[Speaking of things like 'betting' and 'Baltie'... Hilda deflates a bit and gives a bit of a nervous laugh.]
Yeah, um. Things are a little weird with him right now, actually.
[She busies herself with one of the pastries on her plate, tearing a few pieces off to serve as bite-sized portions later. With a sigh, she elaborates to help head off Ori's inevitable 'what happened?']
Right after the nightmare, I went over to his house. I was really shaken, and we got all caught up in everything, and I kissed him and ended up sleeping in his bed with him because I didn't want to go back to my place by myself. And it's weird. He's, like, my older brother's best friend, and I always thought that made him kind of an older brother to me too. Except you don't kiss brothers the way that we kissed, and it didn't really feel wrong in the moment, but the more I think about the more I don't know what to think about it. Was I just looking for comfort wherever I could find it? Did I use him to make myself feel better? Did he use me?
[She sighs again, this time more dramatically, and helps herself to one of the bits of torn-off pastry.]
[ The moment that Hilda seems to deflate, Ori regrets bringing Balthus up. Not that she would have had any way of knowing that doing so would bring up complicated emotions, but still - Ori deflates in turn and watches with worry as Hilda tears up one of the pastries on her plate.
She goes on to explain what happened before Ori has a chance to steel herself enough to ask the question, and all she can do is listen attentively. What Hilda says is... not at all what Ori is expecting, truth to tell, but still she listens. Ori also cannot really relate to the dynamics of older brothers and their best friends, having neither an older brother nor a best friend (at least, not until recently).
By the time that Hilda has said all of that, and sighs, Ori is wearing a very sympathetic look on her face. She can't even begin to pretend to understand, but all that really matters is that it's clearing bothering Hilda. ]
Hilda...
[ There's no judgment in her voice. ]
It's okay to not really know how to feel about it. But I do think... if you were both okay with it, then maybe it's not really like you were using each other...?
[ The flowers in her hair droop a little. ]
Sorry, I'm not really... familiar with these kinds of situations. But I do know that feelings can be complicated, and that's okay. You don't have to figure everything out right away. But I'm sorry to hear things are a little weird right now... maybe it'll be okay in time?
[ Narrator voice: It will, in fact, not be okay. ]
[Not if their respective muns have anything to say about it!
Hilda meets Ori's sympathetic look with a small smile. Bless her, she's trying to be supportive and helpful. But this is out of Hilda's depth, and she's much more experienced in these kinds of things than Ori is. It's little wonder that she's at a near-total loss.]
Honestly, Ori? All I need is an ear and a bit of comfort. I know you don't have the answers, but I know you have those things in abundance.
[Ori is too good a friend, really.]
So thanks for that much. Just being able to talk about it helps a bit, you know? Like, I'm not losing my mind or whatever. And maybe you're right. Maybe it'll just... blow over, and things can go back to how they were.
Well, no matter what happens between the two of you, you'll still be my friend!
[ She reaches over with one arm to pull Hilda into a half-embrace. ]
I feel like... it wouldn't hurt to talk things out at some point, no matter what. Honestly, I probably still wouldn't have owned up to how I feel about Thoma and Diluc if Thoma hadn't brought it up in conversation.... It was kind of scary to talk things out, but it ended up being okay in the end!
[ Well, more than okay, obviously, but. ]
I'm learning that talking about these things can be way better than keeping everything locked up inside. But, like I said— you don't have to figure it out all at once!
[ She pulls her arm away so that she can start to work at the pastries her own plate and, of course, also refill Hilda's plate with more pastries. ]
[Hilda leans into the sideways half-hug, smiling warmly. ]
You're the best, Ori. Seriously.
[It's a shame that Hilda and Balthus don't have a Thoma to force the conversation. Or maybe it's for the best. Balthus would probably be pretty chill about having a third, but she's not convinced that she wouldn't be a jealous asshole about it.
Which... why is she even thinking about that?! She's not even supposed to be entertaining the idea of being a couple. Right?]
I'll try talking to him once I've had more time to think about.
[Realistically, that means she's probably going to keep avoiding the topic for as long as possible. But at least she's considering Ori's advice. That's something, right?]
In any case, let's get back to making this a fun birthday tea party. I'm glad we talked about this stuff, but I don't want it to spoil the festivities too much.
