(to the Davesport isn't toxic anon, respectfully.)

Just because Dave isn't aware of how awful he's being to Jack doesn't mean he still isn't being that way..

Before I continue, let me start this with the fact that I love Dave. He's one of my favorites from the DSAF gang. But just because his mind has been messed with doesn't mean he's devoid of fault.

Let's start with the good endings. The ones where Jack ceases to do anything harmful. Dave continuously pops up, preys on his insecurities

"you're only about as human as a hammer or a wrench, sportsy, and that's what I and phoney see you as." <- good ending, DSAF 2, saferoom.

Dave is very attached to Jack. We see this in how, even on the good routes, he still writes frantic diary messages over his "old sport." He still sets up cameras in his room. He still uses his shower. He still follows Jack from location to location. He still begs, even as the robotic-trapped shell of his former self, for Jack to play along with his plans.

Dave is horribly attached to someone he sees as a tool. This is EXTREMELY unhealthy for both him AND especially Jack.

Yes, this is a product of what Henry did to him, but he still does it. He still preys on Jack, because he's perceptive enough to notice his weaknesses and use them to gain what he wants.

And Jack. Jack 'seems' to be okay with it, but he's notorious for pushing down his feelings. He's not a "human," after all, so why should he care what happens to him? This mindset is exactly why Dave is able to get him to do anything in the first place.

Jack is a terribly, terribly lonely man. Dave knows this. Even Peter, taking a singular look at him, said that he looked like the "loneliest man on earth." (paraphrased.) Jack, going with the bad route timeline, obviously saw the first person who treated him with anything other than mild disgust.. someone who had greeted him with the subtext that they were equals... And got attached. Dave is one of the only things that seem to be permanent in his life, everything else is fleeting. His family, his own body.. even his soul left him. even when Dave is his enemy in the good routes, Jack still treats him with unreasonable kindness.

Dave went into him and Jack's partnership with the intention to use, abuse, then throw him out. Even in the bad ending of DSAF 1, it ends up with Jack thrown out on the side of the road for "hoarding coke." Dave's plans changed, of course, but his methods of coercion never changed.

Fun thing, did you know that Dave was lying in the first game when he said that he needed Jack to get him out of Freddy's? Dave is slippery. He was NEVER trapped. He tied himself up in a faux web of his own making in an attempt to get Jack stuck in it, too. Dave only wanted Jack because he couldn't handle the idea of not having a partner. He can't do solo acts, not because he's not skilled, but because he's conditioned himself to believe he "needs" someone else, subconsciously or not.

All of this stacked up together really doesn't paint a pretty picture of their relationship, huh. What Henry had done unto Dave was something Dave had done unto Jack. It's a cycle of abuse.

And before you say... "It's mutually toxic, what about the end of bad route DSAF 3???!!" Yeah okay that still isn't a mutually toxic relationship. Jack was coerced into a rigged springlock suit that Davetrap KNEW would end up with Jack getting impaled, all because Davetrap wanted to make himself feel better about his own physical state. Dave ADMITTED to having cameras in Jack's room, watching him sleep.. and Dave then ADMITTED HE KILLED JACK'S SISTER. Jack was never using Dave in the same way as Dave was using him. Jack wanted revenge, that isn't toxic, that's just murder.

All of what I just listed, however, is specific to reality Dave. Flipside Davesport is significantly less 'toxic'

I don't care how you interpret their relationship, I don't mind if you like them better out of character, where they're healthy and in love. I just feel it's important to acknowledge that canonically, Dave IS extremely abusive towards Jack and that you shouldn't take them as an example of a healthy relationship. Do not model your relationships off of them, kids, I know how many young teens populate this fandom.

I. Am sorry I wrote an essay I just really like this game.

:o