Inbox for duplicity

[chopoffyourhead]

Username: rosehearts

Comments

action; about a week post-party

[eelusive]

[It’s been a weird couple of days. A weird couple of months actually. And with Floyd keeping to himself most of the time, it’s rare to see him anywhere outside of Catsanova or his room. It’s not like he hasn’t been getting out. It’s just that he doesn’t want to be found and bothered. He is a moray, after all.

Today though, it seems he’s changing up his schedule.

In the late afternoon, Floyd cuts one of his parkour sessions short. Rather than trudge back home, however, Floyd makes a quick detour to the little pink house next door, hesitates and hesitates some more–

–before finally ringing the doorbell. Part of him hopes nobody’s home… but truthfully it’s not a very big part.]

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle has still been regularly coming over to Jamil's house, at least, though of course, he wouldn't bother Floyd if he was clearly wanting space.

And... it so happens that late afternoon that Riddle is coming back from work. And just in time to see Floyd hesitate at the door. With a little smile, he comes up behind him.]

No one's home. Not yet, at least.

[eelusive]

Whoa–!

[Floyd’s not usually caught off guard, but with how preoccupied his brain is, he isn’t paying as close enough attention to his surroundings as he could be, so with Riddle’s initial greeting, he twitches and abruptly turns around, scrambling to keep his hands hidden behind his back.]

Goldfishie!

[he sputters, back nearly pressed to Riddle’s door.]

Haven’t seen you in a bit. … Hi.

[chopoffyourhead]

You look like some freshman that's been caught red-handed breaking a rule at the dorm.

[Riddle looks thoroughly amused. Had Floyd's sudden canceling disappointed him? Yes, but he knew things came up, and he appreciated that the merman had the foresight to contact him beforehand rather than no-show, or contact him the day of.

He strolls up the porch and leans to the side.]

Is the guilty party trying to hide the evidence?

1/2

[eelusive]

Nuh-uh! I was just… practicing some new parkour moves.

[Floyd rocks back and forth on his feet then rubs at his cheek with his shoulder.]

Mnngh, who’m I kidding? You’re one sneaky goldfish…

2/2

[eelusive]

[He glances off to the side before finally mustering up the courage to shuffle closer. A step or two away, Floyd then holds his hand out to offer a single pink seashell peony, its petals satin-soft and delicate as if they’re freshly bloomed. Of course, Floyd doesn’t know it’s a seashell peony, let alone a peony at all. He just knows it’s a pretty pink flower…]

Um… I saw it and it reminded me of you so–

[Still looking away, Floyd tries with all his might not to accidentally snap the flower’s stem in a nervous grip.]

Here…

1/3

[chopoffyourhead]

[Cute... oh?

When he sees the flower, the smile quickly melts away, expression confused and curious. And then... he hears Floyd's words...]

2/3

[chopoffyourhead]

[Immediately, his face flushes red. Wordlessly he reaches up, gently taking the flower from Floyd's hand and looking at it.]

3/3

[chopoffyourhead]

[His gaze softens in thought. Finally, he lifts his head back up and moves forward...

And his arms come up to embrace Floyd around his waist, flower still carefully held between his fingers as his face rests against his chest.]

1/2

[eelusive]

[Does he like it? Does giving him a flower go against the rules today? Floyd chews on his lip and even when Riddle takes the peony his stomach remains a bundle of tightly knotted nerves.

Then– Ah.]

2/2

[eelusive]

[After the hectic few days he’s had, he didn’t realize how much he wanted a hug until now.

Slowly, Floyd wraps his arms around Riddle in return and settles a hand atop his head.]

Um… I’m sorry I had to cancel dancing.

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle turns his head and rests his cheek against Floyd, body relaxing under the returned embrace.]

It's okay... There's still plenty of weekends.

[After a moment, he gives a shy squeeze and admits:]

... I missed you.

[eelusive]

… You did?

[Floyd thinks back to how bitter he’s felt since last month, and how much that bitterness continued to grow and build over the course of a year. He thinks about the recent moments he’s lashed out, the nights he tosses caution to the wind and breaks in through his brother’s bedroom window because he’s convinced it’s the only place he’ll ever feel like himself…

But when Riddle rests his cheek on Floyd’s chest and tells him he missed him… he doesn’t just feel at peace in his own bones. He feels safe.]

I, um– I missed you too.

[He idly plays with Riddle’s hair as he says it.]

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle gives a little smile, then stands up on his tip toes to brush a kiss against Floyd's jaw before letting his heels fall again.]

If and when you're ready to tell me what you were up to... I'll be here.

