(10-02-2014, 03:41 PM)Coatleque Wrote: Dear Phoenix,
It has recently been made public knowledge that my availability in the evenings has become free once more. Â Since then, I have had no end to amorous advances, propositions of 'fun times' to be had, and even some unexpected affection from co-workers at inappropriate times. Â As much as I would like to accept some of these offers, it simply would not do to have someone of my position be seen in the sort of scandalous picture this would paint.
How would you suggest that I balance both work and personal time while avoiding the need to shatter others' expectations as to my availability?
~ Smothered yet Frustrated
Dear Smothered yet Frustrated,
I won't lie--now that you mention you're on the market, I too feel the need to make you aware of my long hidden feelings for you and my earnest desire to share a drink or two with you.
And now to be serious--frankly, you're going to have to break hearts, I'm afraid. Fact is that you have your preferences and that, regardless of what your amorous admirers may think, you aren't required to drop everything to enjoy their company. The best I can offer to help cull the herd, so to speak, would be to start large--perhaps form a group to go out and make a night of things. This will help you see easily who is really is a 'good time' and who isn't without committing to anything. You'll have a chance to see them in their natural habitat, as it were and you can proceed from there, guilt free, if they turn out to be a chocobo's arse (unless that's the kind of person you like, in which case, that is a letter in an of itself).
After trimming down the list, you can likely find some good friends amongst the remaining group--use this to your advantage. If they are friends you'll gain the added chance to learn more about them than what is just on the surface but, if you still aren't interested, have the option of giving that powerful but dreaded line of 'I hate to ruin what we have'.
That usually brings any pursuit to a screeching halt and makes any follow-up attempts more awkward than a Garlean attempting to think and speak for themselves.
In the end, your evenings and how you spend them are up to you. It is nice that you wish to be nice but sometimes 'Nice' is wrong. Sometimes, one simply doesn't have the option of being 'nice'.
Signed,
The Phoenix
![[Image: tumblr_na3nykiJYw1tj8x6po1_400.jpg]](https://31.media.tumblr.com/9aff6ba119629667e6fc2104ce65b848/tumblr_na3nykiJYw1tj8x6po1_400.jpg)
