#there's jaspvid if you squint

[purplemys]

THE 3 CBFLS✨

[off-the-heezys]

@jaspvid-week Day 3: Mythology/Stories/Fables

this piece was literally the death of me but you guys know i had to do my statue au for one of these days

its when!! when david comes to life!! no more statue!!

i wrote about this au for a class assignment, and I wont bore you with the entire thing but i'll give you guys the ending bit where this happens (click keep reading)

The sun poured into the room through the window, shining on his face. He had fallen asleep at the foot of his statue.

He talked to it last night. Well, more so mumbled abstract thoughts. Prayers that developed into pleads. Messy kisses painted along the cool, smooth marble. He longed for it to be warm, and for it to move under his touch.

He was lonely. God, he was so lonely.

He felt drunk. He hadn’t had a lick of alcohol and yet he felt out of it. The rain outside didn’t help. His mind was buzzing. Until it eventually lulled him to sleep.

His joints popped and cracked quietly as he stretched, reaching out for his statue. He remembered he had rested his hand over the foot of his statue, something about knowing it was there helped him sleep.

The only problem was he couldn’t feel it anymore.

A couple pats around and he feels a hand over his. A warm hand. His eyes fling open and he flinches, not expecting that. His eyes immediately land on a face in front of his.

Fair skin. Auburn hair. Green eyes.

Oh, my God.

The figure smiles.

“Good morning.”

David.

It was David.

His statue David.

He blinks a couple times. He had to be dreaming. There was no way this was happening. Just mear hours ago he was stiff, cold marble. He remembers very distinctly how cold it felt.

But it stood right in front of him. He. He stood right in front of him. He wasn’t an it anymore. David was never an it. His sharp features he has painstakingly carved out were there. Plain as day. Clear as day? Ah, who cares.

He rubs his eyes just to make sure what was happening was happening, and then realized David was politely waiting for a response.

“Oh.”

His voice sounded unnatural.

“Hi.”

David tilted his head, a charming smile making his eyes squint a little. It made his heart flutter.

“Did you sleep well?” David asked. He sat up, sitting in a more comfortable position, but never breaking eye contact with his David.

“Yeah.” His joints were saying otherwise, but he could bear it. Almost ignore it.

He noticed David was wearing a big cloth over himself. The cloth he usually placed on top of him when leaving the home or going to bed.

He hesitantly lifted his hand up and reached over, cupping the other man's face.

Warm.

It was warm.

Like the sun had come down and kissed his skin.

David leaned into the touch, and he wanted to weep.

“You’re so beautiful,” the phrase spilled out of his mouth. David huffed out a small, pleasant laugh.

“What is your name?”

“What?”

Oh, yes. He had never said his name out loud in front of his statue. He felt bad, as if the statue could’ve heard him the entire time it was being built. Could it?

“Oh. Jasper. My name is Jasper,” he responded. His own name sounded foreign to him, he rarely ever said it.

The other man smiled, bringing his hand up to place over Jaspers.

“What a handsome name.”

Jasper's breath felt knocked out of him. It took him a moment to compose himself the best he could.

The heavens had blessed him. Listened to his prayers and granted his wishes.

[coldmetal25]

Prologue: Vault 33 A Fallout au for Camp Camp that no one asked for

A/N: Idk how to explain this story, just read it. Also I was just made aware that were already exists a fallout au for camp camp. So you know. Awesome. But anyways I spent too much time writing this please enjoy. 

A dim lamp shone in the darkness, illuminating the grey metal ceiling of their room. David stared into that greyness, anticipating what would come tomorrow. 

“Hey Davey?”, a quiet voice asked from the other side of the small bedroom.

“Yes Jasper?”, he replied.

“Can you sleep?”.

“Not at all. I can hardly wait for tomorrow”.

“Me too, tomorrow we can finally see the outside world and leave this metal hole in the ground”.

“Yea, but…”

“What is it Davey?”

“I’m gonna miss this place…”

“Really? Even Overseer Campbell?”

“Yea, he was like a father to me. Listen, all my life I only knew the vault. Sure we may have read all the old world wilderness magazines here but it’s not gonna be the same. It’s a completely different world out there. Are we really prepared for what’s out there? I mean those magazines were over 200 years old and everything is radiated now. Is the Capital Wasteland even real or just some rumour from Overseer Campbell?”

A silence filled the quaint room. It was like a thick sediment of air that laid down upon their chest before the creaking of Jasper’s bed shattered that silence. David turned his head to the left to be met with a pair of blue eyes that met his curious stare. With a gentle smile, Jasper reached his hand over to clasp David’s. The corners of David’s lips turned up as he turned to his side to properly face his friend.

“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow Davey. Get some sleep, wouldn’t be wanting to sleep while a deathclaw attacks us.”

“Okay, very funny Jasper, Good night.”

“Goodnight Davey, don’t let the mole rats bite”.

Jasper reached over to the lamp and turned it off, letting the darkness fill every corner of the room. 

***

Beep

Beep

Beep

Beep

David jolted awake with a glint of hope and joy in his green eyes. He pulled the covers off himself and nudged Jasper to wake up. 

“Jasper, wake up! Today’s the Day!”, he exclaimed with excitement and glee.

