theweakhavepurpose | Hadriel Inbox

[no, she doesn't have the wrong number. she has the exact right number]

It's about me. . . and my boyfriend. I'm kind of wondering about it. If we took things too fast.

Oh.

I'm uh.. not really qualified for.. relationship advice.

[King of one night stands here.]

Maybe not, but you're my friend and you know me. If I tell you about what happened, you can listen while I work things out. And if you have advice, great. If you don't, I'll at least have someone who'll listen.

[she's never had a boyfriend before and she doesn't know if she Did It Right]

[Loooooooooooooong pause.]

Alright. In person?

[And it's only because he likes her that he's even considering this because he is already uncomfortable and nothing's even been said yet.]

All right. I'll be right over.

[she's grateful for his help already. even just a listening ear will do her a world of good]

[He's mentally preparing for all the awkwardness, taking a few moments to tidy up. His food stash is neatly organized and put away in the loft part of his tiny home, and the main level is at least relatively clean. It's not like he lets many people in here.

He'll be waiting outside on the chair on his porch. Staying out in the cold for a bit makes the inside seem warmer. He knows it's not real, it's just a mindtrick, but it's been helping.]

[she'd be touched to know that he tidied up on her account.

when she flies in and lands, she's in civilian clothing for a change, black skinny jeans and a thick, fluffy white sweater with black knee boots. however, her gold and garnet brooch is still present, pinned to her sweater. her hands are laced together in front of her and she looks a little awkward]

Hey. Thanks for this. Really.

[ He doesn't look at ease either. He stands up when she gets there, very awkwardly leading them inside. ]

Let's get inside where it's... I would say warm but honestly it's just marginally less freezing.

[He has two barstools at his counter, or a worn armchair with a blanket on it. He gestures to either of them, take your pick.]

Yeah well, I can't guarantee I'll be any help. But uh.. I'm here?

[she follows him in, still looking awkward and a little nervous]

It's okay, I understand. It's freezing everywhere.

[she picks the armchair, wrapping the blanket around herself]

I know you are. I really, really appreciate it.

So, um. Grife, how to begin? [a pause] I've told you about my boyfriend before, right?

Yeah, the guy who headbutted that other guy into the forest right?

[ He perches on the barstool, wishing he had some coffee or beer to offer her. Or anything to do to kind of ease the tension. ]

Uh-huh, that's him. Jo. [she sighs] I love him, honest, I do, but. . . I think we went a little too fast.

[she tangles her hands together and also wishes he had something to drink. she knows better than to ask for Silverale, but a gin and tonic would work]

Want some water? That's about all I have. I've been getting it from the lake and boiling it. So far it's been fine. Tastes like water anyway.

[Ahaha.. He needs to shut up. He's weirdly nervous about someone telling him intimate secrets.]

Too fast?

Water's fine, thank you. How are your supplies holding up?

[to be fair, it is odd for a fifteen year old girl to be telling a fully grown man about her lovelife]

Yeah. I mean, when we first met, we had this instant connection. But [she looks sheepish] he already had a girlfriend.

[He busies himself in the kitchen, pouring water safely stored in mason jars into cups.]

It's holding. Not as well as I'd like, but it's something. I'm not going to starve anytime soon, and I've given a bit of it away.

[To a dog and a cat because he likes animals a hell of a lot more than he likes people.]

Oh, so you get to be the 'other woman'? That's not a bad thing.

Really? That's nice of you. Most people would stick to hoarding what they'd gotten for themselves.

[dogs and cats can't exactly go shopping for themselves, not even here. or can they?]

It's not? [she looks surprised] I was always told that was a terrible thing to do.

Yeah by people who were the first woman.

[He shrugs, handing her the glass.]

Like I said, I'm the worst person to be asking about all this.

[Because in his mind what's better than one lady? Two ladies who are fighting over you. Ego boost to the max.]

[she can't help it, she goes into a fit of giggles at his first comment. she's not laughing at him, not at all, but it flies in the face of everything she's been taught. it takes her a moment to be able to be steady enough to take the glass.

once she does and gets over her giggling, she grins and says] That's a bunch of nass, you're my friend and I trust you.

Anyway, me being the other woman wasn't the only problem. Mother found out and [she adopts a posh, snooty expression and tone of voice] mother disapproved.

[Sure but he's like ten years older than her, and he joined the force to get laid. His Tinder profile is absolutely him in uniform holding a gun. This is not the guy who has good relationship advice. But he's trying.]

Okay for starters; you really shouldn't trust me. Not with this, just.. in general.

And secondly, the people who make the rules for dating or whatever, are always people who got fucked over in their last relationship and want everyone to be miserable. So you definitely shouldn't be listening to what "everyone" is saying.

Which is probably your mom too.

[there is no Tinder in the 30th century, but if she had a profile, it would probably be of her in the angora sweater/black skinny jeans combo she's wearing now]

You've always been honest with me and you're good to me. I know you have a--a past, but that doesn't matter. Not to me. What matters is how you are here.

[she giggles] Maybe. But Jo and I. . . that's just not done on Bgztl. Most marriages are based on social standing and family backgrounds. [a pause] My mother ignored all of that to marry my father and it made them both miserable.

[He makes an unconvinced sound, but they're not here to talk about what a traitor he is.]

Wait did the future go back to Victorian times where you have arranged marriages and shit?

That's balls.

Fuck that noise, do what you want.

[she's convinced, so there]

No, no, it's just what's done on my home planet. [a slightly bitter tone] I didn't have anything arranged for me, despite my "royal" blood because my father was Terran, not Bgztlian.

I did do what I wanted. I did a lot of what I wanted. I'm just wondering if we did it all too fast. We only knew each other two months.

And that's bad I take it? I thought the future was all about unity and peace and such?

[Why do people's heritages still matter? He's not impressed.]

Then it sounds like everything is fine then. What do you think the problem is? Fast is bad?

To the great houses of Bgztl, the ones who'd been nobility, the ones who otherwise would've been lining up to marry their sons to me? Yeah, it's bad. And it is, it's just that--that every planet still has its own customs.

I don't know. That's the problem. Do most people fall in love in two months?

Eugh. That's kinda creepy that a bunch of parents are all antsy to get their sons to get with you.

[Or it's creepy to him anyway.]

I've never been in love, but from what I've heard, when you know, you know. I don't think there's a timing thing.

[it isn't creepy to her. it's to be expected] Well, you can sleep easy because they weren't. Eager to marry their sons to me, that is. My Terran blood was enough of a deterrent.

...you think so? Because even towards the--the time I was brought here, he hadn't broken up with his girlfriend. And we were close. Really close.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject