Inbox for duplicity

[chopoffyourhead]

Username: rosehearts

Comments

video;

[eelusive]

[Floyd blinks, staring back at the video and the squeals to follow, and once realization sets in, he juggles his device between his hands in an attempt not to drop the damn thing. Ah, fuck.

He's already yelling at the screen before it starts recording, so pardon him for the sudden cutoff.]

--uper cute, but like--! What were you laughing about? ... Was that you? Where'd you go?

[Word vomit. Just plain word vomit.]

video;

[chopoffyourhead]

[It's only about ten minutes later once Riddle feels calm enough to turn the device back on.

He gives a sigh.]

There truly is nothing sacred in this city, is there?

[He shakes his head.]

Anyway... [A light blush comes to his cheeks as he glances to the side.] ... were you... really searching all that stuff for me?

[eelusive]

[Floyd doesn't stress too much about the lack of response. Maybe he's busy. Maybe he's eating or taking a shower or chopping off someone's head. Whatever the case, Floyd sets his device to the side and busies himself by punching a few pillows... and wandering into the kitchen for several unhealthy (but crunchy) snacks.

He's seated atop the kitchen counter with a cookie in his mouth when he receives the call.

Muffled,]

Hmmm... What stuff?

[He wants to make sure they're on the same page here. It's not that Floyd's embarrassed. He just wants to make sure whatever surprises he was planning weren't horribly ruined.]

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle copy and pastes the message because that is much easier than saying these things out loud.]

how to impress someone

do humans like being given big fish as a gift

what color roses look nice together

when is it ok to suggest anal

[eelusive]

[Floyd looks over the text... and after chomping a huge chunk out of his cookie heaves a sigh and smears a hand down his face.]

I mean, yeah, I was looking that stuff up. I was bored!

[Which isn't a lie.]

It's not like the answers I got were helpful though.

[How much more specific could he get? Anyway, his questions aren't that revealing. He thinks. Though Riddle's blush kind of proves otherwise. In an attempt to divert the attention away from that,]

... I bet you look up a bunch of random stuff too.

[chopoffyourhead]

[Oh, Floyd. You are not subtle in the least.

But that's a good thing, in this case. Subtlety would leave room for doubt, which would be all too easy for Riddle to latch on to.

A soft noise of amusement, and he looks away, not answering for a moment. Then, softly, he admits:]

It surprised me... You keep surprising me, really.

[Finally, he looks back to the device.]

Well... I can give you how I would answer those, if you'd like.

[eelusive]

Is that a good thing?

[Surprises aren't always welcome, after all. He knows that better than most.

Floyd kicks his legs a bit as they dangle from the counter and he wonders if he should just end the call all together. Or maybe it would be smarter if he went next door to talk to Riddle in person. People are so complicated to read and even more complicated to interact with... but, still, he wants to try. He wouldn't have come on land if he didn't want to try.

He looks to the device again and tilts his head. Ah. Ok. Time to take mental notes.]

Uh... Yeah. If you wanna.

1/2

[chopoffyourhead]

In this case, yes. They've been pleasant surprises.

[He puts a hand to his chin thoughtfully, then responds:]

If you wish to impress someone for the sake of getting their attention, the best course of action is simply to be your genuine self. That gives the other person a clear understanding from the start of who you are, and there is something to be said for the confidence of staying true to yourself regardless of the consequences.

Next: it depends on the person. A raw fish might be a bit much for most people, however, who aren't familiar with butchering. It may be a more acceptable gift if you plan to butcher it yourself or have it taken to a professional who can prepare it for you; in which case the fish itself could stay in its raw form for the presentation. Of course, not every person enjoys eating fish. I do like it myself.

Now, the color of roses are quite varied, so many appealing color combinations can be made. I'm most fond of red and white roses, myself, but I enjoy all of them. If you'd like, you can even go so far as to look up the meanings of each color of rose. For example, white roses traditionally symbolize purity and innocence.

2/2

[chopoffyourhead]

And... [Ahum. That... last one has his face turning red as he glances away again.] I... suppose it'd be okay to ask that as long as you're willing to have an open discussion, which might include a soft or outright rejection. A-after all, as I understand it, the main purpose is for both parties to enjoy themselves, so discussing any concerns prior to that is essential.

[A pause, and then:]

I know that was a bit wordy, so feel free to revisit it on your own time as needed.

[eelusive]

[Floyd listens quietly as he munches away at his cookie. It’s a lot of information, but it’s not complicated information, and it helps to get his answers straight from the source.

