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KANKRI: Meenah… there’s…
For a moment he hesitates, but takes a breath before having the courage to look directly at her.
KANKRI: There’s s9mething I must confess t9 y9u.
Meenah’s face stays as it is, annoyed and cold, as she has been as of late towards Kankri. Her fins give her away, however, and flutter with curiosity.
MEENAH: yeah? i aint no confishional
MEENAH: this got somefin to do with me?
KANKRI: Yes… I’m- I’m afraid s9…
KANKRI: Well, a c9nfessi9n seems- ...Let me start 9ver f9r the sake 9f clarity and refinement.
KANKRI: There’s s9mething I must tell y9u c9ncerning 9ur erm, friendship.
MEENAH: whale
MEENAH: spill
She tries to stay cool, arms crossed and casually leaned against the door frame of her front porch. Kankri simply being there already made her irritated, his incredibly kissable punchable face stared nervously back at her. It didn’t help that she was already being saddled with unnecessary and vague feelings about his entire… existence.
KANKRI: Well, uh- May I c9me inside?
MEENAH: oh so its gonna be LONG huh?
MEENAH: shoulda figured
MEENAH: aight fine
MEENAH: come in
Meenah gestures him in and walks right to the living room, Kankri follows with a small thanks. It’s spacious and clearly decorated with care and thought in a maximalist manner. Golden metals adorn the place as its motif. As if on autopilot, Meenah thinks like a hostess and regrets not having any snacks prepared. However, her irritation with Kankri’s presence makes her contemplate even offering a glass of water. More than anything, she wants to make him leave, and quick. Though she’s unsure as to why.
MEENAH: i didnt prep any food or nofin
MEENAH: didnt think id have guests today
KANKRI: That’s c9mpletely fine! I will try my best t9 6e 6rief.
MEENAH: )(A)( fat chance but ok
Kankri takes a seat across from Meenah and fiddles with his hands, as if thinking of what to say, before placing them calmly on his lap.
KANKRI: Meenah, I kn9w we’ve had 9ur differences and- well, I kn9w that there’s a certain er.. trunk6east in the r99m 9f which neither 9f us refuse t9 speak 9f…
KANKRI: 6ut I c9me here t9 y9u n9w to settle things.
Meenah’s heart races a million miles a minute. She doesn’t know why she’s so nervous all of a sudden, though the back of her mind has a hunch.
MEENAH: what do you mean
KANKRI: Y9ur h9stility t9wards me has 6een m9re apparent than usual, and I feel as th9ugh y9u’re leaving a lot unsaid.
MEENAH: stinkbitch im not even CLOSE hostile to you
MEENAH: fuck i WISH i was more hostile towards you
MEENAH: i hate your ass!
KANKRI: See, s9me w9uld take this as caligin9us flirting, h9wever I sense s9me restraint. Y9ur vague attempts at simply 6eing mean-spirited n9t 9nly hurt my feelings, 6ut paint you as a mere 6ully.
MEENAH: get off your seahorse vantas
MEENAH: i wouldnt be caught dead flirtin with your doodoo lookin face
KANKRI: ...Right.
KANKRI: 9f course.
Kankri gulps for a moment, taking in that comment.
KANKRI: Well t9 be frank, y9u’ve called me smelly 9ne t99 many times and h9nestly? It has hurt my feelings.
KANKRI: I take great pride in my hygiene and I will n9t have it 6e slandered like this.
MEENAH: uhuh
MEENAH: get on with it cheese touch
KANKRI: ...Tangent aside, I am here t9 announce s9mething and I w9uld like t9 get straight t9 the p9int. I preface tho9ugh that y9u may find j9y in this.
KANKRI: Meenah…
She holds her breath for a moment.
KANKRI: I’m cutting y9u 9ff.
MEENAH:
MEENAH: what
KANKRI: I will cease all c9mmunicati9ns with y9u despite-...
KANKRI: Despite 9ur years 9f friendship I will n9 l9nger 6e c9ntacting y9u fr9m n9w 9n as s99n as I leave.
KANKRI: I felt it was inappr9priate t9 “gh9st” y9u, s9 t9 speak, s9 I h9pe y9u d9n’t mind the heads up.
Meenah looks absolutely confused, brows furrowed in bewilderment.
MEENAH: why the hell are you doing this??
Kankri looks shocked, and a bit confused.
KANKRI: 9h… I had expected… a different reaction.
KANKRI: Well, t9 answer y9ur questi9n, y9ur genuine dislike 9f me and c9nstant 6ullying has given me clarity.
KANKRI: If I am n9t s9me9ne capable 9f pr9viding y9u a friendship w9rthy 9f y9ur liking then I see n9 reas9n f9r me t9 stay. Simple as that.
MEENAH: what the fuck
KANKRI: H9nestly I sh9uld have kn9wn that fr9m the start 6ut ah well, at least this wh9le situati9n has given me clarity.
KANKRI: We’ve 6een fighting again and again 9ver things that seem really petty in retr9spect.
KANKRI: Remem6er team leaders, Meenah? Grub-like times, truly.
KANKRI: In fact, I’m thankful f9r y9ur h9nesty t9wards me. Despite my hurt feelings, it has given me time t9 reflect 9n myself.
MEENAH: no
MEENAH: just. no!!!!
MEENAH: kankri i cant even begin to tell you how-
MEENAH: UG)(
MEENAH: W)(Y NOW
She buries her face in her hands, groaning in frustration.
MEENAH: UUUUUGGGG)()()(
MEENAH: W)(Y YOU GOTTA BE LIKE T)(IS
KANKRI: I take it… I sh9uld leave n9w?
MEENAH: no! dont leave at all!
