[ So, he's not really sure if he's even thinking along the right lines here. Or if he's thinking what Jack is thinking, but there's only one reason he can think of why a flower would be confusing for anyone. So... ]
FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
When I give a woman flowers, it's usually because I'm flirting with her. Is that what you think David is doing?
[ oh. awk. he sincerely doubts david is trying to flirt with him. he's more concerned with what david thinks of him in giving him a flower as a gift. that's something you give to women in general, and just because he likes dicks doesn't mean he has lost his own tyvm. ]
Uncomplicated. The type not likely to call me after.
[ what love life?
also, that's such horseshit. even not considering d'artagnan himself is probably the closest thing to infatuation jack could have for anyone here, consider joseph. (which, he realizes, d'artagnan still doesn't know about, and he's thinking he doesn't really want to change that.)
joseph was someone kind and bright, who thought of how the world should be and didn't feel deterred by how the world is. well. for a while, at least.
[ mostly. it makes it easy, and after what his attempt at love life was, or, what the farce he played at for the sake of being Prince Jack Benjamin, he doubts there's really enough miles he can put between himself and relationships. he wasn't made for them and he knows even what he had with joseph was a joke. jack's not even really sure he'd know how to go on a 'date' without spending the time thinking about how he'd have structured a date with a girl he's trying to convince he's actually interested in. like he could ever do something like that without feeling like he's lying. ]
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
Not to frown on the more romantic prospects of others. It's just not something I'm interested in.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
And, like I said, I doubt David meant it as that regardless.
A: That is not what I was angry about. B: I wasn't that angry, I was just being bitchy. C: I am not nearly that sappy, please.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
Besides, my opinions on others' relations don't necessarily apply to my own.
[ he wants you to be happy. he wants hanna to be happy. hell, he wants david and michelle to be happy and skip through the flowers and sing like its Sound of Music, but that's them and he's jack. it's just not the same. ]
[ So, this started off being about flowers and is now about your choices. Deal with it, Benjamin. ]
FROM: dartagan@cdc.org
Do you actually believe that? Because it’s ridiculous. It’s the same for all of us, including you. You’re free now, you don’t have to marry who you’re told.
[ That’s a perk of not being royalty anymore. And of not being at home. ]
FROM: dartagan@cdc.org
Maybe try calling some of them back. You might actually find someone worth keeping then.
When did I ever say I wanted to marry anyone? Do I seem like the white picket fence and five million adopted brats type to you?
[ which is a fucking hilarious image to him. even the domestication of it. even dates and marriage and boyfriends, if you call it that. the word still makes him cringe on occasion. along with many others. ]
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
That would require caring about who they are and not what they have to offer.
[ he pauses for a while, looking at the screen as he chews at the inside of a lip. ]
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
It's not a good idea.
[ he'll never get joseph's voice out of his head. he shouldn't, for what he'd done to him. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
d98
David gave me a flower.
[ translation: my life is very bizarre rn. as a healthy, functioning adult male, pls explain it to me. ]
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FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
Do you like flowers?
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I don’t dislike them?
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So, you're telling me because it's David.
FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
Why did he give you a flower, Jack? Did he say?
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Yes.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
He said he thought I'd like it.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
It's just odd.
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FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
When I give a woman flowers, it's usually because I'm flirting with her. Is that what you think David is doing?
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FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
No. I don't.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
Have you ever given another man a flower?
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Of course not, I've never flirted with a man.
FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
Is it the wrong thing to do? Maybe David just doesn't know any better.
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Not even as something not meant as romantic?
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
David is particularly dense. Could be.
[ it isn’t necessarily wrong. Just... strange. ]
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FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
I don't know. Not often, Jack. Maybe if something new was growing in the field and I was showing my father.
FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
Honestly? I don't go around giving anyone flowers. It's odd. If you think it wasn't romantic, did you ask him why he did it?
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No. That would be so much more awkward of a conversation than I’m willing to have with David Shepherd.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
Nevermind about it. I was just curious.
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It's not awkward.
FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
What are you worried about? That he'll say it's romantic, or that he'll say it isn't?
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It isn't romantic.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
I'm not worried. Just curious.
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All right.
FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
What if it was romantic? How would you feel about that?
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I would feel that David was either high, has a terrible sense of humor, or completely misjudged how to bribe me for something.
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So, then you're not attracted to him. Not even remotely?
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I'm fairly certain he's slept with my sister. Kind of kills it for me.
Besides, he's not really my type.
[ shut up jack you don't even know what your type is. also, exhibit a, d'artagnan.]
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Then what is your type? Seriously, I want to know.
[ Let's just ease into new territory here. We never have talked much about your love life, Jack. ]
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Uncomplicated. The type not likely to call me after.
[ what love life?
also, that's such horseshit. even not considering d'artagnan himself is probably the closest thing to infatuation jack could have for anyone here, consider joseph. (which, he realizes, d'artagnan still doesn't know about, and he's thinking he doesn't really want to change that.)
joseph was someone kind and bright, who thought of how the world should be and didn't feel deterred by how the world is. well. for a while, at least.
but all things golden must fade, etc etc.
wow, fuck this conversation already. ]
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FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
If that's what makes you happy. I'm sure the flower didn't mean anything. God forbid he might have just been being nice to you.
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It does.
[ mostly. it makes it easy, and after what his attempt at love life was, or, what the farce he played at for the sake of being Prince Jack Benjamin, he doubts there's really enough miles he can put between himself and relationships. he wasn't made for them and he knows even what he had with joseph was a joke. jack's not even really sure he'd know how to go on a 'date' without spending the time thinking about how he'd have structured a date with a girl he's trying to convince he's actually interested in. like he could ever do something like that without feeling like he's lying. ]
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
Not to frown on the more romantic prospects of others. It's just not something I'm interested in.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
And, like I said, I doubt David meant it as that regardless.
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You do realise you're the same man who was angry because one kiss with Hanna didn't mean we were in love?
[ Seriously, Jack. He'd buy your promiscuity cover story a lot easier if it didn't make you a raging hypocrite. ]
FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
Or does it only matter if someone gets hurt when it's her?
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A: That is not what I was angry about. B: I wasn't that angry, I was just being bitchy. C: I am not nearly that sappy, please.
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
Besides, my opinions on others' relations don't necessarily apply to my own.
[ he wants you to be happy. he wants hanna to be happy. hell, he wants david and michelle to be happy and skip through the flowers and sing like its Sound of Music, but that's them and he's jack. it's just not the same. ]
no subject
FROM: dartagan@cdc.org
Do you actually believe that? Because it’s ridiculous. It’s the same for all of us, including you. You’re free now, you don’t have to marry who you’re told.
[ That’s a perk of not being royalty anymore. And of not being at home. ]
FROM: dartagan@cdc.org
Maybe try calling some of them back. You might actually find someone worth keeping then.
no subject
When did I ever say I wanted to marry anyone? Do I seem like the white picket fence and five million adopted brats type to you?
[ which is a fucking hilarious image to him. even the domestication of it. even dates and marriage and boyfriends, if you call it that. the word still makes him cringe on occasion. along with many others. ]
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
That would require caring about who they are and not what they have to offer.
[ he pauses for a while, looking at the screen as he chews at the inside of a lip. ]
FROM: benjamin.jonathan@cdc.org
It's not a good idea.
[ he'll never get joseph's voice out of his head. he shouldn't, for what he'd done to him. ]
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