beheaded | open/overflow post

so what's keeping the if from being a when, goldfishie?

If you wish to call on me, simply do so. Whether I will accept or not is another matter entirely, but one never knows until they try.

okay!

i'm calling you right now

do you hear it

Don't be cheeky! You know what I meant, Floyd!

Oh, no matter. I couldn't ignore you even if I wanted to. Fine.

Where shall we meet? I'm just about finished with my studying, so I have a bit of time I can while away.

you make it so easy
but that's why i like you

where are you studying

I'll like you better without a head, you right proper terror.

I'm currently in Heartslabyul's lounge. Should I meet you outside, or will you come in?

i'll join you

you alone? no one else studying with you?

Alright. Do not keep me waiting long. I despise tardiness more than anything.

I am indeed. Generally, if I am studying, you can count on me being alone. I don't like others distracting me...but you know that already, don't you?

[ it shouldn't be hard to notice the tiny creature seated at the large table in the middle of heartslabyul's dormitory lounge. he's still in his dorm uniform to a degree, the traditional regalia of his great coat, gloves, and ribbon around his neck left behind, leaving riddle in his sleeveless dress shirt and ostentatious high-heeled boots. he looks...smaller, almost. like a real queen in a moment of repose. perhaps that's what this study session was meant to be for him. ]

[ of course he knows that. as the current record holder of 'riddle rosehearts pesterer', floyd won't let anyone take that coveted position away from him. not that anyone could probably get themselves on that board right now without being rebuffed. threatened. discouraged by hefty study guides and previous notebooks. he knows riddle prefers his privacy, his quiet, and his peace. those things allow him to work the most effectively. the most efficiently.

which makes this the most tantalizing and tempting bait riddle could set out for him. and he'd fall for it over and over again.

into the lounge he enters, with slow and deliberate steps. he half-heartedly kicks out his leg with each one in an almost comical manner, hands behind his back with a lazy grin on his face. ]

Hi, Goldfishie~

[ oh. that look makes floyd stop entirely so he can stare. he makes no effort to pretend like he's doing anything else. mmm. ]

[ upon hearing that familiar voice, he sets his pencil down before giving the stack of papers in front of him a light push forward with his fingertips. he'll come to collect them later, if a doormouse doesn't meander by to return them to his room personally. ]

Good evening.

[ he turns in his chair, legs crossed elegantly, arms crossed as he gives his head an inquisitive tilt. after a few long moments, the staring finally gets to him, and riddle raises a brow. ]

And what has you so chuffed? It is rude to stare, you know.

[ no words are spoken as he approaches the table. it's a pretty large one, all things considered, meant for he assumes would be plates upon plates of snacks and cups of tea that would make a pretty wonderful party. and maybe that's what it usually is for! but right now, it is simply a place for riddle to organize his notes and study properly.

the papers are in the way though. he carefully moves them aside. yes, he could shove them away and cause quite the mess, but he knows that he can do plenty to irritate riddle without causing him to erupt.

why does he do this? so he can flop onto the table, 'swim' up so that he could be almost up to the smaller boy's chest. so he can be a little silly. playful at his own risk. ]

Well... ya ready?

[ tea parties, study groups, weekly meetings-- all activities pre-approved for the large table's use. what it isn't approved for is giant mermen slinking atop it in order to grin up at the beautiful queen of this domain. ]

You only just arrived, and already you're making mischief.

[ riddle scowls, takes a few deep breaths through his nose, and stifles his urge to fly off the handle and demand floyd get off the table. maybe if he ignores the behavior and doesn't fight him over it, he'll be off sooner and they can be on their way... it's difficult, swallowing down the urge to fight, but riddle supposes his gentleman isn't the only one who needs to be whipped into shape. ]

No matter. I am ready... Ready for what, though?

Ya forgot already?

[ onto his back he goes. the eel splays out in a vitruvian man-esque manner, arms and legs spread out as if he were preparing to make a snow angel. or paper angel, if he so chose to. but he's going to be good and not make a mess of anything, careful to keep those stacks of paper and books in some kind of order.

but he can still keep his eyes on riddle, though he's now upside down in his view. ]

And here I am all ready for ya to do a lil' extra studyin'. Might as well just slap myself down on a platter at this point.

