#distrilog

ROXY: hey hey c: can i ask u a favor????

DIRK: Probably. What's up?

ROXY: so i was talkin to the troll leaders and some others and as u are well aware a couple of them have srsly screwed the pooch on the whole being revived as a whole healthy person deal

DIRK: Yes, I'm very aware. I have all the awareness in this department.

ROXY: and we all think the ringymajigs are currency that can be traded in so we can fix that

ROXY: soooooo i have to ask u to maybe gimmie the rings u collected

ROXY: im gonna get rose and daves too

DIRK: *eyebrow-raise.* So you're going to be pooling ALL of them?

ROXY: what other choice do we have right now???

ROXY: this is the best lead we have

DIRK: Hey, I didn't say it was necessarily a bad idea overall.

DIRK: *Damn, he really didn't plan on giving his up though. There's a slight frown on his lips while he shifts his stance a little.* All of them will be collected for the sake of renewing the less-fortunate, then. By that definition, it's for charity.

DIRK: It'd be pretty shitty for me to not donate to charity.

ROXY: darn right it would be

ROXY: u dont hate those with less appendages than u do u dirk

ROXY: thts right

ROXY: u dont

DIRK: Thank you for setting me right as per the usual, Roxy. I can already feel my moral alignment progressing in a positive direction.

ROXY: *rolls eyes* if u want more rings just for the blingitude im sure u can nick one from another game

ROXY: but thank U for ur donation

ROXY: *holds her hand out*

DIRK: *It takes a second to fish out all of the rings from their various spots--sylladex or pockets--but eventually he's got eight in his hand to give to Roxy's awaiting one. transaction done.* True. Maybe I can earn some and cash them in for a really big teddy bear.

ROXY: thatd be hella sweet

DIRK: Legitimate equipment would be nice too.

ROXY: ur tellin me *sigh* i want a GUN man all i got are my fists rn

DIRK: Wow, that fucking sucks. The game took your kickass rifle away too.

DIRK: Don't fall into temptation and spend those rings on weaponry before necessary limbs, though.

DIRK: That'd be a pretty asshole move.

ROXY: im super offended u would even insinuate that *fake >:O face*

ROXY: i think we gotta get the blue chicks arm and w.e. first bc shes playin for the dead girl

DIRK: *a real half-smile surfaces, even if it's only up for a few seconds. then it's gone again at the mention of "blue chick".* Oh, Vriska.

ROXY: yep her

DIRK: I talked to her yesterday, she seemed to be irritated about the lack of that limb. For good reasons that I sympathize with.

ROXY: *crosses her arms and wrinkles her nose a bit* what did u think of her tho

ROXY: like is she cool or

ROXY: *recalling johns ill mention of her*

DIRK: *light shrugging* I think I'll keep tabs on her. She's headstrong and probably manipulative, but not as bad as the other Serket.

DIRK: She could prove to be useful.

ROXY: hmmmm

ROXY: tabs it is

ROXY: figure we could help her out anyway tho *shrug* good of the team and junk

ROXY: how u been doin since apeworld???

DIRK: I've been alright. No major injuries or even small ones sustained, so I've just been fucking around with the computer for the most part.

DIRK: Which is the single biggest definition of boring because there's almost nothing to be done on it, and there seems to be something blocking me from creating other programs on the device.

ROXY: have u by any chance gotten pop ups of selfies u dont recall ever taking and a laughtrack that vaguely resembles a hit pop sensation

DIRK: *slight nose-scrunch to accompany the squint you can't see.* That is a possibility.

ROXY: damn

ROXY: im more creeped out by the fact that they HAD these selfies like whoa

DIRK: Yeah, it's well beyond the border of fucking creepy.

DIRK: So you tried to hack the computer, then?

ROXY: duh

DIRK: With the same result.

DIRK: Well, I guess that just means they thoroughly enjoy screwing anyone over on attempting to outpace the beat of their little dance.

ROXY: im gonna get further i know it

ROXY: but as of now yeah thats all i got

ROXY: *sigh*

DIRK: I'm glad you won't be giving up at least. We're gonna need to figure out any and all ways on breaking through whatever shackles they've got set up to bind us down, whether they be virtual or otherwise.

DIRK: Oh, that's another thing Vriska was trying to do as well.

DIRK: Or at least she will be trying it once fully capable.

ROXY: *brow furrows* what she gonna pull a hulk smash to combat the one ur hopin on unleashing

DIRK: Actually I was hoping to correlate both of our attempts to really drive the axe in.

DIRK: I already offered her my assistance.

ROXY: ur teamin up with serk du soleil for a DOUBLE hulk smash

ROXY: ok yes that spells gr8 idea

DIRK: See, you're starting to get it.

ROXY: (am sarcasm)

DIRK: *sarcasm is ignored, whoops. what sarcasm?? Dirk didn't see any.* Besides if the game is going to pull us around in the way it has been, it might require something bigger than a single person can pull off.

ROXY: welp

ROXY: all the more reason to get her to lvl up right

ROXY: *waves hand holding all the bling*

ROXY: i should go talk to rose and dave

ROXY: does jade have any??

DIRK: *nods* Yeah, she has two. As does Feferi.

ROXY: rightyright

ROXY: ill pop in on u later then and tell u if it worked

ROXY: thanks again 4 ur generous contribution u3u

DIRK: Yep. And when you see Dave, let him know that I'll probably drop by at some later point. *this is where the mysterious anime-shades-flash happens. Probably.* His analytic Lalonde counterpart suggested that we engage in something a little more than small-talk, so I've got an idea for that.

ROXY: ..............................................................................................................................

DIRK: *I am the mystery. It's me.*

ROXY: no fightin in my lobby *moseby face before she steps back, you arent so mysterious*

DIRK: You know me and rule-breaking. *there's a smirk on his face in return when he retreats to his room, closing the door before a response can be given. very mature.*

ROXY: >:T

ROXY: dirk let me teach u a thing

ROXY: of all the things u could say to a lady

ROXY: that is not one of the best things

ROXY: but to answer ur question ive been eatin fuckin eeples and beneenees like the rest of us bc this place has shitty fruit so we smell like monkey food apparently *mutter*

DIRK: It was a joke. I'm trying those out now.

ROXY: ill let it slide since ur only practicin

ROXY: *pillbug*

DIRK: *He moves away to go actually close the door because he forgot to, then returns to the bedside to sit there.* I appreciate the heartwarming gesture as always, Rox.

DIRK: *He goes quiet for a moment, then looks over at her.* Are you alright?

DIRK: *Kind of a stupid question, but he doesn't know how else to ask it really.*

ROXY: *makes an incredulous face* no not rly

DIRK: Okay, at least you're not trying to bullshit it.

ROXY: bullshitting invincibility is exhausting aint nobody got time for that

ROXY: *rolls over a little bit to try straightening out, biting back a wince* what are the chances theres ice anywhere

ROXY: on a scale of zero to zero

DIRK: Hm. *he scoffs lightly and then looks around.* There's a very poor arcitechtural choice made here in that whoever designed this hellhole forgot to include basic first-aid kits, probably.

ROXY: figures

DIRK: Maybe they have something in the bathrooms though.

ROXY: can u go look maybe /;

DIRK: Of course. Try to elevate the injury while I go do that. *And whoosh, Dirk's off to go find. The facilities. WHEREVER THEY MIGHT BE. Roxy's left alone for a little while, hooray.*

ROXY: *cant elevate my STOMACH dirk but she can wrestle to get her pillow under her leg. By time he gets back she'll probably be poking at her belly, craning her neck to inspect the inevitable aging bruise in its disgusting glory*

DIRK: *eventually Dirk returns, kind of late because those fucking facilities are really shitty on first-aid. He did manage to find a few things, meaning ice, a few baggies probably to keep the ice in, and some small towels. He sits down next to her and, if she's still poking at her belly, he swats the hand away to give her one of the ice baggies and a towel.*

DIRK: Okay, you get the stomach and I'll get the leg.

ROXY: *she is, in fact, still poking at it and she pouts at him when her hand is swatted away, sniffing vaguely as she accepts the ice and towel* he got my shin

DIRK: And I'm sure you hit it on the ground too, huh. *Dirk moves a hand down to the injured shin, pressing down lightly near the top and moving down to identify where exactly the bruise is. These leggings make it hard to see, yo.*

DIRK: *Pay no attention to how strange his method is, he didn't want to ask Roxy where EXACTLY it is. Also it shows him where the bruise is at its worst.*

ROXY: *he'll know when she hisses and flinches a little bit, not too far down from her knee.* hold on just *reeeeeaches to pluck at the fabric and roll it up some yay stretchy material*

DIRK: *Oh okay, that totally works too. The bruise is eyed at with a slight frown from the spiky-haired blond, who then puts the towel over it and follows up with the bag o' ice.* You didn't tell me it was this bad.

ROXY: *wibbly frowning as she lies back again, pressing the other towel to her middle* i didnt look before now

DIRK: *glances up at her with that frown still in place, but it dissipates when he sees her expression. Instead, he sighs.* I'm almost surprised by that, I really am.

DIRK: No more playing these minigames until you get healed up though.

DIRK: It wouldn't do any of us very good if you're at less than your full abilities.

ROXY: *had covered her face with her hand, and peeks past her fingers at him* ok and now that u said that to me do u believe it enough to do it urself

ROXY: *no dirk she aint lettin it go*

DIRK: *Ugh, Dirk had almost forgot the sleep thing. He actually gives her a frown for that, but it's a pretty halfhearted one.* Yeah, yeah. I'm aware that the precious object enclosed within my cranium requires at least a few hours of REM sleep.

ROXY: dont u yeah yeah me sonny jim

ROXY: ill get a cane just to whap u with it

ROXY: or

ROXY: somethin

ROXY: idk

DIRK: *Okay, he lets out an amused chuckle at that.*

ROXY: *weary smirk*

DIRK: You need your sleep too, gramma.

ROXY: yeah probs

ROXY: *sniffs again, sighing* u can run away now u already did the valiant prince thing

ROXY: thank you by the way

DIRK: Of course. I mean did you expect me to do anything other than that? And if so, then just who the hell do you think I am? *He smirks, then reaches over to give her shoulder a light squeeze before getting up and stretching.*

DIRK: Sleep tight, Rox. I'll check in on you later.

ROXY: *scoffs, smiling again and wrinkling her nose. She lifts a hand to wave her fingers at him* okay see u

ROXY: aaaaaaaaaaa wait wait

ROXY: can u put dell-ilah a lil closer here so i can reach her

DIRK: *Pauses at that.* "Dell"ilah though.

DIRK: Wow.

ROXY: isnt she lovely

ROXY: isnt she wonderful

DIRK: What a beaut.

ROXY: such a winner

DIRK: *But yeah, he goes to bring the laptop over to Roxy's side.* No using it until you've slept a while, young lady.

ROXY: but daaaaaaaaaaaaad

ROXY: you never let me have any fun

ROXY: im getting a tattoo just to spite u

ROXY: probs some unsightly piercings

ROXY: o wait

ROXY: *ya done did that urself*

DIRK: *grins* You'll never earn my respect until you act your age as my daughter. Also get on my level.

ROXY: our family tree is out of whack

ROXY: also no thank u

DIRK: Hey, don't knock the piercings 'til you've tried 'em. *He straightens up (only his back) and turns for the door, giving Roxy a wave goodbye.* Alright, getting out of your nicely styled hair now.

ROXY: now THAT is somethin u say to a lady

ROXY: ur learning

ROXY: *waves again* nighty night

DIRK: I have a pretty sharp learning curve. *He has to smother the faint grin on his lips when he reaches the door, glancing back to make sure Roxy's okay over there before he actually goes to exit.* Sweet dreams, Lalonde.

ROSE: *She had actually just been lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling for hours since she last woke up, and looks up at the sound of knocking. Despite her curiosity, it doesn't take long for her to answer the door.*

DIRK: *I hope you ordered a tall glass of Strider.* Hey, you're not sleeping, good.

DIRK: Come on, we're doing a thing.

ROSE: *raises an eyebrow at him* How do I know you aren't leading me to my untimely demise?

DIRK: Because I always have perfect timing. *He gestures for her to come out, stepping back from the door.* Roxy is talking to Karkat so we can actually try out on playing one of the games.

DIRK: Because apparently we require permission from him first.

ROSE: *She's tempted to say something sarcastic in response, but knows where that landed her the last time and steps out of the room* Fine.

DIRK: *Hey good, someone who actually listens to him. He gives her an appreciative nod and then moves to get the door closed in order to change the dial thing, probably.*

DIRK: *Okay, Dave's room is up next. Dirk knocks maybe twice before just trying to open the door, since that counts as fair warning, right.*

ROSE: *kind of shuffles to stand behind Dirk*

DIRK: Dave, are you naked? If you are, please let us know before our corneas are burned.

DAVE: *he jumps up at the knock and shuts his laptop quickly.*

DAVE: im not naked

DAVE: your corneas are safe

DIRK: Okay good. *The doors opened, success. Dirk doesn't really try getting inside very much.* We're doing one of those family bonding things.

