[ Yu has faced a great many intimidating things in his life. The stares of his parents. Facing new classmates at each new school. Monsters unimaginable, born from the dark places of others' souls.
Facing Yosuke's mother, ancient and powerful, had somehow been less scary, he thinks somewhat wryly, than standing before his class on his first day at Yasogami.
He handled it with all the gravity the situation required, of course. He'd been quiet, calm and steady at Yosuke's side as his boyfriend had led him through the water, and none of the stares directed his way, ranging from skeptical to outright angry, had done anything to faze him. He'd been deferential and polite no matter what, because that's what had been called for, and that's how he would have acted anyway. And for Yosuke's mother, he'd summoned up all the deepest reserves of whatever his friends thought made him a leader - quiet passion, conviction, a clear head in the face of adversity - and, well, it had seemed to work out. She'd deemed him worthy--
--and even granted that Yosuke could help them. Which was a good thing, given that he'd come into a persona of his own and they could always use more help on the team.
When he'd thanked her, he'd finally smiled.
Now they're here. Yu is soaking wet, too, given that they've only recently crawled into the shore, but he's getting kind of used to being wet when he spends time with Yosuke. He's peeled off his jacket and placed that higher up on the bank to dry. He's got his knees curled up to his chest, and lets his arms drape over them loosely as he alternates between looking at Yosuke and glancing out over the waves.
... little though it'd fazed him, that trip had still really been something ... ]
Give it time, [ he says patiently. There's no smile on his face, but there's a twinkle in his eye that says he's tempted to let one surface. ] I'm sure it'll come soon enough. Are you feeling alright?
[ Honestly, Yosuke hadn't known what his mother would think of Yu, strange TV occurrences aside. He figured that she had an idea something was going on with her son, what with him spending so much time away. And, you know, her kind of being in charge of the entire river. But the fact that she hadn't even touched on the relationship between them made him...curious. What implications did that hold? Is it something she was kind enough not to talk to in front of others, or...?
Is it something she's not worried about?
Well...best not think about it. Yosuke sighs and flops over onto his stomach, having trouble staying still on land as much as he has trouble staying still in the water. Dirt and sand stick to him. ]
I don't feel any different.
[ Yu meant physically, right? Though Yosuke pauses as he props his hand up in his chin, letting his tail fin droop down over his back. ]
[ Yu had noticed that, too. He'd chalked it up to there being rather more pressing matters to address than the relationship itself, but ... given the entirely different worlds they come from, that Yu is a commoner and Yosuke is royalty, that Yosuke is a merperson and Yu is just a human ...
They'll have to grapple with it sometime. Yu isn't sure if it's reassuring or not that Yosuke's mother did not choose that moment.
When Yosuke rolls over Yu smiles, and reaches out to smooth a hand between his boyfriend's shoulder blades, brushing away dirt as he does so. Idly his hand moves back and forth, a gesture of unconscious affection.
His hand stills when Yosuke asks him that question, and Yu tilts his head, tapping his fingers. ]
Well, it was nice to meet your mother.
[ Said mildly, with a mysterious smile. ]
... I'm glad she agreed you could help us. We'll need it. [ He says nothing of his own gladness that Yosuke will be able to come up onto land. Being able to spend more time with Yosuke, to show him the world above water... maybe it's selfish to feel so delighted. ]
[ It's a nice gesture, though. Yosuke does like being touched and likes touching even more, and if Yu could gather anything from what he'd seen of the other merpeople down below, they're not exactly a touchy feely bunch. Yosuke's muscles relax almost instantly. If he could roll onto Yu, he would. Well--he can, but he refrains. It's tempting, though.
Yu's response gets a huff from Yosuke, his smile a little twisted at the edges. ]
Don't hear that every day.
[ He doesn't elaborate, though Yu can likely guess why. People probably don't seek out a river god to chat. ]
Yeah...there's still a lot I don't understand yet, but... [ Another pause as his gaze drops down to the sand, but when he looks back up, there's a little bit of excitement in his eyes, excitement he's trying to keep a lid on. ] When was the last time anyone from the river got to go on land? Like, never? I mean--I'm glad I can help, really! That's...that's why I'm doing this. To help. Just...you know....seeing things will be pretty cool...
