2.23 - Spam + Voice + Text

[breakingmyheart]

[Spam for Megamind and Edward Nygma]

[Toshiko is the first to wake up. There's still the lingering taste of buttercream frosting on her tongue. She doesn't remember the last time she ate a cupcake.

Megamind and Edward's pillow fort - ridiculous to Toshiko as an almost aggressively sensible twelve-year-old, now she can barely find it in herself to have an opinion - was designed for one small adult and two children. When they dozed off together it was cosy. Now three adults are tangled up at close quarters and the walls have been forced apart and they're listing alarmingly.

Luckily the ceiling is just blankets and there's some give in them, but moving at all will make the whole thing collapse and that'll wake up the other two. She doesn't really want that happening yet. Like she's just woken up from a good dream and she's wondering that if she drifts off again, her brain will be at the same frequency to let her return to it.

She knows she isn't tired enough to sleep again but she closes her eyes and just soaks it all in.]

[Private to Erik; voice]

Erik, I know...

[There’s a pause. She sounds a bit quiet, a bit lost, but not unemotional. On the contrary, it’s more like there’s too much going on and she’s struggling to keep a lid on it all.]

I know you didn’t do what you did for me.

[You did it for yourself. So you didn’t have to have a little girl's trauma on your conscience.

Though something still lingers. There's no reason not to walk. I - I'd like to see you do it.

He didn't have to say that to her younger self, knowing the older was the one it'd resonate with.]

But -- I want to thank you anyway.

[Private to 'Garrett Hobbs'; text]

You took advantage of me.

[She can't even tell if she's angry.]

Comments

[insolubleriddle]

[He can't really argue, seeing as he had leapt out of the pillow fort upon realising he wasn't alone.]

Good lord, Megamind. 'It can only get better if we try.' [He snorts.] It's far too early for pep talks about intimacy.

[Edward holds the ice-pack to his aching jaw, reassured that he hasn't bitten too deeply into his tongue. It would swell up later, but tongues were known to heal fairly quickly.]

[He pushes up from the floor, turning to Toshiko.]

Thank you, by the way.

[Now, breakfast.]

[breakingmyheart]

[Mildly:] You're welcome.

[And to Megamind:] It's got nothing to do with the flood, I don't feel awkward, I just -

[Kind of think it's reasonable to run off at the first sign of intimacy in some contexts. She can't be here in the rooms where Edward and Megamind practically live together and not feel like a gigantic, unwelcome third wheel.

But her throat just closes up around the sentiment.]

Never mind. Breakfast.

[megamind]

Is it easier to say we're all attracted to each other, grown adults, and should just-- handle it? Wait, no, that sounds terribly-- something.

[ Brainbots had kept hearing the breakfast word and were already marking the number of places and getting things at the kitchenette set up -- the table. ]

[ Megamind just took a few longs sips of his coffee, blinked his eyes, and says ]

Ten minutes with the coffee and I'll be back to my awkward self. God I don't know how you humans function sometimes.

[ At least he's patting her shoulder instead of grabbing at her now, apologetic and already getting the rest of his brain online. The brainbots are practiced at his morning routine-- one's already zipping over with a robe which he slides into with robotic help, and another is setting out clean water for the dog, while Megamind steadily becomes more aware. ]

The brainbots have chosen a variety of pancakes. Ooh, Red Velvet! Well, let's eat, hmm?

[ He'll get Angus fed now, putting his cup of coffee down where he'd sit eventually. ]

[breakingmyheart]

[Toshiko is offered a cup of coffee by a brainbot and rather passively accepts it because, well, turns out that Megamind says all sorts before the caffeine's kicked in.]

...ah. In a minute. Is that what we are?

[She can't help it; her eyes flicker to Edward, who by now she's mentally categorised as 'possibly gay in non-flood circumstances and/or otherwise not interested'.]

[insolubleriddle]

[Eddie sends Toshiko a perplexed look, since she seems to be the only other sane person in the lair right now.]

