“…Yeah. Murder’s still not the wave for me. I can write about it. I can understand the theory of it. In a defense way. But the enjoyment of it? The whole ‘thrill’ of it all…” Dominic shook his head. “Nope, not for me.” It also didn’t help that when Dominic had to actually do so, end the life of another being - the reaction to do it was natural. Picking up a gun in self defense and eliminating any threats was done thoughtlessly. Just like his father taught him. It was that fact that honestly scared Dominic. …Plus, when he took out the vampire threatening his other best friend. It was the demented thread of… quiet happiness… that was still uncomfortable. So, no. Murder was not the wave for Dominic. Nor did he want it to be. “As for this whole lavish thing… Yeaaah.” He dragged out the word. “I don’t know how many lifetimes it’s gonna take for me to get use to that. I mean, yes, I’ve traveled but not counting my Christmas/New Years trip in London? I’ve always gone on the government’s dime and I don’t know if you know but America is cheap as hell.” He replied with a chuckle. Dom shrugged. “Alright, so what’s relaxing to you?” He asked Gigi. “And you’re something else is a compliment. I promise.” He replied, placing a hand on his chest as he smiled down at her.
Another shrug rotated his shoulders. “I don’t know how to really explain it? I mean, I’ve never had a girlfriend just up and whisk my ass away to Paris. And you know I like traveling. It’s a nice surprise and-” Dominic shrugged again. “…I don’t know.” He uttered, his voice low. “You think that you’re not showing me that you care. But you do. You are. I know you worry about our thing ‘cause we each have our separate thing with Luna but…” He trailed off. “Our thing is quiet. Like building a campfire, you know? It doesn’t have to be all big and loud and in a hurry. We’re still learning each other. We’re simmering right now. We’ll get to the big ass bonfire soon. I know it. But I’m good with the lil campfire we got. ‘Cause for somebody who says she doesn’t know how to do feelings… you’re not doing too bad with me, alright?”
A low chuckle left him. “So… did that help, my explanation?” He asked, reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind Gigi’s ear. “Aye.” He gently chided. “I don’t care if we don’t make sense to other people. Do we make sense to you? Do you want us to be for real? That’s all I need to know. I already said that we’re working out the rest. I don’t want you acting with me. Haven’t you done enough of that? Don’t you want to just be you, all the time, with me?” He rolled his eyes. “I’m a grown ass man. Pretty sure that I have a good idea of what I’m getting into with wanting to be with you. For real.” He paused, a reminder tickling the back of his brain. “…We don’t have to be together just ‘cause we’re dating Luna, you know that right? If you don’t want to date me, I’ll respect it.” Dominic shifted topics. “And as for my edibles? …I’m an only child and a foodie. You want some of my snacks, you gotta ask. Or at least put cash where the food was, if you ate all of it. Or Cashapp or Venmo me or something.” He laughed, the noise coming from deep in his chest at the memories of calling Gigi ‘Frosty’. He’d forgotten all about that. “Oh, c’mon! You know you were cold as fuck to me when we met! You know that’s how you got that name. I didn’t know that past me hurt your feelings like that. I’m sorry.” Dominic apologized, meaning it regardless of the amused expression he sported. He did not expect Gigi to pull that memory out. “If it makes you feel better, I haven’t called you that in years. I think I stopped as soon as you warmed up to me too.” He shook his head at her assessment. “…I’m still human. I have more chances of getting sick than you do. Not gonna lie, it sucked that you just… flaked. Real talk, would you have done the same thing if Luna was sick?” He asked curious as they continued on their way to start the surprise birthday trip to Paris.