[ To be fair, he hadn't had much time to gather impressions. Most of the impressions he had gotten were of Yosuke's fellow merpeople judging him heavily not just for being invited to be among them, but being invited to speak with her. But if he thought about it, he hadn't seen any of them together like that - no hands on shoulders, no one even particularly close side by side, no casual touches or brushes. They tended to hold themselves apart.
And then there was Yosuke, who nearly always reached for him first.
It must have felt a little stifling, keeping that natural tendency in.
Yu's smile flickers briefly into something a little wider, but he doesn't reply. He can imagine why Yosuke's mother isn't exactly someone you seek out for a casual afternoon.
His hand returns to rubbing idle circles into Yosuke's skin as he listens. He's quiet for a moment after Yosuke trails off, thinking, and then admits: ]
I'll be glad to have you, too. [ Not the team, not we. "I." Yu briefly cuts his gaze to Yosuke's face before looking out over the water again. ] I'll show you around. We can go to Aiya, and sit in the gazebo. You'll meet the team for real, of course, and we'll discuss the investigation. But, [ he murmurs, a bit shy, ] there'll be plenty of time for that, plus other things, too.
[ It's not too much to be excited, is it? Yosuke has totally spent time imagining what it might be like to spend time with Yu on land, what his home looks like, what his friends are like. He can only imagine everyone thinks Yu is as wonderful as Yosuke does. That just makes sense. Of course he also imagined time just for them, but there's so much to entertain...
The motion of Yu's hand brings a smile to his lips. Listening to the different things they could do--said plainly and implied--only makes that smile widen. Not that he was...worried Yu would want him around--of course he would...right?--okay. He'd been a little worried. Their interactions have thus far been in increments, planned meetings. So it's nice to have that affirmation. ]
Man, I can't wait!
[ He figures he's allowed to be excited now, isn't he? He flops his tail back down onto the ground and scratches at his own hip. He can feel the scales drying out and it's actually fairly uncomfortable. But he'll power through it. ]
What's the first thing you wanna do? Do I, uh, get to see your place?
[ There's so much they'll be able to do together, now. If being excited is wrong, then, well, Yu is in the wrong, too. He's glad for many things. Glad that Yosuke is alive. Glad that Yosuke now has a Persona. (And a social link, incidentally, which he's still kind of vaguely pondering. He's not surprised, but at the same time... there's just something a little funny about only now forming a social link with someone he's been dating for some time.) Glad that... they'll be able to share in each other's worlds and lives in a way they never could have before.
He's grateful. He's grateful for so much. With that thought in mind, Yu smiles and twists, leaning down just enough to press a kiss to the shell of Yosuke's ear. ]
Actually, I've been thinking about that. If you're going to work on the investigation with us, you'll need a place to stay. I... was thinking of asking my uncle if you could stay with us. [ He goes a bit pink in the ears, glancing away. ] I'll think of something to tell him.
[ The kiss is sweet, and a little ticklish. Yosuke raises his shoulders instinctively, but he still leans in a little as Yu pulls away. It's what Yu says afterwards that really gets to him, though. When he catches Yu's gaze again, Yosuke's eyes are wide and hopeful. He blinks, brows raising tentatively, as if he doesn't want to get too excited at the prospect. ]
Stay with you...?
[ He hadn't had much time to think about what he'd be doing as far as an abode goes, never having to worry about it before. He figured if he had to, he could just come back to the river and rest. The idea of staying with, Yu, though...
...is infinitely better. ]
I mean...if...that wouldn't be a lot of trouble for you or your uncle, then...yeah. Yeah, that'd be awesome.
Yu feels his nerves calm as Yosuke looks as hopeful as he feels, and he nods just once. ]
I ... I'd like it, if you did. [ He pauses, then goes a bit more noticeably pink before ducking his chin. ] Uncle will probably be concerned, but... I think once he meets you, it'll be alright.
[ Who wouldn't like Yosuke, really? That's his thought, at least. Once Dojima gets to know him, it'll probably be okay. .... right?
