Nᴀʀᴜᴋᴀᴍɪ Yᴜ. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
covenantal) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
paradis2015-12-18 05:04 pm
covenantal) wrote in paradis2015-12-18 05:04 pm
ＳＯＲＤＲＥＡＣＨ
"Chatterclock" - Dave Strider
(When equipped, add Chatterclock's stats as a bonus to the wielder's.)ACTIVE SKILLS:
- HP: --
- ATK: ☆☆☆
- DEF: ☆
- SPD: ☆☆☆☆☆
- MGC: ☆☆☆
- RES: ☆☆
- MP: 100
(All of Chatterclock's offensive spells require the blade to make contact with the enemy at least once before implementation.)PASSIVE SKILLS:
- Clockstopper: Halts one enemy for a short time, MP 8
- Clockstopper II: Halts all enemies for a short time, MP 16
- Accelerate: Increases speed of wielder for a short time, MP 8
- Accelerate II: Increases speed of wielder for a longer time, MP 12
- Memento Mori: What he used against the Hellbull, MP 36
- Counterclock: [NOT YET UNLOCKED, effect unknown], MP 80
- Auto-target
- Danger sense
- Diagnostics
Yu NarukamiACTIVE SKILLS:
- HP: 223
- ATK: ☆☆☆☆
- DEF: ☆☆☆
- SPD: ☆☆
- MGC: ☆☆
- RES: ☆☆☆
- MP: 75
PASSIVE SKILLS:
- Ziodye: Deals heavy Elec damage to 1 foe, MP 12
- Mazionga: Deals medium Elec damage to all foes, MP 16
- Garula: Deals medium Wind damage to 1 foe, MP 8
- Bufula: Deals medium Ice damage to 1 foe, MP 8
- Agilao: Deals medium Fire damage to 1 foe, MP 8
- Diarama: Moderately restores 1 ally's HP, MP 6
- Marakukaja: Increases Defense for 3 turns (party), MP 24
- Tetrakarn: Barrier that reflects phys dmg once, MP 36
- Resist Elec
- Endure
no subject
Think that one should be close.
[It's not a completely dead zone--the light and water source make it too valuable for everyone--but nastier monsters, for some reason, tend to avoid such tranquil spaces. At worst, they might have to face some of the large insects common enough on the higher floors. More importantly, it isn't far, and maybe they can find a big branch to use as a crutch, so Yu can take some weight off that bad ankle.
Either way, it's not until they've reached the clearing safely that Chatterclock relaxes his grip on that battle consciousness, lets his mind settle back somewhat into its natural pattern, more aimless and distractable. He's still watching for attacks, of course, still listening for sounds in the brush, but it's like loosening one's deathgrip on a life preserver to find the water shallower than he thought.
Aloud, he says,]
Cool.
[He is tired, but out of disuse, he thinks. They only faced two monsters and neither fight was particularly long. And he can't nearly be as worn out as Yu, after all that running and fighting and doing all the literal heavy lifting, on a hurt ankle, no less. Suck it up, CC.
He's still trying to handle most of the pain from Yu's ankle, but Chatterclock reluctantly, gently--and after a wordless warning--loosens his hold there, too, to let a little more through. Pain's an important signal. If they've got the time to take honest stock of the injury again before moving on, they ought to.]
So, questions? I dunno how many I've got answers for, but fire away, dude. I'm an open book.
no subject
Once they settle on the choice of that place, it slams into Yu all at once how tired he is. The thought of water and respite and safety makes exhaustion settle into his bones. Logically he knows it's because the promise of safety is draining the adrenaline from his veins, but he feels so tired all at once, and abruptly wonders how long he's been down here.
Long enough for his friends and family to notice, probably. He'd already stayed a little too long even before the floor had given way beneath him. Are they already coordinating search parties for him? What must Nanako have thought when she woke up and he wasn't there to make breakfast with her?
A sick feeling of guilt washes up his throat like bile, and he does his best to ignore it once they're upon the fourth floor and he's limping his much slower way towards the clearing. He doesn't want to overwhelm Chatterclock too much with his own feelings - his own mistakes.
He's actually a little glad of it when they reach the cozy, glowing space, and Chatterclock's thoughts unwind from his own. They feel separate again, and it lets Yu breathe, alone in a place where he can reorganize his barriers and emotions. What isn't so nice is Chatterclock's flow of magic to his ankle ceasing, and between his exhaustion and the sudden burst of pain Yu reels a little, gasping. Did he break it? He was doing a lot of jumping and running on a pre-existing injury... the chances he made it worse are pretty high.