We have a triangle.

The fort was almost a triangle too. Perfect visual of what will occur if we attempt to 'handle' this mutual appreciation for small blue aliens.

[He sits at the table, at his usual seat, next to Megamind's, and selects a couple of detectible-looking pancakes to stare at since his jaw hurts too much to go through the task of eating right now.]

[And since Megamind had the brain bots make him a glass of iced water instead of a coffee, and decides to steal Megamind's while he's off feeding the dog.]

[megamind]

[ You're going to regret that with a cut in your mouth, Eddie. It's Megamind's creamed-and-sugared coffee slurry, just the way he likes it. But a moment later he's got Angus nosing his wobbler around to puzzle out getting food out of it and stay engaged. ]

This is abrupt change from your interest since her previously rescinded offer, Mr. Nygma. Which I think we both avoided talking about because we were thinking about it and -- where is my coffee? Dammit, Edward. Ugh, coffee backwash.

[ ...and off he goes to get a new cup, grumbling. A moment later, he's sitting at the table. ]

There are plenty of rational, logical explanations on why we should or should not, but in the mean time we are all friends, and we should all be able to comport [ that is not how you say that word, Megamind ] like adults and not run from each other. We live together, work together, see each other daily. The boat's tiny, and I want you both in my life on some level.

--oh good a new cup.

[ And he lapses into silence, sipping his coffee in his chair, eyes closed. ]

[breakingmyheart]

[Toshiko is by now sitting down and regarding the pancakes with a suspicious eye (what is red velvet?). It becomes a distinctly 'what' look on abrupt change from your interest, aimed first at Megamind and then briefly at Edward, and it doesn't really get better from there.]

...Megamind. [Her voice has a strange quality to it.] Bringing up the possibility of a polyamorous relationship at the breakfast table is not making anything easier for anybody.

[insolubleriddle]

[Wow, well. This is the worst coffee he's ever had.]

...This is the worst coffee I've ever had.

[He swallows thickly, and takes in another mouthful regardless.]

Twice rescinded. That is the 'knock it off' point for those with social competence. [He nods in agreement with Toshiko, when she speaks, and is otherwise quiet.]

[megamind]

[ Megamind just mumbles something to the affect of you know how I take my coffee, why are you shocked? and sipped his own. Eventually, when he opened his eyes again, he was a touch more focused. ]

[ His brows furrow, his eyes cut to the side and he said: ]

That-- wasn't what I was-- suggesting. Though you could get there from -- that. Yes.

[ And red velvet pancakes are delicious and now that he's made a fool of himself first thing in the morning, he's going to shut up at eat. ]

[breakingmyheart]

[Well, now Megamind just looks embarrassed and that's not what she wanted at all.

This is why truth floods occasionally have some mileage. Not - not like the one where she told Megamind she was using, but every so often she'd just like to be able to just put it all out there and not have to feel ashamed or selfish.

She rather abruptly turns to Edward.[

Sorry, were you really - ? [Interested.] Because I'd sort of - well. After I said what I said I realised you were probably gay. Or at least I thought you were.

[insolubleriddle]

[...Gay?

Edward has to laugh.]

No, my dear. No, I'm not. [Not even close.] And I was interested. Still am, admittedly. You're a divine young woman.

[Who is in love with Megamind, so an awkward little triangle they would remain.]

Murder told me to skip her 8|

[breakingmyheart]

[Divine?

Oh. Oh.

It's almost depressing what unexpected, seemingly heartfelt compliments do to Toshiko. Most of the tension suddenly drains out of her shoulders and she blushes and ducks her head, smiling in a way that takes five years off her face.]

Oh. I - thank you.

...I, erm. In different circumstances, I - that is - you're not bad yourself.

[It's obviously an understatement because now she's practically hiding behind her coffee.]

