[it's a little awkward at first, maybe, but it's not like Dave's all that great at this either. it takes him until Ryuji leans a little heavier to remember to actually do something with that arm he'd raised, and he does, wrapping his arm around him and giving what he hopes is a comforting squeeze.]

[hell, he'll even lean into it, too, resting his head on top of Ryuji's, his cheek smushed and everything. and he just. sort of blanks out trying to picture a dick chariot being pulled by a horde of other little dicks.]

[......]

Yeah, I. Shit, I don't have the slightest idea what say about a dick chariot. That's more material than I know what to do with.

[phrasing, Dave.]

But ... I know what you mean. I gotta admit, I never really expected to be talkin' about this, but since you kinda already saw it, uh. I figured anybody would have taken one look at all the pretty fucking out there baggage I'm lugging around and bailed. I'd been telling myself for a while that it'd be better that way. I didn't want to ... I dunno, make someone else carry that shit, too.

And I mean, I still really, really don't. But the fact that you didn't bail kinda makes me feel like maybe it's okay to not be okay. Y'know ... together, I guess? I dunno what I'd do without you, either — and all that kinda gives me this completely cornbally hope that there's a "real" okay out there that can be reached.

God, that's so lame.

[.....] And I'm okay with that, too, weirdly enough.