[ fishsticks, riddle. ]

[ truthfully, he didn't take floyd's invitation to join him in a bit of studying seriously at all. riddle imagines sitting still with a dry book and zero stimulation might be the bane of the merman's existence-- the poor fool can't even sit still for more than a few moments.

with an agitated narrowing of his eyes, riddle watches his classmate roll around and flirt with the possibility of making a mess. thankfully floyd never makes good on it, but it's still annoying to watch when riddle would rather be studying.

the annoyance doesn't last long; floyd's words give him genuine pause. ]

So you were serious? You really meant it when you said you would join me for studying?

[ well isn't that something? his expression softens into a small smile. ]

And here I thought you were going to pester me, or whisk me off somewhere to distract me.

'f course. I said I'd do it 'cause I figured it'd be fun for the both of us!

[ and now he changes positions again, this time getting back into a seated position directly in front of riddle. he wants to make sure the smaller boy can see how genuine he's being! that when he flashes a wide and pointy smile, that every tooth can be seen. when he lets his legs dangle down in front and off the edge of the table, the merman continues to press his luck when it comes to being in physical space. ]

Would ya call what I normally do pesterin' ya? Thought ya liked it. Your face gets all red and you stammer and I can practically hear your heart beatin'~

[ reaching out, he places a hand on top of riddle's head, the heel of his palm resting just past that cute little ahoge. ]

Makes me wanna focus. Ya'd like that, right?

I have a very hard time believing that.

[ floyd might be facing him head-on with a perky smile, but riddle remains unmoved, his legs crossed and arms folded over his chest as he watches the other boy with minor skepticism.

for all the airs he's doing his best to maintain, the truth of his feelings makes itself clear in the subtle way he simply allows floyd to remain in his space without consequence. another, less subtle way, is how riddle's cheeks instantly turn a bright red in spite of his displeased scowl. ]

Of course I would call it pestering. If you distract someone from their work or studies, you are being a pest. Hence, pestering. If I turn red, it's only because you make me angry!

[ if floyd is referring to the torrid makeouts, riddle pretends to be none the wiser, mentally citing that they aren't a frequent enough occurrence to warrant consideration for "normal" behavior. not that it matters, of course; riddle's mouth is nowhere near as honest as his body. it's clear to anyone with eyes that the upstart little queen enjoys their outings and adventures. ]

...I suppose when you're being serious, you make for a good study partner. Naturally I prefer your company when you're focused on the task at hand.

[ well. that settles it! he'll have to resort to more... insidious measures to get what he wants. what does floyd want? great question. probably something to get riddle to lose that frown, replace it with something that has less scorn behind it. not that he's actually mad or anything; there might be displeasure but it's not particularly sharp. it doesn't make floyd's spine shiver, not even a little. ]

Then how 'bout I sit next to ya and when ya wanna take a lil' break... I'll already be here for ya.

[ and maybe he'll learn through osmosis as well? floyd, again, is careful to get off the table this time without kicking something off. it's still tempting to do it but he's going to behave! he's going to make his little rose happy! and by doing that, he will reap the rewards of being a sneaky eel. a sneakeel. that he's graceful enough to slide into a seat next to the little queen, fit himself neatly against him so that their legs touch and that floyd can reach behind him is... definitely a thing. ]

Am I still distractin'?

Won't that be boring for you? There's no need for you to while away quietly for my sake...

[ his frown softens up, a small pout that's less angry and more concerned, sheepish. when's the last time someone offered to simply be with him, while he studied silently no less? the answer is a big fat never. of course gorgeous boys have countless things they would rather be doing, all of which include leaving reedy little bookworms in the dust. truthfully, riddle couldn't blame anyone for never considering something so nonsensical. a waste of time, he would have chalked it up as.

riddle wants to harbor his suspicions, but when floyd eases himself off the table, distinctly not sending books and papers and pencils flying about, it's hard to remain steadfast. a light warmth rises to his cheeks when floyd sidles right up to him, close as could be without being flush against him, their legs touching. ]

Yes, you are, but this time it is through no fault of your own.