[Of course he'd noticed that Floyd had been sparse on the details. Riddle already suspects it'll be something he might not feel the best about.

But... that was okay. Floyd was Floyd. With his own thoughts, morals and motives. Questionable as they may be to Riddle sometimes... he wouldn't change it.]

Would you like to come inside?

[eelusive]

[He doesn’t want to tell Riddle what he’s been up to. He doesn’t want to tell anyone if he can help it (and when it comes to Jamil, he can’t). But he’s been pretty open with Riddle and Riddle’s been open with him, so… maybe he’ll understand.

Ngh, why does he care about Riddle’s opinion anyway? He shouldn’t. Especially when it’s already been done. … Then why does he still feel so awkward?

Floyd stares at Riddle’s face for a moment and after gently bopping the two little antennae atop his head he gives a nod.]

Yeah. … I got a lot to tell you, I guess.

[chopoffyourhead]

Okay. [...] If you're sure.

[He does want to make it clear that Floyd doesn't have to tell him. Sweet Floyd... for as tall and sometimes intimidating as he could be, he really had the heart of a puppy— and he was all too eager, sometimes anxious to please.

Gently, he pulls away to open the door to let them in. Closing the door behind him, he moves to put the peony in a temporary safe spot— a glass filled with water.

Cup in hand, he looks to Floyd.]

Want to talk in my room?

[eelusive]

[Floyd isn’t far behind. Unconsciously, he follows close at Riddle’s heels, and when he places the peony in a glass, Floyd tries to take hold of his hand.

He lightly strokes one of the flower petals just as he did when he first found it. Land plants are so fascinating…]

Yeah.

[A pause, then,]

… Can we cuddle?

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle allows his hand to be taken, giving a little smile at how delicately Floyd touches the flower.]

Of course.

[He walks them up the stairs, Floyd's hand at one side and peony at the other.

When they get to the room, Riddle closes the door behind them, then walks to gently set the flower on the windowsill.

Whether or not Floyd stays glued to his side the entire time, the end result is the same: Riddle climbing up onto the bed and waiting for the merman to join him.]

[eelusive]

[Once the door shuts and Riddle is on the bed, Floyd crawls up after him and promptly presses his face into his chest with a heavy sigh, arms wrapped around his middle and legs stretched out long behind him.

He’s the very portrait of a beached eel.]

I’m soooo tired, Goldfishieee…

[he groans, rubbing his face into Riddle’s shirt before peeking up.]

Y’like your flower, right? It’s cute, right?

[chopoffyourhead]

[Floyd's legs will definitely be hanging off the bed like that. With a soft chuckle, his hand comes up to pet his head.]

I do like it. Though... you didn't get it from a store, did you?

[Poor homeowner. They never saw Floyd coming.]

[eelusive]

[Floyd grumbles and furrows his brow at Riddle.]

Nuh-uh! I picked it myself!

[Maybe it was someone else's peony bush, but if they miss one little flower, well, it's their own fault for leaving their plants unattended!]

I was parkouring when I saw it growing all by itself with no other flowers 'round it. It must've been the strongest one.

[He turns and presses his cheek to Riddle's chest.]

That's why it reminded me of you.

[chopoffyourhead]

[Yup, he expected as much.

Though... He can't help but blush at the sentiment. He gives a little smile, stroking Floyd's cheek.]

That's very thoughtful of you.

You said at the party it was custom for mermen to bring gifts, right?

[He tries his best to recall.]

What was it... doo-hickys and thingamabobs?

Either way, I'd love to see what more you could find in the ocean here.

[eelusive]

Mngh... yeah. Thingamabobs and dinglehoppers. They're way more impressive than shells and pearls.

[Not that a flower is either one of those things, but if they're special to humans, then they might as well be, right? It's the only reason he's given Riddle more flowers than he's ever given anyone... and he's never given flowers to anyone in the first place!

He buries his face into Riddle's chest again to try and keep his burning cheeks hidden.]

But the ocean here ain't as colorful as the one back home. That's why I'd rather get you flowers.

[After a beat he starts to idly play with the fabric of Riddle's shirt.]

D'you want any other stuff?

[chopoffyourhead]

[Cute...

He pets his head.]

Maybe not... [He pauses thoughtfully.] I do enjoy flowers, I've just never seen so many things from the ocean. So I'm curious.

[He grins, then leans over and murmurs into Floyd's ear.]

Just your company, my moray~

1/2

[eelusive]

[Aw, man. He’s just making this so much harder…

Floyd releases a quiet hum–]