Valid to Be A Downer

slimebard

well for set up ari mentioned that mikky probably asks kip to babysit charlie that day bc ykno anniversary wanted to do smth for the 2 of them yada yada

 

and ykno i assume they were probably ok to do that but

 

pianobelt

yeah probs

 

kim at the very least jumps for baby so

 

slimebard

if kim ever turns down babysitting i will be surprised

 

IneMiSol

ye she would not turn it down

 

slimebard

and then just. few hours later davie comes knocking with a backpack oop

 

pianobelt

Pip would probs be free to answer

 

guessing kim would be busy with baby

 

IneMiSol

yeah cus kims prob busy with baby

 

ye

 

pianobelt

ye

 

IneMiSol

us: yea we're free! also us: call

 

rhskhdkw

 

pianobelt

well we were free!

 

slimebard

we were!

 

i hate that davie would genuinely look at pip as she open the door and go "....guess who's single" jokes to cope jokes to cope

 

pianobelt

aeoigjaoi davie no, this is the stupid one

 

"....who??"

 

IneMiSol

kim, prob somewhere else in the room with charlie, not listening:

 

slimebard

"...ya boi" gestures at himself tiredly "....can i borrow ya'lls couch for the night. sorry for the short notice."

 

pianobelt

"...oh- uh yeah, come on in" moves out of the way

 

IneMiSol

the place aint that big so kims bound to see him eventually

 

all "eeeyyyyy date done? comin' to pick up the kid? she's been behaving well i swear"

 

"totally hasn't tried climbing a counter"

 

"nuh-uh"

 

pianobelt

Pip motioning like 'no, shut up' with her hands

 

IneMiSol

kim: ?????

 

shuts up but tilts her head questioningly at davie

 

slimebard

he just quietly holds out his arms like he wants to be handed charlie

 

IneMiSol

kim hands out charlie

 

pianobelt

pip shuts the door and follows over behind davie

 

IneMiSol

blinking at them both

 

then after a bit of staring back and forth between them just goes "... oh. ooooohhhhh oh shit wait huh"

 

slimebard

local gremlin just starts crying again while cuddling a drooling baby. lovely. sorry kip.

 

pianobelt

pip just glancing at kim before going over and placing a hand on his shoulder

 

IneMiSol

kim frowning and looking at pip too

 

walks closer and "... hey, do you,, need a hug, man?"

 

slimebard

shakes his head "sorry-- fuck, i shouldn't be getting emotional here"

 

"thanks for.. watching charlie"

 

"ya'll are good to her"

 

pianobelt

"its okay... do you wanna uh, talk?"

 

IneMiSol

"dude you're in your right and left to be upset the hell"

 

"we're like... here for you"

 

"even if. you dont really wanna talk yet... or at all"

 

puts a hand on his other shoulder too but doesnt get too close to give him space just in case

 

slimebard

he takes a moment to compose himself and sets charile back down so he can watch her explore instead

 

IneMiSol

kim prob gently pushes him to sit on the couch

 

slimebard

sighs after he sits "...we missed it-- not cause i forgot, three got wrapped up in a project an' didn't realise i had plans, but... it was kinda the final straw on the relationship. proof we just ain't workin' like we used to."

 

"i dunno... what i'm doin' now. we're gonna talk about charlie tomorrow, but... fuck. great times for a life shake up, huh."

 

"sorry for bringin' this to ya'll."

 

IneMiSol

"dude dont be sorry about comin' to us, thats what friends do, right?"

 

gentle mini punch to his arm

 

not rly a punch but

 

slimebard

he doesnt react to the punch but i appreciate kim

 

IneMiSol

"... sorry things... happened like that"

 

"i mean by me you can stay here as long as you need to get yourself back together at least--"

 

glances at pip like 'can he??'

 

pianobelt

"Yeah- couch is always free. and charlie is fine here too"

 

goes to the kitchen to get water

 

brings it back over and offers it to him

 

slimebard

"..thanks. i 'unno, i'm not as torn up as i could be at least...? part of me's just fuckin' relieved that mikky can move on to better now."