[ his gaze flickers up and down the other boy's form, taking in how relaxed he seems, how cheery he looks just to be in his presence. it's hard not to stare, especially when thoughts of all the other things they could be occupying their time with flash through his mind-- but riddle shakes his head, and turns his attention back to the pile of work before him, picking his pencil back up and turning the page of the book in front of him. ]

Once I finish this section, perhaps we can do an activity of your choosing? Fair is fair, after all.

[ well now! that's an interesting admission that riddle makes right in front of floyd's metaphorical salad, so to speak. that while the merman is here and clearly pushing those stretching boundaries, it's not because of him that riddle's become somewhat distracted? obviously not enough to keep him from finishing a section of that work. he's still a studious and disciplined queen. the harder he works, the better the play should be afterward.

so maybe... floyd sees himself as the reward... he's the prize! ]

Anything? Ya mean it? 'cause ya know what I'd want.

[ he withdraws that one arm so he can instead place his hand right in riddle's lap. that he can rest his hand on his thigh. his thumb rubbing circles while his fingers squeezing the inner part, a place that he's intimately familiar with already. he has favorite places to touch, to massage, to dig those fingertips into. ]

So why don't ya tell me what you're workin' on now.

[ maybe that's it. maybe floyd is the reward for being so diligent and thorough with his work. maybe he even wants to push through his work and get right to the prize-- a thought he would have balked at before, but riddle has few things in his life that make him feel, well, alive. few things that are more interesting than learning out of a book. the hands-on approach floyd has taken with him recently has been especially effective.

besides, who's to say floyd isn't getting rewarded too? when that big rough hand slides atop his thigh to squeeze and massage, riddle doesn't rebuff it. on the contrary, he glances down at it, flickers his own gaze over to floyd's lap, up his arm, to his neck, to his face, those lips and that mischievous smile.

riddle takes a soft and steady breath. ]

I meant what I said. You come up with good ideas for activities from time to time. Lately, you've become better at choosing ones we both enjoy.

[ in many respects, not just the kind related to flesh. whipping floyd into shape is coming along brilliantly. sure, he drives riddle crazy as much as he always does, but there's a balance being struck that makes the insanity worth it-- at least to riddle. could it be the fiery queen is the one who is being whipped into shape, in that case?

it's not something he wants to think about. not right now. his sole interest lies in getting through the last bit of this chapter he, quite frankly, doesn't care about anymore. still, he knows he'll be bothered by it if he leaves his notes incomplete. almost robotically, he begins to peruse, write, peruse, write. ]

I'm just finishing up yesterday's History of Alchemy lecture. Currently, I'm adding onto the fifth century Neverland timeline.

[ riddle's fun. he's entertaining and interesting and enchanting and all those kinds of things. he may not say it with his words but he does it with his actions. that he's been... better, and it hasn't gone unnoticed by both azul and his twin brother. both of them know what's going on. floyd doesn't hide his affections nor does he shy away from being open about where he goes and who he spends his time with. that he's become a little more thoughtful, but that's it, and only towards one specific individual. ]

Ya really mean that? [ oh. this pleases the eel. ] Thought ya liked doin' that paintin' thing, even though it got a little messy.

[ floyd had gotten into doing acrylic pours and it just so happened that in the process, he might've gotten carried away and... well. let's just say most of their canvases ended up having very unique patterns after they were done. he probably would never be trusted to help with painting those roses if ever asked, that's for sure. (also it's not his dorm)

watching riddle return to his notetaking is definitely less fun for him, but it's something that the other must do. it's in his nature. leave nothing incomplete, follow the routine, be unfaltering in the strict nature that his dorm embodies the most. it's cute. ]

Do ya think you'll ever need to know everythin'?

[ he's curious, that's all. it's why his hand doesn't move any further. he keeps it anchored there, almost using it to steady himself more than anything else. yes, he could... be pretty naughty all things considered but he's holding back. letting things build. ]

[ a chuckle. ]

I did enjoy that, yes. I would hesitate to call anything we created art, but I liked the experience nonetheless. I still laugh when I remember how silly we looked by the time we finished.

[ it's a lovely memory, and recounting it has riddle smiling softly and slowing in his writing. of course he freaked out and yelled at first, but the inherent chaoticness of the activity, coupled with floyd's guiding whimsy, made it easy for riddle to set his ego aside in favor of disorganized splatters and patterns that made sense only to him.

surely it'll be fine to leave out a few superfluous details in these notes... plus, it's only a timeline, it doesn't need to be overly elaborate. riddle nods to himself as he elects to skip a few paragraphs. what can he say? floyd's presence is starting to lift his mood. ]

Everything? Certainly not. I wager most information will become lost in my daily life, and I'll only remember the things that are important to me. That's simply how the brain works.

[ a turn of a page, though he doesn't immediately begin reading. ]

Even so, I still want to learn and experience as much as I can.

[ he looks up at floyd, giving the other boy a soft smile. ]

You never know what will become important to you.

[ it wouldn't be a classic FloRid™ outing if it didn't involve the both of them getting loud, one of them probably getting exasperated and slightly upset while the other just likes being loud for any reason that he's been given. either way, the one salvageable work of art that made it out without any real blemishes hangs proudly in floyd's room. critics agree that it was born from passion or something pretty close to it, and that it deserves its spot right next to the moray merch that's been accumulating.

but he has a good enough eye to know that... is goldfishie really skipping over some details? is he rushing? very interesting! how does floyd know this? just a guess. maybe a hopeful one at that. ]

Then it sounds like I got a normal brain, don't it~

[ fickle. moody. that's him. he'll cling onto something and then when something else comes along, he dives onto it. but those are those things that don't deserve a lot of attention in the first place; the few that he holds onto are rare, but... he can do it. he will do it.

and that's why those last words hit differently, causing floyd's heart to skip a beat. he really means it. that look riddle gives him? in the past, he might be caught off-balance by it. that he would be confused and almost intimidated by the nature of that warmth. but now? he embraces it. and it feels like riddle has done the same, so. that makes him... happy.

that hand in riddle's lap has been places and it returns to a comfortable and familiar place. back up and around the smaller boy, to curl it around him, wriggling behind riddle's upper back so that he can squeeze him against his side. ]

I already know what's important to me!~

[ he lets that moment sit for a second or two, before adding: ]

Anyway. When you're done with your notes, can I take a peek at 'em? Promise I won't make a copy or anythin'.

[ they'd probably fetch a few bucks... ]

I don't know if I would go so far as to say your brain is normal, but certainly, your memory works as it should.

[ floyd's eccentricity is what makes him him, for better or for worse. he can't imagine this troublesome boy feeling any sort of anguish over how his mind flits from thought to thought, fancy to fancy. to be fair, riddle supposes, this may very well be woefully uncharted territory for him. it's an oddly comforting thought.

especially when he makes that boyishly sweet and delighted face at his last comment. riddle would daresay letting his guard down and using a tender hand on the merman is worth it sometimes. he gets a sincere, warm embrace out of it, not one of those bullying squeezes meant to antagonize. this one too is sweet, delighted. riddle leans into it willingly, if only for a moment, to relish in how good it feels to be desired. ]

I'm beginning to learn as well.

[ he draws away just enough to squeeze some tiny text onto his paper before starting another block of text. ]

Yes. Feel free. Perhaps you can give me your input on the last half? I want to work on condensing my information in a more effective manner, in order to save time. You and my residents keep me so busy these days-- I can't quite justify being superfluous anymore.

[ who knew being less of a cruel shrieking tyrant would reap such not-lonely rewards? ]

[ he fits neatly against floyd's side and that brings a feeling of satisfaction that he's rarely felt before in his life. it just hits differently; while he would say that he and his brother are inseparable, the way that riddle nestles into his body is far more intimate. a closeness that goes past the physical and leaves an imprint that not even the most capricious merman can ignore. it doesn't just benefit him, after all. ]

Ya definitely write a lot. And the way ya do it, ya might as well be the one givin' the lectures.

[ he's pissed trein off more times than he can count. he can only imagine it'd be more interesting if it were riddle up there... floyd definitely couldn't get away with anything if that happened though. ]

Could probably condense things a lil' more. Imagine if ya were writin' 'em for me. Think I'd even get past the first two lines?

[ using himself as an example feels like a natural way for him to think about it, only because if he were a future audience for such material, there's no way floyd would want to read too much. the old KISS method comes to mind. there's also the new kiss method, having the top of riddle's head available. it's right there, free real estate. how could he not press his face into it, nosing through the soft hair, indulging himself with the subtle scent of roses. ]

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