In response the very sleepy vault dweller murmured something about David getting ready and he’d get up in 5 minutes. The plucky redhead entered the bathroom, washing his face and brushing his teeth with cool water. It didn’t seem to hit him that this might be the last time he’d look in this mirror and wash his face. Far too focused on getting ready, he removed his pyjamas and put on his vault 33 jumpsuit. “Hmm, it seems a bit tight…”, he thought to himself. “Perhaps I’ll find better armour in the wasteland anyway”. He sat at the ledge of a bathtub to properly put on a new pair of leather boots he’d just gotten for this exact day. Getting up on his feet again, he stood in front of a mirror with a comb in his hands. A metal comb brushed through his ginger locks before he was finally satisfied with his look. He left the bathroom, noticing Jasper finally got up. A small smile was sent his way, so in return he sent one back before leaving the room to the storage room where they packed their supplies the day before.  

David flicked on the lights which lit up the dank large storage room. The room was filled with high shelves stocked with food, purified water, clothing and materials to upkeep the vault. Although strangely it seemed like supplies were shorter by the day. The tall shelves looming over you, and the darkness that would follow you when you ventured deeper unsettled his younger self but now it was the room where he’d make his final preparations for leaving the vault. He grabbed a knapsack filled with stimpacks, radaway, 10mm ammunition, and his 10mm pistol. He remembered how the overseer gave it to him on his 16th birthday. When he gave it to him, he told him, ”Here Davey, I know you and Jasper were planning to leave soon. Those pipe pistols probably won’t help you much out there so I pulled some strings and got you this 10mm. I know it’s no rifle but I hope you like it.”

His hand tightened around the handle before carefully placing it into a side pocket. He grabbed a couple of cans of water and a few packages of food, placing it into his bag. Before closing the bag, his eyes wandered to Jasper’s bag.  Out of curiosity he opened the bag and saw it already had everything they needed. However something caught his eye. A snub nosed revolver. He recognized it as the Overseer’s personal gun as the revolver had the initials “CC” carved into the handle. A tinge of jealousy and hurt overcame the red-headed boy before closing the knapsack. His arms fell to his sides as his hands squeezed into fists. 

“It’s fine David, today is not the day.  Who cares if the Overseer likes Jasper more than me, we’d be long gone in an hour…”, he assured himself, grabbing the two knapsacks and walking out the now dark storage room and into their shared bedroom. 

“Oh hey Davey, thanks for bringing my knapsack!”, Jasper thanked David as he walked into the room. He gave him a pained smile, trying to push down his envy into his stomach. 

“Yea no problem Jasper, no mole rats in there this time”, he joked.

“Oh God don’t remind me, that was the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I know! I’m all for nature but that was no beauty of nature for sure.”

 “No kidding.”, Jasper chuckled.

“So are you all set?”, David asked the brunette. 

“Hold on we can’t walk out into the wasteland with only our jumpsuits. I took the courtesy of buying us some pieces  of armour from the common area.”

“Wow that’s totally rad Jasper!”

“I know, Miss said she’d give me a discount since we were leaving. Anyway I got us some of the leather gear, you just put it around yourself and tighten it with the clasps. Unfortunately they didn’t have any chest pieces but I’m sure we’ll find something out there. Maybe even some power armour haha”, he said, handing over the armour. David took the leather gear and proceeded to equip it. Once all the pieces were on, David turned to Jasper and asked, “So… You ready to go?” 

“More than ever, let’s go”

***

The two boys stood in front of the entrance. Finally they’d see what’s behind that big gear door. A question they’d ask so often, it would annoy the living heck out of the caretakers who watched over the children. Behind them was a crowd of people dressed in those blue vault 33 jumpsuits and in front of all the people was Overseer Campbell. 

“Congratulations boys. Just…be careful out there.”, Mr. Campbell remarked.

“Thanks Mr. Campbell, we will be.”, David replied. With a curt smile they turned around and saw the great gear door begin to open, watching that 33 marking roll away behind the stone wall. Now there was a dark cavern staring back at them, waiting for, no, taunting  them to take their first step into the wasteland. They took a deep breath and started walking down the short hall of the entrance before finally stepping into the cave. A loud grinding was heard behind them with the door rolling back to close. 

“That’s it then, no going back.”, Jasper commented. 

For a moment they stood there observing this forgien sight. The only light came from their pip-boys but even that was too dark. The cave echoed nothingness with a drip of water disturbing the echo of the cave every now and again. David reached into his knapsack, gripping his pistol and pulling it out. Jasper followed, taking his 10mm out as well. David gave him a side glance thinking, “Why didn’t he take out his revolver? Should I ask?”

Before a word escaped his mouth, Jasper took the first step deeper into the cave. David wanted to follow but knees buckled at the anxiety inducing environment. Jasper, already ahead by a metre, turned around and reached out his hand. 

“Come on Davey, there’s nothing to be scared about.”

Jasper gave him a patient smile when David took his hand. They began to walk side by side in silence waiting for something to break the silence. 

Suddenly a high pitched squeak broke the eerie tranquillity of the cavern. Their heads shot up as they pulled their guns in front of themselves. Their hands unwinded with both of their hands on the pistols. David scanned the darkness, evaluating the source of the sound. When they heard it again, David saw it. It was a mole rat. He hastily aimed and shot twice at the putrid creature. One hit, one missed. It came at them with great speed before another bullet hit it and it was down. This shot came from Jasper’s gun. David looked at Jasper and he looked back. 

“Good shot Jasper! I guess you’ve always been a better shot than me…”, David commented. 

“Oh come on Davey don’t downgrade yourself, it was just a lucky shot.”

“Whatever you say, but you’re good with a gun.”

