A Recurring Dream Within a Dream (Dave/John)

No one was quite sure what would happen once they beat the Game. Sure, they were optomistic; "We'll get our world back, we'll get our parents back. Everything's going to be a-okay!" Plans were made, friends were made, hope was kept. The kids had met up with the trolls, and even if their numbers had diminished, they were okay too! Hopeful, even!

When all was said and done, they shouldn't have gotten their hopes up.

Of course they won the Game! After all that work, all that fighting, how could they possibly lose? They won, of course they did. They had earned their universes back with their blood, sweat, and tears. Every painful memory, every fallen comrade; it was worth it to gain their worlds back. There was only one problem, though; the kids hadn't earned their parents back.

So as soon as they were booted from the Game, powers gone and tentative hope gleaming in their eyes, they realized their guardians were no where to be seen, and neither were their gray friends. Were they alright? Had they earned their universe back, too?

Your name is John Egbert, you have just beat the Game, and you can't find your dad anywhere.

Apparently, neither can social services. They've looked everywhere; but it seems he's just disappeared. You're shaking, crying for your father, but nothing you say or do is going to bring him back. "Where's my dad? Dad? Dad, where are you?" The social worker just stands there stoically as his assistant packs your suitcase full of clothes, unfeeling. You are just a job to him, a sobbing, pitiful job, and he just can't wait to dump you onto the first lowlife signed up to take care of you.

Your name is John Egbert, and you are now sixteen years old.

Miss Kayleen, your therapist, tells you that SBURB wasn't real every time you come in. You used to be adamant about that not being true, (who would even make up something that horrible? not you, that's for sure!) but now you're not too sure. She says that your brain came up with the idea 'to help you cope with the loss of your biological father'. The first time she told you that, you cried for an hour and desperately tried to log in on pesterchum using your broken glasses. Now you're not sure what to do.

Years pass, and you come to forget all about the Game. It was just a dream, why would you even question that fact? You've never met anyone named 'Rose', 'Jade', or 'Dave', those were just your imaginary friends from when you were little, before your dad went missing. Now you're an adult, and adults don't have imaginary friends anymore! At least that's what you keep telling yourself. Sometimes, when you sleep, you dream of red-tinted letters, and 'pesters' over the computer. You're not exactly sure why you do, but it doesn't really matter, does it? They're just dreams, after all.

No one knew what was going to happen when they won the game- hell, sometimes they felt like they were stuck in it forever. But that theory was tossed aside the moment you saw the inside of his apartment for the first time in what felt like years. Unlike the Heir, you got your Bro back. However, things were never the same between the two of you.

Your name is Dave Strider, and you remember everything.

Being the Knight of Time, perhaps there was some after effect, but regardless, you remember every single aspect of the goddamn game that fucked with your head. You can't look at him the same; you can't look at your brother without wondering if his skin is ice cold, if his heart is still beating. Even on some occasions when you haven't had decent amounts of sleep, you swear you can see that fucking sword sticking out of his chest, where a scar has formed from said impalement.

Sleep is no better. Images of death and despair and Bec Noir have you shooting into an upright position, usually screaming yourself, eyes wide and full of sheer fear and panic. You pant softly and your eyes dart around the room, reminding yourself of where you are. You're safe. And you refuse to forget.

Food is usually on the back burner as far as necessary things. You only eat when your stomach sounds like the equivalent of a demon threatening to rip out of your flesh and devour you for making it wait for sustenance. You usually silence it with a box of Chinese food and a bottle of apple juice, but your eating habits are starting to show. Your pants are a little bigger on you, as well as your shirts. You're skinny and still lean, but you know it's not healthy. Yet you can't bring yourself to care.

You're Dave Strider, and you are now sixteen years old.

You take life one step at a time, completely aware of everything around you. Literally everything. A new insight is there, an awareness of the simplest things that you had no real appreciation for. Things you've taken for granted. You feel guilty, most of the time. You've talked to Rose about it, actually asked for her shrinking bullshit, but none of it seems to work. Something, or rather someone, is missing from the equation.

Where is John?

Where is your best friend? Your buddy? Pal? Hombre? Amigo? Even your bestie? Ever since things have (somewhat) returned to normal, you've only heard from the girls. It's like John has disappeared completely and that worries you sick. Did he make it back? Was John possibly still stuck in SBURB? You don't know how it could be possible, but you're starting to wonder if maybe it is...

Your name is Johnathan Egbert, and you are twenty-three years old as of today.

You live in Florida now, because it's nearly always warm (some how being warm reminds you of someone, but you're not sure who exactly) and because you are currently employed at Disney World. It's nice, because not only do you have some acquaintances friends now, you get to go on the rides for free whenever you want! You have a normal life, with normal friends, a slightly cooler-than-normal job, and live in a normal apartment all yourself.

Today is one of your rare days off (what with spring break coming up and all, you've been really busy!), and you decided to spend it goofing around at Magic Kingdom. It's a little lonely doing this all by yourself, but that's just fine! You fully intend on having fun anyways. At the moment though, you are waiting in line for 'Peter Pan's Flight'. To be honest, you've always had a soft spot for this ride, especially because sometimes you dream of flying! You try not to think about it too much though, because Miss Kayleen told you to accept dreams just for what they were; dreams. Plus people dream of flying all the time!

Yours are too vivid to ignore occasionally, and sometimes you'll wake up in a cold-sweat, shaking in your sheets and trying to grasp onto the feeling of wind on your back and flying high in the sky.

You are Dave Strider and you are twenty-four years old.

After making a few decisions and cuts, you decide to move to some place not as warm as Texas. Warm yes, but not blisteringly so. Florida seems like a decent place, so you pack up your shit and make the drive over with the U-HAUL truck.

One rigorous trek later, you find yourself unloading all of your crap into your new place- a nice condo. After rummaging around in Bro's computer, you managed to find funds galore from his pornographic puppet sites. You were never so grateful for smuppets as you were in that moment. But after everything was said and done, things put away as they should be, you left yourself wondering: where could you find a job?

After checking all over for places that met both your interests and those who could handle your attitude, you found yourself working at a radio station. You helped out with the hosts, even spoke on the show a few times. It was really nice to get into contact with something you were passionate about.

But even music can't completely feel the void that you've felt since John's been gone. You really miss the big derp, a lot more than you feel you should.