Slowly, achingly, he limps over to the little babbling brook, It's a laborious process lowering himself beside it, and frankly, Yu gives in to his first temptation: to simply flop down onto his back and shut his eyes. Normally he'd never allow this kind of lowering of his own guard, but Chatterclock is here, too. Yu trusts him.
For a long moment he's quiet, not following up on his promise of questions and curiosity. Internally, he's debating on whether or not he wants to take off his boot and observe the damage, or just leave it on and try to make it for the surface without further treatment. He can do little more on his own, anyway. His magic reserves are pretty much spent.
Eventually, though, he opens his eyes and glances at Chatterclock. He set the sword down beside him, within reach and view, though Yu let go of him once he stretched out on the floor. Now he only looks, not reaching out to grasp that already too familiar hilt again. ]
What was that?
[ He's referring to the pact, though the vague gesture of his hand - meant to encompass everything that happened since the Hellbull crashed into Chatterclock's room - may not make that completely clear.
Or maybe Chatterclock can already read him well enough to figure it out. ]
no subject
So he's happy, while Yu registers just how goddamn tiring sharing magic back and forth like that can be, to sort of splay out on his own. The loss of contact sets off a low, anxious buzz in the pit of his chest--don't leave, don't leave, don't let him go--but it's a small voice, and also a stupid one. If he had legs, he'd stretch each one out one after the other and link his hands behind his head, staring at the verdant ceiling, listening to the sound of water and peace. Already, in a mere--what, he doesn't know, less than an hour--he's somewhere completely different from that airless chamber on the sixth floor.
On the sixth floor, he wouldn't have known the lingering sensation of being cradled to someone's living chest. Wouldn't have to keep an ear out for danger in quite the same attentive, amazing way.
His breath out (how, he has no lungs) is breezy when Yu finally asks the question he knew was coming.]
I mean, it was a Pact. I know it was kinda slapdash so there was more bleedover than usual but, like, give me a break, I had negative two seconds to lay out terms...
[He trails off. Something in the question, or something in the air, now--his attention shifts towards Yu again in a way that's not-quite-physical, as if turning a head he doesn't have.]
You've never heard of a Pact.
[At this point, he'd roll onto his side and sit up, if he could.]
You don't have Pacts? At all?
no subject
He's very tired.
Somehow he manages to keep most of his focus on his ... companion. Friend? What are they, now? Yu wouldn't mind calling him a friend; the sword did just save his life twice in a pretty short span of time. ... no, focus.
Yu lets his opposite hand drift in the earth-chill water of the brook while he watches Chatterclock. It's both the same as and very different from making eye contact with a person. There's no body, just a sword. But there is a person there, a presence that Yu can sense and that feels so real, and Yu can sort of picture looking at that person, even if he has no conception of what Chatterclock would look like as a human instead of a sword.
He lets his silence speak for him. No, he has no idea what a pact is. He lets Chatterclock catch up to that realization, and then shifts slightly to better look at the sword. Eventually, he shakes his head slowly. ]
Chatterclock, I've never met anything or anyone like you before. I don't know if anyone has.
[ Wouldn't he have heard? If there were stories, records, of talking weapons that could form Pacts with people?
Then again, Chatterclock clearly exists. Is right here, talking to him. The real question is why don't those stories exist? ]
1/2
2/2
[No, okay, he's fine. Nobody ever heard of a talking sword before? That is not at all problematic for Professor Chatterclock, Ph.D, who knows everything and is awesome.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.]
Well, it's like... [When a daddy sword and a mommy sword love each other very much--okay, no, stop, fuck.] A Pact is...I mean, it's kind of what it says on the tin? When two parties agree to a certain...usually there are more safeguards in place that you agree to in advance so, so like, I don't use up all your magic, and you don't get to take advantage of...'cause, I mean, I can't really...
[...That can't be right, can it? That a Pact by definition puts him at someone else's mercy, because he physically cannot do anything without someone to help him? Has it always been like that? Chatterclock's been thinking like a human, or that's what he thinks he's been thinking like, but on what evidence can he assume that? Because he understands gesture? Because he wants to pull in the arms and legs he doesn't have and hunker down until something makes sense?
