tink

When it came to her best friends, Silvia didn't even need to ask why when any of them needed a place to stay. She'd always make some extra room, no matter what the circumstances. It did come as a surprise that Tink was leaving the apartment she shared with Peter and the lost boys, but Silvia couldn't exactly blame her — their place was more than cramped, and living with men couldn't be easy. She hoped her home would be a breath of fresh air for Tink. As soon as she was back from Pixie Hollow, she was helping Tink unpack her belongings. The spare room had been cluttered with random things of Silvia's, mostly her paint supplies, but she already moved most of her things to her own room or the hallway for the time being. "That was so sweet of Tootles to help you move your stuff," Silvia smiled warmly. "I'm sure the guys are missing you already." @tinkabells

“I hope not,” Tink said, considering the lost boys’ reaction to finding out she had gone. She imagined Cubby cooking a huge pot of soup so she’d have enough leftovers to last until she could taste his cooking again. She imagined Duke, Benji and Slightly making themselves at home here, the familiar sounds of their raucous laughter filling the currently peaceful home, Nibs teasingly reminding her that there was nowhere she could go that the boys wouldn’t find her.

If Fawn felt like she should’ve worded her pervious words better, than what she had just suggested was the brunette being completely blatant. She tried to come off pretty nonchalant while mentioning Tootles name to Tink, but she knew her best friend pretty well— Tink would get the memo without her needing to explain it. So when the other repeated his name back to her and then making a follow up question of “What makes you think he would want to date me?”, Fawn smiled. “Why wouldn’t he?” She responded right back. There were so many reasons why a guy like Tootles would want to date Tink. For starters, her best friend was attractive so the physicality alone was a reason for him to be interested, but she wasn’t about to say that. She didn’t want her friend to think that looks is the only thing she has going for her, especially when knowing Tink, she would then question why Peter wasn’t interested if her attractiveness was all she needed. No, she needed to begin at the point she knew will appeal to Tink the most.

Every other example Fawn listed could be taken as an an objective observation with a logical follow-up conclusion that Tootles could potentially be persuaded to have interest in dating her—a description of Tink’s positive traits and an implication that Tootles was the kind of person who could appreciate them (unlike Peter…That reminder stung, but it wasn’t wrong. It was pretty much the whole basis of this conversation.) The only point Fawn made which couldn’t be interpreted as a mere indication that the lost boy might make a good option to date was the last thing she said: the way he looks at you…Didn’t that clearly imply that he had some kind of feelings for her already? What other way could he be looking at her that would prompt Fawn to use it as an example in a discussion like this? The only issue was, Tink had no idea what her friend was talking about.

Wendy knew from the start that Tink wasn’t being serious with her words, so once the other girl admitted to it being a joke, the brunette just smiled. It had to be more than just a joke because if that had been the case, than the fairy would’ve been making it towards one of the Lost Boys or even Michael himself— not her. No, if she had to think of the main reason to why Tink was talking to her at this very moment, it most likely had to do with Peter as well. Actually, it most certainly had to do with Peter, for it did not escape Wendy’s notice that the curly haired girl had came up to her the minute the Darling wasn’t with him after she already spent the majority of her night with him already. 

Wendy moving on from the awkward moment and asking how she was enjoying the party felt like an olive branch—something Tink herself was much less likely to extend between the two of them—for about three seconds. Three seconds in which Tink considered accepting the conversational peace offering, given that she had decided to attempt being civil, until Wendy continued to open her big mouth and shatter that idea completely. Tink’s eyes widened at the audacity—the nerve. Oh, she was fuming, silently seething after no more than one sentence from the other smashed through her carefully-built confidence lIke a sledgehammer. Did Wendy have to point out that Peter had been neglecting her all night? It was obvious to anyone with eyes that he had spent much of the evening glued to Wendy’s side. Did she have to rub that in, knowing exactly how it made Tink feel? And then to condescend to her by offering her the chance to approach Peter on her own, as if she knew Tink wouldn’t catch his attention naturally—as if only by Wendy’s blessing could Tink have a moment to chat with him.

So maybe she could have worded that out a little better, Fawn thought as Tink’s rebuttal on using someone else’s feelings as a distraction. “I didn’t mean it like that, Tink.” The brunette countered, only for her to pause for a quick second to clear her thoughts. How can she explain it where her friend would get what she’s trying to say? It wasn’t that she wanted Tink to go date other people and play with their feelings when she knows she can’t feel the same for them, but more on the matter that she wanted her to realize there were so many fishes within the sea to choose from outside of Peter. Casually dating was a thing, and Fawn thinks that as long as Tink was honest with whoever she tried to get with and there was some mutual understanding between them, that it wouldn’t hurt for her to see who else may be right for her. 

Despite struggling with the concept, Tink was trying to understand the point of view Fawn was sharing with her. Logically, she got the point being made: she was holding herself back from potential happiness with someone else by holding onto her feelings for Peter. Emotionally, though? She couldn’t come to terms with the thought that her affections for him were entirely doomed; she still had hope, slight as it was, that he could love her back, so it seemed pointless to give up on her love and try to replace it with another while there was still another option. Something big would have to change for her to think her chances of moving on were better than her chances of getting what she wanted. But Fawn continued her campaign, adding that she needn’t look far for someone to try dating casually.

Although Tootles struggled to be in the moment a lot of the time, especially when it came to the fun stuff, tonight he really was taking a different approach. Between the brownie and his bold question to Tink, he was attempting to live a little rather than stay so serious and responsible. At the end of the day, he’d always have that responsible part of him lingering, even under the influence, but there was still a bit of spontaneity within him too.

“Good.” Tink shook their hands—linked by their smallest fingers—to seal the deal, her smile returning after she managed to wring a promise out of Tootles that he’d be around for more New Years to come. He wouldn’t dare break a vow as sacred as the pinky promise, now would he? His work was important, probably more-so than any of the rest of them, considering he literally saved lives as a firefighter, but well…spending time with your friends was also important. Tink thought. There were others at the firehouse who could take over and work some of the holidays, anyway.

His smile widened as her sour expression deepened — he couldn’t help it, it was easy to push her buttons. Obviously, Tink wanted to vent about something, or rather someone, but she was clearly still reluctant. Ah well, he wouldn't push her too much, but he felt determined now to try to get at least a smile out of her. He’d noticed an increase in the tension around the apartment since the new year, but he wasn’t exactly involved in whatever may have happened between the friends that holiday evening. “Hmm, I don’t think so.. but it’s not too late to change that,” he offered with a shrug, sitting up so he was better facing her. “Should I do the honors and find something to break for you?”

If Paz was trying to make a joke, he had picked the wrong thing to play about. A mildly horrified expression crossed Tink’s face at his suggestion of finding something to break—on purpose. She liked to fix things that were broken because she wanted them to be whole again and working flawlessly; she didn’t just want to break things so she had something to do…no matter how bored she was. “Don’t even think about it,” she warned, also sitting up straighter in a mirror of his posture. Now that he had her distracted from the fact that she didn’t want to talk about her feelings, they slipped out as she sighed and muttered, “How will you boys survive without me?” It had been weighing on her mind ever since New Year’s, a growing feeling that she had to move out and the terrible knowledge of how difficult it would be to leave. She couldn’t stand to be here any more than she could stand to be gone, and it made for a conflicting storm of emotion inside her. But it wasn’t something she had mentioned to anybody else in the house yet—how could she confess as much to Paz, who she was the least close to?

“Are you sure Michael is good to stay awake until midnight? I mean, he’s only 21…” -Tink ( @tinkabells )

Of course Tink knew that Michael was capable of staying up late. What she had meant was to get under Wendy’s skin by referencing how overprotective she always seemed to be over her younger brothers, especially the youngest. Poking fun at the “team mother” role the other girl had within the group and how silly and unnecessary she found it. But one thing about Wendy was that she never made it easy for Tink to insult her, any and all insinuations seeming to roll off her shoulders as if she hadn’t even noticed the slight. It was either because she was so naive that she truly didn’t understand, or because she had enough grace to refuse to stoop to Tink’s level of pettiness; Tink didn’t like either option. Perfect, innocent, sweet Wendy, never saying or doing the wrong thing…How could she ever compare?

With a frustrated sigh, the brunette shook her head at her friend. Figures Tink would say it wasn’t easy. And she get’s it, letting go of someone you’ve been in love with for so long was a hard thing to do. Hell, she can’t even say so much against that claim when Fawn herself has it pretty bad for a certain middle child Darling boy, but then again she wouldn’t exactly classify her feelings for him as love yet. She liked John a lot— way more than she’s ever liked someone in a long while, but even with those feelings for him, the brunette still was able to go out and date other people just in case it turns out that he didn’t like her back. Why? Because she knew that if she found herself as crazy for him the same way Tink was for Peter, that there was no way she’ll want to move on from John even if he didn’t feel the same as she did. But that’s also why Fawn really wanted her friend to move on. She didn’t want Tink to be miserable and miss out in life just because of Peter. “Have you ever tried?” The brunette decided to ask, trying to keep herself calm. “You know you can still have feelings for someone and be with other people at the same time? May not be the most ethical thing to do, and admittedly can stir up a bit of drama if push comes to shove, but maybe in the process you’ll find that you can feel the same way for someone else too. Stronger even. If you just give it a try.”

She might have expected Fawn to say as much. How do you know if you’ve never even tried? had practically been Tink’s motto her whole life; it was only right for her friends to turn it around on her when she wasn’t living up to that creed. Just when exactly had Fawn become more adventurous than her? Maybe she always had been in matters like this, well-known to follow her heart rather than her head. Tink had thought it through, however. “It wouldn't be fair,” she concluded. Even her friend had listed the reasons herself, not doing a great job at convincing her that it was a great idea by citing drama and the ethical dilemma involved. “Using someone else’s feelings as a distraction…If I hurt them, I wouldn’t know how to fix it.” She could repair anything metal or mechanical; people were different. Tinka Bell had never been a people person.