[megamind]

[ Megamind let the pair-- flirt, he supposed, and ate in silence, though he spared a glance up because when Tosh smiles -- and it's so damn rare these days as to be like the sighting of a Black Swan in the wild, and should be properly appreciated, even if he's not the one engineering it in her. ]

[ He indulges his own, brief smile, and then is quick to put food in his mouth lest he say anything else stupid this morning. ]

aand a baby tag to restore order

[breakingmyheart]

[It really is immeasurable how much more comfortable she feels all of a sudden, knowing with a degree of confidence that she's in the company of two people who...like her. At the very least.

And a moment later, when her blush has cooled from red to pink, she reaches out to serve herself a pancake because she remembers Edward getting on her about not eating.]

[insolubleriddle]

[That's an infectious smile, and having brought it about, it's especially hard for Eddie to resist the curve of his own lips.]

It been a good morning for refuting expectations. Who knew communication had it's uses.

[After their last conversation, he'd wholly assumed Toshiko wasn't in the least bit interested. Nice to know that wasn't the case.

He places his bag of ice aside and starts to cut his own pancakes, though he's not sure if he wants to try eating them yet.]

[megamind]

[ Megamind makes a pleased sound, around a mouthful of pancakes. They are delicious, Toshiko is happy, even Eddie is smiling. So, at the very least, he's content in this. ]

[ Contentment is damned hard to come by, some times, on the barge. So he means to indulge it... along with the cream-cheese icing syrup that goes along with the red velvet pancakes. Seriously, this is a decadent breakfast. ]

[breakingmyheart]

[ She's happy to an extent. As she cuts up her food she can't really help that more unsettling thoughts come to the surface - they've established that it's just as Megamind said, that their attraction is mutual along all lines, but nothing's going to come of it, is it? All she's really accomplished here is making it known that she's 'coveting' two parties in someone else's relationship, not one.

Which really just makes get twice as pathetic, let's face it. Her smile dies away slowly.

She spears a chunk of pancake with her fork and pops it into her mouth. Oh, it's just chocolate. Why is it red? ]

[insolubleriddle]

[Eddie pops a portion of pancake into his mouth, chews, and it aches. Enough that he can't be bothered taking another bite. He pushes his plate away and stands out of his chair, smoothing his bed-head away from his eyes and doing his shirt buttons up to the neck.]

You can put those in a blender for me for later.

[He leans over the table, cupping Megamind's chin and pressing a chaste kiss to his mouth, before turning around and doing the same to Toshiko, very light, so to not startle her too badly.]

Enjoy the rest of your breakfast.

[Grabbing his bag of ice from the table, he then makes a hasty retreat.]

[megamind]

[ Megamind stopped-- he had enough time to touch Edward's jaw and that was all, before he man was spiriting off, and -- oh well. He didn't move to stop him, just-- watched him as he slipped out the door. ]

[ The sigh he gives if frustrated, half-fond-- but mostly frustrated. ]

Sorry, he bolts anytime anything resembling overt 'feelings' get involved. Did right after our first kiss, too.

[ It hurts. A lot. Edward is probably completely aware that it wounds him, but-- does it anyway, because Edward's Edward. ]

Sorry. This went very awkwardly. I need a gag before I wake up in the morning.

[breakingmyheart]

No, it's alright. I think the, ah, decaffeinated interlude actually helped a bit.

[She touches her fingertips to her lips.]

Though I'm not really sure what just - happened.

[A kiss on the cheek she could dismiss as friendly, just about. This, she's not sure how to interpret.]

[megamind]

Edward never does anything straight forwardly, either. [ Megamind said, not wanting to get into the babble of decaffeinated interludes -- sipping his coffee as if he might forestall another one. ] So he's could be operating on the assumption we'll work out something beneficial for all of us and is basically giving his blessing - or encouragement - or he's assuming I'll leave him for or some other nonsense.

I don't know. I can ask him later but he'll probably just tease me and never give a straight answer unless he wants to, which is fairly rare. He can't lie, but he can certainly spin you in circles verbally.

