Cause we're just under the upperhand

[knightime]

Characters: Dave Strider and anyone who wants to run into the teen
Setting: Around the Tower
Format: Either
Summary: Dave is running from something only he can see because of his illness.
Warnings: Paranoia, Insanity, the usual Animus problems


[Dorm Levels]
You might be lucky to run into Dave here. He's been kind of absent from the dorm levels as of late. You might have been lucky to catch him the few days he actually has been in his dorm, but he usually only tries to sleep before disappearing off again. His poor Pokemon, Missy, has been waiting at the foot of his bed for him forlornly. At least he brings her food before disappearing again.

Right now, he's wandering aimlessly the floor. He keeps looking behind him, expecting something and sometimes he'll pick up his pace as though he has seen something.

He'll eventually start making his way to the stairs though. He really doesn't look like he wants to stick around here that long. He looks exhausted and his movements aren't up to par as they usually are from the looks of it.

[Floor 48: Graveyard]
Dave has started frequenting this floor, even if it was morbid. He kind of just like staring at all the names across the headstones. He makes daily visits to some of his friends' tombstones. He knows there's nothing in them, but it makes him feel better to leave flowers or something once in awhile.

Right now? He's running. He's running as fast as his feet can take him. He's mumbling and tripping over his feet and it looks like he's running from something. What it is? Well, no one else can see it. Only him.

[Floor 40: Storage Room]
He's basically tried to wedge himself in some corner, hands clutched over his ears and threaded in his hair and he has his face buried against his knees. Dave likes floors like these right now, because he doesn't think people frequent them as much. The less he has to be around people, the better.

[Floor 25: Meadow]
Dave had been going to this floor to avoid the cold. For some reason, it stays in Springtime weather, which he isn't going to complain about because it beats the rest of the tower. But he'll move soon. He can't stay on a floor for too long. If he does, the creatures trying to control him will find him and try again.

For now though, he's going to take advantage of the fact that he can be relatively warm for this short moment.

Comments

[lethechained]

[Which is always a bad sign, when it's Dave. Her hesitation returns, her eyes searching for any outward proof that some harm has come to him, just in case. Even so, she knows that if there's anything wrong with him, it's almost certainly related to the illness going around. In the same tone,]

... Are you sick?

[knightime]

[He doesn't look up still, keeping his face buried. Chill out, Dave. Nothing bad is gonna happen. She's ok. Right? Please be okay. He really wants her to be ok. He's so fucking scared of looking up.]

A bit.

[lethechained]

[She pauses, and does not point on that it does not look like 'a bit'.]

... I'm sorry. What's been happening to you?

[Because she knows by now that the symptoms vary, and although she can't criticize isolating oneself to avoid getting sick... this seems like something else.]

[knightime]

It's no big deal. Playing hide n' seek. [There's some truth to his comment. He's hiding from something and now he's too scared to fully face it.

He's like a stupid kid who's hiding from the monster under his bed.]

[lethechained]

....

[The problem with trying to play things off like that, Dave, is that not only does she know you do it, she was also pretty close to immune from the get go.]

Who's seeking?

[She says it calmly, but the frown on her lips is growing.]

[knightime]

You don't want to know.

[He didn't want to either and he desperately wants to pretend it isn't happening. He just doesn't want to deal with this anymore.]

[lethechained]

[She begs to differ on that point, but it's obvious that he doesn't want to talk about. But of course, people's 'wants' and 'needs' are frequently very different things. Perhaps the more important point;]

Do you need help?

[knightime]

I got this under control.

[Obviously, he totally has this under control. Totally.

Except not really. But he doesn't think she can really help with this. Even he doesn't know how to get out of this.]

[lethechained]

... Dave--....

[You're huddled in some forsaken corner of a warehouse floor, Dave. It does not look like he has things under control. But,]

... You don't have to be afraid to ask, if you do need help - or if you ever do. [Gotta give him that out, and all.]

