bolincredible | IC INBOX

[ Sweet? Handsome? At least a seven month long plan to make Bolin fall madly in love with him? The overall context may be extremely bad, but chat... big things are happening. ]

Counter: maybe the fact that you're really mad about it actually makes it extra clear how bad-boy unavailable you still are. [ If the bit is so important, he'll commit in solidarity.

This can obviously be struck from the relationship record if it makes Donnie feel better. Part of the healing process or part of being weirdo4weirdo romance: no one knows. ] Catch me in seven months, babe. I'll be totally ready to be blown away by how vulnerable you get. By the time we get there, I'm probably not even gonna remember it's coming! That's like a clean slate.

[ Metaphorical grabbing of hand and declaration of we're back on our bullshit. ]

[Like the saddest, wettest beast:]

...promise you'll forget?

[ This is EXACTLY why he says Donnie is cute, be so fr right now. ]

Yeah, absolutely! I've forgotten more for way less.

Okay...then I'll proceed as scheduled. [SNIFF.] Thanks, Bolin. I like that you don't think much and have a short attention span. Usually I hate that in my brothers, but you really make it work for you.

Aw, thanks. I do love being someone's special exception.

[ What is he supposed to do, lie and pretend that he doesn't??? Don't be ridiculous.

He's really making it work for him! And by this point in his life he sure hopes he is, because he sure can't seem to get any better about the "not thinking much" and "having a short attention span." ]

You're an exception to my tastes in almost every way, but you still pleasantly surprise me. I hope you understand how exceptional that really is.

[A moment of quiet contemplation.] I don't know if this is something you'll want. But if you want to...talk about your family. People you miss. ...you can talk to me.

I might not be adequately sympathetic, but my memory is eidetic. Whatever you tell me, I'll remember forever.

[ Don't mind Donatello once again saying one of the most romantic things ever. What the heck. It's like it doesn't even faze him to say it! ]

I think I'm starting to.

[ Nailed it. Very smooth. He's gonna keep convincing this turtle he's boyfriend material.

Right after he asks a sincere question. Put boyfriend material on hold. ]

But who says that doesn't sound like "adequate" sympathy in the first place?

Many people. [Tbh, mostly Mikey. When he's moonlighting as a licensed therapist.]

It doesn't bother me. I just wanted to temper your expectations. I'm not the best shoulder to cry on. ...even though I've just cried on yours, so to speak.

[ Hmmmmmmmm.

He's not sure he's following the thoughtline here. ]

I mean, I like how your shoulder does business. If I didn't like the shoulder, I wouldn't... date the guy with that shoulder?

[ tf are you talking about bolin. ]

I guess I just don't see an issue here. Like, you already offered to listen if I need it. And not to brag, but I'm pretty good at talking and crying wherever I'm at, so. Pretty sure we'll do just fine here.

[ Listen to him yap in his boyfriend terrarium sometimes, babe, and he'll thrive in there. ]

[Squints at. How...does a shoulder do business...?]

Well...then that's fine. You won't get offended if you start crying and I run away, will you? [Uh yeah Donnie maybe that will be offensive if you do that]

Hmmmmm...

[ He guesses he'd know about it in advance... ]

Offended, no. Sad... probably? But I mean, if I'm crying I'm already sad, so like that's a net zero. [ It's a himbo mathlete. Rare, rare breed. ] But I figure you'd send me a message later to make sure I got done crying, right?

[ Like "are you finished with your feelings" or "on a scale from one to ten how disgusting would i find your face at this point" or something. ]

[SAD IS WORSE. And while Donnie is...relieved, maybe, that Bolin seems so okay with him not having to deal with any large emotions that come up that may or may not be beyond his scope (or even just beyond his comfort level), it feels...bad?

Bad. Somewhere in the 'bad' category. Not sure exactly where or what or how.]

Well...of course. I wouldn't...want you to stay sad.

Because you still care that I'd be sad in the first place. Exactly! [ Exactly! His point! He's actually very wise, you see. There's not much people can do to Fix Sad anyway, in his experience. Listening comes closest, and that's already been offered.

Well. Okay so affection would also help. But you gotta work up to that sometimes. Donatello is a delicate ecosystem. Which Bolin likes getting figuring-out access to.

Makes him feel like an extra special special exception. ]

So if I know you still care when I'm sad and you know that I know that you care, I feel like we're starting out pretty solid. Just saying. [ Your unconventional spirit rizz has bewitched him in such fashion. ] Let me cry it out and maybe get back to me with some pastries after, you know? I'm easy.

[ Like a cactus, or one of those succulents with the little "thrives on neglect" stickers. Many such cases. ]

That feels...incorrect. [The sheer amount of hours of media consumed that has informed his opinions says it can't be that easy.]

Aren't relationships supposed to be difficult?

[ Um excuse me Donatello who's the expert here? Oh wait not Bolin either. But in his heart he's an expert. ]

What, like all the time? Every day?