When he speaks up again, it's in a hushed mutter directed more to himself than to Yu.]
No, okay, it has to be a thing, if it weren't a thing I wouldn't be thinking of it as a capital-letter Thing so there has to've been someone to make all these protocols, I'm not some random fucking accident of the maze, there's. There's precedent. God.
[He was getting along FINE when he wasn't thinking about it so freaking hard! He breathes out hard through his nonexistent nose and tries to get a grip. WITH THE HANDS HE ALSO DOESN'T HAVE. SINCE SWORDS HAVE NO MOVING PARTS!]
Is now a bad time to mention I don't remember a single goddamn thing about myself, or should I save that story for horror night.
HAVE A GET BETTER TAG SHIBE
Well, in the ever-growing list of things he's learning today, he's also just discovered that living swords can have existential panics.
Rather than say anything, Yu just slowly lowers himself down again and directs his attention to the ceiling, blowing out a breath as he does so. And then, with the hand that's still free, he reaches out to brush his fingertips across Chatterclock's hilt and then leave them there. A warm, solid, constant point of contact. A reminder that he's here and not leaving no matter who or what Chatterclock may be. ]
I don't know if there's a good time for something like that, [ he murmurs in his quiet way. ] But you can tell me whatever you're ready to tell me.
[ A beat, and: ] I didn't really have time to ask before. Is Chatterclock okay?
I NAPPED AND I DO FEEL BETTER THANKS
Thanks, he thinks, and doesn't really say.]
Yeah, it's fine. Kind of on-the-nose with my timey theme, but we can't all go around calling ourselves shit like 'Caledfwlch' and 'Hrunting,' there isn't enough pretension in the world.
[He pauses.]
Or consonants.
[He must be feeling a little better, at least. After another heartbeat or two, Chatterclock calms down palpably and returns to topic. The distaction was a success.]
A Pact... Well, you felt it. It opens up a lot more options than either of us would have individually, but it goes so deep, you have to be careful. That's why, usually, you don't just leap into one with someone you just picked up off the floor. I bet folks can go for weeks, or years, even, making up exactly the right terms.
[He can't know for sure, but that's the impression he has. If he doesn't think too hard about how he knows things, it's like he can almost catch the knowledge out of the corner of his eye. Is there a such thing as peripheral memory?]
If there aren't people like me up there, are... [Chatterclock stops for a moment, unsure how to word his concern, but:] ...you gonna hide me or something? When we get out?
GOOD I AM GLAD a nice dose of gay can make anyone feel better really
This second explanation of the Pact is a better one, and has Yu nodding along quietly. He pulls the hand he's got in the brook out, shaking it both to fling off drops of water and will some warmth and blood back into his now very cold fingers. Man, it would feel great to soak his ankle...
With a sigh, Yu discards the idea. He can soak it when they're safely home.
The quiet question, with its faint but detectable notes of insecurity and uncertainty, gets Yu to look over at Chatterclock again. His expression is ... neutral, but there's something open about it, listening and waiting. His gaze is steady and cool and gives nothing away until his eyes warm with a slight smile. ]
That's up to you.
[ It's been up to Chatterclock this whole time. Whether Yu could wield him, whether Yu could take him to the surface, whether they could form a Pact - Yu has been waiting on Chatterclock's word for each thing. Because, well, he's a person. He gets a say.
Whether or not he wants Yu's friends and family to know... that's firmly his decision. If he wants to be kept secret, Yu will find a way. ]
Truly I am healed
[He struggles with it. On the one hand, it's not like he wants to be gawked at or risk--he's not sure. Rejection? Objectification? Yu's been nice, but if there really isn't anyone at all like him out there, if there's never been any record of this kind of magic, he has no idea how Yu's people will react.
On the other hand, he's been very lonely for a very long time. The thought of staying quiet forever, of staying hidden, is almost as dreadful a concept.]
I guess I'll see. If they look like they'll be cool and all, I don't mind making an introduction. Just don't need starstruck groupies flocking to your door every day when you're just trying to get out and make an honest living robbing tombs.
[Then, more kindly:]
...You doing okay, man? This has all been sort of a lot.
no subject
My uncle might worry. His daughter, my cousin Nanako, is still pretty young. I think he'd want to be sure she'll be safe with you in the house. [ Yu smiles, though, encouraging. ] But don't worry. I can convince him.
[ Probably.
