nexus_crossings | Time-sensitive question how flirt girl

It's been some time since Thor has sought the Nexus for advice. Which is not to say that he's not a regular visitor, but he's felt relatively assured in his day-to-day life enough to feel that he has a good handle on what he's doing with himself, or at least that his struggles are routine and need little guidance to overcome. Today, apparently, this is not the case.

One might be forgiven for assuming the glass bottle in his hand is beer at first glance, but on closer inspection it seems to be a cream soda instead. It's not what he wants, but just having a drink in his hands seems to be a comfort, making it easier to think. The little picnic table is off to one side off the main Plaza, its benches warmed by the summer sun as it overlooks a small koi pond. Thor's one good eye stares through the glinting fish rather than watching them, lost in thought.

What's he supposed to do now?

Is this even a good idea? What happens once a few decades pass? What if he decides not to risk it, and she leaves? Should he even be seriously considering putting himself through this again? He doesn't even know his own heart yet, what if he ends up stringing her along without meaning to?

Those are the questions he keeps to himself, but there are more yet to ask. He picks at the soda label with his prosthetic fingers, metal lightly tapping against the glass.

"How do you realize when you're in love?" Not quite getting to the point, but Thor is honestly not even sure where to start on this one.

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"Mm," Danny makes a noncommittal noise in response to that. Perhaps he's known too many killer robots -- the state of mad science being what it is, in his home universe. And he switched the topic as quickly as he did because he generally doesn't like to talk about his childhood. It usually earns him some horrified stares.

Danny nods at the correction, "Ah, yes. That is different." He absently drums his fingers against his own head, considering. "So she's a dear friend, and she says she loves you, and you're not sure you feel the same way. I think... if you know that you wouldn't be able to return her feelings eventually, then you should let her know that. If you're willing to give it a chance, then you should let her know that. Talking it out can help."

"I tried talking about it, but she closes herself." There's genuine bafflement in Thor's voice, with a hint of sorrow. "I suggested going on a date, but even that caused her to take fright. But I've been thinking... that might be what we've been doing? We spend time together alone often. She's a frequent visitor to the village, and regularly helps me with my garden. We share meals together."

"Hm... if I was nervous about telling someone my feelings, and maybe if I'd been building it up as this big important 'love confession' in my head, a lukewarm response might throw me off. Not to say that you owe her feelings of love in return, of course you don't. But I'm thinking aloud about where she might be coming from..." Danny purses his lips as he thinks. "Another thing might be, like you said, that she finds the current arrangement to be enough when it comes to activities? Visiting your village, helping in the garden, eating meals and spending time alone. Something that's more of an official step like a date can be nerve-wracking."

He sighs. "I never thought I'd say this but... it's almost too bad I'm not the Phantasm anymore. We'd be able to poll more people for opinions. A thousand souls ain't a bad sample size."

Lukewarm? Thor grimaces a little and shakes his head. "No, that's not what... it's complicated." If Amelia finds out he told the whole Nexus about how her confession went down, very much not as she'd planned, he's not sure he'd still have her trust. Better to gloss over that, even if it gives people the wrong impression.

"But what is the difference between those and a date, except for intent?" he points out. "I courted a mortal once before, and our 'date nights' weren't much different. Except for kissing, obviously."

"I'm really not the best at interpersonal stuff, so don't take my opinion as gospel." Danny says, "And I don't have all the details for your situation, so I'm giving you a broad-strokes take as it is."

Danny laughs. "Not all mortals think the same. If they did, my life wouldn't be as hard as it is. And comparing your current relationship to a past one is a fast track to heartbreak. If you came here looking for straight answers in matters of the heart, you're going to be sorely disappointed. There are no easy answers, and the ones that you find are going to be with her, not the rest of us in the peanut gallery."

Thor's frown deepens, leveling a look at the man across the table. "I ask not for easy answers but advice," he points out. "I would happily speak to her if she would let me. What else am I to do?"

"Maybe I'm not saying it right. I don't know what's going on besides what you tell me, and maybe I'm not understanding the situation." Danny shakes his head.

"But what's the other option? Ditch her? I think it'd be justified. She sounds like she's playing games -- she says she loves you, but she's not telling you what she wants, and she doesn't sound like she's ready for commitment the way you're hoping for." Danny lifts his hands helplessly, "And on top of all that, you have your worries about outliving her, and the difficulty of dealing with that. It all sounds like too much trouble to me."

"Then I consider myself fortunate I am not of like mind," Thor responds, setting down the bottle with a firm thunk against the table. "I'd quickly be a very lonely man if I was to abandon my friends so easily for fear of their loss, mortal or not."

Perhaps he's played his cards too close to the chest, as it were. Thor gets the impression they're starting to go in circles on this one.

"Well, there you go. Simply do the opposite of all my advice, and it will make more sense to you." Danny's smile quivers for a moment, before he looks away.

Why does he even bother with interpersonal issues? He can never say anything right, and he just ends up looking cold or heartless when he tries to explain his own point of view. Perhaps it's just too deeply ingrained in him to help, or at least try to help.

Oh well. Perhaps it will at least give the guy an idea of what not to do.

Time-sensitive question how flirt girl

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