𝓲𝓲𝓲. questions and answers

written – 12.9.23  |  re-written – 9.5.24

WARNINGS: mentions of suicide

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11TH

EMBRY FLASHED RONI A WARM, WELCOMING SMILE as he gracefully slid into the seat across from her, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. Roni, known for her direct approach, wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter. "Look, I'm just going to get straight to the point," she stated firmly, her gaze unwavering as she stared at him intently. "I'm going to ask some questions, and you're going to answer them honestly and completely."

Embry nodded solemnly, mentally preparing himself for the barrage of questions that was about to come his way. If there was one thing Embry had learned about Roni Lahote during the few, albeit brief, conversations he'd had with her over the years, it was that she had an unwavering aversion to beating around the bush. She preferred to keep things straightforward, direct, and to the point, a quality that both intimidated and intrigued him.

"Are you and I soulmates?" Roni asked, her voice steady but tinged with a hint of curiosity.

"Yes, we are," Embry replied, his voice soft but firm, acknowledging the profound connection between them.

"Do we have to be together?" Roni pressed, her eyebrows furrowing slightly as she sought clarification on the nature of their bond.

"Not necessarily," Embry answered thoughtfully, understanding the importance of free will in their unique situation.

"So you can be my friend or protector instead of my boyfriend?" Roni questioned, her tone revealing a mix of relief and intrigue at the possibility of different dynamics within their connection.

"Yes, absolutely," Embry confirmed, emphasizing the flexibility of their bond.

"If we didn't start seeing each other romantically, would we feel the effects of the bond?" Roni inquired, her curiosity piqued by the intricacies of their supernatural connection.

"Yes, we would," Embry admitted, acknowledging the inherent pull of their bond regardless of their chosen relationship status.

"Would you actually... kill yourself if I were to reject the bond completely?" Roni asked hesitantly, her voice wavering slightly as she broached this sensitive topic.

"Everyone reacts differently to bond rejection," Embry responded carefully, not wanting to alarm her but also not wanting to downplay the seriousness of the situation.

"Would you like for us to be together romantically?" Roni asked, her tone softening slightly as she approached this more personal question.

"Only if you do," Embry stated sincerely, his eyes conveying his genuine respect for her feelings and choices. Roni couldn't help but bite back a smile, appreciating his attentiveness to her words and his consideration of her autonomy, unlike many others she had encountered.

"I'm not saying I'm completely opposed to the idea of us being together," Roni began, her tone thoughtful. "You seem like a genuinely great guy," she added, causing Embry to smile warmly, which in turn made Roni chuckle softly. "It's just... I don't particularly like the idea of not having full control over my own love life," she explained, sighing deeply before taking a long sip of her milkshake, allowing herself a moment to gather her thoughts.

Embry nodded understandingly, his expression empathetic. "I completely understand your perspective," he said, his voice gentle yet sincere. "All I'm asking is that you give us a chance to explore this connection. Perhaps we could go on a few dates, and if you find that it's not what you want, you can reject the bond, and we can move forward from there." Roni's eyebrows furrowed as she contemplated Embry's words, a mix of emotions playing across her face.

"But won't that hurt you?" Roni questioned, her voice laced with concern. Is he really willing to endure physical pain, or even risk his life, for my sake? she wondered silently, her mind racing with the implications of their supernatural bond.

"Yes, it would," Embry admitted candidly. "But I don't want to cause you any suffering or distress. The last thing I want is for you to feel trapped in a relationship you don't truly desire." Roni groaned softly, resting her head in her hands as she processed this information. Embry felt a wave of panic wash over him, worried that he might have said something to upset her. Did I say something wrong? he thought anxiously, his eyes fixed on Roni's hunched form.

"Let me get this straight," Roni began, lifting her head to meet Embry's gaze. "You and I have barely interacted beyond a handful of awkward, forced small talk encounters, yet you're willing to endure physical pain for me? Maybe even risk your life?" she questioned, her tone a mixture of disbelief and awe. Embry nodded solemnly in response.

