You Can't Punch Your Feelings

by **Leo Eskandari** » Tue May 12, 2020 7:02 pm

The punching bag wasn't having a very good morning, judging by the beating Leo was giving it. In truth, he wasn't really even thinking about the bag. He couldn't stop thinking about his last exchange with Ainsley. Had he really been acting like he had a thing for him? He had a girlfriend for crying out loud.

A girl who, when she cast him aside, thought he didn't really love her. Or had she thought he...

He rejected the thought and threw a punch with a frustrated roar.

(open)

by **Nika Novak** » Wed May 13, 2020 3:42 pm

Nika, with a gym bag slung over her shoulder walks into the gym and watches Leo wail on the punching bag for a moment, giving him a slight two-finger salute once he notices her.

by **Leo Eskandari** » Wed May 13, 2020 6:59 pm

He gave her a distracted nod of acknowledgement as he continued his barrage. She would notice that he wasn't quite using the stance she helped him figure out, his posture suggesting his mind was preoccupied.

by **Nika Novak** » Fri May 15, 2020 6:44 pm

Nika very much recognizes the distracted letting off of steam.

"Working through some things?" she asks as she gets closer.

by **Leo Eskandari** » Fri May 15, 2020 6:54 pm

He paused for a breather.

"You could say that."

by **Nika Novak** » Fri May 15, 2020 8:07 pm

"Been there." she commiserates. "Just make sure you don't let it get you into bad habits." she says, stepping closer to nudge his foot back a little bit to adjust his stance.

by **Leo Eskandari** » Fri May 15, 2020 8:40 pm

"And, of course, I can't even stand right," he said with a rueful chuckle.

by **Nika Novak** » Fri May 15, 2020 9:34 pm

"Because there's something else on your mind. Like they say, with your head in the clouds your legs are... wait, it doesn't rhyme in English. You get the idea."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Fri May 15, 2020 10:06 pm

"The clouds are the last place you can find my head right now," he sighed.

by **Nika Novak** » Sat May 16, 2020 7:31 am

"I... don't think it translates well. What's wrong?"

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sat May 16, 2020 2:31 pm

"Something a friend said to me has me... questioning some things about myself."

by **Nika Novak** » Sat May 16, 2020 4:34 pm

"Like an insult or an argument?"

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sat May 16, 2020 7:21 pm

"No. Well, almost. He pointed out a bias I didn't think I had."

That's not what's bothering you and you know it.

Shut up.

by **Nika Novak** » Sat May 16, 2020 8:11 pm

"Against, let me guess, mutants?"

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sat May 16, 2020 8:29 pm

"As messed up as that would be, no. He..." Leo said, sighing, "...thought I might have a thing for him and I didn't react well."

by **Nika Novak** » Sun May 17, 2020 5:30 pm

"Oh." she says curtly.

"Well. I'm sure he did not mean to insult you."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sun May 17, 2020 7:05 pm

"I know that. And I know I shouldn't be. I just can't stop thinking about how he got the idea."

And how he might not be the only one.

by **Nika Novak** » Wed May 20, 2020 3:40 pm

"Maybe it's something that's on his mind. Trying to see what he wants to see?"

by **Leo Eskandari** » Wed May 20, 2020 4:04 pm

"Wait... you think he might like me that way?" he asked as if anyone feeling that way about him was the absolute last thing that could have occurred to him.

by **Nika Novak** » Wed May 20, 2020 6:39 pm

"I don't even know who you're talking about. I'm just saying that might be why he's thinking about... that kind of thing."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Wed May 20, 2020 7:18 pm

He groaned, "You're not helping this be any less awkward."

Though deep down in the confused part of his brain, the idea wasn't entirely unwanted.

by **Nika Novak** » Wed May 20, 2020 10:08 pm

"Sorry. I know it's an awkward topic. Even if he is, I'm sure it's just some... college experimentation thing. A temporary confusion."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Wed May 20, 2020 10:28 pm

"I mean... if he is, he is. Not sure how anyone could be attracted to me though... not looking like this," he said, not hiding his sadness about that feeling half as well as he thinks.

by **Nika Novak** » Thu May 21, 2020 12:03 am

"You're strong and you seem like a pretty alright guy under all that hair. Are you pretty? No. But if you asked some of the other furred people around here for some tips on hair-care you could probably manage handsome." she says, tapping her fist against Leo's shoulder.

