Young and Yearning (IT Imagines and Oneshots).

Reddie; Rules.

How I Met Your Mother (Season 3, Episode 11): The Platinum Rule.

"Richie, man, I'm serious," Ben Hanscom laughed from his place at the dining room table. His feet were outstretched and leaning against it, as his laptop was balanced in his lap. Only half of his concentration was on the screen, the other half was on his good friend, and coworker, Richie Tozier, "Do not, ever, get involved with somebody from work."

"I'm with Ben on this one, Rich," Beverly Marsh agreed, nodding her head, rubbing Ben's shoulders gently, before taking a seat next to him, "You know it's never gone well in the past, what makes you think you can break the rule?"

"Marsh, you cannot talk!" Richie half-laughed, incredulous, "Plus, you scored a babe like Benny.." He thought for a moment, "I've gotta score at some point in my life, I'm almost forty!" As Beverly opened her mouth to contradict him for a point he had risen, the front door unlocked, and Stanley Uris traipsed in.

"Evidence!" Beverly exclaimed, jogging over to Stan and steering him by the shoulders to a spot in front of Richie, "Someone who fucked up work, because of getting involved!" Stan's eyebrows practically disappeared into his already disappearing hairline, "Tell 'im, Stan!" When Stanley remained silent, Beverly elaborated, "The Platinum Rule!" Stan's eyebrows lowered, as he hummed and nodded.

"Ah, The Platinum Rule," He nodded. Bill Denbrough, had also entered the apartment now, a book tucked in between his arm and torso. He took his turn to speak.

"Isn't that a passage from the bible?" 

"I'm jewish, Bill," Stan chuckled, "Allow me to explain," He took a seat in front of Ben at the dining room, "I used to work with this girl, Patty, at the office," Beverly's smile couldn't have been wider, she adored this monologue, "There was obviously this.. energy between us. Just, something you couldn't put your finger on. Thus, came the first step of The Platinum Rule, attraction."

"That's okay, as long as you don't act upon it," Beverly added in, as Stan shot her a feigned, threatening glare.

"And that's all well and good for a while, until, the barganing phase, which is exactly this," Stan gestured around. When Richie continued to appear confused, he elaborated, "Your friends try their hardest to tell you to, not get fucking involved. So, you know what you do? Don't get involved. That.. isn't what I did. This was a first hand experience, in my case."

"I'm telling you guys, it'll be fine!" Richie laughed, pleadingly, "Let me just try it? Introduce him to you?" He turned to Ben, now, "Ben, you know him! You hired the guy!"

"Who did I hire..?" Ben asked.

"The camera guy, head of the department."

"Eddie Fucking Kaspbrak?" Ben laughed, clapping a hand to his forehead, "You want to get with that germaphobe? Richie.. man, I thought you had taste!" Richie slapped a hand to his heart and laughed, too.

"What can I say, there's an energy I guess..." Richie said, almost wistfully. Stan clicked his fingers loudly.

"The third step of the platinum rule, will be the submission. One of you will make a move, and at first, it'll seem wonderful," Stan explained, almost rambling at this point, "It'll seem like the most convenient thing in the world."

"But it's not.." Beverly added in, smiling knowingly. The amount of times she had heard this speech. Again, Stan glared at her, before slapping on a smile once again.

"But it is not," He repeated, clearly, "It's as simple as that, Rich," Stan thought for a moment, "But, of course, there is more, and the next is a bit more positive. The relationship you have begun will have its perks. Sharing a cab, lunch with someone, hell, it'll seem like the best thing you've ever done. But, that is the fourth step, the perks, that will always, and I tell you, Tozier, always, have their downside," He took a deep breath in, this was proving to be exhausting, but at least Richie was engaged, "Fifth, the tipping point. It's now.. not so convenient. You have to see them every, single, day. It's nice.. at first, but, it tips."