So he likes fish, huh. Gutting and filleting them isn’t an issue and neither is laying out a decent presentation. But what kind? How dangerous? How big? If Riddle were any other merman, Floyd could easily leave a whole tuna at his door and call it good.

But Riddle’s not a merman. He’s not a goldfish or even any other kind of person, and the more they interact, the more Floyd realizes just how little he knows. It’s as exciting as it is nerve wracking.

All this talk of meanings and symbols… and being true to himself–

Floyd hums in thought as he stares down at his feet, still dangling and kicking off the edge of the counter. He’ll get to that last point in a second. It’s just–]

You don’t like it when I’m my genuine self though.

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle blinks at that, looking back at his device. Loosely, he crosses his arms.]

Have you not been your genuine self with me over the past few weeks?

[eelusive]

Mmmn…

[Floyd shrugs. It’s difficult to explain.]

I guess I have for the most part. There’s just a lot of stuff I haven’t been doing too.

[He hasn’t wrestled him or sunk his teeth into his wrist or hunted a sturgeon and ripped off its scales to present as a gift… Floyd opts not to share those specifics.]

Riling you up and making you happy are both really fun, so– I dunno. I’m trying to be careful and it’s hard.

[Floyd still doesn’t quite understand why he’s going through all this effort. At first he chalked it up to being bored, but this has gone on for longer than a couple days, much longer than some passing interest.]

[chopoffyourhead]

[He watches him, listening, and... He thinks he knows what he's getting at.

He gestures with a hand.]

That's the way most relationships work. There are parts where you'll agree, and parts where you'll have a differing opinion and compromise is necessary.

[He hesitates a moment, before:]

You know I tend to be much more structured in my approach and living. To be honest, I've allowed far more spontaneity in the past couple months than I have in years. With you, as well as others.

I wouldn't consider that being disingenuous. It may be stretching my comfort zone, but I'm not projecting a false image of myself to please others.

I imagine your situation is similar, yes? You've certainly taken a different approach with me lately, but I would hope that's because you want to demonstrate respect of my boundaries and not because you're pretending to be someone you're not for the sake of me liking you more.

[eelusive]

[Floyd knows what compromise is, sure… but he’s never needed to utilize it before, at least not to the degree his companions do. Azul and Jade talk things out. Floyd talks with his fists.

All that is to say, he isn’t incapable of being considerate. Floyd’s never been incapable of anything so long as he puts his mind to it. Is it hard? Of course it is. It might be one of the hardest things he’s ever had to learn. But just as Riddle says, it’s not like Floyd’s playing pretend. An Octavinelle may be suspicious by nature, but all things considered, they still operate with honesty.

He meant what he said before about being serious, about trying so damn hard not to overstep or intrude, because even after all their hiccups and embarrassing late night encounters… Floyd still hopes they’ll find time to dance together.]

Sort of. I think.

[Floyd glances off in thought.]

When someone’s strong or has a lot of cool ideas, I wanna be around them more. I don’t really care if they like me or not. I just want them to keep me from getting bored.

… But when I started messing around with people here, it got more complicated. I mean… I never mated with anyone before I went on land. Whether or not I go off of instinct, it feels confusing one way or another, like I’m always wrestling with being a merman and a human when that was never the case before.

[He doesn’t know if that even makes sense to a land dweller. Floyd rubs his neck.]

What I’m getting at is like… I know I like having fun and I like it when you have fun too. And if I gotta tie myself into an eel knot whenever we hang out, then… it’s ok.

[Softer, pensive,]

… I’ve just never felt that way before with anyone.

[chopoffyourhead]

[Strong— is that what Floyd sees him as...? He puzzles over that for a bit before listening to the rest of it, features softening in understanding.

He gives a sigh.]

I can't relate to the species divide, but I struggle with the changes in the expectations of intimacy as well.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but this society diverts strongly from human cultural norms. There are some which encourage monogamy, or exclusive partnership between two people. Some cultures will allow polygamy; multiple partners. Some will go so far as to heavily discourage certain kinds of relationships.

Regardless, in present Twisted Wonderland and in the history we've been taught, never has there been mention of society that was so centralized around sex, and certainly not to the point it mandated sexual acts. Frankly, I believe most humans from our world would consider it nothing less than tyranny.

[Riddle included.

... the way those last two parts are phrased, however, have him pausing. Tie himself into an eel knot? ...Riddle wouldn't want that. As much as Floyd's lawlessness sometimes infuriates him, there's something enviable about his free spirit, and he hardly wants to smother that.

