caughtinanetwork | [Video/Text] 06 Feathers

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[Video/Text] 06 Feathers

[The video isn't his fault. His SFC falls onto the floor and starts recording. There's only a flash of an orange wing and some orange ghost tail before...nothing. Just blue sky up on the island.

There's a long pause, as if the person is in a state of disbelief.]

Shit.

[He says this almost conversationally before an orange hand with deadly-looking nails reaches down, and turns off the feed.

A few hours later, the following messages are made:]

well
looks like were in some deep shit
dont think ive seen that woman in blue before
who the hell is she

[Private: Bro Strider and Dirk Strider]

back
not coming home for a while

[He's uncharacteristically curt about this.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And it's the nest where Bro finally corners him. He's never seen Davesprite's 'home away from home' before, nor did he even know it existed. He sure did find out just now.

So he barges in, sword in one hand, Lil Cal in the other. He could've done it soundlessly if he wanted, but he figured he'd at least give Davesprite a fair chance and alert the little birdie of his presence a few seconds beforehand.

Tag, motherfucker. You're it.]

[No, he doesn't want to play anymore.

His own sword is in hand automatically the moment he hears Bro enter. It's a reflex that really didn't stop during the three years of being on the party boat. Davesprite is on-guard, though, just in case Bro's going to follow-up on what he'd said earlier.

This is kind of an awkward silence, too.]

[Bro fully intends to follow up. It's become pretty damn clear that words aren't getting through to Davesprite, so he's going to try the only other solution he can think of. Strifing. Lil Cal won't be joining in on this one; he gets to sit by the side and be the audience.

Heads up, Davesprite. Bro's coming straight at you with a mean horizontal swipe.]

[Davesprite doesn't bother parrying and instead moves forward, wings clamped tightly to his back, and into Bro's space for a thrust. Probably missing a few feathers for that. He's not aiming for vitals or to actually stab the guy, at least.]

Edited 2013-04-18 23:35 (UTC)

[Nice try, but Bro's fast as he's always been. He disappears from the spot before Davesprite's blade can touch him, instead moving to the other side of the room to try and attack the sprite from behind.

Still, even a few seconds into this strife, he can already tell fighting Davesprite isn't the same as fighting Dave. Hell, even fighting Dave as he is from Davesprite's time wouldn't be the same as fighting the Dave Bro knew. Sburb unlocked all sorts of powers in these two Daves that could have them surpass Bro.]

[Perhaps luckily for Bro, Davesprite doesn't intend to use any of his sprite bullshit in a strife with him. He wants to surpass him on pure skill alone and not because he has something nobody else has. Granted, he can't control the awesome regeneration stuff, but c'est la vie.

He parries this blow, feints to Bro's right before moving to try getting behind him for a slash.]

[Davesprite's successful in that move, but the slash is blocked by Bro turning sideways ever-so-slightly and slinging his blade back over this shoulder. Then he revolves on the spot all the way, attempting an upwards jab.

Strider strifes are always the same: Dodge, slash, block, slash, dodge, etc. They never aim to wound, only to best. That's why these strifes don't end until either combatant loses their footing and falls. Literally. Davesprite sure has the advantage there. Eventually, Bro will fall.]

[The advantages of being part ghost-bird.

Davesprite backs off by flying over him, the hit grazing his orange tail. He then attempts to shoulder into Bro's back to get him off balance. If he can do that, then he'll take a chance to go for his legs and force his brother down.]

[The shoulder connects, but Bro's one step ahead for the moment. Instead of staggering, he moves along with the momentum and allows himself to fall forward, catching himself with both hands before he truly hits the ground. His sword is now pinned to the ground as well, but not for long. He rolls sideways and is back on his feet in less than a second. Then he darts forward again, attempting to land a hit on Davesprite's wings.]

[His wings are the only body parts that he guards in a near panic. If there's one thing Davesprite doesn't ever want to suffer again, it's a wing injury. It took somewhere around a year to grow the one he lost back!

The blow is blocked almost ferociously, his mouth set in a grim line. Davesprite knows he can't possibly beat Bro in strength, so he makes sure to slide his blade out from under Bro's and dodge off to the side.]

[Bro pursues immediately, but he's not moving in for another direct assault. He's trying to move around Davesprite to head him off. The way he sees it, the sprite is 'bigger' than Dave. More body that can be targeted. If he constricts Davesprite's movement to a smaller space, he won't be able to dodge as easily. Uncomfortably close combat is the way to go.]

[Davesprite's actually getting a little miffed at this. If he can't beat Bro at this point, then there's no possible way he's good enough to go up against Jack Noir for round two.

But he's still got some tricks up his sleeves.

And by trick he means making a random note appear on Bro's face. He's hoping it'll take Bro off-guard long enough for Davesprite to smack him with one of his wings.]