 

takes the water with a nod

 

"ya'll are... good friends, though. sorry."(edited)

 

pianobelt

Pip frowns and sits down, possibly on the coffee table

 

slimebard

gay people dont sit on the right furniture

 

pianobelt

"You don't have to apologize. What about you though? How are you... ykno, thinking and feeling after this?"

 

IneMiSol

"yeah i mean... yall have been together for a while, its bound to do a number"

 

slimebard

"ha, i ain't got a fuckin' clue. numb, but what's new."

 

"...god i sound like my emo myspace journal. it'll hit me eventually, m'sure. just... tired. always fuckin' tired."

 

pianobelt

"Its fine to be tired and numb, Davie"

 

IneMiSol

"... i dont think anyone blames you for it"

 

pianobelt

"Whatever you're feeling isn't wrong"

 

"Or will feel"

 

IneMiSol

nods with a "mhmm"

 

rubs his back a little

 

pianobelt

"And you can stay here as long as you need to.."

 

slimebard

he shakes kim off "don't.. don't touch. sorry."

 

IneMiSol

"sorry"

 

takes her hand back to herself

 

slimebard

"ughhhh maybe i wish people fuckin' would blame me a lil. i just fucked up my own relationship on our 2 year anniversary like an asshole!"

 

"even mikky was so... calm about it? nothin' feels real. fucked up."(edited)

 

pianobelt

"What would blaming you accomplish though? Maybe you did fuck up. It's really likely. But like, relationships aren't one sided..."

 

slimebard

"i 'unno, fightin' is so much easier to deal with."

 

IneMiSol

"im really sorry but im genuinely not... surprised by this outcome"

 

"wasnt expecting it, but it doesnt surprise me"

 

"so maybe thats part of why we dont really... i dunno it's not that we dont see what you did or something"

 

"its just"

 

"... i guess the signs were... there? i guess"

 

slimebard

"ha, at least kim gets that i'm a world class jackass."

 

IneMiSol

"im not talking about just you, though"

 

giving him prob one of the most serious faces hes seen on her

 

like calm-serious

 

slimebard

"....fuck that's a weird look on you."

 

IneMiSol

"well!"

 

"what i mean is! its likely not all on you!"

 

pianobelt

"its a scary look depending on what she's looking at you for" pip grins

 

"but yeah, i mean"

 

"i don't really know mikky but there's no way this is just you"

 

"you work a lot, sure, but like"

 

"that can't be... all that's at play"

 

slimebard

"ya'll biased. i'm the one that hasn't been able to hug the guy properly for a month."

 

pianobelt

"okay but like why"

 

"why haven't you?"

 

IneMiSol

"that kind of distance usually comes with some type of feeling associated"

 

"not that id. know about feelings. yeah."

 

slimebard

ok kim

 

IneMiSol

"feelings are for nerds"

 

pianobelt

pip: deadpans

 

slimebard

shrugs "i 'unno. feels wrong. like when a stranger tries to hug you but it's literally everyone now."

 

"m'broken or somethin' it's fine, we been knew."

 

IneMiSol

kim: snorts at pip

 

kim: im kidding

 

pianobelt

"wow imagine not being broken"

 

slimebard

"imagine"

 

pianobelt

"that'd be weird"

 

slimebard

"fucked up"

 

IneMiSol

"we all need therapy, whats new"

 

slimebard

"wait shit charlie's in the room i shouldn't be swearin'"

 

pianobelt

"uh hate to tell you this but"

 

"she's been here with us all day"

 

"she's already heard kim yell fuck 3 different times"

 

IneMiSol

"pretty sure her first word is gonna be a swear word sorry davie"

 

slimebard

"...mikky's gonna double divorce me."

 

IneMiSol

"he accepted this outcome when he handed her to me for babysitting more than once"

 

"i will not let her starve but i take no responsibility over learnt vocabulary"

 

slimebard

"ha, understandable..."

