aefenglom | text, un: anonymous.

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text, un: anonymous.

Can't believe this is gonna be my first post on here, awkwaaard lol.

This place is full of romantics. I've met a bunch of Witches and Monsters who're getting together in pairs, three-of-a-kinds, and some are even going for full houses. I'm in a bit of a pickle and I'd like some advice on the problem, since everyone's probably way better at figuring this stuff out than me. And, actually, it's more like a couple of problems? Because I really, really like two separate people.

I know this is a story as old as time and if I don't be careful I could make a huge mess of everything, but I genuinely don't know what to do with myself. "You can't have your cake and eat it, too," is a really relevant expression to use here, I feel, and overall I've got so little experience asking one person out let alone multiple. Both of them are unique and couldn't be more different, which is probably what's making the decision on who to try for so difficult. They're both funny and attractive, but one's super smart, affectionate, and dynamic, while the other's strong, willful, and considerate.

What are your thoughts? Am I overthinking it, or being too callous? Having crushes on your friends is normal, but how about moving forward with both of them? Sorry if this is weird, or no one actually gives a shit. I do, and I hope to hear from you. Thanks!

P.S. You don't need to get all detective on me just because I'm anon, but if you do figure out who this is? Please don't be a dick and spread your knowledge (totally wishful thinking, but I think I've been cool enough with everyone and I hope they don't think I deserve that).

P.P.S. If the people I'm talking about figure out who this is? Yikes, first of all, but no pressure. I mean it.

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[ Within reading the first line of text, he’s grinning already in fond amusement. Well, well, well. What could his best friend possibly need to use the network “anonymously” for? ]

[ But all sense of mirth evaporates as he continues reading, the bottom of his stomach dropping unpleasantly when he realizes Jonas is polling Mirrorbound for advice about dating. You know it’s better this way, he tries to tell himself. In spite of his feelings, it isn’t as if he ever intended to make a real pass at Jonas. Sure, it’s been nearly half a year since his breakup with Malia, yet crippling insecurity and doubt convinced Stiles not to rock the boat that he’s made his home. Instead of disappointed, he should be happy for his best friend. Jonas deserves a chance at a normal teenage life.

Once Stiles has semi-successfully managed to put aside his dejectedness (keyword: semi-successfully), he finally reads on. Traitorously, his heartrate begins to pick up again the moment he understands that Jonas is interested in two people, like maybe he still has a shot. Shock washes over him when he finds the descriptions, because there’s no way, he’s just being stupidly hopeful, plenty of people could fit “super smart, affectionate, and dynamic.” Except Jonas has explicitly called him smart multiple times in the past. This is about him. This is about him? This is totally about him. This is about Stiles. Jonas is interested in Stiles.

“Is this going to be a regular occurrence?” Mila asks him from outside the Worse Dragon changing room that Stiles is currently ensconced in. “Darling, please hyperventilate where the customers can’t hear you.”

Later, after an aborted panic attack, Stiles lies supine on the counter where he should be ringing up customers. He gazes up at the ceiling in a dreamy state of giddy elation and nervous dread while cuddling a dildo. (It’d been sitting on the counter and he’d been too mentally checked out to put it back where it belongs.) Jonas is interested in him. He’s interested in Jonas. Maybe it shouldn’t be a big deal, yet here he is – mooning over it like a thirteen-year-old girl with her first crush. Every time someone expressed interest in Stiles, it’d been with a sudden, unbidden kiss, giving him no time to process it beyond a wildly incredulously, “Wow, okay, guess this is happening now?” This is new.

But that insecurity and doubt remain. What if this ruins their friendship? After what happened with Malia – and the lack of closure he’s had, what with being magicked away to Aefenglom – he doesn’t know if he should encourage this. Stiles is a mess. He knows that. There’s so much about his life he hasn’t shared with Jonas. Would Jonas still feel the same, still find him funny and attractive, if he found out about Donovan? About some of the other underhanded and manipulative things he’s done? In many ways, dating Malia was safe and easy; she was pack, embroiled in the dangerous world between supernatural and humanity that Stiles straddled. Yeah, this is terrifyingly new. Also, how does, “Dear dad, I guess I’m bisexual because I want to bump uglies with my best friend, xoxo from another dimension” sound?

That aside… He frowns, hands tightening around the dildo with an unconscious flare of possessiveness. Who the hell is the other person? Jonas seems interested in seeing the two of them simultaneously. An open relationship, essentially. A sigh builds behind his diaphragm (or maybe it’s just acid reflux). So, Jonas wants to date casually. As much as he wishes he could handle that, Stiles knows himself – he can’t do casual. He doesn’t want casual. Having to share Jonas with someone else… Countdown until he develops a complex about it. In fact… “Strong, willful, and considerate.” Scott immediately comes to mind, which is totally unhelpful. The next individual he envisions is, naturally, Sasuke. Jonas with Sasuke…? A grim kind of acceptance settles over him, like he’s braced to accept second place in a race. While he can’t imagine Sasuke in any kind of intimate relationship in spite of what the Vampire told him the night of the meteor shower, he can picture them together.

God, how did Jonas keep this from both his Bondmates?

The dildo squeaks in protest as he fists it, mouth parted in wonder. Holy shit. Is this why Jonas refuses to masturbate now that he’s Bonded to Stiles and Sasuke? Would he be thinking of them when he…?

