a. those in glass cases
[ well. whether or not dave strider recognizes anyone in the cases, he'd feel pretty bad about just leaving someone in them. sure, he's quicker to respond if he recognizes a face inside, but you might not have the slightest idea who he is when he breaks the glass with the hilt of his sword to get you out.

it's just some mysterious dude in jeans and a sweater, okay. and sunglasses. at least there's sunlight outside to explain those!

(he wears the dumb shades even at night. rip.)

dave holds out his right hand to steady you as you come out of the case, at least. ]

You doin' a'ight? That probably wasn't fun. I mean, if you were aware in there. I...assume you might''ve been? In which case, like, wow, probably claustraphobic, yeah? Want to go outside? We can probably go outside.

[ of course, this is the response netted if he doesn't know you. if he does, i will specially write you something, ok. ]

b. those who are not any longer or never were
[ if you're not caught up in a case, however, whether you were previously and escaped or if you're an in-game character who was never caught, dave can be found occasionally peering into the cases and frowning - moreso the ones that have been broken out of, as he is interested in trying to free the ones who haven't.

he toes at some of the glass shards on the floor, frowning. ]

You know, it's one thing when department stores decide to celebrate holidays early. But it's like, one month too early for this creeptastic bullshit. Or, like, why hasn't Christmas broken the front lines here, too? I'd take mistletoe bats over whatever the fuck this matrix bullshit thinks it's goin' towards.

[ he's mumbling to himself, maybe, or maybe talking to you? it can be hard to tell with dave. ]

a. carnival games
[ dave's actually pretty good at some of them! others, though? well, he can't seem to win the water pistol race thing no matter what he does, and after losing aGAIN he huffs a long-suffering sigh. ]

Okay. I have to regain my honor here somehow, let's do a different game or have a real live race. Ten losses can be avenged with one win. Hell, I'll even take a tie at this point.

[ yeah he's like. REALLY bad at the gun-related games, it's kind of hilarious. ]

b. weird-ass monsters
[ he does eventually win at least ONE prize but he holds up the stuffed monster from [insert your canon here tbh] and just. what is this. ]

My mascot knowledge is usually pretty on-point and enclyclopedic because, like, of course I have only the most useful information memorized and that was way more useful to my life than, say, the periodic table, but yeah I have no idea what the fuck this is.

[ he squeezes it experimentally. ]

...I think it's breathing. I should like. Throw this.

[ hMMM. and yet he just keeps kind of going ??? at it in his hands. good job, strider. ]

c. magical foods...
[ luckily (?) dave is way too fucking paranoid at this point to try the snacks, so -

yeah no. he's like...staring longingly at a caramel apple.... ]

I know that's probably gonna like put me in a poisoned sleep or turn me bright green or something equally absurd but like. Do you think it would be worth it? I'm leaning to "yes".

[ dave strider: professional idiot ]

d. ferris wheel
[ either you're already in the ferris wheel and he slides in at the last second, or he's waiting outside in the line, hands in the back pockets of his skinny jeans. dave gives a nod when he sees whoever, though. ]

Wanna see what fun and exciting way this thing's gonna mess with us? Because, like, I am a huge fan of heights. And slow scenic rides through the air. So, like, I'm goin' on it either way and you're more than welcome to make this terrible decision with me.

[ dave loves random bullshit so obviously he is ALL FOR the random sidequests. maybe you catch him listening to an NPC giving a quest, or maybe you run into him on one...or maybe he comes up to you because of one of them.

whatever the case, he's apparently wasting a lot of time on this. god. ]

Hey. [ he gives you a once over, then hands over a...pack of gummy worms? ] That should about do it - yes.

[ his banner overhead now reads "what do you call a worm with no teeth?"

dave looks low-key delighted, which for him is a little half-smile. ]

I'm tryin' to earn the stupidest title possible. What do you think, is this a contender?

[ this is a terrible use of time? ]

[ or write whatever and i will roll with it! feel free also to pm me for specific plans. i'm also willing to thread out canon!dave or awash!dave if you want the non-recolle flavor. ]