#introvert nation

[introvertedcoffee]

When an introvert has to prepare to mentally face the world before leaving home. 😫

[dottable]

closed off bbs

*disclaimer: this is all from the perspective of an introvert / ambivert*

Paxton and Devi have a temperament that is slow to warm up, bordering difficult to open up. Despite his social status, Paxton is reserved and quiet, with moments of awkwardness here and there. This is why he was such a mystery to people during the first season: He didn’t really let people in as much. On the other hand, we have Devi who is undoubtedly more extroverted and expressive. However, she is so preoccupied with improving her status and life that she isn't honest with what was actually going on in her mind and heart.

And yet they seem pretty comfortable and vulnerable with one another.

Exhibit A - Devi's version

Prior to this, Devi had begun a quick rundown of different kinds of Indians that Paxton gently tells her isn't necessary. This causes her to hold back a bit.

And then when Paxton jokingly brings up the locker kicking, she suddenly relaxes and reveals what was going on a bit before catching herself again.

Still holding back a bit, she lets Paxton in a little and opens up about her anger and even letting him know that it's an area that she wants to work on.

And then she goes on a full on rant about her identity and ethnicity. At this point, she has only know Paxton for a few weeks, and here she is sharing deep struggles that have surely been around for a while.

There's also the famous scene leading up to their first kiss.

The way she responded after spilling her thoughts once more to Paxton indicates that she definitely didn't mean for things to get so personal and intimate. She takes back everything she said immediately and brushes it off like it's nothing. While she may not have meant for that, the moment they were having tore down her walls a bit and made her vulnerable, comfortable enough to share what was going on.

Exhibit B - Paxton's version

Paxton's moments might not be the easiest to spot and you could completely miss it if you're not paying attention. Maybe you'll also understand it more if you're the type to not talk, but your silence hides the oversharer deep within.

It's safe to say he doesn't talk about his sister often. The moment he starts sharing about her, he spills seemingly random facts about himself. His facial expression changes as soon as he catches himself going on a tangent a bit. The expression screams, "What the heck am I saying?"

He gets a bit awkward as he tries stop himself from sharing further, probably wondering why he was detailing personal stories to this girl he just met and barely knew.

It's also touching to see Paxton, who usually takes more of the listener role, able to express himself so unguardedly. He is able to talk about things with friends like Trent, but for deeper issues, he just can't seem to make them know what's really going on. He's not comfortable expressing this apprehension to them.

And then Devi, who we see ramble and rant to Paxton many times, is actively listening. That's significant because her self-centeredness was her downfall in some instances. In 1x07, when she does listen to someone opening up, like Fabiola with her coming out, she's quick to interject. She's jumping ahead to reply and not letting Fab speak, though she does put all that aside and shows genuine interest in what Fab has to say. Furthermore, in 2x08, when she initially apologizes to Paxton, she's so wrapped up in trying to explain herself that she doesn't immediately sense he's not yet really okay.

Yet in that same episode, Paxton was moved to share what was going on in his head, even if he anger towards her was maybe just subsiding. He may have been hurt, but there is a spot of comfort there as well that moves him to admit how he actually feels about himself. And as he is speaking, Devi isn't thinking about anything but what he's saying, She's not just listening to reply, but to genuinely understand Paxton and help him.

Paxton's moments are so resonant with me as I am a quiet person, but some people just make the atmosphere and environment so safe that you can't help but open up to them.

And for Devi and Paxton in those scenes, they found that person in each other.

It's something they don't understand yet because they were just getting to know each other. Then they're recovering from a hurtful cheating conundrum. They're still learning more and trying to figure each other out. But in their interactions, they found themselves to be quite comfortable with one another. Even if there was lingering awkwardness, they found some level of ease with one another that made them feel safe enough to share personal stories and deep feelings unintentionally, even to the poing of rambling on like the dorks they are !!

Despite the levels of vulnerability they have reached, there is still more to be unveiled moving forward. Devi only just started talking about and confronting her grief in therapy towards the end of season 2 while Paxton, though more emotionally aware and sensitive than most, would rather protect himself by repressing. So I hope they can continue to make space for the other, to make them feel welcome, accepted, heard, and ultimately, hopefully, loved.

[thecornerlot]

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The quiet hours are quite magical.

[1986tigerlion]

[bakerstreetirregular]

Have you ever just walked somewhere to do something but realize that there are other people there and you just don't want to interact with them because you're that introverted and you go somewhere else and you have no idea what to do so you stand there pretending to do something really important but really, you're just messing with the stapler, waiting for them to leave?

[beniighted]

So, how come that so many of you claim to be socially awkward 'i love staying at home' introverts but comes Friday night and none of you fuckers are here? What are you doing? Going out??? Traitors.

[glorious-spoon]

it probably says something unflattering about my social skills that after a full month of beach vacation/hosting out of town friends/running a summer reading program/getting my kid ready for pre-k, sitting in a dark room with an alcoholic drink and some tunes writing teen wolf fanfiction feels like coming home

[just-a-touch-of-sass-and-fandoms]

Story of my life