Jasper gushed, looking away and scratching his head. David giggled like a school girl from one of those cheesy school pre-war movies. He took a deep breath when they heard another squeak. 

“Maybe we should get going”, David suggested.

“Oh yea for sure.”

 They started to power walk ahead towards the light. The exit was so near, they could feel that sense of discovery in their bones. Close, closer, and closer. The light pierced through the dark cavern and the wind howled as it blew through the exit. They were right at the edge and then…

Sunlight. For the first time in his life David felt sunlight on his skin. It shone in his eyes so he raised his elbow. He could feel the wind blow through his red hair. No longer does he have to sit under artificial light to imagine it was the sun. No longer does he have to stand in front of the desk fan to replicate the wind blowing because now he was outside. He stood in the sun and basked in it’s warmth. With soil, not metal, beneath his feet. 

The land stretched out far and wide. Just down the hill where the cave lay, was a lake with a dock that looked as if it would give away at any moment. Around that lake which almost appeared dark green, bare trees were erected. Beyond the lake was a small town. It looked worn out but peaceful and quaint. David turned to Jasper who was still in awe of the world. 

“So this is it huh?”, Jasper said, “The wasteland. I never would have believed that this was what it was like.”

“I could hardly believe it myself”

“Yea, I honestly don't have any words. ”

“Neither do I…” 

The two boys took in the wasteland. All of it, so foreign but familiar. Exciting but terrifying. It was a brave new world that they would only begin to realise was now their new home. 

A/N: Oof just a heads up, next chapter is gonna be a time skip. This is just some foundation for the story. Also I’m probably not going to post it until like wayyyy later. It depends on my week. 

[ellohcee]

@jaspvid-week day 2: accidents/comfort

“So You’ve Accidentally Summoned your future boyfriend A Demon...”​

It’s my favorite accident, demon David!

Jasper carefully etched the last marking onto the slate, his eyes roving over the entirety of the magic circle and nodding to himself after finding it suitable…. He used the side of his thumb to round off one of the symbols, circling back to suitable with another nod. “Alright, let’s do it,” he said, brushing chalk off his hands before standing back from his desk.

The witch held his hands above the slate, focusing on the magic circle he’d spent a painstaking thirty minutes drawing out. He took a deep breath and started pushing magic into the circle to activate it, watching as the chalk markings started to glow blue.

As the circle activated, a current of magic started swirling around him like a growing gust of wind, only just barely rustling any papers in the room even though he could feel the force of it like the angry bursts of a storm. He kept focus, watching as the markings almost seemed to lift from the slate as the magic bent time and space around the spell like a heat shimmer, willing the circle to call forth what he wanted-

Suddenly there came a sharp crack of energy as the air around him was pushed out, making Jasper squint against the assault, holding an arm in front of his eyes as something rebounded and singed the air around him. He backed up a few steps, feeling the energy die down and grumbling because he knew the spell failed without even looking. “That didn’t feel right, something must have gone-” he paused in shock upon opening his eyes, staring befuddled at the scene before him. “...wrong...” he finished softly.

On his old work desk, on the slate where he’d apparently made a grave mistake on one of the markings, sat a demon. He was looking around the room in interest while Jasper stood there with his brain stalled, flecks of residual sparks gently drifting through the air around them before fizzling out. The demon hummed softly, looking down and behind himself at the desk where his tail and wings had budged notes and chalk and a few books onto the floor.

“Oh goodness, I’ve made a mess,” he sighed, carefully scooting off the desk and standing upright, making sure not to knock down anything else as he did so. He tried to look over one shoulder, pouting a little bit and swiping some chalk dust off the back of his trousers.

He then looked up, his gaze meeting Jasper’s.

They stood silent for a long few moments, staring at each other, before the demon smiled brightly. “Hello!”

Jasper sucked in a breath, his brain coming back online, or attempting to. “You- you’re- you’re a demon-” he stammered in shock, one hand held aloft and wavering slightly where he pointed at his unexpected guest.

“Yes, you summoned me,” said demon replied curiously.

“I- no, nononono I didn’t mean to- I was trying- it was a spell for- to summon a familiar-” Jasper deflected hurriedly, waving his hands now.

The demon hummed again, turning to pick up the slate and studying it closely in interest. “Ah,” he said suddenly, walking closer to Jasper and making the witch flinch, not noticing the reaction as he was too busy deciphering the circle Jasper had wasted thirty minutes drawing wrong. He pointed to the slate with one clawed finger, tapping a little. “Right here, I believe the tail of this inscription isn’t quite complete, I think that’s where it went wrong.”

Jasper blinked, dazed, as he stared at the circle furtively. “Shit, you’re right,” he said in disbelief, taking the slate with a frown as he ran a hand through his hair because it seemed so obvious now, small as it was. “I’ll have to redraw it but- yeah I think- how the hell can such a tiny mistake lead to- to- a demon summoning!!” he burst out, taking an abrupt step back from his guest as the switch flipped back to panic and there was a demon in his house-

“Summoning inscriptions are very tricky,” the demon mused sympathetically, as if discussing some every day mistake and not Jasper’s incomplete scrawlings that had ripped him away from wherever the hell he’d come from. “I’m sorry to have caused a mess in your study,” he adds mournfully, looking behind him at all the papers that had been shuffled off the desk, one book hanging half off and another sadly face down on the floor.

