Clovenfruit, Cryptic Codes, and Renaissance Regrets: The Most Confusing Malicious Compliance Story on Reddit
Ever wanted to time travel to a world of secret signals, medieval mischief, and high school drama? Strap in, because today’s story takes us to a Renaissance festival where clove-studded fruit, cryptic codes, and a not-so-malicious compliance led to the end of a friendship—and left an entire Reddit thread scratching their heads.
It all started with a Reddit post titled “Ye Olde MC” on r/MaliciousCompliance. The tale? A high schooler, some science club friends, a confusing invitation, and a lesson in friendship and communication that’s as old as time (or at least as old as Shakespearean innuendo).
The Renaissance Festival: Where Science Club Meets Secret Rituals
Our narrator, u/Ancient_Educator_76, sets the stage: high school days, lots of dating, and a best friend, Mike, who always seemed to fancy the same girls. Fast forward to a Renaissance festival outing with Mike, Mike’s girlfriend Stacy, and a couple of “cool” science club buddies.
They wander into a rock shop (no, not the Metallica kind—think geodes and sparkly minerals) when a mysterious girl hands the narrator a business card with just one word: “clovenfruit.” She whispers, “come back around closing,” and disappears into the crowd.
Mike, perhaps channeling his inner Sherlock, remarks, “hey you probably only got that because you don’t have a girl on your arm.” But our narrator, who knows a thing or two about the secret traditions of Renaissance fairs, suspects it’s a bit more than just a freebie. (And, as we’ll see, he’s right.)
The Clovenfruit Conundrum: Kiss, Bite, or Regret?
For those not up on their medieval party signals, here’s the scoop: “clovenfruit” is a not-so-secret code for an invitation to, well, more-than-friendly festivities. Traditionally, it involves a fruit (often an orange or peach) with cloves stuck in it. What you do with that fruit—kiss, nibble, or chomp—communicates your level of interest.
As u/FarmboyJustice clarified in the comments, “offering the fruit to a person you were interested in was a way to ask them to kiss you,” not necessarily a ticket to a wild Renaissance orgy. It’s basically the old-timey version of giving someone your number, only with more vitamin C and less subtlety. (Though, as the OP admits, “turning it into a spontaneous sex ritual is a recent thing apparently.”)
But back to our story: When Stacy, Mike’s girlfriend, suddenly produces a clove-studded peach (did she have it all along?!), the narrator’s heart skips a beat. They’d once considered dating, and for a moment, he’s tempted to take a big bite. Instead, out of loyalty (or maybe panic), he just kisses the fruit, passes it back, and says, “hey, I can’t do that.”
Cue instant regret. Stacy barely bats an eye before passing the peach to “the hairy potter,” and off they go into a mysterious tent for some Renaissance-style fun. Mike, completely in the dark about the clovenfruit code, is left fuming when he pieces it all together later.
Reddit Reacts: Confusion, Comedy, and Community Commentary
If you found yourself squinting at this story wondering, “Wait, what just happened?”—you’re not alone. The Reddit comments section is a goldmine of confusion and comedy gold.
The top comment from u/PokemonGoing summed up the collective bewilderment: “I have no idea what is going on here.” Others chimed in, “english am no easy,” and “this post is one giant hint hint wink wink from start to finish.” Even native English speakers like u/13luemoons admitted, “as a native speaker it was a headscratcher.”
Thankfully, some brave souls attempted to translate the saga for the rest of us. As u/Radiant-Job4499 concisely explained, the narrator “let Mike believe it was just a chance to get ‘free stuff’,” but in reality, it was a clandestine invite. When Stacy took her peach elsewhere, Mike was furious at being left in the dark, and the friendship never recovered.
Of course, the comments didn’t stop at translation. The thread quickly devolved into debates about the true meaning of “clovenfruit,” jokes about TikTok slang (“sec club”), and playful jabs at the OP’s writing style. u/Proper-Application69 lamented America’s education system, while u/UsuarioSecreto (in a moment of pure Reddit energy) declared, “the word SEX doesn’t need to be censored. We are not on TikTok.”
And, in the best tradition of the internet, some users just wanted a bot to translate everything into plain English for them.
Malicious Compliance or Friendship Fumble?
So, was this really a case of “malicious compliance”? The community wasn’t convinced. As u/Sensei_Fing_Doug put it, “That isn’t malicious compliance. It’s being a blue falcon.” (For those unfamiliar, “blue falcon” is military slang for betraying a buddy.) Others argued that the real problem wasn’t the clovenfruit ritual, but the lack of honest communication.
Even the OP, typing apologies from his cracked phone in a pantry, admitted he might have been the “dick” in this story. He reflected that not warning Mike about the true nature of the invite was a turning point in their friendship—a decision he still regrets.
But perhaps the most Reddit-appropriate conclusion comes from the chorus of commenters who, despite the confusing language and medieval references, came together in a collective “WTF?”
Conclusion: What We Learn from Ye Olde MC
Renaissance festivals are wild, but Reddit threads about them might be even wilder. Whether you’re navigating secret signals with clovenfruit or decoding cryptic posts online, one thing’s clear: honesty (and clear communication) always beats mysterious innuendo.
So next time you’re handed a fruit with a clove in it, remember: sometimes a peach is just a peach—but sometimes, it’s the start of a story you’ll be explaining for years to come.
Have you ever been caught in a secret code you didn’t understand? Or accidentally created medieval drama among friends? Share your tales below—bonus points for cryptic language, clove-studded fruit, or any other wild festival rituals!
And if you’re still confused…don’t worry. You’re in good company.
What’s the weirdest secret signal you’ve ever encountered? Drop a comment, and let’s see if we can outdo this Renaissance fiasco!
Original Reddit Post: Ye Olde MC