driftfleet | 3 AM we seemed alright, on our way into the mingle

[Today's a wonderful day on the Caprine back before the June Winter hit. And wouldn't you know it, Pinkie wants some company for her latest cooking project, and the other crewmates are busy. Time to bug Qing!]

Qiiiing, where AAAARE you~?

[He doesn't hear Pinkie, despite her general volume, between the end of his shower and the preoccupation he has in his thoughts. The light in his room is on, though, and by the time she'll have come to investigate he'll be out of the little shower cubicle and drying off.

More specifically, he's wrapped a towel around his hips and is dab-drying his hair when the door opens, blinking once.]

Ah, Pinkie-

[Well, that's a little awkward.]

Oh hey there, Qing! I was wondering if you've got a minute, I've got a great new baking idea~

[What's a stigma against being naked, is it a cupcake?]

[That would not be a very tasty cupcake tbh.]

Ah, I do, but--

[Well, it's not like he can blame her. Pinkie doesn't wear clothes to begin with. Bemusement colours his tone and he pushes his hair back over his shoulder. Unbound, it falls pretty close to his navel now.]

I'm not even dressed yet; I just got out of the shower.

[Worse than accidentally eating cardboard.]

Hee, I can see that, silly! You can dry off first!

[Stiiiill no sign of closing the door.]

[Corrugated cardboard. Not just tasteless, chewy too.]

Well-- yes, but-

[Um. Qing can feel his cheeks turning pink, and he rubs one of them idly.]

Could you... wait outside for a moment? I'm, ah... well. [Oh god he's not used to floundering this much...] I-it's not normal for humans to be naked in front of others.

[He stammers a little, tripping over the words and glancing to the door, as if the very statement of this fact would bring more visitors just to make his life more embarrassing.]

It's not? [Blink... then shrug.] Okay, then, I can wait!] Okay, then, I can wait!

[And stepping back a couple of feet NOW'S YOUR CHANCE, CLOSE THE DOOR!]

[THANK GOODNESS... he sort of assumes she'll get the drift when he pulls the door most of the way closed, and... well, he tries to be quick about it. Underwear are quick enough, but pulling on skirts and dresses takes a little more finesse.

After a moment, he exhales a sigh and shakes his head once.]

Alright, you can come in. [Hopefully she hasn't already pushed the door open or something, but whatever!!]

[Funny as that would be, she's one to TRY respecting boundaries once they've been set. NOW she opens the door though.]

Okay, NOW can I ask for your help?

[He gives a wry sort of smile, nodding.]

Yes, now is fine. I'm sure I'll be completely finished by the time you ask. [This time he does laugh, at least, ignoring the tinge of his cheeks as he tugs his outfit on and sets about settling it properly on his frame.]

... You okay, Qing?

[Why you still flustered, friend?]

Edited 2016-07-26 08:13 (UTC)

[She's a horse. She doesn't even wear clothing. Qing has to remember that.]

I'm fine, I promise. It's just... [Hm.... the truth is probably best...] It's a human thing. Ponies don't wear clothes normally, right? So being naked in front of others doesn't seem weird.

Well not unless we want to. We'll wear stuff if we need it for work or for special occasions, and I've got LOTS of costumes, but yeah, NOT wearing clothes isn't that big a deal back home.

Mm. [He nods, tilting his head thoughtfully.]

For humans, being naked is... well, for most of us it's kind of a cultural no-no. On Earth, you could actually get arrested for it where I lived. Plus, for me personally, it's... [For a brief moment, his expression turns pained - it's half-hidden under the wash of emotions he tries to keep there, but it's definitely there.] ... Well, it's not really accepted back home. Men dressing in clothes like these. [So it's better for everyone to not... know... yeah, that's right. Haaah...]

Why would-- Wait a minute, you're a GUY?!

[Before he can say much more, she cuts him off.]

Oh my gosh, I've been calling you a girl this whole time! Why didn't you tell me, I'm so sorry!

Wh--

[Oh boy, this conversation. Although... it's a different sort of tone than he's used to. With a blink, he actually laughs.]

It's fine. It doesn't bother me, even if I don't think of myself that way. [Patience is about the only way to handle this, he supposes.] Like I said, it's not the norm for men on Earth, so it's always easier for people think I'm a girl. I look like one anyway - and a young one, at that.

[At least he has some humour about it.]

Okay, phew! [She nuzzles his leg a bit.] I DEFINITELY wanna call you whatever you wanna be called, though.

[At that, he gives Pinkie a headpat. It's still so weird to not be the shortest one on the ship.]

Feel free to call me 'he', in that case. I don't hide it so much as just... don't correct people.

[Nod nod.] "He" it is!

... thank you.

[Ah. He wasn't... he wasn't expecting it. That little thing, something Pinkie does so casually, just accepting him for what he is. The tears rise to his eyes before he can think to stop them, his head lowering without even a thought to hide them under his bangs. Not that it works well.]

Thank you. [The repeat is quieter, something knocking on walls that should never have had to be built, a half-choked little laugh on his lips as there's a sort of mental crack.

It's okay. It's okay to be him. Himself. It's okay. It is???

Sorry about the sudden waterworks, Pinkie.]

Qing? What's wrong, are you okay?

[Ah. Ah. He's supposed to be composed, this isn't supposed to matter to him. It's not like one person calling him by 'he' is such a huge step, is it?

Yet it is. He raises his hands to wipe his face, nodding. The smile he has is wavering and small, but it is very, very real.]

Y-yeah. [Hic. He takes in a gulp of breath and tries again.] Yeah, I'm okay. These aren't... I'm not sad. [His mind feels all out of sorts, hazy and full of conflicting thoughts. It's already trying to take this from him, to twist it on its head and turn it into what he remembers. He's trying not to let it. A breathy laugh escapes him.]

I... no one's just... called me 'he' when I explained, without some comment or another. [God, he's glad he doesn't have any makeup on right now.]

[Dude, you can totally cry about that, she's going to hug him too.]

Nobody?

3 AM we seemed alright, on our way into the mingle

Backdated to when it was actually June XD

WHAT YOU MEAN IT'S NOT JUNE ANYMORE?!?

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