“Oh uh- no it’s my fault,” Jasper insisted, still a little freaked out and thrown for a loop, but the absolute sweet polite attitude of the demon was knocking him asunder at every step and slowly draining the fear out of him. Were demons supposed to be nice? He’d never summoned a demon before and he knew they weren’t generally all mean and evil like the old stories but this one was so- so polite he felt like he was having some kind of fever dream.

Unintentional summonings aside, now he had to figure out how to unsummon this surprise guest of his.

…Easier said than done.

[jubilantwriter]

Jaspvid Week 2020: Day 3 - Summer

fuck it at this rate i’m just gonna be posting late never get a night shift job y’all

(AO3)   @jaspvid-week​

You Can't be Traumatized if You Don't Go to Summer Camp

Summary:  They met by an ice cream truck as children.  And since then, it’s been a tradition for them to meet up and buy ice cream together.

Word Count: 5088

Jasper loves summer.  Summer means no school, no homework, and no teachers to be bummed out by!  Since he's eleven now, he thinks that maybe his mom will let him go to the community pool more often, since he can totally swim by himself without her worrying that he'll go to the deep end and drown.  

He's too rad for that anyways!  And since summer vacation started, he's been having fun watching the Saturday morning cartoons and hanging out with his friends whenever they want to come over and play.  With the heat bringing it's A game this year though, more and more of his time is spent just lounging inside his house, trying to beat the heat with his mom's rotating fan.

In fact, here he sits, mouth wide open as he makes a long "ahhhh" sound at it, giggling as the fan messes with his voice.  Although summer isn't always about having fun and playing with his mom's fan and going swimming at the pool.  He keeps his ears perked as he waits for a special kind of song to start making its rounds around the block.

And sure enough, the musical notes of a familiar tune rings throughout the neighborhood, and Jasper is already making a mad dash to his mom for some sweet, sweet cash.

"Mom!"  He waves his hands back and forth to get her attention.  "Mom, the ice cream truck!"

His mom smiles, having already heard the tune and pulling her wallet out of her purse.  "Alright, hold on."  A few dollars bills are handed over as Jasper grabs them eagerly.

"Rad!"

"But only buy one, okay?  Dinner's coming up soon."

"Okay!"  He dashes out the door just in time to see the ice cream turn the corner onto his street.  "Hey!"  He waves his hand in the air, flagging down the ice cream truck as it continues past his house.  It slows to a stop as he chases after it when he notices another kid peek his head out.

Red hair.

Green eyes.

And the scariest frown he's seen.

He smiles as he waves at his neighbor.

"Hi, Davey!"

"Don't call me that!"  David yells as he slams his front door shut, disappearing back into his house.

"Jeepers, man."  Normally, all the other kids would feel put out by having their neighbor slam a door shut at them, but Jasper was used to it.  It was pretty rude yeah, but as long as Jasper kept his distance, David wouldn't start throwing rocks at him!  It's a good thing Jasper is a quick learner, otherwise there would have been a lot more rocks in his future.

"Hey, kid."  A man with a scraggly looking face rolls down the window.  The ice cream man!  "You wanted somethin'?"

"Sure do, mister!"  Jasper looks over the ice cream choices on the side of the truck.  There were ice cream sandwiches, drumsticks, those push pop thingies, the faces with bubblegum eyes, that frozen lemonade stuff in a cup that tastes okay he supposes, and-  "One bomb pop!  Please!"

"Sure, which flavor?"

"The one that looks like a rocket!"

"Red, white, and blue, comin' up."  Jasper waits patiently as the ice cream man disappears for a minute before reappearing with the cold treat.  "Here ya go.  One American ice cream."

"Is it really called that?"

"Nah.  That's a dollar."  Jasper hands over the dollar and grabs the frosty treat from the man as he sits on the sidewalk.  As he unwraps the popsicle, the ice cream man grunts in surprise.

"You want somethin' too?"  Jasper looks up and sees David standing not too far from him.  He's biting his lip, fists buried deep in his pockets as he glares at the ice cream on the truck.  "Gotta pay up, kid."

"...Not if I take it first!"  Jasper watches as David runs and leaps at the truck's window, grabbing onto the ledge as the ice cream man looks unimpressed.

"Nice try, kid."  He flicks off every single one of his tiny fingers, making David land on the ground with a soft "oof!".  "Maybe come back with a dollar, and I'll give ya what your bratty heart so desires."

"Whatever!"  David stands up quickly and stomps his foot.  "Ice cream is for squares anyways!"  As the ginger stomps off, Jasper wonders how many times David's tried to pull that off.  He gets up and walks back to the truck.

"Hey, mister?"

"Whatcha want, kid?"  The ice cream man eyes him from the window.  "You better eat that quick 'fore the sun melts it."  

"Oh I will!  It's just, um," he digs around in his pocket and pulls out another dollar, "can I have another one?"

The ice cream man takes it slowly, looking between Jasper and a door that slams shut yet again.

"You sure?"

"Yeah."  Technically, Jasper wasn't breaking any rules.  He grins up at the man brightly.  "Umm, can I have..."

Actually, which one WOULD he like?  It's not like Jasper knows enough about David to make a good guess.  All he knows is that David is grumpy, hates people, sasses adults, and is an overall menace to everyone around him.

But he's also seen David out in the rain, with no umbrella or raincoat to speak of, just picking worms off the sidewalk and tossing them into the grass.  He's seen David yell at bullies, aim only for the legs in dodgeball, and even sit next to a crying kid silently just so he wouldn't be alone.  