In the meantime, his hand keeps tracing Yosuke's skin, brushing off dirt and smoothing across the planes of his shoulders. ]
[ He's not at all sure what to expect from Yu's home or Yu's uncle. He's met his friends through some...extenuating circumstances, but they were all nice. Yu is nice. So his uncle has to be nice too, right? ]
You think so? [ Yosuke fidgets, but he's now brimming with the possibilities. Staying with Yu...getting to sleep next to Yu? He can spend as much time with Yu as humanly possible. He does remember what Yu has told him about his extended family. There's a little girl there too, right? ] Doesn't your cousin al--
[ Yosuke suddenly stops, choking on his words mid-sentence. His scales have been itching, yes, but now there is an unyielding heat running along his tail. He hisses, gritting his teeth as he looks down. It almost feels like the scales themselves are peeling like a scab--uncomfortable, tinging with pain, but not unbearable. It's not a magical ball of light like he might have hoped, but his scales slowly begin to smooth out, the shimmering orange and gold giving away to something a little tanned, a little pinker in places. ]
(Well, to be fair, he is perfectly nice. Just a little Intense, and also Constantly Stressed Out.
Yu's about to answer that question when Yosuke shuts up. Yosuke shutting up, especially that abruptly, is not a common occurrence, so Yu stays his tongue and watches with some concern. When it becomes apparent what's happening, Yu pulls in a breath of amazement.
And then something occurs to him.
... Yosuke hasn't seem to have really any sense of modesty, so .. should he .. ?
For now, he stays where he is, keeping a hand still on Yosuke's back as a warm comfort as he goes through this transformation. ]
[ He really isn't sure what to expect. His mother hadn't really given him details when she pressed her nose to his tail. He just knew it would work because she's his mother, she's the Samegawa, it's in her power to do so. The fact that these sorts of transformations are even rarer than bestowing the gift to humans to breathe underwater had entered his mind, but there wasn't really any time to think it over. "Yes" or "no". The answer was obvious.
Still, it's...awkward.
And uncomfortable.
Yu's presence is welcome, calming as one would expect. Yosuke's fingers dig into the sand and dirt as his once long fins begin to shrink, pulling towards his body and curling into themselves like a butterfly going back into its cocoon. The finds on the side of his face do the same, making him twitch and shiver with the sensation. ]
Shit--
[ But where there were fins are the ears that they have always been hiding, framed by tuffs of hair. He opens his eyes blearily just in time to the see the last of his scales disappear and his fins split into fives, forming something new at the end of his feet.
Oh shit, he has feet!
Yosuke's eyes widen as what used to be one long tail finally finishes splitting in two, ending--yep, you guessed it--in the crack of his new ass. That certainly is a thing.
And Yu is correct, Yosuke is pretty much always naked. How is this any different? ]
...Whoa! It--
[ Excuse him as he kind of awkwardly...flops--yeah, sitting up isn't how he thought it would be. In fact he basically faceplants into the dirt, recovers quickly, and tries again. ]
[ Yu stays calm and steady beside him, because that's what Yosuke needs, but it's really something to watch this transformation. It seems like it might be painful, though Yosuke doesn't... seem too bothered... more like surprised. And excited.
He finally removes his hand when Yosuke starts quite literally flopping around. It's more out of surprise, but also because he isn't sure what Yosuke wants.
Seeing Yosuke this visibly delighted, though, trying so hard to walk and failing at it...
Yu ends up smiling himself, even if seeing his boyfriend tail-less is completely surreal. Yu gets to his feet, and holds his hands out to Yosuke. ]
Here. Why don't I help you balance?
[ He'll lean over a little if Yosuke wants to just focus on sitting up with legs, first, but here's here if Yosuke wants to try standing, too. ]
[ Yosuke could really keep rolling around like an idiot, but he's got an expert here with him, doesn't he? When Yu offers, Yosuke blinks and looks up, before smiling a little sheepishly. Had he gotten a little ahead of himself? Probably. Regardless, he takes the other boy up on his offer, reaching out for Yu's hands as he tries to pull himself to his feet.
Standing, he realizes, is a lot more complicated than it looks.
First of all he's used to having one tail to move around, not two legs. And they can both move independently. Yosuke has to think about moving one, then the other--carefully and more than a little shaky. ]
You make it look so easy...
[ It doesn't take long for Yosuke to find positions to kneel in that are most definitely NOT comfortable. Standing is another issue entirely.
That sure is his boyfriend, sporting Real Human Legs™.
