Variations on a Theme - Genderfunky Giraffes of Two Varieties

[aldersprig]

This is for twisted_times's prompt in my call for prompts (posted here:
Most media depictions of bisexuals are that they are:

1. always promiscuous
2. sexually greedy
2a. necessarily dating persons of both genders simultaneously
3. just going "through a phase"
4. actually going to end up reverting to just being gay/straight (delete as applicable) by the end of the story.

I'd like to see writing that deals with bisexuality without managing to make use any of the above incorrect tropes.

*throws down the metaphorical gauntlet*

This was trickier to pull off in 150 words than you'd imagine, so I took two stabs at it.

Shiva and Nikita are from my webserial Addergoole, and the icon is of her.

Basil is from Stranded World ((and on LJ); he's in the theatre club with the guys from 14th Shot and, of course Summer, from Meet the Parents

Story One:

"Do you miss being with a girl?" Niki curled up against Shiva's side, nuzzling sleepily at her shoulder. He'd been peaceful, quiet lately, and today he couldn't keep his hands off her.

She rubbed his back sleepily. It had been a busy, stressful week and she'd been grateful for his quiet. Now she wondered if it had been on purpose. "Miss being with a girl? That's... well, that's an odd question." She shrugged, and kissed him behind the ear. "I'm with you, now."

"Yeah... but do you ever wish I was a girl?"

She propped herself up on an elbow to study him, and wondered what had brought on this rash of insecurity.

"No, my darling dear. You're plenty of handful as it is," she teased, and then, seeing his expression fall, hurried to reassure him, first with a kiss, and then with a hand wandering down his body. "I'm with you, now, and you're all I need."

---

Story Two:

"So." Alex sat on the prop couch Basil was busily staple-upholstering. "Straight now?"

"Nope." Basil resisted the urge to staple Alex's pants to the couch. He was a bad enough actor to start with.

"I heard you and Summer..."

"Nope." Thanks, in part, to Alex, but Basil liked being Summer's friend.

"Damn. And she's damn hot, too. So still gay."

Maybe he could staple his leg to the couch instead. "Nope."

"So that rumor about you and Caleb the Green..."

"Depends on the rumor."

"You know, you two were..."

"In a long-term monogamous relationship?" He placed a staple precariously close to the actor's calf. "We were."

"And you're not with Summer."

"She's kinda busy."

"And you're not gay."

"Does this involve 'Arsenic and Old Lace' somehow?"

"Well, the blonde playing Abby is pretty hot, but I heard you and she..."

"Amber? No."

"No, not her, um... Krista."

"She's playing Elaine Harper. And yes, we are. Since the close of Much Ado."

"So like months. And still gay?"

"Nope."

Comments

*laugh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

Story One: Cute. It's the present relationship that matters.

Story Two: Oh please let me have the stapler so I can staple Alex to the couch. The cluelessness, it burns! I like Basil though.

Re: *laugh*

[aldersprig]

Yeah, there's always an Alex, isn't there?

:-)

Basil, in the first stories I wrote, was Faithful Sidekick to Summer, who gets to be a protaganist. It was fun to let him out on his own a bit.

(The seasonal siblings seem very well-suited to this set of prompts)

[twisted_times]

*Applauds muchly*

Brilliant stories, both of them! The second story reminds of some of the stories I have heard about myself - at times, my reputation has been out having a far better time than I have been! ;p

[aldersprig]

*purrs* I'm glad you enjoyed!

(yes, my reputation has gotten around far more than I have, too)

[aoifes_isle]

Thirded on the reputation! Bi-sexual and in the military ... *sighs* ...

[aldersprig]

Girl in a gaming club, tactile, flirtatious, and friendly.

[twisted_times]

I think our reputations are out down the pub every night, the swines...

[twisted_times]

*swoons*

[aldersprig]

:-)

[aldersprig]

Pretty likely, yeah.

[twisted_times]

If I ever end up in the US, I'm taking you out to dinner. Seriously. :)

[aldersprig]

Well, all right then. :-)

[twisted_times]

That took a lot of arm-twisting. ;p

[aldersprig]

*grins* "Dinner" = "safe place to meet new people." Also, the US is a big place, and I'm in a rather obscure corner of it. ;-)

[twisted_times]

Now you're just teasing me... ;p

[aldersprig]

Not particularly. :-)

*cough*

Hi, I'm Lyn. Nice to meet you.

[twisted_times]

You're not teasing like I'm not flirting. *coughs*


Hi, I'm David. Nice to meet you too. :)

[aldersprig]

*grins* Well, I'm rusty.

[twisted_times]

*refrains from making a comment about applying oil*

[aldersprig]

*smirks* Tall man in the photo might object. ;-)

[twisted_times]

*looks innocent*

I have no idea what you mean...

[aldersprig]

*dubious look* Mmm-hrmmm... ;-)

[twisted_times]

I can't imagine you looking dubious, just cute. :)

[aldersprig]

Miew. :-)

So, tell me something about yourself.

[twisted_times]

I really should write a proper "About Me" post for DWers who have recently joined my circle. I think that my DW interests tags sum myself up reasonably well to begin with, but feel free to be nosey. :)

[aldersprig]

*grins* I was being sociable. *peeks at your interest tags*

Badgers?

Δ?

Cardboard boxes???

[twisted_times]

Yes, badgers are awesome. Δ is delta, or the difference symbol in mathematics; it's the differences that can be more interesting than the similarities between people, I think.

As for cardboard boxes, well... cats are fascinated by them, so why shouldn't we be? Mew! :)

[aldersprig]

Ack! Noises!

I usually read delta as "change," but difference makes sense. :-)

*giggle* Mew indeed.

[twisted_times]

Change works too; it's often a good thing, even if I tend to hate it at the time it happens to me.

[clare_dragonfly]

Ooh, I love seeing Shiva and Niki in a sweet moment! No punishment, just snuggles ;) And I had to giggle, knowing that when Niki says "a girl" I'm pretty sure he mostly means "Tya."

Liked the second one too. Basil refusing to rise to the bait.

[aldersprig]

*grin* they have to have them sometimes.

Yeah... he does mean Tya, mostly... but that would have complicated an 150-word story.

And I <3 Basil hardcore

[aldersprig]

TERRIFIED of change. Nearly had a panic attack when I got my hair cut short, something I'd been waiting a year+ to do.

[twisted_times]

*sympathises muchly*

I'd be distraught if I had my hair cut short. It's been long enough to ponytail for over a decade and a half. O_o

[aldersprig]

(don't have an icon yet of it short)

I've had it long my entire adult life, but I was sick of it. Waiting until after the Very Pink Wedding on request of the bride, then chopped it to the nape of my neck.

[twisted_times]

A "Very Pink Wedding" sounds like something out of a Sex In The City episode/film. ><

[aldersprig]

Kinda felt like it, too. Co-writer married his long time girlfriend, whose favorite color is VERY PINK.