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Dave: fuck dude thats gotta be like the fifth time in a row you kicked our asses at this game
Roxy: yissss
Roxy: told u im a pro B)
On the couch to your left, Roxy shoots you a goofy-ass double finger gun and a grin. Rose, to your right, just shakes her head and rolls her eyes with a small smile. You turn your attention back to the TV screen, where Jigglypuff is striking a victory pose while Lucina and Bayonetta begrudgingly applaud.
Dave: yeah i guess i shouldntve doubted you mom
Dave: uh roxy
Dave: roxy is what i meant
Roxy: pfft ur so silly davey
Roxy: i dont mind u callin me mom u kno
Dave: yeah i know
Dave: i guess its just
Dave: i dunno this gut instinct or something
Rose: Perhaps it's due to your intense subconscious desire to have a mother figure in your life? One who embodies a positive influence on you, unlike the father figure you had while growing up?
Dave: oh my fucking god rose shut the hell up with that
Dave: that freudian psychobabble bullshit
Dave: i thought we were past all that its been like seven years already
Rose: We are. I mainly do it to get on your nerves.
Rose flashes a grin of her own at you, the smug expression on her face definitely befitting a Light player. You merely sigh in exasperation and rest your face in your hands with a groan.
Roxy: oh yea davey btw
Roxy: whyd u pick lucina this time round?
Roxy: i thought u always picked marth
Roxy: cuz of le funny anime sword guy
Dave: yeah well
Dave: i guess i wanted to switch it up today
Dave: thats all there really is to say on the matter
Rose: Hm.
Dave: what
Dave: what do you mean hm
Rose: Nothing. Don't worry about it.
Rose looks at you with this expression that you have no idea how to interpret. It's almost like contemplation and... sympathy? You have no clue what's going on there. Roxy raises an eyebrow at Rose, who quirks the corner of her mouth up in a side-smile and raises her eyebrows twice in return. Roxy's eyes widen in realization and focus back on you, though you can't fathom what that realization could be.
Dave: what
Dave: why the fuck is everyone looking at me like that
Dave: and what was with the fuckin facial expression sign language just now
Dave: what the hell is going on that you guys arent telling me
Rose: Don't worry, Dave. Something tells me you'll understand in due time.
Roxy: yea davey rly its no big deal
Roxy: trust me
Roxy: uh anyway! whos up 4 another round?
Roxy: r yall sure ur gonna b ok in here?
Roxy: im sorry me n callie dont rly have any more beds 4 u
Roxy: we dont get many visitors anymore
Roxy: what with jake off doin his adventurey thing, john keepin shut in his room most the time, and dirk bein... well, dirk lol
Roxy: not 2 mention janeys silly corpo thing
Rose: It's alright, Roxy. I'm sure Dave and I will be fine sharing a bed. It's certainly large enough.
Roxy: u sure? i could always try 2 void in like an air mattress or smth
Dave: nah its cool mom
Dave: its not really worth straining yourself
Dave: besides this beds pretty damn comfy so im not complaining
Dave: might even be better than mine and kks
Roxy: alright! just makin sure
Roxy: yall have a good nite k?
Dave: yeah good night mom
Rose: Good night, Roxy.
Roxy smiles and closes the door to the guest bedroom, leaving you and Rose to make yourselves comfortable in the queen size bed. With a tired sigh, you remove your sunglasses and place them on the bedside table, turning the lamp off as you do. Rose chuckles softly to herself, propping her head up on one hand and resting her elbow on the pillow.
Rose: Well well well, if it isn't Mr. Cool Guy without his beloved shades.
Rose: I think the last time I've seen you without them was back on Derse's moon.
Something about the way Rose called you "Mr. Cool Guy" made your stomach churn, for some reason. But for the second time tonight, you couldn't possibly begin to understand why.
Dave: yeah yeah whatever rose
Dave: i have a photosensitivity thing ok
Dave: bright lights are my eternal goddamn enemy
Rose: Unfortunate that you consider me to be such a formidable opponent, Dave.
Dave: what the fuck are-
Dave: oh
Dave: right the whole light player thing
Rose: Took you a moment, but you got it in the end I suppose.
Rose: Are you certain you don't conceal yourself behind your sunglasses for any other reason?
Dave: other reason
Dave: what other reason
Dave: goddammit rose im not some walnut you can crack open or whatever so can you cool it with the weird psychology talk
Dave: jegus fucking christ dude
Rose: Of course. I'm sorry. I'm just giving you something to think about, is all.
Rose: Good night, Dave.
Dave: good night rose
You turn over onto your side and try to get to sleep as the night's events replay in your mind. Rose's light snoring can be heard after a few minutes, so she's out cold. You, however, are a different story.
You toss and turn, struggling to quiet your mind. You can't get Rose's words out of your head. Something you'll understand in due time... Mr. Cool Guy... Something to think about? What could she mean?
When you wake up, Rose's side of the bed is empty. Looks like you slept in again. You groan as you reach over to the bedside table and grab your shades, putting them back on your face where they belong. They feel different, but you're way too tired to question it.
