regain. ]

Comments

[parodeity]

You can just say the real reason?

[splinten]

[What.]

What's the real reason supposed to be?

[parodeity]

Are you worried I'm gonna do shit on my own?

[splinten]

Obviously, yeah, but what I worry about more is when you decide to do shit on your own and don't want to tell me. That's when I worry you're going to do somethin' that'll seriously hurt you.

[Practice without Dirk is understandable. Secret Practices are very worrying.]

[parodeity]

Well... [ well...okay, that's fair, dave usually doesn't tell dirk much these days? ] ...well, are we still the fortress of solitude or whatever or not?

[ but he's...trying to stick to the deal, for so long as it lasts. ]

[splinten]

That is the weirdest way to put it, but yeah, we're still the Fortress of Solitude.

[parodeity]

Do you have a better term for it?

[splinten]

Obviously not.

[parodeity]

Then kindly do not knock my clearly superior term????

[ he...................

briefly forgot the point of what they were talking about ]

[splinten]

My bad.

The subject at hand, Dave.

[parodeity]

I...can heads up you about my practices, I guess, if we're still doin'. That.

[splinten]

We are, but you don't have to give me a heads up about all of them. I just... [He breathes in, and then sighs out a little. Steps over to Dave sling an arm around him in a half-hug.] It's just scary to imagine you doing dangerous things behind my back.

Like climbin' a tree and breakin' your arm.

[parodeity]

I only did that the one time. [ because dirk cried, probably. though for a kid who rarely gets sick, he probably has broken his fair share of bones. ]

If it's a mutual heads up I'm okay with it.

[splinten]

You have broken so many other bones.

It'll be a mutual heads-up, although in practicality that's just going to mean that I'll ask you when you can practice with me.

[No one else can keep up with himmmm]

[parodeity]

I twisted my ankle like one time and maybe broke my wrist once? [ ok no he has. the usual kinds of injuries one would get from like, dance, and also, from believing he could skateboard at age 10 for like a day. ]

We need a less ominously dramatic place for it.

[splinten]

You tore open your arm when you tried to skateboard.

[Point on drama. Hm.]

Where do we have that's sufficiently private and gives enough space?

[They could rent a room at some places maybe but]

[parodeity]

Um. Honestly, not a lot of places? Unless we can find a convenient rooftop.

[splinten]

Rooftops might not be ideal.

[Dirk is a fan of rooftops but he remembers what Dave said.]

We could rent out dojo space or somethin'.

[parodeity]

Every fight I remember havin' was pretty much on one for a reason. They're free and got space, man.

[ like. ]

I don't think either of us can shell out the cash for regular dojo time.

[splinten]

[Nngh. That is... true. Dirk is not that rich. He could ask Jake for money, and Jake might not even ask, but he hates asking Jake for money. He'd do it for this, but then he thinks Dave might refuse.

Goddammit.]

Are you sure? [Look. He may as well be upfront.] It's bad enough that I have the same basic appearance and the same weapon. It'd not exactly be my ideal to become... more strongly associated with him. [Dave's Bro. The man Dirk hates most in any reality.] That's my only real concern.

[parodeity]

We haven't had a single fight on a rooftop so far but I've remembered dozens. It ain't like goin' up on one is really gonna make it even more a risk I'll get more back or anythin'. I mean, maybe, but clearly that freight train left the station and ran me over a few million miles back.

[ a brief pause, before he admits: ]

You fight the same in some ways, too.

[splinten]

[It's a painfully appropriate metaphor.]

That's the worry. More memories will be shitty, but you're right. You're already divin' in it.

The thing is, you already get nervous when I touch you. I understand why, obviously. It's why I'm worried about making it worse.

[parodeity]

Maybe just...dial back on learnin' some of the aspects of what you're doin' for a bit.

[ clear as mud. but. ]

In all fairness I haven't been a huge fan of contact from anyone of late.

[splinten]

I'm a particularly difficult case.

[He flickers over thoughts.]

Afterimages will be left out. Anythin' else?

[parodeity]

[ oh cool he didn't even have to say it. ]

Pretty sure we already banned puppets from our lives permanently?

[ but it's a question. like. are they...are they still doing that. are puppets still banned forever. (please let puppets be banned forever jfc he has nightmares now)

...

though kermit and the cookie monster were given Exceptions iirc ]