Chapter Forty-Nine

Thanks to A Dreaming Songbird, ObsessiveFanFictioner15, laineywillis3, D4rK Sid3, HomestuckWhovianNightFury, and davespritenotdave for reviewing.


= Be Dave Strider

You are Dave Strider. Good thing too. You've finally found some company that's as radical and cool as you.

The guy who looks like Bro, named Dirk, leads you from the building and back into the bustling streets. Quickly, the pair of you duck down side alleys and back roads, avoiding the Orderling patrols and… something else.

"What the hell is that?" You ask, as a loud whistling sound fills the air.

"CrockerBots," Dirk explains. "The Condense's own personal hell-hounds. Those metallic bastards are one of the main reasons we're so paranoid."

"We as in the 'Freedom Fighters'?"

"Exactly." Dirk leads you down another alley and down a set of stone steps to a closed door. He opens it and reveals a dark passageway. "These tunnels run all the way to the edge of town. Come on."

"Where are we going?" You eye the darkness warily.

"What's the matter? Afraid of the dark?" Dirk smirks.

"Hell no. I'm just curious. I wanna know if you're leading me to some psycho butcher who's going to chop me up into little bite-sized pieces or not."

"If anyone should be worried about betrayal, it's me." His shades flash as he glares at you. "I'm taking a huge risk by bringing you with me. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think you were pretty much harmless. You are harmless, right?"

"A hundred percent declawed kitten right here." You gesture with your empty hands for emphasis. "So are we going in or not?"

"Try and keep up, slick. I've lost more than a few dudes in the catacombs." With that and a wave, Dirk ushers you into darkness.

After the door closes you're cast into pitch blackness and for the first time in your life, you know what it's like to be truly blind. Then there's a soft snap and the green glow of a glow-stick illuminates Dirk's face.

"Nice light. Are we going to a rave?"

"Nope." Dirk answers simply. "Someplace a lot cooler and more tolerable."

You follow the bobbing light down the corridor, around numerous corners, up a flight of stairs, and through a few sets of doors. You walk until your feet start to feel sore, until eventually, Dirk pushes open a final door and artificial light illuminates the tunnel.

You step out into a windowless, concrete room and find a dozen rifles pointed at your face.

"Easy now." Dirk follows you into the light. "This red fuck is with me."

The Freedom Fighters do not lower their weapons.

"We saw him fighting you on the roof." Says a girl with gritted teeth. You recognize her as one of the rebels from the public punishment of Mr. Butterwood. Speaking of that crazy asshole, you see the old man sitting on a box in the corner.

"Just a little misunderstanding." Dirk steps up and pushes her weapon away. "He's with me."

Everyone lowers their guns and you breathe a sigh of relief. If they opened fire, then you'd have to open up a whole silo of whoop-ass and you'd feel bad afterwards for kicking all their asses. You don't need any more regret on your conscience.

As Dirk leads you past the group of Freedom Fighters, you nod to Mister Butterwood.

"Sup." You say.

"Just cold chillin." Mr. Butterwood replies and then he folds his arm.

Damn! Can this place get any cooler?!

Your question is answered when Dirk leads you from the small room and into a much larger space about the size of a cathedral. People are everywhere, men, women, and children, all sitting on cots or talking to each other in hushed voices. Everyone is dressed in shabby clothes and almost all of them are armed.

"Refuges and convicts." Dirk sweeps an arm over the crowd. "And our allies in our fight against the Condense."

"Who is this Condense anyways?" You ask, following Dirk further. "What does she do? If she's such a bitch, why haven't you off'd her yet?"

"The Condense is… an anomaly." His fists clench, causing his leather gloves to creak in complaint. "If you ask me, she's the product of human experimentation gone wrong. She's a dictator and a ruthless tyrant, who will crush anyone who opposes her."

"So she's a mutant freak that somehow controls the police force?"

