ic contact.

[arcanepower]

[What is this strange goblin technology? Why is it not blowing up in his face?

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Comments

[ino]

[ Oh. Oh my god. IT'S EVEN BETTER THAN SHE SUSPECTED.

It is so hard to keep her reaction to that internal. But she manages, and after a moment, she gently asks: ]

What do you think that makes him to you, then?

[arcanepower]

[He's quiet for a long moment.]

... An allergen?

[ino]

[ She pinches the bridge of her nose. ]

No. Those types of reactions to certain people aren't abnormal, Bel.

[arcanepower]

Are you sure? He works with machines. It's highly possible there's some kind of dust or residue that I am not used to, and so it triggers an inflammatory response--

[ino]

Bel.


It's not an allergy. I promise. You would be having totally different symptoms if it were something like that.

[arcanepower]

[He shuts up immediately. He's... having trouble being this self-aware. Usually he is good at it, but not when it comes to feelings.]

I don't understand.

[ino]

Honestly? It sounds a lot like the way I feel when I look at Tadashi.

1/3

[arcanepower]

Wh--

2/3

[arcanepower]

[No way. NO WAY. He can't process this, not properly--]

3/3

[arcanepower]

[But of course thinking about being all romantic with Hiro makes him blush damn flourescently.]

N-- no!

[ino]

[ She raises her eyebrows. ]

No?

[arcanepower]

No!

[What does that even mean?

He stares at Ino, obviously somewhat freaked out, and then he just kinda... slumps and shoves his face in his arms.]

Yes...

[Sure is Sesame Street up in here.]

[ino]

[ There we go. ]

I had a feeling. That's why I came to talk to you about it.

[arcanepower]

[He continues to hide his face in his big sleeves. He's glad for them right now.]

What do I do? I never meant for this to happen! We're both so busy with studies, it's not like I know how to cultivate romance. The thought didn't even occur to me. Maybe when I'm a hundred, but now?

[He drags his hands down his face, then goes back to hiding his face in his hands.]

Oh, Light. This is so wrong. He'll probably think I am disgusting.

[ino]

[ She just watches this with mild amusement, chin resting in her palm. ]

It's not wrong to feel that way. And I know he's not going to think that at all.

[arcanepower]

[It's not that he thinks being gay or bi is bad. It's a simpler matter here.]

B-but I'm three times his age!

[ino]

Yeah, but you're an elf?

[ She's pretty sure mentally they're on the same level, anyways. ]

[arcanepower]

Y... yes. But he might find it weird. What if he finds it weird?

[He runs his hands through his hair, making it messier, and then tugs on it.]

What if he finds out I like him and he only wants to be friends? What if he leaves? I'll have to live with my shame for three hundred years! [He groans in that melodramatic way only a panicking teenager can.]

[ino]

[ Three hundred ... She tries not to laugh. ]

Hey, don't worry so much! I think if you decide to talk to him about it -- it will turn out a lot better than you're thinking.

[ She'll conveniently ignore the "leaving" thing, because ... well, it's a possibility that she doesn't want to have to address for them until she has to ]

[arcanepower]

[#elfproblems

He lets go of his hair and looks down at his hands again. Ino is being so gentle and supportive, but he's still scared as hell.]

You and Tadashi are so comfortable with each other. You've probably never been this scared over something stupid before.

[ino]

[ Okay, she does laugh a little at that. ]

Of course I have been, plenty of times. [ She never really doubted he liked her, but there were plenty of other issues to be worried about. ] But the most important thing is that we care about each other. As long as I think about that, I'm not really scared anymore.

[arcanepower]

Really? I can't imagine you being scared of anything. You're always so confident, but I've spent most of my life running away.

[He sighs again.]

Hiro tells me that he cares all the time. But I don't know if... I'm ready to try just yet.

[ino]

Everyone gets scared sometimes. Even the strongest and most confident people.

[ She smiles ]

I'm not saying that you have to do any one thing in particular. I just want you to think about this, okay? I know for a fact that Hiro cares about you very much. And I think he would be happy to hear it if you wanted to tell him how you feel.

[arcanepower]

I'll take your word for it.

[He twirls a bit of his hair around his finger. It's getting long again; he needs to cut it.]

Okay. I... I will think about it, I promise. [He can't get Hiro off his mind lately anyway.]

[ino]

Good!

[ Looking pleased with herself, she finally takes one of the dango sticks out of the box for herself to nibble on ]

I'm glad.