dove x blobfish

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ it's always been a feat for him to be drawn to the unknown. especially when things are enigmatic, but also at a juxtaposition. hidden in plain sight, but glaringly obvious—that's how he feels about the conversation between dove and him. seemingly, they mesh well, yet, to him, there's still something he hasn't be able to figure out. the particular gnawing feeling is consistently present, egging him to explore that unknown variable. he's gathered a decent amount of evidence and information, but it's not enough—a blind, educated guess at most, which blobfish despises. albeit it would be educated, he still wouldn't be fond of the idea.

thus, he continues to collect more data. "what am i doing with my life. i should have become a diplomat." he remarks in satisfaction, regarding himself highly. making the other consider peace is and was no simple feat. "compassion and care, haha ... right. i definitely don't feel even more endangered than i already am ..." he states in deadpan, his tone sounding far from being thrilled. there is a short sudden break, in the flow of their conversation, to which he turns his head—his ear facing towards the divider that separated them. he isn't sure if he just couldn't hear dove, or if their mics weren't working properly. the quiet sounds slightly ominous, especially just after dove's previous words.

he speaks too soon—a rambunctious burst of laughter resounds from the wall. it startles him in his seat, like an unexpected jumpscare. he blinks in succession, the wave of adrenaline draining from him. the relief turns into heated embarrassment. without fail, his ears glow red, the physiological symptom all in response to dove's teasing exclaim. "and this is why i'm not a rapper ..." he says in self-consciousness, smiling crookedly. giving a few seconds for the both of them to regather themselves, he continues where he left off.

"no curse. just a really bad lyric ... so i accept the sashimi threat." he admits honestly. "and hey, can't tell it's hell if my glasses were tinted green to begin with. i'm sure you're aware that they're complimentary colors?" he challneges back, playfully. "speaking of something special—" he pauses for a split-second, thinking of how to formulate and translate his next thought. "on the contrary, i think a lot of people here would find you quite attractive—so no, i don't think you'd be destined to being a single pringle."

he then smiles at her compliments on the choice of his representative animal, before returning her chuckle. "i hope so. you're a cool arch-nemesis, but it's also nice to have conversations like this." he's still curious, unable to find the answer to his initial hypothesis; 'is there something more to dove?' or is he simply just blubbing up the wrong tree? there's no definite answer yet, but if there's one inference he can draw from their time together, it's that there's equilibrium.

a moment to test the limits presents itself; words of anomaly standing out to his ears—'unfavorable situations'. the gears in his mind spin and compute revolutions per minute, simulating and running through every simulation, every possible direction he could take. certain results are expected—should occur—or are likely to occur. however, in the real world, experiments aren't perfect, and he's very well aware of it. notably more so, in the studies of human psychology and behavior.

taking everything into consideration, he decides not to pursue the particular curiosity. the majority of the outcomes would result in him distorting the balance they have achieved. the chemistry is still too reactive—volatile and unstable, to try and isolate. instead, he quotes the hunger games. "well, may the odds be ever in your favor, dove." he jokes, before moving on.

he gingerly rubs the back of his neck, feeling flustered and in slight duress at how the other has responded to the next discussion. "in all honesty, neither ... because i think being your father or your brother would both result in a lifetime of woe." he teases, laughing nervously. "and also, what is an only child even supposed to look like ... by your version of a description, all i'm envisioning is a spoiled grown woman. like a chaebol daughter." immediately thereafter, he chooses to add a disclaimer, in fear of their peace treaty crumbling. "—not saying you're anything like that by the way, just regarding what you said."

his lips then part in the slightest, his mouth forming the shape of an 'o', intrigued that she too highly disregards dishonesty, as well as inconsistency. the second trait is also something he too detests. "i think this is the first time we've whole-heartedly agreed upon something. what a milestone. cheers to that." he laughs in apprehension, amusement found in the way she casually mentions the target on his back—as if it were no dire issue. "it's a good thing i'm pretty stress-resistant then ..." he quietly mumbles to himself. "a place that has surf and turf as their specialty? no, i haven't. agree with you again, i prefer to cook as well. but mostly because eating out does add up."

@♡ blinded_blobfishᵐ a passerby would normally perceive her reaction as a little too theatrical with hands over her heart, lips slightly tucked to pout, and eyes resembling a puppy's first rodeo in begging to be fed with table food. dove was effortlessly stripped of all signs of pretense in the presence of the mysterious yet oddly comforting gentleman. "is this your way of offering a truce? because it's working." her cheeky disposition never falters, satisfied that he was able to maintain the conversation despite the clear disparity in their energy levels. "notice when things are too late to save, in your case of being endangered, they start to care more? swan and i were coming from a place of compassion! we can't lose your kind." her distorted voice ascends marginally with a hint of dramatic flair to further get under the man's skin.

what she heard from his end shortly after was beyond her expectations.

