Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

r/relationships
posted by u/Phantom
12 hours ago

I [24M] am in love with my best friend [20M].

I implore you to give me a few moments of your time, and some of your oh-so-famous advice, r/relationships. I only ask for you to refrain from your infamous scorn. I am deeply aware of how pitiful my story will sound.

I’ve never been much for relationships of any sort, I must admit. My childhood was a lonely one, and my early adulthood just the same. One fateful day I was recruited to a music group by a stranger who had heard of me (I am somewhat well-known for a creative hobby), of which there were only three members, including us.

My problem pertains to not my recruiter but our third member. Simply put, I believe I finally experienced the fabled moment of love at first sight. I am, however, a practical and cynical person. Against my better judgment, I am helpless to his charms, despite the many reasons that pursuing anything would be unwise.

Our position as colleagues, first of all, the integrity of our team… but also, as much as I regret to admit it, many of his traits. You see, dear Redditors, my friend is a homeless gambling addict.

What’s more shocking is that I hardly find myself deterred by that. I am fortunate enough to have an income that allows me to enable his habits (I know) and not suffer for it. I’ve given him money, I’ve picked him up in the middle of the night and brought him clothes (he gambled them away…). I’ve opened my door to him, given him food, my company…

We’ve arrived at the truly pathetic portion of my tale. In addition to all this, I find myself unable to be any sort of subtle. I’ve told him quite plainly to his face that we’re reincarnated lovers (it was a flirtation), I’ve written a song about my wish for him to sweep me off my feet and even included a rather scandalous suggestion as well… I’ve resorted to writing my own fanfiction about us being together.

What baffles me, Reddit, is that he knows all of this. And yet he seems blissfully unaware of my feelings even so. I’m not sure what to do. I know that I’m likely to be told I’m being taken advantage of, but I truly believe that he holds no ill intent.

I should mention that he does have his good points, of course. He’s incredibly kind to me and has, quite literally, gotten into a fight on my behalf in order to defend my insecurities. No one has ever treated me with more care. No one has ever seemed so truly invested and interested in me.

I’m at a loss.

DOPPO 361 points · 12 hours ago
nothing good comes from being in love with your best friend
also the amount of money youve probably spent on this guy makes me want to cry i think im going to have nightmares

ill_doc 280 points · 11 hours ago
Addiction is a serious thing. I am not a psychologist or an addiction counselor, exactly, but I do have some cursory familiarity with the topic. I would recommend that you do not approach such a thing lightly; will your finances always be so comfortable? What if his gambling becomes even more extreme? The more enmeshed you become with this young man, the greater the potential he has to ruin you. I sympathize with your feelings, but I would urge you not to compromise your stability for what could potentially be a fleeting love.

     easy_r 20 points · 11 hours ago
      if your name is ill doc how good of a doctor could you be lol
      dont listen to him op go for it!!!!!! o(>ω<)o

              ill_doc 11 points · 11 hours ago
              It’s slang.

                    easy_r 5 points · 11 hours ago
                    it’s lame lol

                           ill_doc 3 points · 11 hours ago
                           Okay. Thank you for your input.

                                easy_r 1 point · 10 hours ago
                                 yw

     Phantom 50 points · 11 hours ago
      I know that you’re right. And yet.
      And yet…

easy_r 109 points · 11 hours ago
have you tried having an honest convo with him?? ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

     Phantom 560 points · 11 hours ago
     Oh, absolutely not.

              easy_r 14 points · 10 hours ago
              ur valid

                    Phantom 237 points · 10 hours ago
                    Is it not enough to pine? Is it not enough to feel the hitch of my breath each time he smiles? Is love meant to be reciprocated? Is there meaning in mutuality, or does it sully the purity of such feelings?

                           mc_lb 420 points · 9 hours ago
                           haha gay
                           EDIT: blaze it

14th_Moon 100 points · 8 hours ago
I think I can understand how you’re feeling a little, OP. :( I never had any friends either, I was bullied my whole life and only recently have been able to start moving past that. It’s really hard and I’m definitely really attached to the people I have in my life now… I think u/easy_r is right, though, and that you should talk to him. I know it’s scary! But I’ve been working on trying to become braver and make decisions for myself lately, and I think you should try it, too! Even if it doesn’t work out, you gave it a try and that’s really strong…

     Phantom 67 points · 8 hours ago
     What if he finds me disgusting afterwards? What if I’m rejected on the spot?

