[ text | un: trickster ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ The best way to deal with crippling revelations is to make inane posts. Well. Maybe not so inane since he is genuinely lost. ]

What is the different between a boyfriend and a boy friend? Are there various levels of friendship that are distinguished by sex? The online literature on this subject is perplexing in nature. How does one earn these titles?

Comments

private; video

[livingsymbol]

Right.

[Would it be weird to guess that Loki met someone? Probably. Steve doesn't think the question necessarily implies that he is asking out of an interest in using the term, but now that he's looking at it, he doesn't know Loki's personal life. Maybe there's a nice friend Loki actually opened up to. Best not to assume.]

It's a level of commitment. You can have a lover that isn't a boyfriend and have a boyfriend you love but don't have sex with. And you can have a friend that is just a friend that happens to be a boy. You don't have to call them any of those.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Yes, actually Steve, it would be ]

Why am I not surprised that mortals take something as simple as love and affection and create it into a confusing hierarchy of needs?

[livingsymbol]

Love is never simple. We can't express it with something like a word or a term. The hierarchy is an attempt to handle some of the nuances, but that doesn't always apply either.

Love and affection are feelings. Everyone feels things differently. If the words don't work for you, you don't have to use them.

[dothelokimotion]

[ . . . Well. Count on Steve to be serious and ruin his fun. His words bring what's on his mind too close to home. ]

You do realize I would never deign to use terms like "boy friends" and "bffles" or whatever made up slang humans have concocted.

[livingsymbol]

That's all right. I've never used them either. I hear I'm too old fashioned for them.

[Words are words. It's okay, he's only being half serious.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He huffs though there is a faint grin on his face. ]

You simply do it to prove a point.

Apparently by showing my ignorance, I'm inviting men to take advantage. I do not even know where such a ludicrous notion came from.

[livingsymbol]

[Steve doesn't say anything to Loki's point, but the way he smirks says that the god is probably right. He doesn't like being told what to be in any way.]

Mm, I think I'd like to see someone try that. Then again, I'd probably have to step in and keep you from responding with too much return advantage, so let's not let that happen.

He's just worried. Feelings can surprise us.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Worried. His expression scrunches up despite himself, as if he smelled something bad and doesn't know what to make of it. Waving away Steve's concern (though strangely enough, Loki does not doubt it.) as he replies. ]

He's not worried. That's absurd.

[livingsymbol]

Don't you worry about yourself? It's a reasonable reaction.

[Sure, he's bending the words around here, but that totally still counts in Steve's mind. He's being fair. And it's to help them both out.]

Think of it as extended self-preservation.

[And that's how you learn what teams are.]

[dothelokimotion]

Loki does not worry about Loki. The only thing we worry about is how long it will take to destroy each other.

[ His tone is blunt and matter of fact. ]

It is simply not . . . viable to look out for each other.

[ Loki has too much self-loathing for that. Only his ambition and his victory keeps him afloat. ]

[livingsymbol]

Maybe that's my mistake then.

[ He'll concede that, but he certainly doesn't believe it. That was a good gesture, and for once Steve appreciates Loki for who he is. ]

Sometimes we do things that don't seem to be in our best interest because we worry about others. I guess I'm just used to that.

[dothelokimotion]

You do have a large propensity for acting on sentiment. You fought me over a donut.

[ He runs a hand through his hair and just . . . nope! Nope nope nope. Not going to consider the idea of genuine sentiment from Loki. ]

[livingsymbol]

You mean I won a fight over a donut.

[ He lets the conversation shift away from feelings. It seems like they are striking a bit too close to sensitive and Steve gives Loki more room. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki is grateful for that. There's only so much he can handle at a time. ]

You did not win. I was gracious enough to spare you half.

[livingsymbol]

So it was a tie?

[ Feelings get to be too much for him too. Sometimes you have to go back to familiar comforts like conflict and snark. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Sadly, Loki is feelings. He has them all the time. Even a post like this quietly derails himself into avenues he wished were closed.

Sentiment. He loathes it. ]

A tie in my favor, Steve. And I never even got a thank you, I might add.

[livingsymbol]

[ And ironically Steve is usually the one that has difficulty sorting out his feelings. He's great at talking about people or inspiring others, not so great about his own emotions. There's a pause where he decides how he's going to react. ]

Thank you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Foolish, a voice whispers to him and Loki does not know who. ]

You are welcome.

[livingsymbol]

[ Oh. That wasn't what he expected.

Well, then. ]

You should come with me for lunch sometime.

[dothelokimotion]

[ u h m

plays it cool. ]

Is this an underhanded way of getting me to pay for your lunch, Captain?

[livingsymbol]

You got me.

[Oh, Loki, of course not.]

[dothelokimotion]

You're not that hard to read.

[ Or just easy for Loki. Another thing he's refusing to look at too deeply. The list keeps growing. ]

Very well. I look forward to our . . . lunch.

[livingsymbol]

Great. I'll let you know when I find a good place.

[You're locked in now, Loki. Steve looks a little bit smug as he disconnects... which probably means he has a plan.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ It still baffles him, but at least with Steve, Loki knows how to respond. ]

You are getting my hopes up, Captain. I don't do well with disappointment.