DIRK: Except this time, with games.

DAVE: okay lets roll

DIRK: *Nods and turns, Rose c'mon let's go you're in front of me now*

DAVE: *dave has been prepping himself for this all day. he rubs his hands together and joins dirk at the door.*

ROXY: *and once the door closes, that's about when Roxy emerges from her room*

ROXY: *almost bumps into dave*

ROXY: whoa we havin a conga line

DAVE: looks like

DAVE: you in the mood for a dance

ROSE: *Don't do this to me, Dirk, I don't know where to go*

DIRK: Pass. *Dirk flashsteps out of the way for that. Now he's in front and leading the way, it's okay Rose*

ROXY: was that rly necessary

DIRK: Yes.

DIRK: *Out to... the general waiting room thing I guess??*

ROXY: *we already in it*

ROXY: ok dirk so last time all u did was put in ur info and it gave u a door ???

DIRK: *Oh ok good.* Yeah, there are a few portal-departureways that are given. The one we went towards was the only one with a board and scanner kind of object, if I remember correctly.

ROXY: oh oh oh ok good *wobbly scurrying to the terminal, overlooking the keyboard* who wants to go first

[The terminal screen merely says: "All first stage games - Unlocked. Players 1-4, proceed."]

ROXY: o:

DIRK: *moves over to see the terminal screen for himself, then nods a little and whoop, to the escalator we go because that IS happening I think.* This leads to the whole start-up area.

ROXY: *in a row like ducks, childrens*

[The escalator behaves just the same as before, loading message and all. Here, have another fun stretch of time in which to do some family bonding.]

[You're welcome.]

ROXY: *purses her lips* welp

ROSE: ...

DIRK: *Just kinda silent. Wow, would you look at that beautiful emptiness up there. Huh.*

DAVE: *hums the jeopardy tune.*

ROXY: i was just about to do that *wags finger at dave like you got me bro*

DAVE: *finger guns at roxy*

[When you do finally haul your blonde keisters to the game area you will find it much the same as before, only this time every portal has a keypad and scanner. Pick your poison!]

ROXY: *grins at dave, before looking around at the portals once they reach them* humm

ROXY: which one was mushroom land??

DIRK: *Sweet release of slow escalator time, thank any gods out there. Dirk is quick to stroll over to look around, frowning lightly when he sees all the new keypad-scanner combos.* Uh. The one on the left, maybe.

DIRK: *Don't they have the name above them?*

[They aren't named, but they are numbered. Mushroom Kingdom was 5.]

DIRK: *Too bad Dirk didn't think to take note of the number at the time. Still, he's pretty sure it was the one on the left. He goes to it and taps at the keypad experimentally.*

[The screen for the portal you have chosen reads: "Kingdom of Mushroom: Enter again?"]

DIRK: *Oh shit lucky guess, good. Is there a Y-button on here for yes? Or does he type out "yes"? Either way, let's do that.*

[Well that didn't work. Now it just says "Urn Temple: Enter?" And hey look, a button that reads Enter. You know what to do.]

DIRK: ... *Irritation. He's frowning a little more now, but you know what, he doesn't really care at this point. Enter it is, and so he presses that button.*

ROXY: *just kind of lookin at him like u ok*

["Player number?" Press 4, yo. And then start scanning yourselves in. The portal is already slowly whirring into action before your eyes.]

DIRK: *Yeah, he presses four then does the scan-y thing and steps aside to let the others do the same, while simultaneously getting closer to the doorportal that's starting up.*

ROXY: *just following dirk's lead at this point, glancing at the other two before stepping to mimic him*

ROSE: *steps up behind her to follow suit*

DAVE: *watches the others curiously and then Player 4 scans himself in too.*

[Yes, you are all smart/fast/strong/durable enough for this game... Hopefully. Go on in that there portal. The blue light beckons.]

DIRK: *Ok cool. Dirk is the first to kinda. Hop on through with a wave of his hand for the others to follow.*

ROXY: *just awkwardly and quietly following along sob*

DAVE: *steps through after 'em.*

ROSE: *following again*

[In you go, and then down you fall through the dark and the strange lingering prickling sensation. When you emerge from the portal, you find this time that rather than being tossed into the sunshine you are instead simply heavily deposited into another almost pitch-black place. It is murky and dusty, and smells (for lack of a better description) old. At least you're not falling anymore! And good news: In the gloom you can just about make out the light of an exit ahead. Will you feel your way along the stone wall towards the way out?]

ROXY: *Well THAT was the last thing she expected. She gasped slightly at the sensation of falling and landing somewhere so vastly different from the place she had just been standing. She stumbles a bit and reaches out for (hopefully) Dirk's arm*

DIRK: *Oh yes, that lovely feeling again. Dirk's stomach drops a little less this time, he swears. The landing is a bit rougher for him than before thanks to the darkness, but he still manages to land foot-first.*

DIRK: *Yes hello that's a Dirk arm you're holding onto. He almost sways at the unexpected tug.*

ROXY: (what the fuckerooni is this shit is this normal)

DIRK: No, this is different.

DIRK: Or maybe it's normal for this game.

DAVE: *he lands hard and rocks back on his heels, squinting around in the gloom.*

DAVE: uh this place is gross

DAVE: lets go into the light

DIRK: *Cue Dirk reaching out to feel along for the side of the wall nearest to him.* Sounds good.

ROXY: *spooky voice* dont go into the liiiiiiiiiiight *fake crying* cept yeah lets

DIRK: *He can barely see. The one fatal downfall of wearing shades.*

ROSE: *barely manages to land on her feet and just blinks in confusion*

ROXY: *glances around* rose u with us????

ROSE: Yes.

ROXY: phew

DIRK: *Starts heading for that dim light that's probably there. Yeah, let's go towards the one thing Dirk can see I think.*

[Approaching the exit you begin to notice the way the walls and ceiling are intricately carved in designs you do not understand, and how humid it is out there. When you do finally step into the sunlight the heat descends over you like a fog. The view is spectacular; You appear to be at the entrance to a grand temple built of yellow sandstone high high up on pillars of stone above a tropical rainforest. Far out in front of you there is a pathway that seems to lead from this entrance for miles, zig-zagging to goodness knows where. You can see that occasionally the path is split asunder in jumpable chunks, and sometimes is obstructed by the branches of enormous trees that will need to be ducked under. You can also make out the occasional glint of some sort of treasure upon the path, more rings laid out neatly like a bread-crumb trail to follow. Then of all the things to hear you are gradually aware of the sound of animalistic hooting and shrieking coming from the direction you just left. It sounds like… monkeys? Some kind of ape. And boy do they sound angry. You've got about thirty seconds before they catch up with you and start getting all up in your grill, and something tells you you do not want to try and stick around to fight them. Maybe they'll be smelly monkeys and throw gross things at you if you stay? Whatever the case may be, running to live another non-smelly monkey day seems like the best option.]

ROXY: o__________________o

ROXY: nobody smuggled any bananas in here rite

DAVE: i think this happened in the hunger games

DIRK: Well fuck.

ROXY: *unhappy sound*

DIRK: Time to go the other way then.

ROXY: was there another option even?? *glancing wildly between the impending APES*

DAVE: *dave wastes no time and sprints in the opposite direction of the monkeys.*

DIRK: *scooping up some of those coins would be nice, but then there's those ape noises and NOPE. Dirk is fast in following his brother.*

ROSE: *run run runs as fast as she can*

[Good choice! Soon enough those crazy primates, at least fifteen of them, emerge from the temple behind you and they are simply going ~bananas~. Still screaming fit to burst they start after you, running on all fours at a pretty alarming speed. There's a break up ahead in the path you'll need to jump over - If you can clear it that might give you some time. Make sure you don't fall!]

DIRK: *RINGS. Rings. They're rings.*

ROXY: *the second they move, she turns to run with them, already wincing at her hardly-waning pains. Shit!*

ROXY: ohmygodohmygodohmygod

DIRK: *Well SHIT son, those are some apeshit monkeys. Dirk puts his speed to good use and crosses the gap pretty easily, assuming nothing reaches up to catch him mid-leap.*

DAVE: *adrenaline is lending dave wings. he jumps the gap a second after dirk and slows on the other side, peeking over his shoulder at the lalondes and the monkeys at their heels.*

ROSE: *jumps once she's at the gap and hopes for the best*

ROXY: *There's no time to be a wimp; she steels herself to let her sudden panic fuel her own gait, ignoring every instinct to stop as she attempts to leap across the gap. She's totally behind everyone though.*

[Success! You all just about make it. The simians screech to a halt before the gap, but they're not giving up by any stretch of the imagination. Initially looking as if they intend to form some kind of monkey-ladder before mercifully giving up on that plan, they hastily begin to climb down the pillar towards the ground. You probably have a minute or two to get a head-start while they make their way to the other side.]

DIRK: *skids a little in stopping some to look back, and then Dirk swears when he sees the monkeys doing that weird ladder thing.* Anyone think we can fight them, or should we keep going?

DAVE: not all of them

DAVE: better wait for some of them to trip and break their necks first

ROXY: *skids a bit, too, whipping around to look back* its fuckin temple run incarnate what do u think

DAVE: can you keep up though

ROXY: *she is panting, and looks vaguely distressed, but she waves a hand and nods* ill tell u if i cant

DIRK: *Looks over at Roxy with a frown.* It'd be better to fight them rather than let you get chomped by a fast one. *Nonetheless, he's starting to take a few steps towards the path that they were following.*

[Distant monkey screeching intensifies]

ROXY: somebody make a CALL

DAVE: lets go

ROSE: We need to keep moving.

DIRK: Okay, let's go.

DIRK: *With that, it's back to the running thing. Dirk's not running QUITE as fast though, to keep track of the whole group. He doesn't want anyone falling behind.*

ROXY: *wordlessly starts to jog again for now, until their established pace as a group takes root*

ROSE: *still running, she glances back to check on the monkeys*

[As you run, you notice the line of rings scattered along the ground. You'd have to stop to pick them up, and of course that's inadvisable when being pursued by a horde of angry apes. Decisions, decisions. Don't forget to dodge the occasional root or branch though - And oops yep, there's the monkeys again. They've reached the other side and they are in hot pursuit.]

ROXY: *ARE THE RINGS EVEN WORTH IT AHHH*

DIRK: *Avoiding tripping stuff is pretty easy, and goddamn, Dirk still wants to pick up those rings. He takes a fraction of a second in a flashstep to pick at least ONE up for good measure before he's running again.*

DIRK: *THEY MIGHT BE??*

DAVE: *running, not at full speed but not slowly either. he glances down at the shinies and ignores them. rings have only been bad for them in the past.*

ROXY: *Roxy is having some trouble navigating, expending most of her effort to jump clean over as much as she can. Better to hurt later than BE EATEN BY MONKEYS NOW*

DIRK: *Excuse you, rings are great when they don't transform you into huge monsterdogs.*

DAVE: *i want to pay for my bling in cashmoney not my LIFE*

DIRK: *Bo-ring.*

DIRK: *Dirk's trying to keep an eye on Roxy, in the meantime. He's belatedly remembering that she's not at her best right now, and if she stumbles, he's going to defend her from those apes.*

ROSE: *notices the rings but ignores them as well as she keeps running*

DIRK: *You guys just don't know how to have fun ok.*

[Up ahead there is a tree literally growing up through the path. Someone many years ago carved out a thin gap of a passage through the center, and it looks like it might /just/ be big enough for you all to squeeze through. The apes not so much - Too many bananas. There's still quite a stretch of path to run between there and where you are, however.]

DAVE: oh my god is that the reason theyve only been feeding us fruit

ROXY: *The running is starting to wear on her -- why did it have to be running? -- and she turns her head to look back at their pursuants* probably yeah just so they can aACK-- *there she goes. tripped on a root. what a ballerina.*

DAVE: *skids to a stop, casting a frantic look back at roxy, and then at the apes. he dashes back to her and grabs her arm to pull her up.*

DAVE: we do not have time to nap

DIRK: *Dirk nearly stumbles himself at the loud "ack" and then flashsteps to her other side, sword flashing out into his hand while he tries to help Dave with getting Roxy on her feet.* No, we definitely don't.

DIRK: Rest later, okay Rox?

ROXY: *well, that hurt. While she's down, though, she reaches her hand out to snatch a few rings off the ground, getting a fistful of probably dirt too before she's yanked back to her feet* nobodys sleepin GO

DAVE: *he lets her go and runs off again, motioning at rose to hurry as though she needs any motivation besides the killer apes at her heels.*

DIRK: *Nods at Roxy's words and starts up on the jogging once more, slowed down a little to make sure the slightly injured Lalonde is able to keep up. He looks back at the apes. How close have they gotten by now?*

ROSE: *She had faltered when Roxy fell, but she's running at full speed again at Dave's gesture*

[The monkeys are close enough now that you can smell their charming monkey aroma, but they are not quite in attacking range. The tree is closer now too.]