              14th_Moon 295 points · 8 hours ago
              You’re not gross, OP. :( You seem like a really nice person. I think we’d get along! PM me if you want to talk, okay? I get anxious so I might take a little while to answer, but…!

                    Phantom 36 points · 7 hours ago
                    You’re very kind. I might just do so. Thank you.

Chapter Text

r/AmItheAsshole

Posted by u/DeadOrAlive

10 hours ago

AITA for letting my friend spend money on me????

ok so 

i have this friend whos pretty well off (i think??) and im not really in a good spot so he helps me out a lot

he lets me stay at his place for free and has bought me clothes and food and stuff and hes even given me money just like directly 

problem is that i really like to gamble so im not really using it on getting my life together (dont want to tbh) but he knows that and he doesnt really get mad at me he just gives me more money 

we ended up in the same group for a thing and so we hang out and get along pretty good but hes also a compulsive liar so i dont really know if he even actually likes me?? i just kinda assume so because of the money yknow like why else would you give a dude that much cash

i aint got a lot to really give back ngl but i try to get him to lighten up and ive gotten in a fight to defend him and all so i think im pulling my weight maybe??? 

idk

aita???? 

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MrHardcore 777 points · 10 hours ago

holy fuck YTA he’s just your sugar daddy 

i hope he’s getting laid for this at least

     mc_bb 321 points · 10 hours

     pretty sure op’s friend is in love with him lol not sure why else someone would put up with that 

          DeadOrAlive -777 points · 9 hours

          what no we’re a posse

               MrHardcore 493 points · 9 hours ago

               k yeah YTA just for how fucking stupid you are

               mc_bb 123 points · 9 hours ago

               yta open your eyes 

               evilmonk 115 points · 8 hours ago

               op is a fuckin troll nobody uses the word posse in 2020

               tragiccomedy -100 points · 8 hours ago

               by “posse” do you mean “paying” 

                    WISDOM 259 points · 8 hours ago

                    This comment is bad and you should feel bad. I don’t even know what you were trying for. Try harder. Or just stop posting. 

                         traggiccomedy 63 points · 7 hours ago

                         ok :( 

                    mc_mb 37 points · 8 hours ago

                    what does this comment even mean

                    MasterMind -1230 points · 7 hours ago

                    haha good one 

                        tragiccomedy -36 points · 7 hours ago

                        thank ya :) 

HeavenAndHell 600 points ·10 hours ago

ESH you’re an asshole and your friend is an idiot

     45Rabbit 121 points · 9 hours ago

     This.

          mc_mb -13 points · 8 hours

          i hate when people just comment “this” 

               45Rabbit 6 points · 7 hours ago

               That’s nice. 

easy_r 573 points · 5 hours ago 

haha holy shit

EDIT: op are you the person being talked about in THIS post???? it sounds exactly like what you just posted about OOP 

     DeadOrAlive 49 points · 5 hours ago

     o fuck 

     o fuck how many other 20 y/o gamblers can there be with a 24 y/o best friend 

     mc_bb 100 points · 5 hours ago

     called it upthread 

PartyOfWords 368 points · 7 hours ago

YTA. You remind me of my son. I wonder where I went wrong with him.

     DeadOrAlive -314 points · 6 hours ago

     haha rip 

CrazyM 100 points · 6 hours ago

NTA. I understand that addiction is a difficult thing to deal with. Right now you and your friend seem to have an unhealthy balance in your relationship, but that is something that can be corrected with time. I myself am very fortunate to have friends around me that understand my struggles and how I cope with them. Acceptance is important. I think you should talk to your friend about measures to cut back on your gambling. It sounds like you’re in a dark place right now. I hope you get help, OP. 

     DeadOrAlive 77 points · 5 hours ago

     dude wtf ur so nice im gonna cry :( i wanna hang out with you and get a warm meal and have you tell me everythings gonna be ok… 

         CrazyM 267 points · 5 hours ago

         Everything is going to be okay. 

              mc_bb 123 points · 5 hours ago

              wholesome…

              mc_lb 361 points · 6 hours ago

              your username checks out with this take of yours 

              MrHardcore 310 · 6 hours ago

              are you a real person???? what kinda glass half full life are you living 

GIGOLO -456 points · 8 hours ago

NTA OP!! some people like 2 spend money on their friends ??? and it sounds like ur friend is an ok position to do that so its ok!!!!! i wish my best friend would let me spend money on him ;___; i dont even try!!!! 

