Orange Hearts <3

Instructions

heres the thing for hivezine :] i don't think this is offensive, as someone who wants to be in a qpr with someone/wouldn't mind it, but im not aroace, so if i got something wrong i apologize /g // Ryan sat down at his family’s kitchen table. The familiar sound of the TV blaring from the other room and the clanking of pots, pans and silverware filled his ears. His older brother, Avery, gave him a quick nod before returning his attention to his phone. On his right hand sat a shadow on it, a dark snake that wrapped all the way around his hand and down his arm, though his sleeve covered that part of it. It was his soulmate mark, everyone had one. His was less cool, it just was a splotch on the left side of his neck that dipped down onto his chest. No one knew how they appeared, or why they started. It was a recent phenomenon, only the past couple decades. When kids were around 12 or 13, a dark blue almost black mark would appear. After they formed a connection with their soulmate, once spoken to by them, it turned red. Some people said it felt like it burned the first time. Now, as the new station was explaining, some peoples marks weren’t turning red, but instead, yellow. They had platonic soulmates, not romantic like the majority of people. His mother placed two plates of eggs in front of him and his brother, slightly frowning. “People keep talking about these ‘yellow soulmates’” She made air quotes as she complained. “How can they not have a romantic relationship? They just want to be special, I bet. It just doesn’t make sense.” Avery sighed, and Ryan shot him a sympathetic smile. “Maybe some people don’t want to be in a relationship, mom. Or they just don’t like people romantically. That can happen.” Their parents weren’t homophobic, per se, just uneducated in a lot of things. They didn’t understand the changes that were happening to “the norm”. His brother was gay, and as far as Ryan knew he was the only one with that information, and that was only due to a joke he should have thought twice about saying. Knowing that, when he himself was questioning Avery was the first person he came to. Ryan was more open about being aroace, although that was due to all his friends being very openly queer. He knew he had their support. Kai was the first one he told. They’d been friends for years, and it felt right having him know first. Kai, actually, was the one to introduce him to his out of state friend that moved in, Aisper. Aisper, the guy almost made him rethink his identities. He wasn’t a giant, only a few inches taller than Ryan, though that wasn’t much of an accomplishment. He had curly dirty blonde hair that was long enough to curl around his ears and neck, and freckles that dusted his face. Brown eyes to match. In a way though, he managed to confirm his aroaceness: if he wasn’t, he’d fallen for him the moment Ryan saw him. Then again, he sort of wished they’d be more than friends. It was weird, and confusing. So he did what he always did, push it away until he couldn’t anymore. Besides, finals were coming up, he had better things to worry about. “But that’s not natural, everyone wants a mate.” His mother replied, snapping Ryan out of his thoughts. “Yeah and you’re not everyone.” Avery grumbled. She didn’t reply, just pursuing her lips. No one said anything else. Ryan nodded along to the music playing in his ears as he made his way to school. Hopefully today won't be bad. Last Friday, he had lunch with Aisper. It wasn’t much, just a chance for them to talk one on one and not in a group. Not that they’d ever really talked before. They hadn’t spoken since. *cue flashback* “Hey, glad you at least could come.” Aisper gave him a polite smile. “Thanks, and yeah. Since when does Kai do homework?” Ryan joked as he sat on the other side of the picnic table. The plan was to have lunch outside, the three of them. Kai, though, had “too much homework” and wasn’t able to come. Ryan thought he just wanted them alone. The science was awkward and thick as they ate their lunch. Thankfully, Aisper broke it. “So…do you like any games, video or not?” He nodded. “Yeah, Zelda definitely.” Aisper’s eyes lit up, “And strategy games are always fun.” “Yes! I love Zelda, which one’s your favorite?” “Probably Ocarina of TIme, you?” The other boy grinned, “That's a good game, I like Twilight Princess.” “Twilight’s good, I personally haven’t played it, but I’ve seen playthroughs.” “Nice, I have it. Maybe you could come over some time to play it, if you want to, of course” Ryan’s breath caught in this throat, “Uh, yeah, I’d love that.” “Great, I have your number, right?” “Yeah, I’m in the group chat.” “Good. So,” His eyes sparkled, “excited for Breath of the Wild 2?” They continued to talk about games and whatnot. Overall, he had a really good time. He turned on his phone, it had been hours. [cont]