#lanebbd

I've actually experienced something kinda similar in college. I had a friend group that was really close, and I liked one of the guys in the group. He was super into one of my other friends, and I could see it before he even realized it himself. Their talking stage/situationship got really messy and eventually ended on a bad note. I'm still friends with both of them, but I used to be really close to both, and after everything happened, the whole group slowly drifted apart.

The difficult part was that both of them would come to me for advice because I was close to both sides. I was heartbroken watching everything happen, but I also didn't want to give advice that could come across as me trying to ruin their chance with each other. So at some point I had to ask myself, "Do I like this person more than I value this friendship?" And for me, the answer was no. I cared about him and I had feelings for him, but I cared about our friendship, and honestly the whole group, more than I cared about the possibility of a romantic relationship.

That's kinda how I imagine Lane and Lub would approach it too. They might both like the same girl, and sure, there'd probably be jealousy, awkwardness, or even moments where their emotions get the better of them. I'm not saying they'd magically never have conflict. But if they really value each other the way we've established they do, I think they'd eventually have to put that feeling on a scale and ask themselves what matters more.

Because when you've been there for someone through their lowest moments, when they've trusted you with the most vulnerable parts of themselves and you've shared years of your life together, that's a very different kind of bond. At some point, a new romantic interest just doesn't outweigh all of that.

I think it's kinda the same as cheating, actually. You can have feelings for someone else even when you're already in a relationship. Having the feeling itself isn't necessarily something you can control. But what you do with that feeling is where your own morality and self-control come in.

Like, you might find someone else attractive, or even develop genuine feelings for them, but at some point you have to ask yourself "Do I understand what this means, and am I willing to cross that line?" Because you know what's at stake. You know you'd be hurting someone you supposedly love and betraying the trust they've put in you.

And obviously, there are friendships that really do get ruined because someone chooses a romantic partner over their friend. Also, sometimes those stories end with the couple breaking up and the friends becoming friends again too 👁️👄👁️

he doesnt necessarily interpret MCs discomfort correctly because his brain is filtering everything through the persona hes trying to maintain.

but when MC makes him genuinely feel like hes being an asshole, it hits. he becomes aware of how he came across, feels embarrassed and often turns that embarrassment into aggression bc he never wanna admit that he cares.

but if he didnt care about MC, hed move on.

if he cares, he keeps finding reasons to come back and thats exactly what he does.

so basically Lane cannot tolerate being visibly rejected but he also cannot tolerate withdrawing.

"im going to make you responsible for proving that i dont give a shit about you."

BB meanwhile sees Lane as an irritant more than anything else.

hes been around men who perform masculinity for other men his entire life, so Lane's act isnt particularly mysterious to him.

tho he doesnt think Lane is pathetic in a cruel way (not initially at least). its more like hes watching a guy repeatedly make the same mistake and thinking:

"Fostman doesnt know what hes doing."

BB can recognize that Lane's behavior comes from insecurity. he might even have a certain amount of sympathy for him, but sympathy doesnt make Lane any less irritating, especially when Lane starts interfering with MC.

BB wouldnt particularly call Lane out face to face tho, simply because hes not the type to do that. so their dynamic is more like: