awashlogs | I love the thought of being with you

WHO: Dirk & Jake
WHERE: near the woods
WHEN: may 21st
WHAT: that awkward moment when your ex thinks you're the imaginary version he keeps of you in his head
WARNINGS: secondhand embarrassment ahoy?

[ dirk has gotten to know the layout of the town pretty well since he was unceremoniously dropped here, but the woods? not so much. he's ventured into them a few times, just not enough to truly get to know them as much as he would like. preparation is half the battle so it's with the intention of familiarizing himself that he sets out for the woods.

what he doesn't expect to find is a familiar yellow-clad figure also about to go on the same venture, standing just outside the forest. he'd known jake was also here since the day he arrived, courtesy of dave, and although he had wanted to check up on him, he refrained from doing so because of the terms they parted on. of course it was inevitable that they'd bump into each other eventually, it's not like the town is that huge.

it's probably a miracle they somehow managed to avoid each other for this long. he contemplates continuing their streak (he's seen jake now and he looks alright, that's reassurance enough) but ... no, to actively avoid him feels stupid when he's right there. the unmitigated disaster of their relationship aside, they're supposed to be best bros. he needs to suck it up and just approach him. so here goes.

be cool, strider. ]

Hey.

[ nailed it. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ oh. oops?? ]

I hope that hasn't made things too awkward between you two. He's pretty different from what my bro was like, I think.

[ and he gives an encouraging nod regarding the matter of jade. it would make sense if she arrived too. or at the very least it wouldn't be surprising. ]

Really? I haven't heard anything about that. That's fucked up. [ kind of worrying to learn about, too. ] ... Or maybe it's just part of all the timeline shenanigans already happening? There sure is a lot of that bullshit going on here.

I'm not the most perceptive fella.
_{[ we know.. ]}

But I think he's enjoyed the attention I've given him if not a bit bombarded and overwhelmed with all the positive things I have got to say about him.

_{[ Jake finally settles down in a seated position on the ground and leans back against the tree. The splinter is nearby, still, but he hasn't said or done anything, so Jake has just been ignoring him. ]}

Somehow, it makes me worry less about home. We were doing important things, but now I feel as if I shouldn't fret about the end of the universe or whatever. Um. I'll take anything that will make me worry less about any gosh darn thing.

[ he'll politely refrain from agreeing or commenting, but... yeah. we know. ]

Take it easy on him. You can destroy someone with effusive praise, you know.

[ or at least it would destroy him, but he gets the feeling he and dave are similar when it comes to having positivity leveled at them.

dirk hesitates a small moment before he joins jake, settling down close enough to keep comfortably talking but with plenty of space between them so as not to maybe make things uncomfortable because of Reasons. ]

That's true. But I'm sure the others would handle things just fine no matter what.

_{[ Yes, join him! Jake isn't uncomfortable with the idea, but he feels nervous about sitting shoulder to shoulder with Dirk like maybe they did in the past; sitting very close. They really only knew each other as a couple when they met in real time so the concept of being good bros in real life is weird. It's hard to find the right balance. ]}

I can't help it. I think he is _{[ WAIT FOR IT ]} so cool.
_{[ HE THINKS DAVE IS COOL. ]}

I wish I could draw as well as him.
_{[ cries.. ]}

You both are so talented in that regard it gives me goose-pimples.

[ it feels awkward having to leave that much space between them, but it seems like the best call to make. especially when he's not sure what will be okay and what won't be now that they're no longer in a relationship. he doesn't want anything he does to be misconstrued or to give a wrong impression. so space and distance is probably the safest bet.

and man, he only has himself to blame for having hyped up his bro so much. OH WELL. let jake think dave is cool, he's not entirely wrong. ]

I don't know about that. I'd say our alien friend has everyone beat.

[ callie's art is the best. ]

But dude, with a bit of practice and patience, you could learn it too.

Me? Pff, no way. I think my side of the family excels more in the thrill of the hunt and whatnot. Taxidermy and such-- I reckon it's art in its own morbid way, but I absolutely love it. I want a whole house filled with stuffed dead things!
_{[ why is he like this and why do you like him ]}

Then when I look back at all the dead things, they'll all have stories to go with it.
_{[ He likes telling stories too. ]}

[ yeah, why does he like him?? dirk doesn't have a clue (just some theories), but hearing him excited about this morbid interest of his brings a pang of fondness all the same. ]

I don't get it.

[ says the guy who surrounded himself with puppets and plush toys and robots. (fake company essentially.) ]

But that's a nice way of looking at it. With the stories and all. Is that part of the appeal of the family tradition?

[ he's talking about stuffing your dead relatives. ]

_{[ Jake chuckles. Man, it's a good sign to see him acting normal around Dirk, but even Jake is a little too distracted to be in a new place to act too weird around Dirk even if he originally was running away from him. ]}

It's funny you talk about that.. Dave brought up the same exact instance! Um. I think you know but for me personally it was too sad for me to stuff G-ma. I just cremated her when I was little.
_{[ A sensitive subject, but he's too amused both Dave & Dirk brought up the same thing to be sad. ]}

[ so this reunion started off on a really weird foot, but so far it's not nearly as awkward as he thought it was going to be. the strange new environment probably helps a lot, but despite everything, jake is also somehow still easy to talk to. he's secretly really glad for that.

the fact that dave apparently brought the same topic up as him makes his mouth twitch with something that's both kind of apologetically wry and amused. ]

So the monsters couldn't eat her, right? I remember you telling me that.

[ as if he could ever forget any conversation they had. also jake was probably way too young to even know how to stuff a body. just the thought of jake as a child having to gut his grandmother... nope. not going there. still, it was apparently a tradition, so: ]

I'm sorry you didn't get to do that for her.

_{[ Oh no, he's frowning. He looks pretty sad at this point. ]}

I didn't really know what else to do at such a young age, but uhm. It's fine. Knowing she's still alive in another timeline in another way makes me miss her less. I just hope... we can give that evil fish witch what for whenever we get back and whenever time moves normally again.

[ fuuuuck. he upset jake. talking about this sort of thing is so different from talking about it online when he can see how it makes jake feel and dirk is at a loss of what to do. he wants to reach out because that's what you're supposed to do, right? except that seems like a phenomenally bad idea given the current state of things between them. ]

We'll get to meet her one way or the other, I'm sure. Here or otherwise. [ that's all reassurance he can offer re: jade. ] And don't worry about the Batterwitch, I'm sure Roxy's got it covered.

[ at least he thinks that's who roxy's group was supposed to fight?? honestly, he probably should have stuck around a little longer instead of immediately absconding with dave. ]

I hope so.
_{[ His voice is small, but he sounds so worried. His posture visibly slumps, eyes falling halfway open as he looks out into nothingness. ]}

I hadn't expect to just end up here, but like i said, at least I'm not alone. Like I said, at least I have somebody who is in the same boat as I; the same timeline too.
_{[ a little glance over at Dirk. Weird relationship now or not, Dirk's presence always eased him (when he wasn't fatigued from him.) ]}

[ he doesn't know what to do or say to make jake feel better here (not to mention that he's obviously the wrong person for that) and he regrets the turn this conversation has taken. if jake wasn't so insistent on being glad for his presence, dirk would have taken it as confirmation that he really is just a toxic influence in jake's life.

but jake keeps saying it and dirk doesn't think he would lie like that so when jake glances over at him, he nods firmly. ]

We've got each other. [ for better or for worse? ] We'll get through this and see everyone again.

I love the thought of being with you

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