Jasper points at the vanilla bar with the hard outside.

"Can I have that one?"

"Sure, kid."  The ice cream man disappears and comes back with the wrapped treat, but he looks hesitant to give it to him.  "Are ya sure...?"

"Totally man!  My mom says that if I treat people the way I wanna be treated, I can make friends way faster like that!"

"That's one way to do it, I guess."  The ice cream man shrugs as he hands over the treat.  "Better give it to him before it melts then."

"Will do!  Thanks, mister!"

The ice cream man waves as Jasper runs to David's house, sticking his melting popsicle in his mouth as he knocks on the door.  The door creaks open slowly, a single green eye peeking out suspiciously before he spies Jasper standing on his doorstep.  Jasper pops his popsicle out and grins.

"Heya, broski!"

"Oh, it's you."  Ouch.  "What do you want?"  Jasper waves the wrapped treat in front of David.

"I did something totally wack and got an extra by accident!  And I'm only supposed to have one ice cream before dinner or else my mom will totally wig out, so I thought maybe you'd like it?"  David stares at the ice cream with a suspicious squint.

"...Why are you giving it to me?"

"Because you're the only kid I know in this neighborhood!"

"Liar."

"Okay, maybe I know a few other kids, but you were closer!"

"What's the catch?"  David glares at Jasper, holding onto his door tight.  "I take the ice cream and then what?  I gotta give you my allowance?  Beat the snot outta someone?  Be your friend because you're a weird loner?"  

Well, Jasper's not exactly a loner, but he wouldn't mind being friends with David if he'd just stop being mean for a second.

"It's just ice cream, dude.  Take it or leave it."

David swipes the bar from his hand and slams the door in Jasper's face.

"Nice!"  The ice cream man calls, laughing as Jasper walks away with a huff.

Well.

At least he took the dang thing. 

////

The ice cream truck comes again, and this time, the man grins as Jasper points at an ice cream sandwich.

"Gonna get a second one too while you're at it?"  He points to a door cracking open, and a familiar tuft of red hair peeking out.

"...I dunno, maybe."  Last time didn't work out so hot.  Maybe David just doesn't want friends.  Maybe he's the loner.

And Jasper's fine with that.  It's not like he has to be friends with David anyways.

"Who knows, kid?  Maybe he's like a stray cat.  Gotta be nice to 'im and bait 'im 'til he comes out."

"You just want my mom's money."

"Absolutely, now are you gonna buy another one or not?"

"I said I dunno."  Jasper huffs as he waits for the ice cream man to give him his sandwich.  As he takes it, he hears the door shut and he turns to find David no longer hiding by his door.

"Looks like the runt went back into hiding."  The ice cream man hums to himself as Jasper unwraps his treat and starts to munch away.  A bright look comes across the man's face as he ducks into his truck as Jasper watches curiously.  When the ice cream man resurfaces from his searching, a yellowish cup is held in his hand as he shoves it at Jasper's face.  "Here, kid."

Jasper scrunches up his face.

"I don't want it."

"Nah, kid, it's free."

"I still don't want it."

"Look, I got a whole bunch of these laying around 'cause kids don't want 'em as much as the other stuff I got.  So why not throw it at that kid's face so you're not wasting your ma's money and I'm gettin' rida stock I don't need?"

"I don't want him to hate me more than he already does!"

"Can't get any lower than rock bottom, kid."

Oh, he'd beg to differ.

But the ice cream man tosses him what was essentially frozen lemonade, but not like, the good lemonade, but the lemonade that was just pure lemon juice with some water, maybe even too much water, mixed in, and then they put it in the freezer, and then put that ice block into a blender, turned it on high, and poured the goop into a cup to be sold to children who actually knew what good lemonade tasted like.

And this was not good lemonade.

Jasper barely manages to catch it as it smacks into his chest.

"Good luck, kid!"  The ice cream man salutes him before rushing off into the driver's seat to drive away.

"But I said I didn't want it!"  Fruitlessly, he yells at the disappearing ice cream truck, groaning loudly as he clutches this awful excuse for a lemony treat.  What was he supposed to do with it?  

...

Well, he could actually give it to David.

Maybe he was into this sort of stuff.

Frozen, bad lemonade.  That was kind of like shaved ice, but not really.  The outside of the cup sweats in his hand, reminding him of the hot temperature.

Maybe he wouldn't care?  Maybe he'll take it because it's so hot out and use it as a, like, ice pack or something.

His feet are already walking him to David's door, and after cramming the ice cream sandwich in his mouth, he once again knocks on the door, but with less enthusiasm this time.  David opens the door, but he looks only a little surprised.

"What do you want, Jasper?"

Oh, he knows his name?  

"Uh, here."  His words are muffled around the sandwich, but David takes the cup regardless.

And scrunches up his face when he sees it.

"Ugh!  I don't want this!"

"Me neither!"

"It sucks!"

"I know!"

David blinks, as if registering that Jasper was actually agreeing with him.

"So why are you giving this to me?"  Jasper swallows a bite of his sandwich and shrugs.

"I dunno, maybe you can like, use it as an ice pack?"

"Pfft."  David snorts, which makes Jasper perk up a bit.  "As if.  This thing'll only last for a few minutes."  

"What are you gonna do then?"  Jasper watches as David wipes the sweat from his brow, frowning as he stares down at the cup.

And sighs dramatically.

"Guess I'll eat the dang thing."

"...You sure?"

"Well it's not like I have a choice."  Jasper expects more bite to his words, but the ginger merely says it with a tired reluctance he doesn't expect.  "Thanks, though."

"Oh uh, sure, duderino."  He expects David to slam the door in his face but the boy just... keeps it open.  "Guess I'll see you around?"

"Whatever."  David shrugs as he pops the lid open.  "See ya."  

He walks away from David's house and doesn't hear the door close.  When he makes it to his own house, he looks over to where David's house is and sees the boy sitting there.  Quietly eating his treat in the open doorway.

And Jasper swears.

He's eating it with a smile.

////

When Jasper approaches the familiar ice cream truck, he can hear two voices yelling at each other near the truck's window.

"You tellin' me this is all two dollars?!"

"I said count 'em, you gigantic square!"

"Uhh...?"  Jasper walks up to find David gripping the edge of the window from where he hangs with a snarl.  The ice cream man glares back down at David as he holds a fist full of coins.  Oh.

"It's two dollars!"

"Quit jerkin' my chain!  As if I'd believe you!"

"Can I count?"  The two of them turn their heads to Jasper as he sheepishly rubs his arm.  "I mean, if I count them in front of you, it'd save you the trouble and prove Dave- David's telling the truth."  The ice cream man rolls his eyes but hands the change over to Jasper regardless.  And so the brunette carefully sorts out the assortment of change, and holy cow, he can see why the ice cream man was angry at first.  It's a big mess of nickels and pennies and dimes, with maybe one quarter in the mix, but he counts out the change dutifully, carefully, and out loud so that the ice cream man can see his work.

"...and two dollars."  He gathers up the change and holds it up to the ice cream man.  "David was telling the truth."

"I told you, you big doofus."

"Watch it, kid, or else I'm taking your money and drivin' away."

"That's stealing!"

"As if you haven't tried stealin' from me before."  But the ice cream man disappears and comes back with two drumsticks.  "Here, your ice cream."

"Yessss!"  David takes them both, before turning to Jasper and handing him a stick.

"...Huh?"

"Here."  He shoves it into Jasper's hand and looks away.  "For the other times you got me ice cream."

"Oh!  You didn't have to-"

"Later, nerd!"  David runs off and into his house, slamming the door shut as he leaves Jasper in the dust.

"...Are you two friends now?"

"Uhh."  Jasper looks down at the drumstick in his hand.  It's the usual kind - vanilla, coated with chocolate and nuts.  He unwraps it and gnaws on the outer shell.

Sweet.

"...Maybe."

"Huh."  The ice cream man sounds amused as he reclines against his window.  "That was quick."

////

It becomes a routine.

Everyday, the ice cream man comes.  Sometimes it'll be Jasper who meets him first.  And sometimes it's David.

But there's an unspoken rule between them.

They have to wait until the other shows up before leaving.

It's like a meeting place, but with a guy who brings the meeting place to them.

Normally, they just buy the ice cream and part ways back to their houses.  

But sometimes...

"Doesn't it hurt?"

"What?"

Jasper and David sit on the curb, the ice cream man already driving away as they eat.  It's too hot to stay indoors, so they find themselves having a rare moment outside in the sun.  Jasper wouldn't mind staying quiet, if only for the fact that David bites down on the bomb pop like it's candy and crunching away at it in his mouth.

Just watching him eat it makes Jasper's teeth ache.

"Biting down on it!"

"No it doesn't."  David chomps down on it again, making Jasper cringe. 

"My mom says that biting ice cream like that can hurt your teeth."

David snorts.

"You're just a chicken."

"Am not!"

"Then do it, chicken."

Jasper looks at his own popsicle.  He doesn't want to hurt his teeth, but he also doesn't want to be called a chicken.  David grins slyly as he nudges Jasper.

"Chiiiickeeeeen," he goads.

"I'm not a chicken!"  Without a second thought, Jasper bites down on his popsicle and crunches down on the block of flavored ice.  It feels as though the ice is freezing his teeth all the way down to his gums, and it sort of hurts, and sort of doesn't.

It's still not pleasant though, so he chews through it quickly.

"See?"  David nudges him again with a lighter grin as he goes back to polishing off the popsicle.  "It's not that bad."

"Ugh."  He determines not to do that again.  "I think I'll pass on eating popsicles like that ever again."

David snickers but doesn't push him.  Instead, they both kick at the asphalt beneath their feet and take in the rays.

////

Summer comes, and summer goes.  They go back to school, pretend they don't know each other asides from a neighborly nod, before continuing on with their lives.

But when summer returns, they find themselves meeting up back at the ice cream truck.

"Wanna try these ones?!"  Jasper excitedly points at the pastel-looking ice cream bars on the truck.

"Are you getting it only for the colors?"

"Why not!"  

"That's dumb.  You're dumb."  

"You just don't wanna admit you wanna try the cotton candy one."  Jasper teases the ginger as David rolls his eyes.

"Whatever.  I'll just take the watermelon one."  

"Well, I'm taking the cotton candy one, 'cause I'm not a chicken."

"You take that back."

"Are you kids gonna pay or what?"

"Here you go, mister!"  As the ice cream man hands them their treats, the two of them sit back on the curb, kicking at the asphalt as they get used to each other yet again.

"You think his menu ever changes?"

"Nah, he seems too lazy to do that."

"But what if something new comes out?  Like a tubular kind of ice cream."

"He already has a tube-y ice cream."