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu May 21, 2020 12:36 am

Leo looked into her eyes appraisingly before saying, "You aren't just sayin' that to stop my mopin' are you?"

by **Nika Novak** » Thu May 21, 2020 3:18 am

"I'm saying it to cheer you up, but I'm not lieing. And there has to be something there or it wouldn't have gotten you so riled up to begin with." Nika points out with absolutely no correlation to her own outburst in the gym not too long ago.

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu May 21, 2020 3:31 pm

He froze, narrowing his eyes. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" he asked defensively.

by **Nika Novak** » Thu May 21, 2020 5:37 pm

"Hey, I'm just saying." she says, raising her hands, palms out towards Leo. "You'd have to ask him about that, really."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu May 21, 2020 7:11 pm

Leo visibly relaxed.

"I hope he isn't. He's the best friend I've had in a long time and I don't want to make things any more awkward between us by having to turn him down," he said. But on some level he wasn't entirely sure that was true.

by **Nika Novak** » Thu May 21, 2020 7:21 pm

"Not nearly as awkward as them hooking up with some... naive idealist." Nika mutters.

by **Leo Eskandari** » Thu May 21, 2020 7:26 pm

"Somethin' tells me we're not talkin' about me anymore," he said, ears perked and brow raised.

by **Nika Novak** » Sat May 23, 2020 12:38 am

"Different kind of problem..." Nika avoids the topic. Somewhat.

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sat May 23, 2020 2:16 pm

"Want to vent?" he asked, "You listened to my shit."

by **Nika Novak** » Sat May 23, 2020 6:32 pm

"I don't vent."

"My charge, the person I swore to protect above everything else is... making some very questionable decisions and there's nothing I can do about it. She's digging a hole that'll make the inevitable dropping of the shoe so much worse and it is not my station to speak up about it. I can't question her decisions and I'm being locked out. I'm supposed to protect her but she's pushing me away. Replacing me with someone who is... not prepared."

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sat May 23, 2020 7:10 pm

Leo put the pieces together and realized Nika really was a bodyguard, to Katarina no less. And the naive idealist must be Jezabelle.

"Just what does Jezabelle need to be prepared for?" he asked.

by **Nika Novak** » Sat May 23, 2020 8:51 pm

"The harsh reality of Katarina's responsibilities. Their... situation would not be tolerated for a moment at court. And they think they're being so clever making her part of her retinue. Woman of the Bedchamber. Ridiculous!"

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sat May 23, 2020 9:18 pm

Having been too much in his head to pay attention to gossip, Leo hadn't heard about Katarina's revealed status. The surprise was evident.

"Court? Ha! I knew it!"

He cleared his throat and said, "Ahem. What... situation? Wait... the gay thing?"

by **Nika Novak** » Sat May 23, 2020 9:41 pm

"Yes. What else? The future Queen can't do that sort of thing. I mean, she can but it's not... It'll weaken her claim to the throne and our country will be plunged into civil war. Or worse. Symkaria needs a kind but strong ruler. Jezabelle makes her weak. I tried to fix that but they just don't get it!"

by **Leo Eskandari** » Sat May 23, 2020 10:13 pm

"I could see the heir part being a problem, but weak? I mean, I'm not gay but if I was I wouldn't be any weaker."

"Who am I kidding? A whole lot of people would think it anyway."

by **Nika Novak** » Sat May 23, 2020 10:32 pm

"That's not... Not physically. It undermines any possible reign. The other royal families would tear our country apart and leave us vulnerable. Symkaria needs her and I failed to protect her."

[Drama] You Can't Punch Your Feelings

[Drama] You Can't Punch Your Feelings

Who is online