introductory mingle: CARNIVALE

[riverviewmod]

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: overflow post for the Carnivale celebration
when: July 1st - July 9th
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

This is not the Carnivale post. This is just a tribute.

Optional overflow post, since the Carnivale log has hit Captcha. If you don't mind Captcha, feel free to continue using the previous one, or put up a top-level on this one with links to your previous threads and continue here, free of being put to the robot test with every tag.

Comments

[chumpelstiltskin]

You got that right, my man. I haven't slept since I got here, just nonstop browsing, cramming info into my brain like I'm stuffing spiced bread up a turkey ass for Thanksgiving.

[And that has nothing to do with the fact that he's been crippled with fear and anxiety and he totally isn't worried that when he shuts his eyes he'll see something he doesn't want to see.]

Have you done literally anything here, yet? Or did you just show up for the party?

[heirlift]

I applied for a job, but... nope, pretty much this is it.

[ He's been enjoying the party so far, and the alcohol helps, but there's still something that he can't help but feel strange about. ]

Hey Dave. Can I ask you something kind of weird?

[chumpelstiltskin]

Nope. [Wow, who expected that sort of answer?]

You wanna get shirtless and touch butts together? [He could not get more deadpan when he says that, but he drops the bullshit eventually.]

Aight, shoot.

[heirlift]

Do you ever... miss it? You know, New Earth.

[ He slouches a little, and looks up at the ceiling. It doesn't really provide any useful answers. ]

I don't think I do.

[chumpelstiltskin]

[Dave is a little taken aback by the question and yet, not entirely surprised somehow. John seemed kind of restless for the past year or so, it makes sense to believe he might not have enjoyed New Earth all that much.]

I don't know if it's been long enough to miss it, to be honest. [Dave swills his drink around in his glass, but he doesn't take a drink yet.]

I know I miss old Earth, but when I was on old Earth I think I hated pretty much everything about it. And I didn't hate New Earth, but I think it was kind of. I dunno. Stagnant for us. Like. The whole world is growing and developing, but we already grew and developed, and now- or then, we were all just spinning our wheels and dicking around with our social media shit.

I think I could get used to being here and not want to go back. I think.

[heirlift]

Yeah. I think I could get used to it here too. New Earth feels like... I don't know. There's not really a place for us there, even if we are their gods or whatever. I think I just missed being another guy.

[ As weird as it feels to say it. His chest tightens, and he wonders if maybe he's sharing too much? Does Dave even want to talk about this stuff? They're in the middle of a big party and he has to go bringing down the mood; so he straightens up, and squares his shoulders, and puts on a smile again. ]

Plus it's not as fun people watching when most of those people are related to you in some way. Just makes you feel kinda dumb when your distant descendants can't tie their own shoelaces.

[chumpelstiltskin]

I get it.

[It's not the grandest reassurance, but it's true. Dave gets it, everything makes sense, it's how he's felt for the longest time. Pretty much since the game started, it he's honest.

He knows John well enough to know he's putting on a friendly face and he's been around Karkat long enough to be semi-aware of when it's necessary to dish out affection. Dave swaps seats so he's perched on the edge of John's, placing a hand on his head so he can push it toward his chest.]

Sssshhh. It's going to be okay, you big nerd. Sssshhhhhhh.

[heirlift]

Dave, get off!

[ John raises a defensive hand, to try and push Dave away at the shoulder, though she's not exactly trying too hard. ]

I'm fine, it's fine!

[chumpelstiltskin]

[Rejection in the face of benevolent and generous affection is not unexpected. Karkat has smacked Dave in the face for doing as much on countless occasions, thought mostly unintentionally.

The hug relents, at least for a little bit, just so John knows it isn't out of a sense of obligation but a feeling of genuine concern.

Maybe he shouldn't have to calculate his gestures, but that's just how it works best.]

If you say so. Don't say I wasn't there for you in your time of need, either. [Dave sits up, so he's just perching on the arm of John's lounge.] I think I'm gonna like it here.