[Uh, what even was the point of going to Hope's Peak if not to be able to get away with fucking off from class to take a nap? Come on, Peony, get on the ball.
But anyway. There will be no naps to be had here. He cracks an eye open to sulk at her a little.]
I'm awake! Besides, there's no way I'd get sick on a night like this.
[ Since he's pretending to be serious, she does the same, opening her eyes wide and pursing her lips as she nods. Yessir, whatever you say, sir, she totally believes you. ]
[ She bites the inside of her own cheek when she says that, because that actually hits a little too close to real and unpleasant memories and fantasies she's had about that one day in the rain, years ago.
But this is just playing, and for that, she can keep it up. ]
You know me, I always think things through at least four times.
[There's a bit of a choked sound in the back of his throat for a second there, but he catches it in time to not let it throw him off his game too much. His eyebrows raise a little.]
That's your appeal. Being boring and playing by all the rules.
[Any hidden meaning to that is lost on him FOR NOW, but... Oh boy. They're skirting some potentially unpleasant territory now. But he doesn't want to back down, either. Now that they're in this deep.]
It's good to be in the presence of a fellow upstanding citizen, who is completely normal, and has no deviant tastes.
[Okay, now he's listening. He turns a little more with a smug little grin on his face.]
Oh, really?
[Go onnn... He half-expects this to be the lead-in to some joke to keep up with the rest of this silly little game, like maybe she'll reveal that she likes holding hands. But gasp, here they are now doing just that, how scandalous.]
She could go for the innocent joke of handholding (it's not like Japanese society was ever particularly keen on any sort of PDA, even something innocuous as that). And it's not untrue; she definitely likes how it feels to be grounded like this.
And on the far end, there are a couple of truly filthy things she could suggest. Some of them are about Maera, which would be doubly (ha) awkward to even insinuate to Mallory.
And then somewhere in between... ]
It, it's true... are you sure you wanna hear this sorta thing?
[It's not too late to back down, he reminds himself. There are probably some things that shouldn't be shared even between best friends. She could unleash something that'll change his entire perspective and it'll be really awkward to have that image in his mind.
But! She's probably bluffing. Even Peony can't be that shameless. Or else she's going to make up something completely crazy. Which he can probably think of a counter to.]
Go ahead. It's my turn to know all your dirty little secrets.
[ Oh boy. Oh boy oh heck oh jeeze. Now is a moment of truth, isn't it? And now that Icarus and Maera are here, even if she doesn't say anything, it's surely going to be obvious before long. Maybe it's already been obvious?? Did Mallory actually figure out what she meant by sharing, or did he think that Icarus was some kind of main character in his own mini harem series?!
Peony takes a deep breath and squeezes Mallory's hand hard. Here goes nothing. ]
A, as it turns out, m--my boyfriend has a boyfriend, and... and he's my other boyfriend, so...
Of course he assumed the harem route. Luna and Icarus could have the entire world if they so chose! And here Mallory was still reeling over the fact that he could be wanted by anyone at all. Let alone two... people...??
So that's why she got so touchy-feely after she came back!
His grip on her hand loosens, but he doesn't really pull away. He's not disgusted or anything, just suddenly terribly uncertain.]
You're- serious? So that's what you meant by sharing...
[He never realized this could be a possibility in any universe. HE... NEEDS A MINUTE HERE...]
[ His grip loosens and her impulse is to yank her hand back. There we go, there's everything ruined again; maybe she should just get up and leave now, before she has to see any kind of rejection in his face.
...on the other hand, she'd (half) promised Maera she'd stop doing that, and at this point, the damage is already done. Mallory knows. He'll take that knowledge with him from hereon, and even if he doesn't like it -- well, Peony's not going to not keep close to people who want her, even if that might make things otherwise awkward. There's surely some kind of compromise in that, right?
She does look away, though. It's not quite running away or avoiding, but she also still doesn't want to look at him when he starts laughing at her. ]
[There are so many questions forming in Mallory's mind that he barely even notices the heavy silence sitting over them. Questions like, is that kind of love triangle even a thing? and did the other me have as much trouble wrapping his head around it?
He falls back onto his back, pursing his lips while he considers it. As stunned as he is by all this mind-blowing revelation (it's been a BIG DAY for his sense of reality), he's still just aware enough to give her hand a reaffirming squeeze, because it probably doesn't look good for him not to launch into an immediate celebration or anything.]
...Huh.
[He clears his throat, his brows furrowing in thought while he stares at nothing in particular.]
Never would have seen that one coming. We were so head over heels for Luna this whole time. [Or Icarus. WHATEVER, she knows what he means.] ...But you are the only woman- hell, the only person at all besides him- I've cared to spend my life with.
[They were all practically married already, weren't they.]
[ Meanwhile, she'd been mentally rehearsing how to appease him -- it's all right, I know it's weird, I don't expect you to want anything, haha it's a moot point anyway isn't it -- so when he says that, the startled noise bursts from her before she can actually bite it back.
For [you], I'd try it with a woman, Maera had said, and now Mallory's saying this, and, ?!?