"She controls everything. The media, our food, even the air we breathe in some places. No one knows for sure how she rose to power, since it was ages ago, but we do know that she's got to be taken down." Dirk has brought you towards a room adjacent to the larger one. You can tell that this is his bedroom, as there are multiple radical artifacts strewn all over the place. You admire his impressive collection of puppets from a safe distance. "You asked why we haven't taken her out yet. The real reason is because she's got otherworldly powers, man, like some real magical shit. We've gotten close before, but…" Dirk sinks into a computer chair next to a cluttered desk. "She's killed a lot more of ours then we've killed her's."

"Sounds like a shitty hand to be dealt." You lean against the wall near the door, next to a pretty cool picture of a unicorn. Mythical creatures. You can respect that. "So without actually a means to get to The Condense herself, you're stuck making scenes like the one back in the square."

Dirk leans forward in his chair. You can feel the intensity of his glare behind his dark, pointed shades.

"We're working on a means." He growls. "And we're doing a lot more than freeing prisoners. It's important that the people see that stuff. It's important that they know we're trying."

"Well if everyone is on your guy's side, why don't they fight?"

"Too scared mostly." Dirk answers honestly. You can tell he's getting a little annoyed with your tone. "It's harder than you think to pick up a blade and fight for what's right. I don't expect a freeloader like you to know anything about that."

You turn your head to the side, making a point to show the scar Nepeta left across your neck.

"I've had my fair share of just battles, asshat. Don't talk about things you don't understand." Where does he get off calling you a freeloader? Bitch doesn't know shit about D-Strides.

"Well then, great galaxy warrior." Dirks spreads his arms wide. "Enlighten me with these tales of justice and virtue."

"I could fill a book with all the crazy shenanigans I've put up with." You blow a blonde bang out of your view like a true badass. "You wouldn't believe half the stuff that book said, although you'd eat it up anyways because it's the most interesting and pulse-pounding book ever written. I'm talking Pulitzer Prize material over here."

"Big talk, but unless you can back it up, I couldn't give less than two shits." Dirk's glare intensifies. "You have thirty seconds to remind me why I brought you here."

"You brought me here," You step forward and face Dirk head-on, pausing for dramatic effect. "Because we're going to save the goddamn universe."

Dirk leans back in his chair.

"I'm listening."


= Be Roxy Lalonde

You are now Roxy Lalonde. Congrats. It's another day in the life of an awesome babe.

You wake up like you're used to waking up, with a sore back and a bottle of liquor… Wait.

Where's your bottle of booze? You know that you fell asleep with it.

"Frigglish." You sit up, rubbing at your tired eyes. "Frigglish, did you take mama's feel-good juice?"

"Meow." Says Frigglish as he stretches by your side.

You're going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he didn't respond with a sarcastic answer. That cat has given you enough back-sass to last a life time and OH MY GOD YOU'RE TALKING TO A CAT GET SOME REAL FRIENDS GIRL!

The early morning light is harsh on your eyes, but you're coherent enough to recognize your current surroundings. You're home, or better yet: you're sort of home. The walls of your mother's house are as familiar as always and just as depressing. You never thought you'd set foot in this place again, and yet…

Last night's events rush back to you in a sudden, warm wave of stupid. You'd gone to 'The Bulge of St. Tommy', like you usually do on Friday nights, gotten appropriately trashed and literally bumped into John.

"John?" You cast about for the strange man, but he's nowhere to be seen. "John? Where are you?"

Somehow you've managed to become swathed in a warm blanket overnight. Strange, considering you only remember having enough blankets to make a semi-comfortable bed on the hard, tile floor. John must have covered you up, the little sweetheart.

You're more enthused to find him than ever.

He isn't in the kitchen or in the dining room. You head up stairs next and find your childhood bedroom to be as firmly locked as always. The rest of the upstairs is undisturbed too. Eventually, you have no choice but to look in the very last place you ever want to look.

"Hey." You knock on the open door of your mother's old room. John is sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching a photo in his hands. "John, what are you doing in here?"

