[Mando is quiet for awhile after that, letting Riz collect himself and calm down. He scolds PI a little for stealing Riz's coffee, then makes a fresh cup for Riz, offering it to the top bunk.]
I mean it. It's fine if you're not interested in that kind of thing.
[He heard what Riz said to the bird, after all. Last time, Mando let him get away with some sparring and a sand fight, but now seems like as good a time as any to actually discuss the issue.]
[All Mando will see of Riz is one small hand snaking out over the edge of the top bunk to accept the offered cup of coffee, before it retreats back to its bunk lair.
Is Riz going to drink his coffee laying down? Fuck off, he can do what he wants!!
And sure, Riz had talked about this to his dad before but that had been basically half a year ago (has he really been here that long already? horrific) and things haven't changed. His dad said they might, that it was okay wasn't there yet, but months later, Riz still doesn't get it. He doesn't get why everybody cares so much about kissing. It just looks wet and a little gross to him. He doesn't want anyone else's tongue to touch his tongue. The very thought makes him feel slightly queasy.
But clearly, that isn't a concern for anyone else! It's not just the bad kids. Even the friends he has made here care about that sort of thing. And people on the network do and talk about who is and isn't hot. And Riz just. Still doesn't get it. Doesn't want to get it, he thinks, but also doesn't want to not get it?]
It's weird.
[The response is soft and a little sulky almost. And it is very possible the only reason Riz is even responding is because he cannot actually see Mando. And Mando cannot see him. Almost makes it feel more like he is talking to himself.]
[One of the benefits of constantly wearing a helmet is that no one can look you in the eye. Mando has found that people tend to talk to him more because of it, and he thinks that's what Riz is doing now.]
[He settles himself on the lower bunk. Mudhorn clamours up next to him and lays his head in Mando's lap, grumbling softly, and Mando pets his new tusks.]
[Though, it's not like it stopped when you stopped being a teenager. Judging by the mess Sandra-Lynn had made of things pursuing Garthy (and his own father's allusions to be, ah, very active in that area as a young adult) it's clear to Riz that grown-ups don't care any less about sex than teenagers do. Which is a problem because it means the rest of the world isn't just going to grow out of being obsessed with kissing either.]
[Mando is actually a little amused by that response. Riz isn't wrong, of course, but it's been awhile since Mando hung out with a gang of teenagers. Riz, little ball of nerves and conspiracy that he is, is the exception.]
But with adults too. I've met intelligent species that reproduce with spoors and never see another of their own kind.
[Intelligent might be a slight oversell, but Sarlaccs are close enough, right?]
[He loves the bad kids, and he's certainly been struck by the impulse to purr when he is very relaxed in their presence (not that it is always very easy for him to relax) but so far, he's clamped down on it. It's just... after so long of clamping down on overt goblin traits, it's hard to let go of it. And even if a logical part of him knows the rest of the bad kids wouldn't mind them (Fig had clearly thought his hissing was cool), a small part of him still worries that being too much of a goblin will be a nuisance somehow, and will have them rethinking their friendship with him.
Which, again, he knows they won't! But insecurities.]
Maybe you'll get a chance someday. I think they'd like it.
[Mando clearly comes from a more egalitarian world, where different species and races are more or less accepted. He also has the privilege of strutting around being a Mandalorian, and only the very, very confident ever try to mess with Mandalorians.]
[Would being a human be easier sometimes? Probably yeah. Humans have to deal with a lot less racism. And being such a dominant group in his world, the world is, quite literally, made for them. They don't have to scramble to get on a chair, or use a step-stool to reach the sink.
But despite that, Riz doesn't want to be a human. Whatever bigoted thoughts people might have about goblins, he likes being a goblin. He likes having claws and fangs and a tail. He likes looking like his parents. He likes being him.]
It's just-- It doesn't feel right, you know? If I look in a mirror and stuff. It's just not right.
[Not that Riz looks in mirrors a lot, not since Baron. But if he catches a glimpse of his reflection here, in a shop window, or from the corner of his eye, it never feels like him. It always just feels like he's looking at someone else.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[With all the excitement passed, Riz flops onto his back on his top bunk. He can't see Mando like this, only the ceiling.]
no subject
I mean it. It's fine if you're not interested in that kind of thing.
[He heard what Riz said to the bird, after all. Last time, Mando let him get away with some sparring and a sand fight, but now seems like as good a time as any to actually discuss the issue.]
no subject
Is Riz going to drink his coffee laying down? Fuck off, he can do what he wants!!