"If it means you get to live your life happily and on your own terms, then yes, I am," Embry stated with unwavering conviction, his words causing Roni's lips to twitch upward in a small, appreciative smile.

"You're really something else, you know that?" Roni chuckled softly, shaking her head as she gazed out the window, lost in thought for a moment. "I can't believe I'm about to say this, but... fine," she conceded. Noticing Embry's confused expression, she elaborated, "I'll agree to go on a few dates with you. I'm not going to outright reject the bond, but if I don't feel a genuine connection after those dates, we can remain friends." Roni sighed, her words causing Embry to break into a wide, hopeful grin. "Stop smiling like that," she admonished, though her tone was light. "Every time you smile, I get all giddy inside, and it's disconcerting." Embry quickly schooled his features, though his eyes still sparkled with joy.

"Three dates," Roni declared firmly. "That's all you get. And to be clear, I won't count casual hangouts as dates. You have three proper dates to make your case. So make them count and ensure they're worth my time." She offered Embry a tight-lipped smile, her expression a mixture of challenge and anticipation. Just then, their waitress approached their table, interrupting their intense conversation.

"Can I get you another milkshake?" the waitress inquired politely. Roni shook her head in decline. "Alright then, I'll bring you the bill," the waitress responded with a friendly smile.

"I've got it covered," Embry said quickly, reaching for his wallet. His gesture, however, was met with a scoff from Roni.

"Absolutely not," she stated firmly. "I can and will pay for my own things." Embry studied her face for a moment before conceding, slowly returning his wallet to his pocket. "If we're going to be going on dates and spending time together, we need to establish some clear boundaries," Roni continued, her tone serious.

"Here you go," the waitress said cheerfully as she placed the bill on the table before departing.

"Alright, listen up," Roni began, her voice taking on a no-nonsense tone. "First and foremost, no intimate physical contact. Hand holding and maybe the occasional cheek kiss are acceptable, but anything beyond that is off-limits until I explicitly say otherwise. Secondly, I pay for my own things. I understand it's considered gentlemanly to pay, but I'm fully capable of covering my own expenses. I don't work two jobs for nothing, you know. Third, any plans we make need to fit into my schedule. I won't be giving up shifts or leaving work early for anyone or anything. Heck, I didn't even leave work when Paul fell off our roof and got rushed to the emergency room." Roni grimaced at the memory of seeing her brother lying in a hospital bed. "And finally, don't you dare stand me up. I swear I'll end you, not because you hurt my feelings, but because you made me look like a fool in public."

"Those are all very reasonable and understandable boundaries," Embry nodded, a small, appreciative smile playing on his lips. "How about we plan our first date for next Wednesday?" he suggested tentatively.

"I get off work at five," Roni replied after a moment's consideration. "So come around six. I'll need time to shower and get ready. Oh, and I don't have my phone with me right now, so you'll need to ask Jared for my number."

"Wait, why does Jared have your number?" Embry questioned, a hint of curiosity and perhaps a touch of jealousy in his voice.

Roni chuckled, amused by his reaction. "Because before he transformed into a smoking hot werewolf, he was just a lovable goofball who couldn't wrap his head around calculus," she explained. Noticing Embry's expression change, she quickly added, "I'm sorry for calling Jared smoking hot. That was insensitive of me."

"It's okay," Embry assured her, though his voice betrayed a hint of discomfort. "I can't always control my emotional reactions to things like that." Roni nodded understandingly. "But I'll definitely text you about the details for our date after you get home," he added, steering the conversation back to a more positive note.

"Alright, let's get going," Roni announced, rising from her seat. "You're walking me home, though," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye. Embry shook his head, laughing softly at her directness. "What?" Roni questioned, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "If you want to date me, you've got to be a proper gentleman. Consider this your first test."