He doesn't answer. You step forward, rubbing at your arms as if struck by a sudden chill. You shouldn't be in here, let alone John.

"Dude, what the hell are you…"

He turns to you, quickly swiping at his eyes.

"How did she die?" He asks suddenly. His voice is a little hoarse. "Your mother, how did she die?"

You're frozen about a foot away from him. Struck dumb the sudden question and an unexplainable urge to answer with complete honesty. There's something about the way he's looking at you that coerces you not to snap at him. For some reason, this is important.

"The Condense killed her." You sink down onto the bed at his side. You pull the photo from his hands. It's your mother. She's laughing and smiling and standing next to that old man with the bow tie. "John… my mother isn't the same as your friend."

"This is me." John doesn't seem to be listening. He taps a finger on the face of the old man. "This is an older version of me. We were friends."

You study John's face carefully. It appears to be soft and a little on the round side. If you had to guess, you'd think he's just some regular, doofy guy. However, with barely half a foot of space between you, you can see a coldness to his eyes that only comes with extreme pain and loss.

You know that look well. Ever since your mother died, you've seen flashes of it in the mirror.

"What's she like?" You ask suddenly. "The version of my mom that you know, I mean."

"She's..." John exhales deeply and rubs the back of his neck. "She's something else. Haha. I think you and her will get along well."

"Are you two- like, a thing?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," You smush your hands together, simulating a kiss. "A thing."

John's face looses color.

"Uh, we- we aren't." He stammers. "I mean, I don't think so. Not at the moment."

"Do you wanna be?"

"Can we not talk about this?" John stands up, pulls the photo from your lap, and sets it back on the nightstand. He adjusts it so that it perfectly faces the empty bed. "Tell me about the Condense, Roxy."

You quickly explain the mystery surrounding her origin and her complete control over everything. You also tell him how your mother formed the Freedom Fighters, and her eventual death at The Condense's hands.

"It was the biggest battle in the revolution that pretty much wiped out everyone who was a threat to her," You finish. "As far as I know, there's only a few Freedom Fighters left."

"Is that who we're going to see today?" John asks. "Is this Dirk one of the Freedom Fighters?"

"You could say that. He's sort of their leader now. His brother died along with my mother."

"Wow." John is silent for a moment, then: "Listen, Roxy. I'm really sorry about your mom."

"It was a while ago."

"Still, I mean, I lost my dad a while ago too, but…" He trails off and shakes his head. "I'm just sorry you had to go thought that."

Shrugging, you get to your feet. It's time you got out of this room. It's too quiet, everything is a little too neatly organized. It feels like a museum.

"Everyone's lost someone." You say. "Come on, John. It's not a long drive to their base, but we should be quick about getting there. The less time we spend wandering about, the better."

John agrees and follows you from the room, being careful to shut the door quietly. As if he might disturb someone. He certainly is a strange character, this John. Not in an entirely bad way though.

Something about him is a little… alluring.

You watch him like a total creeper as he washes his face in the kitchen sink. When you'd first seen him in that club he'd been so awkward and doofy that you'd found it practically impossible not to flirt with him. Then later, when he'd told you his story, it was like he was a whole different person: badass, determined, and almost a little scary.

Almost.

You think about his words when you'd questioned him about the version of your mother than he knew, his Rose Lalonde. Were they romantically involved? Would John make a good boyfriend? He doesn't seem like the type to be tied down. Everything about him, down to the way he walks, seems a little… floaty.

Maybe that's just a part of his whole windy thing, which was yet another facet of John's interesting character in of itself.

You make a mental note to mack on John when you get the chance.

You're not desperate for companionship or anything. You're independent woman with a knack for obliterating glass ceilings like Hacksaw Jim Duggan does two by fours. However, who are you to turn away a heaping pile of adorable man-meat when it's presented on a silver platter. You can't be a sassy bachelorette your whole life!

John catches you staring.

"Are you okay?" He asks. "You had a lot to drink last night."

"I have a lot to drink every night." You wave your hand noncommittally. "Are you ready to go yet?"

