[ david grunts as he's rolled, wincing at a couple of rocks that press into his back, but that's really the least of his concerns. the pissed off monster of a man who has his wrists pinned demands a lot more of his attention. ]
[ his instinct is to thrash, to try and push him off that way, but it won't do anything. he wraps his legs around evan, locks his ankles behind his back to maintain at least a little control here, though he can't do anything with it just yet. staring daggers up at evan, waiting for his face to get close enough david can throw his head forward in a headbutt. ]
[ evan tries not to get in range of a headbutt, but it's hard when he's this pissed off. without the mask, the first crack against his forehead is almost enough to get him to let go; it's been a while since he's had to deal with that. but he stays focused. at least, partly focused.
he's almost got david pinned. there's pressure at his back, where david's probably going to try and squeeze the life out of him, and if he gets any closer again it's probably his nose that's due to break against the bastard's forehead, but he's got a very slight advantage. of course, he also can't use his hands if he wants to keep david in place. it's a dilemma. again.
he tries to put a damper on the rage. key word being 'tries'. ]
[ they've been here before. the realisation they're at an impasse triggers the memory of evan pinned under him in the mine, the awareness that using his hands to pin his wrists meant there was no move he could make that wasn't a risk. it's kind of funny to see evan in that same position now. ]
[ he's trying to think of how to get his hands free, highly doubtful he could just push against evan's weight to get loose that way, and the question surprises him when it cuts through. he'd almost forgotten that was what sparked this. ]
You don't wanna know what I think.
[ both a callback to evan's insistence david never says anything worth hearing, and a note that his opinion's probably just gonna piss evan off all over again. ]
[ there's ways to fight back now. ways to kill, now. if he squeezes hard enough, twists viciously enough, he could break david's wrists. or if he can manage to get both in one hand, he'll have an opportunity. he could bite, even if that would be sinking beneath his own standards. there's options.
but for the moment, he doesn't take any. david's comment makes him sneer, blood following the split across his mouth to drip off his chin. ]
You wanna know why I keep saying you have a death wish?
[ probably some shit about starting fights he can't win or whatever, like this is over and done with. he stares up at evan, watches the blood travel down his face, considering his options. not that he really has any but waiting right now. ]
[ they've had this discussion, he's sure. david won't learn. david doesn't understand. but evan keeps trying to hammer it into his skull. why? he's not sure. pride, maybe. his own stupid pride, trying to prove that he's right and david needs to recognize it. ]
You knew saying that shit would set me off. You know starting a fight ain't gonna end in your favor most of the time.
[ he hates that he has to add that qualifier, now. ]
This ain't a trial. You ain't got anyone's life to save but yours. But you keep doing it. To me, that looks like you wanna die.
Woulda started shit way before now if you were right.
[ it makes sense to him at least, because if anything his nonviolent conflict resolution skills have really gotten a workout ovee this past... however long they've been fucking for at least. ]
Been on my best fuckin' behaviour for ages now. Not my fault you decide you wanna fight this time.
[ makes perfect sense to him. how is it a death wish just because evan decides today he's gonna fight about it? david rolls his eyes, tugs at the grip on his wrists in wordless frustration. ]
[ he winces at the way evan's grip tightens, but he doesn't retaliate. or try to. he's stuck here, waiting for what evan's going to do. eventually he'll get pissed or impatient enough to try and kill him, david's sure. ]
You can't handle normal fuckin' conversations and that's my fault?
Nah, go fuck yourself. You wanna act so hard done by because you can't take it when somebody bites back?
[ he shakes his head, lets it fall back against the ground. he's so sick of this, the way evan acts like he's the victim in these situations when david would swear he's trying to wind him up or win somehow. and david's the asshole? nah. ]
[ the truth is: yes. it burns him. it burns him because people didn't used to do that, and anyone who did ended up in much worse positions than david has, and nobody would defend them or back them up. nobody argued with him, ever.
it makes him feel like he's not the man he's supposed to be.
it's an unpleasant piece of knowledge that's been curdling in his brain for a while, and he considers tearing david's arms off for making him realize it again. his grip tightens even more, but he just barely manages to get a grip on himself. ]
All I see when you pull that shit is someone tryin' to get out of this place as fast as they can.