“Stiles.” Mila sounds irritated now. “These changing rooms don’t exist for you to perpetually use for your teenage drama. At least try on some lingerie while you’re freaking out in there. Tell me how it fits.”

An hour passes before his emotions are under enough control for him to even consider responding to the network post. Stiles takes time to peruse the public replies first, cringing at Sasuke’s. Looks like the cat’s out of the bag there. ]

Other people beat me to it, but I’ll give my two cents anyway.

[ Since his opinion obviously matters. ]

You need to find out how they feel about that kind of open relationship. If both aren’t on board with it, you’ll have to prioritize who you’d rather date. That might have been the right question for the network to bicker about: which one sounds better suited for you.

(and the second slides in with equally alarming advice. when, exactly, did he start crushing on these two?

first, a thought: will stiles think this is a form of lying, or be unimpressed when the secret's finally out? now that sasuke and itachi have weighed in with the fact that the post's selfish and embarrassing, jonas wonders what other mistakes he's made. if only he could hug a safety blanket picture of stiles hugging a dildo.)

Definitely, I'd feel bad about going in unprepared though. I guess I should've went searching for info in person rather than doling this all out over a public network... which is my bad.

I'm not looking to spark competition here, so I'd rather not get into "best suited." I don't even know what that looks like/what that'd mean for me/them.

Hey, if the network helped you realize something, then the post was a success, right? Don’t worry about it too much. I think you’re doing fine.

[ Stiles doesn’t know how to go about this except as a competition, which is telling enough on its own. ]

So, what’s the plan then?

Oh, well, thanks. That means a lot to me.

(person i absolutely do not know.)

I think the purrrrsonaowo (sp?) person had a good point. I gotta approach everyone separately to first figure out if they like me/are comfortable with the whole "three's company" thing, like you said, then bring everyone together and chat about it.

It sounds the smartest. Unless you've got another suggestion?

That’s probably the best way to do it. What happens if they both like you, but at least one of them isn’t interested in an open relationship?

(zones out for a moment, trying to figure out how he got so simple-minded. genetics? not studying?

.........)

I didn't think that far ahead, please don't roast me.

I just don't think it'll be a problem.

[ A dozen different replies are typed out and then deleted. ]

How?

[ And though he’s been doing his damn best to keep emotion from trickling through the Bond, there’s a kind of jaded desperation Stiles can’t hide here. ]

Sometimes, it feels like all I can see are problems. How do you have that kind of faith?

(he feels it. he doesn't go searching for it, but it's clearly there and it makes jonas look up from his watch.)

I don't, really, I see plenty of problems. I just don't like to pay attention to those more than the good stuff. I close my eyes, hope to high hell things work out, and jump.

ig it's thrilling, in a way. Not knowing what's gonna happen.

That's crazy. You're crazy.

[ Hopefully any sting from those words is offset by the exasperated affection he projects to Jonas. ]

I don't think I can live like that. But I'll try to be at the bottom with a pillow to catch you, buddy. If things don't work out.

Yeah, I guess. And that's faith in a way, maybe?

I don't know, I've never really trusted anyone before. Just my parents. Then it was just my dad. Now it's you and Sasuke.

You can have faith in me, if you don't have faith in anybody or anything else. bc I'll always have your back, man, that's just how things are gonna be.

[ God, it kills him how lonely Jonas must have been. Stiles can’t stand the idea of someone as friendly, good-hearted, and generous as Jonas Ward being denied the friendships he should have had because of a mistake. But maybe he’s projecting. Isn’t their situation a little similar? He thinks of what happened with Scott and Malia because of his own mistake. ]

Before you say something like that to me, there’s something I need to tell you about. Can we talk? Tomorrow morning. I’m on shift late tonight.

(tilting his head at the text, confusion winning out over his jittery nervousness. is stiles alright? does it have to do with this conversation, or something else?

refusing to let his mind wander off on unhelpful tangents, jonas responds quickly.)

Oh, sure thing. I'm good to talk anytime.

Is that gonna be okay for your nocturnal sensibilities? You gonna sleep right after, or try to get some z's in beforehand?

It’s fine. I’ll sleep after.

[ Maybe. It depends on how the discussion goes, honestly. What if Jonas freaks out? What if Jonas isn’t comfortable with him staying in the cottage anymore? What if – ]

Sorry. I promise we’ll talk about this [ this being the network post ] after, if you still want to.

Man, whatever works. I'm open.

And if any of this made you uncomfortable, I'm really sorry for that. I kinda didn't think when I made this post and I'm starting to see the mistake that was. ig people know me better than I thought.

I meant what I said. I think you're doing fine. Nothing to apologize for.

But yeah...anyone with half a brain who knows you would be able to tell who this "anonymous" was.

[ Sorry, Sasuke. At least he figured it out in the end. ]

Your speech patterns are obvious even through text LOL. Try not to use so much modern American shorthand next time.

Thanks, Stiles.

I just wish I'd been able to sit down with you guys and talk about it in person. I didn't really mean for this to happen, but I know what's up now at least. Sorta.

We'll figure it out.

It's not like it's too late for that. We've got time.

We will, dude. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?

Yeah, alright. See you then.

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