The Deck | Afternoon | Monday | February 15

[therewaslife]

One of the easiest ways, Bod discovered, of dealing with leftover restless energy was to get himself out of his room. Finding it was warmer than it had been was even better. It meant he could go outside without feeling like he was going to turn into the human equivalent of an icicle.

With a walk into town on his mind, Bod decided he could wait awhile when he discovered the deck. It look little used (which made sense during the winter months) but it was warm enough today to get some use.

So, he clambered onto the deck and took a seat, making himself comfortable by stretching his leg out and tucking his arms behind his head. Of course, now that he was there, he didn't really have much to do. Staring at the sky worked for a few moments before he let his eyes slip closed.

It wasn't sleep so much as an easy way to take himself back to a different time in a different place with different people. He didn't do this often since it tended to make him maudlin but on a brisk Monday, he allowed himself the luxury.

[deck's an open place! just trying to keep myself awake!]

Comments

[intraspective]

Clearly that made him the perfect person to use as a sounding board for romantic advice!

"I love flowers," she said, smiling. "My room is filled with them, if you ever stop by. So getting flowers is definitely a happy thing. I'm just not sure what to make of the fact someone might have a crush on me and is testing the waters by claiming friendship first."

Asking Tyler-sensei for advice had quite possibly already confused this issue, yes.

[therewaslife]

"Are you friends?" asked Bod, feeling that an important designation to get out of the way. "I should say, is the friendly feeling returned?"

[intraspective]

Ino sipped her hot chocolate and mulled over that.

"It could be returned?" Ino lifted her shoulders in a bit of a shrug. "But I get the feeling we'd have a lot of fights, you know? I mean, we've talked a handful of times? So it's hard to say but I got a temper and I know they've got one too."

[therewaslife]

"Maybe the feeling isn't so much a crush but admiration?" Bod suggested, not really having a clue but saying something anyway. "Respect? Only talking a handful of times does make it strange to go from acquaintances to a crush."

Bod paused and shook his head. "Of course, I could be completely wrong."

[intraspective]

Ino gave him a cheerful version of her 'you've got to be joking' look.

"I wouldn't see why they'd admire me much," she said dubiously. "And--that's the thing. We haven't talked much and the last time we talked was me sort of conceding I was maybe sorry for how I'd flown off the handle the last time."

She shook her head. "Does that sound like I'm a truly wonderful friend?"

[therewaslife]

"It sounds like you're a self aware friend," Bod said, tucking an arm behind his head to get more comfortable. If she'd made an attempt to apologize (even if it there was a maybe modifier in there), it seemed like she was aware she'd done something wrong.

"How would you feel if it was a crush?" asked Bod. "Strange considering the status of your relationship?"

[intraspective]

"Weird 'cause of that," she agreed, kicking her feet a bit. "And, well, she's very pretty and everything but I like boys, so it's even more awkward there, if that's what she was trying to say?"

[therewaslife]

"It sounds like you are going to have to talk to her," Bod said because it really did sound like a prickly sort of situation. "I don't think she could fault you for liking boys. That's your choice and not one made because of a crush."

[intraspective]

"Toootally not made because of her liking me--if that's the case," Ino said, nodding her head. "And I. Might? Maybe? But if she does mean it then I don't want to feel like a jerk and if she didn't mean it like that and laughs at me then I'm going to flail anyway 'cause I still don't understand how we're even wonderful friends in the first place!"

Ino peered at him over her hot chocolate. "And isn't that an awful thing to tell someone?"

[therewaslife]

"It does sound complicated," Bod said, letting one corner of his mouth turn up into something resembling a half smile. "You could write her a note?"

Oh, that's even worse Bod. Stop giving advice.

[intraspective]

Her lips twitched up in a smile.

Even while this whole thing made her flail, she was also very amused at it.

"Wouldn't that sound even worse?"

[therewaslife]

"...it might?" Bod winced. "I have no experience in these sort of situations. I'm sure that's obvious by now."

[intraspective]

"I've never really had someone crush on me like this before either," she admitted. "I've either been the one doing the crushing on or it's been pretty--straight out said."

[therewaslife]

"How did that second one work out?" asked Bod, curious for no specific reason. Really.

[intraspective]

Ino blinked at him.

Innocently.

"Second one working out?"

[therewaslife]

"I mean, if you were the one saying that sort of thing to someone," he clarified, managing not to give away anything with his own expression. He could do innocent if she could. "Or were you the one that it was being said to?"

[intraspective]

"It generally goes pretty well?" she said a bit dubiously at him. "But nothing was said lately or anything. I don't have my eye on anyone and but for the crush-that-might-be, I don't think anyone feels anything like that for me?"

Despite flowers that had said things. But. Shh.

[therewaslife]

"Would you prefer the might be a crush to be up front about it or to do what they're doing?" he asked, curious. "One, it seems, would make things easier, get it on the table but the other is more...cautious?"

[intraspective]

"Um," Ino said, sipping at her drink to give herself time to answer. "I guess it depends on how I think the other person might take it? I mean, some people, if they like you, like you, it's written all over their actions? So saying it straight would be good? But if they're just friendly with everyone... might be better to be cautious?"

[therewaslife]

"So basically, interaction is confusing," Bod summarized, laughing quietly. "I didn't have a lot of friends in the past but even with the one friend I did have --"

Later decided he was something completely different than a friend, of course, and made him doubt himself all over again.

"--I'd learned that interactions are difficult and complex and hard."

[intraspective]

"They don't have to be," she said earnestly. "My best friend and I don't even have to talk things out anymore when we go exploring and stuff--we know exactly what each of us is going to be doing when. But when they're new or things don't make sense then... yeah, a bit."

[therewaslife]

"I've never really had--" He paused and pursed his lips, contemplating what to say. "I've had one human friend before. And it didn't turn out very well."

[intraspective]

Ino eyed him contemplatively, then hopped off the table and wandered over to lean over and stare into his eyes for a moment. Then smiled as she sat down in the chair next to his.

"Wanna be friends?"

[therewaslife]

"Yes," he said, letting another laugh slip out. Two today. That was a large amount for him but she was just having that effect on him. "Yes, I'd like to. I promise, I won't end up with a confusing crush on you, either."

Well, he hoped not. Who knew, right?

[intraspective]

She grinned sunnily at him. Who knew, indeed!

"That'd be appreciated," Ino told him, wrinkling her nose cheerfully. "I don't know what I'd do if I had to deal with two confusing crushes all at once!"

Except part of her would feel warm and fuzzy and loved even while she flailed.