#i wont be tagging that other ship because those ppl over there smoke crack

[makeshift-wizard]

in my mind it is not surprising that someone who grew up in an emotionally stunted home, would then turn out somewhat emotionally stunted, ESPECIALLY in their teenage years. personally i think mike would have the same issue saying i love you to will, if byler becomes canon. and it’s specifically because he has had no real example in his home to show him what affirming your love to someone can mean. (admittedly, maybe less so, since he’s known will so long and obviously he has less trouble talking to will than he has anyone else)

i believe he certainly views action as more important than words (which is a mite ironic for someone whos supposed to be really good with words) but the issue is that both his and eleven’s actions are TRANSACTIONAL at the moment. they kiss, they send each other letters, he brings eleven flowers, she knocks a bunch of candy out the vending machine for him as a peace offering, the make up over sharing m&ms, he brings her waffles to make up, she saved will twice,  etc etc etc

it’s just an endless cycle of gifts to each other, when at the end of the day they never actually sit down and talk.

and it’s interesting to note that will doesn’t actually consider giving his painting to mike (and yes im gonna run with the assumption its for mike cuz there is literally no way it’s for anyone else), a gift, a transactional sort of exchange between best friends, until he’s actually certain that he and mike are making their way to being on equal footing again. after they talk, after they open up to each other. not as a tool to further bond with mike, but to show how much their friendship already means to him.