this is a clever song lyric subject line!

[skillspanner]

Who: Merlin (dragonspeak), Rise Kujikawa (riset) & Yosuke Hanamura (skillspanner).
Where: La casa de Breeding Centre, Yosuke's room.
When: January 26th, evening.
Summary: Yosuke has Important Things to tell his best friends!
Rating: PG-13
Log:

[It's nerve wracking, to say the least.]

[Yosuke's known all along that they'd eventually have to start telling people about the situation; He and Souji weren't going to be able to hide it forever. Especially if they're not only living under the same roof, but sharing a room. A room that's been frequently barged into. Is he ready? By absolutely no means. Really, if he could, he'd never tell a soul about this and keep it a secret. It's difficult, to say the least - he's still having a hard enough time coping with this when it's just he and Souji as it is. It took some convincing; a practical situation of begging Souji to let him tell Merlin and Rise this on his own. He wanted to be there for it, but he didn't want Souji to do it.]

[Not after everything that happened. Not after how many times he ended up leaning on them, confiding in them over this situation. Yosuke thinks it's only right that they're the first to know... and that they find out directly from him.]

[So after leaving messages on their gears, he's left waiting. He can't sit still - he starts with pacing the room. Then sitting. Then idly strumming his guitar. And back to pacing. Is this over yet? He can't help but wonder this. Anxiety is rising and he doesn't think he's been this keyed up since the night of the huge fight.]

Comments

[riset]

[ she doesn't knock - he's expecting her, why would she? - instead nudging the door open and peering around it. Once she spots Yosuke, she offers him her usual smile and salutes. ]

Rise Kujikawa, reporting for-- um... reporting!

[dragonspeak]

[Coming up right behind you, Rise! He pushes the door open further and just grins at the two of them. Now that some time's passed, he's pretty much back to his normal, cheerful self.]

And Merlin. [Once they're both inside, Merlin shuts the door behind them.] Actually...what are we reporting in for?

[skillspanner]

Yo... [He lets out an awkward laugh immediately. He's really not sure how to start this, or how he's even going to tell them any of this at all. He motions for them to sit wherever they feel like in the meanwhile.]

[Taking a seat in the desk chair, he idly twirls his headphone wires around his fingers. Drawing in a breath, he finally says words!] I, um, just wanted to talk to you guys about something. It's kinda... been a while since we did this, y'know?

[riset]

Way too long... [ but she claims a spot on the bed, crossing her ankles and looking at Yosuke expectantly. ] Did something happen?

[ yeah, she hasn't missed the fact that it's her and Merlin, the only two who had known certain things longer than the others had. ]

[dragonspeak]

[and that leaves Merlin to claim his usual place on the floor. The little spot practically has his name on it by now.]

You know you can talk to us about anything. [Merlin tilts his head back, smiling lightly at Rise as he leans back against the bed. From the looks of it, Yosuke and Souji have been getting along fine; he hopes nothing's come up again.]

[skillspanner]

[Under most circumstances, there would have been a moment where Yosuke had a moment of flailing because Rise is on his bed.]

[Okay, maybe that actually hadn't changed much, but everything else is so prevalent that it's not nearly as visible on his face as it normally would've been. There are things that are more important -- and lately, Yosuke's gotten pretty good at prioritizing. It's been kind of necessary to deal with everything that's happened, without a doubt.]

Ye-yeah, something definitely happened. I mean, I know you guys figured out that we... made up, I guess? [He sounds unsure of himself as he says this. Words, how does words without blurting this out in the worst way or saying the wrong thing entirely?] I never really told you guys what happened, though. And after everything...

[He trails off, drawing in a nervous breath.] I wanted you both to have the full story. Or something close to it.

[riset]

[ Merlin's glance is returned with one of her own, but Rise won't do any back-and-forth silent communication beyond that. It doesn't look like it's going to be a shared "Oh boy we have to salvage the situation, which one do you want to take" dilemma this time around. ]

I think Question Time can wait 'til you're done, then. [ a nudge with her foot. ] Right, Merlin?

[dragonspeak]

[Hey, hey. No using your higher spot on the bed like that. Merlin retaliates by tickling her ankle while he replies.]

Right. I figured you both talked and worked it out. [He finally lets go of Rise's foot and gives Yosuke his full attention.] We'll listen before we ask anything else, just like Rise said.

