video | timaeusTestified

[givehead]

(The video feed opens up to Dirk squatting on the shoreline next to the Salt Lake. Behind him, the lake is shimmering with a brilliant pink light beneath the moonlight. Dirk's so still and pale that he looks like a statue. At least he does until he shifts back onto his heels. He's thoroughly drenched, only wearing a pair of sweatpants, some of his hair already frozen into peaks. By some miracle (or sheer force of will) he's not shivering.

Probably because he's beyond cold at this point. He's totally vibing with the bite.)

As a pro tip, taking a dip in the Salt Lake is good for the mind.

(...This was not an intentional discovery, but you would never know by how calmly he's speaking. His teeth aren't even chattering. He stands up. He places his hands on his hips. Dirk stares up at the moon, exhaling slowly, his breath forming a bit of fog in the air.)

Ironically, this helps with lockjoint too. (He raises his hands and turns them over as proof that he wasn't suffering from lockjoint due to the conditions. Granted, if he kept standing around in the cold like a jackass and the saltwater dried off...Hm. He curls his hands into fists.)

Just thought this would be an appreciated service announcement. I'm gonna go hit up Achelliac. See ya'll on the flip side.

Comments

video; UN: TripleJ

[kyley_b]

Uhm. Dude, are you okay?

[givehead]

Never been better, my dude. Swimming in cold water increases endorphins.

(The aftermath sucked though. He floats up into the air so he wasn't directly on the frigid ground.)

Really though. It has come to my attention I may have been dealing with corruption. The Salt Lake seems to help.

[kyley_b]

Oh, well, okay good.

Corruption's no joke. You tell me if you need anything, okay?

-> private

[givehead]

Thank you. Hold up.

(The screen goes dark. A good chunk of time passes, but when the video feed comes back on, Dirk's alone in his house, fully dressed in Rainbow Dash Kigurumi, and in front of a crackling fire. Definitely an improvement.)

So, you're a darkblood, correct?

-> private

[kyley_b]

[Okay, he was not expecting that outfit. It's oddly endearing.]

I am, yeah. Glitterblood, heh.

-> private

[givehead]

(It's cozy as hell is what it is.)

Cool. My blood changed from pale to dark. Do we have a gang color?

-> private

[kyley_b]

I don't think so. We could pick one.

So you shed then.

-> private

[givehead]

Purple.

No. (A beat.) I don't think so. Maybe. I'm still trying to organize what happened in my head. There seemed to be a series of events I am not entirely proud of.

-> private

[kyley_b]

Okay, purple.

Well, I'm not sure how else you could change bloodtypes. It happened to my friend Vira-Lorr, and the change seems permanent.

Did you wanna talk about it?

-> private

[givehead]

Hm. (He was going to have to look into all that. Was permanent so bad? He hadn't grown attached to paleblood, but darkblood combined with his powers...?

Yeah.)

Not particularly, but I think I have to. Mostly to keep others safe at this point.

-> private

[kyley_b]

That doesn't mean it is, but it's possible. Everything I read on the shedding ceremony seemed to imply that most are temporary.

Okay, why are they in danger?

-> private

[givehead]

Yeah. The problem with the Shedding Ceremony and me is that my powers have to do with me splintering my soul up into different fragments of existence.

(Kyle was intelligent. He felt he didn't have to point out why it might be difficult to trace a genuine shed with his powers acting fucked up because of corruption.)

Would you prefer a nuclear bomb being transported responsibly by scientists in a secure vehicle or would you want it to be passed off to some college kid who has been studying for his midterms for three days straight and owns a shitty motorcycle with a flat front tire?

-> private

[kyley_b]

Oh. Fuck.

[Yeah. Yeah, he's smart enough to see why this is a huge problem.]

Okay. So we don't know how your Darkblood has manifested, do we? There's a chance you fall more on the telekinesis side and not the reality manipulation side.

Re: -> private

[givehead]

Yup.

(Thank God. Dirk rubs a hand at the back of his neck.)

No, we do not. It's possible, but I think that might be a little optimistic. I'd prefer to assume the worst, hope for the best in this case.

-> private

[kyley_b]

Serious question: are there multiple yous running around town?

Yeah. 'Pray to God, but row for shore.' In that case... okay. Maybe we can nullify your Darkblood powers somehow.

Re: -> private

[givehead]

Basically, yeah. Except it is a bit more complex. I'm the alpha. Before you say anything, no this isn't an omegaverse thing, tragically. I'm just alpha Dirk. The others are the splinters I have made. I can switch between them when I want, but if I'm not occupying their mind, they're basically in some default mode floating around and not doing much. You might see dream me the most. Dude in a fancy-ass purple pajama set. I splint between him and me the most. He's the least distorted version of me.

