bunnyhopped | (riverview) inbox/open post

I guess.

[ You can practically hear the shrugging in her voice. ]

I mean, how else can you really make things clear, though? A letter? Or a song?

[ Alas, Say Anything came out after 1988, otherwise Peter would make a joke about holding a boombox over his head.

As it stands, with a dose of sarcasm, ]

I was thinking a note, yeah. "Do you like me, check yes or no."

[ Another sigh, as he scrubs at his face. ]

It's more like. She's not the talking type. I'm the talking type.

[ And there it is – Peter's finally given up the stupid "asking for a friend" act. ]

She's more the "actions speak louder than words, and I'll stab anything that gets in my way" type.

[ she wasn't even aware he was still putting that act on, honestly ]

Oh!

Then why don't you just have sex with her.

Because I don't like the idea of having my insides as outsides.

I tried to kiss her once. She pulled a knife on me.

... You know it's really beginning to sound a lot like she's just not that into you.

[ He pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

Yeah. You know what? This was a bad idea.

I'm just gonna go.

[ She makes a face because honestly what is she supposed to do with that information!? Talking doesn't work, showing affection gets him killed ? ? ? ? ????

??? ? ?

Still, though, she can't lose. ]

Wait—

[ she sighs, aggravated. ] Listen. I don't know what's up with you guys that nothing that makes sense works, but maybe you just need to be like. Real. Sincere? None of that "hey, so, I'm asking for a friend but he's wondering how you feel about me" bullshit. Just be honest and tell her you're sorry that you were a jerk to her, and tell her how much she means to you or whatever. I don't get why people always make things so complicated by dancing around everything.

[ He was in the middle of hanging up, but he pauses when he hears her voice. The words sink in after a few seconds, and when he speaks again, it's less frustrated and more just— dull. ]

It's complicated because, like. The whole— friendship-ruining thing. Back home, we're kind of on a team, and the team is barely holding together a lot of the time as it is. Like, it's the sort of operation held together by shoestring and prayers, you know?

And then we add, like, "Hey, I kinda like you. But not, like, normal like you, but like-you like you." And then it doesn't work out, and boom – an entire system gets blown up when things go atomic. Everyone takes sides, and the band breaks up, and everyone moves on to some shitty solo careers, and it's never as good as when the band was together, but all the bad blood means there's no chance of a reunion, and—

[ he's rambling. someone will need to stop him. ]

[ See, all of this background context would have been so much more helpful before "I think I'm kind of a thing with this girl but she won't talk to me and when I tried to kiss her she pulled a knife on me."

Hana has, by now, stopped painting her nails, because suddenly Peter is dumping the deets and it requires her full attention. ]

Ah, so that's what's going on. See? It's so much easier for me to understand what you're looking for now that you actually told me.

So. Then. Would you rather go on pretending you don't have feelings for this lady to keep the team together, or would you rather take a chance on it? If it sounds like you're close... why not try it? If the band breaks up, then whatever. But you're never gonna know if it could end up being something super wonderful if you don't even give it a try. Right?

[ Another pause, then, carefully, ]

It's not really whatever about the band breaking up. It's— a pretty big deal. 'Cause they're... sort of like my family? Or whatever. [ "or whatever," like that'll mitigate some of his own sincerity. ] And they're the only family I've got left. So—

I mean. Like. My friendship with— [ He nearly says "Gamora," but he catches himself at the last second. He quickly corrects, ] with her. That's important. And wrecking it would be seriously awful. But on top of that, like, losing half the family in the figurative divorce if things go nuclear? That's just as bad.

[ She hums thoughtfully at his explanation because— while she can't say she's ever felt that way about anyone and been worried about those kinds of circumstances, she can imagine where he's coming from. In the end she can only really offer the same advice she's been giving. ]

I mean... Maybe that's something the two of you need to work out? Remember the whole talking thing? I mean, maybe she feels that way too, but if you talk about it you can both say if you want to take that risk or not.

[ He presses his lips together in a line, picking at a wrinkle in his shirt. ]

So like. I mentioned the whole— she doesn't like talking thing, right? I think it's, like, less that she doesn't like talking, and more that she doesn't like talking about feelings. Like. She's, uh. Really practical? And doesn't like feeling vulnerable, I think? And talking about that stuff is, like, a one-two punch of being emotional and vulnerable.

The last time I tried, it, uh. Turned into a fight, like I said. Not over the thing, but over... other stuff.

[ "Other stuff," like his crazy shitbag of a father is as mundane as arguing about chores. ]

And we kinda just screamed at each other and haven't really talked about it since. I think we're both worried about it turning into another shouting match.

[ Hana has taken to flopping down at this point because she has to wait for her nail polish to dry but also - this conversation is much more intensive than she initially thought it would be and she feels a little bad that Peter is going through this. He's seemed like a pretty laid-back guy so far... ]

Okay... Maybe you could start by doing something you both like. I mean, take her out on a date. Not to lull her into anything but just, to remember that you two can make a great team and have fun together or whatever. Take her dancing! She's your dance partner, right?

Then... I dunno, I guess you have to bring it up eventually but be really patient about it. I'm pretty sure relationships are all about open communication and taking the time to understand the other people and stuff like that. And, honestly, how are you guys going to be functional together if you can't be emotionally vulnerable around each other? Isn't that like, a big part of being in a relationship? Being able to support each other even when you're both vulnerable?

[ disclaimer: most of this wisdom probably comes from fictional but surprisingly poignant and relevant k-dramas. proceed with caution. ]

[ i mean Peter's knowledge comes strictly from 80s sitcoms and classic movies, so he's not doing much better ]

I mean, to be fair? We kinda put the "fun" in "dysfunction."

[ which is probably not reassuring in the slightest, but Peter's default defense mechanism is humor. ]

But you've got a point, yeah. Pretty sure "healthy communication" wasn't exactly in our curriculum, growing up. I guess we'll work on it.

[ A pause, followed by a quieter sigh. Then, ]

You know, you're not bad at this. Is this not your first time at the "Ask Hana" rodeo?

[ He gets a snort from her about his dysfunction quip, although based on what she's heard so far that really does not inspire confidence in this romantic endeavor of his. But hey, at least he's trying, if the fact that he's come to her for advice is any indication. Even though they're not talking face to face, the clarity and cheer in her voice says she's 100% genuine and confident when she says, ]

You can work on it together! Like real dance partners.

[ And then she chuckles because, oh god, no she's actually terrible at this. Truthfully, she's never... really had feelings for anyone the way Peter seems to be for this person. Anything she's had in the past... she was quick to cut things off as soon as there was a problem. But k-dramas, at least, have informed her that sometimes two people have to work through issues to make something work, which isn't anything she's had to do before. ]

Believe it or not, this is my first time at it. Even though I'm so amazing at it, you know?

[ He huffs out a laugh in return. ]

Alright, calm down. Don't forget I nearly hung up on you to start with.

So do I get to find out who this mystery dance partner is, since I so kindly listened to your problems?

[ if they were having this conversation in person, she would definitely be batting her eyelashes and looking all pretty please ]

Absolutely not.

[ And he doesn’t skip a beat. ]

A guy’s gotta have some secrets.

Oh okay.

[ lame. ]

Guess I'll just have to see who tries to stab you when you talk to them!

Thanks for the vote of confidence, buddy.

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