[Martin's not entirely used to having his phone wake him up in the middle of the night. Mostly it's Jon's tossing and turning in his nightmares. Or the things that haunt Martin, himself. He's bit fuzzy when he reaches for the phone and sees Ange's name. He sits up, fearing the worst-
Except it's... teenager problems. That's new. Is this what a parent feels like? He seriously considers flopping back in bed and ignoring it until morning, but he does like Ange and he's been cultivating a sort of relationship where he wants her to come to him if she needs help. This just isn't the help he was expecting to need to give.]
I'd need to know your friend better to have an answer for that. Do you want it to be a date-date? Who is it?
[ Even though she doesn't mention it, Ange is definitely relieved to see a relatively quick reply back, rather than having to wait for the morning. Especially since she does see Martin as pretty reliable - and this just confirms that. ]
It's Ruby.
[ That answer is easy. It shows her typing for a while more after it, because the other answer is complicated enough that she writes and deletes things a few times first. ]
And I don't know. How are you supposed to know that you want it to be a date-date?
[Martin has met Ruby all of once. It had been a very brief and uncomfortable affair with her being tethered to Jon thanks to a Web Leitner they'd destroyed.]
She seems nice.
Suppose it really depends on how you feel about her. She's your friend and you like her. Have you ever thought about kissing her or holding her hand? Or does the idea of those things make you all sort of fluttery inside?
I've never thought about that stuff before in general.
[ What helps is that Ange figures she doesn't have to explain why to Martin. He heard the way she spoke about herself, about what she feels about her future. It's hard to get into a very romantic mood when all you want to is die. ]
But I don't know. When I think about doing that stuff with her.. I don't mind it? I mean, I definitely mind it when I think about doing it with some of my other friends. So that's different.
I'm not good with that kind of stuff. Being open with people. I know I've told you a lot, but.. it's since I feel like you understand me. And I trust you.
And I trust her too! I'm just
[ The message lingers there for a moment before another is sent. ]
Valentine's Day is probably the best time to let someone know about your secret feelings, though. A lot of people do it. Maybe you could send her a card, and if she thinks it's silly, then you can tell her it was just a joke because of the holiday.
[ Look, he got 'Martin'-ed over text twice in a row. That must mean it's serious now. ]
I am NOT going to throw you under the bus! Even if you're a dumb, fussy grown-up, you're my dumb, fussy grown-up friend who I care a lot about!! And I'm not going to make random teenage girls annoyed at you!
[ Apparently she cut herself off there, because even in a tsun flustered mood (the teasing truly works too well, no matter the time of night), Ange wouldn't want to say a bad thing about someone she's so fond of. ]
man.
[ 'You big dumb man.' So eloquent. ]
Do you think I'd ask these kinds of things to people I don't trust? I just know so many people would make fun of me for not knowing anything about this stuff.
[ There's something in what he's saying that really hits upon the truth behind all of this. The core of all of Ange's worries.
Something that's hard to admit to, even just to herself. Let alone to anyone else. But.. ]
I think that's why I'm scared of taking a chance.
I'm scared of being hurt. As long as I don't raise my expectations, I can't get hurt. But if I hope for anything at all here, for something between me and Ruby.. then I can get hurt so bad.
How about this? You try with her. If it doesn't end up that she like-likes you, you can come over to my place and we can eat sweets and talk about whatever you'd like, or we can just be quiet and relax.
No obligations, just something tasty for being brave and trying. Even if it doesn't go how you want it to, it doesn't have to be all bad.
[ The answer doesn't arrive instantly, but there's not too long of a delay either. Like it's not something Ange has to think super hard about when it's Martin doing the offering. ]
I'll at least try. [ ... ] Thanks for hearing me out.
[ Especially, you know, considering the time of night. Thanks, dad. ]
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rosecarmine
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-03 06:08 pm (UTC)Except it's... teenager problems. That's new. Is this what a parent feels like? He seriously considers flopping back in bed and ignoring it until morning, but he does like Ange and he's been cultivating a sort of relationship where he wants her to come to him if she needs help. This just isn't the help he was expecting to need to give.]
I'd need to know your friend better to have an answer for that. Do you want it to be a date-date? Who is it?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-04 10:30 pm (UTC)It's Ruby.
[ That answer is easy. It shows her typing for a while more after it, because the other answer is complicated enough that she writes and deletes things a few times first. ]
And I don't know. How are you supposed to know that you want it to be a date-date?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-06 08:02 am (UTC)She seems nice.
Suppose it really depends on how you feel about her. She's your friend and you like her. Have you ever thought about kissing her or holding her hand? Or does the idea of those things make you all sort of fluttery inside?
cw: mention of suicidal feelings
Date: 2021-02-06 11:23 pm (UTC)[ What helps is that Ange figures she doesn't have to explain why to Martin. He heard the way she spoke about herself, about what she feels about her future. It's hard to get into a very romantic mood when all you want to is die. ]
But I don't know. When I think about doing that stuff with her.. I don't mind it? I mean, I definitely mind it when I think about doing it with some of my other friends. So that's different.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-09 07:44 pm (UTC)What do you like most about her?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-09 10:55 pm (UTC)That she's always so energetic, and cheerful, and passionate. She's just so full of life.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-10 05:08 pm (UTC)It's nice having someone who'll pull you along sometimes. Especially someone you like. Have you told her any of those things you like about her?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-11 08:47 am (UTC)I'm not good with that kind of stuff. Being open with people. I know I've told you a lot, but.. it's since I feel like you understand me. And I trust you.
And I trust her too! I'm just
[ The message lingers there for a moment before another is sent. ]
I'm just worried about being vulnerable.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-14 04:46 am (UTC)Valentine's Day is probably the best time to let someone know about your secret feelings, though. A lot of people do it. Maybe you could send her a card, and if she thinks it's silly, then you can tell her it was just a joke because of the holiday.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-14 11:15 pm (UTC)Martin.
Have you heard me make a joke. Ever. [ Deadpan jokes don't count!! ]
It'd be way too suspicious.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-16 07:39 pm (UTC)[Deadpan jokes totally count!]
Tell her I put you up to it.
Prodding you to try out some humor.
I don't mind if she's annoyed at me.
I'm just a dumb, fussy grown-up.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-17 11:13 pm (UTC)[ Look, he got 'Martin'-ed over text twice in a row. That must mean it's serious now. ]
I am NOT going to throw you under the bus! Even if you're a dumb, fussy grown-up, you're my dumb, fussy grown-up friend who I care a lot about!! And I'm not going to make random teenage girls annoyed at you!
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-18 06:00 am (UTC)[You woke him up in the middle of the night to ask about teenage drama, Ange. He's going to tease you.]
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-20 11:05 pm (UTC)YOU BIG DUMB
[ Apparently she cut herself off there, because even in a
tsunflustered mood (the teasing truly works too well, no matter the time of night), Ange wouldn't want to say a bad thing about someone she's so fond of. ]man.
[ 'You big dumb man.' So eloquent. ]
Do you think I'd ask these kinds of things to people I don't trust? I just know so many people would make fun of me for not knowing anything about this stuff.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-24 03:50 am (UTC)You'll absolutely miss out on every chance you don't take, though. And really? This one seems like a pretty safe bet.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-24 09:44 am (UTC)Something that's hard to admit to, even just to herself. Let alone to anyone else. But.. ]
I think that's why I'm scared of taking a chance.
I'm scared of being hurt. As long as I don't raise my expectations, I can't get hurt. But if I hope for anything at all here, for something between me and Ruby.. then I can get hurt so bad.
And I don't know how much more hurt I can take.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-27 10:35 pm (UTC)No obligations, just something tasty for being brave and trying. Even if it doesn't go how you want it to, it doesn't have to be all bad.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-28 03:42 pm (UTC)[ The answer doesn't arrive instantly, but there's not too long of a delay either. Like it's not something Ange has to think super hard about when it's Martin doing the offering. ]
I'll at least try. [ ... ] Thanks for hearing me out.
[ Especially, you know, considering the time of night.
Thanks, dad.](no subject)
Date: 2021-03-04 03:54 am (UTC)I am.
[
You're welcome, daughter.]