[And with that, the pair return to tea, treats, and girlish gossip. All in all, Hilda's second 19th birthday ends up being a lovely one. ♥ ]
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no subject
[Speaking of things like 'betting' and 'Baltie'... Hilda deflates a bit and gives a bit of a nervous laugh.]
Yeah, um. Things are a little weird with him right now, actually.
[She busies herself with one of the pastries on her plate, tearing a few pieces off to serve as bite-sized portions later. With a sigh, she elaborates to help head off Ori's inevitable 'what happened?']
Right after the nightmare, I went over to his house. I was really shaken, and we got all caught up in everything, and I kissed him and ended up sleeping in his bed with him because I didn't want to go back to my place by myself. And it's weird. He's, like, my older brother's best friend, and I always thought that made him kind of an older brother to me too. Except you don't kiss brothers the way that we kissed, and it didn't really feel wrong in the moment, but the more I think about the more I don't know what to think about it. Was I just looking for comfort wherever I could find it? Did I use him to make myself feel better? Did he use me?
[She sighs again, this time more dramatically, and helps herself to one of the bits of torn-off pastry.]
Feelings are stupid, Ori.
no subject
She goes on to explain what happened before Ori has a chance to steel herself enough to ask the question, and all she can do is listen attentively. What Hilda says is... not at all what Ori is expecting, truth to tell, but still she listens. Ori also cannot really relate to the dynamics of older brothers and their best friends, having neither an older brother nor a best friend (at least, not until recently).
By the time that Hilda has said all of that, and sighs, Ori is wearing a very sympathetic look on her face. She can't even begin to pretend to understand, but all that really matters is that it's clearing bothering Hilda. ]
Hilda...
[ There's no judgment in her voice. ]
It's okay to not really know how to feel about it. But I do think... if you were both okay with it, then maybe it's not really like you were using each other...?
[ The flowers in her hair droop a little. ]
Sorry, I'm not really... familiar with these kinds of situations. But I do know that feelings can be complicated, and that's okay. You don't have to figure everything out right away. But I'm sorry to hear things are a little weird right now... maybe it'll be okay in time?
[ Narrator voice: It will, in fact, not be okay. ]
no subject
Not if their respective muns have anything to say about it!Hilda meets Ori's sympathetic look with a small smile. Bless her, she's trying to be supportive and helpful. But this is out of Hilda's depth, and she's much more experienced in these kinds of things than Ori is. It's little wonder that she's at a near-total loss.]
Honestly, Ori? All I need is an ear and a bit of comfort. I know you don't have the answers, but I know you have those things in abundance.
[Ori is too good a friend, really.]
So thanks for that much. Just being able to talk about it helps a bit, you know? Like, I'm not losing my mind or whatever. And maybe you're right. Maybe it'll just... blow over, and things can go back to how they were.
no subject
[ She reaches over with one arm to pull Hilda into a half-embrace. ]
I feel like... it wouldn't hurt to talk things out at some point, no matter what. Honestly, I probably still wouldn't have owned up to how I feel about Thoma and Diluc if Thoma hadn't brought it up in conversation.... It was kind of scary to talk things out, but it ended up being okay in the end!
[ Well, more than okay, obviously, but. ]
I'm learning that talking about these things can be way better than keeping everything locked up inside. But, like I said— you don't have to figure it out all at once!
[ She pulls her arm away so that she can start to work at the pastries her own plate and, of course, also refill Hilda's plate with more pastries. ]
wrapped!
You're the best, Ori. Seriously.
[It's a shame that Hilda and Balthus don't have a Thoma to force the conversation. Or maybe it's for the best. Balthus would probably be pretty chill about having a third, but she's not convinced that she wouldn't be a jealous asshole about it.
Which... why is she even thinking about that?! She's not even supposed to be entertaining the idea of being a couple. Right?]
I'll try talking to him once I've had more time to think about.
[Realistically, that means she's probably going to keep avoiding the topic for as long as possible. But at least she's considering Ori's advice. That's something, right?]
In any case, let's get back to making this a fun birthday tea party. I'm glad we talked about this stuff, but I don't want it to spoil the festivities too much.
[And with that, the pair return to tea, treats, and girlish gossip. All in all, Hilda's second 19th birthday ends up being a lovely one. ♥ ]