#but only after they'd already been in a stable and functional relationship-in-all-but-name for a pretty long time already

[geneticdriftwood]

@royposting you get it!!! if someone asks if they’re single they’re like “yeah, i'm not looking for a relationship right now who has the time? anyways i gotta go its my night to make dinner (for me and my bestie and his/my kid).”

like, dick WANTS domesticity and intimacy, but if he looks at it head on he won't let himself have it, and roy loves with his heart already broken because nobody ever stays for him. both of them are so afraid that acknowledging what they are, mentally (dick) or verbally (roy), will make it fall apart. and also they're stupid.

to me, at their best they're still calling each other best friends (with benefits), even as they:

move in together (rent near good schools is expensive on one income! ignore that they didn't even look for a place with 3 bedrooms.)

are each other's emergency contacts at their day jobs

designate dick as able to make health and education decisions for lian if roy is temporarily unavailable or incapacitated*

are making long term life decisions together

are deeply and debilitatingly and obviously in love with each other

etc etc etc. you get the idea

donna is staring into the camera like she's on the office.

*i went down a rabbit hole about types of emergency guardianship/PoA in new york and oh boy is it complicated! but the easiest way to let someone to sign permission slips and take your kid to the doctor if you are temporarily unavailable (due to being hospitalized/undercover/on a mission etc.) is OCFS-4940 Designation of Person in Parental Relationship, since it doesn't require family court or the approval of a non custodial parent.