Hey, don't lie. [ it's a hypocritical thing to say. he knows it. john probably knows it, but - ] You can say you don't wanna talk about it now or ever, but please? Don't say it doesn't matter or you know when you don't, dumbass. You don't have to agree with me but don't just say you do and go with it.

[ every word makes him a bigger hypocrite...rest in pieces. dave kind of wants to reach out but he never knows how to, so he just locks his arms around the knee he isn't kneeling on. ]

I know. I know that he thinks of me like - I know he never had a family. [ dave never did either, not one who loved him or whom he loved without reserve, not until rose. ] I know he grew up on pieces of a guy who shared my name and face and probably some other shit. He did SBaHJ stuff? Dirk has a fuckin' tattoo - but I know. I know it's...I know it's weird and I know there are reasons why he's so...himself about this, I just...

[ the things he has never said, will maybe never say. ]

...it's just...difficult. I don't know how to handle him. I know I'm doin' it wrong, but every time I'm around him I just want to run away. The best time was literally when you were there, 'cause at least that was - [ safe ] - less awkward. I don't know how to try right. I don't know how to not make him do...things like erase his own memories 'cause I can't do it right, the whole Strider family thing.