“I mean it— you are one of the best people I know and you’re smoking hot, Tink!” The brunette claimed as she stared at her best friend. Fawn wanted to be frustrated at her, not understanding how in all of these years, Tink couldn’t just move on from a guy like Peter. Not to say he was a bad guy because he actually wasn't, kind of annoying and very childish at times, but not a bad gut at all, so she can get why her friend liked him so much. But after years of being so obviously in love with him to the point where she knew her friend would go to the depths of the oceans for him if he asked her to, the animal loving girl felt like it was high time for Tink to move on from that guy and start going for someone who felt the same as her. Like Tootles, a guy who Fawn knew would absolutely care for Tink in the way she wanted to be, if only her friend could see how gone for her he already was rather than continuing to look through those Peter shaped rose-tinted glasses. “I get it, I do— but don’t you think instead of waiting for the day where he cares about you the same way you care about him, that you should instead be looking at others? You know, find someone who will care for you the same way you want to be care for? You’ll be way more happier then.” 

“If it were that easy,” Tink said with a sigh, “I would have already done it. I can’t just…turn off my feelings. Or make my heart feel something for someone else if it doesn’t.” She spoke with certainty, as if she had ever truly tried the approach of moving on from Peter by catching feelings for somebody else. In truth, she just didn’t want to. She had too much faith in Peter Pan to give up on him yet—and maybe he was leading her on, intentionally or not, but she had never confessed what she really wanted from him and thus he had never truly rejected her. It was too dangerous to think of how things would change if he did break her heart, so Tink didn’t let herself ask him for too much, and made it impossible for herself to even consider moving on. She wanted to stay in his light as long as possible. She didn’t just want to be loved; she wanted to be loved by him. This was the part she couldn’t say aloud, even to Fawn. That she loved him. Even if her heart was always displayed on her sleeve, saying it aloud would make it too real, tangible and fragile.

"Life is emotionally abusive." -@tinkabells

Tink’s signature scowl only deepened as Paz questioned her sour expression. She had a hard time expressing herself when she was in a bad mood, even when someone as affable as their newest addition to the household offered a listening ear. How was she supposed to open up about things that she hardly spoke to her closest friends about? She let out a frustrated huff, tugging her bangs. It was impossible; she wasn’t going to spill her deepest feelings here. “It’s nothing,” she said. “I think I just need a new project to focus on. Have you seen anything broken lying around lately?”

"I don't want to live in a world where I have to eat sugar-free sugar cookies." -@tinkabells

“Regular brownies,” Tink decided as soon as Cubby finished listing the options. She’d rather take the sugar-free “sugar” cookies than store-bought chocolate chip—she trusted that Cubby’s homemade goods were better than anything generic, even if she still wasn’t particularly interested in eating Splenda cookies. Serving herself a brownie square and taking the first bite, she was already smiling by the time she nodded at Cubby to show that she was satisfied with her choice. “Yep, I'm having a good night now," she declared, if her sudden lift in mood wasn't clear enough. The simple taste of sweets hit quicker than the special brownies would have.

He only had a moment to think about the potential consequences of being so forward — real smooth, Tootles — but maybe he wouldn't have to go back to Fawn to say her suggestion backfired. Tink only hesitated briefly before she agreed, and Tootles even noticed her smile grow into a genuine one. His smile grew, too, as his heart raced nervously.

Tink nodded as Tootles confirmed that he had been too busy working the last several New Years for them to have shared a midnight kiss—let alone celebrate together at all. It seemed like he never stopped working, which she could relate to as a routine workaholic herself. Sometimes she could get lost in a project and not move from her workshop to eat or sleep until it was complete. But on the other hand, when it came time to play, she was always ready to party. It was why she loved spending time with Peter and the rest of the boys, why she had accepted the offer to live here with them; they reminded her to let her hair down and live a little every day.

Peter's smile remained, watching as Tink tried her best to stay mad at him. He was used to this by now, having known Tink for so long that he knew when she was mad, but also knew how to fly past her anger and make her smile again. It was one of Peter's hidden talents, though it was almost more of a burden — he had a way of making a person feel so special when he was around them, like they were the only important person in his life. That was, until he moved on to the next person or thing that caught his attention; he has a one-track mind, resulting in a lot of rocky relationships with those he's close to.

Tink’s pout deepened as Peter teased about taking the old van rather than the bike. Admittedly, it had been a silly question on her end, but she just wanted to make sure they were on the same page. As soon as he quit the act and confirmed that he was indeed offering her a ride on his motorcycle, she beamed. Just like that, he’d turned her mood around and had her buzzing in excitement. “Twist my wing,” she answered ironically, because there was hardly a need to ask if she was in. He hadn’t had to convince her—all he had to do was ask. And he still should have asked her first, but it was hard to hold onto a grudge whenever he smiled at her like that.