[It rankles, it rasps against him, his calling him Dave so familiarly and treating him like a child, not knowing how much Dave has gone through, not knowing how he's fought to have any power at all over the utter plane wreck that's been his "life." He's so livid he can hardly see, and as soon as that last tenuous thread fiber snaps, he's either going to bolt or dive in swinging.
But words have never been Dave's only language. None of Dirk's gestures have been confrontational. With the step back, with his chin tilted up, eyes closed--those are almost appeasing moves. While it doesn't soothe Dave's bubbling anger any, it at least keeps it level, keeps it from boiling over. Lets room for a little confusion to trickle in.
Dave pauses.]
This has happened before.
[It's not a question, but he's open to having it confirmed, at least. That's almost like having a real dialogue. Conversational back-and-forth. He does want to know what's happening.]
no subject
But words have never been Dave's only language. None of Dirk's gestures have been confrontational. With the step back, with his chin tilted up, eyes closed--those are almost appeasing moves. While it doesn't soothe Dave's bubbling anger any, it at least keeps it level, keeps it from boiling over. Lets room for a little confusion to trickle in.
Dave pauses.]
This has happened before.
[It's not a question, but he's open to having it confirmed, at least. That's almost like having a real dialogue. Conversational back-and-forth. He does want to know what's happening.]