[He thinks she means it? That... means a lot to him. He isn't sure why, but it does.]

We're operating in the 1950s middle class tradition. As one dude interested in another dude, with a strong rejection of the consumer capitalist ideals and obsession with polished surfaces over interrogated realities, my courtship in this style is obviously ironic.

Equally obviously, Jake is completely and totally sincere.

[Dirk is deadpan, but. He adores Jake for that.]

Absolutely. Obviously, I mean that in the more complex sense of irony that allows for measures of sincerity, rather than mere basic irony that just shits on things because it's a stupid asshole's tool.

Partly. There are layers to it. It would be like giving someone a box of chocolates for Valentine's day. It's a disingenuous act on its own, because it's so cliche as to be totally meaningless. But if one performs it ironic and acknowledges that irony, and the acknowledgement of that irony becomes part of the communication between a person on their partner, then levels of sincerity and genuine emotion are achieved at the same time.