That also sure is his boyfriend buck fucking naked. Yu does a very good job of not letting his eyes stray below Yosuke's face, but he can't help but be real, real aware of that nudity.
At least they have this whole "learning to use your brand new legs" thing to keep them focused on the important things. Yu holds Yosuke's hands tight, not seeming to mind at all that Yosuke's gripping him pretty hard. He just smiles and waits patiently. ]
I've got a whole lifetime of practice, after all. And of course, you're more graceful in the water than I could ever dream of being. So, really, I think we're pretty even.
[ A brief squeeze of his boyfriend's hands. ]
Take it slow. ... and when we get a chance, we should get you into a change of clothes ...
[ Like, he can deal with Yosuke being naked, but
they are theoretically in public and they
would probably look real suspicious to anyone who happened across this bizarre scene. ]
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no subject
Facing Yosuke's mother, ancient and powerful, had somehow been less scary, he thinks somewhat wryly, than standing before his class on his first day at Yasogami.
He handled it with all the gravity the situation required, of course. He'd been quiet, calm and steady at Yosuke's side as his boyfriend had led him through the water, and none of the stares directed his way, ranging from skeptical to outright angry, had done anything to faze him. He'd been deferential and polite no matter what, because that's what had been called for, and that's how he would have acted anyway. And for Yosuke's mother, he'd summoned up all the deepest reserves of whatever his friends thought made him a leader - quiet passion, conviction, a clear head in the face of adversity - and, well, it had seemed to work out. She'd deemed him worthy--
--and even granted that Yosuke could help them. Which was a good thing, given that he'd come into a persona of his own and they could always use more help on the team.
When he'd thanked her, he'd finally smiled.
Now they're here. Yu is soaking wet, too, given that they've only recently crawled into the shore, but he's getting kind of used to being wet when he spends time with Yosuke. He's peeled off his jacket and placed that higher up on the bank to dry. He's got his knees curled up to his chest, and lets his arms drape over them loosely as he alternates between looking at Yosuke and glancing out over the waves.
... little though it'd fazed him, that trip had still really been something ... ]
Give it time, [ he says patiently. There's no smile on his face, but there's a twinkle in his eye that says he's tempted to let one surface. ] I'm sure it'll come soon enough. Are you feeling alright?
no subject
Is it something she's not worried about?
Well...best not think about it. Yosuke sighs and flops over onto his stomach, having trouble staying still on land as much as he has trouble staying still in the water. Dirt and sand stick to him. ]
I don't feel any different.
[ Yu meant physically, right? Though Yosuke pauses as he props his hand up in his chin, letting his tail fin droop down over his back. ]
What'd you think of...all of that back there?
no subject
They'll have to grapple with it sometime. Yu isn't sure if it's reassuring or not that Yosuke's mother did not choose that moment.
When Yosuke rolls over Yu smiles, and reaches out to smooth a hand between his boyfriend's shoulder blades, brushing away dirt as he does so. Idly his hand moves back and forth, a gesture of unconscious affection.
His hand stills when Yosuke asks him that question, and Yu tilts his head, tapping his fingers. ]
Well, it was nice to meet your mother.
[ Said mildly, with a mysterious smile. ]
... I'm glad she agreed you could help us. We'll need it. [ He says nothing of his own gladness that Yosuke will be able to come up onto land. Being able to spend more time with Yosuke, to show him the world above water... maybe it's selfish to feel so delighted. ]
no subject
Yu's response gets a huff from Yosuke, his smile a little twisted at the edges. ]
Don't hear that every day.
[ He doesn't elaborate, though Yu can likely guess why. People probably don't seek out a river god to chat. ]
Yeah...there's still a lot I don't understand yet, but... [ Another pause as his gaze drops down to the sand, but when he looks back up, there's a little bit of excitement in his eyes, excitement he's trying to keep a lid on. ] When was the last time anyone from the river got to go on land? Like, never? I mean--I'm glad I can help, really! That's...that's why I'm doing this. To help. Just...you know....seeing things will be pretty cool...
no subject
And then there was Yosuke, who nearly always reached for him first.
It must have felt a little stifling, keeping that natural tendency in.
Yu's smile flickers briefly into something a little wider, but he doesn't reply. He can imagine why Yosuke's mother isn't exactly someone you seek out for a casual afternoon.