[ he shoves himself up to sit back, freeing david's arms, but doesn't get off him just yet. ]
[ this is... confusing. david winces again, lets out a quiet noise at the way evan's grip tightens on his wrists again, and then he... sits up? it confuses the hell out of david enough he doesn't even react at first, barely even registers what evan said. ]
[ david doesn't move other than pulling his arms back to himself, rubbing his wrist with one hand, looking up at evan first in open confusion, and then he rolls his eyes. of course evan would think that. ]
'Cause I'm not here tryin' to stroke your ego by never talking back?
Be a lot less dead a lot more often if you kept your mouth shut.
[ he should be breaking david in half for this. turning his face in a bloody pulp. but there's a headache coming on, probably from all the punches, and just talking to david can be exhausting. so backing off seems like a better option.
maybe that'll be true if he keeps repeating it to himself. ]
You, the saboteur, that shit with the cap - never know when to back the fuck off.
[ speaking of never knowing when to back off. he knows he's in dangerous territory but if david ever let that stop him, who would he be? not himself. ]
Be less pissed all the time if you learned to keep your ego in check.
[ you've never met anybody like me before. david seems thoroughly unbothered by the statement-- truthfully, part of it is the fact that part of him already knows how this goes. he's gonna burn out long before the others, it seems obvious when he's racking up a death count in trials double what some of the others who've been here just as long have. ]
[ there's no way to explain this shit is what helps keep him going, keeps him from losing himself to this place, the endless cycle of helplessness and death. not without sounding like more of a lunatic than he probably does anyway. ]
[ he realises after a second that he still has his legs wrapped around evan, lets them fall and plants his feet to push himself back a little, keep a little distance. he doesn't understand why this is such a sticking point for evan, would think he only brought it up because it pisses david off, except for the fact that he seems really intent on making him believe it. ]
Still don't understand the fuck it matters to you so much for.
[ the first comment makes him sneer. the second he doesn't respond to right away.
why does it matter? why does he care at all? why bother bringing it up when the whole point is to kill him? david's entire existence here is to suffer and die. if he's trying to hasten that, it shouldn't matter. it shouldn't be out of the ordinary, or something for evan to give more than a moment's thought to.
why does he even care?
the thought sparks, starts to travel down old pathways in his brain. starts to open up old doors and make old thoughts turn into new ones. uncomfortable ones. ones that the entity didn't just shut away - he shut a lot of those doors, too. and so did other people.
evan stares at david, still glaring, but with an uneasy edge to it now. ]
It doesn't. Just don't like seeing idiots run headfirst into walls.
[ david scoffs, rolls his eyes. it clearly matters to him, david just can't figure out why. does he wanna be the one to finish him off out here or something? ]
Should be glad. Means you'll be shot of me that much faster.
[ evan still can't find the right response, and david's irritating him - again, or maybe more than usual - so he only snorts and plants a hand flat on david's chest to push himself up to standing.
he should punch him again and storm off, but that feels like losing when he thinks about it (and he really doesn't like thinking about it). he doesn't offer to help david up. instead, he looks around for wherever the hell his mask went. ]
It'll replace you. Always does. Find some new idiot that runs headfirst into walls.
[ david grunts at the weight on his chest, on top of all the aches and pains now too, and follows evan up after a moment's thought. ]
Wouldn't be me though.
[ and david likes to think he's uniquely infuriating. ]
[ not that that solves... anything. he stands, a frown on his face. is this just it? evan fucking deflates like an old balloon and they just don't finish this fight or get to the bottom of this horrible little chat? ]
The fuck is this, Chuck? What're we doing here?
[ david spreads his arms, gestures around like there's something physical he can point to to illustrate his confusion and frustration. he's just so fed up and tired of this all, evan is so exhausting to deal with sometimes and yet, for some reason, david hasn't stopped. ]
[ evan glances back at him once as he looks for the mask, but doesn't respond right away. he finds it scattered in the dying grass and dead leaves and picks it up. there's dirt on it, and leaf litter, and where that stirs a little anger in him it doesn't make him violent just yet.
he wipes some of it off with a thumb, and gives david as flat a look as he can manage. ]
You got lost.
