Up to No Good: A musebox for Sorting Hat

The past...however long it had been was a giant blur for Dirk. He remembered every detail--he was the most consistently sober Strider as of late--but because it was all the same routine, his concept of how long it'd gone on. It had first started with trying to contact Dave. Worrying about Dave. That worry spread to include Bro as well, when he finally cut off contact with Dirk. He'd tried to see both of them, but elusiveness was a genetic trait and there was no way Dirk could actually get in touch with them directly unless they allowed it.

It really sucked. Dirk wasn't used to being the strongest out of the trio. He was the youngest, so even when he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself, Bro and Dave were always out there looking out for him. It was his turn to do it and they weren't letting him. That changed when Bro's landlord contacted him about Bro not paying his bills. Dirk had immediately taken a cut from his inheritance to pay off Bro's outstanding debt and insisted that Bro move in with him.

Seeing Bro in the state he was in was down right depressing, so Dirk did everything he could to help Bro. Plenty of arguments ensued due to Dirk insisting that he stop drinking. Coaxing Bro into sobriety was stressful and mostly impossible. But it'd gotten better. Sometimes he woke up with Bro passed out on his bed and smarting a hangover, but Dirk was able to see some normalcy in Bro again. He certainly looked healthier, and Dirk liked to think it was because he was in the habit of cooking legit meals now and making sure Bro ate.

He wasn't sure how long this would remain, though. After completing his film and sending a copy to Dave, the middle Strider finally agreed to see him. He'd seen Dave. Emotional broments were had. Then Dirk accio'd all of his liquor and poured it down the drain. It was definitely more progress than he'd ever hoped to make with Dave, although finding out just exactly how he'd been living had been more than disconcerting.

And Dave was supposed to come over today. In the long run, it'd be good for both Bro and Dave to see each other again. Dirk was still worried, though. The immediate affects of this meeting could go one of several ways, and he wasn't sure if any of them would be ones he could manage. As far as he was concerned, both were still in extremely fragile states. If either or both of them chose now to relapse, Dirk didn't know if he'd have the strength to be able to pick up the pieces again.

Dave was due at any time now, and Dirk still needed to make sure Bro got up and at least made himself presentable. He'd spent the morning making sure at least the living room and kitchen looked decent. He also made a ton of mini sandwiches to shove at Dave once he got here. Sighing, Dirk mentally prepared himself for a stupid battle he hoped wouldn't happen. "Hey Uncle Dirk," he said, shaking Bro's shoulder lightly. "Get up and take a shower. You're ruining my fuckin' feng shui." If Bro didn't remember that Dave was supposed to come over today, Dirk would tell him after he bullied Bro out of bed and whatnot.