Work Text:
Before getting together:
Floyd needs to be friends with someone before even thinking about them as a life partner. He tends to be affectionate with most people he knows (see: the nicknames he gives to everyone he’s around), but doesn’t bother with deeper feelings.
Floyd’s self-aware of how turbulent his emotions can be, and he knows he’s intimidating. Someone who can tolerate him and not antagonize him is surprisingly rare and would get his attention. He might be used to people’s physical attraction to him, but showing non-superficial support is new and interesting.
Getting a gift from the prefect, them dropping by to the Mostro Lounge to chat with him, offering to help on an assignment that Jade’s making him finish… little gestures add up, and he soon finds himself thinking about this person more and more.
- “You’re a silly one, Shrimpy. You really care to see me that much..?” The prefect actually seeming to care about him is new and different. It’s kind of easy to catch his eye in that way.
He might not realize his growing affection at first… but him starting to value the prefect’s emotions more clues Jade and Azul into his affections before he realizes it himself. Bothering his object of affection is fun, sure, but it’s not as satisfying for some reason to see them genuinely distressed. Why are they a special case..?
His annoyances won’t cease, but he might stop jumpscaring a prefect who has sensitivities to noise, or running off with their homework if he knows they have a deadline coming up. Floyd might not care to be kind to everyone, but a special connection would push him to be kinder to… one person, at least.
Floyd starts seeking out the prefect more (much to the annoyance of Azul, when they’re suddenly down a server for the night), showing up to their dorm unannounced or following them around campus. He doesn’t really know why. I can see Azul bribing the prefect to come hang out at the Lounge every now and then just to get Floyd to stay… sure, it doesn’t mean he’s always going to keep working now that Shrimpy’s nearby to bother! That’s boring! But at least he’s still there should Azul need to sort out any non-paying customers or the like.
After getting your phone number, Floyd likes to message you throughout the day. When you don’t reply, he might go looking for you instead, so it’s good to say something if you want him to stay focused… It's always random thoughts, random pictures of varying quality (depending on his mood), but he’s learned he likes to hear from you, too. He likes to have a receipt of your interactions, even if he prefers stuff in-person.
He also starts to show more physical affection. Not that he’s beyond ruffling others’ hair or squeezing them, but it’s a little different with Shrimpy. He seeks gentler touches from them than he does from others, though, for some reason… jumpscaring them by hugging them from behind in the hallways, nuzzling the top of their head… grabbing them by the hand to run them to the lunchroom, or even hoisting them up in a kidnapping, laughing as Ace and Deuce yell at him to bring the prefect back to their study session. It’s still perfectly casual in his head, but feeling them close is totally new to him, and something he continues to seek out. Just following Shrimpy around is one thing, but pulling them to sit so close that they’re practically on his lap as they’re studying in the library is even more special, being able to wrap his arm around them and watch them as they work…
The prefect might protest, or become flustered at the affections, sure. He thinks those reactions are cute and always laughs at them, but one part of him almost wants Shrimpy to become used to the affection. Enough that he could just use their touch to calm down when he’s feeling aggressive without any unexpected reactions. He sometimes does need a lack of stimulation, believe it or not.
Now, if the prefect reciprocates his affections..! Even if just by a shy touch to his hand when they want him to follow, or petting his head as he flops over next to them after a long day at work, it’ll make him ecstatic. For some reason, the unexpected touches fills him with an electric energy, even though he’s not the comfiest with any other guppies touching him without permission. Their touch isn’t always a moodbending one, but it is a sort of contentment he learns to crave. Even if in a bad mood and needing space, he’d still grin for a moment at the warmth of their hand over his and bring them closer, in any way– grab their hand, or arm, or maybe hug them instead… it’s something soft he’s unused to, but he for some reason just wants more. (But be careful, showing even the smallest bit of affection to him is going to make his touches increase tenfold!)
