wow so i am back from china and all of a sudden this chapter is done?
oh my god you guys i am so sorry it took so long to finish! unfortunately what with school having started, vector and i sharing a time difference of eight hours, and vector also being in her final year of college, rping is REALLY HARD. there are just..issues. but we are working as hard as we can and surely chapter 10 will not take that long to get out to you all.
seriously omg you reviewers let me kiss you: aStormatMidnight, Scuttlebutt AND Fumbles, LyssiLuvr, Yaoi'sWhore, harmonic alchemist, Little Ryuu, ParsleyFeline, Spastic Wooper, Loveless12789, -xxCloudEnvyxx-, Brometheus, Feloss, BitterSweet-Scion, Expelliar-mouse, Dark Mouse, H3H3H3, Littledove, Unclear Destiny, ieirena, California'sDream, Seeverr, Rider of the Whales, Serpent-Chan, Charxilyn, kind-of-heart, Zouza, xXnoaXx, Myriad Lapse, season3, XxxRenaxxX, as well as all of you lovely anons! for those of you who gave me good china wishes and understanding, thank you they are so appreciated. to those admitting their intent to stalk me: come at me bro. those wishing to bear my online virtual children: talk to me after class i am sure we can figure something out ;). and finally, i'm still expecting that bad fanart of cheerleader!dave.
ok perdue stop talking!
Warnings: tbh i'm not too happy with this chapter... :/ also they talk about SEX isn't that exciting?
Disclaimer: hussieeee
The Figurehead of Queer Justice
A Crucial Verb
When John stepped in front of the mirror the next morning, he noticed, almost in passing, that the dark bruises around his eyes were turning a strange greenish yellow color. As he removed his clothes in order to shower, he saw that the bruising on his stomach had also taken on a bit of a green tinge. He sighed and tried to put out of his mind how ugly he felt. At least his lip had healed over and only ached a little when he smiled widely, though it was small relief to the dread in the pit of his stomach that Dave would be there in three days and he still looked like he'd gotten his ass handed to him in the Puget Sound's nearest fight club. Not exactly exuding sex appeal, there.
Well, not that John Egbert ever exuded sex appeal in the first place.
As he was eating breakfast that morning, his PDA buzzed and he pulled it out to see familiar green text.
– gardenGnostic [GG] began pestering ectoBiologist [EB] -
GG: john!
EB: oh, hey jade! how are you?
GG: john you are really silly and i am going to pap you really hard on the nose next time we see each other!
EB: what?
EB: what did i do?
GG: weeeeeeeeell for one thing its been like a week since youve talked to me! :(
GG: and for second thing i hear that there have been...developments!
EB: oh, i'm sorry jade! i swear i'm not trying to ignore you or anything.
EB: like you said, there have been lots of developments!
EB: i feel like being the gay kid who got beat up is my new job or something, there've been so many interviews and stuff!
GG: joooooooohn john john you are ridiculous!
EB: ...what?
GG: im not talking about the media thing silly!
GG: i meant romantic developments ;)
EB: ...
EB: oh.
GG: hahahahahaha!
GG: john you are so cute ≤3
EB: pfft, no i am not!
GG: i think you definitely are
GG: and i bet dave agrees :P
EB: oh my gosh jade, i will turn off my phone.
GG: shhhh no john dont do that that is the worst thing you can do!
GG: i just wanted to ask you about it since sooooome people have to get their information second hand!
EB: jade, i really am sorry!
EB: i guess everything is happening so fast that i sort of forget to keep everyone in the loop. :(
EB: my dad doesn't even know yet!
GG: really? :o
GG: when are you planning on telling him?
EB: i don't really know, to be honest.
EB: i think dave really wants me to say something even if he is pretty nonchalant about it.
GG: that dave is so stubborn about that stupid coolkid thing
GG: doesnt he realize that we all know hes pretty much full of shit? :P
EB: haha!
