mistletoe 2020;

[softlyfalling]

Comments

[softlyfalling]

............for someone who's quite smart you're actually very stupid, huh.

[mind_blown]

One, I've never claimed I'm smart.

Two, what?

[softlyfalling]

Either that or I’m really bad at flirting, if you really didn’t notice.

[mind_blown]

... Huh.

[he just looks at her, a little confused, like]

Not just for the game.

[softlyfalling]

Sometimes I do in fact do things just because I want to, you know.

[mind_blown]

[???]

Guess I wasn't expecting it, what with the whole triangle thing going on.

[softlyfalling]

[ she just like—

stares at him in a bemused sort of way. ]

...what did you think every other time was, then?

[mind_blown]

[he never claimed to be smart!?]

... Attempts at getting under my skin?

[softlyfalling]

[ listen, you too are a nerd, she thought you had like, some degree of emotional intelligence, ]

Mela's tits, you're really dense. Do I seem like a person who really does mind games?

Besides, what the hell was all that after you stole three units worth of libido, then.

[mind_blown]

[he does.

Just not when it involves him. It’s a flaw.]

The stealing wasn’t my idea.

[softlyfalling]

I didn't realize I'd have to explain that I wouldn't have done that for just anyone.

[mind_blown]

That's not what I was getting at. But we jumped that shark, what, a few months ago?

And jumped it again but with Nero there very recently.

[softlyfalling]

I'm just absolutely floored that you didn't realize there was at least some affection in all of this.

I mean, if I didn't like you I sure as hell wouldn't talk to you like this.

[mind_blown]

[there's a delayed response, and then,]

I figured it was just physical.

[softlyfalling]

I'm not really someone who does "just physical."

You're funny and surprisingly kind in your own way, even if you're not nice. So, you know.

[mind_blown]

Kind's not what I'd call me either.

[wow, this is really awkward, because he honestly looks like he had no idea]

And here, I thought your type was sincere, lovable idiots.

[softlyfalling]

Well, you definitely proved the idiot part!

You just spend all your time thinking about Nero, so you probably just missed the bigger picture. Which I can respect.

[mind_blown]

[he rolls his eyes.]

The bigger picture?

[softlyfalling]

My type is, apparently, either small pretty people who can kill me, or tough exterior with mismatched interior.

[mind_blown]

[he considers]

Guess that I could see. With Nero, yeah. 'Cept he didn't really try t' hide it.

[softlyfalling]

Well, it took him a while to realize it in the first place. Second game after he showed up was a kissing game, and that's when I started to realize he was really very sweet, actually, since up until then he'd mostly just been fighty.

[mind_blown]

I guess. He does like to keep the choir boy part hidden.

[he inclines his head]

Anyway, aren't we technically the rivals now?

[softlyfalling]

You know, when you put it that way, I suppose it's true, isn't it.

...It's kind of fun, really.

[mind_blown]

It's not what I'd usually call fun. Takes a lot to not overreact in this particular rivalry.

[softlyfalling]

Well, it's not as if it's never fraught. I know it's not been easy for you, and I'm sort of, er—well, it's not as if I've been great about it, either since I sort of... uhhhh started learning how to experience jealousy at a really inconvenient time.

But it's the sort of thing where—it makes me happy to see the people and things that make him happy. And—he's got enough heart for the both of us.