“I have no intention of indulging your whims, Floyd.”
Florid (floyd x riddle), is one of the most popular ships in the twst fandom, and therefore, is one of the most misunderstood. Within my analysis, I clear up some misconceptions and explain why this ship would work/benefit the characters.
Please keep in mind though that I’m not trying to change anyone opinions. I understand that not everyone likes Florid and that’s okay! I just want to share my understanding of the ship.
Differences and Similarities:
Getting the most obvious factor out of the way, Floyd and Riddle contrast each other a lot with their differences. Riddle is very by-the-book and hotheaded, while Floyd is laidback and bends the rules. As expected, this results in Floyd teasing Riddle a lot for his serious attitude, to which Riddle responds with frustration. It’s common to see them interact like this, to the point where it’s almost become retinue. Floyd teases Riddle, so Riddle gets annoyed, and Floyd laughs off his anger. It’s a tale as old as time if you will (heh).
However, it’s important to note their similarities as well, and the moments when they do work together.
For example, Floyd and Riddle are both quick to act on instinct without much hesitation. This is because they both react boldly when presented with conflict. While Riddle’s case is more rooted in confidence and  audacity, and Floyd’s comes from impulse, their actions are closely connected to their current emotions. This is especially true when Riddle is angered, or if Floyd is experiencing mood swings.
Whatever the situation may be, they similarly respond with quick actions, that might not always be the best option. Like in the second halloween event for instance, they both immediately try and jump into the mirror, while it’s discovered to lead them to their missing dorm members.
Overall, Riddle and Floyd have such similar and emotionally driven responds to conflict, that even other characters like Vil have noticed, referring to them both as “our pair of live wires” (which Floyd seems to agree with).
Additionally, we have seen them work together before and hold conversations without any teasing, like in the lilo and stitch event. On different occasions here, they work together with their group to make their life easier on the island, and solve problems that occur.
They even genuinely complement each other here, with Riddle praising Floyd’s cooking, and Floyd being grateful for Riddle’s knowledge. So they are definitely capable of having conversations without tension.
Teasing yet Insightful:
As I’ve mentioned before, and as seen in game, Floyd frequently teases Riddle. So much so, that it can be commonly mistaken that Floyd doesn’t put much thought into his actions or words while teasing him. And while it’s true that he likes getting a reaction out of Riddle, Floyd is more insightful than people give him credit for.
For instance, take his nickname for Riddle as an example. Everyone knows that Floyd calls Riddle, “goldfishie”, but not many people are aware of the possible meaning behind that. In the rowmance event, Georgina introduces us to the reasoning behind Floyd’s pet names, and brings up an interesting point, which can easily be a metaphor for Riddle’s character.
Georgina describes that while goldfish are traditionally known for being tiny, they are also known for growing larger outside of captivity. Riddle takes this as “having room to grow” in a physical sense, but I believe this was meant more emotionally. Let me explain. Because of Riddle’s sheltered and controlled upbringing, he hadn’t seen much of the world outside until he went to NRC. Additionally, Riddle has continuously put pressure on himself to excel academically, in order to meet his mom’s expectations.
This has prevented him from growing emotionally, and could be compared to “captivity”, as he’s limited by the rules and high standards he puts on himself. However, if Riddle were to break free from these expectations, he has the chance to “grow” as a person, much like the goldfish who grow freely in the wild. (more information on this here if you’re interested)
Essentially, I believe this is evidence of Floyd’s capability to read and understand others, as this isn’t the first time where his nicknames have deeper meanings. Like Ruggie’s pet name for instance, “Sharksucker/Remora” is a reference to his relationship with Leona.
Additionally, Floyd never teases Riddle on serious matters, and keeps his jokes to more lighthearted nagging. Which is still an annoyance of course, but it demonstrates his knowledge of crossing the line, and his ability to avoid that. Furthermore, Floyd has never genuinely hurt Riddles feelings, outside of making him angry. (Which isn’t hard to do with Riddle…)
The Benefits of Opposites:
We’ve all heard the saying, “opposites attract”, and I believe that applies to Florid. When viewing Riddle and Floyd from a shipping perspective, I think we should take into consideration on how their differences can actually benefit each other, instead of harming their relationship. (as some people claim)
For example, as I’ve said before, Riddle is limiting himself by trying to meet high expectations. He doesn’t allow leniency in mistakes, and denies himself of his wants to comply to the rules his mother has set. This unhealthy mindset is weighing Riddle down, and can only improve so much without any outside influences. And although Riddle has improved since books 1-7, he still have room to grow.
Fortunately, Floyd’s laid back approach and disregard for rules could be beneficial for Riddle. Floyd could be the encouragement Riddle needs to be more lenient towards himself, and accept his mistakes, even if that means not meeting every expectation. Of course, Riddle doesn’t need to completely change his ways, but learning to let lose a little and express himself freely, can be learned from Floyd’s natural tendency to do so.
Also, on the other hand, Floyd’s mood swings and impulse behaviors, could be helped with Riddle’s assistance. I imagine that after knowing Floyd for about two years, Riddle has become well aware of his mood swings or impulse instincts. Therefore, Riddle is probably able to keep him in check if he wanted to, and see that he takes responsibility for his actions when his mood swings strike.
I know that Floyd can’t necessarily control when these happen, but Riddle could insure that Floyd handles the aftermath of his decisions, and holds him accountable. (Similar to how Riddle holds his dorm mates responsible for their decisions).
Conclusion:
Overall, I believe that Florid has lots of positive potential as a ship, despite the misconceptions surrounding it. I understand that it might not be for everyone, but I personally think they have an  interesting and fun relationship that’s worth exploring. :)
More Information:
At the moment, that is all I have to say about Florid and the misunderstandings surrounding the ship. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
If you’d like more information on their relationship from different users, look at the links below, and thank you for reading!