You get out of bed and make your way to the kitchen, where the aroma of baking fills your nostrils. Roxy hears you enter and speaks, still facing the stove.
Roxy: oh dave there u r! gm sleepyhead lmao
Roxy: hope ur hungry bc im makin some pan
Roxy: cakes
She turns around to face you with frying pan in hand, but her sentence trails off. She and Rose are both looking at you with an odd expression, and you fidget slightly, self-conscious.
Dave: what whats wrong
Dave: is there something on my face or something
Rose: Well, that's certainly one way of putting it.
Roxy: oh! shit sry dave im just
Roxy: i forgot i left those glasses in the guest room!
Roxy: been wonderin where they went lol
Dave: wait what
Dave: hold on wait a second
You pull out your phone and open the camera app, then press the button to switch it to selfie cam. You pause when you see yourself.
Roxy: yea when i bought my pink heart shades they came in a pack of 2
Roxy: but one of em was red so like
Roxy: obvs i just wear the pink ones lol
Roxy: kinda forgot those red ones existed tbh
Rose: Dave, are you alright? You've been staring at your phone for nearly thirty seconds now.
Dave: i
Dave: uh
Where your iconic Stiller shades should be, instead sit a pair of red heart-shaped sunglasses, much like the pair Roxy tends to wear out of the house. But the way they tie your appearance together feels... different. In a good way. Almost like rotating a puzzle piece and it clicking into place. It was already in the right spot, just facing the wrong way.
Roxy: gotta say tho davey
Roxy: they rly do fit u
Roxy: def a new vibe
Rose: Agreed. They give off a far less impassive air, and make you seem more... expressive.
Dave:
Rose: ... Dave?
Roxy: omg davey r u cryin
Dave: no what the fuck why would i
Dave: i
You brush a hand across your cheek and are surprised when it comes back wet with tears. Rose and Roxy both come quickly over to you as you struggle to maintain composure.
Dave: im not fucking crying
Dave: why would i even cry over something as simple as
Dave: a pair of stupid fucking sunglasses
Dave: striders dont cry ok its not
Dave: its not
Your breath is hitching in sobs now, and you're finding it hard to choke out your next words. Roxy rubs your shoulder reassuringly, and Rose takes your hand and squeezes it.
Rose: It's not what men do?
Rose: Is that what you're trying to say?
Dave: i
Dave: fuck
You squeeze your eyes shut and turn your head away from the two women, trying not to let your sobs be heard. Trying your hardest not to let them see how weak you are.
Rose pulls you into a tight hug, her hand gently rubbing the small of your back. You open your eyes in surprise and look down at Rose, who meets your gaze. Her eyes are tearing up slightly, too.
Rose: Dave.
Rose: You don't need to be strong. Or unfeeling.
Rose: You don't have to-
Rose's sentence falters as she chokes on a sob, but she keeps going.
Rose: You don't have to live up to a dead society's idea of what a man should be.
Rose: What you should be.
Rose: We're gods, Dave. We can be whoever and whatever we want.
Dave: and what if
Dave: what if i
Dave: i dont wanna be
Dave: be a
You look away, shuddering. You can't get the words out. You're scared of what might happen if you admit to yourself what you've been avoiding admitting for your entire life.
Rose: You don't have to be afraid, Dave.
Rose: Haven't you been afraid enough?
You look back into her eyes, trying to hold back all of the thoughts and emotions threatening to burst out of you. She gives your hand another gentle squeeze.
Dave: rose i
Dave: do i wanna be a girl
Rose: You tell me.
Dave: ...
Dave: oh fuck
Dave: i wanna be a girl
Rose smiles warmly and genuinely, which is an expression you've never seen on her face until now. You look from her to Roxy, who gives you a proud loving smile. You feel her arms wrap around you and Rose as she joins the tight embrace, and for the first time in your life you let yourself cry so hard it feels like dying.
Roxy: k so
Roxy: do we wanna start discussin potential names or like
Roxy: i mean not that im tryna rush u im just sayin
????: no no its cool dont worry
????: yeah we can do that
????: dont really feel like going by dave now that
????: yknow
Roxy: yea...
Roxy drums her fingers on the kitchen table, thinking. You lean back in your chair, trying to relax and ignore the anxiety of your new situation.
????: ok so
????: i kinda want it to still start with a d
D???: and probably keep it four letters too
D???: yknow just to keep it simple
Rose: Of course. In that case, how about Dove?
D???: wow really
D???: a fucking bird pun
Rose: I think it would fit you, though.
D???: i mean its a nice sounding name i guess
D???: but i dunno it just doesnt feel like me
Rose: Fair enough. Maybe something like Dana? Or Dawn?
D???: nah neither of those fit either
D???: i dunno i guess i just want a name with like
D???: this stylish kinda vibe to it i guess
D???: maybe like
Suddenly, it hits you. You can't believe you didn't think of this name before now. It seems so obvious now that you think about it.
D???: wait
D???: i think i got it
D???: you can call me
Diva: diva
Roxy: ...
Rose: ...
Roxy: OMGGGG!!!!! :D