He gives a soft huff and looks away, a faint red on his face.]

You make it sound so stifling... [And it's strange, and endearing that Floyd would give up so much of that freedom around Riddle.] Listen, if it's because of the going slow thing— ... I'm trying, okay? Doing everything I've done up to this point has felt as against my nature as, well... a fish completely abandoning the water for land. [Is that a fitting analogy for a merman? ...he hopes it is.

Quieter, now:] Frankly, I was so bad when I first got here, I thought— I'd be physically incapable of doing what needed to be done. And then I'd thought I'd be incapable of doing it without some sort of outside influence...

[He holds a blink.] I hate that it took me so much agonizing effort just to get to the point I'm at, which is...

[He trails off, but he's clearly frustrated with himself.]

[eelusive]

[So there's nothing like this back home, huh. Not for merfolk, beastmen, fae or humans? It doesn't seem like something their history lessons would cover necessarily, but still...

No matter. That's not something he needs to focus on right now.]

It kinda is, but it's not like you're the reason. I think it's a bunch of things all at once. Like those little things that hung up in the trees and made people do weird stuff together and not being allowed to buy snacks just 'cause I have a mark on my neck... and Jade being taken away. You know?

There's alotta stuff I can't control.

[After a beat,]

There's gonna keep being a lot of stuff I can't control. Same goes for you too. ... But I guess we're making it work.

[Which isn't exactly a reassuring thought, he supposes. Floyd's never been very good at cheering people up. He kicks his legs a few times more before continuing, head tilted at Riddle's pause.]

Which is--?

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle, straight A student, always delved deep into whatever topics were assigned to them. Even if it hadn't been taught in their class, he would have discovered it through research.

He gives a small sigh as Floyd continues on. Just listening to all the things that have happened because of their being in duplicity gives him a headache. There's some good parts, and then there are the very-much-less-than-desirable parts.

At the request for elaborate, Riddle hesitates... then shakes his head.]

Nevermind. It isn't important.

[He doesn't need to keep dragging Floyd down with his hang-ups. No need to be a broken record.]

As long as you're alright with it, I don't mind continuing to try. Theoretically, repeated behaviors become easier with practice, so... perhaps even in this sort of situation, it'll begin to feel more natural for us both.

1/2

[eelusive]

[He wants to badger Riddle for the answer, but opts not to, deciding he doesn't want to ruin their otherwise decent conversation. Boy. They've sure been having a lot of those lately, haven't they? ... It's kind of weird.]

Mn, I don't mind.

[He wasn't planning on giving up anyway. Sure, it's complicated and gives him a headache, but so does everything else new. Floyd munches on another cookie before hopping down from his spot on the counter.]

So... be myself--which is what I always am--hunt down and cut up a fish, and get a bunch of red roses. Shouldn't be hard.

[And he really shouldn't be saying all that out loud, but there it is anyway.]

Since I got all my answers--

2/2

[eelusive]

I'm taking you on a date then.

[Floyd grabs his device and peers down into it. Close.]

After that, we can do regular sex.

[Oh, wait. "Open discussion." Right.]

... I mean talk about it?

1/3

[chopoffyourhead]

—swallow your food before you talk, Floyd.

[Pls!! Have decency.]

2/3

[chopoffyourhead]

[He watches through the rest of it, but then, at that proclamation...]

...huh?

[A date? It'd been surprising enough to be asked out by Jamil. Again, this isn't something he'd expect from Floyd.]

3/3

[chopoffyourhead]

[His expression becomes a bit guarded towards the end.]

...we can talk about it, yes. I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you...

[eelusive]

[With crumbs all over his shirt, Floyd continues, oblivious to how taken aback Riddle is.]

That's what people do, right? When you hang out and give gifts, it's technically a date.

[Sure, merfolk have dates too, but maybe the nuances are a little different?]

If I give you more gifts, can I get my hopes up then?

[chopoffyourhead]

In the roughest sense of the word, I suppose.

[Sometimes he wonders about the knowledge disparity between Floyd and Azul when it came to land-dwellers.

Also Floyd you are a mess.]

I won't go out with you if you eat like that, for the record.

[And the final part gets a look of frustration.]

It's not about gifts! Were you not listening to what I just said?

[eelusive]

[Azul and Jade knew far more about the land than Floyd ever did, and he won't be surprised if they still do.

He completely ignores the part about eating "like that." Whatever that means.]

Hm? What'd you say?

[He's too busy thinking about the ways he's going to prepare his gifts.]