[ which isn't what david means, he knows. why are both of them still alive? where did the anger go? it's getting harder to deal with. putting up with david is making parts of his brain come alive again after a long, long dormancy, and he definitely doesn't like it.
the entity hasn't been too happy about it, either, but at least it's staying out of this shit for now. ]
[ well that gets him a flat look fired back in return. this might rank for the most confusing interaction he's had with evan to date, and there have been some doozies. ]
So we just knock eachother around a bit and leave?
[ he doesn't try to mask the confusion, or the fact that he's still kind of raring to go. he's not about to start anything though, because clearly evan isn't feeling it anymore, he'd just be reacting out of necessity if david threw a punch. ]
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[ his instinct is to thrash, to try and push him off that way, but it won't do anything. he wraps his legs around evan, locks his ankles behind his back to maintain at least a little control here, though he can't do anything with it just yet. staring daggers up at evan, waiting for his face to get close enough david can throw his head forward in a headbutt. ]
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he's almost got david pinned. there's pressure at his back, where david's probably going to try and squeeze the life out of him, and if he gets any closer again it's probably his nose that's due to break against the bastard's forehead, but he's got a very slight advantage. of course, he also can't use his hands if he wants to keep david in place. it's a dilemma. again.
he tries to put a damper on the rage. key word being 'tries'. ]
You think owning land ain't worth anything?
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[ he's trying to think of how to get his hands free, highly doubtful he could just push against evan's weight to get loose that way, and the question surprises him when it cuts through. he'd almost forgotten that was what sparked this. ]
You don't wanna know what I think.
[ both a callback to evan's insistence david never says anything worth hearing, and a note that his opinion's probably just gonna piss evan off all over again. ]
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but for the moment, he doesn't take any. david's comment makes him sneer, blood following the split across his mouth to drip off his chin. ]
You wanna know why I keep saying you have a death wish?
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Not really.
[ probably some shit about starting fights he can't win or whatever, like this is over and done with. he stares up at evan, watches the blood travel down his face, considering his options. not that he really has any but waiting right now. ]
Gonna tell me though, ain't you?
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You knew saying that shit would set me off. You know starting a fight ain't gonna end in your favor most of the time.
[ he hates that he has to add that qualifier, now. ]
This ain't a trial. You ain't got anyone's life to save but yours. But you keep doing it. To me, that looks like you wanna die.
[ david wouldn't be the first by a long shot. ]
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[ it makes sense to him at least, because if anything his nonviolent conflict resolution skills have really gotten a workout ovee this past... however long they've been fucking for at least. ]
Been on my best fuckin' behaviour for ages now. Not my fault you decide you wanna fight this time.
[ makes perfect sense to him. how is it a death wish just because evan decides today he's gonna fight about it? david rolls his eyes, tugs at the grip on his wrists in wordless frustration. ]
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[ best behavior? evan doesn't smile at that, but he almost laughs, in an unamused sort of way. ]
You started just as many fights. Besides, it's easy to play nice behind a goddamned screen.
[ his grip tightens, not entirely of his own volition. ]
Every time you get me to smash somethin' while you're not here, that'd be asking for a broken neck if we were face to face.
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You can't handle normal fuckin' conversations and that's my fault?
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[ not that evan would really know what that entails, in all honesty. but he's angry and david's right here. ]
How many other people you do this shit with? Tell 'em the last thing they want to hear just because you can?
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[ david laughs, but it's sharp and unamused. ]
Nah, go fuck yourself. You wanna act so hard done by because you can't take it when somebody bites back?
[ he shakes his head, lets it fall back against the ground. he's so sick of this, the way evan acts like he's the victim in these situations when david would swear he's trying to wind him up or win somehow. and david's the asshole? nah. ]
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it makes him feel like he's not the man he's supposed to be.
it's an unpleasant piece of knowledge that's been curdling in his brain for a while, and he considers tearing david's arms off for making him realize it again. his grip tightens even more, but he just barely manages to get a grip on himself. ]
All I see when you pull that shit is someone tryin' to get out of this place as fast as they can.