[skillspanner]

[He nods, quiet. He's watching the two of them -- it's endearing in a way. It's not like he ever imagined that these two people would be the ones he confided in. Hell, he barely imagined having one person to do that with, let alone three. Not that it makes this any easier to say, but there's that underlying knowledge that neither of them will judge him for it, and that's something Yosuke is grateful for.]

It was... a bit before Christmas. The details aren't that important, I guess. But when I went to clear the air, I kind of... [Trailing off again, and then he finishes in a single breath.] ...ToldhimhowIfelt.

[His face, his ears - they're both turning a bright shade of red now. Yosuke's averting his gaze. Nope. Cannot even look either of them straight on after saying that.]

[riset]

[ Merlin will get a tiny yelp for his insolence stunt before she safely tucks her foot back on the bed and turns her attention fully towards Yosuke. Is she suspecting this?

Maybe. There isn't much that Rise doesn't pick up on when it comes to her friends, and the air around her upperclassmen has definitely softened. But to hear it from Yosuke, the one who had called her in a nervous wreck at night, the one who'd nearly crumpled in her arms, the one who'd had to face his Shadow again to even come to terms with... well.

He's grown.

It's surprising, but there's an even stronger wave of pride that accompanies it. And of course-- a squeal. ]

That's amazing, Yosuke-senpai!! You really got it all out??

This is why you don't let me tag int he morning...

[dragonspeak]

You really did it, huh. [A wide smile practically splits Merlin face. It hadn't escaped his notice, either, that Yosuke and Souji had been tentatively getting along since Souji got back. Something had obviously changed, but the two of them had been relatively mum about it...until now.

Even if you'd gathered enough courage to tell others how you feel about someone, telling the person in question...that's something altogether. He and Rise have both experienced this. Knowing Yosuke, who had been so terrified of even thinking about his feelings, and who had been so crushed after that argument, had still done it says a lot about his bravery. Merlin couldn't be more proud of his friend, and happy that things had finally gotten back on track.]

Good for you, Yosuke. [He fidgets, the excitement getting to him, until he finally pulls his legs up against his chest.] What'd he say?

/patpat we love you anyway

[skillspanner]

[He gives a nod, remaining quiet for a moment. He's not surprised that they're being so supportive... but that doesn't make the whole situation any less embarrassing for him. This entire ride has been difficult, from the realization of his feelings to the very moment where they are right now. Yosuke's happy it's turned out the way it did, of course...]

[But it's still hard for him to talk about it.]

He's... you know. Souji about it. He... gets it? [And the hardest part for him to say.] We're talking things slow. Really slow.

yes we do!

[riset]

... Well, if it's you I'm trusting Senpai with, I can rest easy.

[ and it sounds so nonchalant, but Rise wouldn't say it if she didn't mean it. ]

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin shoots Rise a glance, just a bit knowing.]

Souji has a way of understanding how things go. [His voice lowers as he continues.] I'm glad you've worked it out now.

[skillspanner]

[He flops back on the bed, letting out a sigh. There's definitely a hint of relief laying in there, despite being so keyed up of the whole thing.]

Ye-yeah, me too. [He pauses, going quiet. Yosuke can't help but remember the situation before he confronted Souji about everything. Bad memories. Those feelings are ones he'd rather not remember, but they still haven't disappeared completely. That sense of anxiety is one that will take a long time to fade.]

[riset]

It'll still take some time to get used to, huh?

[ she smiles encouragingly down at Yosuke, choosing to plop on her back beside him. ]

But me and Merlin have your backs!

[dragonspeak]

[Now he's feeling left out of that little pile. That's a good reason to move so that he's perched at the edge of the bed.]

What are you and Souji going to do now?

[skillspanner]

Yeah... [He says it with a small laugh as he looks over to Rise. It's nice, though still strange in a way, to have people he talk to about these things so easily.]

[He goes quiet for a second at Merlin's question though, letting out a thoughtful "huh."] Dunno yet. Take it one day at a time, I guess.

[riset]

[ she'll wriggle enough to be able to turn and plunk her feet in Merlin's lap, while one hand reaches for Yosuke's for a reassuring squeeze. There, now the circle is complete. ]

You're going to tell everyone else, right?

[dragonspeak]

[His fingers circle around her ankle again, but he doesn't tickle her this time. Not yet.]

Aw, c'mon, Rise. They've just figured it out--give them some time to get used to it. They'll tell the others when they're ready.