 

pianobelt

"anyway. really davie, who doesn't have problems?"

 

"maybe some of yours are more complicated but that's not your or his fault, its just"

 

"what it is"

 

maybe now its time to focus on fixing them yourself"

 

slimebard

"i 'unno, mikky's pretty sorted, not everyone's got em." ((gags))

 

pianobelt

"dude, i know you had like, rose tinted glasses on, but everyone has problems"

 

"including him"

 

IneMiSol

"bitch didnt he throw ryan back in base"

 

pianobelt

"didn't he get so angry he froze his own pinky off?"

 

slimebard

"he got 'em sorted tho. anger management or whatever."

 

IneMiSol

kim deadpans

 

slimebard

"i 'unno.. what the fuck i need. dunno what the problem is in the first place."

 

pianobelt

"kay, that's like 1 problem out of likely more"

 

slimebard

"would be nice to be happy again tho not gonna lie"

 

pianobelt

"there's this thing called therapy davie"

 

"you could like, try it"

 

IneMiSol

"yeah huh sorry to tell, anger management issues arent sorted that easily. speaking from experience"

 

pianobelt

"yep"

 

"even i get angry still"

 

slimebard

"i don't got time tho..."

 

pianobelt

"yeah you do"

 

"give us some work you dummy"

 

"there's other engineers besides you"

 

slimebard

"mgghhh then what the fuck am i here for"

 

IneMiSol

"i gotta say tho main reason i havent even tried yet is bc our only rebel therapist is maki and im not about to tell my life story to someone who tried to mom the shit out of me back in the factory unasked"

 

slimebard

"i dunno who maki even is i'm not gonna go spill my shit to a stranger."

 

IneMiSol

"but thats me and my own problem"

 

pianobelt

"we do need more therapists but we're expanded enough, we can probably find them"

 

"lutzi also has connections"

 

slimebard

"ain't therapy just talkin' anyways? i do that all the time."

 

pianobelt

"well then you can talk to us. or like, any other friends"

 

"no dude"

 

"therapy is like"

 

IneMiSol

"yea i do pity the woman being the single one for all these rebels with loose screws"

 

pianobelt

"figuring out ways to cope or work with your issues"

 

"its not always like, fixing them to perfection"

 

"but working around them"

 

"like people with anxiety get therapy to figure out how to manage their panic attacks and stuff"

 

slimebard

"kay if i can't figure that out myself ain't no way a stranger can."

 

pianobelt

"that stranger might be smarter"

 

slimebard

"i work around 'em already anyways"

 

pianobelt

"and no more about what you're going through than you ddue"

 

"no davie, you ignore 'em"

 

slimebard

"if ya get sad ya drink, if ya get angry ya punch shit."

 

pianobelt

"or drink"

 

"that's not working with them or through them"

 

IneMiSol

"yeah drinking only... makes it worse, really"

 

slimebard

"ok lightweights."

 

IneMiSol

"feels better for 5 seconds and then its worse for hours"

 

"oy"

 

pianobelt

"davie"

 

"drinking won't make anything better"

 

"if you won't seek therapy maybe at the least try to stop with drinking"

 

IneMiSol

"sorry if i dont wanna see one of my best friends going through shit ive felt on my skin and know from experience how shitty it feels"

 

slimebard

"...how about i seek therapy but keep drinkin'. middleground."

 

IneMiSol

"i mean we're not the bosses of u"

 

"... i guess pip kinda is everyones boss in the rebellion but"

 

slimebard

"fuck you're right."

 

"man i miss bein' a teenager your shit wasn't your own problem back then."

 

IneMiSol

"it kinda was"

 

pianobelt

"i can't order you to do better, i can only ask that you try"

 

"even if stuff sucks right now you still... have you. and you have charlie" looks over at her

 

"maybe try for that?"

 

slimebard

"...fuck didn't we already have this conversation."

