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[potentite]

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[splinten]

I can nail this.

[Give him like. A few minutes of staring at it.]

[potentite]

[Jake squirms, biting his lower lip and worrying it between his teeth. Don't offer don't offer don't offer—]

I'll help you?

[splinten]

[A few thoughts manage to occur. One is that he doesn't need any help, ever. Because he's a badass. The other is that Jake just apologized for wanting to help him in the first place.

He doesn't like that Jake apologized for that. He doesn't like that Jake feels like that. That he did that to him, that he put him through that kind of misery. Did he destroy Jake? Like a Prince of Heart. He broke Jake's self.

God, he's such a bastard.]

Bro. I never hated you or... thought you were disgusting. I fucked up too.

[potentite]

[Oh. That isn't what he expected. Jake's eyes widen and he quickly turns his head away, unsure of what to say or do. Dirk just wanted answers. A response. For Jake to be honest and sincere and considerate and everything he isn't, not really. He wanted to be treated right and Jake couldn't even do that either. He wasn't even a good friend. He was just... worthless.]

It's okay. You don't have to say anything like that. You're worn thin right now, Strider. Just let your head clear a bit and you'll be right as rain in no time.

[splinten]

[Ah. He fucked up some more. Dirk blinks slowly at Jake.]

Sorry.

[Then he flops his head into his arms again. He wishes a bunch of glitches could take him out of Jake's life so he could stop hurting him.]

[potentite]

[Jake looks back up. Fuck. He rubs the back of his neck, staring at the table and trying to breathe.]

No, I— Don't be sorry. I'm sorry. I wasn't— I didn't mean to hurt you again, I—

[What should he do? Dirk doesn't seem to want him to go away. It might just hurt him more if he does. But staying, speaking, hurts him too. His hands drop into his lap and he fidgets with them under the table, trying to think how he can fix this and knowing he can't.]

Sorry.

[splinten]

[He pauses. Then, slowly, he raises his head, and his eye peaks out.]

Do you know where a straw is?

[potentite]

[Jake straightens up quick.]

Oh! Yes, I can find one? I mean no I don't know but I'll find one for you, all right? If you want me to?

[splinten]

Please and thanks, man.

[That seems safe. Jake seems to like that? He will do that. And then he'll have a straw, so it's a win all around. His pride can handle the hit if it means Jake brightens up like that.]

[potentite]

[Nodding, he jumps up and starts looking around the weird food devices, poking around the utensils until he manages to find what seems to be a yellow squiggly crazy straw. He has no idea why this is here but sure why not.

He comes back, holding it out to him as he sits down.]

Is this okay?

[splinten]

Yeah, it's good. Thanks, Jake.

[He puts the straw in the cup, props himself up on his elbows, and begins to drink via crazy straw.]

[potentite]

[He nods and folds his arms on the table, curling them up close to him as he hunches down.]

Is it all right?

[splinten]

Yeah. I'm doing better.

[Thanks to the crazy straw, or water, or time.]

What the fuck happened back there.

[potentite]

I don't know. Do you think it was a monster?

[splinten]

It could be. The ghost idea seems bizarrely solid.

[potentite]

[Jake cocks his head slightly, quiet for a moment before he laughs.]

Oh! Because ghosts aren't solid! It's irony!

[Dirk you fell in love with this boy.]

[splinten]

[He like. Kind of snorts, which also blows bubbles into his water. Jake is so ridiculous.]

[potentite]

[Somehow that flusters him and he shyly smiles for a moment before clearing his throat.]

So um, ghosts huh?

[splinten]

Ghosts. Monsters. Psychic echoes. We should start a Buzzfeed Unsolved program.

[Dirk would obviously NOT be Ryan.]

Weird shit.

[potentite]

Oh! Well, they never solved anything but it might be good to try anyway!

[splinten]

At least we could get Space Station Youtube Famous if we put some effort into it.

[potentite]

I bet people would be riveted by you.

[splinten]

Dude, look at my expressiveness. [He gestures at his face. It isn't emoting much.]

[potentite]

Now now, I think that would catch the fancy of some sardonic youth.

[splinten]

Maybe. I don't really have that Indiana Jones vibe that you nail.