EB: maybe not!
EB: i don't know, i think he's pretty cool.
EB: i still don't get the whole irony thing, but whatever.
GG: its probably not something you want to understand anyways!
GG: but do you think youll wait until dave actually gets there to let the cat out of the bag?
EB: hm.
EB: i feel like i might want to give dad a little more heads up than that, haha.
GG: yeeeeah thats probably a good idea
GG: dont want to give dad a panic attack now!
EB: oh man, that would be the worst!
EB: i don't think i'd be able to live with myself if i gave my dad a panic attack.
GG: thats why you gotta tell him asap!
EB: but when?
GG: idk john its not like im your secretary! :P
EB: pfft.
GG: well what are you doing now?
EB: just eating some cereal.
GG: is today gonna be reeeeally busy?
EB: compared to the rest of my schedule for the past week, not particularly.
EB: i have a meeting with my attorney, i'm going to a queer resource center in seattle to learn more about the issues, and this silly counseling appointment that my attorney is making me do.
GG: counseling? :(
EB: yeah, for what happened and stuff.
EB: having counseling is proof that the event upset or traumatized me or something.
GG: like you would need counseling to prove that! D:
EB: no kidding!
EB: oh no jury i was totally cool with getting beat up, no big deal.
GG: hehehe
GG: i bet your counselor isnt as good as rose!
EB: not by a longshot!
EB: rose has been waaaaaaaay more helpful to me for pretty much ever.
GG: her tentacles are scary but she sure is good at figuring out what youre thinking and using it for good
GG: unless youre dave then she uses it for evil!
EB: hahaha!
EB: well what, jade are you saying that you've needed rose's help recently?
EB: is everything okay?
GG: hehehe everything is great! :D
GG: a while ago i was having pretty weird dreams that sort of had to do with the game
EB: oh, do you get the nightmares, too?
GG: :/ no
GG: what nightmares?
EB: oh, uh.
EB: hehe, it's nothing! just one of those weird rare occurrences.
EB: definitely.
GG: i dont knooow something seems a little fishy here john!
EB: shh jade we were talking about you, remember?
GG: whatever john!
GG: but fine
GG: i was just having these weird dreams a lot and feferi was in them!
EB: oh, really? that's weird.
GG: hehe i guess so
GG: anyways when i told rose we did the whole feelings jam and she gave me lots of good advice and now i dont really have them anymore!
EB: that's good, i guess!
EB: were they bad dreams, then?
GG: not bad really
GG: just kinda sad :')
GG: anyways!
GG: if you arent super busy today why not just tell your dad right now?
EB: well
EB: i guess i could do that...
GG: do it do it do it :D
EB: oh boy, he just came into the kitchen.
EB: wish me luck!
GG: good luck! ≤3
– ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering gardenGnostic [GG] -
He shoved his PDA in his pocket and glanced up at his dad nervously. Dad, of course, was busy placing some just-finished cookies on the rack to cool. John gulped.
"Uh, hey, dad?" he asked, trying his best to look at him and not really managing it.
"What's up, son?"
He watched the swirls of cinnamon dance around in the bowl of milk and cinnamon toast crunch remains and sort of wished he'd already taken his Xanax because this was really nerve-racking!
"Um, hehe, I think… I might have something to tell you, maybe?"
There was silence for so long that John had to look up, merely to see his dad leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, giving him the most amused look. "Sure about that, son? I think you ought to think about it a little more, maybe. You might want to be positive about it first."
John stared at him in mild shock for a good many seconds before shooting back, more than a little surprise showing in his tone, "Woah, dad, when did you learn how to sarcasm?" Dad grinned.
"I just figured since Dave will be here soon, it might be good for me to hone up on my skills. He's the sarcastic one, right? Or is that Rose? I'm never quite sure, the two are so alike."
