IC Inbox - closed

[hollowchild]

Ah, hello. You've reached Sophie, but I must be in the midst of something. If you have a question about self-defense or Teachers' Council, leave a message letting me know what precisely you're interested in and I'll get back to you.

...everyone else, do as you do, I suppose.

Comments

[hollowchild]

[she's quiet when he speaks and for a moment after, although her fingers tighten around his]

You cared about the wrong things?

[wasthemaster]

...I was raised in a really traditional family. My mother always taught me that I was supposed to treat whoever I ended up with like a princess, essentially, and my first girlfriend was more than fine with that. Then again, Pansy's idea of being like a princess was doting on me and playing with my hair and generally just getting to call herself my girlfriend.

So anyway, I cared about making sure she was taken care of...and she hated it. She thought I didn't trust her to take care of herself and that I was basically demeaning her without me actually meaning to. I cared about trying to protect her and it sort of just backfired on me.

[hollowchild]

Mm.

I see how that would be a problem. But that's not all you cared about, really, is it?

[wasthemaster]

Well I never really got a chance to explain the rest of it. I cared about her obviously if that's what we're getting at.

[hollowchild]

It was a mostly rhetorical question, yes. But why didn't you explain the rest of it?

[wasthemaster]

Like I said we kind of got into a huge argument and so I didn't try again after that.

[hollowchild]

Hn.

[for a moment she looks like she's going to say something, but then she shakes her head, just a little, and says something else instead]

I think I understand enough. What about the second girl?

[wasthemaster]

What about the second girl? Who is she, or why isn't she going to work?

[hollowchild]

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to one of those, so, the other.

[her thumb rubs at his temple, the touch soft and cool]

It's not as though I'm just being nosy.

[wasthemaster]

[Said thumb renders a pleased noise from somewhere in the back of his throat and really it's the only thing keeping him from bolting immediately.] It's not going to work for nearly the same reason. She's way too fiercely independent. Not to mention she's on again off again in love with someone else.

[hollowchild]

[she will just keep it up, then, switching from petting his hair to lightly rubbing his temples. apparently the perpetually cold hands are good for something]

You're conflating not needing to be protected with not allowing other people in. They're not the same thing. And no offense, Draco, but aren't you, too?

[wasthemaster]

[When one has a perpetual headache cold hands are perfectly fine.]

Aren't I what, continually not allowing people in, or fiercely independent? Think it's a little of both but so what?

[hollowchild]

Still also a bit in love with someone else.

[wasthemaster]

...I'll always probably be a tiny bit in love with Rapunzel but not enough to stop me. This girl though...it's someone from her own universe. What's stopping her from changing her mind? She's gone back and forth on being friends with him and then toying with the relationship idea that I can't take it seriously anymore. But he's awful for her anyway.

[hollowchild]

Why does she keep doing that? And why is he awful for her?

[wasthemaster]

Because teenage girls are flighty creatures and she firmly believes she loves him, sometimes. And he's disgusting, that's why. He doesn't want to settle for just her. His culture believes in polygamous relationships and some other rubbish that I don't quite understand and she's just...she doesn't deserve that. She shouldn't have to share. He doesn't deserve someone like her.

[hollowchild]

Maybe she does love him. Maybe she loves you too. It's in love that's the difficult bit.

[she chews her lip for a long moment]

The thing is, Draco, it's not your choice, what she deserves, or what she wants. If she knows about that, and accepts it, and wants him anyway, then she does, no matter what it looks like to you.

But I think there's probably a reason she's going back and forth, and why she's sleeping in your bed and not somebody else's.

[wasthemaster]

It's possible, but I highly doubt it because that's just--

...I never said anything about anyone sleeping in my bed.

[hollowchild]

Because that's just?

[her mouth quirks, and she shakes her head a little]

I've told you how many times that I browse the network, Draco? Any casual observer would think that you two were very much together.

[wasthemaster]

...[He's going to have to talk to her about that.] Jade and I are not together in any shape or form. We just sleep together out of habit.

Anyway it doesn't matter. She's acknowledged she rather keep me but she continues to go back and forth on this anyway.

[hollowchild]

I am well aware. And didn't assume you were, actually. But we just talked about appearances.

Does she know how you feel? No assumptions or presumptions, actual clear definite knowing?

[wasthemaster]

I don't know, probably. [No.]

[hollowchild]

So no. And do you know, actual clear definite knowing, how she feels about you?

[wasthemaster]

Yes. [No.] She's pretty set in us being friends.

[hollowchild]

Is she really set, or is she fighting not to lose you?

The reason that Connor and I are actually together, instead of still just circling around it, is because we ended up in a situation where we had to admit how things were. And I'm not saying that's how it always works out. It couldn't possibly be. But that's really why.

And yes, before you ask, it was completely terrifying. But not as terrifying as what I'd done, and what I stood to lose.