"No, like tubular!  Like wicked?  Gnarly?"

"...I hate you so much.  Just speak like a human!"

"But I am??"  David yells as Jasper laughs.  "Take a chill pill, man!  It's how everyone speaks nowadays!"

"That's a lie.  A big, dumb lie that only a square would make."

"Calling people a square is sooo outdated, Davey."  The nickname slips out before Jasper can stop himself, and he slaps his hand over his mouth in shock.  "Oh, no, I'm sorry!  I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine."

And he blinks.

"...Huh?"

"I said it's fine."  David kicks at the asphalt, keeping his eyes away from Jasper's as he bites into his ice cream.  "...I'm okay with you calling me 'Davey'."

"Are.  Are you sure?"

"Yeah."  David shrugs before turning to face Jasper.  He looks uncertain, nervous even as he twirls the melting treating between his fingers.  "I mean, we're friends, right?"

And he blinks again.

Mouth slightly agape. 

He must have taken too long to respond because suddenly David's ears are bright red as he stands up abruptly.  "Wh-whatever!  If we're not friends, just say it-!"

"We are!"  Jasper stands up just as quickly, a giddy grin making it onto his face as he makes to hug David, only to remember the sticky ice cream in their hands.  "We're friends!"

It's David's turn to blink as he registers the words Jasper says.  And then.

He smiles.

A real, genuine smile.

"...Cool!"

And when summer inevitably ends, he hopes he'll get more than a nod from David as they pass each other in the halls.

////

Summers come, and summers go.  As they pass each other in the halls, Jasper goes for a high-five that David avoids, only to punch Jasper (lightly) in the arm later.

They sit next to each other at lunch, Jasper sharing his snacks with David as the latter pours over Jasper's homework as Jasper explains each problem to him.

They become an odd pair, the two of them.  David's bristly exterior is immediately softened when Jasper is nearby, and Jasper's mood lightens considerably no matter the problem he has to face as long as David is there with him.

People often ask him if he hopes to make David a more cheery person by sticking with him.  After all, Jasper is all smiles and bright colors.  But Jasper just shrugs, saying he likes David the way he is.

If David changes, then he'll still like him.

Because David is David.

Just like how Jasper is Jasper.

Some things about them will change, Jasper knows that's inevitable.  Habits change, opinions change, outlooks change.

But some routines never change.

They're fourteen as they wait for the ice cream truck together, sitting on Jasper's front lawn as the cool grass stains their shorts.

"Aren't we too old for ice cream trucks?"  David is lying down besides Jasper, his eyes closed as Jasper drops torn up grass onto his face.  Jasper giggles as David swats halfheartedly at his hand.

"Nah."  

"We could be doing something else.  Like playing games.  Or eating ice."

"Only you would eat ice."

"Yeah well, maybe if you didn't think your teeth were so fragile-"

Jasper rolls David over, the other boy squeaking indignantly as his words are muffled by the dirt and grass. 

"UGH!  JASP-"  And then a familiar jingle rounds the corner.

"Oh it's Mr. Kevin!"  Jasper bounces to his feet and dashes away to meet the familiar driver.  "What's up-!"

David comes up from behind Jasper and grabs him in a headlock, already yelling at the amused man as he pulls out a few bills.

"HE WANTS THE LEMON ICE!"

"HEY-"

"Whatever my loyal customers want."

"HEY-"

////

A few more summers come and go.  Puberty is wack.  High school is wack.  Preparing for college is super bogus wack.  But David isn't wack.

If time could stop for just a moment, just so Jasper could have more seconds in the day to relish those moments of happiness that escape them more often than not, then maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't feel as though everything was falling through his fingers so quickly.

Things change too quickly.

Times change too quickly.

Even old routines, that one routine he'd grown to depend on every summer.

That began to change too.

As the two of them wait for the ice cream man, a man who has slowly begun to fade from their lives as the times change, Jasper finds himself clutching desperately to the past as his feet tap nervously against the grass.  He can feel David's eyes on him, watching as his best friend slowly unravels before him.  With a sigh, David leans against him, forcing Jasper to a halt as he forces the teen to lay down in the grass.

Up above them, the clouds roll by peacefully, completely unbothered and untethered to any sorts of worries.

"...You think he's gonna come by?"

"I don't think he's got enough customers to justify it, Jasp."

"...Bummer."

"Hm."

They continue to watch the clouds for a while, Jasper's disappointment settling on his face as he wonders if he took his childhood for granted yet again.  A finger prods his cheek, and he turns to see David's green eyes.  Calm.  Relaxed, even.  He's mellowed out throughout the years, but he still wears a frown most days.  He's grown up a lot since he was that mean, bratty kid next door.

"You want ice cream that bad?"

"It's not that."  Jasper bites his lip.  He's kind of embarrassed actually, wanting to stick to this routine for so long.  David's probably long since gotten tired of waiting for the ice cream truck, especially during these recent years as the man showed up less and less.  But he never complains or goes against Jasper's wants, and instead plays along patiently as Jasper continues to cling.  

"Then what is it?"

Is it hard to explain?  Or is it just embarrassing to say?  He looks over to David, and there's understanding in his eyes as he props himself up, waiting for Jasper to choose his words without any rush.

How lucky was he to keep a friend like David for so long?

"We stuck together because of the ice cream truck."  David's eyes widen as the words sink in.  Jasper laughs, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck as he looks away.  "I dunno it just- I'm probably just tripping over this for no reason, dude, sorry-"

"It's important to you."  Jasper feels David lean against him as he thinks out loud.  "I don't think it's wrong that you're upset about it."