(Dirk is remembering why he prefers text. Ugh. Talking this much sucked.)

I don't want to nullify them. I want to control them. Once I learn that I want to make them stronger. (Okay, Dirk, damn.)

-> private

[kyley_b]

Okay, wasn't going to leap to fanfic tropes, thanks. I assumed you meant alpha as in the original. Jesus. [Yes he just admitted he knows what it means, though.]

Okay, good to know.

Alright, but right now you said it's super dangerous because, duh, corruption. I feel like dealing with that BEFORE you go ham on powers training is a good idea.

-> private

[givehead]

Shit, dude, I would have jumped to fanfic tropes. You read much? (Yes, he caught onto that...!)

Hm. (...Kyle...isn't wrong.)

Okay. Point. Fine, Broflovski. Nullify then control. Then amplify.

-> private

[kyley_b]

...no! [Ugh.] Okay, yes, fine. Some. It's how I got my fill of romance, okay?

I am completely fine with this plan, and would be a hypocrite if I opposed it. I just do NOT want an army of hyperpowered emotionally constipated Grindr fantasies flying around messing up the whole city.

Re: -> private

[givehead]

No shit. Where else was the good stuff? What were your pairings?

(Yes, they're discussing this.)

Wow. (Sloooow smirk.) You think I'm really a Grindr fantasy? Damn.

-> private

[kyley_b]

You're gonna think I'm so boring. Uhm. I guess Legolas/Gimli was the first. Uhm. Will and Hannibal.

Shut the fuck up, you know you are.

-> private goddamn it this comment got EATEN (explicit nsfw)

[givehead]

Dude. (Dirk perks right the hell up.) Some of my earliest wetdreams were of me dressed up as Legolas and getting my back blown out by some beefy fuckin' dwarf.

(A man after his own heart.) Okay, what part of this is boring? Will and Hannibal is fucking aces. Have you seen the petplay porn of them? It's outta this goddamn world.

(He actually look like he's three seconds from swooning.)

Okay, damn, now I have to read some tonight. Take a hot bath and...

(Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Thanks, Kyle. He's going to have a very nice night now.)

No, Kyle, I'm oblivious to modern society. I know nothing of the beauty standards of your world nor am I privy to those of Grindr. What is it specifically about me that is Grindr-fantasy-worthy? Is it the hair?

CW: explicit nsfw

[kyley_b]

I. Really? [He feels cautiously relieved. He'd expected to be made fun of and it shows. He is also still wary that this is a blackmail plot.]

I used to love pretending to be an elf as a kid. So I guess it imprinted on me.

I haven't, no. I should, you think? Also I dunno, some people seemed kinda... judgey about that stuff. Because it is a little antagonistic. So I haven't ever told anybody.

Oh, shit, right. Uhm, it's your everything. Your build, your features, even your attitude.

Re: CW: explicit nsfw

[givehead]

Yeah. I fuck with Sterek too but mostly because it's not every day you get a blatant appreciation of twink culture like that. (Wow, Kyle.

That's actually endearing as fuck. He smiles, not unkindly.)

I get that. I used to believe I was a literal fucking android. So, I get it. (Somedays he still struggled with that, actually, but he's not just going to come out and say it.)

Sure, why not? Who cares if people are judgy? Ain't like the entire town is going to be privy to your search history unless you accidentally publish that shit on the network. (Amazingly enough, this wasn't blackmailing. Dirk really did believe in being comfortable with your sexuality.)

Hmm...It requires consistent communication between partners and a deep sense of trust. It might seem antagonistic, I suppose, but to me, it's probably one of the more companionable approaches to sex out there. It's entirely reliant upon how you actually feel towards your partner. There's a deep psychological involvement. It's not just fucking. It's a headspace you put yourself in.

(...Yes, Dirk feels very strongly about kink, okay.)

Wow, Kyle. (You're literally so easy to fuck with!) I'm so flattered, damn. I'm glad to know I could hypothetically be a bunch of dudes' wetdream. Man. I never knew.

(Now he allows himself to sound sarcastic. Juuuust so Kyle realized he was teasing him.)

CW: explicit nsfw

[kyley_b]

Heh, yeah. I'm study, I just never would have guessed you like, well. Nerd shit.

Yeah, but that's partly where you're from, right?

No, I guess not. I guess just... God, okay. I don't really know much about, well. Anything. But I know people are like, generally not very into the idea of, I guess... dangerous dynamics.

You're really very knowledgeable. I appreciate that. I don't know what the fuck I'm doing half the time.

[Kyle goes red.]

...sorry.