17th Fix

[techno_mancer]

[Thanks to being at stage three, Quinn really messed stuff up with his best friend in town. He's wrestling with a lot of feelings that a chill and in-control guy like him never deals with normally, and still being under the secret-blurting effect, really wants to get this off his chest to someone. The problem is that he doesn't know who to go to

Comments

A - Stage 2 to 3

[ooeeooahah]

[ Ilsa walks up the driveway, stopping at the door. She will wait there on the threshold until Quinn invites her in. ]

[techno_mancer]

Yeeeeaaah my closest friend in town pretty much hates me now. [He frowns a little over his beer bottle as he takes a long drink.]

[ooeeooahah]

mmm...

[ She knows better, but can't help it... ]

You told him a truth you'd been hiding.

[ She sighs, and takes a drink. ]

As a psychiatrist, truth is what I try to help my patients find. But it has to be their choice.

[techno_mancer]

In the worst way possible, too.

I dunno if a psychatrist'd be able to help when all I did was tell that I really, really wanna sleep with him.

[ooeeooahah]

Oh, hon. I hope he's okay with it.

[ She takes a drink, considering. ]

If he says no, do you think you two can still be friends?

[techno_mancer]

That's the thing! He didn't say "no" so much as "Well I've thought about but I'm a virgin and now that I've told you this I am going to knock over a damn fence in anger."

Pretty much I don't think he's gonna talk to me ever again.

[He looks pretty sad at that thought.]

[ooeeooahah]

Well, he probably realizes what is going on... and it is flattering.

[ She drains the last of the beer, and considers. ]

It might not have been anger. It could have been frustration. Or panic.

[techno_mancer]

[He lights up a new cigarette, takes a drag, and then stamps it out. Guest does not like cigarettes. Right.]

Mighta been all three. I told him the reason I never said anythin' was because I thought he'd punch me or somethin'. That only made him madder.

I really thought he would, ya know. Otherwise I woulda said somethin' sooner. Ain't like me to be afraid of askin' anyone that. I dunno why I was with him.

[A sigh.]

Man, I really screwed up.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She raises her eyebrows at the bit with the cigarette. ]

Don't... ah, thanks.

Maybe your subconscious was trying like hell to make sure you didn't screw it up before you proposed?

[techno_mancer]

Maybe. So either Mayfield cockbocked me or... I dunno, I turned spineless or somethin'.

[ooeeooahah]

Not spineless, hon. When you meet your mate, the part of your brain that is trying to make sure you don't mess this up can make you cautious or reckless.

[ Ilsa smiles, and gets up to get another beer. ]

I don't know if it's worse if you're raised monogamous or not.

[techno_mancer]

"Mate" might be too strong a word. I like 'im, though. A lot. He's a lot cooler than he thinks he is.

[He pauses.] ...Did I seriously just say that?

[ooeeooahah]

Yes, you did.

[ She gets a beer for both of them. ]

What, the first above the harem isn't a mate? Pfft. It's what I'd call...tng...

[ She visibly restrains herself. ]

Dangit. I haven't asked him yet, even. I ought to. After I tell him about the family.

[techno_mancer]

Harem? [He chuckles and shakes his head.] Ya give me too much credit.

The family?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She laughs at his disbelief, though it calms when he asks about her family. ]

Daddy's not a local boy. My paternal grandparents live a couple of dimensions over, actually.

[ She winces at the last statement. ]

Dangit.

[techno_mancer]

Hey, don't worry 'bout it. My family's fulla crazy redneck fire mages, if it makes ya feel any better.