Noticing that the prefect being happy makes him happy is… strange to Floyd. Their reactions to his teasing make him excited like everyone else’s reactions do, but the strange part is the new content feeling he gets seeing them be happy. Sure, he likes to cheer up Jade and Azul with gifts, or help out his clubmates when he’s in the mood… but this pattern transcends his mood swings, unlike his fleeting excitement over others’ reactions. Soon, he starts to mentally note how he can make them happy, and even forgets his default of ragebaiting when it comes to them. Seeing them happy becomes something he even starts to crave.
He’d probably have a sudden realization of his spark of affection for the prefect. That he might want to be more than just friends. Even if it’s in the middle of class, he’ll just leave to figure out what to do about it. Shrimpy’s been making him so happy, just thinking about someone else sweeping them away leaves a bad taste in his mouth…
Floyd says in-game that he “only get(s) worked up about stuff that's hard to get your hands on". (Platinum Jacket vignette) I prefer to interpret that as Floyd would get excited about putting effort into pursuing a potential partner. The pursuit might be a fleeting fixation, but it doesn’t mean his affection for the prefect is fleeting. He’s realized that, and that’s why he wants to work to keep them by his side. The prefect can’t make it too easy and just tell them what they like, get super excited about every gift, etc… The journey is a big part of it for him! Courting them gives him something new to think about in his down time, something new to focus on.
After his realization, Floyd would be forward and tell the prefect he’s going to try to court them to make them realize his affection for them (even if the prefect feels the same way back. He needs to make sure.) But, it’ll be in a way that only makes sense to them in hindsight. Something like him intercepting them after Alchemy to tell them, “Y’know, I like you… I’ve decided we’re gonna spend a lot more time together now, Shrimpy. Hope you’re ready!”, before whisking them away on some surprise trip. No, he’s not going to explain what he means. You either get it now or you figure it out later.
(Part of being so vague is also to test if the prefect would be receptive to hanging out more. He’s always honest, but he can’t scare them off by being too honest. Not yet. Just because he likes them doesn’t mean they share the same feelings back, even if they have been a really close friend to him. Sometimes people only want to stay close friends. But he’ll force deeper feelings out of them one way or another. Floyd can’t handle rejection, so he needs to be sure everything’s gonna work out well and naturally. Else, he’s not above resorting to getting Jade and Azul’s help to arrange a kidnapping situation and forcing it along, or using one of Azul’s potions… they know he’s not going to drop it once he’s got an eye on you.)
(People aren’t scared of getting close to Floyd for no reason. Floyd’s pursuit is probably a point Jade would drop you a hint about, before Floyd gets a chance to start… that message from Jade would’ve been your last normal way out, if you didn’t want anything to change.)
Ultimately though, Floyd’s pursuit ends up being really fun! His surprises can add a lot of color to your life. What Floyd does to court depends on the day. Sometimes it’s just what he’s been doing already; getting physically closer to the prefect, following them around campus, whisking them on surprise excursions (there go your studying plans for the day…)
If he’s in a more focused mode, he might take a page out of Rook’s book and… observe Shrimpy from afar (for their height, he and his brother are surprisingly good at staying out of sight when the situation calls for it. What did you call it, stalking..? Don’t be silly, hehe… he’s just lookin’ around…) Sometimes the best gifts are surprises, whether it’s something related to a secret interest, things you were too shy to buy on your own, a person that was bullying you suddenly apologizing, your snack supply being suddenly refilled overnight… What Floyd does for you is tailored and depends on his mood.
He might tease his Shrimpy by sending them pictures he took when they weren’t looking… although, he doesn’t really want others to see them. He’s not putting effort into photos just for some random guppies. His photo gallery slowly becomes less random and more photos of either them together, or just Shrimpy on their own. He’s not the type to organize photos of them or anything, but scrolling through provides a nice distraction if the prefect is busy. They’re just so cute, he always wants to squeeze them so badly..!!
I like to imagine Floyd spending his days and nights continuing to follow his Shrimpy around, mentally recording more information about them and slowly growing more caring and protective, even before any more formal declarations of partnership. Of course, the prefect would need to fuel his interest by continuing to show they care about him in return, even as he’s changing to be closer to them… after all, it’s what got his attention and heart in the first place. Like I mentioned earlier, he would try to force affection one way or another if they become “too shy” to do so or anything, but he only starts to pursue Shrimpy in the first place if they showed an interest in him.
