ledbythewind | [Voice/Action]

[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?]

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[That draws a tiny laugh from Richard, both impressed and incredulous at the same time.]

You really do know how to catch someone off guard, don't you?

[A shrug]

You're in a worse position than most people when it comes to this sort of thing. [Ruling a kingdom comes with many, many expectations - some innately difficult for a gay man.]

I'm gonna assume simply changing the rules won't get your far.

Just changing the rules won't change how people feel about the topic in general. I can't just order them to accept something like that. Not even a king can command someone to feel a certain way.

[Ironically, this isn't the first time he's said that very thing to Sanji.]

...

I know it's not what you wanna hear, but I don't think trying to shove yourself into that kind of shitty skin will work.

Maybe you can find a girl who understands your position, and you two can work out an understanding. [Have kids together, continue the blood-line, but seek out their own romantic lifestyles]

You aren't the first to make that suggestion, you know. Isamu has already told me the same thing.

[If only it really were that easy. But he couldn't ask a woman to do that for him, condemn her to a loveless marriage just for the sake of producing heirs. It wouldn't be right.]

[Sanji seems less than surprised Isamu made the same suggestion. He sighs a little, however, as Richard's tone is proof enough the king doesn't think there's anything to gain by considering it.

Not that Sanji exactly likes the idea of saddling a woman in a favorless position, either.]

There just isn't gonna be an easy solution no matter how you slice this shit.

I know.

[And he sighs too. Oh, does he ever know. There isn't an easy solution to the other reason this is bothering him, either.]

Perhaps... I'm not suited to be king after all.

O-oi now!

That's a different issue all together. Liking men doesn't mean you don't have what it takes to rule a country.

It's just one more thing they could use against me to prove that I'm not fit for the throne.

And who are "they"? I thought you were the last of your bloodline to rule. Doesn't that mean you get the final say?

I may be the king, but that doesn't make me immune to criticism from my people or from the other leaders. I'm already in a precarious enough position as it is. I may be popular now, but that's only because most of the world has no idea what I did. If word were to get out about the things that I was responsible for...

Are they gonna get out? [Since, to Sanji, that's the important thing here. He doesn't know the exact state of the Richard's world, and how far the gossip might fly]

That I don't know. I can only hope that none of the few who witnessed my actions decide to spread that information further.

[He knows that rumors have already gotten around, but so far they're just rumors that aren't being taken that seriously, because really. Who would believe that their king would drain all the eleth from the valkines? It's just preposterous.]

[Y'know, outside of the usual flattery and the promise of gaining a lady's favor, Sanji's pretty damn glad he's no actual prince. He would've killed everyone by now]

Well, that shit aside... do you still plan on giving this masculine thing a shot? [He rather hopes not, but who knows? Richard might find a hidden side to himself]

[Yeah, Sanji's temper would not lend itself well to politics, on that much Richard is agreed. At the same time, though, he probably wouldn't be quite as averse to conflict as Richard is, which might not be a bad thing.]

I do. I want to see if I can be what is considered more acceptable for a man, both in my world and in other worlds in general.

[... Sigh.]

If you're that damn determined, I'll lend a hand.

[That is not quite the response Richard was expecting, but hey, he's not complaining.]

You really mean that?

You already made it clear there's no stopping you. So I might as well make sure you do this shit properly.

[Just for you, Richard, Sanji will take the case. And a job of this magnitude requires a set of badass sunglasses.

Yes. Glasses. Don't ask where he got them. They are now on his face, and he gives the stems a little wiggle]

We're gonna make one hell of a man otta you.

I almost feel as if I should be concerned for my safety during this process.

[IS THIS GOING TO INVOLVE PHYSICAL TRAINING? Because he kind of sucks at that.

... also where did those glasses come from, Sanji, they are making you look somewhat ominous.]

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