towerofanimus | Kid pile

Characters: [AU2] Dave Strider, [OU] Dave Strider, [AU1] Jade Strider, [AU2] John Egbert, [OU] John Egbert, and [AU2] Rose Lalonde
Setting: Floor 81; Morning of the 23rd
Format: Whatever the hell it turns into I guess
Summary: Rose was too drunk the night before to discuss FEELINGS, but FEELINGS need to be discussed. Thus: the creation of the kid pile.
Warnings: Talking about the brainwashing event. Talking about body horror, death, killing, etc. You know.

The meeting would be in the lounge of floor 81, and along with both of the Daves, Little John and Rose, Big John and Jade Strider were both invited. Because let's face it - they all could probably use a talk. Shit went down that was Not Okay, and who knows how it affected them. So a sort of feeling powwow was formed, filled with six kids and a gaggle of Pokemon.

Rose was keeping quiet for the time being, unsure how much she wanted to talk about everything now. It had sounded like a good idea the night before, when she was drunk, but man...now that she was sober? She really wanted to avoid it. Sitting around her was an ever encouraging Espeon, nestled up against her side, and a faithful Houndoom with his head in her lap. Her Dragonite was out sniffing at the other kids, obviously displeased at their displeasure, while Turkey was...

Well. Being a cuddle whore. You would all cuddle him and that was that.

Under the Houndoom's head, in Rose's lap, was a purple binder of some sort. She had yet to reveal what it was.

"...so is anyone else ready for next month's menu?" This was a safe topic, yeah?

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"Excuse you assholes. I can use a fucking microwave." But he's not going to comment on the cooking part. He really can't cook to save his life. A skill he should probably try to get better at, but won't.

Dave almost considers keeping quiet. He doesn't want to talk. He doesn't want to talk because if he talks about it, he'll think about it. If he thinks about it... Well, he doesn't actually know how well of a facade he can keep up when all he wants to do is rip his stomach out or empty the contents of it even when there's nothing to empty.

He doesn't think he can keep this to himself though. Not without it eating him alive. "Having full control of my body is pretty sweet." Like, seriously. He can't explain what it's like being so thoroughly brainwashed. He doesn't know if there's a way to explain it.

His grip on Missy's pokeball tighten a bit. He's trying to make it less obvious that there might be a shake in it. "Could be doing better. But who doesn't have trouble sleeping once in awhile in this place?" Or you know, constantly struggling to get a marginal amount of it.

Okay, so he's not really talking. But he said something and that's a start. There is hope for him yet!

"It's a step closer to you being able to cook. Baby steps Dave, baby steps." John can cook a little. Enough to save himself if he had to. But otherwise touching a kitchen is a huge no on his part.

John doesn't really want to talk either. He looks really uncomfortable, even as he lets Liv curl on and cuddle on him. He's idly fixing her bow and patting her head and wow Liv was so pretty did he have to talk about anything else? He really didn't want to say anything. He and his alternate self were the only ones in this stupid circle who weren't fucking brainwashed- what did they have to complain about? Not much really, just 'oh damn I died a few times', and hell even that wasn't as bad as being messed up by the tower.

John is totally avoiding this subject as he is totally avoiding saying a word towards that particular subject. Even his posture indicates that he is mildly uncomfortable right now.

The topic change was-- uncomfortable. Of course this was probably the whole intention of this gathering, but Jade still didn't want to talk about it. She finally had control of herself back, but the most she had wanted to do with it was nothing, as if she wanted to prove a point.

Still, it was borderline painful being stuck in her own head. She watched the older Dave with a touch of anxiety and guilt (but he was right,) but she wasn't entirely sure she could quit.

As it were, Turkey was basically her best friend right now because damn what an adorably warm little bugger good bug best pokemon. It gave her....sort of enough of an excuse to act like she still wasn't paying attention, shying away from the rest of the circle to lean against Turkey in full now, and moving both arms to cuddle him as far as her arms could reach, the squiddle just sort of laying dumbly between her legs and stomach now.

She didn't want to talk about any of this she wanted to leave couldn't she just leave--

Rose is quiet as she listens to those who talk, and gives sympathetic looks to those who don't. And then it's her turn and she glances down at her lap for a moment.

"Would any of you be...opposed to an apology? I think I would like to apologize to you all." She knows she owes every one of them one. She owes them a lot more than that but right now that's all she had to offer.

Turkey is totally okay with being Jade's best friend. He is not going to push her to do anything, just try and curl more around her and hug her back and gosh Jade you are so wonderful. Giving him hugs and pets!!!

John sneaks a hand over to take Rose's.

"Well, I thought I made it clear that you don't have anything to apologize for. Well...except for the drinking but I already forgave you for that." He gives her hand a small squeeze. "But if apologizing makes you feel better, go for it. No objections from over here."

Liv gives a few quiet, content chirps. Yes, she made a good decision in coming over here to alternate dad.

He doesn't say anything this time. He's rendered mute by the surge of anger that coats all of his thoughts in a red haze. They're here like this because they were altered and manipulated. Why isn't anyone angry about that? Why does it feel like defeat to sit and apologize?

He nods to Rose, letting her get what she needs and sinks his fingers into Kim's fur. The Arcanine shifts and rests her head on his shoulder as he acts like nothing is wrong at all. But everything is.

Justice is dying in a ditch somewhere and he won't have that. There has to be something he can-

There's a blue shape crashing in from above with a howled BAGGGGGON right at smaller Dave. Enjoy that.

Dave opens his mouth to say something. Maybe to apologize too? He kind of killed a bunch of them. And more than once even. Actually, other than Rose, he's pretty sure he killed everyone in this room more than once. Well, that kind of sucks.

He never does actually say anything. Because there's suddenly a fucking Pokemon trying to slam into him and he's less inclined to talk when he's being assaulted by flying Bagons. He does drop Missy's pokeball so he can hold his arms out and catch the flying(more like falling) Pokemon.

"Jesus fuck. Is this for not feeding your nuggets or something when you hatched? What did I ever do to you to deserve this?"

John still doesn't really say much. If Rose needed to apologize for something like this then she could go ahead and do that. But John knew deep down that he personally didn't need an apology. It was okay. It was just fine. He didn't mean to practically invalidate his own feelings on the matter, he just didn't think they were quite as important as the things everyone else needed to get out.

Nope, sorry Dave. He might just be snickering at you. He's in the arms of an angelic and soft bird pokemon, and then there is Bagon....

The divebombing Bagon takes Jade by surprising, eliciting a ~~kind of embarrassing~~ squeak of surprise and hugging Turkey a little tighter on reflex. Yes she was definitely willing to give him all the pets and hugs he wanted.

After a moment of severe apprehension though, she...releases her grip on Turkey a bit (at least so she's not, choking him or something), and... finally, though carefully, and it's probably barely audible, but-- speaks up.

"You don't have to. S'not your fault."

Kid pile

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fuck you Folded oh my god.

whoops gomen

also gomen how do i do tags