DIRK: *Fuck, okay. He's just trying to push for getting Roxy to that tree right now.*

ROXY: *thank you, young whippersnapper*

DAVE: *thanks to roxy's accident, he reaches the tree first and bends down to peer inside with trepidation.*

[There's light on the other side, you can tell that much. Get wiggling, Davey.]

ROSE: Either go through that tree or get out of the way.

ROXY: *damn mama*

ROSE: We don't exactly have much time here.

DAVE: *he casts an annoyed glance back at rose and then gets down on his stomach and starts to crawl/wiggle through the tunnel, fighting claustrophobia the whole way until he pops out on the other side.*

DIRK: *Arrives after Rose and Dave, making a noise of mild irritation like "why are we stopped here." He's gonna let Rose go first though, Roxy too.*

ROXY: *Roxy's getting good at army crawling this is gonna be easy peasy*

ROSE: *She would have rolled her eyes if she had time. Instead, she just wiggles her way in and crawls after him*

ROXY: *And she heads in after Rose*

DAVE: *he stands up on the other side and fixes his hair.*

DIRK: *He doesn't wait long once Roxy's in, what with the horde of approaching angry primates. Dirk gets down and crawls through, biting his lip hard and ignoring the limited movement. Fuck claustrophobia, that's dumb.*

[You make it though, the peculiar and singular sound of chimps slamming into wood resounding behind you. One monkey arm reaches through the gap and takes a sad little swing at you all, but other than that the danger is passed. You have ape escaped. On the other side of the tree the path continues on and on without visible end. What you /can/ see is more rings, all laid out on the path.]

ROSE: *Once she's out, she moves away from the tree to give the others room*

DAVE: *dave starts picking up rings.*

ROSE: *also starts collecting rings*

ROXY: *Once she's on the other side, she scrambles to stand, dusting off the rings she'd grabbed before to just put them on before gathering more; she'd grabbed three.*

DAVE: *whispering....* my precious

DIRK: *Ah, sweet unrestricted air. Dirk's pretty quick on getting up, checking to make sure his hair is okay too. Then he dusts off the dirt on his clothes and hey, rings. He walks a bit down the path of rings and starts picking up quite a few.*

ROSE: *looks up* What was that, Dave?

DAVE: hm

DAVE: what

DAVE: nothing

ROSE: *gives him a skeptical look before sighing and returning to the ring collecting*

[As soon as you have sixteen coins total between you the sunlight flares brighter and brighter until even the shaded amongst you are forced to screw your eyes closed. And then as soon as /that'/s done the ground beneath you crumbles away, leaving you once more falling into nothingness.]

ROXY: *there is a small screech*

DIRK: *He's just collecting rings and then DAMN, bright. Oh yeah and then falling again. Isn't that spectacular.*

DAVE: aw not this alice in wonderland bullshit again

DIRK: Roxy are you okay?? *He tries to call out without sounding alarmed.*

ROSE: *holds on to her rings in a clenched fist, mostly at a loss for words*

ROXY: i am fallin into an abyss NOT constructed or conjured by my own reliable science after bein chased by frothy apes

ROXY: im fanTASTIC

[The impersonal robot voice boops out an echoing "Game complete." accompanied by a muted equally robotic trumpet fanfare, and then you find yourselves somehow running again, quite fast, forward and out in single file back through the portal. Whoah there.]

ROXY: gneeeeek

DIRK: *RUNNING okay fuck, let's try to control motor movement. Dirk manages to do the stop-skid thing again and does not collide into anything.*

DAVE: *slams into dirk's back.*

DAVE: whoops

ROXY: *bonk*

ROSE: *unfortunately is unable to do the stop-skid thing and runs into Dave*

DIRK: ...I think I speak for everyone when I say, what the f--*dAMMIT. He stumbles oh god this is the worst traffic jam*

ROXY: *yep she bonks into rose and just. slides like a loony toon*

DIRK: *THEY'RE ALL FALLING ON HIM THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO.*

ROXY: *WELL roxy is rolling to the side to clutch at her leg so its ok you have one less person on you dirk*

ROSE: *just kind of flops off of them to the other side*

DIRK: *Dirk probably makes an awkward squawking noise at being so very crushed on the fall. Then he flashsteps out from under Dave to be sitting at the side.*

DIRK: *I hope Dave falls face-first on the floor.*

ROSE: *sits up and looks over at Roxy* How's your leg?

DAVE: *dave would fall face first on the floor, but luckily catches himself on his forearms. he sits up and dusts himself off.*

DIRK: *Damn. Dirk's kinda busy leaning back and trying to catch his breath anyways, so he probably would have missed the moment.*

ROXY: *frowning massively, she sits up enough to rub at her shin, still having neglected to roll up her leggings at any point to check for a bruise beforehand ladies and gentlemen theres an idiot in the house* im fine im fine

ROXY: why did it have to be damn dirty apes

DAVE: do you have something against monkeys in particular

DIRK: *Upon hearing Rose, he looks over at the Lalondes. He mutters under his breath* Dirty stinkin' apes.

DAVE: like would damn dirty rhinos be better

DIRK: No, that's true.

ROXY: ok fine why did it have to be a running game

DAVE: because the universe hates you and life is hell

ROXY: okay

ROXY: *kind of curled up she doesn't feel so hot no mo*

DIRK: Although to be fair, anything that was not in the primate family would not have been able to chase us for so long.

DIRK: *After a bit of shifting, Dirk hauls himself to his feet only to squat down at Roxy's side.* How you holdin' up, Lalonde?

ROXY: *sturgeon fish face*

ROXY: ill be ok just gimmie a hand *juts out her elbow its time for the chicken dance*

ROXY: *cept not rly*

DIRK: *Eyeroll. He's kind of tempted to just pick her up, honestly. For now he takes the offered bony elbow and assists her in getting up, trying to guide her as gently as can be managed.*

ROXY: *my elbows aint BONY you tit*

ROXY: *Yeah, Grandma Rox in the house. The ruse had been going so well.*

DIRK: *Uh huh. Dirk's still watching you carefully.*

ROXY: *smiles tightly* well ok we gonna get a move on or what

ROXY: how are u guys

ROXY: *looks between the betas*

DIRK: *Snorts and looks at the other two.* Anyone break bones or skin?

ROXY: *i did NOT scrape myself dont look at me IM A CAPABLE ADULT I /SWEAR./*

DAVE: i dont think so but wheres the drycleaners because i am covered in mysterious temple grime that will probably end up infecting me with a voodoo curse

ROSE: *She hasn't taken a good look at herself yet, but nothing hurts enough to be bothered* I think I'm alright.

DIRK: I'm sure that a suitable replacement for your clothes can be found, bro. *he gives them both a look-over, then sighs a little.* Well, that game was a bitch but at least we beat it.

DIRK: How many rings did everyone manage to acquire?

ROXY: *looks at her hand* three

ROSE: *looks at her own hand* Also three.

DAVE: *he stiffens a bit and side-eyes dirk, but he supposes it should be natural for them to call each other that. he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of rings.* four

ROSE: *notices the subtle change in Dave's posture and makes a mental note to talk to him later*

DIRK: *His own amount of ring-loot is pulled out, then counted pretty quickly.* I got six.

DIRK: So, sixteen total.

ROXY: ok now what do we do with em

DAVE: trick ourselves out in style

DIRK: Yes.

DIRK: Until we figure out what they do, at least.

ROSE: *fails to hide an amused snicker*

DAVE: so i guess we passed

ROXY: guess so

DIRK: Yeah, as bizarre as that was. *He casts a frown in the direction of the portaldoor they had left.*

DAVE: what was it not like the other one you played

DIRK: Well the one I played was basically like Mario Brothers but on the first level.

DIRK: Calling it easy would be an understatement.

DIRK: It's nice to see that the games will get harder, though.

DAVE: *looks into the camera like he's on the office*

ROXY: *looks to see what hes lookin at*

ROSE: *sighs and shakes her head in disbelief*

DIRK: *Scoffs quietly in dry amusement, then turns towards the exit.* Okay, well it was fun playing family games with y'all, but it's getting late and I should head off.

DIRK: *It's probably getting late. How do you judge time around here.*

DAVE: its getting late

DAVE: what are you talking about

ROSE: How would you know that?

DAVE: that was such a bad excuse

DAVE: just go

ROXY: dirk needs his beauty sleep

DIRK: *Dismissive hand-wave.* Yeah, whatever.

ROXY: *looks at him like im very serious go the fuck to sleep*

DIRK: Excuse you, I'm always the most beautiful.

DIRK: I will win all the beauty pageants. I am the star. It's me.

ROXY: ok sure

DIRK: *Yes he sees the look and chooses to ignore it but HE'S GOING TO SLEEP OK.*

ROXY: *stands there... kind of not willing to take a step... HRM.*

DIRK: *Looks over at Roxy* You comin' with, Lalonde?

ROXY: *gulps here we go* yeeeeeeep

ROXY: iiiiiiimma comin

ROXY: anydaynow

ROXY: *shuffs*

DIRK: ...

DIRK: Okay no.

DIRK: Just.

DAVE: *checks an imaginary watch*

ROXY: *dont make me stumble in front of my KIDS*

DIRK: *Moves pretty quickly to sweep Roxy up off her feet to carry her bridal style, he ain't takin' this shit, Lalonde.*

ROXY: *eep*

ROXY: ow

DIRK: Well at least you don't have to walk now.

ROXY: *mutters something like flibber flapjack frickernutter mumbo jumbo just a bunch of frustrated nonsense*

ROSE: *waves goodbye* Sleep well.

DIRK: *gives the other two blondies a nod and a bit of a wave with the hand that's on Roxy's knees.* See you two later. Don't get into trouble, don't stay up late, drink your juice, etcetera.

ROXY: *waves kind of sheepishly at Rose*

DAVE: i always drink my juice

DAVE: night

DAVE: i think

DAVE: lets say its night

DIRK: Yeah. *And with that, he turns to go for the exit thing and take Roxy with him.*

ROXY: *face in hands*

DIRK: *Such majestic.*

FTT, CTT ceased responding to memo.

ROSE: *decides it's probably time she gets off the floor* Well, that was quite the experience.

DAVE: yeah i guess thats one day to motivate a guy into daily exercise

DAVE: chase him with screaming murder onkeys

DAVE: *monkeys

ROSE: ...*offers a hand to help him up* Are you okay?

DAVE: *takes her hand and gets to his feet.* yeah are you

ROSE: *nods* I was asking more about your wellbeing than your physical condition, though.

DAVE: my sudden wealth has been really emotionally draining for me

DAVE: thanks for asking

DAVE: *he's bouncing his rings from palm to palm.*

ROSE: That's certainly an improvement.

ROSE: ...I'm sorry for bringing up the mayor last time.

ROSE: You've been through a lot recently, and that was an inconsiderate thing to say.

ROSE: *Please say something. I don't like this rambling business that you so often do*

DAVE: *nods slowly* thanks

DAVE: the mayor was a good guy which is probably why they chose not to deposit him here in the second circle of hell with us

DAVE: its fine probably

DAVE: whatever

ROSE: At least he was safe the last time we saw him.

DAVE: yeah but now hes alone and his people are dead and we dont even know if that universe exists anymore or if it just folded up like a fancy napkin and ate itself and disappeared

ROSE: *frowns* Could we at least try to convince ourselves he is okay?

DAVE: *purses his lips* ok sure

DAVE: youre right he has probably rounded up a bunch of johns salamander friends and is building a massive can town the likes of which the universe has never seen

ROSE: *smiles faintly* That's the spirit.

DAVE: so what do you think

ROSE: I think we should go take showers before our stench resembles that of the monkeys.

DAVE: ok good idea

DAVE: but i mean before that

DAVE: what do you think of them

ROSE: Being around Roxy feels like having the supportive sister I've never had. I like her already.

ROSE: I can't draw conclusions about Dirk, yet. He seems alright so far.

ROSE: What do you think?

DAVE: theyre not terrible

DAVE: i mean its weird

DAVE: i dont have beef with them its just weird

ROSE: *nods* I can definitely see what you mean.

DAVE: *he starts to walk towards the door, and then turns back to rose on a second thoughts.*

DAVE: hows kanaya

DAVE: i havent seen her around a lot

DAVE: i mean ive mostly stayed in my room

DAVE: no i dont want to talk about that

DAVE: but i havent seen her

ROSE: *stiffens a little and tries to will herself to relax* I actually haven't talked to her for a while.

DAVE: oh

DAVE: really?

ROSE: Really.

DAVE: okay

DAVE: *squints at her*

ROSE: *can't tell if he's squinting behind the shades*

DAVE: *tilts his head at her*

ROSE: *avoids looking up at him, mumbling more than speaking* I broke up with her.

ROSE: She...She doesn't deserve to put up with me the way she did for so long.

DAVE: wow

ROSE: I would appreciate it if you didn't bring that up often.

DAVE: ok

ROSE: Thanks.

DAVE: well thats enough conversation for the next few days

DAVE: lets go shower

TG: u there

TT: Of course.

TT: Unless you mean mentally, in which case I was preoccupied, but I don't mind the interruption.