MEENAH: thats a stupid idea and youre even stupider for thinkin of it
MEENAH: fuckin… fart man. bitch
KANKRI: I d9n’t understand? I th9ught… well,
KANKRI: I th9ught y9u genuinely despised me.
KANKRI: And t9 6e fair, I d9n’t blame y9u. Hah…
MEENAH: i dont hate you at all crab for brains!!!
Kankri is taken aback and blinks a few times before speaking again.
KANKRI: Well, that’s certainly a surprise…
MEENAH: to be honest?? the whole idea that youve been holdin all these feelings in is really fucking with me!
KANKRI: May I ask why?
MEENAH: CAUS----E!!!
MEENAH: YOUR----E
MEENAH: 38(
MEENAH: cause youre you
Meenah’s fins droop as she stares at her feet, leaning onto her legs for support as she hunches over, refusing to look at him.
MEENAH: ive always had
MEENAH: mixed feels about u
MEENAH: youre reely annoying and get under my skin but u also give me drive and motivation
MEENAH: you light fires under ppls asses and honestly thats what the team needed back then
MEENAH: or at least
MEENAH: thats what i needed then
MEENAH: remember teams, kankri??? grubby times
KANKRI: Then… are you upset because… my leave will cause you demotivation?
MEENAH: what? nah i can do fine without u
MEENAH: i think
MEENAH: im just
MEENAH: im fuckin frustrated that im bad at feelings!
She groans once more and leans back in her chair, now looking across the room, still avoiding eye contact.
MEENAH: this is exactly the moment ive been waiting for
MEENAH: that you just UP AND L-EAV-E
MEENAH: and im mad!!!
MEENAH: at myself! cause i dont WANT you to leave!
KANKRI: I supp9se I sh9uld 6ring up the questi9n y9u’ve 6een av9iding, then.
KANKRI: Why d9 y9u want me t9 stay?
Meenah despises the way Kankri had twisted the question, leaving her face flushed with fuschia.
MEENAH: CAUS-E I LIK-E YOU OCRAY????
She raises her hands up in frustration, giving Kankri a Look. Her fuschia complexion however, made her less intimidating.
MEENAH: and i cant fuckin tell if its red or black or waterebber!!!
MEENAH: its like
MEENAH: when youre genuine and critical and actually use your brain for once ur actually admirable
MEENAH: but then you turn a 180 every time and become so absolutely insufferable it makes me wanna prove how much better i am than you!!!
MEENAH: and im so fucking mad at myself!!!
MEENAH: for falling for that DUMPASS who AVOIDS MINT cause its “TOO SPICY”
MEENAH: and not knowing how to express it cause i dont WANNA DEAL W T)(E T)(OUGHT OF T)(AT
MEENAH: its just
MEENAH: a lot alright
MEENAH: so yeah
MEENAH: im done
MEENAH: bye
She slumps back in her chair, looking off to the side. Kankri sits in stunned silence for a moment before he reflexively hand-combs his hair back. He finds the right words to say, then leans comfortably on his seat.
KANKRI: Are y9u… em6arrassed that y9u have feelings f9r me?
MEENAH: idk
MEENAH: maybe yeah
MEENAH: thats just my problem tho youre not like-
KANKRI: No, I think I’m als9 very much a part 9f the pr96lem here.
He chuckles before nervously fiddling with his hands.
KANKRI: I kn9w I’m a l9t t9 s9me. Well- to m9st.
KANKRI: I am… I kn9w 9f my traits and I tend n9t t9 let any 9f that get t9 me 6ecause, well, it’s a part 9f me. I cann9t change... this.
He gestures to himself. She snorts.
KANKRI: I kn9w 9f my reputati9n, and with that, I supp9se it w9uld als9 tarnish y9urs if I were t9 6e ass9ciated with y9u in any way.
KANKRI: And n9rmally I w9uld av9id that,
KANKRI: 6ut I d9n’t think I want t9 leave anymore if we are under these circumstances.
MEENAH: ocray then make up ur DAM mind
KANKRI: N9w that I am aware 9f the full picture and the intent 9f y9ur cheap attempts at flirting-
MEENAH: hey what the hell
KANKRI: I can n9w say with c9nfidence that y9u need my help n9w m9re than ever, Meenah Peixes, and I’m afraid there’s n9 arguing that.
MEENAH: sea this is what i was literally just talking about
KANKRI: Y9ur feelings f9r me are c9nfused, vacillating, and 9ften c9nflicting t9 y9ur 9wn wants and desires.
KANKRI: I need t9 stay and help y9u find a way t9 settle th9se feelings and pinp9int what is true t9 y9u.
KANKRI: And the 9nly way t9 d9 that is if we are 9pen t9 expl9ring th9se feelings further.
MEENAH: are you
MEENAH: are you fucking asking me out rn
KANKRI: I’m merely suggesting we be 9pen-minded, Meenah. D9n’t be prude.
MEENAH: ocray fuck off
MEENAH: outta my house
Meenah grabs Kankri to pull him out of her living room and back through the front door. Her face clearly flustered at the idea.
KANKRI: I insist that we settle this right this sec9nd, Meenah.
MEENAH: good BY-E kankri
She attempts to close the door, but Kankri’s surprising strength manages to hold it open.
KANKRI: 9r may6e 9ver dinner? T9m9rr9w? At eight?
She looks away to make an exasperated sigh, then leans on the door frame, looking up at him. She can’t help but smile slightly.
MEENAH: fine. but im picking the place
KANKRI: It’s a da-- 9UCH FUCK!
Meenah suddenly shuts the door on him, pinching his fingers in the process. She laughs quietly to herself. Kankri on the other side shakes off the pain in his hand, still smiling. He whispers, mostly for himself.
KANKRI: It’s a date.