[Dave]

Streak turned at the sound of the voice. She was confused when she saw only a tiger, staring at her. Then, it hit her. The tiger had spoken.
"Uh, sure, I'm Streak. Where are we going? And ..." she hesitated. "Uh, do you know about other tiger people that might be here? There was this bird who told me that there were some around."
---
Blaze turned to Charger. "I don't even know what the hell a Breaker is!" Then something hit him. "But maybe Streak is. That might be why he asked if we are ...."
---
Why not?
NAME: Dave
RACE: Human
OCCUPATION: Student, Dishroom Attendant
AGE: 17
Other Details: Dave is a college student who, between work, classes, and his girlfriend, spends much time on the internet. He visits sites like White Ninja Comics, Bob and George, and Oddworld Forums. He is currently writing an Oddworld fanfic, and is responsible for several important characters in an rpg called The Community RPG. The real person Dave is being used quite fictitiously.
---
Roland did not seem fazed to meet this guy Dave. He had encountered strangeness before. Someone turning up to tell him he was, essentially, the author of his existance, was not surprising. The surprise would be if it were true.
But then, how did this kid know his name? And about Charger?
Roland: "Writing about me, eh? So are you saying you 'created' me?"
Dave immediately shook his head. "Nuh-uh, not me. I'd never be able to create a character like you. Not on my own, that is. You were heavily inspired by a character I read about. You've got the same name and the same guns and stuff, too. I guess I liked the character so much I wanted to write him some adventures of my own."
Roland finally looked upset. "What does this mean? That my entire destiny is in your hands?"
Dave appeared to think about this. "No, not quite," he said finally. "I'm using your character in a role playing game. Many of the other people you've met are not my creations. Like Charger, a guy who calls himself Havoc made him up. And that Eagle, Pseok-"
"That is the eagle's name?" the gunslinger interrupted.
"Yeah, didn't you .... no. I don't think you did. Well, now you know." Dave shrugged. "Anyhow, Pseok belongs to this guy Splat. That wolf-guy, Drakko, he was -"
"Shut up. This is not of any importance." Roland's tone was quite sharp. "What you're telling me is that you and these others are directing what I and the others I have met are doing?"
Dave nodded. "Sure. Online."
Roland looked confused. "Online?"
Dave rolled his eyes. "Computers? Internet ... oh. I don't think I ... hmm. You don't know anyhing about computers."
Roland shook his head. "I know that there was a race of people long ago - at least in my home world - that used such things." After a moment's thought, he said, "I would see this internet. And I would know who I know that you are controlling."
Dave looked alarmed. What would his roommate think if he brought the gunslinger back to the room? His roommate was as big a fan of The Dark Tower as he was, and might have a heart attack if he saw Roland Deschain sitting on the futon.
He would have to hope Brian was out at dinner.
"Come on," Dave said. "And would you hide those guns?!"
Roland did so, and they began walking along the path towards the gray building. "Tell me. Who else are you ... responsible for?"
Dave coughed loudly, realizing what he was about to say. "Uh, well ... you, and Blaze, the tiger-man you were chasing, and the wimpy bounty-hunter guy, Art, and a Breaker named Streak - another Anthro tiger .... and ...."
Roland had filed these names away, making a special note of Streak, the Breaker. "And who? Is there another?"
Dave swallowed. "Ever meet Robert Fisher?"
Roland stumbled, but otherwise his fury was masked. To know that one mind could contain the lives of both he and his quarry .... maddening.
And this Dave could have made Roland have one shot left with which to incapacitate Fisher! And he could have kept Fisher from sending him here!
And he could have done all manner of things to keep you from ever hearing of Fisher in the first place, came a voice. It sounded like Roland's father. Stop your puling and put it behind you.
Roland took a deep breath. "Yes. I have met him. And why, pray tell, did you send me away from him when I caught up?"
Dave looked puzzled. They took a path to the right, which led away from the windowless gray building and around it. "Did you catch up with him? I haven't written that yet. Is it in the circus tent?"
Roland nodded.
"Hm. Well, I'll let you in on a secret. I don't plan out what I write. Mostly ideas come to me and I think, 'Hey, that sounds good. Let's use it.' You know? I just ... type. But now that I know what's happened ...."
Roland stopped him. "Now that you know, you can change it! You can send me back to the tent! It is in your power!"
Dave looked at him seriously. "Do you think so? I could write it, but would that make it happen? I doubt very much that your life has felt scripted. I bet that to you, life has always felt like you were always making decisions on your own, living your own life. Is that right?"
The gunslinger realized he was right. Yes. His whole life he had been in control. To think now that it was some kid writing a story was ridiculous. He was a real person, dammit!
Roland looked at Dave, and they began walking a bit. Slower than the gunslinger would have liked; he noted that Dave limped, and it was slowing him down. He guessed there had been an injury, but felt it would be pointless to ask about it.
Instead, he said: "So let us see this inner-net-"
"Internet." Dave corrected.
"Fine. Let us see it, and you can write my story a little farther."
---
Dave felt bad for making such a long post. And he felt worse for going back to edit and make it longer. But he reread it and decided he should clarify one thing. This encounter between Roland and Dave takes place shortly before he wrote Post 309 in The Community RPG, meaning not only did Roland move through realities, but also through time.