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

[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.]

[splinterself]

I'm not planning on giving you another chance, but ok. You are a generous man.

[Deal.]

[hoperaider]

I try to be. Perhaps you should take a page or two out of my book.

[He kills another, and decides to leave the last one for Dirk to finish off.]

[gnorbshack]

[WHAT NO I THOUGHT WE HAD SOM-]

[splinterself]

[Done.]

What, you're saying that I gotta be more like you?

[hoperaider]

Weeeell, I don't think it would necessarily kill you to smile now and again, would it?

[His grin is teasing as he starts leading the way into the sole westward corridor.]

[splinterself]

[ :| ]

If I did you'd think something was up. [Deadpan. Gravely serious. Totally sincere right here.] And shit, if I started giggling you'd probably get worried. And a guffaw? End of the world right there.

[hoperaider]

[What? He's never seen a Dirk brand smile before!]

How about chuckling or even plain laughter?

[splinterself]

Oh hell no. I have it on authority that me laughing would send out a psionic shockwave that would exterminate all life in the galaxy. [Haha, yeah right, who ever heard of a thing like that?] Shit's dangerous. No, bro, for your own good I gotta keep it cool.

[hoperaider]

[Jake is going to switch moods for a brief moment.]

Doesn't it get tiring?

[splinterself]

Does what get tiring? [Like he's going to make it that easy.]

[hoperaider]

[If you look up "denial" in the dictionary, you will find a picture of a certain pair of Strider brothers.]

The whole poker face thing.

[splinterself]

Not really. I mean, sure, if I went from being some really emotive guy who wears his heart on his sleeve to this, yeah, I could see how it would get tiring. [Hearts on shirts don't count either.] But I'm not. And with everything I had going on, it's hard to get worked up over a lot of things.

[hoperaider]

I suppose so. [Jake's just concerned that this isn't strictly healthy for him, but he'll let it drop.]

How have you been adapting to there being actual people around?

[splinterself]

I should be asking you that! Goddamn, I've been worried. There's only so long a man can be left in the middle of the ocean with only his own thoughts for company.

[hoperaider]

Brobot's not bad company, when he's not beating the living crud out of me. And all you've got to talk to are the three of us, miscellaneous inanimate objects, and seagulls. I should expect that my inquiry on the subject makes sense!

[Still, Jake will concede the point.]

It's thrilling, but also a bit intimidating. I know there's many people in the world, but actually experiencing it is an entirely different matter.

[splinterself]

Yeah, but I did have Derse.

Man, though, that was nothing like here. I'm used to things being quieter, nothing to distract me except myself. [Says the guy who hasn't shut up since he got here.]

[hoperaider]

I may not have Prospit, but I do have you three to keep me sane. So I think I"ll be okay.

Well, now we have something other than our thoughts, right?