[Voice/Action]

[ledbythewind]

[Ah, Valentine's Day. The one experiment a year Richard hates most, for a variety of reasons. Granted, this year wasn't TOO terrible, as he was spared the unfortunate fate of falling in love with anyone under the effects of the experiment... but that didn't stop other people from from falling in love/lust with HIM, much to his dismay. And that's left him with many things to think about, as have some of the reactions to the experiment that he's seen from other people. Which leads him to ponder...]

Indulge my curiosity: what sorts of things are considered traditionally "masculine" where you come from?

[A bit later on, Richard will head out of the house on a shopping trip to All Passions and the item store, where he can be found looking for a new wardrobe and a few other things, probably as a result of some of the answers he received to his question. After picking out a bunch of things to take home with him, he chooses something new to wear home as well: cargo pants, combat boots, and a leather motorcycle jacket, because all of those things are super-masculine, right? Alas, on someone with the approximate build of a toothpick and delicate features like Richard has, the end result is a bit ridiculous, but don't tell him that. (Or do, your choice.) He can't quite bring himself to cut his hair - he's still far too proud of it - so instead he opts to pull it back into a ponytail.

There. Much better, in his eyes. Now the question is, what will his friends and housemates think of this?]

Comments

Voice

[theboywiththebook]

Oh, you mean during Valentines week? Yeah, I remember we made a pillow fort.

How come?

Voice

[ledbythewind]

And do you also remember how all of the adults seemed to be falling in love during that time?

Voice

[theboywiththebook]

I do. Why? Did it have something to do with that?

Voice

[ledbythewind]

Something like that. It made me start wondering what other people find attractive when they're looking for a romantic partner.

Voice

[theboywiththebook]

How come? Looks don't really matter do they?

[When people found their true love did looks really come into play?]

Voice

[ledbythewind]

They matter a great deal to some people and less so to others. It all depends on that particular person.

But even if they don't matter all that much, they tend to be the first thing you notice about someone when you meet them.

Voice

[theboywiththebook]

I don't really get it.

[After all, Henry gets true love...romance however seems a lot more complicated to someone almost eleven.]

But, what's that got to do with slaying a dragon or being uh 'masculine?'

Voice

[ledbythewind]

[It's all right, Henry, you don't need to figure all of this out until you're older.]

Women in general tend to be more attracted to men who fit whatever their world's standard for masculinity is. After that Valentine's experiment, I found myself wondering what the standards are in different worlds.

Voice

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry still isn't sure how that exactly is true love...but he'll go along with it for now.]

Does that mean you're trying to get a girl to like you? Because, if that's the case they should just like you for you.

Voice

[ledbythewind]

[... oh. Oh dear. In retrospect, he really should have seen this coming given the line of conversation, but...]

Not exactly, although I do agree that that is how love should work.

Voice

[theboywiththebook]

[Oh yeah, he can tell something's up. So he'll switch to private mode.]

Come on, spill. Who is it? Maybe I can help.

Voice/Private

[ledbythewind]

[Sob. HE IS NOT DISCUSSING HIS (lack of a) LOVE LIFE WITH A TEN-YEAR-OLD, why is this happening to him?]

I'm afraid there isn't anyone in particular right now.

[Lie. There is someone, but a) it's not a woman, and b) they're not into guys.]

Re: Voice/Private

[theboywiththebook]

[TELL YOUR NOT LITTLE BRO, RICHARD! It'll be cathartic!]

Really? Are you sure?

[Henry's not sure if he believes that, but he's pretty sure Richard wouldn't lie.]

Voice/Private

[ledbythewind]

... let's just say that it's complicated.

[Because that's putting it about as mildly as he can think of without going into awkward details.]

Voice/Private

[theboywiththebook]

If you're sure.

[He still think something's up. Especially with that answer. But, he'll let it go.]

But, I think if you ever find your true love they'll love you for you.

Voice/Private

[ledbythewind]

[Oh Henry. He's so innocent and idealistic that it almost makes Richard smile. If only things really did work the way they do in fairy tales...]

That's what I used to think too.

Voice/Private

[theboywiththebook]

[That's...kind of an odd thing to say. It puzzles Henry a bit.]

What changed then?

Voice/Private

[ledbythewind]

It turns out it wasn't true love after all. I loved them more than they loved me, and in the end, it wasn't enough for them to want to stay.

Voice/Private

[theboywiththebook]

Oh...

[Henry's not really sure where to go from here. He can only offer the only words of comfort that comes to mind.]

It doesn't mean you can't love again.

Voice/Private

[ledbythewind]

[Aww... now Richard feels slightly bad, as it wasn't his intention to make Henry feel bad too.]

Perhaps someday in the future, but I think I'm happy with the way things are right now.

Voice/Private

[theboywiththebook]

That's good.

[He's sure though Richard will find his true love. While it was hard to find, it's still something everyone should have.]

But, if it's all the same to you, I think you're fine just as you are.

[His sincerity is clear in his voice. Gotta let his bro know he shouldn't change after all.]

Voice/Private

[ledbythewind]

[And Richard truly does appreciate that sincerity. Even though he isn't feeling that comfortable with himself right now, it's still nice to know that other people like him just the way he is.]

Thank you, Henry. I really do appreciate that.

Voice/Private /wow i'm late. im so sorry sweetie ;^;

[theboywiththebook]

It's no problem.

[But for a change of conversation topic...]

By the way, are we going to go look for a magic tree again soon?

Voice/Private /no worries, I am still being horribly slow myself!

[ledbythewind]

Whenever you'd like. It might be easier to find one now that it isn't snowing out.

Voice/Private; and I had exams so im really late, sorry sweetie

[theboywiththebook]

Exactly!

[But hmmm...]

Do you want to invite, Pascal along?

[She did ask if she could come too.]