     DeadOrAlive -274 points · 7 hours ago

     ya thats what i figure right!! like i would die for him so it probably evens out

          45Rabbit 345 points · 6 hours ago

          Typical asshole OP only replies to comments that support him.

          DOPPO 298 points · 7 hours ago

          i feel so bad for your friend

          youre just going to end up making him pay for your funeral too

          itll never end

          oh my god

          mc_mb 123 points · 7 hours ago

          how long have you known this dude???? 

              DeadOrAlive -518 points · 6 hours ago

              like three months??? idk 

                 evilmonk 376 points · 6 hours ago

                 HAHAHAHA HOLY SHIT 

                 mc_lb 257 points · 6 hours ago

                 literally eating popcorn at this thread 

Chapter Text

r/relationships

Posted by /u/Phantom 2 hours ago

[UPDATE] I [24M] am in love with my best friend [20M].

Good people of Reddit, I’ve come to deliver the update that I know we all crave. As a creative, I know there is very little more painful than a story missing its ending, so I shall not deprive you any longer.

Before I begin my tale, which will be recalled in sufficient detail, I believe, I would like to thank /u/easy_r for their contribution. At the same time, however, I would like to sternly remind you all that perhaps if a stranger on the internet hasn’t enlightened someone as to something along these lines, it may not be your place to alert them to said stranger’s Reddit thread.

All’s well that ends well, though. Ahem.

Some time ago, I was shaken from my musings by a knock upon my apartment door. I stood to answer this social call and was faced with none other than /u/DeadOrAlive himself. (This ‘or’ should not be capitalized, grammatically-speaking, but for the sake of accuracy…)

“Hey,” he said. I blinked. Lacking all elegance, I simply said “hey” back to him.

He slid past me and made himself at home as always.

For clarity’s sake, I’m going to give /u/DeadOrAlive a fake name so as to make imparting our dialogue easier -- let’s go with ‘Chip’.

Chip asks, apropos of nothing, “did you make a Reddit thread, by the way?” Because I value my dignity, I immediately lie, of course. Unfortunately, this was the first time that Chip was ever correctly able to spot that I was, indeed, lying. He had the evidence on his phone pulled up to show me. “Really?” he says.

“What’s Reddit?” I ask, as casually as I can possibly manage when my first crush, no, perhaps my true love, is confronting me about this.

“This seriously isn’t you?” Chip asks me again, skeptical. He takes his phone back and does something, then offers it back to me. “Because this is me,” he says, and lo and behold. His r/AmITheAsshole post.

Perhaps someone ought to crosspost this there so that the users who so kindly commented on my behalf will see the outcome to this situation as well.

I feel the need to speak up on Chip’s behalf, too, though. First of all, I did not give him any of my money with the expectation or even anticipation of it being returned, nor “paid for” in any sort of sexual favors. That’s a bit unsavory for my tastes, and I feel that that would have been an act taking advantage of him, just as you all have said he’s taking advantage of me.

Secondly, I have no intention of allowing Chip to die, whether it’s for my sake or not. I’ve had enough loss, thank you very much.

Thirdly, I don’t understand the joke that was posted in that thread at all, and I have concerns for anyone who does.

Now. Onto the more important things.

I confess that, perhaps due to my feelings, the first thing that I said in response to his thread was “you’re not an asshole”.

And then, dear Redditors, he kissed me.

Never had I ever felt so weak in the knees.

“But ‘we’re a posse’?” I said. Oh, his smile… Mine must have been blinding, too, when he explained that he only meant that to explain his doubt in my feelings, not his own…

The rest, I believe, I will keep private and treasured, but I now know a lightness and joy unlike any other. I can laugh with ease at my old self, suggesting that keeping this unrequited and hidden was enough. Thank you, Reddit, for your care, investment, and encouragement. I believe I’ve finally seized some happiness for myself through this series of posts and the results that came from them.

EDIT: I see it has been crossposted. Thank you for the effort.

DeadOrAlive Score hidden · 2 hours ago
my name isnt chip tho???