Nothing about today has been anything Peony had really been prepared for -- not the stupid (cute) birthday terror, not Icarus and Maera showing up, and not Mallory just -- just accepting her confession like that. She feels adrift and bewildered, and it's not panic, but it's not not panic, either. ]
Th... there's a limit to how much I can assume, you know--!
[ She knows that he loves her ("her"?? god what if another her shows up someday? she'll have to murder her and hide the body, which, is that suicide? technically?! ahhhhhh). She's known that for years, and however gruff and snappish he's come off, she's never doubted that. There had been times where she'd used that deliberately to her advantage, during her time as Despair.
But loving someone and loving someone are very different things. Peony herself had to adjust to that, and she'd never had the hurdle of -- well. She knows very well what his preferences are, and on a very fundamental level, she fits absolutely none of them. ]
Y, you know I mean more than just -- like this, right? We've actually, um. We've. You know??
[ YEAH... YEAH, HE GETS IT. He's not that stupid!! Maybe?! He figured that was part of what she meant by dating, but he didn't need her to just confirm it out loud like that! Now he has to actually address it and what the hell is he supposed to say?
He just stares at her helplessly, like, please, realize the situation you've put him in...]
[ Listen, Peony is not prepared to have any kind of romantic anything with Naegi Makoto, that is just weird. ]
I... I don't know.
[ Not that she had any real idea beforehand, and his response is not particularly instilling her with confidence. Does he want anything? He probably doesn't, right?! He's not under any obligation to try.
(She does suspect on some level that Maera would be annoyed at her for thinking about it as obligation, but it's honestly difficult not to, and especially right now.)
Since he let go of her hand, she curls both of her arms closer to herself, peering at him uncertainly. ]
I, I mean... I don't even know what you want. I'm not going anywhere, but we're not -- you don't have to -- I don't even know how any of this even works.
[ Query: is it possible to cheat on your boyfriend with himself?? What would Icarus think?! No agony aunt has ever had to deal with a situation like this!! ]
[He pushes himself up into a sitting position, rubbing at his face again, and then tucks his hair back behind his ear. A weary sigh escapes him as he turns his gaze away.]
...Yeah... I was already worried about how I'm supposed to treat Icarus, now this? It's not like I hate the idea or anything. It's just a lot to think about all at once.
[If Maera's already happy in that arrangement, then surely the potential for Mallory to be down with it is there too, but would there be some kind of competition there to begin with, or-?]
Hah. And here I thought all my romantic problems were finally solved.
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But anyway. There will be no naps to be had here. He cracks an eye open to sulk at her a little.]
I'm awake! Besides, there's no way I'd get sick on a night like this.
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[ She nudges him just a little with her elbow, wrinkling her nose playfully. ]
Just because it's pretty out doesn't mean you can just will illness away! You have to be careful with yourself.
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He props himself up on his elbow so he can turn semi-sideways and stare at her, his expression totally blank.]
I've never done anything reckless or dangerous, ever.
[And he immediately bites the inside of his cheek because there's no way he'll keep a straight face otherwise.]
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[ Since he's pretending to be serious, she does the same, opening her eyes wide and pursing her lips as she nods. Yessir, whatever you say, sir, she totally believes you. ]
You're the most cautious man I've ever known.
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Don't look at him like that, it makes this way too hard...!]
That's right. Out-cautioned only by you.
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[ She bites the inside of her own cheek when she says that, because that actually hits a little too close to real and unpleasant memories and fantasies she's had about that one day in the rain, years ago.
But this is just playing, and for that, she can keep it up. ]
You know me, I always think things through at least four times.
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That's your appeal. Being boring and playing by all the rules.
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[ Society expected her, as a woman, to find a man to be romantically involved with, and that had happened.
Twice.
Hm. ]
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It's good to be in the presence of a fellow upstanding citizen, who is completely normal, and has no deviant tastes.
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[ Deviant tastes, huh? She's happy with how things developed, but she has no illusions that most people would approve or even understand why.
And she's not sure where Mallory fits in that. ]
I've maybe got a few.
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Oh, really?
[Go onnn... He half-expects this to be the lead-in to some joke to keep up with the rest of this silly little game, like maybe she'll reveal that she likes holding hands. But gasp, here they are now doing just that, how scandalous.]
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She could go for the innocent joke of handholding (it's not like Japanese society was ever particularly keen on any sort of PDA, even something innocuous as that). And it's not untrue; she definitely likes how it feels to be grounded like this.
And on the far end, there are a couple of truly filthy things she could suggest. Some of them are about Maera, which would be doubly (ha) awkward to even insinuate to Mallory.
And then somewhere in between... ]
It, it's true... are you sure you wanna hear this sorta thing?
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But! She's probably bluffing. Even Peony can't be that shameless. Or else she's going to make up something completely crazy. Which he can probably think of a counter to.]
Go ahead. It's my turn to know all your dirty little secrets.
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[ Oh boy. Oh boy oh heck oh jeeze. Now is a moment of truth, isn't it? And now that Icarus and Maera are here, even if she doesn't say anything, it's surely going to be obvious before long. Maybe it's already been obvious?? Did Mallory actually figure out what she meant by sharing, or did he think that Icarus was some kind of main character in his own mini harem series?!