It took a second for those words to really sink in, and when they did John burst into laughter, almost falling out of his chair. Dad, highly entertained by his son's reaction, joined in, and soon they were both gasping for breath and wiping tears from their eyes.
"Oh man, dad. I don't know if I should tell them you said that or keep it as the biggest secret we'll ever have. Seriously, that has to be the best thing you've ever said."
"I certainly hope not!" Dad exclaimed as he walked over to the table, ruffling John's hair a little as he sat down across from him with his own bowl of cereal. "Anyways, I didn't mean to distract from what you had to say! What's on your mind, son?"
Immediately John's gaze returned to his bowl, and he fidgeted. Okay. Okay. I'm just going to say it!
"So would you be angry if I was maybe dating someone?"
He jumped at the sound of his dad's bowl clinking where he dropped his spoon, and looked up with a bright red face to see Dad staring at him, mouth agape. "Not that – I am, necessarily…! Well that isn't – exactly true, I mean I sort of am actually, but I just don't want you to be angry because it's not like it's some random guy or anything, I've actually maybe been in love with him for several years now and, uh…"
John trailed off when he noticed that Dad's expression had melted from shocked to understanding. And not sympathetic understanding, more like "I know exactly what's going on" understanding. John gulped again and only waited a few seconds before Dad replied slyly, "So, I'll be meeting him in three days, I imagine?"
As if John wasn't blushing enough to begin with, he turned about ten different shades of red at his father's question, and abruptly stood, suddenly pulsing with so much adrenaline that he couldn't make himself sit still. "It's been five days since it happened and I'm really sorry I didn't tell you but you were so stressed and we were both really busy and I didn't want to give you a hernia or something because I'm already causing you enough trouble as it is a-and –" Dad reached up and grabbed his hand, so John stopped talking, still unable to look him in the eyes.
"Sit," Dad said gently, and John did so. "Son, first of all, do you really feel that way? That you're just causing me trouble?" His inquisitive stare bore so strongly into him that John couldn't help but look up, and saw immediately that it wasn't just curiosity; there was a very deep feeling of concern there that caused an awful guilt to twist around in John's stomach. "Maybe you don't remember this since it was so late and you were still feeling so weak, but you mentioned something like that before when we were in the hospital. I didn't think much of it at the time since you were understandably hysterical, but… John, you know that I will never in my life consider you a burden, don't you?" He squeezed his hand, and John realized that his own body was shaking a little. "You are my son and I will do anything for you. You know that, right?"
"Yeah," he responded softly after a few moments, still holding his father's hand but resting his forehead against the table, his words muffled into it. "I guess I just worry. Isn't it bad enough that you have a gay son who got beaten up? And there're the court dates and the constant media attention, and now all of a sudden I'm dating a guy for the first time…"
"John, I'm going to say this once and hopefully it won't have to be said again: your sexuality is not a burden, not in the slightest. You are who you are, and that is a kind, clever, talented young man. I am lucky to have a son as intelligent as you, and who you love doesn't change that in the slightest. What happened to you was unfortunate, but it wasn't your fault, and I don't consider standing up for my son's rights a burden either. As for Dave," he continued, tone showing his amusement when John sat upright, his hold on his father's hand tightening a little as he held his breath, "I have to say I'm not entirely surprised. I don't appreciate his sailor mouth, and I have some problems with the way he's been raised… But I know that Dave is a good kid, that he cares about you, and I trust the both of you to be responsible."
The explosive outburst of breath John released made Dad laugh. But his relief was put into sharp perspective when Dad continued, "But John, as your father I'm going to have to ask that, while Dave is here, you sleep out on the couch, or at least on the floor. I don't mind if you two are together all the time, and obviously I'll turn a blind eye to kissing" (here John's blush returned with full force) "and other things, but I would be uncomfortable with you sharing a bed knowing that there are romantic feelings involved."
Despite the intensely concentrated feeling of disappointment that dropped into his stomach like a cinderblock, John nodded and said, "Of course, dad. That's totally fair."
