2025-03-16 - Clearing the Air

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Diana. It's Duncan Bell. I don't even know if you'll answer but .. that is NOT how I wanted to see you again, and I'm sorry.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Did you really think that was the time or place to confront me about your hurt feelings?

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Really?

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I don't even understand why you're so butt hurt.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Part of me knows I shouldn't even bother but there's clearly a misunderstanding here

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: And that much at least I need to clear up

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Clearly.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Okay. Where to start... that night at Lucky's

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: You were drunk. I get that. I was into you and I don't think I was the only one. And I don't know what you wanted but from where I stand, if a girl's drunk and you walk her home, you don't take advantage of that. So I left it there.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Can we agree on those facts at least

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Yes.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: So what the hell are you so bent out of shape about?

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I'm not.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I won't pretend I didn't want to see you again

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: You can ask my sister. But

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Duncan, I was there because a guy hurt me.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: .. Go ahead, I'll wait

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I wasn't there to find a guy.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I get that you would have liked to see me again. Avery told me you wanted to. I'm not looking for anything right now.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Well fuck, that's kind of funny really

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I'm just not in a place where I want that.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: See, I'm not either. I suck at relationships. I know you thought it was a line but I wasn't kidding about the tattoo artist

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I dont even remember what you said about a tattoo artist.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I was really drunk, Duncan.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I mostly just remember you saying my name every other word and walking me home.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: ...if those are the parts you remember then I'm glad. Though the darts would be worth it too

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Look

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I definitely enjoyed meeting you. I said I'd sculpt you and I wasn't joking. I know I come off a certain way

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: And I have no idea what Avery said to you about me. I was excited when I met you. Probably more because you didn't sleep with me than I would have been if we had. It sounds shitty but honestly, I'm just not used to that

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: So hurt feelings? No. Confused? Hell yes

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: And I am being waaaay too vulnerable here.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Avery just said that you thought I was hot. It sounded like you were into me.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Of course I did. Of course I was. Have you met you? I'd have to be a statue not to be

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: But you're only interested in sleeping with me?

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Not going to lie, that's not winning you any points. As much as I like having fun I'm not a call girl.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I didn't say that. And I wouldn't call you that. Or anyone. I grew up with a sister

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: But

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I know what I am not looking for and that's not long walks on the beach either

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Honestly, Duncan. Now I'm the one confused. It's great you're not trying to propose to me or just get me in bed but you also were excited about me, and wanted to see me again, and admitted that you're interested.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I get it. But can't both those things be true? I mean.. I think it's alright to just be attracted to someone, isn't it?

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: So you have a crush on me.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: You're not alone there

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: lol

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Ha. Like I said, a guy would have to be a statue. Fine, ok, we can call it a crush

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I'm not sure I've admitted that since high school but for Avery's friend I'll go there 😃

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Awww can't wait to tell Avery 😉

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Make sure to whisper about it between classes

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I'm going to be really honest. You're cute. But I am not looking for anything more than harmless flirting.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I have a lot of baggage that I'm sorting through, and right now I'm just doing me.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Well

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: As a measure of respect for you, I'm going to start by not picking up THAT line 😉 but seriously

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Wise

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: That's cool. And I respect your honesty. So let me ask you

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Can you live with knowing Avery's brother thinks you're hot? I can promise not to try getting into your pants. But I can't promise not to find you attractive.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I can live with that.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Okay. Cool. What if we go back to that spot and start from there?

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Sounds like a plan.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: And Duncan?

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Cool. And yeah?

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Attack my illusions again, and I will find out what scares you most in life and create a scene so frightening that you'll never sleep again.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Whoa. Okay, will do. As long as we're being honest, I had no idea that would hit you like it looks like it did. I'm legit sorry if thats what happened.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: It's fine. Don't do it again.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: It's alright. Kind of ironic really

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: If you ask around. Back in Montreal. People will tell you I'm dangerous. But... somehow I think you could hurt me worse than I could ever hurt you.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Lmao I can't imagine you being dangerous

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Really? Maybe that's for the best

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: No, now i'm curious.

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Tell me, Ducan. What makes you dangerous?

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: It feels weird talking about it.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I've been around the block a few times, I guess

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: That can be taken a lot of ways

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Would Avery know if I asked her???

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Some of it?

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: She's guessed more than she actually knows

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Mostly I never told her about that stuff. But a couple weeks ago she said something that made me wonder

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: What did she say?

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: She said she could always tell when I was hiding it

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: You still haven't told me what the what is

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I just didn't want her to have to know. With her dancing and art and all the finer things. She's too good for that you know?

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Oh right

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I got mixed up in a lot of shit when I was younger

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: When I say I've been around the block.. I mean, I can handle myself

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: You're making it sound like you were in a gang.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Not exactly

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: But that kind of thing

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: It wasn't far off you know? You do what you have to do to get by in this world

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Is that why you're really here? To get away from it?

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I got straight when I joined the FD

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: more or less

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: But Montreal is an old city

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I won't pretend a new start isn't appealing

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: I understand the appeal of a new start.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: I kinda figured you would. Maybe that's why I'm okay telling you

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Well, I hope you find what you're looking for here.

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Thanks. You too. And Diana?

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Ne soyons pas des étrangers, d’accord? ( *Let's not be strangers, okay?)

[TXT to Duncan] Diana: Nous ne serons pas. Bonne nuit, Duncan. (*We won't be. Goodnight, Duncan.)

[TXT to Diana] Duncan: Et toi!