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[chickenchoicejudy]

[There is a sick guitar riff on this answering machine message. Why.]

"🎵 Leave me a message after the tone! And I'll get back to you on my cellular phone!
I totally will! I totally will!
I'm not gonna forget I sweaaaa^aaaarrrr--🎵"

[Video/Audio/Text/Etc.]

Comments

[outofsynth]

[Min-Gi hums uncertainly, leaning so he can slide the book back on the table. Right now he needs to give his attention to Ryan, so he doesn't end up feeling like Min's problems are because he doesn't care enough about him.]

I don't know. I've thought about it, but... it's strangers. I keep telling myself it's because it's none of their business, but really... I don't know how to tell people what you are to me if I don't know I can trust them.

Like they're going to freak out the second I say you're my boyfriend.

[None the proprietors from their more obvious dates have ever cared. None of the venue owners they've worked with have either. Even the flower seller today had seemed more puzzled by how cagey he was being than the fact he wanted flowers for a man.

By now he should feel safe enough to just say it, but he doesn't. Even thinking about it now, safe in their dorm, leaves his chest feeling tight.]

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Despite not having that experience, Ryan does get it. That's what their own world is like, and it must be hard to just...turn that off, especially since he knows who Min-Gi is as a person.

Carefully, Ryan sets down his flowers on top of the book so he can take Min-Gi's hands in his own. As nice as the flowers are, it's more important to be able to touch him now. He doesn't know if he'll have good ideas or not, but he's here for Min.]

Well...maybe there's something else that would feel okay?

[After all of the talking they've done about this, it might feel odd for Ryan to suggest this. He can feel this brewing though, and he clarifies.]

I still don't want best friend or bandmate because, like. We were already those things? I just...I dunno. I don't want to feel like I'm a secret. Buuuuut that doesn't mean it has to be "boyfriend"? Maybe there's something that works for both of us.

[outofsynth]

You are my best friend.

[Which is true, but Ryan's explained why it's not good enough by itself already. He doesn't want him to think he isn't listening and is still trying to slide by on that excuse, though, so he hurries to clarify. He isn't always as good as he should be about being open, but he's trying and for Ryan he's willing to keep trying.

He just. Isn't sure what other options they have.]

What else is there?

[He sounds unconvinced, but he's listening. Min looks at Ryan intently, not believing he'll have a magic solution that will fix this but kind of hoping for one anyway.]

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Despite the talks they've had about it, it's still oddly sweet that Min makes it a point to tell him that. He can't help but smile.]

You're mine too. But you're more than that now!

[He gently swings their hands, which is partly a sweet gesture and partly because being able to move a little helps him think.]

Well. Definitely not girlfriend?

[A joke, to break the ice of how awkward it is to try and workshop this. Ryan doesn't have any immediate suggestions either, but he has more experience in this world than Min does, so he tries to think back to what people in their circles called each other when they were more serious.]

There's my...significant other? My S.O.? ...Partner? [Ryan isn't staying long on any one idea, just listing things off for Min-Gi to think about and try - though his list does get sillier as it goes on, and he looks a little mischievous.] You could lean heavy on the cheesy stuff, like soulmate or sweetheart.

[outofsynth]

[Min-Gi makes a face at that. He knows it's a joke to even bring it up, but somehow girlfriend would feel even worse than boyfriend. At least a boyfriend is something he'd known deep down he'd wanted even if it had taken a long time to admit it even to himself.

He stays quiet, though, letting Ryan swing their arms as he thinks. It surprises him that he can think of alternatives, especially ones that actually don't sound that bad before he moves onto the less serious options. He can see they're coming from his expression even before he says them, but that doesn't stop him rolling his eyes.]

Dude, there's no way I'm calling you my soulmate.

[He gives him a entirely empty glare, a smile tugging at his lips and ruining any chance he had of looking like he means it. It's not like there isn't a part of him that kind of feels like they are sometimes. How many other people can say they met the love of their lives the day they were born? Their bond is special, and would be even if it wasn't romantic. For as long as he can remember he's felt like he and Ryan were always meant to be in each other's lives. That doesn't mean he wants that to be how they introduce each other.

He considers the other options carefully. Honestly, one had clicked with Min-Gi the moment Ryan had said it, but he doesn't want to commit to one without even considering the other.]

I kinda like partner. Is it too subtle though?

[Min searches Ryan's face, trying to get a read on his own feelings. Neutrality feels safer to him, but stressful as it is he can understand how Ryan wouldn't feel that way. Partner doesn't have to be romantic, and if he avoids pronouns it might not even be that obvious he's talking about a man.

His own assumptions have definitely led to a few foot in mouth moments from the other side of that exchange before.]

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Ryan knows the glare is just for show, and Min's smile makes him crack and laugh. He knew there was no way that one was happening, and if he's being honest he didn't really want it to. It would have been over the top, even for him. If Min suddenly called him his soulmate in public he would be too weirded out and wondering what alien possessed him all of a sudden.

Partner though. Hm...]

I don't think it's too subtle. It's like... [He makes a face as he tries to place the word.] ...it carries the right weight and covers a lot of bases. Does that make sense?

[It feels serious in a way that Ryan wants, with the safety that Min-Gi wants. They're partners in a band, partners in life, partners in love - it honestly might be a perfect middle ground.

That being said, he can't just agree to it without testing out how it sounds to say. So he looks up at Min-Gi with a sort of sheepish smile.]

My partner, Min-Gi.

[He thinks it has a nice ring, but he gauges Min-Gi to see what he thinks first.]

[outofsynth]

[He doesn't reply at first, letting it settle. Not because he's unsure, but because he immediately likes how it sounds. It doesn't sit as uncomfortably as boyfriend has. He's tried, and he thought he'd get used to it eventually, but partner? It already feels right. He squeezes Ryan's hands in his own.]

Partners...

[He sounds happy, and he laughs, a little embarrassed as he tests it. But it's nice. He's glad that Ryan likes it too. He grins, leaning in to give him a light but lingering kiss.]

I love you. I'm so lucky you're my partner.

[That's maybe a little forced, but it feels good to say it. He's yet to see if it helps in public, but here at least he's ready to make the most of having a word he likes for their relationship.]