Who: Tiffany and Pansy When: Before Pansy moves out Where: A Diner What: Pansy need a little support Rating/Warning: PG, Just for some minor swearing Status: Complete
Tiffany's dreams had become less frightening, or in other words, she'd been getting a break lately. Dreamless slumber. Whether or not it was related, she'd also been drinking less, and so she'd invited Pansy to a diner rather than a bar...though there was alcohol there, too. Maybe it had more to do with the fact that she and Wally were sort of seeing each other again. The guy was just so sweet. Lately, she felt happier. More...together.
Where Tiffany was more together, Pansy felt like she wasn't. Things weren't good with Peter, and she was spending more and more time away from him. Going to a dinner with Tiffany was just what the doctor ordered. She looked down at the menu. Cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake. Comfort food. Pansy’s every day food, really. She set the menu down and reached for her water glass.
“I hope you’re doing better,” Pansy said. “Have you found a new job?”
Ah, the job. No, Tiffany hadn't found one yet. She also hadn't started looking. Still (technically) living at home gave her a little cushion there, but either way it was at the bottom of her to-do list at the moment. She shook her head and sighed.
"No, I'm living off my last paycheck, but I need to start looking." In Tiffany's opinion, Pansy looked like she'd seen better days. And, as usual, she brought it up rather abruptly. "What's up? You kinda look like hell."
Pansy sighed. “I was stuck in the honeymoon phase of my relationship. You know what I mean? I wasn’t seeing things for how they really are.” Pansy said, trying to explain. It wasn’t that great of an explanation, was it? “...I’m not sure Peter and I are… working.” And it was weighing on her. “He works a lot, and he’s never home.”
Tiffany swirled her spoon in her hot tea and picked up a sugar packet, nodding along the way. She knew exactly what Pansy was talking about. She was pretty sure everyone did. Still, it sucked. “Have you guys talked?”
“We talk. Y’know. When he’s home.” Pansy said, awkwardly. “I mean, chit chat over breakfast and whatnot. I yelled at him something awful the other night when he didn’t want to talk. I mean, he’s only home for like, twenty minutes before bed, and then he doesn’t want to talk?” She frowned. “Sorry.”
Tiffany blinked. "Sorry for what? I mean, is this a sudden change for him?" Cos the guy had never seemed like a great conversationalist from Pansy’s description or his scientific rantings on the Network.
“Sorry for being all negative. I mean, you don’t need all my shit on you.” Pansy said, then laughed. “I mean, not like that.” Because eew. She shook her head. “Nah, it’s not really sudden. It’s been more gradual. Like, he’s never home anymore. He’s out of the house fourteen, sometimes sixteen hours out of the day. And we don’t even sleep in the same bed anymore.”
“Please, I’ve been dumping my shit on everyone lately. It’s time I decided to return the favor.” Tiffany waved her hand. Then, she sighed. “Sounds like you guys are turning into roommates. Do you ever… you know. Fuck?”
"Not add much as we used to. Not in a couple weeks." Now that she thought about it, it'd been even longer than that. Her face fell. "Actually, it's been a while. A long while." How had she gone this long without sex?
Tiffany bit the inside of her lip. Sometimes life took over, but when two people stopped being affectionate with each other, it was never a good sign. Even she, with all her problems, still wanted to jump Wally every moment of the day. “Do you want to? With him?”
Pansy frowned. The answer she should have come out with was yes, and it should have come out right away. But it didn’t. That should have been her first warning. “I don’t know. I want him to want to.” She said, shrugging once. “I don’t feel like he’s even interested in me anymore.”
Playing with her teacup, Tiffany frowned. It was clear the girl still had feelings for him, and in that case there wasn’t anything she could say to take them away and make things easier. They’d fade when they faded. Hopefully it wouldn’t take longer than whatever good Peter had done deserved. “Maybe you should move out. The separation will speed things up, one way or another.”
“That’s what my brother says. I should go stay with him for a few nights. That it might be the wake-up call that he needs.” Maybe that’s what she should do. “I just don’t want to run away from it. I don’t want to be that girl. Giving up when things get tough.”
“Sometimes staying is giving up,” Tiffany replied. “I’m probably not the best person to give advice on this kind of thing, but I know I’m right about that. Moving on takes guts.”
Sometimes staying is giving up. Pansy let those words echo in her head for a moment. “...you’re right. You’re really right.” She knew her friend was on to something. And she needed to hear it. It was good for Pansy to hear it from someone other than Draco or Zuko, someone a little more removed from the situation. Someone with fresh ears and eyes. “That settles it. If he wants me, he’s gonna have to fight for it. Because I’m tired of not being appreciated.”
“Yeah, I really think you should move out.” And frankly, she didn’t think she should worry about Peter fighting for her. “You can do so much better. Seriously.”
Pansy had never had such a high opinion of herself. It was strange. She wasn’t used to feeling like she was a valuable commodity. She wasn’t used to thinking that she was worth… much at all. But Peter had given that to her. And for that, she’d always be grateful. He made her feel like she deserved to be worshipped by someone who she worshipped in return. “I’m gonna stay with my brother and brother in law for a bit. A few nights to start. See what happens then.”
Tiffany assumed that a brother and brother-in-law living together meant they were a gay couple, and probably a good team to help Pansy get over this guy. She also hoped that Peter would fade away and leave the girl alone, so it would ultimately be less painful. And then Pansy could find herself a good, stand-up guy--someone tenacious, and sweet, like Wally. Gee, she was really singing Wally’s praises lately. At least, in her own head.