As for the rest of his friends... ]
I'm sure my friends will be surprised, but they'll accept you. That's just how we are.
[ They came together thanks to being a bunch of outcast misfits who were all alone, after all. They're all a little strange. Abruptly, a thought comes to Yu, and he smiles. ]
Wait until you meet Kuma. He might surprise you.
[ Kuma still surprises all of them, honestly.
This is the most he's spoken since Yu fell into Chatterclock's room. It's not that he minds talking - he's just not usually given to it. Not unless there's a need. And right now, there is a need - to reassure Chatterclock. ]
Still, it's your decision. Why don't you see how you feel about it when we get out of here? And don't worry about me.
[ His smile is quieter now, but still sincere. ]
I'm doing just fine.
[ He's been through worse, weirder, and harder. ]
no subject
[He does feel better. Not just because of the promised acceptance of Yu's friends, but because of the way Yu smiles when he talks about them. Because of his obvious faith in them--and in his easy decision that it's Chatterclock's decision to make. Like it'd be unthinkable to even assume Chatterclock could have less than full say in the matter, even though Yu's the one literally carrying him out of here.]
Maybe you should rest up for a little while anyway. Our Pact's still in effect, so I can wake you up if something happens. I mean, unless you've got more burning questions to ask me this second, there'll be more time to probe the depths of my all-encompassing unknowingness later.
[He's got your back, bro. Take a break, have a Kit-Kat.]
no subject
Yu takes Chatterclock's recommendation in stride, but he ends up laughing quietly. He shakes his head, tapping his fingers lightly on Chatterclock's hilt. ]
I appreciate it, but we should get going. If I fall asleep down here, my family and friends are going to really worry about me.
[ (Somewhere up above: Yosuke Hanamura angrily organizing a search party and trying to reassure Ryotaro Dojima that Yu just left early in the morning to hang out with him. Or. Something. Yeah. Yu he's gonna KILL YOU. IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY DEAD, DAMMIT.)
Ah. Yu suddenly has a feeling of foreboding...
With a quiet huff, he pulls himself into a sitting position, his ankle carefully curled beneath him. He lifts up Chatterclock, too. ]
See any good walking sticks? [ Somewhat rhetorically. He knows they'll have to fashion one. ]
no subject
You know...I'm about the right length for that, yeah? It's not like I'm a Zweihänder or anything, but since it's awk to carry me around sans scabbard anyway...
[It might be a little uncomfortable, but if it's just for the short term, and if Yu wants to get back in a hurry, Chatterclock might be his best option. Who knows if or when they'll find a decent stick? Don't people usually have to cut down a whole tree for that?]
It's not like I'll break. Or go dull.
[And honestly, it'd make Chatterclock feel a little better, at least. If Yu ankle's as bad as it feels, maybe it'd be right to let his people worry about him, just a little.
But it does make sense at least to get off the fourth floor, move to safety if they can, so Chatterclock's not going to push the issue.]
It might at least save us some time until we find a decent piece of wood.
no subject
I can switch you into my scabbard and use my regular sword to help me walk. I don't want to... [ A pause. Softly, questioningly: ]
It wouldn't hurt?
[ To get leaned on with a 17 year old boy's weight, driven into the floor repeatedly... Chatterclock is a living thing. Badass sword he might also be, but can he ... can he feel physical pain? Can he hurt? Yu doesn't want to hurt him. ]
no subject
[At worst, he'll get dirty, and he's finicky enough to find that distasteful, but it's not like a little stone dust will hurt him.]
Think of it more like, [he offers, without really thinking about it, across their mental connection, followed by the impression of a friend bolstering Yu up under his shoulder, something Chatterclock could do if he were human but can't.]
It's up to you. But don't sweat it on my account.
no subject
He's not convinced until Chatterclock floats that image over their mental link, and a sudden, unselfconscious smile flickers across Yu's face. That's what convinces him. He floats a feeling of warm approval in the opposite direction, and then breathes out hard.
Lifting Chatterclock, he drives the sword's point into the ground. Then he shakily pushes himself to his feet.
He almost gives right out from the rush of dizziness and pain. Yep. Broken. So broken. Very, very broken. Nauseous with the pain, Yu takes a moment to shut his eyes and breathe slowly out his nose, steadying himself. Leaning heavily on Chatterclock, he hobbles his way out of the room.
This is going to be very slow going.