"excuse me for a moment." she curtly declares with an uncharacteristic seriousness in her voice. swift hands find their way over to control her threatening outburst, yet her flimsy attempt at controlling herself was futile at most. "blob, i'm so sorry, i need to let this out." silence was violently strangled by the unadulterated tone of her laughter, the overflow of energy causing the woman to bend forward with a hand resting on her knee to keep her grounded. "that was so good. i hope that's something you'll make a tune out of and sing to your grandchildren in the future." she exclaims, the corners of her eyes brimming with tears given the sheer surprise brought by the other's antics. "something tells me you've just placed a curse on me being a single pringle. when that happens, i'm prepared to make sashimi out of you!"

the woman's confidence radiates in the way she has herself settled on the floor with ease, arms naturally extending themselves as though she was conversing with him without the barrier. dove swiftly clears in response to his reply, her extended limbs now bending themselves to mimic a robot's actions. "welcome to hell. you've arrived at your destination. enjoy your stay." content with her whole silly shebang, her mind wonders if he was already in the process of fleeing the room or feigning sickness as an aftereffect of her unwarranted behavior. had they been existing in the same room, dove knew that one amusing response was more than enough to get her gears going in annoying him further. "how's that for something special?"

dove knew very well that she was on a roll during this session, and while it was not obvious, the lady knew how when to pull the brakes. as she listened intently to his reasons of choosing the animal, she could not help but picture him diving towards deep waters—shapeshifting into different unimaginable forms. in a way it resembled the fluidity of their connection: he was a fellow participant, in most cases her frenemy, occasionally a supportive stranger, and at the back of her head—a person she thinks she could wholeheartedly trust outside the system. "it does fit well, looks like you've thought about it deeply before making your decision." she acknowledges his call for reassurance before shrugging at his question. "i do come in peace, don't i?" a rhetorical question that elicits a light chuckle from her. "i chose a dove, because i wanted to be free. unfavorable situations have led me to this moment, and in a way, i'm pushing myself to see more of the horizon that i've been missing out on for years."

shaking her head in mirth, dove quickly responds at his joking tantrum, "not good enough? did you want to be my father instead?" she leans her back against the couch, gently grabbing a pillow to hug to her chest. "oh, you'd conclude differently when you see me in person. i do look like an only child, and i'm not really great in dealing with people, so this whole anonymity thing really helps in going beyond my limits slowly but surely. make up your mind, though. would you rather be my brother or my father?" had she been a man, dove was sure that blobfish might have already had her neck with her whimsical remarks.

it made sense for him to have a brother. beneath the unserious exchanges they have involved themselves in, dove was a witness to how blobfish looked after every single participant who stopped by to chat every passing day. no one was obligated to respond to every person in the room, but she could tell he was born to care for others in ways familiar to him. "valid, that's a trait that hits too close to home," she briefly responds, a switch in her head causing unwanted memories to flow hesitantly. "inconsistency. i'm not the biggest fan of words not matching a person's actions. it comes with me placing a lot of importance in every thought uttered, most especially when i regard that someone with utmost care and respect."

"it's fine, you're already stressed enough dealing with two women who are out for your life. our chinese friends will not take this against you." she laughs, finding the other's reaction quite adorable. "have you been to one? it's always a hit or miss for me whenever i eat out, so i end up cooking for myself instead minus the specialties, of course."

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ the conversation flows effortlessly between them, both of them adequately engaging with each other. he likes how they bounce back and forth off each other—returning every ask with not just a response, but with another additional inquiry. what's most fulfilling however, is the sound of her boisterous laughter. he smiles in content, practically every other second—the only exception being for when he's replying back to her.

"i think it was made for you, it suits you perfectly." he commends, his eyes speaking for themselves—beaming in delight. "hey, you and swan both did make me feel like an endangered species, so i don't think it's completely unwarranted that i included you both in the narrative." he reasons back. crossing his arms at his chest momentarily, he bounces his right leg in nervous, but excited energy. he then fidgets in his seat, moving further back on the piece of cushioned furniture this time. bringing his legs up, he sits cross-legged. "definitely mingle—don't dwindle, or else you might end up only a single pringle. don't react to that. it was bad, i know." he laughs sheepishly, feeling lame about his poor rhyming cadences.