     Phantom Score hidden · 2 hours ago
     It is another gambling tool, though, yes?

         DeadOrAlive Score hidden · 2 hours ago         
         oh! haha k nice thats smart

             Phantom Score hidden · 2 hours ago
             I’m glad you approve.

DeadOrAlive Score hidden · 2 hours ago
anyway yeah hey so 
i guess my thread wasnt really clear cause i mean i didnt think it mattered?? but i liked him too i just didnt think he liked me cause hes A LIAR but also just cause im in love with him doesnt mean i can just take his money so 

     WISDOM Score hidden · 2 hours ago
     I have serious concerns about the fact that not a single person has addressed the fact that you keep saying this guy is a liar.

         45Rabbit Score hidden · 2 hours ago
         Everyone lies.

             ill_doc Score hidden · 2 hours ago
             Pathological lying is a serious condition, though, which is what u/DeadOrAlive mentioned… It’s difficult to diagnose, but historically quite harmful to relationships. Even if they both have the best intentions, I can’t help but have concerns about this aspect and how it might make for a bumpy road…

             DeadOrAlive Score hidden · 2 hours ago
             nah like
             ok it is that serious
             but also he just likes fucking with me

             Phantom Score hidden · 2 hours ago
             Chip is remarkably gullible. That is to say… yes, I have a terrible habit of lying. Yes, sometimes I do it for fun, just to see his reactions, but also… I’ve been more honest with him than anyone else in my life.

                 DeadOrAlive Score hidden · 2 hours ago
                 baaaaabe 

                     Phantom Score hidden · 2 hours ago
                     Are we at petnames already? My, my… 

mc_bb Score hidden · 2 hours ago
this is definitely fanfic material 

HeavenAndHell Score hidden · 2 hours ago
I only have two things I want to say.
First, congratulations.
Second, I hate when people like you critique grammar on the internet so pointlessly. Find something better to do with your time.

GIGOLO Score hidden · 1 hour ago
ahhhhh!! i’m kinda jealous!! i hope things go well for u 2!! real love is hard 2 find!!!!! still looking :( or maybe not looking. staring at somebody and hoping they get the message…

     Phantom Score hidden · 1 hour ago
     Boy do I sympathize…

     DeadOrAlive Score hidden · 1 hour ago
     protip write a reddit thread

     tragiccomedy Score hidden · 1 hour ago
     me XD literally told him he’s the only one for me And Yet
     pls see username :( 

evilmonk Score hidden · 1 hour ago
uh, well. buddha did apparently say true love is born from understanding, so… i guess if he’s cool with the lying and you’re cool with the gambling, you two seem like a good match, haha! seems nutty to me, but who am i to judge? 

14thMoon Score hidden · 1 hour ago
I’m really happy for you, OP. I told you it would work out! He didn’t think you were weird or gross or anything at all, right? Congratulations! I hope someday I can be as brave as both of you…!

    Phantom Score hidden · 1 hour ago
    Know that I would gladly offer my ear when the time comes to tell your own romantic tale. “My DMs are open,” I believe, is the phrase. 

CrazyM Score hidden · 1 hour ago
I’m proud of you both. Congratulations. Be good to each other. I wish that I could cook a celebratory dish for the occasion. 

     DeadOrAlive Score hidden · 1 hour ago
     dude i wish you were my dad or my older brother or something ur so great

DOPPO Score hidden · 1 hour ago
ahaha... maybe good things... really do happen?? um congratulations to you both, even though you don't know me... this is sort of a breath of fresh air, i think.

MasterMind  Score hidden · 1 hour ago
link us your wedding registry later and I can use some of the money I didn’t spend on child support to buy you guys a gift 

     MrHardcore  Score hidden · 1 hour ago
     lol
     if i met you irl i would literally beat your ass
     people like you are scum

         MasterMind  Score hidden · 1 hour ago     
         is just joke 

             WISDOM  Score hidden · 1 hour ago    
             Seems like I have to remind people on this hell site every day that jokes are supposed to actually be funny.

mc_lb  Score hidden · 1 hour ago
somehow I’m a lot less invested in this now that there’s a happy ending idk this just wasn’t very satisfying but good for you op

     mc_mb  Score hidden · 1 hour ago
     why are you such a dick 

easy_r  Score hidden · 30 minutes ago
you’re welcome!!  ❤⃛ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )