Inbox for duplicity

[chopoffyourhead]

Username: rosehearts

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[chopoffyourhead]

[...oh.

Riddle doesn't want him to go, but... he doesn't want Floyd feeling like he's being teased, either. So he nods, holding on a couple moments longer... before he finally, reluctantly pulls back.]

Thank you, Floyd. For understanding.

[eelusive]

It’s no biggie. … I’m not gonna go far, ok?

[Floyd doesn’t want to leave either, truth be told, especially after Riddle only just told him to stay, but if he doesn’t, he’ll want to start up again and probably ruin more than just their date.

So after his own squeeze, he slips his arms away, takes a second to fix Riddle’s hair as best he can (it’s not very good, but, hey, he tried), then leaves the shower so he can head out toward his bedroom. No towel, no clothes. He’ll just drip dry and hope that shuffling through his wardrobe will prove a decent enough distraction.]

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle gives a nod, watching him go. Guilt still lingers in the back of his mind, as well as frustration... Damnit. Is he really too impatient with himself? Is it so bad to want to be... normal?

Ultimately, his frustration leads him to ignoring his arousal in favor of washing. He ends it off with a cold spray before taking a towel to dry himself off. With the towel resting on his head, he walks into the bedroom to put on his clothes and see how Floyd's fairing.]

[eelusive]

[Floyd is fairing as well as a Floyd can fair. Having slumped onto his back on his side of the bed he used to share with Jade, Floyd doesn’t take long at all to “calm down.” Maybe it’s the environment, the change in temperature, the quiet that comes with being alone in a room again… Whatever the reason, he’s up and about getting his outfit arranged sooner than anticipated.

By the time Riddle returns, Floyd’s dressed simply in a baggy shirt, an oversized windbreaker, and a pair of basketball shorts, because if he’s going to hop into the ocean soon, there’s no sense in wearing stuff that will be hard to take off again.

He’s smoothing out the creases on Jade’s side of the bed and propping up what looks to be a small plush of a real moray eel, it’s face contorted into a goofy, toothy smile.]

Jade, quit falling over! You’ll get dusty if you roll under the bed again.

[Seems like Floyd’s resorted to talking to a plush toy to cope. Whatever works, right?]

I’m gonna head out with Goldfishie, so don’t mess up the sheets in case he gets sleepy later, got it?

[chopoffyourhead]

[...oh.

Riddle gives a tiny, sad smile at that, silent as he puts on his clothes. At the last part, he comes over, lightly brushing his hand along Floyd's back.]

Sleepy, or... something else, perhaps.

[There's definitely a suggestive undertone there.]

Ready to go?

[eelusive]

[Satisfied with his tidying, Floyd doesn't jump when he's touched, but he does pause to consider the implications of "something else."

Aw, man, come on. He just put his boner away! Don't make him get it again!]

Ah... Something-- Yeah!

[Enthusiastic, Floyd grasps Riddle's hands with both of his own and starts to hastily lead them out the front door. Excited. So excited.]

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle gives a small, alarmed noise.]

F-floyd!

[And they're off...

It's once they get home and they've had dinner that Riddle beckons Floyd with a finger, hooking it into the collar of his shirt and leading him to the bedroom.]

You've outdone yourself today, Floyd.

[His voice is a low purr.]

You've certainly earned your reward.

[eelusive]

[What a busy day. One would think all that preparing and swimming and cooking and random bouts of kissing would render even the most energetic of morays into a pile of exhausted eel goo. But here Floyd is, freshly cleaned off of all the sea water (with only a few little crab pinches on his fingers to boot)... and eying up an equally energetic little goldfish.

There's no stopping the dumb grin on his face as he shrugs off his jacket and walks forward, coaxing Riddle toward the bed.]

Yeah~? You gonna finally tell me what it is now?

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle hums, walking around Floyd.]

Why tell...

[He puts his hand up to Floyd's chest.]

When I can show?

[And he gives a shove, meant to be just enough to unbalance Floyd to have him fall back on the bed.]

[eelusive]

Weehehe~ How're you gonna--

["do that" is what he would finish saying, but Floyd's incredibly distracted at the moment by, well, everything, and with little effort down he goes, falling backwards with an ungraceful "thwump."

He's caught off guard for only a moment, unblinking as he stares at Riddle, but soon, pushed up onto his elbows, Floyd breaks into a fit of giggles.]

Aha~! You got me good, Goldfishie~

[chopoffyourhead]

[Cute...

Riddle gets up onto the bed to straddle Floyd, hands coming up to frame his face.]

You were so handsome today...

[He murmurs the words lowly, thumbs running over the cheeks.]

Seeing you in your true form... Watching you stalk me... and then getting a glimpse of your power as you masterfully hunted all those crabs...

[He leans in and presses a kiss to his lips, holding it for a second, and then pulls back just enough to whisper against them:]

Well done, my Moray.

1/2

[eelusive]

Here fishy, fishy~ Haha~!

[With that coo, Floyd reaches out and places his hands on Riddle's hips, settling him more securely upon his waist. It's not the sexiest thing he can say, but there it is anyway.

And then the praise--ah, the praise. It's so warranted, so needed, and it leaves the inside of his chest fluttering like a school of swarming sardines.]

I told you, didn't I? I'm the best crab hunter ever. I--

2/2

[eelusive]

[Oh, ok, a kiss then. That's fine. More than fine, actually.

Floyd tilts his head as the contact lingers and he's about to lean up for more once Riddle dares to pull away... but there are those words, those two little words he didn't think he'd ever hear again.

Wide eyed, Floyd says nothing for a few moments, then quickly maneuvers his hands to hold either side of Riddle's face too. His cheeks are the faintest shade of red when he exclaims,]

You said it again!

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle slowly raises an eyebrow as Floyd stares...

At the exclaimation, he gives a little giggle, tilting his head into one of those hands and bringing up his own hand to cover it.]

I did. You really like it, don't you?

[eelusive]

[He's probably squishing Riddle's cheeks just a bit at this point in his excitement. Floyd really can't help it sometimes. It's easier to act before thinking... or just not thinking at all.

Another laugh before he teases,]

I dunno~ Maybe. Nobody's ever called me that before. Not even Azul. And you'd think he would, y'know?

[Which isn't to say Floyd would appreciate it necessarily. His relationship with Azul and his brother is unique; strictly business for the most, functioning in equilibrium. The thought of being anyone's anything wouldn't sit right with any of them. But things have changed a lot since he's been here. People come and go all the time. People lose things all the time.

Being something to someone, something worth looking at and holding and missing when they're gone... sounds more appealing to Floyd than it should.

He hums softly as he thinks it and idly brushes his thumb beneath Riddle's eye. Side to side and back again... Curious, Floyd tilts his head.]

Why d'you say it?

[chopoffyourhead]

[Riddle's face scrunches up briefly as his cheeks are toyed with.]

Maybe? Someone who doesn't like it wouldn't work so hard to hear it again.

[And that doesn't surprise him. He still doesn't entirely understand the twins' relationship with Azul, but it's clearly... different, in a sense. At the very least, it's clear they both see it differently than other relationships.

His expression softens at the gentle touches, and he lets his eyes flutter closed as Floyd strokes him.

At the question, his eyes open again. He's quiet for a moment...

Slowly, a flush rises to his cheeks.]

...it felt right.

[He turns his head into the hand and presses a kiss to the palm.]

... when the device showed all those searches you'd done for me... I suppose a lot of things clicked into place. I've never had anyone go out of their way for me like you have...

[eelusive]

[It seems like such a simple answer. "It felt right." And yet calling someone theirs isn't simple at all, now is it? Riddle's a powerful, proud force to be reckoned with. With hundreds of card soldiers at his command back home, he's a housewarden for a reason. But beneath that hardened exterior is a boy who takes responsibility for other people, who goes against every self-preserving ideal Floyd's own house is built upon.

Everything about Riddle is different. Confusing and contradictory and annoying, but different.

And to Floyd, that also feels right.]

