@det.prettyboy; text

[causational]

Hey everyone! I don't post on here super often, but I've been laid up for a week now and I'm going a little crazy. Total cabin fever.

I used to see forums like this on the internet back home, and I thought it might be kind of fun here too, so I thought I'd give it a try, because reading those forums was always a lot of fun.

So, Crowd-Sourced Relationship Advice!

I turned on anonymous posting on here, so you can make a fake username and submit a description of a problem that you're having in your relationships, either romantic or at work or whatever, and other anonymous people can give you advice!

Or you can stay logged in on your real account. Up to you!

Comments

[deploy]

I don't know.

If I'm being really honest?

I just want to stop hurting.

I don't want to be left behind when everyone finds someone but me. It's already happening.

[jolting]

You sound a lot like me when I first came here

Back home, everyone was finding love, building families. And you can't escape it when it's a small town. Worse when people who don't seem like they should be able to find love or family get it, and you don't.

I can't even say I wanted it when I got here, either. I wanted to keep my distance and stay separate. But I was lonely and I ended up meeting people who insisted on seeing things in me I didn't believe were really there.

My point is that sometimes it's not about you finding someone. It's about you being open to believing what others see in you.

[deploy]

Sounds like me. Almost to a T.

I wasn't looking for someone, but they found me. I opened up to them. I don't open up to anyone. They made me feel things I didn't know I could still feel. Said what I've always wanted to hear and never thought I would.

I almost believed them. Came damn close.

Then they changed their mind.

So forgive me if I don't believe shit.

[jolting]

They change their minds. They leave without saying a word to you.

It breaks you to a point where you're wondering why you bothered in the first place.

I don't want to come off as making it seem easier because I'm on the other side of it. Every damn day I had to fight off dark thoughts and feelings. Took a long time for it to stop being something I had to make myself do.

You don't believe shit? You don't have to. But I bet there is someone who will believe it for you. You might not even know who they are right now, but trust me, there's someone.

[deploy]

Thanks. That actually helps.

Not that I’m glad you’ve gone through the same BS, just… you know.

Are you happy now?

[jolting]

I am. Took a long time, and it took someone sitting down and telling me they were going through the same BS.

I'm glad I could help someone in the same way.

[deploy]

Single?

[jolting]

Not anymore.

But if you need a wingman, hit me up.

[deploy]

Figures.

Thanks for the offer, but I like to fly solo.

[jolting]

Not sure I would've been good for you anyway

But you need a drinking buddy or someone to bitch to about life, hit me up

[deploy]

Not sure I'm good for anyone.

Got a contact?

[jolting]

Funny thing is, that's exactly what I thought.

But I don't think it's about that. I think it's about finding a person who makes you feel like you don't have to be. That you can just be you, good and bad.

But you've probably heard enough of my thoughts on the subject.

[private]

Here's my number. And yes, I'm really Frankenstein like from the book. Still want to hang out?

[deploy]

[Victor Frankenstein. The guy Jim's dating. Who he met at a party just a week back. When he was kinda drunk. Great first impression.

John's already agreed to meet up with someone, mostly fearlessly, because there really aren't that many people in Riverview he's close with, and strangers have always felt safer in some ways. It doesn't matter what they think. They don't know him, really, and their lives don't intersect.

But John knows Victor, and Victor knows him, on some level.]

On second thought, maybe it's not a great idea.

[jolting]

It's not like I'm going to put bolts on your neck. But whatever, your choice. Can't really force you.

Hope what I said helped, anyway.

[deploy]

It's not the Frankenstein thing. I'm cool with that. You shouldn't feel bad about it.

That's really not what I meant.

Just might be weird. I don't talk about this stuff. I don't want anyone to know. You'll look at me differently.

[jolting]

You do realize we just had a really long conversation about "this stuff", right?

And maybe you need someone to look at you differently. I know I did. Which I guess is why I'm trying to do the same for someone else.

[deploy]

Yeah, but you don't know who I am. It's different.

How do I know you won't turn it around on me or tell people?

[jolting]

It's called doctor-patient confidentiality. And I can bend that rule as far as I want.

[deploy]

I don't want therapy. I just want... I don't know what I want. But I don't want that.

[jolting]

I did offer being a drinking buddy. The doctor-patient thing was just my way of saying you can trust me to keep your secrets.

[deploy]

I'm probably going to regret this.

[And he's shooting a message Victor's way. God help him.]