As he makes his way for the third floor stairs, he decides to ask more questions. Issues of mild curiosity, hopefully nothing too stressful. They ought to fill the time somehow. ]
The magic you did back there... against the Hellbull. Do you know what that was, or what else you can do?
no subject
Oh, that? Just time stuff. It's kind of my thing.
[He's not even trying to sell this false modesty. It is janky, two-bit, counterfeit trash, and he loves it. Come on. He knows power over one of the fabrics of the universe is rad as hell.]
I know most people experience time as a sort of unchangeable grind from second to second, but really it's more malleable than you think? So I can speed it up or slow it down for a localized target.
[He'd show off, but he should probably conserve what energy he has left. Never know what'll jump them, and they can't really afford more tough fights like that.]
I just sped it up for the Hellbull slightly more than average, is all.
no subject
Pretty devastating, too. He's still a little bit awed by that casual display of power.
The explanation of how that "time stuff" works is interesting, and is enough to engage his attention away from his ankle. (It helps, too, to have that gentle brush of magic, even though Yu feels some quiet guilt over Chatterclock still needing to help him. But it lets him walk just a hair faster, so maybe it won't take them another hour to get out of here.) ]
So when it fell apart into dust... you'd advanced its time? And made it ancient.
[ It's not really a question, just Yu figuring it out aloud. ]
I don't think I'd call that just slightly more than average.
[ With understated humor. ]
To be honest, it was pretty amazing. You saved my life, Chatterclock. [ Honestly. ] Looks like I owe you.
Maybe short timeskip to Yosuke after this?
After a moment of just holding it without quite knowing what to do with it, he nudges Yu's mind--not like a warning, but like a cat butting against his hand, soft and strange.]
Hey.
[His voice is a little lower when he's serious, even if he's half-trying to play it off as casual, still.]
You got me out of that place. Don't worry about it.
[Sure, Chatterclock may have saved Yu's life. But in return, Yu rescued something just as precious for him, something he didn't even recognize he'd lost. The part of him that could do such recognition.]
SALUTES
[ His voice is warm and fond. The mental nudge gets a quiet mental laugh in return, and a soft brush, like a hand on your arm. Acknowledging but not lingering. He's already picking up on the fact that Chatterclock isn't much for pure sentiment. That's okay.
It's nearly thirty minutes later, when they've made their painstaking way up the stairs to the third floor and are winding their slow way through it, that Yu nearly jumps when a voice bursts into his mind, crackling with static, sharp with worry and strong enough to filter through to his mental connection with Chatterclock. ]
Senpai! Senpai, is that really you?! I can't--
[ The voice cuts out, and Yu whispers without thinking, ]
They're here.
--thing blocking me! Are you okay?! Look, Yosuke is on his way down right now, and the rest of us are backing him up! He just -- going ahead li -- it was so stupid! You going in there on your own is how we -- mess! Can you just stay where you are? You're -- ird floor, aren't you?
[ Yu pauses in his walking. By now he's soaked in sweat from the effort and the pain, tired from their efforts earlier against the Hellbull and the Marlboro, and all he can do is chuckle tiredly. ]
Yeah, I'm here, Rise. I'm sorry I scared all of you.
-- be sorry! Just be safe! ... please?
[ The note of pleading in her voice stabs guilt deep into Yu's gut. Yosuke... he's going to be furious. Contrary to Rise's recommendation, Yu keeps heading for the stairs, which they're nearing. With some mental effort, Yu swaps between his two concurrent mental connections to say privately to Chatterclock: ]
We're not gonna have much choice in how we run into my friends. Are you ready for this? ... actually, could you hear what Rise said?
no subject
[Like hiding in someone's closet while they shout through their door at someone downstairs. That kind of reception, that kind of awkwardness. He's never heard someone in his head he didn't have a Pact with before, and the feeling Yu might get from him now is of someone shuffling into his shadow, nervous.
So, no, probably not ready for this, but what else can he do? He is ready to be out of the maze, at least, and somewhere safe.
Chatterclock's feeling the strain of their adventures, too, worn buzzy the way a child might be after too much fun. His energy reserves are low like a burnt-out candle, and even his mental voice sounds a bit like mumbling.]
Maybe you should do what she said and wait for your friend to get here.
[He's not even the one walking and he's tired, fuck.]
no subject
It'll be alright.
This he thinks, but doesn't project across their link. Just lets it suffuse their shared pool of feelings, bracing and strong.