TG: whatcha thinkin about

TG: pls say bear things

TG: just say it itll make me feel better

TT: Just bear things then.

TT: Is everything alright?

TG: haha trash memer

TG: yeah im ok i just think i found somethin out i didnt rly wanna know

TG: and i mean i should probs wanna know so i can be supportive or w.e. but

TG: i also

TG: didnt wana know

TT: You know, I always love when people think that I'm a Seer and I automatically know things. But I'm not, so I might need some clarification here.

TG: SIIIIGN

TT: Ah yes, we're back to the S.S. Sign.

TG: im the captain and u will never take my crew

TG: ss LE sign thank u

TT: My apologies, Cap'n. Don't mind me just stowing away for the ride then. I won't even attempt at mutiny.

TG: u better not

TG: id have u fed to that crocodile in the water that shouldnt even conceivably be in the ocean

TG: srsly what even is that

TT: Oh no, not the factually incorrect crocodile.

TG: it makes me weep

TT: Also the way it moves with the ticks was just wrong.

TT: Do you see robots acting that way?? No, and yet they have internal clocks.

TG: v disturb

TG: much eye twitch

TT: Such unimpress.

TT: So, what is it that has the great Ro-Lal beating around the bush?

TG: ur face

TG: cept no sorry ugh

TG: i was talkin to the troll leader rite and i was gonna talk to u anyway about things since i know ur in crazy ape mode

TG: i know this bc ur quiet about it dont question me

TG: but i asked him if he thought rose and dave were sensible right like just casual conversation

TG: bc he knows them

TG: and he said rose is

TG: when shes sober

TT: ...

TG: dont dot dot dtot me

TT: A joke would be very inappropriate here, right.

TG: try it and see how fast i dropkick u 

TT: Right, okay.

TT: So Rose has done the tipsy thing.

TG: apparently sso

TG: whch shouldnt BOTHER me i mean u do what u want but idk

TT: Roxy.

TT: Do you want to come over here and talk in person about it?

TG: maybe

-- tatouGunarchy [TG] ceased pestering truculentTechnetium [TT] at 21:15 --

ROXY: *and now that he offered, she set her laptop aside to hobble on to the door, fiddling with the dials until she was knocking on Dirk's door in warning before opening it herself*

ROXY: meh

DIRK: *He looks up and promptly backspaces all the words he had been typing when the knock on the door is heard, and when Roxy comes in he's closing the laptop.* Meh yourself.

ROXY: meh *limp-schlepps over to his bed to promptly flop on it, hugging her middle with a sigh*

ROXY: im not judgin her or anythin

DIRK: *He actually gets up and shit, should he hug her? He probably should. Fuck, he doesn't know. Oh well, he ends up sitting on the edge of the bed next to her.*

DIRK: I know.

DIRK: Did Karkat mention how long it's been since she was not-sober?

ROXY: but how big a deal would it have to be for other ppl to have to distinguish her sensibility based on when shes sober or not like *sighss again* no he told me to ask her about it

ROXY: itd be a good way to bond or smthn

ROXY: *laughs quietly and covers her face* i dont want her to know

DIRK: *He reaches over to attempt to rub Roxy's shoulder in comfort.* You don't have to tell her, then.

DIRK: And if she didn't tell you, I'm pretty sure that she felt the same way about her past antics.

ROXY: still

ROXY: is it even any of my business

ROXY: it FEELS like its my business but thats probs just me bein sappy and weird

DIRK: Well on the basis of a normal mother-daughter relationship, I'd say that is an issue that you two should be able to talk about.

DIRK: With the weird... Momdaughter-to-momdaughter association, I'd still think that this topic needs to be breached eventually.

ROXY: *grumbly noises into the mattress*

DIRK: I know, but it can't exactly be avoided forever.

ROXY: *slightly louder grumbly noises into the mattress*

DIRK: Uh huh. *Shoulder-rubbing is continued while Dirk sighs sympathetically.*

DIRK: There's also the fact that we will most likely be here for a very long time.

ROXY: *sighs, silent for a bit before she squirms to half-lie across his lap without moving her arms. Roxworm.* yeah

ROXY: idk i just got like

ROXY: worried???

DIRK: *He tenses for a moment at the move, but eventually relaxes. The hand that had been at her shoulder now moves to carefully pet her hair in methodical strokes.* Why?

ROXY: idk what if her version of me was a big drinker or somethin

ROXY: what if i kept booze in the house all over the place or whatever *shrugs*

DIRK: *He's quiet for a moment.* That is conceivable, and even likely given your past habits.

ROXY: *winces, and quiets for a second, too*

ROXY: when we first landed in this place i could /feel/ myself gettin all tingly like i was breachin withdrawal and i dont wanna think about anybody else dealin with that

ROXY: specially rose i guess

DIRK: *At that, his brow furrows. He almost asks her why she didn't tell him before, but... Sigh. He can guess why.* Well, this new next-level model of the game has made us revert to how we were pre-game, right?

ROXY: yea

DIRK: It's possible she didn't drink before the game. Or not as much, at the very least.

ROXY: mhm *nods a few times, chewing on the inside of her cheek*

ROXY: i know its dumb im sorry it was just literally like 5 seconds ago

DIRK: Yeah. Why were you talking to this guy, again?

ROXY: he messaged me about clowny mcturdface first but revealed his tru intent to be to warn me from just jumpin blindly into a portal

ROXY: and i said to him i said welllll it aint me who wants to BLINDLY jump

ROXY: im willin to jump just w/ some backup plannin

DIRK: *Shrugs.* Either way is good with me honestly, I just want to get this circus act on the damn road already.

ROXY: why did u just hop into that game without at least tellin us *looks up at him*

ROXY: can get the show on the road while keepin ur friends informed u kno

DIRK: There were other people around who were searching for the same opportunity. I just had a hold on the reins.

DIRK: I would have told you but I was a little busy with the impromptu gaming.

DIRK: And informing others didn't seem important at the time.

ROXY: well next time how about keepin us in the loop with ur impromptu gamin ok

ROXY: u coulda just as easily not come outta there smellin like mushrooms

DIRK: Ugh. *Nose-wrinkle.* That was such a gross scent.

DIRK: I smelled like nasty mushroom trash.

ROXY: fitting

DIRK: Rude.

DIRK: But now I've let my mom know about going out on the town, so I'm hoping that this time I won't be nagged upon returning home, right?

ROXY: ur free from naggin bc if u wont listen to me and do some more plannin im goin with you

DIRK: Great. We're gonna paint the town pink.

DIRK: Also orange, but pink is pretty nice too.

ROXY: itll be a sherberty metropolis

DIRK: Hell yes.

DIRK: Also are we gonna go do that soon or what.

ROXY: i dunno before when i said maybe id be cool with waitin till im not so gimpy

ROXY: i was bein semi srs

DIRK: Oh yeah. *He frowns at that, remembering Roxy's abrupt strife with the clown.* Where is Makara, anyways.

DIRK: It'd be nice to get his information on this fiasco.

ROXY: *shrugs, scooting off his lap to lie back on his mattress again, rubbing her stomach* last i checked hes still in corn town

DIRK: Corn town. Still not sure why that's a thing.

ROXY: maybe bc hes too dopey to get into anythin else??? his intel is the root of many an issue here

ROXY: aint gotta be smart to hoe corn

DIRK: Well, he's smart enough to not come back to where there's at least one person aiming to turn him into a piece of modern art resembling shredded cheese.

ROXY: diiiiiiiiirk

DIRK: Roxy.

ROXY: dont go pickin fights im serious

ROXY: plus u dont need to defend my honor or nothin i DID break his nose im p sure

DIRK: Okay but he picked the fight first, I'm just picking it up for player 2 to step in.

DIRK: Your honor is precious to me, Lalonde.

ROXY: i already finished the fight my honor is in tact

DIRK: How can you ever hope to be a samurai if your honor is compromised?

ROXY: my honor is fine! it eats a balanced diet and goes on a run every mornin

DIRK: But was it REALLY finished.

DIRK: As in, was he still doing his psychomurder thing.

ROXY: .......................

ROXY: noooooooooo

DIRK: I'm taking that as a yes.

ROXY: dirk PLSS

DIRK: *He sighs and waves a hand dismissively, an eyeroll going unseen but probably very well heard in his voice.* Fine, fine. I won't give the clown a facial with the sharp edge of my katana.

DIRK: I mean, probably.

ROXY: i just dont want u windin up with a gross belly splotch

ROXY: or worse

DIRK: Relax, I take my wardrobe much too seriously for that to happen.

ROXY: u think i dont take mine srsly

ROXY: B[

DIRK: Red works better with your color scheme.

DIRK: Although I wouldn't want that to happen.

ROXY: ho lee shet

DIRK: *Should quickly mention that I DON'T want blood on you gdi*

DIRK: *raises hands in a mock-surrender kind of expression.* Okay wait, that came out a lot worse than it was supposed to.

ROXY: *pouts at* >:T

DIRK: That was supposed to be a compliment!

DIRK: Somehow.

DIRK: Where's the undo button on this interface.

ROXY: yes my gnarly tum is the accessory ive always been missin

ROXY: now my wardrobe is complete

ROXY: i am fashion

ROXY: *shes teASING HIM*

DIRK: *He has to bite down on the inside of his cheek to stop from laughing at the poor joke of "missing" that he could comment on.*

ROXY: *owl stare*

ROXY: wat

DIRK: Nothing.

ROXY: say it bro ur already in the doghouse

DIRK: You had an interesting choice of words there is all.

ROXY: *squinto*

DIRK: I mean, implying that that was the accessory you were missing but then gained once. It was lost.

ROXY: ,,,,,,,,,

DIRK: *This should NOT be funny Dirk stop this.*

ROXY: i meant missin as in has always been without but thank u dirk for ur obscure input omf

ROXY: i dont even know whats so funny about that ur insane

DIRK: *He swallows down the urge to laugh and does his best to be serious again, and manages it after a twitch of a smile.* Blame my lack of visiting the sandman recently.

ROXY: *face falls* u aint been sleepin?

DIRK: *Idle shrug.* I'm not used to it. *He looks away and begins picking at the seam in the leg of his pants.* Usually there's shit to be done, anyways.

DIRK: Which is why it's annoying to not be doing this game thing.

ROXY: well in the meantime when we aint playin u need to fuckin sleep dirk thats a human function and sort of pertinent 2 ur survival as a sane sentient being

DIRK: Bluh, but sleep is so boring.

DIRK: You just, what, lie comatose for almost ten hours?

DIRK: And nothing even happens other than a full reset?

DIRK: It's so dumb.

ROXY: *looks at him like are you fucking serious*

ROXY: do i needa come in here every day and whack u with a heavy object to make u sleep bc i will

DIRK: That would be extremely counterproductive to the prime objective of getting us out of here.

DIRK: Also it could result in brain damage.

ROXY: ok so u agree theres better methods of falling asleep

ROXY: great how about employin them

DIRK: I will, I will. *Cue another dismissive hand-wave before he returns to nitpicking at the seam that has now tugged a bit loose.* It just doesn't seem to be worthwhile at the moment.

ROXY: sleep is always worthwhile u dingus

DIRK: Not while there's work to be done.

ROXY: its called moderation!!

ROXY: u cant do everythin by urself

ROXY: and no one expects u to

ROXY: were a TEAM and team members take turns doin shit

ROXY: like bein on sentry duty or fuckin SLEEPIN jfc

DIRK: *At that, Dirk looks back up at Roxy with raised eyebrows towards the slight outburst.* ...

DIRK: Okay.

DIRK: But there's the fact that someone might fuck that up.

DIRK: So I'd rather make sure that doesn't happen.

ROXY: and whoevers awake will deal with it

ROXY: we aint gonna get anywhere if ur a zombie u realize that right

DIRK: *Silence. She has a point, and from the way he presses his lips into a thin line, Dirk recognizes that. He looks down at where his hand has been fidgeting and sighs.*

DIRK: It's hard to sleep, Rox.

DIRK: I'm just. Not used to it yet. It wasn't a thing that really happened often pre-game, what with my dream self constantly awake.

DIRK: I'll get it under control, though.

ROXY: *she's quieter, too, and watches him for a bit before sitting up to put her hand on his shoulder blade*

ROXY: we can help u okay

ROXY: theres lots of stuff everybody needs help with and u gotta remember were just as much here for u as it is the other way around

DIRK: *He nods a little, although he kind of wants to go down the whole "I don't need help" path. Then he snorts under his breath in a light scoff, and looks up at where the ceiling would be if it wasn't empty space.* Until we figure this shit out though, I'm not really in the mood for snoozing.

ROXY: ill make u a deal

ROXY: we play this stinkin game and u come back and go straight to snoozeville

DIRK: ...Okay, deal.

ROXY: ok *leans to bump her forehead to his shoulder*

DIRK: *A faint smile reaches Dirk's softened expression, and he cranes his neck a little to nudge his head against hers. Friends sure are nice, when you can keep them around.*

DIRK: *Eventually though, his attention returns to the deal.* Okay, so let's go fulfill that bargain then.