[ he shoves himself up to sit back, freeing david's arms, but doesn't get off him just yet. ]
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[ david doesn't move other than pulling his arms back to himself, rubbing his wrist with one hand, looking up at evan first in open confusion, and then he rolls his eyes. of course evan would think that. ]
'Cause I'm not here tryin' to stroke your ego by never talking back?
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[ he should be breaking david in half for this. turning his face in a bloody pulp. but there's a headache coming on, probably from all the punches, and just talking to david can be exhausting. so backing off seems like a better option.
maybe that'll be true if he keeps repeating it to himself. ]
You, the saboteur, that shit with the cap - never know when to back the fuck off.
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[ speaking of never knowing when to back off. he knows he's in dangerous territory but if david ever let that stop him, who would he be? not himself. ]
Be less pissed all the time if you learned to keep your ego in check.
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No you wouldn't. I ain't your only problem here. Just one of the big ones.
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[ crazy how huge egos and anger issues are common themes out here. ]
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I saw a lot of people act like you back before. Every one of 'em ended up dead. 'S what makes me think you're aiming for the same thing.
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[ you've never met anybody like me before. david seems thoroughly unbothered by the statement-- truthfully, part of it is the fact that part of him already knows how this goes. he's gonna burn out long before the others, it seems obvious when he's racking up a death count in trials double what some of the others who've been here just as long have. ]
[ there's no way to explain this shit is what helps keep him going, keeps him from losing himself to this place, the endless cycle of helplessness and death. not without sounding like more of a lunatic than he probably does anyway. ]
[ he realises after a second that he still has his legs wrapped around evan, lets them fall and plants his feet to push himself back a little, keep a little distance. he doesn't understand why this is such a sticking point for evan, would think he only brought it up because it pisses david off, except for the fact that he seems really intent on making him believe it. ]
Still don't understand the fuck it matters to you so much for.
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why does it matter? why does he care at all? why bother bringing it up when the whole point is to kill him? david's entire existence here is to suffer and die. if he's trying to hasten that, it shouldn't matter. it shouldn't be out of the ordinary, or something for evan to give more than a moment's thought to.
why does he even care?
the thought sparks, starts to travel down old pathways in his brain. starts to open up old doors and make old thoughts turn into new ones. uncomfortable ones. ones that the entity didn't just shut away - he shut a lot of those doors, too. and so did other people.
evan stares at david, still glaring, but with an uneasy edge to it now. ]
It doesn't. Just don't like seeing idiots run headfirst into walls.
[ but even he knows that's a weak answer. ]
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[ david scoffs, rolls his eyes. it clearly matters to him, david just can't figure out why. does he wanna be the one to finish him off out here or something? ]
Should be glad. Means you'll be shot of me that much faster.
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he should punch him again and storm off, but that feels like losing when he thinks about it (and he really doesn't like thinking about it). he doesn't offer to help david up. instead, he looks around for wherever the hell his mask went. ]
It'll replace you. Always does. Find some new idiot that runs headfirst into walls.
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Wouldn't be me though.
[ and david likes to think he's uniquely infuriating. ]
[ not that that solves... anything. he stands, a frown on his face. is this just it? evan fucking deflates like an old balloon and they just don't finish this fight or get to the bottom of this horrible little chat? ]
The fuck is this, Chuck? What're we doing here?
[ david spreads his arms, gestures around like there's something physical he can point to to illustrate his confusion and frustration. he's just so fed up and tired of this all, evan is so exhausting to deal with sometimes and yet, for some reason, david hasn't stopped. ]
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he wipes some of it off with a thumb, and gives david as flat a look as he can manage. ]
You got lost.
[ which isn't what david means, he knows. why are both of them still alive? where did the anger go? it's getting harder to deal with. putting up with david is making parts of his brain come alive again after a long, long dormancy, and he definitely doesn't like it.
the entity hasn't been too happy about it, either, but at least it's staying out of this shit for now. ]
You want me to finish the job?
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So we just knock eachother around a bit and leave?
[ he doesn't try to mask the confusion, or the fact that he's still kind of raring to go. he's not about to start anything though, because clearly evan isn't feeling it anymore, he'd just be reacting out of necessity if david threw a punch. ]
[ still-- ] S'not like you.
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