You have no idea how much I'm liking what's going on so far!!
Please, please, take a seat and enjoy :))
Ekissa's route:
"I'm talking about flings or stuff like that," Vince clarifies, his gaze curious rather than pushy and with that usual aloof lilt. "You never talk about it. You always keep this to yourself like it's some kind of secret."
A pause.
Ekissa shrugs once more, this time more dismissive. "It's just no one's business."
1, "Ekissa's always been private with that kind of thing," you explain to your brother with a fond smile. "You never noticed? Ekissa's more affectionate behind closed doors than out in the open. It's probably the same for partners."2, "It's obviously because our Ekissa's constipated," you smirk. "Right, bestie?"3, You tear your gaze away from your brother to look at Ekissa. "Why tho? Apart from not being anyone's business? You never told me about your dates either, now that I think about it."4, You nod along to Vince's words with a serious look before saying without any context, to give your best friend an out, "I didn't want to reveal it now, but... Ekissa is... a stripper."5, "So you had dates?" you cock a brow.6, "Why you curious?" you shoot a puzzled look at Vince.
L's route (for Serious!MCs):
That comes from option 1 if you choose to be oblivious: [1, "What?" you blink at the CEO. "Don't you know how to wash dishes?"]
"Alright, let me explain," $l_they proposes with a grin, and somehow, it doesn't feel patronizing, not with $l_them watching you with an eager look. At your skeptical nod, $l_they starts, "The idea was that you'd offer to help me, and then we'd have an excuse to be close. Maybe our hands would touch while washing dishes together, very romantic stuff."
"That sounds inefficient," you point out matter-of-factly. "Two people washing one cutting board."
L just stares at you for a long moment before bursting into genuine laughter. "God, I like you," $l_they says between chuckles, picking the cutting board back up to resume washing.
You ignore the harsh hammering of your heart that nearly rises to your throat. This time, you don't miss it—the impact of $l_their words on you.
T's route:
But Vince doesn't grumble at the rough slaps, he doesn't even seem to register them. His $eyecolor eyes are fixed on T, the smug smile he showed earlier fading slowly into an expression that's both curious and prodding. "Are you this stoic with your partner too?"
Silence.
You chance a glance at T, watching as $t_their brows draw together slightly in confusion. "Partner?" $t_they repeats, genuine puzzlement in $t_their tone. "What do you mean by 'partner'?"
Vince squints his eyes, no bite in his voice, just a bit skeptical when he asks, "Are you playing dumb?"
"I'm not," T says evenly, though there's something careful in $t_their voice now, as if trying to navigate this topic with measured words in case it's an interrogation rather than a conversation. $t_Their obsidian eyes flicker briefly to you before returning to Vince. "Romantically?"