Sixth Beat | And We'll Go to the Market to Sell it

[knightime]

Characters: Dave Strider and You!
Format: Any/Either
This log is: Open
Location: Music/Instrument shop in town
Summary: Dave works at the music/instrument shop in town. For all his lack of talking, he seems to be pretty educated in the stuff in this place. He's bored and he still looks like crap honestly.
Warnings: Dave's very sassy text and a lot of cussing was to be had.

Dave didn't go to see the new arrivals at the Train Station this time. Not because he didn't think it was important to see who arrived, but because he just didn't want to end up socializing then. He still looked terrible. It's only been a few days since he got into a physical fight with Vriska and kind of ate it pretty badly.

He cleaned up as best as he could and is sitting at the counter of the little shop in town that sold instruments and music. It was nice. He tapped his foot to whatever was playing in the shop and sometimes he'd lip sync to some lyrics to pass time. It kept his mind off things for a little while.

Still, he idly wondered who'd be arriving this round. He stared out at the shop window, fidgeting with the power rings he just bought from Recette's shop. There were two memory charms shoved into his pocket of his trousers. They had homes, but he was stuck at work. He glanced at the clock. Shit, he was doing that thing where he was counting how long it's been. He slams his head against the counter.

Comments

[greenspaces]

She sees the wave and her face lights up just a little -- at least the people here are friendly. She's been spending a lot of time by herself since she fought with Dave, and seeing people wave makes her feel a little better.

At least, until she reads the nametag.

The smile drops from her face, because she's unsure of what to do -- does he really miss her? John said he did, but she could never tell if Dave really did or if he was being facetious. Finally, she decides to just try something anyway; if he didn't want to speak to her any more, then that was fine. But she wanted to at least do one thing before they went their separate ways, maybe for good.

Jade practically ran around the counter and threw her arms around him, pulling Dave into a tight hug.

[knightime]

Dave is shocked. It shows at first. The stiffening of his shoulders and his body going rigid. But his mind quickly processes the situation. Jade is giving him a hug. Without him making her.

She wanted to hug him, and so he finally wraps his arms around her small frame, fisting the back of her shirt. Oh god, he missed this. He missed holding her hand to the cafeteria. Carrying her around because she fell asleep somewhere. All of this. He missed it.

And he feels a little lighter. He hasn't felt this light since their fight, and he knows that. Even the fact that he's bruised and sore, and he had to make constant trips to the infirmary didn't make him feel any less happy. Maybe Jade was forgiving him. And maybe he didn't deserve it, but he knew he wanted it. He wanted her to forgive him so badly so they can be friends again.

[greenspaces]

She sniffles, but at least she saves herself the embarrassment of crying into his shirt while he's at work. She's just so relieved to have him back -- to be able to hug him and hold his hand and while the guilt's still there, it's not eating her alive any more.

"I never meant any of it," she whispers in his ear. "I really didn't, I promise."

[knightime]

Dave is trying not to cry again. He's been doing that too much. Once was bad enough. Twice, wow he's on a roll. Three times is when he needs to lay off the emotions. But he doesn't cry.

And he smiles instead. He hasn't smiled in a long time, but he smiles for her. Because she's trying to fix things and he should apologize too. So he does.

im sorry
i should have tried harder
and i know i can be a fuck up
but id like to hold your hand again
and eat at the cafeteria
and do all that shit we were gonna do
i want to do that again

[greenspaces]

She smiles back, happy that he's glad to see her. She was honestly worried that he wouldn't want her around, even though John had told her otherwise. Her bandaged fingers reach up to poke at the corners of his mouth.

"I've never seen you smile before. Like this. And...I'm really sorry, that I believed Vriska over you. I should have known that you wouldn't leave me there unless you couldn't get to me. I think...I was being really dumb."

After a pause, she steps back a little, enough to have some arm room. Then she signs, a little falteringly.