 

IneMiSol

"id threaten to take her if not but that doesnt work on u"

 

"we did!"

 

"what did it do. what did u learn."

 

slimebard

"...uh."

 

IneMiSol

"nothing, then"

 

slimebard

"well i tried to stay at home an' look after the house more an' pay attention to mikky n' charlie"

 

"but it felt forced an' i think mikky noticed so he gave up too."

 

pianobelt

"Okay then don't force it"

 

slimebard

"an' now i'm here"

 

pianobelt

"you don't have to force things for someone else right now"

 

"or be fake about it"

 

IneMiSol

"that alone kinda tells your mind wasnt in it anymore"

 

pianobelt

"just try to get better naturally"

 

IneMiSol

"if you dont really have the drive and want to be in there anymore... theres no external factor that can change it or fix it for you"

 

"yall just"

 

"fell out, i guess"

 

slimebard

"what if that's how i feel about my whole damn existance."

 

IneMiSol

"it happens"

 

"hm. well"

 

pianobelt

"dude that's called depression"

 

IneMiSol

"id call that depression"

 

"yea"

 

pianobelt

"and you know what helps it?"

 

"therapy"

 

slimebard

"fuck checkmate i guess."

 

"...sorry for bein' shitty, i know ya'll are tryin' to help."

 

"m'just... tired of bein' tired."

 

IneMiSol

"'ts fine, jokes to cope"

 

pianobelt

"you don't need to say sorry man"

 

IneMiSol

"same hat"

 

pianobelt

"just ykno, if you're actually sorry then like. ykno what steps to take"

 

"and if you don't, you can come here"

 

"considered this base B: Davie recovery zone"

 

slimebard

"...is the steps therapy or did i get lost in the convo again."

 

pianobelt

"slash Charlie daycare"

 

"yes, the steps are therapy"

 

slimebard

"fuck"

 

pianobelt

"or not drinking. something"

 

IneMiSol

"something is better than nothing! baby steps"

 

"you cant fix everything in one go"

 

slimebard

"m'kay i know ya say not drinkin' but i would kill for a beer right now. y'think any of the neighbors have some."

 

"just... one. i just got semi-divorced i deserve it."

 

pianobelt

"davie, we're your friends"

 

"so we mean well when we say: no drinking dude"

 

"now is the worst possible time to get on that train"

 

"i got seltzer water if you want some"

 

slimebard

"oh i've been on that train for weeks it's fine."

 

IneMiSol

"idk i think a singular beer might be fine"

 

pianobelt

"kim"(edited)

 

IneMiSol

"but we all know the last time i said it was fine i snowballed before niels so"

 

pianobelt

"uh huh"

 

"i know i odn't drink cus i basically can't"

 

IneMiSol

"we dont listen to my opinion here"

 

pianobelt

"but no"

 

"no drinking"

 

"i got apple juice and seltzer water"

 

slimebard

"fine mom"

 

"whatever you say"

 

pianobelt

"good"

 

slimebard

sighs and leans back "...i hope mikky's gonna take this ok. i have ya'll but he doesn't really.. have anyone but me."

 

IneMiSol

"well that aint really your fault"

 

"you didnt isolate him yourself"

 

slimebard

"kinda did"

 

pianobelt

"he's got dogs"

 

slimebard

"dragged him to base without his consent, fuck knows where his family are."

 

IneMiSol

"well"

 

"... yeah idk what to tell you regarding that"

 

slimebard

"hah, sorry."

 

pianobelt

"no one said you didn't fuck up, but ykno"

 

"past is the past"

 

slimebard

"an' the fuck ups don't stop comin'."

 

IneMiSol

"besides, like"

 

slimebard

"i need to stop bein' a downer god i'm sorry"

 

IneMiSol

"who even isnt on our side anymore"

 

pianobelt

"pretty sure you're valid to be a downer tonight"

 

IneMiSol

"yea honestly"

 

pianobelt

"just quit with thinking this is only your fault"

 

"there's two side to every coin"

 

slimebard

"ya'll never seen a breakup where one person breaks the others heart before"

 

IneMiSol

"... has he like. tried to talk to you before? about these things? have yall just... sat down to talk about how you both felt regarding the whole relationship?"