"Yup!" John shrugs on his coat while you track down Frigglish. You don't plan on coming to this house again anytime soon, so leaving your partner in crime behind seems a little neglectful.

John follows you cheerily from the house until he's once again faced with the motorbike. You watch his smile drift to a frown.

"What's the matter?" You smirk. "Don't tell me you're scared of bikes."

"I'm not! It's just…" John rubs the back of his neck again. "I'm scared of your driving."

This brings a peal of laughter from your lips. At no time in your life have you heard such an open display of honesty. It's refreshing to find someone who doesn't hide behind big talk and pretense.

"Well then, do you want to drive?"

If anything, John's eyes grow wider.

"Oh geez. I haven't driven a car in years and I've never driven a motorcycle."

"Well then I guess that's settled." You pass him the bag full of cat and plop yourself back on the bike. You playfully pat the space behind you. "Hop on, Cowboy. Let's ride!"

With a very un-cowboy-ish groan, John joins you on the death machine and you take off with enough speed to leave behind a puff of smoke, all the air in John's lungs, and all your depressing thoughts back where they belong.

You ride back up the windy road and rejoin the traffic heading into the city, although before you get to the bridge, you take another detour and head down a two lane road that runs along the bay that surrounds the city. It's still early morning, so the sun casts a pretty yellow glow over the frothy waves. A salty breeze runs parallel to the street and it ruffles your hair delightfully. Man, you need to hit up this beach again sometime, work on your tan, catch a few waves, check out all the sexy people, and…

You hear John gag as some of your hair gets in his mouth. You'd almost forgotten he was back there. His presence suddenly reminds you of the impeding destruction of your planet and then intergalactic quest your must undergo to save it.

Suddenly the beach seems more melancholy than anything else.

You stay on a straight line and eventually other vehicles fade away as you grow closer to the beach. The bike rumbles in complaint as you take it over a gravely road towards an abandoned shack near the sea. You bring the bike to a halt about a hundred yards away from the lone building.

"We should walk from here." You explain. "These guys can be hella paranoid."

"I'm more than okay with that." John is quick to pull his hands from your waist. "Uh, you do know these guys, right? I mean, we aren't just going to be walking into their base randomly, are we?"

"Oh no. Me and Dirk go waaaay back. We're like G.D. BFFL's and all that jazz." You lead the way towards the crumbling shack. "This is totally going to be a painless process…"

You're cut off when gun fire scatters the rocks at your feet.

"Roxy!" John grabs you by the arm and pulls you back.

"Don't come any closer!" A voice echoes across the beach. "We're armed with so many weapons and stuff that you don't even know! We will not hesitate to give both of you shiny, new assholes!"

You raise your hands to show that you're completely harmless.

"We're completely harmless!" You call. "We just wanna talk to Dirk!"

"What's in the bag?!" The voice responds.

You reach into John's backpack and pull out Frigglish.

"A Cat!"

"Why do you have a cat?!"

"Because he gets lonely! Look, is this really important or can we come over now?!"

"Fine! You can approach, slowly!" The voice assents. "Although this better not be some Trojan Horse bullshit! Else I'm going to get in so much trouble!"

You motion to John to follow and carefully, the two of your approach the shack. It's front door is barred with a cross beam that you easily duck under. On the other side is a pair of armed Freedom Fighters.

"Well, turn me upside down and call me a pixie." One rebel, a tall girl grins. "If it ain't RoLal herself."

"RoLal and guest." You bow and gesture to John, who's clumsily scrambling under the beam. "We need to talk to Dirk. Is he here?"

"Where else would he be?" The girl walks to the center of the floor and lifts up a wooden pallet to reveal a fancy-looking, metal hatch in the floor. "Head on down. I think he's in his room. Sorry about almost blowing out your kneecaps back there, RoLal. You can never be too careful nowadays."

"Yeah, yeah. Just work on your aim. Alright, sweetie?" You pat her on the cheek as you pass and kneel to open the hatch. John follows you below ground and you shut the hatch, leaving the two Freedom Fighters above in their post.