Peony takes a deep breath and squeezes Mallory's hand hard. Here goes nothing. ]
A, as it turns out, m--my boyfriend has a boyfriend, and... and he's my other boyfriend, so...
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wait
Of course he assumed the harem route. Luna and Icarus could have the entire world if they so chose! And here Mallory was still reeling over the fact that he could be wanted by anyone at all. Let alone two... people...??
So that's why she got so touchy-feely after she came back!
His grip on her hand loosens, but he doesn't really pull away. He's not disgusted or anything, just suddenly terribly uncertain.]
You're- serious? So that's what you meant by sharing...
[He never realized this could be a possibility in any universe. HE... NEEDS A MINUTE HERE...]
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...on the other hand, she'd (half) promised Maera she'd stop doing that, and at this point, the damage is already done. Mallory knows. He'll take that knowledge with him from hereon, and even if he doesn't like it -- well, Peony's not going to not keep close to people who want her, even if that might make things otherwise awkward. There's surely some kind of compromise in that, right?
She does look away, though. It's not quite running away or avoiding, but she also still doesn't want to look at him when he starts laughing at her. ]
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He falls back onto his back, pursing his lips while he considers it. As stunned as he is by all this mind-blowing revelation (it's been a BIG DAY for his sense of reality), he's still just aware enough to give her hand a reaffirming squeeze, because it probably doesn't look good for him not to launch into an immediate celebration or anything.]
...Huh.
[He clears his throat, his brows furrowing in thought while he stares at nothing in particular.]
Never would have seen that one coming. We were so head over heels for Luna this whole time. [Or Icarus. WHATEVER, she knows what he means.] ...But you are the only woman- hell, the only person at all besides him- I've cared to spend my life with.
[They were all practically married already, weren't they.]
Just... never expected that...
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[ Meanwhile, she'd been mentally rehearsing how to appease him -- it's all right, I know it's weird, I don't expect you to want anything, haha it's a moot point anyway isn't it -- so when he says that, the startled noise bursts from her before she can actually bite it back.
For [you], I'd try it with a woman, Maera had said, and now Mallory's saying this, and, ?!?
Nothing about today has been anything Peony had really been prepared for -- not the stupid (cute) birthday terror, not Icarus and Maera showing up, and not Mallory just -- just accepting her confession like that. She feels adrift and bewildered, and it's not panic, but it's not not panic, either. ]
I, oh. Y-- you're not mad...?
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[Now it's his turn to utter his bafflement. He turns his face toward her again, narrowing his eyes.]
What the hell would I be mad about? Surprised, sure, but it's not like I'm going to banish you for- what, liking me? Dog me?
[. . .Suddenly, in saying that, he feels INCREDIBLY STUPID for the fears he held on to for so many years about his own affections. Oh. Oh. Oh...
He does let go now, because he desperately needs a hand to run down his face.]
Come on. I feel the same way he does about you, obviously. [Right?? He just never considered the whole romantic aspect.]
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[ She knows that he loves her ("her"?? god what if another her shows up someday? she'll have to murder her and hide the body, which, is that suicide? technically?! ahhhhhh). She's known that for years, and however gruff and snappish he's come off, she's never doubted that. There had been times where she'd used that deliberately to her advantage, during her time as Despair.
But loving someone and loving someone are very different things. Peony herself had to adjust to that, and she'd never had the hurdle of -- well. She knows very well what his preferences are, and on a very fundamental level, she fits absolutely none of them. ]
Y, you know I mean more than just -- like this, right? We've actually, um. We've. You know??
[ PLEASE ACTUALLY GET IT...! ]
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He just stares at her helplessly, like, please, realize the situation you've put him in...]
Was I good?
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Yyyy-- yes?! Yes, if that's the part you were worried about!!
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This must be Naegi's fault, somehow!]Oh... great.
[AHEM.]
So, ...where... does that put us? You and me-me.
[He still has no idea how to feel about any of this, or if she's expecting anything from him now, or... what...]
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I... I don't know.
[ Not that she had any real idea beforehand, and his response is not particularly instilling her with confidence. Does he want anything? He probably doesn't, right?! He's not under any obligation to try.
(She does suspect on some level that Maera would be annoyed at her for thinking about it as obligation, but it's honestly difficult not to, and especially right now.)
Since he let go of her hand, she curls both of her arms closer to herself, peering at him uncertainly. ]
I, I mean... I don't even know what you want. I'm not going anywhere, but we're not -- you don't have to -- I don't even know how any of this even works.
[ Query: is it possible to cheat on your boyfriend with himself?? What would Icarus think?! No agony aunt has ever had to deal with a situation like this!! ]
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...Yeah... I was already worried about how I'm supposed to treat Icarus, now this? It's not like I hate the idea or anything. It's just a lot to think about all at once.
[If Maera's already happy in that arrangement, then surely the potential for Mallory to be down with it is there too, but would there be some kind of competition there to begin with, or-?]
Hah. And here I thought all my romantic problems were finally solved.
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