The phone started ringing, and John and his father shared a small smile before John stood to return his bowl to the dishwasher, leaving Dad to answer it. "Hello? Carolyn, what's…"
John tensed at the worried tone of his father's voice and paused over the dishwasher to turn and look at him, but immediately sort of wished he hadn't. Dad's expression was so broken, so tired, and suddenly John didn't think he had it in him to hear more bad news.
In little more than a whisper, Dad said, "Alright. We'll be there as soon as possible."
Almost as if it had never happened, the bright, sunny weather disappeared behind a thick layer of clouds, much in Washingtonian fashion. John stared at them through the window of his father's car as they drove into Maple Valley's small intercity district.
"Everything's gonna be fine," he assured, trying to avoid looking at his reflection in the glass. "This is just a minor setback. I'll work extra hard with the media, and when Dave gets here I'm sure he'll help me prepare… As long as my friends and family support me, there's no way I can lose. Don't you think?"
Neither of them looked at each other, but after a moment John could feel his father's hand ruffling his hair. He tried to believe his own words as enthusiastically as he'd spoken them.
– ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] -
EB: uh, hey dave...
EB: sorry to bother you on your phone, you're probably busy!
TG: what no
TG: since we last talked ive pretty much been sat on my ass constantly
TG: ive been reduced to little more than a jellied puddle of atrophied muscles and screen-strained optic nerves
TG: least my fingers still work
TG: anyway sup
EB: oh, uh, i guess that means you are being good and staying inside like you said you would!
EB: don't worry, we will unjelly you when you get here.
TG: see now i feel like a puppy
TG: ill anticipate it
TG: how are things over on your end
EB: pfft, maybe you are a puppy!
EB: actually maybe we shouldn't go that route, i don't want you thinking it's an excuse to start peeing on the carpet. hehe.
TG: my toilet habits are my business
TG: but yeah ever since bro fitted me with a flea collar theres been nothing to worry about
TG: ugh tv nowadays sucks gratuitous amount of monkey dick how do people stand sitting around watching this all day
EB: haha why don't you just play video games?
TG: uh
TG: i
TG: could
TG: i guess
EB: pfft! dave, you are silly.
EB: maybe we can play something on xbox live together when i get home?
TG: yeah look just
TG: i
TG: heh this is dumb but im not in the mood for videogames today
TG: alert the media i guess im maturing
EB: huh? really?
TG: yeah
TG: just woke up and thought hey you know what if i never play another videogame in my life
TG: that would be a thing i was okay with
TG: set that up in the list of pandimensional reality commandments
EB: oh...
EB: well, okay.
EB: i guess we don't have to do all night video games when you get here, then...
TG: yeah idk
TG: i just had a really fucked up dream is all
EB: what?
EB: what happened?
TG: it was concerning that last big mmo we all played together and how it was responsible for all of us dying at least once
EB: oh.
EB: uh, i guess i could've figured...
TG: look im fine ok its not a big deal in fact i would go so far as to describe it as a miniscule deal
TG: something that barely constitutes as the definition of deal at all
EB: even though it's making you want to not play video games which is like one of your favorite things to do?
TG: shut up
TG: ok if you have to know i dreamed about dying again
TG: and all that glitched-up reality matrix that came afterwards
TG: with the tentacles and the dark and the mouths with teeth and the reliving lots of dumb shit over and over
TG: it wasnt a good dream
TG: anyway tell me where you are
TG: you have a graphic mental image of me congealing in my own clothes in front of a tv screen
TG: i demand that you return the favor
EB: dave, was that nightmare just a weird, fluke thing? or is that something that happens a lot?
TG: it happens sometimes
TG: john
TG: where
TG: are
TG: you
EB: i'm just at carolyn's office like i usually am at this time of day!
EB: just sometimes? are they always that bad?
TG: what so you have to see her every day
TG: look theyre not a big deal
TG: reading comprehension egbert
TG: you appear to have forgotten it
TG: see that huge block of text up there about how fine i am and how its all cool
EB: i'm not stupid. i understood it just fine and i knew it was complete bullshit.
EB: you're freaked out enough by it that you can't even stomach video games, bro.
EB: how is that fine?
TG: leave me alone
TG: its
TG: look nvm can we not talk about this now
TG: john
EB: i'm just
EB: confused, i guess.
TG: whats there to be confused about
TG: i had a dream about a really stupid game we once played together for some godforsaken reason that was all mapped out in the stars
TG: the dream sucked
TG: i wake up and figure hey you know what
TG: i dont want to be reminded of videogames right now
TG: that is pretty much all there is to it
TG: simple
EB: i
EB: get them too...
TG: you do
EB: yeah.
TG: what
TG: i mean i figured rose was gettin them but
TG: shit we need to join a club or something
TG: are there 12-step programs for sburb ptsd
TG: hey my names larry i was the douche of space and i have nightmares about all those monotonous hours collecting frogs
TG: oh thats nothing i was the time hero of my session
TG: pretty much 48x the play time
EB: dave, the reason i'm confused
EB: is that i get them too, and sometimes they can be pretty bad!
EB: but i've never woken up from one and been unable to play video games.
EB: so i guess i just don't get why you can't just talk to me about it.
EB: ...unless it being so bad is the reason.
TG: i dont like being reminded of exactly how little i mattered in the grand scheme of things and how i failed at protecting pretty much everything i cared about
TG: now that were done
TG: on that topic
TG: seriously how are things going with you
TG: youre being cagey
EB: you did matter.
TG: my biggest contribution was the me from another timeline who stopped you getting killed
TG: look
TG: not
TG: in the mood
TG: id rather talk about whatever this is that im watching
TG: wait no its dr phil nix that
EB: you helped jade with the frogs, and that was really important.
EB: you're the only one who tried to save rose when...
TG: john
TG: we can talk about this
TG: but
TG: can it be in person
TG: ...
TG: please
EB: yeah.
EB: that's
EB: that's fine.
TG: thanks
EB: shit, hold on. my dad...
"Son?"
John looked up from his PDA and tried to get ahold of himself.
"Uh, yeah?" Dad gave him a worried look.
"You look like you're about to cry, John," he said quietly. "Is that Dave you're talking to? Is everything alright?"
Carolyn glanced up from her phone call and John tried to avoid her eyes almost as hard as he tried to shake himself out of it. He really needed to remember to not talk about sburb when he was in public...
"Oh, no. I mean, yeah, it's Dave, but everything's fine! Why would I be about to cry? We're just talking about video games and stuff." He stood, almost tripping over his chair in the process. "I'm pretty hungry, actually! I'll run next door and get something from that Subway. Dad, Carolyn, do you guys want anything?"
Dad scrutinized him for a long moment before finally releasing a sigh and nodding. "No, son. I'm fine. Please try to come right back."
John turned to his attorney. "Carolyn?"
She shook her head and continued her phone conversation.
John left the room as quickly as he could without it looking like he was trying to escape.
TG: your dads there too
TG: wait
TG: why is your dad there
TG: john whats up
TG: ...
TG: john?
TG: god this is less of a conversation and more a sequence of unpleasant occurrences that happen to be tenuously related
TG: that neither of us wants to talk about
TG: and now youre not even answering
TG: john are you ok
TG: long silence means yes smiley face for no
TG: this is beginning to be considered by the entire panel of judges as a long silence
TG: i dont know how long i can stall them
TG: john
EB: sheesh, dave! you are such a worry-wart.
TG: im not worried im annoyed god cant you tell the difference
EB: oh...
EB: i guess not.
EB: sorry.
TG: im over it
TG: whys your dad there
EB: he's always at my meetings with the attorney unless he absolutely has to be at work.