<<'I'm sorry. You're my best friend.'>>

[knightime]

He would have agreed, seeing as he was the type to echo 'yeah that was stupid.' But he refrained from it. He didn't want to suddenly upset her or ruin things already. He was just relieved that things would work out and they could be friends again.

And he was delighted to see that she seemed to know a few things in ASL. He was sure John helped her with that.

But it meant a lot, and he was sure that she knew that, so he returns the gesture. His signing was clearer, but only because he had practice. He was sure if she kept practicing, she'd be good at it.

[greenspaces]

"I wanted to learn how to say that, for you. Because this is you and John's thing, and I think it's really cool, and...I want to be able to talk to you guys. Will you...teach me more, though? I only know four things.."

She breaks into a grin, poking him in the sunglasses and giggling. Dave might notice that her bandages are hastily applied, like she did it herself. Underneath, there are more deep scrapes than before. But thankfully the scratches on her face look like they're healing, though some might have been deep enough to leave scars.

"I like you a lot, Dave. You're my best friend forever."

[knightime]

shit
ill give you all the lessons you want
itll make me pretty fucking happy to see you do it
you can practice with john
hes better at it then i am honestly
i dont quite take advantage of it as much as he does

Not that Dave wasn't extremely good at it. He just tended to be clumsier at times. His signing got jumbled when he ended up rambling, and he knew John was cleaner then he was for the most part.

weve got to go by the infirmary later
your hands look like crap
i look like shit
but im stuck here for a little while longer

He hopes that Jade won't hurt herself anymore after this. He didn't want her to hurt herself again. Especially because of him.

i like you a lot too
dont think anyone could ever replace you
youre the only quarky girl for me

[greenspaces]

"No, I want to practice with you. But I will practice with John too, I promise."

She frowned, looking at them for the first time since they fought. At least, looking hard. "We should. I didn't mean to do that.

"Did you just make a science joke?"

[knightime]

we can practice whenever you want
ill even ditch the shades
its easier for people that way
since everything is interpretation
doesnt quite read as solidly as my bright red text does

Dave shrugs a little. Did he?

you tell me
science is your shtick
unless i forgot
!

Dave puts the PDA on the counter and starts digging into his pocket for something. He forgot for a moment that he was going to give this to her.

[greenspaces]

"You did! You made a science joke, that is what you did."

She grins. "What are you doing?"

[knightime]

was it a good one???
or am i still a noob at it

Not that Dave's jokes were relatively good in general.

He pulled out one of the memory charms, and put it in her hand gently. He could feel his ears warming up a bit, but he did his best to keep a straight face.

[greenspaces]

"It was a really good one." And even if it wasn't, Jade wouldn't tell him that. She's far too nice -- and honestly, she thinks that Dave is quite funny.

Jade turns it over in her bandaged hand, uncertain. "Is this...for me? How do I use it?"

[knightime]

He stares at it because...how do they work anyways.

yeah its for you
it didnt come with any instructions
i guess you just
put it on???
or something

He just rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.

[greenspaces]

She pulls out a piece of string that she has draped around her neck like a necklace and clips it onto that. It takes a moment, but then she looks at him again, something like awe on her face.

"You're Dave. You've always looked like this."

[knightime]

That's a rare smile you get to see. He's relieved though. She finally knows what he looks like.

yeah
well
yeah
so no more running like headless chickens right???
i can still wear the nametag though
if it helps

[greenspaces]

"I think the nametag is very pretty." Which means: please keep wearing it because she likes how cute it is.

[knightime]

Which means he'll keep wearing it. He'll find other silly things to add to it.

i think i can outtie in like five
we can hang out
if you wanna

[greenspaces]

"I'd love to hang out with you."

[knightime]

give me a few minutes to finish stuff up
then we can ditch this popsicle stand
like it went out of style minutes ago

He had to do quick inventory and probably make sure money was accounted for. The job was pretty chill, otherwise. And he missed being able to sit at his turntables for hours on end.