At first they're comfortable in each other's silence.
RCOEI likes that RLOEN doesn't push them, and RLOEN is grateful RCOEI doesn't invade their world.
If each works well in their own area, it can be a decent relationship.
Where you clash
RCOEI's private self believes everything is connected and wants RLOEN to come into that connection too.
RLOEN's private self wants to cut all those connections and stay locked in their own world.
When RCOEI says “we're connected like this,” RLOEN feels “don't force me out into that.”
RCOEI is hurt, feeling RLOEN rejects them, and RLOEN feels RCOEI's goodwill as invasion.
Relationship playbook
Time apart is more comfortable than time together.
To RCOEI's message “want to do something together this weekend?”
RLOEN replies “sure” only three days later.
Whether those three days are invasion or space is what decides their closeness.
“When RLOEN can say ‘don't try to understand me, just exist,’ and RCOEI can say ‘I'll wait for you outside your world,’ the two can become a relationship that keeps its distance.”