Again, I believe Floyd needs to be pretty close friends with someone before starting to put effort into maybe becoming partners, and that period of courting might last a while. He needs to be fully confident the prefect is on the same page as him before actually sitting them down and making their relationship official. Though, still in his roundabout way.
- “Y’know, you’re really the cutest, Shrimpy. You wanna be mine for real?”
- If you ask him what you mean, if he’s asking to become your partner, he’ll just parrot your question back.
- “What do you think I mean?” His smile maybe widens a little, his eyes searching yours. He’ll basically convince you to ask him to be your partner, which he’d enthusiastically say yes to! Maybe pick you up and spin you around after… Floyd always feels really satisfied after reaching any of his goals, especially tricky ones to navigate like this. But his happiness wouldn’t fade out, even after formally getting into a relationship.
- “I’ll have you with me all the time now, and you can have me! I’m not gonna let you get away… But I’ll make you safe and happy. You know it.”
- And he’s very honest when he says that, too.
After getting together:
Really, how Floyd acts doesn’t change that much from when he decided to start courting the prefect. He continues to follow his now-partner around, defaulting to looking for them when he’s got nothing else to do, still annoying them and grabbing them when he wants as if they’re a teddy bear… though he’s now able to justify being clingier than ever before.
Floyd is a jealous and clingy partner. He isn’t content with others getting too close to his Shrimpy, even if it’s Azul or his brother. Actually, those two being close seems even more annoying… Setting boundaries with Floyd is something that would be important in a relationship, and something he would whine and complain about, but ultimately be able to follow. Well, as long as you ensure there’s no loopholes in what you’re trying to establish (he will try to work around them to get what he wants.)
The only form of physical affection he gives that does change significantly is biting. Sure, he bites little guppies that step out of line, and he chomps on those guys hard… but the nibbles he gives to his shrimpy are different, and special. They’re not something he wanted to give them before they were official… And biting is more of an urge he has trouble quelling, just like his urge to squeeze them super tight. You have to be clear with him if you don’t want any marks showing when in your normal clothes, else he’s going to make them clear for everyone to see.
(He’d love to coil his partner up in his tail, too. Get them into some heated pool for their sake (he’s used to the cold, but his adorable and fragile human partner isn’t…) and just spend a while ensnared in his grasp… he would love it!! But stupid Azul already gets annoyed when he forgets to take his staying-human potions and can’t make it to work, so he’d have to work around Azul’s wants… so annoying.)
Even if he’s not always in the mood to socialize with his partner, he wants them to still be available. But he’s not super controlling… well, at least, compared to his brother. Jade might step in if Floyd starts to complain too much though, so you’ll have to be careful about how you’re spending your time with others (or how you’re making it up to him after a long hangout).
- “Those guppies are so boring, Shrimpy… do you really think I wouldn’t notice you slipping out to spend time with them? I should really squeeze you for that…”
- It’s never anything a little cuddling won’t fix. He just gets grumpy.
But Floyd is a fun and caring partner, too! His surprise dates and gifts aren’t going to cease, and he’s going to be up for doing something with his Shrimpy if they want to, since he gets to observe them being happy.
He’s a source of brightness in the day, when he’s excited… When you’re stressed, wandering through the halls to your next class, there’s a good chance Floyd will practically read your mind and intercept you with his arms outstretched– blocking the way of others and yelling your nickname loud enough to make them wince, but that all doesn’t matter to him at all. He’s focused on you. And he’ll pick you up and swing you around, all laughs and smiles and remind you that you’ll always be okay, he’s going to be there…
One main headcanon of mine is that Floyd would not get bored with his partner. Especially if they get together through his courting of them. Again, as long as they continue to show him the same affection that got his interest, he’s not going to stop loving them. Just in the same way that he sticks by Azul and Jade since he knows they’ll continue to come up with new schemes and help him out with what he needs, even though those two can be boring or even downright mean to him. As he says in one of his homescreen lines:
- “Man, every day’s a party when I’m with you. I can’t get enough!” – Take that to heart!! He loves you, and he’s not letting you go. Even his worst days nowadays are okay because you’re there.
