moveslikestrider | [Video ---> Text]

[A kid with rad shades on adjusts the feed, and if you look closely you can see his left eyebrow is twitching a little.]

Okay, so. After that, [A pause as he looks off screen, away from the end of cycling road that stretches upwards behind him.] report.

[Twitching in that eyebrow just gets worse. It has nearly reached out of control levels. Dave mutters a few swear words and steps out of the frame after kicking the stand on his bike down so it stays in place. He appears a moment later.]

Anyway. Getting to the point of all this. First off, newcomers, yo. Yes this is a real place and if you got questions, just ask'em.

[He holds up a hand and a large Salamence with pointy shades lands quietly at his side.]

To anyone around longer than a week. There was a survey going round before about gathering up who has rolled through here and what worlds have the most representation. We were looking for patterns or something like that. Couldn't find the results, for those of you I talked to. I figure we might as well do another one.

I'll even forgo my red text and do this properly. Because it isn't a joke, it's a fact finding tour of the gear network.

[It switches to text from here.]

Name (obvious)
How many people are here from your universe? (if i need to explain this one shame on you dudes)
How many people have BEEN here from your universe?(as in what people are no longer here and how many times)
What's your universe even like? (what was the most common what themes etc)
How long have you been here? (someone remind me if i forgot anything from the last one)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Could be. Or something here is taking us because of what we could do. I dunno. John knows the full details of who has been and gone. [That old fart. Dave scratches at the underside of his chin to turn the information over in his head.] I think you're the third? Jade. I know there's been at least two, counting you.

Jade the Third.

[A beat, then she laughs.]

God, that's still such a trip to me.

Dave the fifth, [He deadpans that and sighs.] It's not too weird for me, you know, time guy. But I can see how it's weird for everyone else. At least you're Harley the third and not like the sixth or something.

I am Harley, no matter what iteration of me is here or not here, it's me.

[She's had about enough of anything that sounds remotely like "real or not real" talk and her tone shows it before she reels it back.]

But it's good that I'm only the third because then that means you guys aren't all alone here, and we're all together like we should be.

[He winces at the tone and holds up his hands. It's been awkward with both Jades for reasons Dave had no idea about until recently. Even then he's in the damn dark. John only said Jade and Davesprite had dated, not what happened. He really doesn't want to know.] It was a joke, ok. Actually I think I got my math wrong and you're the second. My point was, we've been through a lot and Dave Strider has a short shelf life for some reason.

Apparently so does Roxy. She never sticks around long. I like us all being together and normal and none of us having any weird game shit breathing down our necks. That's the best thing ever and I don't want it to stop. Having the Mayor here would just make it perfect. Did I ever tell you about him?

Because if I haven't I have committed a grave error in judgment.

Hmmm... [and she doesn't want to stir up drama by bringing up how Davesprite hurt her feelings. This is not Davesprite, this is Dave, he is a different person even if he's the same at the same time.

I like us all being together and normal and none of us having any weird game shit breathing down our necks.

I do, too (I also like not being a villain)! she would respond, but then another voice whispers at the back of her mind.

Do you really want to doom everything and make all of the sacrifices that we've had to do completely moot?

...Fucking Karkat.

Never mind, she'll just brush it off and move on. That's what makes the most sense, isn't it? Nobody wants to talk about it and talking about it only upsets them, so don't talk about it.]

You haven't told me about the Mayor. What's he the mayor of?

[He flashes her a bright smile. The Major is a topic Dave can prattle about all damn day.] Can town! Shit did I not tell you about can town. What a terrible friend I am. Well, can town is made of cans. And books too but Rose got a bit annoyed at us for raiding the library.

Who knew Tab soda could have a use other than being fizzy shit water chock full of sugar.

[He looks so enthusiastic about it, she can't help but smile back.] You are not a terrible friend, gosh.

[It's cute, really.]

That sounds like it was fun. Too bad there was no Can Town on the ship with John and me...maybe he would have been less bitchy.

Maybe. I dunno. I think the whole three years thing was a lot of wallowing in our own problems. We had nothing but time to think. No parents, nothing new to focus on. That can be a bad thing for some people.

[It was for the meteor. Oh it was. He sobers at that then shakes his head.] Anyway the major is the major. Dunno what he was doing before but he had this hole through him. The fish princess's godtier ghost saved him.

He's chill as fuck about everything and really likes food. And justice and order. He's a carapace though.

[Oh, alternate timeline Feferi helped him? Sure sounds like standard issue for their world!

She remains silent as he talks about wallowing. It'd be nice if they could confide in each other and maybe work through their problems together as friends, but then bringing it up would be distressing so she won't do that.]

From Derse or Prospit? I mean, not that it matters either way, a cool dude's a cool dude, freaky crab-alien or not.

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