It...seemed like a good idea at the time.

[splinterself]

[So after getting the "Where is this, who are you, what is going on?" out of his system, Dirk Strider was purposefully and boldly exploring Mac Anu and was...kind of bemused by the fact that the city wasn't done up in purple and black.

...just saying.

He had ended up at the harbor and there he paused in his wan- purposeful exploring, as...you know what's incredibly distracting? Actually only having one self (at least for the time being) that he was aware of. Also the clothes. Also the fact that he still had no idea what the hell was going on, and, more importantly, what was happening with Roxy.

There was a certain irony in him spacing out just as badly as he did when he had multiple selves to juggle, one which was lost on the guy as he was spacing out, brooding.]

...

[Yeah, this was getting him nowhere. (And shit, the lack of purple really was throwing him off.) That was when he shook his head slightly, turned to the nearest person, and said:]

Hey.

[So verbose.]

Comments

[hoperaider]

Are you sure battling and talking is alright?

[Because seriously the last thing he wants to happen is Dirk getting killed. That kind of ruins the whole excursion and puts a hefty damper on his mood.]

[splinterself]

[I knew I should've saved that epic death icon.]

Yeah, I can talk and fight. I mean, what, it's just you, me, and these two guys. That's nothing. [Okay, fine, let's take out one more so it's not 27 tags on a level one grunt.]

[hoperaider]

If you say so.

[This is what happens when two talkative, lonely teenagers get together for an adventure. He takes down the other one with another Thorn Shot, since his SP has recovered enough to use it.

The room they're coming up to has two hallways they can meander down.]

Alright, what do you think? North or east?

[splinterself]

Let's head north. If there's nothing there we can backtrack.

[This next part is said almost absently.] I thought about heading north back home...to see Rox, I mean, but with everything going on it was impossible.

[hoperaider]

[Totally walking north, then.]

How were you planning on visiting her? [He's just curious about that.]

[splinterself]

I honestly don't know, but we were in the same world so it kind of seemed like something I should try to do. Maybe build a robot, but that would probably get shot down by the Batterwitch. [Shrug.] I mean, shit, I couldn't go see you but she was in the same era and everything.

[hoperaider]

No, I completely understand. It's rather hard to charter a plane to travel four frigging centuries into the past to some remote island, after all! [He smiles.] To be fair, I'm not quite sure you would have been able to find the blasted place, unless you placed a tracking chip of some kind in Brobot.

[splinterself]

[...um.]

Dude, I got Brobot to you in the first place, didn't I?

omg for a second I lost where Jake's account on Juggler was.

[hoperaider]

That doesn't help when you're trying to get there.

SPOILERS: DW's trolling you.

[splinterself]

Yeah, I know. Plus, even if I had fit, if I tried to send myself the same way I sent Brobot you'd probably just get a face full of paradox slime over and over again. [May have thought about this puzzle a lot.]

sob not again

[hoperaider]

No offense, but I would rather not have your slime all over the place. It's more fun talking to you.

[Well, this room has only one way to go, but there is another group of monsters here. Luckily, it doesn't seem that they realize the two are here.]

Shh, no words.

[splinterself]

[...okay, so, it's a group of three. Awesome.

With a quick glance to make sure Jake wasn't asleep or whatever, you know, ready for action, has his gun in hand, isn't staring at the ceiling, he hefts his sword which isn't is his unbreakable katana but he's growing fond of anyway. Step, swing, slash-

(Because what was he supposed to say to that? Thanks? It's fun talking to you too? fdjkls? He's a goddamn Strider.)]

[hoperaider]

[Excuse you, Dirk, he's always ready for action.

Jake's starting to get used to the more bulky bayonet. The fact that it doesn't have a kickback is really weird, too. Whatever, he just aims and shoots...and tries not to hit Dirk, even if it's tempting sometimes.]

start;

[splinterself]

[His Brobot would beg to differ.

So yes. He slashes, blocking a clumsy lunge as best as he could from a goblin and retaliating with a counter of his own and he's deeply aware that there's one thing that he could do, but god damn if he's going to shout his attack.

...from behind one of the three goblins looms and...]

[splinterself]

[And it all ends tragically.

The Prince is dead.

You lost all heart.]

finish;

[splinterself]

[j/k, bro, like I'd let this thread end just like that. No, he manages to (sort of) evade, possibly aided by potshots from the page over yonder.]

So what do you think's going to happen with the bunny?

[hoperaider]

[omg Dirk if you had died then Jake would've killed you out of worry.

Jake is indeed looking after Dirk's back. Making sure the guy doesn't die is the least he can do after years of friendship.]

In all honesty? I'm not really sure. I just know that I make it in time to get it delivered on John's birthday. Whatever happens afterward I can't say.

[All that hard work gets blown up in a green sun, but hey! Spoilers!]

[splinterself]

[Which begs the question of how he managed to accomplish that with this side trip, a question which shalln't be troubling Jake anytime soon. Still.]

You know, if you just had me make it it would've been a lot easier.

[hoperaider]

I've been through this with your auto-responder, and I could swear I've talked about it with you before, though that might be once again my talking to AR.

[It's like no matter where Jake turns, there's a Dirk there.]

To reiterate just in case, it was something Jade and I wanted to do as a joint present! Besides, I didn't want to bother you with it, not to mention I can't expect to depend on you for every little thing. That would be rather rude of me and it smacks of clinginess, which I'm not.

[splinterself]

I remember, and I read AR's pesterlogs with you, actually. And...come on, the uranium? I read about that too. Jus-

[Oh shit, a goblin to his left! And caught maybe kind of off guard, he does the only thing he can.

He uses Sword Flash.

...which involves shouting that move, yes.

...does he have to actually have it written out or can his dignity be salved a little.]

[hoperaider]

[Well, Jake WAS about to say something about that, but then Dirk started shouting.

And by shouting the narration means the move name.

No dignity should be saved, but for once he can have a shred of it.

Cue a one to two second pause before Jake starts chuckling.]

And you were giving me a hard time about it?

[splinterself]

[. . . dying of shame over here.]

Fine. Go for it. I'll take care of these guys, you make the jokes you're dying to make.

[hoperaider]

[Man, that offer is tempting. Really tempting. We're talking "Give the Lady an Apple" kind of tempting.

Jake takes down one of the goblins before replying.]

Nah, I think it's revenge enough that you said it aloud yourself. I'll consider us even on the score.

[splinterself]

Come on, I'm giving you the opportunity to say whatever's on your mind and just make all the jokes you're dying to make. You can't just not say anything. You're killing me over here.

I'm cool, I can chill with Gnorbshack here. No rush. [Strife rages on.]

[hoperaider]

I'll pass and carry it over to another time you embarrass yourself like that, if it makes you feel better. Please do survive until then.

[He won't tell anyone if Dirk doesn't tell anyone.]