TG: is this an important meeting
TG: whats going on
TG: clue me in
EB: no, it's not
EB: particularly important.
TG: particularly he says
TG: my interest doth rouse itself
TG: cmon dude whats going on over there
EB: it's nothing, really!
EB: besides, why would i be texting during an important meeting?
EB: that is just silly.
TG: idk
TG: same reason how after i woke up ive been signed into pesterchum
TG: waiting for some dorky shit with blue text to log on
TG: john
TG: youd tell me if somethin was up right
TG: idk i get the feeling that you and jade are actually way better at figuring shit out
TG: whereas for me if you tell me youre fine most of the time im inclined to buy it
TG: so
TG: yeah if you would help me figure out when things are less than fine
TG: thatd be appreciated
EB: i don't
EB: want to admit that something's wrong.
EB: i know you always call me a hero and stuff, but i don't think i can handle this.
EB: maybe if i just
EB: pretend that everything's the same as usual, it'll all really be okay.
EB: besides!
EB: i know that if i just keep working hard it won't even matter!
EB: having my dad and you and rose and jade looking out for me is enough!
EB: so no there's
EB: there's nothing wrong.
TG: wow
TG: that
TG: youre actually knocking me off my pedestal as the crowned prince of horseshit
TG: hey heres a thought
TG: maybe looking out for you is like this umbrella term
TG: that includes us wanting to know when it all gets too much
TG: and when i say us
TG: i mean especially me
EB: but if i don't think about it then it's not too much it's just... a thing that is there.
EB: so i will just
EB: not think about it.
EB: um, hold on i am ordering a sandwich at subway...
TG: classy
TG: look john im not exactly a pro at offering up bullshit child psychology thats always been roses thing
TG: but maybe we can add this to the list of shit we need to discuss irl
TG: might help
TG: js
EB: there is nothing to talk about, really.
TG: yeah thats paradoxically the thing that needs talking about
EB: i don't understand?
TG: how you think theres nothing to
TG: yknow what
TG: im lost too
TG: lets
TG: just clear that to one side
TG: i mean i guess well have plenty of time to talk about it in less than 48 hours
EB: yes, this is true! i still don't get what has to be talked about, but i am really happy that day count is slowly going down!
EB: though i hate to add to it, it's kinda more like sixty hours.
EB: but close enough!
TG: shush im good at math
EB: pfft yeah mr. straight a student. :P
TG: anyway the point here is that
TG: regardless of how many awkward topics were accumulating for discussion at a later date
TG: im really looking forward to having them
TG: sort of
TG: ugh
EB: dave...
TG: shh im being romantic and suave
EB: pfft, yeah totally.
EB: but, well
EB: oh man, i don't want to get sap on you again because i know it's gross.
EB: i really love you, though.
TG: maybe its not that gross
TG: maybe its nice being told every now and then
TG: like nicer than i let on
TG: anyway this is getting dangerously close to me being sentimental and gross so lets
TG: cut off
TG: gotta draw the line somewhere
EB: i
EB: guess so...
TG: fwiw i love you too
TG: sorry im still unused to this sincerity gig
TG: its not easy
EB: i know.
EB: i appreciate that you even try for me, dave.
EB: just don't feel like you have to push yourself. i've loved you all this time regardless of how difficult it is to drop the whole coolkid thing, so...
EB: that's not gonna change!
TG: well
TG: thanks for putting up with it
TG: is what i guess i want to say
TG: i mean on top of everything else youre goin through youre humoring my bullshit
TG: worthy of a high five
TG: remind me to give you one soon as i get to washington k
EB: ...just a high five?
EB: hehe.
TG: well
TG: consider it as a precursor
TG: the opening act if you will
EB: alright, i guess that will just have to do. :P
TG: look im no seer but i predict theres gonna be increasingly depraved acts of mackery in your future
TG: depends how much i can get away with in front of your old man
EB: gotta say i am looking forward to that!
