I have news. I also have a long winded backstory thing with some fuzzy and half remembered details. The latter first... buckle in.
2008A younger and (if it were possible) less mentally balanced Lairon attends a wedding engagement party for a high-school friend. A different friend approaches, and introduces our protagonist to a young lady who, for privacy's sake (and as a term of endearment) we will call
Muffet (She assures me this is an accurate and adorable comparison on several levels). Lairon and Muffet talk briefly - he only half hears most of the conversation... his mind is tied up with numerous stupid teen problems.
Later that year, the wedding happens. Lairon and Muffet meet again and owing to their respective social circles and primarily the mutual friend who introduced them, are seated at the same table. Again, they have occasion to talk briefly among the myriad conversations around the table. Again, our main man is a little preoccupied with minor life dramas.
2012...ishA party is hosted at Muffet's apartment. Lairon receives an invitation primarily due to their mutual friend (again!). Also in attendance is Muffet's recent boyfriend, who we will call
James Bond. Bond is a nice enough fellow, and over the course of the evening, our 3 major characters get to talking and generally enjoying the company. Lairon is still single at this point, but being that Muffet is not, he is able to interact with her as a human being instead of a potential target of affection. Either at this point, or some time within the following weeks, Muffet and Lairon exchange numbers, so as to keep in touch as friends.
2012-2015In the intervening years, Lairon and Muffet have regular meet-ups and remain good friends. Muffet even attempts to set the lonely bachelor up with some of her single friends, but the dates, while pleasant, don't ever lead anywhere. Towards the end of 2014 and early in 2015, Muffet attempts to enter the property market, and owing to her inability to drive and the frequently busy James Bond, Lairon offers his services as a taxi - glad to spend time with his now best friend, and having recently become unemployed, happy to have a purpose and get out of the house every now and then.
2016The
Royal Easter Show comes to town, and Muffet suggests she and Lairon attend. The show itself is a fine distraction, but it's really something more for younger kids, and the pair, while slightly jaded and cynical about the whole thing, are able to find fun there regardless. However, not long after arriving, Muffet receives a call from Bond. She takes it privately (a very strange occurrence, the friends have very few secrets between them), and returns several minutes later visibly upset and on the verge of tears. Lairon later finds out that Muffet and Bond have been having a rough patch, and the call was another chapter in an ongoing fight. He tries to make the rest of the day pleasant for his friend, and while he succeeds to a degree, the spectre of the fight leaves Muffet feeling a little shaken and unable to really enjoy the time out.
May 2016Muffet and Bond agree that the relationship may not be the best thing for both of them, and agree to break up. By all accounts, it's a relatively painless and amicable event.
Within two weeks of the break up, Bond's brother passes away as a result of complications from a prior medical problem. Muffet is deeply upset by the news, and insists on attending the funeral to give support to her recent ex.
5th August 2016Lairon, having recently landed a new job working late afternoons / nights, gets through some of the more tedious stretches of his work with thanks to the company of his best friend Muffet's phone messages. They discuss matters of little importance - upcoming meet ups, game nights, Discworld, etc. On the afternoon of the 5th however, Muffet sends an uncharacteristically long and emotional text. She has just learned that Bond's grandmother (of whom Muffet herself was exceptionally fond) has also passed away. Complications as a result of anxiety / depression and malnutrition.
Lairon spends the shift helping Muffet grieve and work through some of her recent problems.
6th August 2016In an effort to cheer up Muffet and get her mind off the recent string of tragedies, Lairon offers to take her to see Suicide Squad. The film is decent, and afterwards, they head to her apartment to hang out as they normally do. Muffet, naturally, has a lot on her mind. She discusses the situation with Bond, and confesses to having some lingering feelings for Lairon, apparently having felt attracted to him almost as long as she's known him. Despite dropping several "obvious" hints in the early stages of their friendship, our protagonist had never picked up on it. He agonises over some lingering feelings he also shares for her. It's complicated... among many issues, his practically non-existent self-esteem thinks it'll never work, there's a very valuable friendship that isn't work risking, and of course the timing just couldn't be any worse.
Eventually, Lairon musters up the courage to put voice to his thoughts. He loves her... but it's always been a platonic love because she was with James Bond, and that's been fine up until now. He enjoys Muffet's company, she makes him feel happy, and in his darker moments has always served as the shining beacon which lights his way out of the waters of despair, to tell him life is worth living. She's funny, and smart, and pretty... and the timing sucks so bad, but damn it, it's taken a considerable effort to defeat his doubts - to risk it all...
Muffet: "...You idiot..."
Lairon: ??
M: "You could have saved yourself so much trouble if you had just said these things years ago."
L: "...it was complicated. I was young and stupid... I'm still stupid."
M: "Yes. Very... you're an idiot, but you can be my idiot."
L: "........maaaaaaan, I knew I was overthinking it >_>"
M: "Just a little."
We stayed up for a while talking it over. Obviously it's quite a thing to rush into, and we've agreed to take it really slowly. She assures me that no matter what, we're always going to be good friends, and nothing really has to change. It's basically just going to be more of what we're already doing... hanging out, watching bad anime, making dick jokes, getting terrible fast food. The only difference is that we have a mutual desire to touch butts and various affiliated items.
...in due time of course. We've tentatively booked an official "first date" on Saturday (barring a potential schedule conflict). Or, y'know, just whenever.