[oopfsb / undarkest timeline] fretting

[stilljustandrew]

[Between this and this.]

Matt's asleep in the infirmary; Andrew's got a couple of promises to keep.

First things first. He takes a seat at the bar, orders a breakfast to replace the one he abandoned, and starts composing a warning poster for the bulletin board between bites.

Comments

[nita_callahan]

"I mean, like, about everything, he's a good conversationalist, he's good to talk to. But especially about the relationship."

She kind of also wants to tell him not to expect commitment, but -- that's not exactly what the problem was, and she's pretty sure it'd sound like she was just being That Bitter Ex.

[stilljustandrew]

"... okay," he says, a little tentatively. "I mean, we're already sort of doing that some? Because I've got like zero experience and I don't even know what to take for granted."

[nita_callahan]

"Good. I mean, I think. That seems like a good place to start from."

She shrugs, wrapping her hands around her coffee. "And it's been a few years. He's probably gotten better about communicating."

She has! ... She thinks. She should ask Coyote, probably.

[stilljustandrew]

Sobering: "I hope so."

Considering how quick the First has always been to take advantage of failures to communicate.

[nita_callahan]

She nods, and shrugs a little.

"You'll be okay."

She gives him a close look. "And make sure you are okay. Don't -- put yourself second."

[stilljustandrew]

"... Okay," he says, uncertainly. "I'll try."

Putting himself first doesn't feel like the right thing to do, at all. Especially not when Matt's the one who's injured.

[nita_callahan]

"Seriously. I know people like us do that thing where everyone else comes first, but you do deserve to come first when it comes to, like, love."

She pokes him in the shoulder, gently. "You, specifically, Andrew Wells, not the editorial you."

[stilljustandrew]

He flushes, just a little, at people like us.

(Because Nita's a hero; and something in him still resists being in that category. Or at least being comfortable there.)

But her concern is still comforting, and it gets a small smile, wan but genuine.

"Thanks."