“That’s cool?” Gigi said with a small shrug. “If it helps, it’s not so much the thrill of it that does it for me? And I mean technically speaking, it’s less of an enjoyment, so much as a fascination? It’s hard to explain. But, I guess it’s the moment when you’re watching someone’s life fade out of their eyes? In those last few moments, people seem to go through all of these emotions. Fear, anger, pain, bargaining, hope? And then it’s just gone. All the pleas and the worries and the joy. The empathy? It just vanishes and it feels like that person was never really there to begin with. It’s hypnotizing and perplexing. And I guess a part of me always wondered what would happen if I actually did it? I held off from killing for so long and, so I wondered, if it came down to it, would those emotional pleas make me pause? Would they register with me or make me feel whatever you’re suppose to feel for each other? But, it didn’t. Each time I’ve done it, it’s felt no different than... than stepping on an ant? I mean it’s more of an adrenaline rush than stepping on an ant for sure, but when the adrenaline subsides, you’re suddenly back to feeling, well, for the most part, numb and, before you know it, you start to crave the rush once more because at least it’s something other than nothing? That’s why I’m interested in death and murder and all that. That and the fact that splattered blood is very cinematic,” Gigi attempted to explain. “True. But, I mean what’s the difference from going on the government’s dime and mine? Other than how mine is clearly a step above?” She asked curiously. “And hmm... spas? Massages, fancy food, being waited on hand and foot, gigantic stuffed animals, an excessive amount of pillows, and oh! Music or classic movies. Those too,” She mused. “What about you? What’s relaxing to you? And oh. Okay,” She said with a small nod and a hint of a smile.
“As long as you think it’s nice,” Gigi said, accepting his explanation without a second thought. “It’s not that we both have our separate things with Luna as much as how I don’t really know how to do quiet? I’m loud and excessive and in a hurry as a person and very, very impatient. So, this all very new? I guess?”
“A little bit, yeah?” Gigi said with a small nod. “And no. Not really,” She answered honestly when Dom asked if they made sense to her. They were as different as different could be and, if Luna had never existed, she had high doubts that they would have become a thing. “But, that doesn’t mean I don’t want for us to be?” She admitted with a soft smile. “And I guess? But, I also think that’s a part of me. I say what people want to hear to get what I want. I don’t even know that I’m doing it half the time. It’s just second nature by now. If someone doesn’t like how abrasive I am, I stop being abrasive around them. Then they don’t get mad or leave. But, I’m working on it. And okay,” She let out a little laugh at his words. “If you’re sure, then we’re all good. And I know that. I just didn’t know if you knew that,” Gigi said, hoping her train of thought meant as much sense out loud as it did in her head. She knew they didn’t all just have to date, because they both liked Luna and Gigi wouldn’t be hanging out with Dom if she didn’t want to. She just sometimes felt like Dom expected her to be more like Luna than she was or ever would be. “Oh! Wait- you’re telling me that I whisk you around the world, but if I want an edible I have to pay you? Wow! I see how this relationship works now. And so? I’m a sociopath! I’m literally the definition of selfish and unwilling to compromise. Being an only child is not an excuse,” Gigi let out a laugh, shaking her head as she looked over at him.
“Oh, I know. And I’m still cold as fuck, thank you very much. But, you didn’t hurt my feelings? I don’t even know if my feelings are really the ones you can hurt? So, no need to apologize. I just assumed I was still the Ice Queen is all, but I guess not? And only partially. But, oh... Sorry?” Gigi didn’t know her keeping her distance when Dom was sick would bother him this much. “I didn’t mean to flake. I just didn’t see how I was needed in the situation? But, real talk, yeah I would. Why would it being Luna have anything to do with it? I like you, Dom. Just as much as I do with Lu. It’s why I’m trying not to be so overly ‘me’ to fuck this up, but taking care of someone? Nursing them back to health when they have a fever? That isn’t me. That’s Lu. And I know you don’t want me to act around you, but I don’t know how to be me and be sympathetic and mean it? If I was sick, not that I ever get sick, but if I was I’d want you both to call a doctor for me and then leave me be. Why would I subject you to an illness when a Doctor is much more equipped to helping me? That’s how my brain thinks. Calling a doctor and not leaving you for dead is me caring, which I know is ‘cold’ and ‘insensitive’ and ‘fucked up’ and probably a hundred other rather rude adjectives, but I guess I don’t know how to be nurturing, unless it’s pretend that is?”
