14. Miser-cheese Loves Company (topped with 3 kinds of cheese)

[continuousgroaning]

[Tina decides to do this post in text; otherwise it'd be hard to hide how torn she still is about this idea.]

Mom and I are going to be moving to Heropa soon.

not right away, we need time to pack and find a house and everything, but maurtia falls isn't safe for me any more

I still like it there but i can't defend myself well, and I can't have people around me to protect me 24 hours a day, so it feels like the longer i'm there the more likely it is that something bad's going to happen

so be prepared!! the Tina tornado is going to take heropa by storm!!! and the linda... lightning bolt??

let me know what's good there as far as shopping and entertainment and stuff too

Comments

[eloquentness]

[ oh. ouch. ]

I can only imagine. That's never an easy conversation.
Are you both okay? Or should I grab extra ice cream on my way home from work? :(

[continuousgroaning]

That's one of the reasons it took me so long to decide. how can i just leave him? he's been so sweet to me. I was able to let go of an infatuation with a guy back home that just wasn't good for me. and just enjoy being with someone who treats me well and won't run off after other girls like jimmy jr. did.

but regardless, we're OK. we talked stuff out and i think we're going to try long distance. it's not like we see each other every day anyway- he goes to the performing arts school and I go to the normal one so sometimes "dates" are just a matter of "when do we have a free half hour to wolf down some Chinese food"

[eloquentness]

[ you know, when Iris was 14, this kind of thing was the last thing on her mind. Tina's shown such maturity. Much more than Iris herself would've been capable of. It's... both impressive and kind of depressing, if she's honest. ]

haha yeah, and you're both in middle school.
I remember my friends breaking up with their SOs over the silliest things like them not liking the other's haircut, or fighting over whether a boy band was cool (?!).

Barely anyone lasted longer than a week, so it says a lot about the kind of relationship you and John have. I hope it continues to go that way! Because you're right, it's not necessarily about time so much as the way you talk to each other.

[continuousgroaning]

yeah, i've seen that happen too. i used to go from guy to guy like it was nothing, but i feel like now that I'm going steady with someone instead of being constantly off and on like I was with jimmy junior it's not worth letting it fall apart over little things. and you know i'm really forgiving to begin with.

[Too much so, sometimes, she thinks ruefully. She wouldn't break up with Jimmy Jr. for perfectly valid reasons like "being stood up" and "being dumped on Valentine's day". So that's given her some perspective.]

and if it doesn't work out, it's going to suck a lot but i'll still be happy we had something. i feel like I've learned a lot from this relationship

[eloquentness]

that you are, though I wouldn’t consider it a bad thing. :)
means you have a big heart, and those seem to be In short supply these days.

Well, just from where I stand, I think you have too.
I’m really proud, jsyk, but don’t forget that you’re still young
It’s okay to make mistakes! That’s how we learn and grow and become even better than we used to be

[ don't lose sight of what's important - tina's still a kid, and even if this world is messed up, she deserves a proper transition into adulthood. ]

[continuousgroaning]

sometimes I wish I was a little tougher

but kindness has served me pretty well so far, too, even if it means i can let people walk over me sometimes. going too far in the other direction would mean nobody could stand to be around me.

Thank you :) and yes, i have to keep reminding myself of that. and that I came from a world where i didn't go on adventures at a young age like some worlds. I'm still mostly considered a kid and have a lot of potential and room to learn and grow.

i have to stop comparing myself to other people and just be me.

[eloquentness]

EXACTLY.

girl, I could drill that into your head a thousand times, but it's more important that you recognize it for yourself. I love you just the way you are, navel gazer and all <3

By which I also mean: if I'm still not editing your papers this year, I /will/ email you until I can see them for myself.

[continuousgroaning]

♥ love you too!!

honestly i wouldn't dream of refusing. i feel like my writing's improved a lot, and I have been getting good grades since i got here

I don't plan on slacking yet!!!

[eloquentness]

Neither do I! We're going to succeed together no matter what we do, okay? :)

Also: next time you get an A, I'll take you and your mom out for dinner.

[continuousgroaning]

because we're awesome!!

oh, mom would love that. I would too honestly. we couldn't afford to go out much back home and when we did it was nice to not be the ones on the server's end.

[eloquentness]

yeah, I can imagine. Dad was a cop, so it wasn't like we were living large growing up either.

Makes celebrating these occasions all the more important!

[continuousgroaning]

it was good having my parents be available all day, but the being poor part did suck sometimes. and whenever we had takeout burgers we had to pretend they were awful to spare dad's feelings ;) I mean his burgers WERE delicious but we had to assure him that he was number one.

[eloquentness]

lol of course! No one else's food can really compare to Dad's at the end <3

I especially miss my dad's cooking, since I definitely did not inherit one bit of his genes
rip his culinary hopes and dreams

[continuousgroaning]

not at all!

which is a shame, because I've liked being a good cook. even if it's only because of my powers. it's started some good friendships

[eloquentness]

lol I bet. Good food always unites people, no matter the culture or cuisine!
I'd pay top-dollar for anything you make <3

[continuousgroaning]

i'm honored!!

it's fun to try new things and it's kept my housemates well fed, too

plus as you saw at fanport it's made me some extra money which lets me have nice things like my horse

[eloquentness]

Girl, you could make a whole career out of cooking at cons. That captive audience will pay too much for anything :P

But that's good too! Your horse is a very nice pony

[continuousgroaning]

seriously!! especially the people from this world. they all like me here.

he's the best!! and i'd do anything to keep him