Mn, Sea Turtle and Sea Bream have probably done a lot for you, I bet. ... Not by looking up the stuff I did for you, but--

[Floyd supposes, in that sense, he's pretty different for Riddle too.

With a laugh, he gently bats at those two silly antennae sprouting from the top of the other boy's head before smoothing his hair back and tucking some behind his ear.]

I kinda like bein' yours. And I want you to be mine too.

[chopoffyourhead]

[There's a moment his burrow furrows at the names before he guesses who Floyd means.]

Cater and Trey? [...] I don't discount all they've done, certainly. It's just not quite the same.

[There's a layer of duty there. Trey and Cater were not simply Riddle's right-hand men, but upperclassmen as well.

... between Floyd and himself here, there are no such expectations or duties. Floyd was doing this because he wanted to, plain and simple.

Still, the thought of Cater and Trey has his expression dimming. His heart aches with how much he misses the two of them.

And then he looks back to Floyd. His eyes widen at the last part, blush deepening.]

... I could be.

[Said tentatively, looking at Floyd with a touch of vulnerability in his eyes.]

What does me being "yours" look like to you?

[eelusive]

[Floyd hums as he considers that question. What does that look like?

After messing with those red locks, his hand drops back to find purchase on Riddle's leg, just resting and idly touching so his fingers have something to play with.]

I guess I hadn't really thought that far ahead.

[How to put this into terms Riddle can understand? Floyd continues,]

You know how moody I am? It's always been easy for me to get angry and lose interest in stuff. But, like-- When I'm around you, I feel like all I am is happy. And like I want that feeling to stay for a long time.

[Finally after processing that out loud, he looks back to the other boy without an ounce of concern or hesitation in his eyes. Why would he be either of those thing if he's being truthful?]

I think it's like... sharing a bed with you. Or dancing with you more than once a week. Or bringing you stuff every day besides flowers and crabs.

[In hindsight, that all sounds pretty romantic. Floyd lifts a shoulder in a light shrug.]

I just want you to be close to me all the time. That's all.

[chopoffyourhead]

[...oh...

Floyd really says the sweetest things sincerely, and it makes Riddle's heart flutter. The blush on his face deepens...

And everything that he says, even more so. Such sweet, tender and intimate moments to be shared between them.

There's a long moment of trepidation. Concerns coming up in his head, leading down more roads and thoughts. The realization that he's enjoyed Floyd's presence much more on a whole lately— more than most people's. That there might well be... feelings, or the start of feelings.

Finally, he leans and places his forehead on Floyd's shoulder.]

... what if I have feelings for another, too?

[eelusive]

[Floyd wraps his arms around Riddle out of instinct and starts to play with his hair to keep his fingers occupied. As soon as that question arises though, he stills and quietly stares up at the ceiling.

There’s a lot to process, a lot he’s not sure he understands or even wants to. Is that a hypothetical scenario or a real one, and if it’s the latter then… who?

Floyd feels his mood rapidly tanking the more he considers the details and, perhaps in some unconscious attempt to keep it in place, he tightens his hold and presses Riddle’s head closer to his own.]

… I don’t think I wanna answer that right now. And I don’t wanna think about anyone else today. So…

[he mumbles.]

Can I tell you later?

[chopoffyourhead]

[Mmm...

There's a lot Riddle needs to figure out too. What is he okay with? And... what is he supposed to do, in the event he really can't sort these confusing feelings out?

He nuzzles into Floyd's neck.]

Yeah. Of course.

[He places a small, apologetic kiss to his neck.]

... besides... I still haven't given you the reward I had in mind.

[eelusive]

[It's not like Riddle has anything to apologize for. His question isn't an offensive one or even an invalid one. But it does have Floyd thinking... and thinking more than he'd like to be on a day like today.

Twirling some hair around his finger, Floyd replies,]

Y'mean calling me your moray wasn't the reward?

[chopoffyourhead]

[He pulls back, a coy look on his face.]

Well, if that was sufficient, I suppose I could save it for another time...~

1/3

[eelusive]

Wh--