"So you're a Freedom Fighter too?" John asks as you lead the way down a narrow corridor.

"No, but like I've said: My mom was probably the biggest one who ever lived. I'm sort of a celebrity down here." Sure enough, when the passageway opens up into a large room full of people, all eyes swivel to you. Hushed whispers follow you as you take John's arm and lead him through the crowd. You confidently stride to another doorway and into Dirk's room.

Dirk Strider is sitting in a chair across from some douchebag with a pair of shades. They stop whatever intense conversation they were having when you walk in.

"Hey there, honey." You wink. "Did you miss me?"

Before Dirk can speak, John brushes around you.

"Daaaaave!" He says.

"Jooooohn!" The other guy says.

They rush to each other and for a heart-breaking moment, you think they're going to kiss. However, they simply bump fists and grin at each other in the most bromantic expression of appeasement you've ever seen. You breathe a sigh of relief. That last thing you need is for another crush to pulled out from under you in that manner.

Speaking of crushes being ruined, Dirk rises from his chair.

"What are you doing here, Lalonde?" He asks, folding his arms.

"Lalonde?" The guy named Dave echoes. "John, who's this babe?"

John takes both you and Dave by the shoulder and draws you together.

"Dave, this is Roxy Lalonde. Roxy, this is Dave Strider."

"Strider?" It's your turn to echo. "John, who is this guy?"

John opens his mouth to answer, but suddenly catches a glimpse of Dirk. His mouth hangs agape as he looks between you, Dave, Dirk, and then back to you again.

"I need to talk to Dave." John says suddenly. "I mean, privately."

"Not until you tell me who you are." Dirk steps forward. "Who are you? Who let you in this super secret base that no one is supposed to know about?"

"It's cool, Dirky. He's with me." You vouch for John.

"That doesn't mean anything." Dirk wheels on you. "What do you think you're doing? Bringing your dates down here like it's some big show-n-tell fest of fun. Where do you get off, RoLal?"

"Hey, leave her alone." John frowns. "She brought me here because it's really important that I talk to you."

"You're a little late on the draw, Bro." Dave smirks. "I've already won him over."

"You haven't won anything yet, slick." Dirk glares at Dave. "So far you've done nothing but babble about nonsensical bullshit. Someone better start giving me answers before I have all three of you kicked out of here."

"You wouldn't kick me out, Dirk." You pat him on the shoulder. "We're buds. Besides, I think you really need to hear what John has to say. It's about the end of the world!"

"Not you too." Dirk shrugs off your hand. "Christ on a bike, has the whole world gone mad?"

In response, John shuts the door, cutting off the chatter outside, and then turns to face the assembled crew. His face has taken on a strange hardened quality that you've never seen before.

"Alright. I think everyone should take a seat." He says.

Instantly, Dave grabs a chair. You recognize now that John has entered leader-mode. With a shrug, you flop down onto Dirk's bed, much to his annoyance. Dirk and John are the only ones left standing now.

"I don't take orders from guys I don't know." Dirk says coolly. "Who are you, John?"

"I am John Egbert from earth." John proclaims. "I am the Heir of Breath, friendleader to the beta kids, and all around nice guy that just wants to do what's best for everyone. And right now what I think is best is that you listen to what I have to say."

Dirk tilts his head slightly.

"You're pal, Dave here, already gave me a spiel about aliens and video games. I highly doubt that you have anything more coherent to say."

"Show him, John." You interject. "Show him what you can do."

With a wave of his hand, John manipulates the air in the room. Both you and Dave smirk as a few things fall from a desk and Dirk's spiky hair becomes even more voluminous.

"Alright," Dirk speaks as the wind dies. "Neat trick, but that doesn't mean anything Dave said about the end of the world is true."

"Well it is!" You stand up. "SBURB is real. I found files of it in The Condense's systems. I can show you…"

"Roxy." Dirk cuts you off by giving you the hand. "I don't need this right now, okay? Not from you."