And sure, Riz had talked about this to his dad before but that had been basically half a year ago (has he really been here that long already? horrific) and things haven't changed. His dad said they might, that it was okay wasn't there yet, but months later, Riz still doesn't get it. He doesn't get why everybody cares so much about kissing. It just looks wet and a little gross to him. He doesn't want anyone else's tongue to touch his tongue. The very thought makes him feel slightly queasy.
But clearly, that isn't a concern for anyone else! It's not just the bad kids. Even the friends he has made here care about that sort of thing. And people on the network do and talk about who is and isn't hot. And Riz just. Still doesn't get it. Doesn't want to get it, he thinks, but also doesn't want to not get it?]
It's weird.
[The response is soft and a little sulky almost. And it is very possible the only reason Riz is even responding is because he cannot actually see Mando. And Mando cannot see him. Almost makes it feel more like he is talking to himself.]
no subject
[He settles himself on the lower bunk. Mudhorn clamours up next to him and lays his head in Mando's lap, grumbling softly, and Mando pets his new tusks.]
Not really. Not where I come from.
no subject
What, are there no teenagers where you are from?
[Though, it's not like it stopped when you stopped being a teenager. Judging by the mess Sandra-Lynn had made of things pursuing Garthy (and his own father's allusions to be, ah, very active in that area as a young adult) it's clear to Riz that grown-ups don't care any less about sex than teenagers do. Which is a problem because it means the rest of the world isn't just going to grow out of being obsessed with kissing either.]
no subject
[Mando is actually a little amused by that response. Riz isn't wrong, of course, but it's been awhile since Mando hung out with a gang of teenagers. Riz, little ball of nerves and conspiracy that he is, is the exception.]
But with adults too. I've met intelligent species that reproduce with spoors and never see another of their own kind.
[Intelligent might be a slight oversell, but Sarlaccs are close enough, right?]
no subject
Really? That sounds nice.
[It really does! If only everybody else just reproduced with spores, then nobody would care about kissing all this much, right?]
I bet Mandalorians don't even kiss...
[Cause. The helmets. Like what, do they just bonk them together?]
no subject
No, we don't.
[Because of the helmets.]
We might touch the forehead of our helmets together to show affection, but that's all.
[Although those other, weird Mandalorians who take their helmets off probably kiss, but Mando is just not going to mention them.]
You don't need to kiss to show someone you care about them.
no subject
He nods (even though Mando can't see) when he says that Mandalorians put their heads together. Makes sense.]
Goblins purr. Just with other goblins though. You can't-- it's not good to stand out in public.
[Not when almost every other race already looks down on them.]
no subject
[Mando scratches behind Mudhorn's ears.]
Have you ever purred around your friends?
no subject
[He loves the bad kids, and he's certainly been struck by the impulse to purr when he is very relaxed in their presence (not that it is always very easy for him to relax) but so far, he's clamped down on it. It's just... after so long of clamping down on overt goblin traits, it's hard to let go of it. And even if a logical part of him knows the rest of the bad kids wouldn't mind them (Fig had clearly thought his hissing was cool), a small part of him still worries that being too much of a goblin will be a nuisance somehow, and will have them rethinking their friendship with him.
Which, again, he knows they won't! But insecurities.]
no subject
[Mando clearly comes from a more egalitarian world, where different species and races are more or less accepted. He also has the privilege of strutting around being a Mandalorian, and only the very, very confident ever try to mess with Mandalorians.]
Do you miss being a goblin?
no subject
[Would being a human be easier sometimes? Probably yeah. Humans have to deal with a lot less racism. And being such a dominant group in his world, the world is, quite literally, made for them. They don't have to scramble to get on a chair, or use a step-stool to reach the sink.
But despite that, Riz doesn't want to be a human. Whatever bigoted thoughts people might have about goblins, he likes being a goblin. He likes having claws and fangs and a tail. He likes looking like his parents. He likes being him.]
It's just-- It doesn't feel right, you know? If I look in a mirror and stuff. It's just not right.
[Not that Riz looks in mirrors a lot, not since Baron. But if he catches a glimpse of his reflection here, in a shop window, or from the corner of his eye, it never feels like him. It always just feels like he's looking at someone else.]
no subject
[It's not the same, and Mando knows it, but he can relate on some level.]
I'd feel the same if I ever lost my helmet.
[Foreshadowing!]
I think if something feels right to you, it doesn't need to be questioned. It's just a part of who you are.