11th Mistake; video

[moralperil]

[Hello network, you might know this one: small framed with long, dark hair, violet eyes, perpetually clueless expression, dressed in a soft blue sweater, hair pulled back with long bangs free. Mahdi's voice is airy and nervous.]

Hey, um! It's me, Mahdi. I'm really sorry to do this when everyone else is making really good posts about important things, or going through really difficult things, but I just have some stuff I need to say and I think doing this is better than like, dropping off a dozen notes to individual people's inboxes. I kept putting it off, but there's probably never gonna be a good time.

[Mahdi pauses for a long moment, fussing with long strands of hair in nimble fingertips, frowning. The angel takes a deep, nervous breath.]

The thing is... I'm not a boy or a girl, I'm just me, sort of neither and both. I guess if I really thought about it, I'd say I'm a little bit more of a girl than a boy, but I'm still in between. Where I'm from, that's not as uncommon as it seems to be here. It's also - [Mahdi clears hir throat] like, it's not a big deal, because it's just an ordinary part of life. If someone realizes one day that they are a girl when they were a boy before, or they were a girl and now they are androgynous, or whatever, it's just a part of life. Like it's not any more interesting than someone picking a new style of dressing, or a new hobby. If that person changes their name, everyone does their best to learn it. It's all about just accepting people for who they are, whoever they are.

I know it's different for a lot of people and cultures. Even though genders other than male and female exist in many human cultures, and have throughout history, it seems some cultures are just as invested in the idea that there are only two. And that there are rules about how those two kinds of people should behave. I don't know anything about cultures other than human ones, I mean, aside from mine, though. So. Um. [A shrug, and Mahdi glances off-screen awkwardly.]

I don't mean to inconvenience anyone, or make it awkward, since I know this stuff might be confusing for a lot of people, and others will be like "why is that even worth saying anything about". But, I just wanted my friends - and future friends! [smiling] - to understand me a little better. So, in conclusion: [Ze points to hirself] not a girl. Not a boy. Just me.

If anyone has any questions, I'll try to answer them as much as I can. I'm gonna take a quick walk to the observatory and if you want to talk to me in person, we can do it there!

[A bright, if a little forced, smile.]

Thanks everyone!

[The video ends.]

[TEXT ADDENDUM]

IN terms of pronouns I prefer 'hir' instead of 'him or her' and 'ze' instead of 'he' or 'she'. If that's too hard to remember, just using my name or 'they and their' is acceptable. Please and thank you!


[OOC: just let me know if you'd like to do an action thread here or if I should open a log post!]

Comments

[moralperil]

Good.

I'm gonna do my best to make it better from now on.

[Mahdi smiles, pressing a kiss to Jack's wrist.]

I wonder if there's life on other planets out there... I guess there must be.

[allucinator]

[He leans closer, pressing tightly against Mahdi. Happier than I've ever been, and he hadn't been lying-- but right now all he feels is lonely, which is stupid and unnecessary.]

Probably. There's other worlds, ain't there? Don't go stargazin' too far, though, please.

[moralperil]

[Mahdi giggles, squeezing Jack's hand.] I wouldn't go anywhere without you! I just wonder what it might be like on other planets, like if there's somewhere we could be together without this war hanging over our heads. Somewhere beautiful and peaceful, you know?

[Another laugh.] Maybe if we were jellyfish, or could breathe poison gas or something!

[allucinator]

Don't wish for shit that you wouldn't want. How could you kiss me if I were a jellyfish, huh?

[moralperil]

We could wrap our tendrils together! [Instead of this fingers, that flex against Jack's.] How do you know that wouldn't be just as nice as kissing?

[allucinator]

Cuz I'm clever, sweetness, that's how. Book dumb but street smart, that's what they say about me.

[moralperil]

Hey, at least you're one of those kinds! I don't think I'm book smart or street smart.

[Mahdi grins.]

I want to kiss you, you know.

[allucinator]

Yeah? Nobody's stoppin' you.

[moralperil]

[Mahdi glances around, but brokers no protest before tippy-toeing that little bit to plant a gentle kiss on Jack's lips.]

[allucinator]

[He likes kissing Mahdi-- gentle kisses, deeper ones, ones where they're hot and sloppy or neat little pecks, it doesn't matter. He likes the sweetness of Mahdi's mouth, the softness of it; he likes the simple comfort it brings, wholly mundane and yet entirely magical.]

You taste nice.

[moralperil]

You taste like cigarettes.

[Mahdi crinkles hir nose, but kisses Jack again, a little more seriously.]

[allucinator]

[He lingers at this kiss, his fingers wrapping around Mahdi's hip to tug hir close-- and he presses their foreheads together when their mouths part, because he likes being close to Mahdi.]

You don't gotta lie, I know they make me look cool. You're so impressed by em.

[moralperil]

They make you look like a troublemaker.

[Mahdi snickers, threading fingers through Jack's hair.]

[allucinator]

Yeah, but you like that too, right?

[He grins against hir mouth.]

Cuz that's what I am, and you kinda seem to like me, so-oo--

[moralperil]

Who said I liked you? [Mahdi chuckles, giving him another, short kiss.] No way would I let on to anyone about that.

[allucinator]

No? Only I sorta get a hint, the way you keep kissin' me like this, lovey--

[moralperil]

You started it! You were the one who got kissy first!

[Ze punctuates the accusation with well-times, 'scolding' tapes to his nose.]

[allucinator]

So I should stop, is that what you're tellin' me?

[moralperil]

[Almost a bit too seriously:] I'll tell you if I want you to stop.

[An awkward moment, then Mahdi remembers to smile.]

[allucinator]

[His own smile fades-- but Jack leans forward, kissing hir gently. Quietly:]

I know. 'S why I feel like I can kiss you. Cuz I know you ain't just humorin' me.

[moralperil]

And here I'd gone all these months worrying you were the one humoring me.

[Mahdi laughs, combing fingers through Jack's hair, keeping him close like that, returning each kiss.]

[allucinator]

Yeah, right. As if.

[He stays pressed against hir for a bit, smiling softly-- but then, in a murmur:]

Let's go lie in bed, yeah? You can answer everyone else and I'll lie on you. 'S cozy.

[moralperil]

It's how I feel with people I admire, though. Like I'm not good enough to even breathe their same air.

[It's pointed, saying this when they're so close, very much breathing the same air.]

...I want you to hold me. But I might fall asleep. I should probably stick around to see if anyone else is coming, for a little while.

[allucinator]

Ahh, all right.

[He kisses him, hungrily.]

I'll wait for you. Take your time.

[moralperil]

Mmm! [Mahdi makes a definitely-approving noise. Mahdi steps pack, fussing with hir hair, pulling it back from hir neck.]

I think tonight I might let you touch my neck. [A bright smile and a laugh.] Yes, I'm feeling adventurous!