2025-07-12 - Yo! So...

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: Yo! So--

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: I don't want it to seem like I'm keeping this a secret and it's bordering on secrecy, but that has been purely by happenstance. I've been seeing Hayley, like, as in seeing-seeing.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Sweetheart. Darling. Kitten...

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: That's not supposed to be surprising news, right?

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: That's been clearly evident for a WHILE.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: Oh.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: WELL. I thought it was pretty low-key.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: It probably is to most folks. But there's a way you two orbit each other. Like a moon and ocean tides. It's subtle, but it's visible if someone's paying attention.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: However. That said...

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: You're both amazing people. Each of you deserves something good to be happening.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: Thanks! I'm still reeling from being obvious but I guess it doesn't matter. I was never trying to keep it secret, I'm just a little discreet by nature.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: We're both dating other people. I'm seeing that guy Shaun. I told her to go on dates, bc she just got out of that serious relationship and has never really ever dated before. I didn't think it was right? healthy? wise? for her to get locked down again so soon after something so big. But that said, we spend a lot, a lot, a lot of time together. It's heading in a certain direction.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I wasn't going to pry.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: You both deserved the time to figure stuff out.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I knew one or both of you would say something when you were ready.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I like Shaun, though. I should check on him. It's been a while since we caught up last.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: I didn't realize you two knew each other! Yeah, Shaun is great. It's just -- you knowww, he's a tourist, he's not going to be here forever. So it's very casual.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Only professionally. He's got an old injury that still bothers him from time to time.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: Right, that makes sense. He's a good guy. Speaking of, how are things with Zeke going?

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I really like him. Haven't found time yet for that second date, but I'm really excited for when we do.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: He's a good egg. And my stargazing date idea is tried and tested. It's a winner.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: That's definitely the plan for it. With a curated playlist and his favorite cookies. And Hayley's idea about adrenaline has me inspired to put together a scavenger hunt at some point to my favorite spots and rides and games and things across the park. Chase's idea about tickets to something made me realize I could tie sheets to the balcony rails of my apartment and set up a projector for a movie with less of an audience, maybe... It'll give us a few options while we're getting to know each other more.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: Ohhh a scavenger hunt is a GREAT idea. That's so cute!

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: A private movie showing on a homemade projector is also a killer date idea. I wish I'd thought of either of those. I'm sure they'll be so much fun. Zeke seems completely awesome.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: You thought of the boats and stars. You can borrow the other two. I'll share.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: He's really fantastic.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: He's been through SO MUCH, but it doesn't stop him from still trying to smile anyway, or from trying to make sure the rest of us do, too.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: And he's a literal GENIUS on piano. Just... I can't even describe it.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: He doesn't seem like the type to enjoy the limelight. It must be a high compliment of he played for you.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: He hasn't yet, not live.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: We love a sensitive artist.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Agreed. Especially when he's put on one of his old albums for a dance.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: Aww, that's really sweet.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Real sweet seems to be a defining personality trait to him.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: When I finally realized who he was by putting my foot ALL the way down my mouth, I told him I had tickets to one of those last cancelled shows to their final tour.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: It does. Hayley is really sweet too. She lives next door so we incidentally end up in one another's apartments a lot and it's actually kind of nice.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I really LOVE that for the both of you. You deserve happy, safe, close places to stay.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: She's really great. I'm very shy and slow about serious dating but she's been super patient and understanding

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I don't think it's a bad thing for either of you to be taking things slowly.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: But. I might not be the best person for advice on that. I'm kind of a glacier paced person myself.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: In some ways it's not slow, though. We spend most nights together, hell, we spend most of our days together. And I'm an empath, so I've sort of, you know -- peeked. So I wonder if it's an artificial slowness so we don't both freak out, and is that okay? It seems okay.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I'm really glad I only get peeks at the physical. I would NOT deal well with other people's emotions.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: She knows I do it, it's not a secret. But yeah, other people's emotions can be pretty raw to digest when they're unfiltered like that.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I'm not always the best at emotions. But if you ever get overwhelmed with it and Bunny's not around. I'll figure it out. I'm here if you ever need me, Kit.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: <3 I know you are. Fortunately, emotion-sifting comes with an Off switch. If it didn't, I don't know, I might never go out at all.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Amen to that. The leeching is the same. No one can MAKE me do it, only if I choose. But I don't know if it's possible to turn the numb off. If it is, I haven't figured it out yet. And the translations just happen as easy as if it was English all along.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: That's fascinating -- all of it, really, but the translation part just blows my mind. Like, every language? Even other world ones? Wild. Truly, truly freaking wild.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Yeah... We went to the underwater world to try and make contact. I could understand every word, and speak it back. It was amazingly cool, but weird as hell. And it took FOREVER, but... Dilly and Momo and I FINALLY cracked the runes. I'm not supposed to talk about it yet, so PLEASE don't tell ANYONE. But the MSD is supposed to be announcing it any day now.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: That's amaaaaaazingggggggg. Both that you could understand, and about the runes! And I won't say a word. Even to Hayley.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: It's kind of surreal. But it feels REALLY good to have been able to do something to maybe help.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I still don't know how much I trust magic. But it's nice to be useful in a way that doesn't come with those gnashing teeth.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: I don't know, I trust it as much as I trust anything else, I guess? Maybe I'm not the most intrinsically trusting. I love my familiars. My shadow magic is odd, but useful, especially when things start going to hell. And the empathy... it has its pros and its cons. I mostly only use it on purpose during 👀 I'll spare you the details.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Huh. Ok. No. You know what. I DON'T need those details. But. If I was into that kind of thing... I can see where the appeal of it would come into play.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: 👀 👀 👀 TBH it's pretty great under those circumstances. And that's all I'll say of it, swear, honest, swear.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Hayley is a lucky woman. <3

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: And so are you.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: She's sweet to me. She has a key to my place so sometimes I come home from work, and she's just decided to come over and cook, and we hang out and watch bad movies and it's just so nice. But she brought up being exclusive and I got a little jumpy. Not because I don't want to do something like that. I just need some time.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Bad movies are the best movies. I LOVE a good bad movie.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: Last one we watched was The Meg. It was so bad. Just ridiculous high-octane pseudoscientific BAD.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: I'm adding that one to my list.

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: There's a sequel! Watch the trailer for The Meg: Trench. It will change you. possibly not for the better.

There is a long pause, maybe half an hour before Asher answers.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: Ok. I just watched that a dozen times... Did Jurassic Park and Sharknado make a BABY?!?

[TXT to Asher] Dodge: Right? Hayley told me about it. Did not disappoint. It's so completely over-the-top and does not take itself seriously at all which I love. I'm going to petition the Resident Theatre to have a Bad Movie Night.

[TXT to Dodge] Asher: OMG! YES! I'll bring snacks if they will!