windeity | RECOLLÉ INBOX 2.0

[Yeah. This is probably just enough to buy him some time for things he's thinking and maybe he should have picked a better song but Dave started it? So. There's that. He doesn't mind that Dave's singing to the cat and somewhere around the last chorus his voice drops out and he lets Dave finish singing it as the song winds down and immediately starts playing a different one.

Haha. So anyway.]

This is why you are doing the singing and not me. [He can play it off.] Also shut up.

I happen to like your voice. [ which is true? dave may be the better singer here like john's the better pianist, but he still likes john's voice? he's pathetically really pleased john actually finally sang him a damn thing? ] But I will not argue if I get to be in a select club of people who get to hear it rather than everyone, so whatever.

[ he picks the cat up to hug. WHY DOES HE LOVE THIS STUPID CAT SO MUCH. ]

[Because Mewpac is the only one in this room who has their shit together. She purrs in Dave’s hands and uses a paw to bat at him. John doesn’t move but he’s comfortable anyway.]

Considering that will never happen again, yes, you can be part of a select group. But I had to listen to the song a lot so I have the whole thing memorized.

Don't say that. [ rude. he sets the cat down on john's chest and leans over him, pulling a face. ] At least let me live in hope that you'll sing for me again sometime. Why did you have to listen to the song a lot?

[Mewpac goes down and John pets her while he grins up at Dave instead. ] Maybe someday. But cherish it and whatever. Anyway remember how I said I stopped playing in high school except for a couple of favors to friends? That was one of the favors.

I would settle for special occasions and holidays. I didn't even get to record it? [ will he drop this topic ever PROBABLY NOT... ] ...But yeah, I remember.

[I hope Dave is ready to get wrecked in the future then since John will take that into consideration. But either way:]

Be faster next time. Anyway, a friend of mine wanted to impress this girl by trying out for a musical so he had me arrange and play for him. For the record he sucked at it but the drama club asked me to play for the spring show.

I wouldn't record you without your permission. [ PHOTOS ARE DIFFERENT AND HE MORE OR LESS has permission since john had never stopped him. ] Also, you might have stopped if I'd paused to do so?

[ so!!!! ]

Is that really the impressive kinda gesture? I mean, was she into musicals, then?

...yeah you may have a point. [John is more uneasy with his singing than his playing so let’s not have that on record.] And yeah, she was. She said she’d only date a guy who could serenade her and it sort of snowballed from there.

So...let me record you someday, though. [ WHAT IF WE DO. ] And I guess that's a pretty fair "must do this" to date rule. I should adopt it, although mine are all way more basic. I think Rose probably has more interestin' ones, although I make it a rule never to ask. Did he at least get a date?

We’ll see. [No let him live.] He got one date and fucked it up and I had nothing to do with it and could not fix it.

[There’s a curious hum. ] Given how Rose is, I do not doubt that. What’s even on your list?

[Somehow he makes this sound like he’s just asking out of curiosity.]

Like, the for real not jokin' at all list of dealbreakers and dealmakers?

[ dave hums, thinking. ]

Must get along with Rose. [ he's pathetic and his sister's opinion actually matters to him and there's pretty much no way in hell he'd ever date anyone who didn't get along with his twin. he's pretty sure that's been true for two universes. ] Pretty much the most basic requirement of all time? "Has to be family approved", basically, except, like, yeah. Kinda don't think I'd be able to seriously date someone who didn't at least have a minor appreciation for music, even if none of my other hobbies are required.

[ or, well, he could but he'd feel the lack. ]

I think, [ a little more quietly ] That I didn't have this one the last time around, but maybe - boundaries? I think that'd be...a thing. I think it might be a dealbreaker if the word "no" is not understood.

