[ Reynir reads it again, Onni's reassurance that he wants to see even the parts of Reynir that are ugly and inconvenient, and that he ought to stand up for himself more. Reynir feels a curious, mingled surge of undeserved joy, and sadness. ]
you're the first one who's said anything like that to me. or at least, the first one who has actually meant it. that's one of the reasons you're so special to me. okay?
[ That's just another reason why he can't let Onni know that his feelings are anything more than just platonic. Onni's friendship is too precious to him to risk it. Not when he has the chance to get really, actually close to someone - someone who isn't Bjarni, anyway.
But the logic of it doesn't make the ache in his ribs any less. ]
maybe it's just a culture thing, but i don't really think it's as simple as that. i mean a lot of guys are really into girls and i'm not, but that's normal. a lot of people really want to have loads of kids and some people don't and that's normal, too. there were plenty of older people in my village who never got married and they didn't seem unhappy about it at all. lots of people here might be obsessed with romance, but that isn't universal.
[ He hesitates, half-convinced he should stop now, for fear of giving himself away. But of course, that's silly. Onni won't suspect a thing. Not when it's clear he had never even considered Reynir as a possible partner in that way. ]
i think you're undervaluing yourself, onni. you talk plenty, and there's nothing wrong with how you express your emotions, even if it's a little different from how other people do. you have so much to offer, that you don't even see about yourself.
maybe it's because you haven't dated, so you don't know that there's a lot worse options out there than someone who doesn't have a lot of experience, and is a little quiet, and has some emotional boundaries. you're a good man, onni. you're responsible, and fair, and caring, and patient, and intelligent, and complicated, and kind. if you ever did get interested in anyone like that... they'd be lucky to have you.
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you're the first one who's said anything like that to me. or at least, the first one who has actually meant it.
that's one of the reasons you're so special to me. okay?
[ That's just another reason why he can't let Onni know that his feelings are anything more than just platonic. Onni's friendship is too precious to him to risk it. Not when he has the chance to get really, actually close to someone - someone who isn't Bjarni, anyway.
But the logic of it doesn't make the ache in his ribs any less. ]
maybe it's just a culture thing, but i don't really think it's as simple as that.
i mean a lot of guys are really into girls and i'm not, but that's normal.
a lot of people really want to have loads of kids and some people don't and that's normal, too.
there were plenty of older people in my village who never got married and they didn't seem unhappy about it at all.
lots of people here might be obsessed with romance, but that isn't universal.
[ He hesitates, half-convinced he should stop now, for fear of giving himself away. But of course, that's silly. Onni won't suspect a thing. Not when it's clear he had never even considered Reynir as a possible partner in that way. ]
i think you're undervaluing yourself, onni.
you talk plenty, and there's nothing wrong with how you express your emotions, even if it's a little different from how other people do.
you have so much to offer, that you don't even see about yourself.
maybe it's because you haven't dated, so you don't know that there's a lot worse options out there than someone who doesn't have a lot of experience, and is a little quiet, and has some emotional boundaries.
you're a good man, onni. you're responsible, and fair, and caring, and patient, and intelligent, and complicated, and kind.
if you ever did get interested in anyone like that... they'd be lucky to have you.