[ 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.
Not hating it isn't the same as liking it! Even for you.
[ She rolls onto her back when he sits up, keeping her hands folded close to her chest. It feels like a question asked and answered, but maybe, finally, she is learning to not just take her first impression and run.
For now, anyway.
The automatic thing for her to do is smile at him, lopsided and awkward, trying so hard not to let her own unease show. It's not really successful, but it's the best defense she has. ]
Nothing has to change for us, if you don't want it to.
I get the feeling some kinda change is unavoidable now. I mean in general.
[You know, with the living situation itself. And finally realizing how things are between himself and Luna now. And his decision to try to become a better person overall...
After a beat he reaches over to stroke one of her ears.]
[ She starts briefly at that, then quietly tilts her head to lean into the touch. If he's willing to do that (and initiate! on his own!), she's not going to turn that down. It feels nice -- comforting, though she knows that would probably sound odd to him. ]
Mmm. I think so.
But that doesn't mean -- ah, things are going to be complicated, won't they? I don't wanna make them worse. Especially for you.
I'll have to... ah, unless Icarus does it first. He might.
[ It's not that she would ever characterize him (them?!) as a possessive man, but it might be an entirely different story when it comes to himself. Honestly, if anything, she would believe he'd be more inclined to posture at himself than anyone else. Maera had certainly been concerned about that on his side. ]
I mean, I don't know what Luna thinks about any of this either.
I don't see them not having similar feelings on it...
[Although... Hmm. Even Mal's not sure their given similarity is going to end well. He's never been a guy to settle for taking second place or sharing leadership, and who can tell if that will extend to even feeling competitive with himself.
[His abdomen flinches inward a little, involuntarily, and he crosses his arms a little lower than usual.
Sitting down and settling things with a pleasant little chat, huh? Know who else might make that kind of suggestion... Ugh, but it's better than anything Mal can think of.]
Worth a shot. Between us and dog me we should be able to keep it from getting too heated.
[Nothing too dubious about slipping a few extra calming herbs in or something...
But never mind that. Mal just kind of stares at her flatly, because considering where their conversation went just a few minutes ago, he's KIND OF AFRAID to ask exactly what she's suggesting. Please. His heart can't take this.]
[ She blinks back at him for a few seconds, then finally pings onto it, and-- ]
He's always relied on you. No matter where you guys are, or what's happened, when he's in his right mind, you give him confidence. They won't be happy, but at least it's not like -- they'll have the two of you to back them up. You and Luna, Maera and Icarus, there won't be any kind of, um. Imbalance?
[ NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ABOUT DATING... probably. It's questionable when it's the three of them. Five of them. Jesus. ]
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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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[ She rolls onto her back when he sits up, keeping her hands folded close to her chest. It feels like a question asked and answered, but maybe, finally, she is learning to not just take her first impression and run.
For now, anyway.
The automatic thing for her to do is smile at him, lopsided and awkward, trying so hard not to let her own unease show. It's not really successful, but it's the best defense she has. ]
Nothing has to change for us, if you don't want it to.
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[You know, with the living situation itself. And finally realizing how things are between himself and Luna now. And his decision to try to become a better person overall...
After a beat he reaches over to stroke one of her ears.]
But that's better than living in the past, right?
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Mmm. I think so.
But that doesn't mean -- ah, things are going to be complicated, won't they? I don't wanna make them worse. Especially for you.
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[Come on, his life's been one big clusterfuck since he got here. Before that, even.]
...You gonna break this to Luna too?
[HE'S... PROBABLY GOING TO FIND OUT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER...]
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[ It's not that she would ever characterize him (them?!) as a possessive man, but it might be an entirely different story when it comes to himself. Honestly, if anything, she would believe he'd be more inclined to posture at himself than anyone else. Maera had certainly been concerned about that on his side. ]
I mean, I don't know what Luna thinks about any of this either.
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[Although... Hmm. Even Mal's not sure their given similarity is going to end well. He's never been a guy to settle for taking second place or sharing leadership, and who can tell if that will extend to even feeling competitive with himself.
Hoo, boy.]
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Okay, a lot worried. ]
...Either the only person he's going to be willing to yield to is himself, or he's the last person he'd listen to.
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[Any other deathmatch, sure, there's no question. But this is ridiculous.]
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[ COME ON NOW, BRO, YOU KNOW SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT EITHER!! ]
W, we just, we can't leave them alone with any sort of sharp objects...
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[Because fine! He'll admit it! That's almost always his first option. It's not like she hasn't called him out on it before anyway.]
So we steal their swords when they're asleep, that's what you're saying? [This... can't possibly go well for anybody.]
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[ We're trying not to get killed by him again, okay, let's not give him -- either him!! -- more guilt okay. ]
M, maybe if we get them to have a sit-down discussion? He had all those business meetings before everything else happened.
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Sitting down and settling things with a pleasant little chat, huh? Know who else might make that kind of suggestion... Ugh, but it's better than anything Mal can think of.]
Worth a shot. Between us and dog me we should be able to keep it from getting too heated.
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Aah, if nothing else, the two of you will give them something to focus on... sorry I won't be much help with that.
[ There's only one of her, which is awkward in a different way. ]
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But never mind that. Mal just kind of stares at her flatly, because considering where their conversation went just a few minutes ago, he's KIND OF AFRAID to ask exactly what she's suggesting. Please. His heart can't take this.]
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He's always relied on you. No matter where you guys are, or what's happened, when he's in his right mind, you give him confidence. They won't be happy, but at least it's not like -- they'll have the two of you to back them up. You and Luna, Maera and Icarus, there won't be any kind of, um. Imbalance?
[ NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ABOUT DATING... probably. It's questionable when it's the three of them. Five of them. Jesus. ]
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