I don't know. Shouldn't we be having misunderstandings and such? I'm fairly certain that's how it goes. [It's typical fare!! Person A gets hurt and runs off in a huff and then after 45 minutes they reunite at a train station or in the rain and like make out and it's all fine and nobody has to talk about it]

I mean, sure, everybody likes a little drama. [ Obviously. Drama is so dramatic when it hits right! Heel-turns! Plot twists! Declarations!

Truly all a part of what makes romance so great. ] There's probably a good balance to hit though, right? Like I watched Mako completely drop the ball on two-- not one, two-- of the most incredible girls in the world because of drama! They got all drama-ed out. Classic love triangle misunderstandings!

[ Bolin you were literally part of one of them. You made it a triangle and you lost the date wars. That's fine though that doesn't matter. ]

And I'm a very sensitive boy, Donatello. I just don't know how much on-again, off-again I can handle.

[ Hence the balance. If we don't have homemade dramatic misunderstandings we can just manufacture them for fun. ]

[Drama is fun, but like. Only when it's happening to people where you don't have to get involved. OR when it's on purpose and for enrichment or the Laughs. They can get into that later though, that sounds kind of pathetic of Bolin's big brother, no offense. Fumbling two girls over drama? They got sick of him? Embarrassing. Donatello's fanfiction never had him fumbling, and that's obviously because it would be ridiculous for him to do so when he is so dedicated to facts and planning.

Speaking of,] Elaborate on that. What does 'on-again, off-again' entail. Do you mean multiple break ups and subsequent re-datings?

[ Elaborate on that, he says. Excellent. Bolin loves elaborating (yapping). ]

Yeah, that's basically what it entails. Like you start dating someone but then you have a fight about something and you both break up and like, storm off! Like you both go "it's so over!" And you totally mean it. Buuuuut then a week later you miss each other and you're like "man, we shouldn't have said it was over, I miss you," and you get back together, and you mean that.

But then you have like another fight. Or the same exact fight. And it's over for real again, except you start missing each other again. And it's like guys, are you both coming out to lunch or not? Waiters don't like it when I don't know how many people are in my party! [ Like just stop!!!

Bolin loves his brother more than anything. Mako is awesome. Basically almost everything he ever did in their lives growing up he did because he wanted to take care of Bolin. But he's so broody and so allergic to just saying whatever random shit happens to pop into his head, including his feelings. Bro you fumbled the Avatar and Asami Sato. Be SO for real.

(Bolin thinks, as if he didn't we're so over we're so back oh never mind we're over she broke up with me a literal princess.) ]

And that just seems like a lot to me, you know? It's romantic and dramatic and love is a beautiful thing, but I mean, I get sad when I get dumped by someone for real once.

[ He, obviously, would be the one who got dumped in this specific relationship. Bolin knew the risks when he put it all on the line for a turtle spirit. ]

It sounds more like you hate it because of the inconvenience it poses to you. Not that I would disagree with that. [Waiters need to know the exact number of people in the party for seating purposes!!! It's inconsiderate.]

Either way, it's an easy promise to make. I will not break up with you unless it's for sure, the only time, completely. If I get angry but I don't want to break up, I'll just tell you that. Deal?

The inconvenience isn't not on my list of reasons, yeah. [ See, Donnie gets it. It's inconvenient. It's inconsiderate!

Bolin just knows if they got married, the seating charts would be immaculate. The RSVPs? Run like the United Forces.

In case anyone is just tuning in, yes.

Bolin is insane. ]

Deal. Thanks, babe, I appreciate that. I promise, too. Even if I'm... not exactly an anger guy. And I don't really see me breaking up with you anyway. [ The amount of work it takes to fumble Bolin Legendofkorra is unfathomable to most minds. ] But you know, it feels more like a deal when it's going both ways.

[Babe...]

I understand the feeling. Deal.

To summarize, we will not be engaging in the following behaviors: lying to each other, causing drama for no reason, and not communicating our needs clearly so the other person [him] can plan appropriately.

Verbal handshake. Verbal kiss? I'm not sure how couples are supposed to finalize these types of agreements.

[ He will bring every pet name he knows to bear, with time. You know, even if the most affection probably ends up going into the full Donatello most of the time.

Man... look at them. Talking about feelings. Communicating! No wonder so many people talk about that being important, it's great! ]

I wouldn't say no to a verbal kiss. Which I think is what we just did!

Good.

Agreed.

[Contemplative pause.]

I think I. Feel better, after talking with you. Thanks.

Hey, anytime! I'm glad I could help out a little.

[ He likes helping! And he likes helping someone that he is dating specifically!

And he also likes, you know, that general feeling he gets when he's actually able to help someone feel better, and gets treated like someone who can help and stuff. Win-win-win, frankly. ]

If you need me to witness and then forget I witnessed anything else feelings-wise... you know how to reach me, Donatello.

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semilethal - 2025-12-08 15:59 (UTC) - Expand

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