I adore him, but there's days I could throttle him, too. I suppose that's normal, though...

[ Because isn't that love? Loving because of one's faults, not despite them? Megamind's never sure. He keeps getting involved and screwing it up. ]

[breakingmyheart]

[She thinks very briefly of making a particular mime to Lisbeth before sloping off to sleep with her. Which was so much easier than this and she wishes she was the sort of person who could just do that, content themselves with things that don't have strings attached.

She likes strings. Even when she feels like they're wrapped around her neck and choking her.]

Yes, it is.

[She takes a deep breath. Since the subject has come up, she can't really just abandon it again.]

...Megamind, you know what my answer is. But I need to be asked, or I need to be told flat out that I'm not going to be asked. I can deal with being told no a lot better than I can deal with not being told.

[And it's entirely possible that he just doesn't get how much power he and Edward have over her right now.]

[megamind]

[ Tosh and Lisbeth; things that Megamind doesn't want to think about, ever, thank you. Alpha was just being Alpha, though-- he knows he's got no place to say anything, which... is why he doesn't let on that he even knows. ]

[ But he realizes what she's asking; is there room enough for all three of us in this. That there could be is even the most wild, out there thing ever. ]

You know this is the stuff that Letters to Penthouse is made up of, you know? And God, I am so glad he was not in the room for that phrase slipping my mouth. [ Megamind isn't a prude, per se, but he prefers people not-- know certain things about him, his upbringing, that he knew about a lot of things long before anyone was supposed to. ] 'So this wonderful woman, my fantastic ex, wants into something with me and my boyfriend...'

[ And then he puts pancake in his mouth before he follows that train of thought too deep into the tunnel there, and chews, swallows. ]

I-- love you. I miss you. I just-- I just can't put any of us in a place where this can go poorly to for the both of you. I want--

--I want--

--I want to see you both walk out of here, under your own volition, and go home, or where-ever it is you're going to go. More than anything. There are days I lay here and go, 'If he leaves the boat, I'm going to, deal or no deal.' And Tosh, I really want my deal.

But for him-- and for you-- I'd say 'no, this is enough', if you both left.

[ And this is what Edward ran away from: that someone is willing to feel that strongly, that much, about him -- or anyone else. ]

So... yes. I wouldn't say I don't want to ask. But I want to be sure-- I don't want to get hurt again.

[ Love is easy. ]

[ Trust is harder. ]

[ But there's a willingness to try again. ]

[breakingmyheart]

[Her mouth twitches at the phrase 'wants into something' because it really does just enforce the way she keeps thinking about this - like they've got something stable, something whole, and she's so lonely and selfish she doesn't care.

But look at them. How stable can it really be?

And then he keeps talking and she pushes the thought to the festering darkness at the back of her mind where those (and many other) sentiments have to live.]

And I don't want to hurt you again. I don't want you to be hurt. I just - I know what I did to you was a mistake. I know that. I know what that road looks like, now, I can avoid it. But...

[But she's scared too. Of him saying yes almost as much as him saying no. And if she isn't even going to be given the chance to redeem herself, to prove she can learn from her mistakes and be better, then what the fuck are any of them doing there?

She glances down at the table.]

Just tell me. When you know. Alright?

[And she mentally pencils in being let down gently in a few days.]

[megamind]

I know you don't. On both counts. And-- I'm glad. [ Because it hurt and he's still dealing with it and it's hard. But God, he misses mornings in the engine room (and those aren't coming back, either) and tech talk over coffee. ]

[ But he reaches out-- to put a hand on her arm, her shoulder, and says, very gently, ]

I've got to talk to him, and then we'll see how this fits. I've never-- this is-- I don't even know how pairbonds work let alone harems. [ Megamind's grin is there, soft at it's edges instead of sharp, warm instead of fierce. He adds some egostroking for himself because he needs it to get through breakfast. ] Relationships are so complicated.