EB: but, oh man! that totally reminds me.
EB: so, dad sort of... banned us from being in the same bed together.
EB: oh yeah! i told my dad that we're dating, by the way, haha.
TG: wait he what
TG: oh
TG: uh
TG: i guess
TG: thats cool
EB: well on the bright side, dad is totally cool about it!
EB: i think he really likes you, dave. :)
EB: oh and i guess maybe that came off a little more harsh than it was meant.
EB: like, we can be in the same bed!
EB: we just can't SLEEP in the same bed.
EB: so he asked me to sleep on the couch.
EB: but i will probably just end up sleeping on the floor.
TG: well im cool with your dad too but
TG: what does he think if im in bed with you that my arms will reach out of their own accord and
TG: ok lets not go down this alley
TG: way i figure it i should take the couch
TG: youre the one working yourself to death you should be able to crash out in your own bed
EB: what? no way!
EB: you are the guest obviously it is your job to take the bed.
EB: and i mean, that isn't to say
EB: that maybe, i might sneak in with you
EB: maybe.
TG: gasp
TG: john egbert ruledodging on my behalf
TG: be still my fluttering heart
TG: no but thatd be nice
TG: uh
TG: and just to be clear thats not because i want to ravage you
TG: not that i dont want
TG: ok i really need to get out of the house more its not just my muscles that are atrophying
EB: uh.
TG: basically you sneaking in with me would be a good thing it doesnt need to be expanded upon any further than that
EB: well, that is
EB: i mean, maybe i am just reading too much into this but
EB: um, it seems kind of
EB: if you're following up that you don't want to, well.
EB: but i guess what i'm trying to say is maybe do you want to?
TG: do i want to
TG: there is a crucial verb missing here
TG: even if that verb is a vague euphemism
EB: um!
EB: well maybe i am just wondering if sometime you'd want to do
EB: more
EB: than just kissing...
EB: oh god you are taking a really long time to respond.
EB: shit maybe i should..leave...
TG: no
TG: im just
TG: uh
TG: i
TG: yeah of course i do
TG: i mean fuck dude what do you take me for
TG: seriously you are just gonna lie there and be kissed and im gonna pull all these awesome moves on you and youre gonna be so fuckin seduced itll be like a hundred old spice commercials distilled
TG: thats how its gonna go down so
TG: be ready
EB: um. wow! i bet you will just be so smooth.
EB: yeah.
EB: eheh...
EB: but it sounds kind of lame if i'm just lying there!
EB: and also i, uh.
EB: well, i don't think i am necessarily ready to
EB: uh!
EB: but if we're just lying together and kissing maybe i would like touching also?
TG: you dont have to lie there
TG: i mean part of the plan is to reduce you to this weak needy mess beneath my talented fingers
TG: but
TG: yeah ok we can hold off on the intense shit
TG: just touching would be nice
EB: oh boy the people sitting across from me are looking at me really weird!
EB: i think i might be
EB: blushing a little...
TG: cute
EB: no way!
EB: shit, i'm leaving this is too embarrassing to talk about when i'm around all these people...
EB: but dave are you really
EB: that talented?
EB: you haven't...done that kind of stuff before, have you?
TG: well
TG: i mean cmon pretty much everyone knows how this shit goes right
TG: and im just generally fantastic at everything i put my hand to
EB: oh!
EB: uh
EB: yeah, totally!
TG: so youre in capable hands just trust me
EB: i do!
EB: same to you, though! i bet i can seduce the shit out of you right back, probably!
TG: steady on there junior lets take this slow
EB: what?
EB: why are you the only one allowed to do the seducing?
TG: because
TG: because fuck you
TG: fuck you is why
EB: that is a stupid reason!
EB: i bet i am very good at it!
TG: ok im giving you a free pass to attempt to seduce me
TG: along with a healthy dose of good luck
TG: which you will need
EB: i will not need any of your luck!
