continuousgroaning

Well, I don't know how it usually works in your world, but my college friends went with their sisters more often than not.

[ Iris, lacking said sisters, would probably choose Linda Park or Kara Danvers (and if she were to get married here - Ashley Williams), but that's a story for another time. ]

When the time comes, and you're back home, float the idea by both and see what they think.

And I think it would be fun because Louise would take charge while I'm frazzled with everything else. She's good with that. She's kind of the leader of the 3 of us even though she's the youngest.

I have talked about it with Mom before, but she says I'll probably change my mind a million times before it happens and that it's OK if I go with none, too. She and Dad got married at the courthouse, so it was never an issue for her.

[ the courthouse sounds kind of anticlimactic, but who is Iris to judge, really? ]

I can believe it. For now, it's more fun to imagine, right? You can worry about the actual details when the time rolls around - and it's gonna be a when, knowing you.

Dating and chasing after a ton of boys has got to pay off sooner or later, right?

[There's a tone of gentle teasing in her voice.]

[ she laughs - ] Exactly.

But no, I was thinking more, you're smart, and sweet, and really down-to-earth. Any guy - or girl - would be lucky to have you.

[Bashfully-] Thank you.

I haven't considered dating other girls before, but who knows where my life will end up?

You've got time. No need to figure any of this out right now, I'd say.

Uh-huh. And I told myself I was going to have fun here and be open to new things.

That's the spirit! Any new things that you've liked, as of... I don't know, the last time we really sat down and talked?

I'm trying to write some original fiction. A romance novel, like the ones I read. I mean, uh, the teenage-appropriate ones, 'cause I'd never read the ones Mom left behind. Heh. Heh.

Uh-huh. [ she does not believe that one bit, but who is she to say so openly? ] As long as I never see a word of it, I'll believe you on that one.

Fair enough. I just felt like it would be a good place to start, since I wrote so much romantic fanfiction anyway.

Write what you know, eh? Or... write what you read a whole lot of, which is fair.

[ see: her entire journalism career. ]

Yeah, I don't want to try and force myself to be something I'm not. So to speak. It's not going to be any good if it's something I'm not comfortable with.

Well, that and you should write whatever you want to. Fictional worlds are oysters, just ready for you to take charge and figure out what best makes you... you.

And once I figure this one out, the possibilites are endless. I can even make up different worlds. When I wrote fanfiction, it was always using people or worlds I already knew... so this is more challenging.

Just means you gotta take some time to make your characters feel like people. Which, I guess, rolls us right back around to 'write what you know.'

But not TOO much like people I know. I think that's been the hardest part so far.

I think that's just a balancing act. You get better at it with practice?

Uh-huh. I'm not in any rush; I know I don't have to submit anything until I feel like I'm ready.

Exactly! So just have fun at it, and remember- I’ll only look at what you want me to.

Thank you. I'm not self-conscious about my writing or anything, but... well, it's nice to have things I can keep to myself, too, and not worry about anyone reading my notebooks.

Oh yeah, you told me about Louise. [ a soft sigh, ] I'm sure she meant well, but we gotta get you some proper locks.

I also need to just learn how to be more assertive.

You'll get there in time, promise. Just work on it, bit by bit, and you'll be there before you know it.

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