"...But it's a dumb thing to cling to."

"Not really.  We became friends because we kept buying ice cream together.  I think that's pretty meaningful."  David rests his chin on Jasper's shoulder as they continue to sit, waiting for nothing to arrive. 

"Is it bad that I miss it?"

"Nah."  

The breeze ruffles their hair.

"...What do you think Kevin is up to?"

"Probably selling drugs."

"Davey!"

"What?"  The ginger laughs, puffs of warm brushing against Jasper's neck as he gradually calms down.  "I'm right."

"You don't know that."

"Maybe."  

Jasper closes his eyes.  It's hot out, but he doesn't mind David sticking so close by.  It's comforting, actually, feeling his warmth like this.  Like, no matter what, even if the ice cream truck doesn't come by anymore, David doesn't really need a reason to just come by and sit next to Jasper and do nothing together.

At least that won't change.

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"Let's do something next year."

"Like what?"

"Something new."  David turns his attention back to the sky and reaches out towards it.  He tries to grab a cloud, but it floats away from his hand.  "I've always wanted to go camping."

"But we don't know anything about camping."

"We can practice."  David pulls back just enough to look Jasper in the eye, bright eyed at the prospect.  "We got a whole year to prepare, and we'll be graduating soon anyways.  Why not do something special for that summer?"

No more ice cream trucks.  No more sitting around.  But something new to fill in the void.

It couldn't hurt, right?

"Yeah."  He smiles as David returns with his own grin.  "Let's try that out."

\\\\

Summers come as they are wont to do.  And they leave as they tend to do.  The ice cream truck never comes back.

But that's okay.

David brightens up significantly as they begin camping, and Jasper wonders if he'd been holding his friend back for so long, making him wait for trucks to come when it was clear they needed to move on.

And yet.

He stood by him the entire time, waiting until Jasper was ready to let go.

An unspoken trust.  With unwavering understanding.

Camping is alright, he supposes, but David loves how the trees surround them, how the birds sing above them, the way they come across streams and rivers as though they were new discoveries.

Camping is alright.  But David's happiness is worth so much more.

"Jasp!"  David pulls him along to the nearby clearing, their campfire crackling softly as he points up to the sky.  "You don't get to see stars like this often!"

"...Yeah."  He watches as David stares up at the night sky, so unlike the boy he grew up with.  It's a side of him he's rarely seen before.

And he thinks that it's a shame that they never got to explore this side of him sooner.

Wouldn't that have made David happier?

David turns to Jasper, head tilted to the side as he catches his friend staring.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, uh, nothing."  He looks away with a blush, scratching at his cheek as he looks for something to distract David with.  "Oh yeah, we should make sure the campfire doesn't burn down anything, right?"

"Oh- yeah!"  David rushes back, already worried as Jasper laughs.

This.

This is different.

But it's a good kind of different.

"Hey."

"Huh?"  David looks up from where he sits by the fire, watching as Jasper plops down besides him.

"Why do you like camping so much?"

"...I dunno it just."  He shrugs, smiling wistfully as he watches the fire.  "I mean, I used to camp a lot with my dad.  Before he left."  

Ah, right.

"Wouldn't you hate camping then?"

"I mean, I did.  For a long time, I did."  David laughs, a light blush dusting his cheeks as he talks.  "But then, you became my friend.  And we grew closer and.  I just wanted to do something with you.  Something that we could claim as our own.  Sure, there was that whole ice cream thing but.  That could only last for so long, and when it ran its course, I saw how you were struggling to just.  Wrap your mind around losing something that was so us.  And I wanted to do something.  Make a new something.  And.  Camping was the only thing I could think of."  He shrugs as he turns to face Jasper, the brunette wide eyed as the ginger grins.  "It just felt... right, you know?"

"...God."  Jasper shakes his head, laughing as he does so.  "You're amazing, you know that?"

"Only because you stuck by long enough for me to be amazing."  David nudges his shoulder playfully.  "...Hey."

"Hm?"

"Thanks.  For actually, um.  Being my friend."  David looks down as he speaks.  "It couldn't have been easy."

"...Nah, thanks for letting me stick to that ice cream schtick for so long."  Jasper bonks his head gently against David's.  "That couldn't have been easy."

"It's whatever."  David bonks back with a smile.  "I mean, as long as I got to spend time with you, it was worth it."

...Yeah.

It was, wasn't it?

He smiles as their fingers brush together.

Yeah, maybe camping was just alright.  If it'd been with anyone else, he'd be pretty indifferent and distant throughout the whole affair.

But.

With David?

Like when they were waiting for the ice cream truck together, the sun beaming down above them, feet kicking playfully at asphalt as they listened to the sounds of the birds chirping in the distance.

Sitting here, by an open fire, underneath the stars and listening to the songs of the crickets and the hoots of the owls.

Just like then.

Just.  Existing next to each other.

It just.

Feels.

Right.

[purplemys]

The Caller

I hope David answers.

The Call From Spooky Island

Reference to Dial M For Jasper but what if David repeatedly hears Jasper whispering throughout the show and it slowly but surely makes him paranoid.

[off-the-heezys]

Kevdan?

dont you mean

c r I m e j a s p v I d ?

im convinced kevdan is just a bootleg version of jaspvid like if you stand far away and squint and tilt your head its the same ship