[knightime]

I don't think you can do much. [No one has been able to do much the passed while. This flu traveled like wildfire and he hasn't heard of anyone being able to properly shake it off.]

[lethechained]

....

[It's frustrating. Not because it's insulting, but because he's probably right.]

... I know. I'm sorry. But--... I can at least give you someone to talk to.

[knightime]

I...I guess I'd like that. [He sounds really tired. Kind of defeated.]

[lethechained]

[And she notices, of course, but she tries to let only the kindness in her voice come through when she says,]

Thank you.

[She doesn't move from her spot; better that she doesn't invade his space in a situation this precarious, she thinks.]

What would you like to talk about?

[knightime]

I don't know. Not about this. [He finally glances up at her. She can't see the worn out look in his eyes with his aviators perched on his face.]

[lethechained]

[No, but she can see the rest of his face, and any other indicators there. She's careful to keep her smile kind, warm, and in place.]

Well... then, read any good books, lately? Or see any good movies?

[How she small talk? She's trying, really she is.]

[knightime]

I don't really visit the library. Maybe I should. [There's not always a lot to do here, so he probably will.]

I...haven't really watched anything for a bit. November was weird and then I fucking got sick now.

[lethechained]

It's nice, sometimes. There are lots of stories, if you like that kind of thing, or books that you can learn from. And... it's quiet, and if you want to be alone, it's good for that, too. I've always felt sort of safe there.

[--....] Oh. ... Well, maybe we can fix that, once you're feeling better.

[knightime]

I'd like that. Yeah. Watching movies with you was nice. [He rests his head on his knees. God, he wants this to end already.] We still got a crapton of movies to go through, yeah?

[lethechained]

[She smiles a little wider, both because she's glad to hear it and to help provide some comfort, but mostly the latter.]

Mm. I enjoyed it, too, and-- it still will be nice, when it happens again.

[Gotta focus on the future, or something.]

Yeah. There are so many that I wouldn't even know where to start without you.

[knightime]

[He rubs at his eyes. He's tired. He glances up behind her, the faceless clockwork creature staring back at him. He looks down at his feet. Ugh. Pretend it isn't there. It isn't there.]

Someone else would have probably dragged you to watch movies with them eventually.

There's plenty of people here who knows what a movie is.

[lethechained]

[--.... What was that look for? But she doesn't press it.]

So? It wouldn't have been you. And-- that means it wouldn't have been the same.

[-- Pfff.] Well, the movie would have been the same, but-- not the experience.

[knightime]

Maybe you'd have a better experience. I'm not the biggest movie buff.

[He considers getting up finally. He doesn't want to be stuck here the entire time. But he's scared to see more of these things on everyone else.

If Namine listens costly, Dave might be muttering how they're not real to himself. Like if he says it enough, it'll be true. Or he can convince himself it's actually true.]

[lethechained]

I doubt it. Movie buff or not... you've always made it fun, Dave.

[She'd... possibly be relieved, if it could be taken as a good sign. His muttering - which she does indeed listen closely to - is perhaps not so comforting, but she doesn't interrupt him.]

[knightime]

[Wow. Doki his fucking heart. Getting a compliment like that and making all his heart aflutter. Senpai noticing him, Jesus Christ.

It's a better feeling to concentrate on than the creepy creatures looming over him. He may have grabbed hold of her hand as he gets to his feet and starts shuffling out of this floor. Once in awhile, he might jerk, like he was trying to get out of something or someone's grasp.]

[lethechained]

[She may not realize what her words did, but... he stands, at least, and she tries to take that as a good thing. She watches him carefully, briefly surprised when he takes her hand but not so much as to stop from letting him use it freely. If she can offer him any assistance, well -- that's more than enough for her. Her eyes linger on him, her smile meant for his benefit but at least partially helped that he seems to be making some sort of progress. She follows along with him, taking note of any jerks but making no comment on them.]