[Whoah. Holy shit what. Bro freezes in his tracks immediately, his eyesight blocked and his mind a second too slow to process what just happened. Something's on his face- what the hell is on his face?!

He curses fluently and his hand shoots up to grab the note, but the moment of distraction is indeed long enough for Davesprite's wing to hit its mark. The harsh smack was unexpected and Bro finds himself losing his balance, but with one hand still clawing at the note, he can only attempt to catch himself with the hand holding the sword. He refuses to let go of the sword. Not after what happened last time.

Ultimately, he lands awkwardly on his upper arm and his knees, wasting no time to finally tear that note off and toss it across the nest.]

[Really, he'd laugh at the look on Bro's face if this was a better time for that.

Davesprite uses that moment to point the tip of his half-a-blade at Bro's spine, mostly as an indication to call a halt to the strife.]

I think I win, just this once.

[Much as he could just avoid the tip of Davesprite's blade and get up to continue the fight, he respects the rules of strifing. He hit the floor without a proper recovery momentum, so he lost. Simple as that. All he can do is grit his teeth and hang his head in bitter frustration. Davesprite got stronger, yes, yet he can't help but suspect that he himself got weaker too.]

Goddammit.

[The sword disappears back to where he'd had it. Davesprite doesn't look happy about the victory, just a little tired.

He backs off.]

I can't go back to the apartment, Bro.

[The moment that sword disappears, Bro's back on his feet. He's still pissed and his eyes won't be leaving Davesprite for one second, just in case the kid tries to run again.]

And why the hell not?

[He really wants to run or fly away. It's easier and way less painful if he does, and nobody can get hurt because of him if he leaves.

But he knows he can't leave right now.]

Because I'm just a really fucked up reminder that Dave's not here anymore? Because all I am is a copy, a fake, a false fucking advertisement? Because I actually don't fucking belong here or anywhere, really? Take your pick of choices. There might even be more, but those are the top three off the top of my head.

[Davesprite keeps saying this, and it's like nobody listens or refuses to actually see what he's seeing.]

[For a second there, Bro's doubting his own ears. Did all that bullshit seriously come from Davesprite? Is that really what he thinks? He's overcome by a mad urge to just punch the sprite in the face because- holy fuck that is some mighty shitty reasoning. Still, he manages to resist the urge. For now.]

What the hell are you saying?! Do you really think anyone's thick enough to agree with that? You need to fucking listen when I tell you shit, because I must've said a million times already that you're my bro! I don't give a rat's ass if you're a sprite or not.

[He wants to fly the hell away from here, but he knows full well that Bro is faster than he is and more than likely will succeed in preventing escape. Davesprite really doesn't want to have this conversation, but he can't escape it, now.]

But I'm not. I've been through this for three years, Bro, and it's only been to keep reminding people of who I'm not.

[And it hurts, though he will neither admit it nor show it.]

[Goddammit Davesprite. Why is this thing being overcomplicated so much? Bro's view on the matter is really very simple.]

Start listening! I ain't saying you're Dave, I'm saying you're my bro! 'Cause the way I see it, I've got two of 'm now. There's him and then there's you. You were once the same fucking person, so that means I raised the both of you and get all the brotherly benefits thereof. [He's still not saying parental benefits. Nope. He will never be a parent.]

[He can't argue that. He can't even tell Bro to not get attached to him since there's no point in that. It won't matter because this is the only place in which they can even HAVE this conversation.

So, he says nothing, but he's still not entirely convinced.]

[His words seem to be having some effect? Probably? It's real hard for Bro to tell, especially because there's Striders involved here. Striders are masters at hiding how they feel.

So he just shrugs his shoulders and keeps on trucking a little longer.]

Look man. I ain't gonna lie and say I ain't pissed about Dave leaving. 'Cause I am. It's real unfair. That's all the more reason we should be stickin' together.

[Whose fault is that?

His wings press tightly against his back as Bro continues to speak. He has other reasons, but...they seem awfully flimsy. It doesn't help that they're both just plain stubborn assholes. So, Davesprite will compromise.]

Compromise, since neither of us are gonna budge on this subject. [Not now, anyway. One of them will eventually give.]

Got two options for this compromise. One is that I get a week to be an avoidant feathery asshole and then I'll come back. The other is that I stay an avoidant feathery asshole, but I give you or Dirk my pendant. It can summon me from wherever I am straight to whoever's got it. I guess it'd be more ideal to have two, one for each of you, but I've only got the one.

Man, what kinda compromise is that? I ain't sharin' with Mini Me. [Besides, Davesprite should know only too well that if Bro had that pendant, it'd be used mostly with trolling intent.]

I'm all for that week thing.

[Video/Text] 06 Feathers

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