"quite well in a 'special manner' huh. sounds promising, i like where this is heading." placing and leaning his jaw into the palm of his left hand, his eyes fixate front and center. he stares right at the frosted wall that obscures him from her, and vice versa. it's a fleeting thought, but it's there—he couldn't wait to see her. it's inexplicable, but something about the particular bird alias continues to make him ponder.

"i chose blobfish, because i thought it's funny. but it's also kind of an ironic twist? a blobfish's skin and appearance changes depending on the sea level. the deeper you go, the closer you get to a blobfish's actual natural habitat, where you see its true self—what they truly look like and are. not how they seem on land, on the surface. kinda like when you first meet a person. plus, it fits well with the concept of the show, no?" he asks in assurance, chuckling softly thereafter. "how about you? why a dove? and don't say because you're peaceful ..."

he then his head, surprised to know that dove is an only child. whether it was due to her energetic nature, for some reason, he thought she'd have at least one older sibling. "including me, okay i see how it is." he scoffs haughtily, before settling his voice back to his usual calm, soft timbre. "interesting ... i actually thought you'd be the baby of the family. i guess now you can, in theory? you're gonna gain a lot of good brothers and sisters." he tells her confidently, smiling warmly.

"we're 3 years apart." he continues, addressing her questions about his brother. "of course he's a blobfish too." he grins knowingly at her following question, knowing very well why his particular animal alias is what it is. "you'll know soon enough." he states ambiguously, in an tantalizing tone. "haha, i think we're more at an armistice if anything." his face neutralizes, subtly lining with thought—considering her ask on pet peeves. at the same he's curious, wondering what prompted her to ask him such a specific question. although their back-and-forth bantering somewhat could have connected the dots to annoyance, he couldn't grasp dove's thought process and how she had landed at the certain subject. "i think a dishonest person bothers me the most." he states, the aversion for the particular quality evident in his voice. "how about you? what quality or trait in someone would snap your last olive branch?"

he then chuckles again, finding the self-acknowledgement of the other's big appetite, endearing. "ah, how could i forget chinese food ..." he regrettably says, disappointed in himself that he forgot to mention the popular cuisine. lastly, he answers her final question, but in indifference. "it's not that i'm uncomfortable with surf and turf, but the fact that it's difficult to achieve perfect cooks and temperatures on two different proteins. i think to enjoy a surf and turf, one would have to go to a restaurant that specializes in it."

@♡ blinded_blobfishᵐ silence filled the air for a brief moment as the woman's act of honoring the male's attempt at making a pun. paying no heed to a needed warning, dove hoists herself away from the couch while she gives an enthusiastic round of applause to blobfish. "i'm so glad you finally caught up to that pun!" a lighthearted chuckle extends from her declaration before she finally loses herself in a laughing fit at what followed. "i was about to acknowledge your mindset and agree with it, then you had to insert both swan and i in the narrative. well, isn't it the point of the show to mingle? i believe we're both doing that quite well in a rather... special manner." she retorts with an undertone of mischief in her voice, amused by the man's expressive disposition. dove wonders if this was how it felt to have siblings who naturally brought out her playfully irksome side. there was no necessary confession needed for the way she enjoys catching the other off-guard and hearing him whine shortly after. "that's cute! do you guys have a big age gap? is he a blobfish too? which reminds me..." she shoots a question before getting herself comfortably seated on the floor, "why did you choose a blobfish?" with a soft hum, she hugs her knees to her chest. "i don't have siblings, unfortunately. i've always wanted a big brother or a younger sister, but now i'm left to dote on everyone around me, including you."

the woman responds with a teasing yet genuine coo from her end of the pod, and she could swear he would respond with an aggressive roll of his eyes at her response or worse, walk away as though they don't know each other which was the truth. "you make it sound like we're under a peace treaty now. on the topic of annoyance, though, do you have any pet peeves in a partner?" dove's slim fingers were enough to count hers—but in the case of her nemesis who seemed to have a good head on his shoulder, there was a quiet curiosity in her mind about whether or not his preferences were as well-defined as his demeanor. "we love our proteins," she nods in agreement, "we do match in some! i especially love chinese food. i don't mind surf and turf, really... this is mostly me and big appetite talking. are you comfortable with surf and turf?"

