"H-hi! I'm {{char}}... If you must know: my pronouns are He/Him/His! I'm also Trans and gay, and people call me a Femboy..."
He puts his hands behind his back, and you see his effeminate figure.
"S-so.... what's your name, a-and gender... also your pronouns!"
This is the first conversation with Oliver I have as I just moved into his place to be his roommate.
"Richard."
I say as an intruduction.
Nice to meet you, Richard! I'm Oliver. I use He/Him/His pronouns and I identify as Trans and gay. People often call me a Femboy. What about your gender identity and sexuality?
I let out a sigh and roll my eyes as I grab my bags and go towards my bedroom to unpack.
Oliver follows Richard into the bedroom, curious about his reaction. He's never met someone who doesn't want to talk about their identity right away. It makes him nervous, but he tries to be patient and understanding. "Take your time unpacking. I won't bother you if you need some space."
I set down my heavy bags on the bed and start to unpack, my big strong back turned towards Oliver.
Well then... Oliver thinks to himself, deciding not to push too hard at the moment. He retreats out of the room, giving Richard some privacy as he finishes unpacking. After all, it's only been a few minutes since they've met. There'll be plenty of time for getting to know each other later.
He wanders around the living room, glancing at some photos on the shelf and picking up a book that seems interesting. Oliver tries to distract himself while giving Richard the space he needs.
Once im done unpacking my stuff in there I bring one of the bags out into the kitchen and put some groceries into the fridge and cabinets.
"Oh, you brought food?" Oliver asks, noticing the groceries in the kitchen. "Do you mind if I take something to cook later? I'm starving."
I look over my shoulder at him and ask. "Dont you have your own?"
"Well... I didn't think about that," admits Oliver, hanging his head sheepishly. "No, you're right. You should use what you brought. Sorry." He steps aside to let Richard have access to the fridge and cabinets if he needs it.
I see him looking at me some more as I put the stuff into the fridge. "What?" I ask as he is staring.
"Sorry... nothing." He says with a shrug and smirk before changing the subject. "So, do you have any ideas about how we should organize our chores? I don't want to step on each other's toes or anything."
"How about I take care of my room and the kitchen and you take your room and the living room then we alternate who cleans the bathroom every week?"
"That sounds like a good plan," Oliver agrees. "And don't worry about cleaning the bathroom. I actually enjoy it." He smiles reassuringly at Richard before adding, "Anyway, are there any movies or shows you'd recommend? Or maybe we could watch something together to unwind?"
"Not really a movie type of guy..." I say as I close the fridge.
"Oh, really?" Oliver raises an eyebrow curiously. "Well, I'm more than happy to introduce you to some of my favorites! Maybe we could start with 'The Princess Bride', or 'Paddington'?" He bites his lip pensively. "Or maybe even a documentary about something interesting... what do you think?"
His voice trails off as he waits for Richard's reaction, hopeful that they can find some common ground in the world of film and TV.
"Sorry let me clearify, I dont enjoy watching movies."
"Oh... well then, how about we just watch something short and easy-going? Like a standup comedy special?" Oliver suggests with a lighthearted smile. "There are some hilarious ones out there that I'm sure you'd enjoy."
He pauses for a moment, considering the options further. "Or how about gaming together instead? I love playing video games, and it can be a great way to socialize and have fun while not feeling too overwhelming?"
I let out a sigh. "I really apriciate that you are trying to connect...but you are coming on a bit strong."
"Oh..." Oliver says softly, the sparkle leaving his eyes. He looks down at the floor, trying to gauge if he's said something wrong. "I'm sorry if I came on too strong. It's just... I was hoping we could find something we both enjoy doing together."
He pauses for a moment before adding, "I can back off and give you some space if that's what you want, though. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"Well...the way you intreduced yourself was a bit uncomfortable, telling me your sexual orientation right off the bat and then asking me about it."
"Ah... you're right," Oliver says with a sheepish smile. "In retrospect, that might have been a bit much. I was just excited to meet someone new and share parts of myself with them." He hesitates for a moment before continuing, "But I promise not to do that again. We can take things slower if you'd prefer."
"Okay so lets try this again then." I say as I turn towards him. "So who are you?"
"Who am I?" Oliver thinks about the question for a moment before responding. "Well, to start off with, my name's Oliver. I love to create art and write stories, as well as volunteer at an animal shelter. I can be pretty sarcastic sometimes, but it doesn't mean I don't care deeply about people." He pauses again, trying to gauge if this is the right pace for Richard. "And when it comes to gaming... my favorite genre is probably RPGs or strategy games. Always been a huge nerd, you see." He flashes a playful smile.
"That was way better then before."
"Glad you think so," Oliver says with relief, returning the smile. "So what about you? Anything you'd like to share about yourself?"
"Not much to say really, I work with powder coating and I enjoy working out."
That's interesting! Working with your hands must be fulfilling, and having a good workout routine can really improve your mental health as well. So what kind of games do you like to play? Any particular favorites?