You stubbornly open your mouth to defend yourself, but Dave speaks up then.

"I've told him everything, John." He says. "He's still not buying any of it."

"I buy that both of you are a little off, yeah." Dirk nods to John and Dave. "But look at it from my point of view. I've been running this revolution for a while now and it hasn't been easy. Now you show up and want me to drop everything so that I can blow up the world and go on some wacky adventure with you guys? I mean, seriously?"

"If you come with us, then you'll have a chance to rebuild this world without The Condense." John raises a good point. "This world is doomed anyway. We wouldn't have come here if it wasn't. You have a chance to fix things, Dirk."

"Even if I did want to believe you, how could I justify killing all those people out there." Dirk nods towards the door. "Hell, all the people on this planet."

"Because it's like I said, in the end, everything will be better off because of it." John pleads with him. "It wouldn't just be your world you're saving either. It's ours too and our friends."

"The trolls?" Dirk smirks.

"Yeah, that's them!"

Dirk shakes his head.

"Wow, that's amazing." He looks between both John and Dave again. "You're both insane, right? I mean, no one can take a joke this far."

"They aren't joking, Dirk." You try again.

"Roxy…"

"No!" You jump to your feet, cutting him off. "Why are you being such a dick?! I get that you're precious revolution is so important, but you can't ignore what these guys are saying and you sure as hell can't treat me like shit!"

"I'm not treating you like shit." Dirk replies calmly, only serving to infuriate you further. "I just don't think you're all that reliable of a reference."

"And why the hell not?! Because I'm not a part of your silly gang?"

"Because you're an alcoholic with an over-active imagination. And this 'silly gang' is the legacy left behind by my Bro and your mother. It's the only thing still standing against The Condense and I think you should treat it with a little more respect."

"My mom died so that I wouldn't have to fight in some stupid war, not to leave behind some legacy."

"Is that really what you think happened?" Dirk is incredulous. "You think that your mom died so that you can hide between the cracks and just let injustice fill up the streets like acid rain? Roxy, it was our job to pick up where they left off."

"Not it wasn't!" You jab him in the chest with a finger. "You did that, Dirk! You decided to play the hero…"

"While you did nothing, yeah I know."

"I've been doing things!"

"Getting drunk and hanging out at clubs aren't things, RoLal."

"Hey, I- I think we're getting off track." John tries to cut between the pair of you.

Dirk ignores him.

"Do you remember what happened after they died?" He asks, advancing towards you. "I was left with half of an opposing force left. I needed your help Roxy and you turned your back on us. We wouldn't be so bad off if you'd worked with us."

"My mom didn't…"

"Your mom sheltered you from the war because she thought you weren't strong enough to fight, and she was right." Dirk shakes his head, disappointed. "Get out of here, Roxy. Take your boyfriend and his pal and just go back to where you belong. I have a revolution to run."

With that, he turns and sits down at his desk, putting his back to you.

You're mouth hangs agape and stare at the back of his spiky, blonde head. Angrily wiping the beginnings of tears from your eyes, you reach for John's hand.

"Come on, John. I made a mistake bringing you here." You pull him towards the door. "I'm sorry for wasting your time."

Dave jumps up from his chair and catches up with you and John just outside the door.

"Bro," Dave grabs John's other wrist. "We can't walk out on this guy. He's the real deal."

"I know." John answers with a nod. "Listen, just wait here with Roxy, alright? I'm going to go talk to him."

Before you can voice your opposition to this plan. John pulls away and reenters Dirk's room, shutting the door behind him and leaving you with Dave.

"Do you think he can get through to him?" You ask Dave. "I mean, you already tried, right?"

Dave looks at you with a smirk.

"If anyone can do it, John can." He leans against the wall, the epitome of cool. "In the meantime though, I'd like it if you told me exactly who you were, Roxy Lalonde. If that even is your real name."

Bracing yourself for another intense conversation, you start off by telling him the truth.

