[ic inbox]

[retrieves]

[action/text]

Comments

[retrieves]

[?]

okay... go ahead.

[lightresearch]

Thank you for your time and understanding.

As you’re all-too aware, I had been without my heart for a significant time. Some emotions are entirely new to me.

My question is two part.

1) How does one know what they’re feeling is (in colloquial terms) a “crush”

and

2) What does one do about it?

[retrieves]

[LGKHSGHALGKHD RIKU'S CHOKING WHEREVER HE IS

hold on, he's gotta take a minute to respond to this.]

uh...

i don't want to be rude [for once] but why do you think i'm qualified to talk about this?

[lightresearch]

Several reasons.

1) You have been in possession of your heart through most of your adolescent development into adulthood;

2) You are an intelligent and mature individual who is not prone to flights of fancy while …

3) You act on your feelings when it’s important to you and helps those you consider friends;

and lastly

4) You have proven track record of having a crush and even stronger feelings still.

… I don’t believe I’m mistaken, but if you don’t feel prepared to tackle this sort of topic, I understand. It’s a bit embarrassing, though I assure you, it has not been easy for me to ask this.

[ Hence why it’s been weeks and weeks since he first realized … ]

[retrieves]

[he understands all this... but he's still just. feeling some sort of way about it right now. even though he's fucking dying over it, and he's incredibly grateful that no one else will ever see this.]

it's fine. the others probably wouldn't be exactly the people to talk to about this.

[the irony of it is that Vanitas would probably be the next one to ask and that's just frightening.]

so... having a crush is kind of like having a very close friend. you want to spend all the time in the world with them, and you wanna protect them no matter what. it doesn't have to be a physical protection -- you don't want to see them get mentally or emotionally hurt, either. they're the one person you cherish more than anyone else.

...

or so i've heard.

[lightresearch]

I see.

That does seem to align with behaviors I’ve witnessed in others. [ like Riku but he doesn’t call him explicitly out again. ]

…

…

So what should one do about it?

[retrieves]

[wheezing]

most people usually talk to them about it, or take them on a date. i wouldn't really know about anything like that, though.

[he buries his crushes deep down in the pits of his heart.]

why are you asking all of this, anyway?

[lightresearch]

How?

I suppose further research is needed. Non fiction resources have proven to be unhelpful, however, and fictional resources invite you to project yourself onto the character and inject your own biases.

… … …

[ There are a lot of “someone is typing” ellipses but no actual response to that last question before Ienzo gives up. ]

[retrieves]

it's not injecting your own biases to take someone out on a date or having them crush on you back. sometimes if you spend enough time together, it just happens.

so you have a crush, then.

[called him the FUCK out]

[lightresearch]

[ That’s not truly what Ienzo meant, but he understands Riku’s point and makes a note of it. ]

[ Before he’s distracted. ]

… Yes. I believe I fit the behavioral criteria you’ve explained.

[retrieves]

[heh.]

i won't ask with who. it's not my business.

but maybe try taking them out on a date. it couldn't hurt.

[lightresearch]

Based on your recalcitrance - I would imagine there *is* some risk involved.

action threadjacking;

[oathkeeper]

[What the heck is going on? Why can't Sora stop sneezing today? It's not even early springtime it's almost fall so why is he sneezing so much?

He happens to wander by Riku's treehouse door so he knocks once before opening it like he owns the entire place already.]

Hey...! Riku, are you here? Are you sneezing a lot today? I dunno what it is. I feel like I'm catching a cold or something...

[ACHOO.]

[retrieves]

[this isn't surprising in the least, to have Sora just stomp in here. he jumps though when he does this time, closing his book and standing quickly to his feet.]

Uh...

[so eloquent.]

I'm... fine. Maybe you should rest, if you're feeling sick.

[oathkeeper]

But I don't want to rest, it's the middle of the day!

[Sora whine softly. But he does catch that glimpse of Riku snapping his journal shut like that. ... Sus.]

What're writing about?

[Whatchu got there buddy??]

[retrieves]

You sound like an actual child.

[he says, as his face gets warm and he shrugs.]

I was just talking to Ienzo. No big deal.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora frowns.]

Hey, that's mean Riku.

[He's already making his way over to Riku!!]

What're talking about with Ienzo?

[Nosy child.]

[retrieves]

[jesus, of course he's in a nosy mood today.]

I've always been mean. And it's none of your business.

[he's going to back up a step, here.]

[oathkeeper]

[... Squints. SUSPICIOUS.]

That's a lie. Come on, Riku! What were you talking about? Huh?

[Stepping right up to Riku and reaching out!!]

[retrieves]

[bro!!!!

he lifts the journal up over his head, semi-confident that Sora wouldn't be able to reach it that easily.]

It's none of your business. Why are you so interested?

[retrieves]

my wh

[OH FUCK THERE'S SORA

there's a long line as he slams the communication shut for now.]

[lightresearch]

Are you all right?

[ He waited for a bit before sending that, and after another pause; ]

I apologize if I'd overstepped. I did not intend to offend you, especially after you offered such valuable help.

[retrieves]

[SOME TIME LATER.......]

no, you didn't overstep. Sora decided to show up unannounced.

[which wasn't completely unusual, but the fact that it just had to be that moment in particular...]

[lightresearch]

I see …?

[ He had no idea the game of keep-away that ensued after, of course. ]

[retrieves]

he tried to get my journal and read it.

well. he did get my journal and read our conversation. so... good luck with those questions, if they come up. he certainly had a lot for me.