[ convincing, when he sounds uncertain, but he's well aware he hasn't actually dated anyone in any lifetime who let him have space or who listened to his complaints when they were serious. he's also aware that was not entirely on them, because dave sucks at standing his ground and he's dated loud, nosy people who assumed his jokes and mild protests weren't as serious as they only occasionally were. ]

Simple stuff, I guess. If I had to come up with somethin' dumb and dramatic or skill based, it would be something like "must have zombie apocalypse contingency plans" or whatever, and would involve quizzes on said topic to test preparedness. And that would not be remotely serious. But it's kinda fun to tease people, sometimes.

[Huh. He doesn't say anything at first as he remains comfortably sprawled over Dave's lap and stares up at him and the cat. It's a lot to keep in mind but at the same time it's not like it's hard. It's very simply "Dave" and everything he says makes sense to John in a way he knows is only because he understands Dave himself. He doesn't answer immediately because he thinks about the people he knows and who Dave knows, but he doesn't push beyond that.]

Nothing on that list really surprises me, I think. But it is a good list to have.

I'm workin' on it.

[ not...a list of romantic checklist shit in general. he means the one he was uncertain about, and saying things, maybe, although chances are this will be neither instant nor easy.

he managed to get through one conversation with john where he more or less clarified what he wanted, even if he wasn't really great at agreeing to have it at first.

that's...progress, of some variety. ]

I know you are. [He's actually sort of impressed Dave bothered to give him a list at all. The music plays softly from his phone and he remains sprawled and leaning against Dave's legs as he stares half at him and half at the stars on the ceiling.]

You still have time for stuff like that, Dave.

You should try, too.

[ he’s still leaning over john and dave raises an eyebrow but helpfully doesn’t clarify what john should be trying. ]

[Still not quite meeting his eyes here.]

I will. I am. I think? [He's comfortable all the same even if he looks at the cat instead now.] ...I haven't really felt like myself lately. So I am working on it.

Are you? Sometimes you're just as bad as me about doin' what you actually want and what makes you happy.

[ he is of course once again talking about john's major. ]

I am still happy though. And some things are just better in the longrun. [They are definitely both hypocrites.]

Okay. So you're just as happy at a piano as you are in a bio lab.

[ #doubt ]

...I don't mind being in a bio lab? [Yeah okay.] What are you actually suggesting here, Strider?

...That I think you've been happier fuckin' around with music since you got here than you ever have been messing about with science.

[ his fingertips hook under the bottom of john's jaw to force him to actually? look at dave? ]

And I'm well aware it's your choice and I get why you're makin' it, but. True or not true?

[Cool, Dave can probably feel that John's jaw tenses up a little but also have fun staring at his blue eyes. He doesn't look defensive in the slightest though.]

Of course that's true. But like I explained to Eleanor music kind of is science, so I will figure it out. I'm not...sure what I want to do with my future yet that will create a future I'm fully happy with. And there are a lot of things I think I want that maybe it's not a thing I will want later. I am still figuring it out.

...Money doesn't exactly matter, you know. I mean, you should not worry about it, since I can pretty much make more than enough for everyone like I did before.

[ he's frowning, but he does let go. ]

You can say the words fuck off like you wanna, but. Come on: thirty-eight years this side and that side combined, at least. Have you ever not wanted music? Not telling yourself somethin' is like music. Just. Music.

[ and then he snags john's glasses so john can't see his expression. ]

Just try to think about it sometime.

[He lets Dave take his glasses and he doesn't bother fighting to get them back either. Instead, he's just staring up at him while considering how to reply.]

...I'm not taking your money, idiot. That wasn't the point. I mean maybe it is since even if she's not my real Nanna she's still the Nanna that raised me in this life and I want to make sure she's taken care of.

[He shrugs.] ...let's say I actually switched majors then. What then? I hope that maybe I can keep up and be good enough to be successful? Writing and playing for you and the girls is different than writing for other people.

[He hasn't played for Rose here, and Jade's not even around. He's aware what he's saying but it's still something to think about. Despite the arguments, he does sound at least a little more willing to think on it.]

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