ROXY: *Roxy smiles to herself a bit, too, releasing a more contented quiet sigh before she leans up and pats his back, making to scoot towards the edge of the mattress* im holdin u to ur agreement fool

DIRK: *Since Dirk was more on the edge of the bed, all he really has to do is shimmy around a little before he's able to stand up, doing a quick self-check to make sure he's got everything he needs before their departure.* Yeah, I know. And I'm smarter than trying to pull a fast one on the fearsome Roxy Lalonde.

ROXY: i should hope so

ROXY: alright we gotta get the fam again then annnnd i gotta message karkat

ROXY: how about i go do that and u get them

DIRK: What, get the rest of the angsty blondes?

ROXY: did we not agree on this like just before

DIRK: *Kinda wants to say "But social interaction??" in the whiniest tone possible, but instead he huffs and waves a hand before heading for the door.* Alright, I'll go get them this time.

DIRK: Feel free to go back to your room or use my computer, the choice is yours.

ROXY: ill use mine just so i aint loggin u out i guess *shrugs, gimpin' to the door after him* yall can head to the board ill meet u there

DIRK: *He's opening the door first, figures he might as well just spin the dial thing and force the reclusive Strilondes out of hiding rather than send them messages.* Sounds like a plan.

DIRK: Until then, don't get in trouble.

ROXY: pffff puh leeeease

ROXY: when do i ever get in trouble dirk rly

ROXY: *scURRY AWAY BEFORE HE ANSWERS*

ROSE: *shrugs* Who do you think is less likely to come up with an excuse to back out of this?

ROXY: im afraid i dont know dave well enough 2 answer that *thinks* we could get dave first since ive met him already and the sheer pressure of us all waitin at dirks doorstep would make it so he literally cant run away

ROXY: would that be mean

ROXY: :c

ROXY: (i also need ur presence as a cushion so he doesnt flip a tit aboot clown things so the more the merrier tbh)

ROSE: *nods* Then we'll talk to Dave first. *turns the dial to Dave's symbol and knocks on the door*

DAVE: *after a moment, he opens the door a crack and peeks out suspiciously, looking like he hasnt slept in days. how can that be? what else is there to do but sleep? this is a mystery.*

DAVE: ..................

ROXY: :3 *waves*

DAVE: sup

ROSE: Good morning, sleeping beauty.

ROXY: we are makin rounds and have a request 4 u

DAVE: ask and you shall receive

DAVE: an answer

DAVE: which may be yes and may be no

DAVE: and may be shutting the door in your face

ROXY: no no no u see this question can only be answered if u step out here w/ usss

DAVE: that sounds sus

ROXY: *come hither hand wave* cmere cmere

DAVE: *looks at rose suspiciously, but steps outside and shuts the door behind him*

ROXY: *high pitched voice* scooooore

DAVE: i just know im gonna regret this

ROSE: *turns the dial to Dirk's symbol* One down, one to go.

ROXY: ok rose do u wanna get a head start or r we gonna do the one of us one of us thing

ROXY: ok one of us one of us then

ROSE: There's no time like the present.

DAVE: what

DAVE: what are you guys doing

DAVE: is this a family reunion

ROXY: noooooooyes

ROSE: I wonder what gave you that impression.

DAVE: you should have told me two weeks ago

DAVE: i would have dressed for the occasion

ROXY: ur dressed perfectly

ROXY: *knocks on dirk's door*

ROSE: What else would you have worn?

DIRK: *It takes a minute, but eventually the door swings open to reveal a Dirk with nothing out of the ordinary in his appearance. He does, however, smell a bit like oranges probably. Hopefully it's not too strong a scent. His eyebrows raise with slight surprise at the people gathered at his door.*

DAVE: *looks away like "i have nothing to do with this"*

ROSE: *quietly* Aren't you two just two beautiful rays of sunshine today?

DIRK: I think someone forgot to forward the "Family Fun Time" memo to me.

ROXY: *just beams at Dirk with probably the biggest smile since they've gotten here*

ROXY: *like 'look what i brought u'*

DIRK: *Wow ok he can't really stay apathetic at that. His lip quirks upwards just a little bit.*

ROXY: *reaches to just grab his wrist and pull him outside with them* cant fight the family distri

ROXY: quick rose get the door *drama; activate*

ROSE: *closes the door and turns the dial back to the common room*

DIRK: *Aaand his sanctuary is gone. Hidey-hole sweet hidey-hole, oh how Dirk will miss you. He gives Roxy a halfhearted glower at the yank.*

DAVE: why quick

DAVE: whats the hurry

DAVE: *shifty eyes*

ROXY: idk to ensure no escape??

ROXY: im tryna be funny here

ROSE: There really aren't that many places for you to escape to, but we would rather not waste time chasing you down.

ROXY: pls do not shit ur pants with fear we aint gonna murder anyone or nothin

DIRK: I'm pretty sure that strife isn't exactly out of the question within this kind of "family" you know.

ROXY: and why must u always have strife on the brain

ROSE: Except you hardly know two of your family members.

ROSE: Likewise, we don't know you.

ROSE: Hence the family reunion.

ROXY: so why dont we all just sit on the couch and get to know each other

DIRK: Battle always lets you learn about your opponent.

DIRK: *Dirk's kinda just bullshit grumbling at this point.*

ROXY: so do ice breaker games but i aint gonna make u play those

ROXY: less u wanna

ROXY: we could play hobarn

ROXY: *its a threat dirk dont talk about FIGHTING*

DIRK: *eyebrow-raise*

DAVE: *staaaaares at rose.*

ROSE: *smiles innocently at Dave*

DIRK: *It's the Striders staring at Lalondes right now honestly*

ROXY: *hey look the door opened! time to pull dirk into the common room by his wrist, trying to still not be limping haha oops*

ROXY: quit ur moping and humor us at least

ROSE: *looks at Dave expectantly*

DIRK: *Cue eye-roll that nobody sees because of shades. Why is Roxy even dragging him. Also it's hard to NOT notice an abnormal gait.*

DAVE: *slouches into the room without being dragged.*

ROSE: *caboose Rose coming through, choo choo*

ROXY: *she's just dragging him because she's obnoxious and he obviously is resistant let us all sit on these couches yes* dirk why do u smell like citrus

ROXY: like more than usual

DIRK: Because there was a lack of citrus-based scent on my physique, clearly. *Whenever Roxy lets go of his hand, Dirk's gonna plop down on one of those couches.*

ROSE: *also sits down on a couch* Are you particularly taken by citrus scents?

DAVE: *leans against a wall, folds his arms*

ROXY: *let go when she sat; dave WHAT WALLS THERE ARE NO WALLS*

DIRK: *He's leaning on space clearly. Only coolkids can do that.*

DAVE: *leans on space*

ROXY: *i ROLLED on space. B)*

ROXY: he likes orange soda *shares fun facts about dirk*

DIRK: Yes, oranges in particular. *His gaze focuses on Rose.* Orange soda also works.

DIRK: *Roxy you fell INTO space too.*

ROXY: *i did. and made space angels. also quoted a meme using space. ive done a lot w/ space.*

DAVE: *so have rose and i. ;) ;) ;)*

DIRK: Also it's better than the stench of fungus. *mutters the last sentence under his breath as he leans back on the couch.*

ROXY: say whut

DIRK: Have you seen the game that was available to play up on that holoboard?

DIRK: Yeah, we tried doing that.

DAVE: howd that go

DAVE: did you get some sick loot

ROXY: whos we?

DAVE: power ups

DIRK: Firstly, it was Jade, Feferi and I.

DIRK: Secondly,

DIRK: *He lifts his left hand to expose the shiny gold ring on his ring finger.* I got engaged.

ROSE: *raises an eyebrow*

DIRK: Not really but that seemed the best place to put the ring.

ROSE: Was the ring a prize from the game?

DIRK: Yes.

DIRK: We laid down the metal law of bullets, blade and tridents to the turtle baddies who were utterly child's play.

DIRK: Seriously, a two-year-old could have beat those things.

DIRK: Only a total of six rings were dropped, although there were roughly thirty or so amphibians.

DIRK: *The second ring he collected is promptly fished out from his sylladex as he speaks, and then he holds it up for the others to see.*

DIRK: As there were three of us and six rings, we decided to split them evenly.

DAVE: do they do something

DIRK: So far they have shown the ability to do fuckall nothing.

DIRK: They may be used as currency, though.

DAVE: so you have two bucks

DAVE: nice

DIRK: Still richer than your broke ass.

DAVE: *spreads his hands in a placating gesture* fair enough

DAVE: what are you gonna buy with it

DAVE: bed insurance

ROSE: Hair gel?

DIRK: I think that the bathroom facilities supply an infinite amount of that, Rose.

DIRK: At least, it has so far. *Shrugs, putting the ring back in his sylladex.*

DIRK: Oh, also I took one of the turtle shells from the game.

ROSE: You took something from the game?

ROXY: so we CAN bring shit out of them

DAVE: nice

DAVE: wheres the ultimate shopping 3 game

DAVE: im ready to play that level

ROXY: so far we got corn and turtles

DAVE: borig

DAVE: *boring

DIRK: Corn?

ROXY: WELL im just makin an educated guess on that one im sure theres other veggies involved

ROXY: u looked at the first game activated on the board yeah

ROSE: The one Gamzee is in?

ROXY: mmhm

DIRK: Oh.

DIRK: Is that what Feferi mentioned about him?

ROXY: eh???

ROXY: whats feffa sayin bout him

ROXY: that hes a crazy mofucka?? bc yes

DIRK: She said something about him starting mayhem or something.

DIRK: Also that I should ask you about it.

ROXY: ha ha haaaa

DIRK: *Narrows eyes on Roxy.*

DIRK: *I know that kind of laugh what has happened.*

ROXY: *goes to kick her feet up on the round coffee table within the rings of couches, wincing slightly* mighta got my butt kicked a lil

ROXY: u know till i threw back

ROXY: *blows on her knuckles like yeeeeeah pls believe my badassery*

DAVE: *raaaaises an eyebrow* well youre here and hes not so congratulations and thank you

ROXY: *clicks her tongue and makes double pistols at dave* nottaprob

DIRK: *By Dirk's unchanging expression, it's fair to say he doesn't wholly buy that.* Would you mind clarifying on the butt-kicking part?

ROXY: *saw this coming, but it is better to explain now rather than keep brushing it off*

ROXY: so i was showin him the board right

ROXY: bc u know gotta keep everyone informed

ROXY: on the same keyring all that jazz

ROXY: he sees his intel

ROXY: flips the mothafuck out

ROXY: im p sure he tried to kill me or somethin bc he punched me right off the platform lmao BUT get this

ROXY: i memed him

ROXY: SB) ?

DAVE: ???

ROXY: B(

ROXY: bein vague aint helpin is it

DIRK: *His eyebrows raise further with the sudden almost-rambling of information, although by the end theyre drawn down in a furrow. Also he's silent for a good few seconds.*

DIRK: ...What do you mean, you "memed" him?

ROXY: he gut punched me right off the edge into space

ROXY: so i crawled around to the other side and popped up and was all witty like

ROXY: "surprise bitch i bet u thought youd seen the last of me"

ROXY: ha HA

ROXY: i

ROXY: i memed him

ROXY: ;-;

DIRK: ...

DAVE: lol

DIRK: Okay. Kudos on that.

DIRK: I'm still going to break him in half.

DIRK: But probably later.

DAVE: good luck

DAVE: the guy doesnt die

ROXY: his nose breaks tho

ROSE: I don't think violence will solve anything...

ROXY: also he has the ability to fall into portals so theres that

DIRK: I can still break his bones.

DIRK: If he doesn't die, then so be it. *shrugs*

ROXY: *frowning* dirk dont go nuts over it alright

DAVE: *looks dirk up and down skeptically*

ROSE: Good luck trying to break what's practically indestructible.

ROXY: i broke his nose *waves hand* he can probably break idk

ROXY: but seriously

ROXY: he landed like two hits on me and i still feel like absolute cow patty so lets not go pickin fights

ROXY: ACTUAL fights

DAVE: *sits on the arm of the couch next to rose*

DAVE: actual fights will probably end up happening anyway sooner or later

DAVE: especially when that clownfucking asshole is involved

DAVE: and also trolls in general

ROXY: so he rly is just a universal "no" isnt he

ROXY: o gr8

DIRK: *Gives Dave a sideglance at that.* Do they actually have a tendency of being that bad towards teammates?

DAVE: by the time we showed up half of them had killed the other half

DAVE: with no help from the game by the way

ROSE: Unfortunately.

ROXY: *makes such a face*

DIRK: Wow, that's impressive.

DIRK: Highly suicidal for their session, but impressive.

ROXY: ugh

DAVE: theyre really into deathmurdering

DAVE: and killmaiming

DAVE: and their weird rainbow colored blood

ROSE: It seems to have been a part of their culture.

ROXY: so ive heard

ROXY: *glances away*

DIRK: *He looks equal parts displeased and intrigued.*

DIRK: I wonder why Caliborn never took as much an interest in them compared to his sister, then.