More evidence: In some stories in-game, Floyd does put a lot of effort into a goal and loses interest after it’s achieved, but not always (!!) One recent example is in his Platinum Jacket vignette, where he mentioned putting a lot of effort into getting one ring he got really interested in. At the end he says:
- "Sure, I can't be bothered to take care of it. But I like it anyway. I'm gonna wear it 'til it crumbles to dust." – He’s not going to get bored of his partner after he’s learned so much about them and after they’ve stuck by his side through all his emotions!! No one else knows better how to navigate his mood swings than his Shrimpy.
This is especially important to me for a significant other who has any disabilities or mental health issues. He’s not going to leave because they’re having an episode, or because they need a lot of help. Unlike what people might think, Floyd isn’t always about seeking the most exciting thing. He can love, and he does love very much, especially when it’s being fueled by his partner’s reciprocation (even if they aren’t as showy as he is with his affection!). He’s smart enough to be an incredibly attentive partner.
- “You’ve always got me to help out, Shrimpy. Just ‘cuz I might wanna go out and squeeze someone sometimes doesn’t mean I’m gonna ignore you, if you need somethin’… you’re so cute and defenseless, hehe. And you can help me out, too. I’ll let ya know when you need to.” And he’s certainly not shy about asking for help… or rather, expecting it. (He’s maybe a little spoiled.)
Floyd’s partner becomes a mood regulator for him, even more than when they were close friends. Both taking care of them and just being around them help give him some sense of stability, which is important even for someone as thrill-seeking as Floyd. He’s internalized that being around his partner makes him feel better, especially when Shrimpy’s content. Plus, he’s put in the effort to get them in his grasp. He’s not letting go.
He can go on autopilot if he’s in a bad state and help them out more, since he knows it’ll pay off for him later. It’s just like he can go to work even when he doesn’t feel like it if there’s something he’s saving up for. He’s of course going to have his moments where he gets worse.
He’s going to snap at his partner once in a while (even if they weren’t antagonizing him), but their suffering would switch him out of that state and into a more helpful one eventually. He never ends up going too far, never anything near what he does to others that do him wrong one way or another. But he’ll always make it up to them somehow, though he’s not sentimental with apologies. He knows he can be a handful, and he knows he has to counteract that for an equal relationship. Simple as that.
With all of that, congrats, you’re now an unofficial employee of the Mostro Lounge! When Azul needs Floyd’s help, he’ll get you to come over as a motivator, whether or not you come willingly. Either you get used to dropping your work when Azul messages, or you get used to the feeling of ropes restraining you as you wait for Floyd to be finished with his work. At least you get compensation.
One benefit for Jade and Azul is that Floyd causes much less trouble. Instead of going out to fight whatever poor student gets in his way when he’s in a mood, Floyd slowly learns to seek out his Shrimpy instead! That means a lot less headaches for Floyd’s Octavinelle companions…
Well, not that his fights stop completely, of course. And Floyd now has a new major trigger for his aggression: anyone wronging his Shrimpy, whether or not it’s a “misunderstanding”. But even with incidents on behalf of his partner on the rise, them as a distraction does make the number of overall incidents decrease noticeably.
- “That lil’ fishy back there was trying to take you out by running into you, even if you don’t see it… I really oughta throttle him, but cuddling with you’s a lot better, I guess…” He’d mumble into your shoulder as you pat his back reassuringly, partially crushed by his weight as you both lay in his soft bed. You reassure him you’re just fine after someone ran into you in the hall, not even bruised. But just because you didn’t want to watch Floyd beat someone up then doesn’t mean he won’t go and do it later when you aren’t looking. Yeah… his casualty rate is never dropping to zero.
But Floyd is a gentle and caring partner, ultimately. If you tell that to any of your classmates, they’re probably not going to believe you… and that’s fine. What you two share isn’t something they need to care about. You might become an isolated couple, but a secure one. Floyd protects his Shrimpy, and Shrimpy takes care of Floyd. It’s really easy to love him.