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ "mmhmm." he hums in confirmation, scoffing at the latter part of her sentence that followed. "you know those inspirational quotes that say live, laugh, love? or dove—should i say, in this case." he quips, grinning at the added pun. "sorry. anyways, i'm planning to just do that. can't truly love anyone before loving yourself whole-heartedly, and can't love yourself if you don't learn to accept and embrace your own demise—downfalls and all. but that's just my personal philosophy. plus, don't think you and swan would leave me alone anyways." he says in feigned weariness, to make it obvious in his tone that he's only kidding. he laughs at the scooby doo reference to his parents, recalling their jokes over twitter and in the group chatroom. her humor is all over the place—nonsensical, dorky, lame, punny. almost all of the time, she makes him laugh in some way. "i'll be sure to let them know." he twirls his pen for one final time, before clipping it onto the hem of his shirt's pocket. "i do. i have a younger brother. you?"

he smiles cheekily, happy to know that she was feeling lax around him. creating such an atmosphere had been his intention from the get-go, for any contestant that he would come across—including dove, his friendly nemesis. "i'm glad to hear that, because same." he voices sincerely. "going for each other's jugular is special and all, but i think we could also have fun being civil too." he playfully states, scooching up to the edge of the couch. he then hunches over, manspreading his legs, before resting his elbows on his knees. "i like anything that has meat. cuisine i think has to stay true to home though, korean. but i also do love vietnamese, thai, italian, and of course, japanese. how about you? oh and how do you feel about surf and turf?" he asks, gathering his hands at his lips, drumming his fingertips against each other. he waits, in anticipation for her response.

@♡ blinded_blobfishᵐ "really now?" the woman knocks her head to the side, the corners of her lips curling into a smile. "it's the first time i've met someone who's been accepting of their demise," she shoots another bullet towards the other, playfully shrugging as she poked her tongue out. with a soft hum, dove leans back on the couch, tapping the pen lightly on her chin. "well, i hope auntie daphne enjoys her golfing trip with uncle fred. that's all that matters. do you have siblings, blob?" that was it, the first hint of curiosity towards the other. while she was enjoying their entertaining pleasantries of jabs and uppercuts, dove did not want to fly out of this pod without getting to know the other.

"jokes aside, i'm feeling calm and comfortable! i've been wondering when i'd get the chance to chat with you one-on-one sans the possibility of us going at each other's throats," she lightly confesses, her cheery disposition etched in every word she declared. after all, it was a rare occurrence for someone to go with her flow—especially when her presence could get a little too overwhelming for some. the past few days she had been conversing with the man on the other side served as some sort of reassurance that there are people out there who can put up with her. excitingly clasping her hands together, she says, "i love sashimi. i love japanese food. i could devour their dishes for days! what's your favorite cuisine?"

@♡ blinded_doveᶠ when the show hosts had unveiled to whom every contestant was paired with, he couldn't help but smirking in amusement. he was going to be with dove. they were either going to come out of the pods with a peace treaty—perhaps even some sort of alliance. however, the small warning shots of playful teasing that they had been exchanging back and forth could just as well escalate. whichever one it would end up, regardless, he knew that he'd enjoy his time getting to know the other. so far, dove was quite funny and witty—piquing his interest and curiosity about them.

just a second after he had sat down, he heard the tinkling sound of a modified giggle—the dove had landed in the pod. he chuckles back, in regards to the mention of the grim reapear, his fictional mom and the on-going sashimi jokes. he leans back, getting comfortable on the couch, crossing his leg in a way that his one ankle was resting atop of his other leg's knee. he twirls the complimentary ballpoint pen that the show has given to them for free, spinning it absent-mindedly.

"hardly. i was actually looking forward to this." he states genuinely, smiling widely, albeit dove couldn't see it. "i would give her a call and put you on speaker phone, but she's actually on a golfing trip right now with my dad." he now makes the pen weave to-and-fro between his knuckles and fingers. "how about you? how are you feeling today? also, genuine question; do you even like sashimi?"

@♡ blinded_blobfishᵐ what were the odds of being paired with the man who admittedly has been the subject of her harmless yet admittedly snarky remarks in chat in the past few days?

for every step she took towards the pod, dove found it difficult to hold herself back from bursting into a laughing fit. blobfish truly was remarkable, and while their banter was something she found genuine adoration for, what remained a quiet thought at the back of her head was the chance to get to know him one-on-one. "looks like the grim reaper was craving sashimi as well," her distorted voice echoes through the room, an undertone of mischief emanating from her, "should we give bleomma a call, blob?" dove laughs, plopping herself on the couch with a pillow to her chest. "i hope you're not shaking right now."