ROXY: baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarffffffffff i dont even wana hear about that lil freakpod

ROXY: but 8( callie

ROXY: we gotta find out about callie

DIRK: Here's to hoping she didn't get sucked into this shithole of a "game" we've been coerced into.

DIRK: *He would raise a glass right now but oops no glass.*

ROXY: if thats the case tho we could maybe find her

ROSE: *looks at Dirk like "Are you expecting a toast"*

ROXY: i dont wanna imagine shes just

ROXY: gone

DIRK: *Raises an eyebrow and shrugs at Rose's look to say "Eh, worth a shot."*

ROXY: *aw ur bonding*

DIRK: *The pun was unintended but amusing*

DIRK: Rox, she didn't come with us.

DIRK: If she IS in this game, there's a high chance that it won't exactly be of her own will.

ROXY: i KNOW that i just??? id been with her not too long before and *puts her face in her scrached hand, sighing*

ROXY: i found her before im gonna try again

ROXY: *scratched**

ROSE: *doesn't really know what to say since she never knew this Callie they're talking about*

ROXY: *glances at Rose past her hand, then at Dave, and sighs again, shaking her head* sorry sorry

ROXY: ok so we have this friend

ROXY: she aint a human or a troll or nothin shes a cherub

ROXY: which is this big confusing thing ill just stick to the basics

ROXY: she played the game w/ her bro and he tried to kill her somewhere in the middle he was basically the biggest douche in the universe

DIRK: Apparently he was successful at that point, too.

DIRK: He hired a Derse assassin to kill her dream self over on Prospit.

ROXY: i spent a long time tryin to find her in the void and *looks at rose* thats when u flew in and scared the bejeezus outta her

ROXY: and we got faces full of glitter remember

ROSE: *nods in understanding* I do remember that brief meeting. She seemed alarmed by my presence, though.

ROXY: exactly

ROXY: u scared the bejeezus outta her

ROXY: she was hiding from her bro and i guess u bein there mighta been a huge giveaway somehow

ROXY: i remember she flailed about u bein a light player

ROSE: I'm sorry for potentially endangering her.

ROXY: aint ur fault

ROXY: u couldnt have known

ROXY: what were u doin there anyway??

ROSE: *sheepishly* To be honest, I don't quite remember what I was doing there in the first place...*avoids looking at Dave because that just seems like asking for trouble at this point*

ROXY: ???

DAVE: *side-eyes her*

ROSE: *hopes someone else changes the topic*

DAVE: it was a pretty confusing time

DAVE: wasnt that right before john appeared everywhere

DIRK: *Dirk's kind of just sitting quietly, lounging on the couch while the others talk. He throws Dave a questioning look at the last comment.* He did what, exactly?

DAVE: he appeared everywhere all of a sudden

DAVE: also all the time

DAVE: he appeared everywhere at all times

DAVE: it was pretty fucked up

DAVE: i mean

DAVE: i dont think ill ever be the same

DAVE: gotta sleep with one eye open

DAVE: the universe is a much crueler place

DAVE: if a dork in a windsock can show up during your most intimate moments

DAVE: like "whats up doc"

ROXY: i met him in prison

DAVE: and have no universal repercussions for both teleporting and time travelling into a private event

DAVE: what

DAVE: you were in prison

ROXY: yep

DAVE: wow thats hardcore

ROXY: im a p bad bitch yea

ROXY: cept no

ROXY: i was in there bc of ur friend jade

DIRK: *Slight finger-twitch on the couch. Hopefully nobody saw that.*

ROSE: *looks at Dirk**I saw that*

DIRK: *No you didn't. How could you see something THAT NEVER HAPPENED?*

ROXY: ayyy no hard feelins

ROXY: *elbows dirk bc she too sees the unseeable*

DIRK: *He lets out a quiet huff at the elbowing and raises a hand to rub the spot. Bony elbow.* Harley seemed to be extremely remorseful when we talked earlier, anyways.

ROXY: shes super sweet

ROXY: i like her better minus the scary doggy attributes methinks

DIRK: It turns out that imprisoning Roxy and transporting me into the empty Void were not a part of her agenda until she was mind-controlled.

ROSE: She has always been one of the kindest people I know.

DAVE: yeah jade only does evil things unintentionally

ROXY: good 2 kno

DIRK: Yes, always comforting to find out that the only ones with an elevated possibility of psychomurder tendencies are the trolls.

DIRK: Some of which have powers that borderline on the supernatural, too.

DAVE: no some of them definitely crossed that line

DAVE: definitely supernatural

ROXY: i heard a lil bit about the stuff they can do and i can safely say i am royally freaked out by some of it

ROSE: It may seem intimidating, but some of them are not as hostile as their culture suggests they should be.

DIRK: Sounds like too bizarre of a phenomenon to be true.

ROXY: hey stfu i know a couple already

ROXY: fefs a doll

ROXY: and scarfy aint too bad hes plenty polite

DIRK: Scarfy?

ROXY: uhh

ROXY: eridan

ROXY: the other one w/ the cute weird fins

DIRK: Okay. I don't think I've seen that one yet, but I did see Feferi.

ROXY: *thumbs up* yes the fishy ppl i approve of

DIRK: She's a much less threating version of a young Condy than that other one had been. In appearances, at least.

ROXY: indeed

ROXY: *looks at dave and rose* who would u recommend for top troll in the nice dept

ROXY: owo

ROSE: *tries to sound casual* Karkat and Kanaya are among the most tolerable in my opinion.

DAVE: yeah were tight with them

DAVE: also terezi i guess maybe

DAVE: *wrinkles his nose*

DIRK: *Notices that nose-wrinkling.* Is Terezi one of the somewhat problematic ones?

DAVE: how exactly are we defining problematic in this scenario

ROXY: murderstabby???

DAVE: ok then not really

DAVE: i mean a little but not really

ROXY: O_o

ROXY: ok only a LITTLE murderstabby

ROXY: that helps

DIRK: *Raises an eyebrow.*

DAVE: try not to make any sudden movements or endanger everyones lives around her

DAVE: because she will kill a motherfucker if she thinks she has to

DIRK: Okay, noted.

ROSE: If she licks you, I would try to not take that personally.

ROXY: gotcha gotcha *nods* wait wh

ROXY: she licks ppl???

ROXY: wow we got a bed eater and a people licker

ROXY: we should start a circus

DIRK: Licking?

DIRK: Oh I know that girl.

ROSE: You do?

DIRK: That's the one that kept sniffing me in the dream bubble.

DAVE: she does that too

DIRK: She couldn't keep her snublike proboscis away from my half-real self.

DIRK: I'm still not really sure how she saw me before I became corporeal.

DAVE: she didnt

DAVE: shes blind

ROSE: She's also a Seer.

DIRK: Oh.

DIRK: Wow, you just can't escape irony.

ROXY: *slaps knee* thats beautiful

DAVE: yeah yeah its all part of the vast joke or vast croak or whatever

DIRK: ((whup brb))

DIRK: ((back hello sorry))

DIRK: So that was the plan, as usual. *sits up a little and glances at Roxy, trying to convey a "look I've participated in social interaction here, can I go back to my room now" look to her*

ROXY: *looks back at him like i will smack u upside the head if u move ur butt from this couch*

ROXY: *puffs her cheeks up and exhales like a deflating balloon* soooooooo

ROSE: *doesn't know how to stop the awkward*

DAVE: *raises an eyebrow at rose*

ROXY: we gotta start thinkin of playin actual games soon probably

ROXY: aaand they let in up to four playerss

ROXY: anybody wanna think about givin it a go sometime???

ROSE: I don't see why not.

DIRK: *shrugs as he slumps back on the couch.* Anytime, sure.

DAVE: i can think of some reasons why not but ok whatever

ROXY: arent u a negative nancy

ROSE: *glares at Dave*

DAVE: yes

ROXY: why not then??? :(

DAVE: how about because we could die

ROSE: Dirk came back from his game alive.

DAVE: so what

DAVE: have you ever played a video game

ROXY: rather die havin done nothin but sit here eatin fruit salad?

DAVE: every level is harder than the last one

DAVE: well

DAVE: *he considers this.* yeah

DIRK: Do you think you'd be unable to beat the game?

DIRK: If comparing via the level I participated in, our mode was Easy.

DIRK: You should be able to handle it at Normal.

DAVE: *he raises his eyebrows veeeery marginally at dirk.* if you say so

DAVE: its not that i love fruit salad i just hate dying

DAVE: fuckin sue me

DAVE: *examines his nails critically.*

DAVE: but yeah ill play

DIRK: *shrugs, his expression not changing.* If we want to get out of here, we're going to have to do more than sit on our asses and let other people do the shit we could take care of.

DIRK: *looks over at Roxy.* When were you thinking of taking these games on?

DIRK: *Please say you meant now. Dirk would much rather beat things up than sit around and talk.*

ROXY: id say maybe when i can walk right but tbh im ready whenever yall are

ROSE: I have no prior obligations to anything, so I am willing to play whenever the rest of you want to.

DIRK: Great. No time like the present, then.

DAVE: boy arent we in a hurry

DIRK: *There's a slight eyebrow-raise at Dave, and then Dirk lets out a quiet snort.* The last game wasn't exactly equitable towards the players, i.e. Jade, Feferi and myself.

DAVE: what does that mean

DIRK: It means we beat it. We had that shit locked on, ready to bag and tag for the first set of trophies set over on the fine wood cabin wall, except then the game was all, "Nice try bro, try again later" and decked our asses with a tsunami of biblical proportions.

DIRK: Any attempts to continue were wiped away by a similar torrent until we had to call it quits.

DIRK: So I'm hoping that with the difficulty dragged up a few rungs, we won't get wiped.

DAVE: or well get wiped out harder

ROXY: can u stop bein davey downer omg its making my heart weep

DAVE: okay okay sorry

DAVE: *he holds up his hands in defeat.*

ROXY: *dramatic expression of relief*

ROXY: too kind too kind

ROXY: if ur rly that concerned about it why not think of it this way

ROXY: maybe we can gain experience or somethin

ROXY: grinding almost always possible

DIRK: *Dirk's expression is a brief mixture of amusement at Roxy's behavior and exasperation at Dave's, but then he manages to get that under control and nods at the Lalonde's words.* Exactly.

DAVE: i hope they have super mushrooms in this game

DAVE: *well concealed dick joke from dave.*

ROSE: *inward sigh from Rose*

DAVE: *also he feels insecure about being shorter than someone for once.*

DIRK: *It's okay, I'm sitting right now.*

DIRK: There were actually no mushrooms of any kind that I saw. But we kind of had a quick level, so that might have just been a tutorial round.

ROSE: That could explain why you weren't able to move on.

DIRK: *Slight frown.* Yeah. But that would also mean that playing it again would allow us to continue.

ROXY: plus theres those rings u had

ROXY: youd probs be able to pick up where u left off they might be like tokens or somethin

DIRK: Oh, right. *Casually remembers to take the one off his ring finger and captchalogue it. Don't want too many people thinking he's a taken man, y'know.*

ROXY: *No one thought that, Dirk.*

ROSE: *No one cares*

DIRK: *You know what I don't need to TAKE this from you guys.*

ROXY: *We ain't dishin' out jack shit NONE OF US ARE TELEPATHS.*

DIRK: *Then why are we DOING THIS.*

DIRK: *Dirk just wants to go hide in his room right now anyways.*

ROXY: *LE SIGN* ok dirk ur apathy and teen angst is like saturating the air around me

ROXY: do u wanna run away

ROXY: who wants to run away just spit it out

DIRK: *Raises a hand as if to say "I."*

DIRK: The family reunion has been nice and all but I do have some things that need to be done.

ROXY: did u find a shitty art program on ur craptop

ROSE: *really wants to sarcastically ask if it's about his hair*

DIRK: Not yet, as unfortunate as it is.

DIRK: I'm sure I can figure something out for that though. *He's gonna try standing now, so long as Roxy doesn't yank him back down. Which probably won't happen, thankfully for him.*

DAVE: *claps hands* great meeting team

DAVE: it was really awkward but we got a lot done

DAVE: way to break the ice

ROXY: *pouting on the couch* yeah yeah just get outta here ya wet noodle

DIRK: Yep. Let's do this again sometime. Really.

ROXY: *kicks dirk's leg lightly*

DIRK: *He gives a mock-salute to add on to that sarcasm, then turns to abscond. Although Roxy gets a hint of a smirk at her chastising kick.*

ROXY: *sticks her tongue out at him shamelessly*

DIRK: *His eyeroll probably goes unseen. And hey isn't flashstepping great? Strider: Exit.*

ROXY: DICKTURD *calls it*

ROXY: what a bozo amiright

DAVE: *he glances down at rose.*

DAVE: yeah totally

ROSE: *looks back up at Dave*

ROSE: *Can I help you?*

ROSE: You can return to your sulking if you want to.

DAVE: *we need to talk rose. we need to have A TALK.*

ROXY: *that face...*

ROXY: should i be skedaddlin

DAVE: *glares at rose and then shakes his head at roxy.* nah but im gonna

DAVE: i have important things to do

DAVE: people to see

DAVE: business to take care of

ROSE: Are you building another can town?