EB: trust me, i am going to be awesome and you will not be able to resist.
TG: heh
TG: well i guess well see about that
EB: yeah.
EB: we will
EB: definitely see about that.
EB: uh, hehe.
TG: lookin forward to it kid
EB: good!
EB: well, i need to get back to that meeting with my attorney.
EB: i'll probably be on the computer later tonight!
TG: ill wait up for you dude
EB: um, thanks.
TG: seriously dont strain yourself too hard at that meeting ok
EB: i will try!
EB: but, well
EB: talking to you has already made everything better, so i am not worried.
EB: i love you.
– ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] –
John stuffed his PDA back in his pocket quickly as he walked back into the firm. Somehow, awkward admissions of love after even more awkward admissions of wanting to have sex were really, really embarrassing.
Holy shit we just agreed to have sex.
His knees did a wobbly thing and suddenly it was all he could do to walk without fumbling to the ground in a mess of nerves and disbelieving anticipation. What if he is actually really awesome at that stuff and I just embarrass myself oh man I can't believe this is happening how long are we gonna have to wait to do that stuff when would be too soon I don't know how this stuff works—!
"Hey, John, you okay?" one of the other lawyers in the firm asked. John looked at him and realized that he was definitely leaning against the wall like he was having trouble walking. "Oh, you look pretty feverish, John. Where's your dad? I heard about what happened, and I know Carolyn likes working you to the bone, but maybe you should go home if you aren't feeling well?"
"Uh, haha! No, no way, I am not sick! I am great. I am super great! I just got some food and now I am going back to Carolyn's office!" Why is my voice so high-pitched. Why am I so dumb. Why, why, why…
The lawyer gave him a pretty weird look but finally shrugged. "Alright, whatever you say. Don't work too hard, hey?" he said as he walked off.
John hurried back to Carolyn's office before he managed to embarrass himself any further.
Sitting back down, however, quickly depressed his awkward high. Carolyn's tiny television blared the news on her desk, and as Chris Garn, Garrett Johnson, and George Morris sat with the news reporter, it dawned on John that he never had told Dave. Maybe that was for the best.
"Is it true," the news reporter asked, her voice somewhat distorted through the old television speakers, "that all three of you intend to join Daniel Harlen in pleading not guilty to your charge of the assault of John Egbert?"
Garrett didn't stop to consider. He said, "Yes." The other two nodded.
John's mouth suddenly felt very dry, his stomach a cold mass of hurt and confusion and helplessness, and he reached for his PDA without even thinking. All that went through his mind is he needed something, anything to latch onto, to convince him that he wasn't going to collapse under the weight of this thing that was much, much larger than him.
Red text met his eyes, and he breathed out a shaky sigh.
TG: i love you too man
TG: seriously if it gets too tough in there just imagine the righteous hugbump im gonna bestow your skinny ass
TG: heh guess youre already gone but w/e
TG: knock em dead kid
– turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] –
John did himself a favor and imagined the righteous hugbump Dave was going to bestow his skinny ass, then carefully stowed his phone back in his pocket and focused on the television screen.
A/N: i just wanted to add right quick something that vector and i have discussed... you all are free to interpret these characterizations however you want, but from vec's and my perspective, dave is NOT actually cool, or suave, or smooth, or any of these things. he has absolutely no clue about sex, let alone sex with another dude. he does this thing in canon as well as at other times during this fic, where when he is nervous or upset in some way, he will ramble. him saying "oh john i'm gonna lay all these sweet moves on you" is him trying to seem like he knows what he's doing out of some misplaced sense of strider pride than anything else. what was actually going through his head as he said those things was, via vector: "oh my fuck i dont know how to use condoms do you think itll be obvious oh my god how do you even have sex with a guy properly." dave was really blushing just as much as john! they're both just...awkward teenagers in love. that is all.