"Me?" You place a hand to your chest and wink. "I'm the daughter of Rose Lalonde."

Predictably, Dave's reaction is priceless.


= Be John Egbert

You are now John Egbert. Which means you're about to give the most important leader-ly speech in your life. Thus far at least.

Dirk is sitting at his desk with his shoulders hunched. He looks like the type of guy that you really don't want to disturb. However this is really important, so you're going to do it anyways.

He turns when the door opens and closes.

"You." Dirk frowns when he sees you. "What do you want, John? I thought I told you to scram."

"You need to listen to what we have to say." You approach him. "Dave and I came a long way, risked a whole lot, and put up with a lot of shit to get here. The least you can do is hear me out."

Dirks sighs.

"Let's pretend for a second that what you're saying isn't absolutely crazy, backwards, or convoluted. What do you want from me?"

"We need you to come with us and help save our worlds." You simplify it greatly. "Basically there's this evil black king that we need to destroy to beat SBURB."

"Does it have to be me? Couldn't you find someone else? For the last time, I'm already drowning in other, better-quality stuff."

"Dave seems pretty convinced that you're our player two," You say. "And I'm partial to believe him. Also Roxy knows you so that's a big plus. It sounds like you and her have some history."

"You could say that. We both lost people to this war, but instead of continuing the fight like me, she just wanted to give up and lie low. If you're looking for galactic saviors then…"

"I think Roxy is more of a galactic savoir than anyone I've met so far, other than her mother."

"You knew Roxy's mother?" Dirk raises an eyebrow.

"Sort of. It's hard to explain and frankly I don't understand it all that much." You point toward the door. "Let me ask you something. Does Dave look familiar at all to you?"

Dirk is silent for a moment. Then he speaks truthfully:

"He looks like my Bro."

"That's because he is your Bro. An alternate version at least." You want to add: I think, but decide not to since that might lessen the impact of the revelation. "And you're his Bro too, different from the one he and I know and love."

"Is other me cool?"

You have the feeling that you're being mocked.

"He's cool, yeah, although he hasn't been himself for a long while." You take a deep breath and press on. "Dirk, is there anything we can do to get you to take us seriously?"

He thinks for a moment, leaning back in his chair.

"Sure, there's a couple of things." As he starts to count on his fingers, you perk up. "One, get a copy of this game. Pictures and documents can be forged, but if you get a copy of SBURB on my desk, then I'll have to believe you."

He points towards the door and the room beyond full of Freedom Fighters.

"These guys have been through hell and back. If you want something from me, then you gotta do something for them." He explains. "We have this guy stationed off shore on a remote island. He usually supplies us with raw goods and reports on the movement of the CrockerCorp Navy. Recently he's gone dark. If you find out what happened to him, then I'll be in your debt."

"He's just gone missing?"

"I think so. Basically he hasn't been picking up the phone." Dirk climbs to his feet. "We haven't had any guys to spare to go investigate, so now's the perfect opportunity to take advantage of your position. You scratch my back, I'll travel with you to an alternate dimension and help you fight aliens… maybe."

Dirk holds out his hand and without hesitation, you take it.

"You've got yourself a deal, Dirk Strider."


So I had this whole AN planned where I was gonna talk about the new Avengers trailer...

Then I read the Homestuck Update. *HS SPOILERS AHEAD. DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT KNOW.*
First off, how good was that art? This is Hussie's best looking animation yet in my opinion.
Secondly, HOLY FUCKING SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT. Rose's face... Dave and Jade... Jake... so heroic... so G.D. heroic man... literally everyone else...
Thirdly, look at John kicking ass!
Now, by looking at a conversation between Meenah and Aranea pre-giga pause, it's basically stated that this is a doomed timeline. So maybe everyone is okay elsewhere? Also, with John's canon-changing abilities, he might be able to set things straight. We'll have to wait and see.
*END OF HS SPOILERS.*
A small part of me wants to see the aftermath though. Just for kicks.

Thanks for reading.
- Mike