DAVE: shut up

DAVE: there are no cans here

DAVE: you dont have to rub it in

ROXY: ANOTHER can town?

ROXY: there was a can town the first?

DAVE: can town was a miracle of modern architecture built by the best and bravest of us all

DAVE: but the mayor is no longer with us

ROXY: D:

DAVE: *he stands up and heads towards the door.*

ROSE: *bites her lip* I think I may have crossed a line there.

ROXY: did he love the mayor

ROSE: I think it's safe to say so.

ROXY: ohhhhh nooooooooo

ROXY: :'(

ROXY: *pulls her knees up and sighs loudly* that was a bust

ROSE: I'm sorry it was more awkward than anticipated.

ROXY: no i knew it was gonna be mad awks but i was hoooopin maybe theyd love us enough to power thru

ROXY: too soon too soon

ROSE: Perhaps it will be better after we play a game.

ROXY: aint no better bondin time than kickin virtual ass w/ someone

ROSE: *shrugs* Who knows what the outcome of that will be?

ROXY: one way to find out *shrugs back, letting her head fall back on the back cushion* if u wanna dip u can too

ROXY: sulky sally looked p sad about his mayor

ROSE: *shakes her head tiredly as she leans against the arm of her couch* I spent years distancing myself from the people I care about. If you don't mind my company, I'd like to stay with you a while longer.

ROXY: *can't help but smile a little despite it all, turning on the couch to face her a bit better* i dont mind at all

TG: i take it u found a shitty 2005 dell in ur room too right

TT: Your knack of keen hunches proves to be the victor once again, Rox.

TG: winks aggressively

TG: except nah bro we got some hecka fish to fry here

TT: For its primordial looks, this computer operates surprisingly well.

TT: What's up?

TG: well i was gonna bring up a handful of things

TG: firstlies yeah the compooters

TG: they ugly as fuck but im gonna start working on getting into em eventually

TG: they seem to be good for only usin the chat client????

TG: have u tried usin urs for anything else

TG: search engines etc

TT: I looked around for MSPaint, but couldn't find it.

TG: u would look for that

TT: It seems that most of the computer is inoperable asides from the chat client.

TT: Go figure.

TG: well not 4 long

TG: not only am i tryna crack these suckers but we got another guy apparently thinks hes savvy imma have a word w/ him

TG: sooner or later

TG: probs to apologize tho

TT: Why?

TT: On the apology thing.

TG: i think i broke some news i shouldnta broken :(

TG: he was one of the sleepy peeps and i was fillin him in on the biz and

TG: how theres someone missin

TT: The KIA one.

TT: Yeah, I overheard them talking about that while everyone made a clusterfuck around the dial.

TG: i knew about it from the beginnin when fef made me give the speechiest of speeches

TG: but like

TG: i told him and he went all quiet

TG: and signed off on me

TG: so i think i mighta

TT: Struck a nerve.

TG: yea

TG: and i feel bad but im thinkin he was close 2 her so he might be wantin to fire up the big guns to get her back

TG: which i have to say is p hella rn

TG: so

TG: still

TT: It was probably not the smartest move to make, leading with the "hey your friend is dead" news.

[12:12] TT: But at least he's been rallied up now.

TG: well hey i didnt say it like THAT

TG: i have tact dirk

TG: im the tactmaster

TT: Yes, my apologies. I forgot you had ascended your tactladder to its full potential.

TT: Which guy was this that you talked to, by the way?

TG: damn straight

TG: he said his name was sollux

TG: he uses 2s as essesesess tho

TG: 2ollux

TG: twollux

TT: Okay. Know anything else about him?

TG: he was apparently lackin the eyeball + lid comboob before fallin into this place

TG: seems like a p cut to the chase kinda guy

TG: and he gives me the hacker air too i could sense the aura of codeitude

TT: By your use of the word "before" I'm going to take a wild guess here and say his injuries have since healed.

TG: yeup

TT: Spooky.

TT: Or I guess less spooky, considering his previous condition.

TG: revertin to the original state we were all in can go both ways i guess

TT: I feel like I may have gotten the better end of the bargain on that level, but yeah.

TG: some ppl dont seem 2 broken up over it yeah

TG: othersssssssssss notsomuch

TG: im not used to seein so many ppl flippin out

TG: in pain and stuff

TG: i wanna fix it

TT: We're going to.

TG: i know

TG: thats the other thing i was gonna address

TG: i was gonna wake janey up an go outside to explore

TT: Is it about whatever's outside our rooms?

TG: yeah

TT: Called it.

TG: very context clue

TT: I was going to do that too but I got a little distracted by trying to disassemble the room.

TG: wat

TG: what did u even do

TT: Mostly nothing.

TG: theres no room to disassemble

TT: The bedroom, Roxy.

TT: Mine, to be precise.

TG: theres no WALLS

TG: is what i meant

TG: get with the program dirk we all in the same copycat rooms but theres hardly any roomy element to the rooms

TG: gosh no need to be sassin me boi

TT: Okay but I still wanted to try and see if there were any glitches in the program.

TT: Sometimes game coders mess shit up, you know how it is.

TG: indeedly do

TG: eventually well find a wall to peel back or somethin

TG: im gonna start with my dell

TG: but later

TT: Until then, my Crockerlike sleuthing will be ineffectual I suppose.

TT: Speaking of Crockers, have you talked to Jane yet?

TG: i haaaaaaaave

TT: Is she okay?

TG: shes snoozin all cute in my bed rn

TG: droolin a lil

TG: ( dont tell her i told u that )

TT: Scandalous.

TG: if u were here rn id be kickin u in the d

TG: she just didnt wanna be alone

TG: frankly me neither

TT: I don't blame either of you in this situation.

TT: Shit's fucked up, yo.

TG: yeah tell me about it

TG: woulda invited u to the sleepover but u dipped before we had the chance B[

[TT: They're not my kind of schtick anyways.

TG: still woulda been nice to have u

TT: I'd just stay awake and probably end up doodling horrific, phallic-esque imagery on someone.

TT: That's a thing that happens at sleepovers, right?

TG: i retract my statement

TG: no dirk

TT: Damn.

TG: not this kind of sleepover

TG: where we cuddle a little and comfort one another thru these hard times

TG: phallic imagery comes later

TT: Okay. As long as it's in the mix somewhere.

TT: But this topic is getting out of hand. Let's pull the reins back a little and guide it to easier territory.

TG: pls and thank u

TT: So I'm planning on fucking shit up once I step out of this room. Do you have any other plans?

TG: well i was just gonna look around i know theres shit slendy talked about that we aint seen yet

TG: i wanna find it and find out what it does before i start tearin shit apart

TG: maybe u should do the same for a bit

TG: i wana know HOW to tear it apart

TT: I'll consider doing that.

TG: knew i could count on u

TG: <3

TG: ok so one last q

TT: Shoot.

TG: do u think if we both try to leave this room at the same precise moment

TG: wed bump into each other or wind up a horrific conjoined space mess

TG: since portals

TG: bc as lovely as bein close 2 u is i rly aint interested in sharin a form w/ u 

TG: who wants to go first

TT: The sentiment is mutual. I'll go out first.

TG: aight ill try to rouse the sleepin crockerdile

TG: see u in a few

TT: Yeah. See you then, Ro-Lal.

[12:23] TG: uhh

[12:23] TG: what just happened

[12:24] TT: I ended the memo.

[12:24] TG: no

[12:24] TG: i mean before that part

[12:25] TT: You're going to have to specify. A lot of shit just happened.

[12:25] TG: SIGNS SO HARD I COULD PEN IT TO A THOUSAND COPIES OF A PIC OF MY ASS

[12:25] TG: i mean the shit she was sayin and why he got all upset about it

[12:27] TT: I don't know but I'm not going to prod about it.

[12:27] TG: yea i mean

[12:27] TG: just kinda seemed like some harsh digs that i sure didnt understand whatsoever

[12:28] TG: but implied he got fucked up somehow i think

[12:28] TT: He might have. Nothing is confirmed, though, so I would refrain from making assumptions so soon.

[12:28] TG: i guess

[12:29] TG: neway

[12:30] TG: did u kno those 2 was on bad terms

[12:30] TT: What was your deal with her, though?

[12:30] TG: o right

[12:30] TT: No but Captor is telling me now.

[12:30] TG: i guess you werent there for that

[12:30] TG: well you SEE

[12:31] TG: back when we was still playing the game she showed up outta bum fuck nowhere all smug and trying to interfere with my plans 2 bring callie back to life + doing sum wicked shit to jake's brain???

[12:31] TG: it was hells of messed up insane bs

[12:31] TG: and she was all NAW IM SUCH A COOL PERSON THO pfffffff

[12:32] TG: then when i tried to stop her she knocked me out :(

[12:32] TG: also she joked about jake bein all over her or sum shit which was the literal UN FUNNIEST joke i ever heard in my damn life

[12:34] TT: Please tell me this story doesn't end with her having her way.

[12:34] TG: well if her way results in jake turnin in2 a damn supernova who keeps shoutin silly ass catch phrases then yea

[12:36] TT: I knew there was a reason I didn't like her very much to beign with.

[12:37] TG: i wouldnt trust her with diddly squat shes fulla herself to foreal psycho levels

[12:39] TT: Very much like her dancestor, I'm assuming.

[12:39] TG: pff i like that serket WAY better

[12:40] TT: I'm not too fond of either of them if we're being completely honest.

[12:40] TG: well i aint terribly fond of vriska but i also dont know her real well other than uh

[12:41] TG: u know

[12:41] TG: stuff >_>

[12:41] TT: Yeah.

[12:42] TG: yeahhh

[12:42] TG: N E WAY

[12:46] TG: good luck with dealing with the psychket

[12:46] TG: in all future interactions

[12:47] TG: and w/e

[12:49] TT: Anyways...?

[12:53] TT: Thanks. I might need it, actually.

[12:56] TG: u really might

[12:56] TG: but are you sayin that 4 some other reason orrrr

[12:57] TT: I am going to be completely honest with you.

[12:57] TG: ok

[12:57] TT: I don't even know what I'm talking about.

[12:57] TG: oh

[12:57] TT: Yet.

[12:57] TT: Night, Rox.

[12:57] TG: hh niiiiite

[11:26] TT: So Pyrope tells me you're quite the rad girl.

[11:26] TG: why yes

[11:26] TG: that happens to be a thing that is true

[11:26] TT: I see. I'll take your word for it.

[11:27] TT: She also tells me that we're supposed to go skateboarding some time.

[11:28] TG: o yeah

[11:29] TG: shes been teaching me the sacred art of boarding in locations that are probably illegal

[11:29] TG: passed down her family line for generations

[11:29] TG: i can share this art with you knowing that i have her blessing

[11:30] TT: Sounds like an interesting time.

[11:30] TT: Only slightly rebellious, but interesting nonetheless.

[11:31] TG: rebelliously interesting

[11:31] TG: sounds like a good tagline for a beverage

[11:31] TG: which one might enjoy while committin acts of illegal boarding

[11:32] TT: And possibly using spray paint to mark their territory at a skate park.

[11:36] TG: ok all mad ollie poppin aside when did you talk to latula??

[11:37] TG: did she uh

[11:37] TG: tell you stuff?

[11:37] TT: All she told me was that you two are apparently moirails now.

[11:37] TT: Why, are you hiding something from me?

[11:40] TG: what haha

[11:40] TG: no

[11:40] TG: that was uh yeah that was it

[11:42] TT: You're acting suspicious now.

[11:42] TG: no im not

[11:42] TT: What's been going on that you're so secretive about?

[11:42] TG: nothin!

[11:43] TG: that was it really

[11:43] TG: i just uh

[11:43] TG: im not like pale cheating on you am i?

[11:43] TT: Pale cheating? Rox, we're not even trolls.

[11:43] TG: i mean i know were not

[11:43] TT: We don't have quadrant bullshit.

[11:43] TG: we kinda do

[11:44] TG: i mean i know i said some things

[11:44] TG: idk

[11:44] TG: i know we never said it like FOR FUCKIN REAL or nething

[11:45] TG: w/e im being dumb right

[11:45] TT: Relax, it's fine.

[11:45] TT: You can have a moirail all you want, I'm not mad.

[11:45] TT: If it makes you feel better, we can still be unofficially pale.

[11:46] TG: but is that cheatin on lacola

[11:46] TG: gdi quadrants are confusing

[11:47] TG: all i knows is

[11:47] TG: youre still my dude

[11:47] TT: Lacola.

[11:47] TG: so there

[11:47] TG: ...

[11:47] TG: shit

[11:47] TG: *lacoola

[11:47] TT: Lacoola.

[11:47] TG: i s2g i havent been drinkin

[11:47] TG: yeah lacool

[11:47] TG: a...

[11:47] TG: fuck

[11:47] TG: im tierd

[11:47] TT: Latula.