 

"listen to each other??"

 

"cus like-- i know im guilty of doing that but no one can guess each others thoughts"

 

pianobelt

pip: more deadpanning

 

IneMiSol

"yall kinda gotta like... talk to each other to know whats wrong"

 

"why are u looking at me like that i meant before this"

 

"before the whole thing snowballed"

 

slimebard

"...i 'unno, when i got kicked out before he basically said welcome home the moment i got back."

 

"felt like it'd be a downer to keep talkin' about it."

 

pianobelt

"i'm kidding around, i was deadpanning at you"

 

"wh-"

 

"no, davie you still have to- talk"

 

IneMiSol

"oh-- IM SORRY OK IM AWARE ITS A PROBLEM"

 

pianobelt

"couples talk, if they don't then more problems show up"

 

IneMiSol

"yeah communication is key, really"

 

"one party-- or both-- not talking is how misunderstandings happen"

 

"you gotta like... both let the other know if somethings bothering you or isnt feeling right or something"

 

slimebard

"...mmmmgh but it's always my problem"

 

"i'm the one with the mountain of shit an' he's busy with charlie an' the dogs."

 

"m'still pretty sure this was more my problem than his anyways."

 

pianobelt

"kay did he try to help?"

 

IneMiSol

"yeah but is he listening to you?? did he ever bother to like?? ask you whats wrong?? why you're acting like that??? if theres anything thats not ok??"

 

pianobelt

"davie, i talked to you before and like"

 

"yes you make dumb choices and act stupid but you seem to be the only one even willing to try"

 

IneMiSol

"yeah, that. thats why i said it didnt surprise me"

 

slimebard

"....not... recently.... he used to be practically babysittin' me though, i didn't wanna push shit onto him."

 

"an' recently i think he accepted it was a lost cause..."

 

pianobelt

"then that's not your fault"

 

"its not your fault someone stops trying"

 

"its his for giving up"

 

slimebard

"don't fuckin' say that, i'm the asshole here."

 

"he's not required to babysit me."

 

pianobelt

"yeah davie, you are an asshole"

 

"and no, he's not"

 

"but you were a couple"

 

"couples give a shit about each other. they try to talk, they try to listen"

 

"they make mistakes, yeah, but if they care? they try to fix them"

 

"otherwise i don't think they were good couples"

 

IneMiSol

kim just frowning

 

"its a two-way street, davie... if one side gives up, it cant work"

 

"theres like... a balance thats kinda supposed to exist"

 

"when only one side cares or gives a shit or has to constantly babysit the other, regardless of which side is doing what at a given moment... there is no balance"

 

pianobelt

pip gets up "Anyway.. maybe its better to just not talk about mikky anymore"

 

IneMiSol

"giving up means you no longer care about the outcome"

 

pianobelt

"i'm gonna start on dinner"

 

IneMiSol

"mmmyea probably"

 

"you want anything in specific"

 

pianobelt

"yeah your pick davie. and yes, you're eating something dude"

 

slimebard

davies just frowning at the floor "...i think three ate before we left base. it's fine."

 

pianobelt

"ehhh wrong answer"

 

slimebard

"i still don't blame him for givin' up cause he's got his own shit to deal with but... whatever."

 

"pip cmon"

 

"i'll take scraps of whatever ya'll are havin' if yer that fussed."

 

IneMiSol

"kay extra large dose, got it"

 

slimebard

"ya'll i eat like one meal a day i don't need shit."

 

pianobelt

"so you're getting extra today"

 

"humor us, you're borrowing our couch tonight"

 

slimebard

"ya'll are the worst best friends i've ever had."

 

pianobelt

"you're welcome"