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]

"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.

[therewaslife]

"I've never had a crush on anyone so, if I get one on you, I don't know if I'd know anyway," he confessed, shaking his head. "If I send you flowers, perhaps that would be an indicator?"

[intraspective]

"Unless you signed them 'from a friend'," she teased, smiling. "But that's totally fine--if it gets confusing, we can just talk, yeah?"

[therewaslife]

"I'm pretty good at talking," he assured her. "I almost wished I had sent flowers but I missed my chance to do it on the holiday. Perhaps late is better than never?"

[intraspective]

"Late is always better than never," she told him. "And flowers are one of those things that it's awesome to get just--whenever, too. They don't have to have a special occasion around them."

[therewaslife]

"Interesting." And good to know. "I'm still getting the hang of things here but I think all of mine would be signed with the friend label. I wouldn't want to unnecessarily confuse someone."

[intraspective]

Ino laughed easily.

"You can say things like 'from your friend' or 'thanks for...' whatever, you know? But if you go around not specifying, that's when it gets a bit confusing, you know?"

She glanced at him. "This here's a whole lot to adjust to, yeah? But I promise it's not all confusing."

Just most of it.

[therewaslife]

"I don't mind the adjustment, I just didn't think it'd be so different from where I was before." Of course, most places tended to differ from graveyards. "How long did it take you to adjust? If you have, that is."

[intraspective]

"Oh man," she said, making a face at that. "Adjusting to the basics of how things work here? That didn't take too long. Maybe a few months? But I've been here two and a half years now and I'm still adjusting to other things. It's very different here from my home in some important ways."

Ino blinked over at him. "What was your place before like?"

[therewaslife]

"I grew up in a graveyard," he said easily, making no attempt to hide or hesitate. He was proud of his home. "And I was raised by ghosts for almost the entirety of my life."

[intraspective]

Ino tilted her head at him curiously. A bit startled--but, well, two and a half years in Fandom said pretty much anything was possible and who was she to say anything about where someone had grown up?

"And you're not a ghost?"

She had to ask, come on.

[therewaslife]

"I'm not but you're free to poke me to check," he offered, stifling a grin and holding out a hand.

[intraspective]

She eyed him, amused and a bit dubious, but reached out to press her fingers against his hand.

Ino pinked up slightly. "Guess you're not."