[11:47] TG: yah

[11:47] TG: but

[11:47] TG: cool

[11:47] TG: laCOOLa

[11:48] TT: I'm going to be honest with you-

[11:48] TG: go on

[11:48] TT: Did you just

[11:48] TT: Anyways.

[11:48] TG: :3

[11:48] TT: I don't exactly understand troll quadrants and all of their romance shit.

[11:48] TT: But I'm still here for you.

[11:49] TG: ;w;

[11:49] TG: yeah

[11:49] TG: ok that sounds good

[11:49] TT: Good.

[11:49] TT: Now stop freaking out.

[11:50] TG: ok

[11:50] TG: my freaks are back in their proper in position

[11:50] TT: So, aside from getting it on platonically with "Lacoola" what else have you been up to lately?

[11:51] TG: well

[11:51] TG: im back at home rn

[11:51] TG: cuz uh

[11:51] TG: fuck it ima be honest

[11:51] TT: Back home?

[11:51] TT: On earth?

[11:51] TG: uh huh

[11:52] TT: After we were specifically told to move to this big fancy palace for our own protection.

[11:53] TG: SIGN you havent let me get to the point yet

[11:53] TT: Wait, disregard that last statement. It was douchey.

[11:53] TT: Alright, go on.

[11:54] TG: i will consider disregardin said statement but keep it in my pocket for further review

[11:54] TG: anyway point WAS

[11:58] TG: i decided to throw away all the booze still stored in the cellar

[11:58] TG: all of it

[11:58] TT: Wait, what?

[11:59] TT: Really?

[12:01] TG: yeah

[12:01] TG: dont get much reallier

[12:02] TG: its all gone now as of tonight

[12:02] TG: i just got done actually

[12:04] TT: Whoa.

[12:04] TT: Good for you, Roxy.

[12:04] TT: I'm proud of you.

[12:06] TG: haha idk if its all worthy of that now

[12:07] TT: Still, I'm glad you got rid of it.

[12:07] TG: yeah it felt pretty good tbh

[12:08] TG: if not hella painful for being wasteful

[12:09] TG: u know how many stomachaches ive had from eating the last bites of food since i got here???

[12:09] TG: like at least 8

[12:09] TG: hundred

[12:09] TT: I'm going to guess quite a lot.

[12:09] TG: yeah

[12:09] TT: Close enough.

[12:09] TG: thanks for playin

[12:10] TT: Do I win a prize?

[12:10] TG: yes

[12:10] TG: the prize is a free hug

[12:10] TG: courtesy of urs truly

[12:10] TG: but it expires tomorrow

[12:11] TG: so i would be quick if i were you

[12:11] TT: Damn, I need to cash this in.

[12:12] TT: Where does one go to claim their free hug?

[12:12] TG: the lonely house with the empty cellar works

[12:13] TT: Can I up the ante and bring my prize back to the palace with me?

[12:14] TG: only if u carry it like a dainty princess

[12:15] TG: the floor is lava and you must keep it safe

[12:15] TT: Challenge accepted.

[12:16] TT: It'll be like old school Mario and Peach.

[12:16] TG: o shit

[12:16] TT: Ain't no Bowser boss level stopping me from winning.

[12:16] TG: guess i need to set up the fireball shooters real quick

[12:17] TT: Bring it on, Lalonde.

[12:17] TG: it is time for mario HELLA CHALLENGE

[12:17] TG: beware of the things poppin outta the walls upon crolal entry

[12:18] TT: As long as I don't die the second I spawn, I'm good.

[12:20] TG: ill consider it

[12:22] TT: Good enough for me.

[12:23] TT: I willl be there soon to claim my prize.

[12:23] TG: hell

[12:23] TG: fucking

[12:23] TG: yes

[12:27] TT: *he arrives via transportalizer at the house that he only knows as the Crolal residence about ten minutes later, looking around at his surroundings before he even considers moving off of the platform*

[12:28] TG: *almost as immediately as he looks around, a green cube falls from above his head to plunk him right on the anime hair. Take that, Strider*

[12:29] TT: *he blinks, staring down at the green cube that hit him in the sugoi anime hair before he steps off of the transportalizer* Nice touch, Rolal.

[12:30] TT: *picks up the cube as he starts pacing around the room, looking up for any signs of Roxy*

[12:34] TG: *snickers and peers around the corner at him* hey wanna come see what i did

[12:34] TT: *shrugs* Sure, why not?

[12:36] TG: aight come on *waves him after her and leads him to the stairs, stepping down until they reach the cellar, which is in fact pretty damn empty aside from various canned food* ta-daaaaa

[12:36] TG: poof gone

[12:37] TT: *follows her lead down the stairs, blinking in surprise at how bare the cellar looks* Whoa. You weren't kidding.

[12:37] TT: No more booze.

[12:38] TT: Once again, good for you.

[12:40] TG: ... *finally sighs a little* yeah good for me

[12:43] TT: *turns his attention back to her* What's wrong?

[12:45] TG: *pauses again* ok so this was partially for me but kind of.. mostly not

[12:45] TT: *his brow furrows in mild confusion* Then who is it really for?

[12:46] TG: *her frown deepens* ...eridan

[12:46] TG: i mean

[12:46] TG: not cuz he told me to

[12:47] TG: but dirk i talked to him and he was all

[12:47] TG: i dunno he told me he p much stole alcohol from me to get drunk with and it kinda freaked me out a lot

[12:47] TG: i dont want him going through that

[12:49] TT: *he frowns a little himself as he listens*

[12:50] TT: You're doing this for his own good.

[12:51] TG: yeah i know...

[12:52] TG: *she wants to tell him another bit of news, and that has her going quiet, but she isn't sure if she can bring herself to right now*

[12:52] TG: just

[12:52] TG: yeah

[12:55] TT: *he doesn't seem to notice that anything else is bothering her as he places a hand on her shoulder sympathetically* You're a good man, Charlie Brown.

[12:55] TT: They'll have Christmas specials about your heart of gold and everything.

[12:56] TG: yeah well

[12:57] TG: fuck the giant pumpkin one

[12:57] TG: thats all i gotta say

[12:57] TG: :')

[12:59] TT: *he smiles a little* You don't even need a giant pumpkin to be as awesome as you are.

[01:00] TG: *gdi distri, i can't handle this right now, i've been feeling awful while trying not to feel awful and you're being nice to me and i really, really missed you--* fuck it heres your hug *and she pulls him into a tight embrace, because she can't quite stop herself from tearing up now*

[01:02] TT: *hugs her back just as tightly because he misses being around her a lot and she loooks like she could really use a hug*

[01:02] TT: You okay?

[01:04] TG: mmmmrrrngghhhh

[01:05] TG: mnrrhhmmm?

[01:05] TG: *indecisive noises*

[01:06] TT: Sorry, Roxy, but I don't speak mmmmrrngh.

[01:07] TG: why not :(

[01:07] TT: I guess I never took it up as a second language.

[01:09] TT: Do you want to try communicating in English?

[01:12] TG: i might be kinda vaguely ok

[01:14] TT: *he rubs her back in what he hopes is a comforting manner* Anything I can do to change kind of vaguely okay to happiest girl in the goddamn universe?

[01:14] TT: Or at least more than okay?

[01:15] TG: heheheheh

[01:15] TG: well youre doin pretty good at it so far

[01:16] TG: but the whole mario scenario might help too

[01:17] TG: also maybe spendin the night with you if that aint weird cuz we dont get to hang out and you know hug much anymore and i kinda miss you a lot

[01:17] TG: and i was just getting used to the hugging thing

[01:18] TT: Sounds good enough for me.

[01:19] TG: :D

[01:19] TT: *proceeds to release her from the tight embrace only to scoop her up in his arms princess style just like she requested*

[01:19] TT: Let's-a-go.

[01:21] TT: *carries her back up the stairs and back into the transportalizer room, stepping on it with her still in his arms* To the castle we go, where the Prince will return his princess.

[01:21] TG: ... *snORTS and bumps her head onto his chest to rest it there with a sigh because gosh dang it she'll be married one day and this will still be the guy that can sweep her off her feet every time because he means everything and more* oh dirkio

[01:23] TT: *he probably left a bunch of lights on that he didn't give Roxy the chance to turn off, but he's on a mission to cheer her up so the electricity bills can be damned*

[01:24] TG: *gdi dirk*

[01:24] TG: *you better go back and turn those off*

[01:25] TT: *steps onto the transportalizer with her still in his arms only to arrive back at the royal palace within the next minute, where he continues to carry her around* Where's your room, by the way?

[01:25] TT: *I do what I want*

[01:25] TT: *You're not my Bro*

[01:25] TG: *u shithead*

[01:26] TG: conveniently placed on the first floor of course

[01:26] TG: no cool spiraling towers for me UNfortunately

[01:27] TT: *nods and starts walking around aimlessly, still not sure where to drop her off despite having just been told she's living on the first floor* You can always climb up the spiral staircases and slide down the bainsters.

[01:27] TT: Although, I do not reccomend that, and you will probably end up in pieces by the end of it all.

[01:28] TG: nah

[01:29] TG: ill own that shit

[01:29] TG: ill make banister mine

[01:29] TG: personal rolal slide

[01:29] TT: *snorts* There is not a doubt in my mind that you will.

[01:29] TT: At least try not to get hurt.

[01:30] TG: but dirk

[01:31] TT: Roxy.

[01:31] TG: what is fun and games without losing an eye

[01:31] TT: Safe.

[01:31] TT: They are safe.

[01:33] TG: meh

[01:33] TT: *just kind of walks down the hallways slowly and waits for her to point out her room since he's a little embarrassed about having to ask again*

[01:34] TG: *she's a little busy inhaling his essence through his shirt, he's probably gonna have to ask again*

[01:34] TT: *God damn it, Roxy*

[01:35] TT: *Is this payback for the lights?*

[01:35] TG: *maybe*

[01:35] TG: *also you smell good*

[01:35] TT: *sighs after he's walked up and down every hallway on the first floor that he has access to* Okay Rox, I need you to remove your nose from my beautifully styled hair just long enough to tell me where your room is.

[01:37] TG: whut

[01:37] TG: ok

[01:37] TG: *peers around* yeah its the other hallway i think

[01:38] TT: *turns around and starts making his way to the other hallway*

[01:39] TT: Why are you so facsinated with my hair, anyways?

[01:39] TG: lets be real dirk who isnt fascinated with your hair

[01:41] TT: Fair enough.

[01:41] TT: *slows down again once he's in the alleged other hallway* But my hair needs to stop stealing you from me long enough for us to get you safe and sound in bed.

[01:42] TT: Tucked in with your stuffed cats, wizard pajamas, and everything else you need to get cozy like Goldilocks in the Three Bears' home.

[01:43] TG: minus the shitty ass porridge

[01:43] TG: and probably the bears

[01:43] TT: Yeah, fuck that noise.

[01:43] TG: yeah there it is

[01:43] TG: my very unremarkable door

[01:45] TT: *realizes he can't really open in with his arms full of RoLal, so he just sort of folds her over his shoulder fireman style as he reaches for the door and walks inside*

[01:45] TG: uHPH

[01:45] TT: Home, sweet home. Or rather, temporary room, sweet room.

[01:45] TG: *you are so delicate with the wares*

[01:45] TT: *doesn't bother carrying her princess style anymore as he makes his way over to her bed, finally setting her down on it*

[01:46] TT: *flop*

[01:47] TG: *and she goes flopping!! gdi Dirk, she's trying very hard not to blush and not to let him see it because she just wants him to stay without things being awkward* goddamn if that wasnt unceremonious as SHIT

[01:50] TT: *shrugs* I try.

[01:51] TG: pfff

[01:51] TG: ok well

[01:52] TG: avert ye eyes poor heathen children because i am going to get changed into said pajamas

[01:53] TT: Oh shit, I can't be intruding on that magical process. *he snorts before turning around to face the door*

[01:56] TG: *she really wouldn't have cared but whatever she was making this weird enough with all her dumtits *~FEELINGS~* so she's going to hop over to her clothes pile (because who needs to put clothes up when you're not at home) and grab up pjs to change fairly quickly* alrite im decent

[01:56] TG: clothes wise anyhow

[01:56] TG: hella awesome in every other sense

[01:57] TT: *turns back around* Damn striaght you are.

[01:59] TG: *dirk stop being so nice STOP I CANT HANDLE IT* ehehehe yeeaahhh ok cmere *plops back down on her bed and extends her arms*

[02:00] TT: *sits down next to her and wraps his arms around her* Feeling any better?

[02:00] TG: psh did i ever feel bad? i cannot recall

[02:01] TG: it is all so far behind me now

[02:02] TT: I'll take that as a yes.

[02:03] TT: Challenge completed successfully.

[02:03] TT: I should get an achievement for that.

[02:04] TG: lemme just code one up for you real quick

[02:04] TT: Hell yes.

[02:04] TG: *achievement unlocked: cheek kiss*

[02:05] TG: *sorry distri i cant help myself*

[02:07] TT: *smirks* Glad you're feeling better, Roxy.

[02:10] TG: yeah me too *puuuulls him onto the bed to lay back, you're gonna cuddle me now*