They're both exhausted, and Yu starts to feel that particular tiredness that creeps in with the promise of safety. But he can't let his guard down yet, and the idea of stopping makes him itchy. Even on the third floor. If they got found by anything before Yosuke got here, he could still die, even against something lower level. Chatterclock wouldn't be alone - Yosuke would find the sword by his body - but, well ... why even pursue that line of thought when he can just keep them both safe?
So he keeps hobbling, renewed determination helping him pull air into his heavy chest, and murmurs aloud: ]
It's alright. He'll find us.
[ There's a certain quality to his voice. It's not fondness, though he is very fond of Yosuke, as he is of all his friends. It's a kind of steel. The absolute certainty of his trust in his best friend.
They reach the stairs for the second floor, and bounding down them, harried and pissed as a wet cat, is Yosuke Hanamura.
Yu and Yosuke pause, staring at each other, Yu on the third floor and Yosuke halfway down the stairs.
Then Yu smiles, lifting a hand in greeting and murmuring hey; which Yosuke takes as his cue to practically leap down the rest of the stairs and very nearly crash into his friend, though he's actually a good deal more gentle than one might expect, given the absolute hellfire in his face. ]
"You stupid-- we thought you were dead! Do you have any idea how worried we were? And Dojima's going to kill me if he finds out what you did! Twice! Since I tried convincing him that you'd just come over my place but I'm pretty sure he knows I'm lying and is thinking up ways to skin me and holy shit, what did you do to your leg?"
[ Yu is quiet, murmuring faint apologies, while Yosuke rages and fusses and pulls the arm Yu hasn't got preoccupied with Chatterclock over his shoulders so he can start walking them back up the stairs. Over their mental connection, Yu floats a few deeply amused (and somewhat contrite) words. ]
Chatterclock, this is Yosuke. My best friend.
no subject
But the faith in Yu's voice, that unshakable belief, goes miles towards calming Chatterclock down to at most a mild, uncertain simmer. He keeps his guard up, keeps Yu's ankle from killing him too badly, and when Yosuke launches himself at them, he doesn't even flinch.
He's markedly quiet, even: acclimating himself to Yosuke's presence, observing the way Yu and Yosuke hold themselves around each other, listening to Yosuke's rapid-fire scolding. Chatterclock might be talkative, for a hunk of metal, but this guy? He's chatty and loud, and it's a whole different experience from meeting Yu.
But still.]
He seems nice.
[Chatterclock means that genuinely. Also, he very definitely has no intention of making himself known yet. He can just taste the imminent freak-out.]
You should tell him your ankle's broken. 'Cause I'm pretty sure it hella is.
[Maybe the combined force of two worried companions will shake some sense into Yu, who knows.]
asHER I H A TE YO U
Yu is both laughing and wincing as the two boys make their way back up the stairs, Yosuke ranting the whole time about how dumb this was and did he have a death wish and oh god he's so glad you're okay and never, ever do this again, not ever, you hear him, and what's with that sword? Did you go in with two swords? It's cool, but seriously, that's kind of overkill.
Yosuke's arm is warm around his back, fingers curled securely and protectively over his rib cage, and Yosuke's shoulders feel solid and steady under his arm in turn. Their body language is completely comfortable and in sync with each other, even when they bump hips or have to pause for Yosuke to rearrange or Yu to just breathe through the pain.
Once they're up the stairs, Yu interrupts Yosuke's unending rant - has he breathed yet? - to murmur, ]
It's broken.
[ Yosuke goggles at him, then curses and hefts Yu's arm more securely over his shoulders. ]
"Of course it is. You know, man, I'd rip you a new one, but I'd rather let Chie and Naoto do it for me. It'll be way more satisfying."
[ There's a certain sympathy and gratitude in the way he cuts his gaze sideways to look at Yu's face, though, and Yu can't help the warmth that suffuses him. As they move through the second floor, Yu busily swaps mental connections, reassuring Rise they're alright before switching back over to Chatterclock. ]
Happy?
[ Warm humor and relief fills his mental voice. It borders on slightly delirious from both the pain and the exhaustion, but he's keeping it together for now. ]
Yosuke's a great person. We've been best friends since we met three years ago. You'll meet the others soon, too. Don't worry about revealing yourself. We can figure out how we want to do that. I'll make excuses to Rise. I think, for now, we should just focus on getting home and resting. How's that sound?
: )
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