His hand returns to rubbing idle circles into Yosuke's skin as he listens. He's quiet for a moment after Yosuke trails off, thinking, and then admits: ]
I'll be glad to have you, too. [ Not the team, not we. "I." Yu briefly cuts his gaze to Yosuke's face before looking out over the water again. ] I'll show you around. We can go to Aiya, and sit in the gazebo. You'll meet the team for real, of course, and we'll discuss the investigation. But, [ he murmurs, a bit shy, ] there'll be plenty of time for that, plus other things, too.
no subject
The motion of Yu's hand brings a smile to his lips. Listening to the different things they could do--said plainly and implied--only makes that smile widen. Not that he was...worried Yu would want him around--of course he would...right?--okay. He'd been a little worried. Their interactions have thus far been in increments, planned meetings. So it's nice to have that affirmation. ]
Man, I can't wait!
[ He figures he's allowed to be excited now, isn't he? He flops his tail back down onto the ground and scratches at his own hip. He can feel the scales drying out and it's actually fairly uncomfortable. But he'll power through it. ]
What's the first thing you wanna do? Do I, uh, get to see your place?
no subject
He's grateful. He's grateful for so much. With that thought in mind, Yu smiles and twists, leaning down just enough to press a kiss to the shell of Yosuke's ear. ]
Actually, I've been thinking about that. If you're going to work on the investigation with us, you'll need a place to stay. I... was thinking of asking my uncle if you could stay with us. [ He goes a bit pink in the ears, glancing away. ] I'll think of something to tell him.
no subject
Stay with you...?
[ He hadn't had much time to think about what he'd be doing as far as an abode goes, never having to worry about it before. He figured if he had to, he could just come back to the river and rest. The idea of staying with, Yu, though...
...is infinitely better. ]
I mean...if...that wouldn't be a lot of trouble for you or your uncle, then...yeah. Yeah, that'd be awesome.
no subject
At least he likes the idea.
Yu feels his nerves calm as Yosuke looks as hopeful as he feels, and he nods just once. ]
I ... I'd like it, if you did. [ He pauses, then goes a bit more noticeably pink before ducking his chin. ] Uncle will probably be concerned, but... I think once he meets you, it'll be alright.
[ Who wouldn't like Yosuke, really? That's his thought, at least. Once Dojima gets to know him, it'll probably be okay. .... right?
In the meantime, his hand keeps tracing Yosuke's skin, brushing off dirt and smoothing across the planes of his shoulders. ]
no subject
You think so? [ Yosuke fidgets, but he's now brimming with the possibilities. Staying with Yu...getting to sleep next to Yu? He can spend as much time with Yu as humanly possible. He does remember what Yu has told him about his extended family. There's a little girl there too, right? ] Doesn't your cousin al--
[ Yosuke suddenly stops, choking on his words mid-sentence. His scales have been itching, yes, but now there is an unyielding heat running along his tail. He hisses, gritting his teeth as he looks down. It almost feels like the scales themselves are peeling like a scab--uncomfortable, tinging with pain, but not unbearable. It's not a magical ball of light like he might have hoped, but his scales slowly begin to smooth out, the shimmering orange and gold giving away to something a little tanned, a little pinker in places. ]
no subject
(Well, to be fair, he is perfectly nice. Just a little Intense, and also Constantly Stressed Out.
Yu's about to answer that question when Yosuke shuts up. Yosuke shutting up, especially that abruptly, is not a common occurrence, so Yu stays his tongue and watches with some concern. When it becomes apparent what's happening, Yu pulls in a breath of amazement.
And then something occurs to him.
... Yosuke hasn't seem to have really any sense of modesty, so .. should he .. ?
For now, he stays where he is, keeping a hand still on Yosuke's back as a warm comfort as he goes through this transformation. ]
no subject
Still, it's...awkward.
And uncomfortable.
Yu's presence is welcome, calming as one would expect. Yosuke's fingers dig into the sand and dirt as his once long fins begin to shrink, pulling towards his body and curling into themselves like a butterfly going back into its cocoon. The finds on the side of his face do the same, making him twitch and shiver with the sensation. ]
Shit--
[ But where there were fins are the ears that they have always been hiding, framed by tuffs of hair. He opens his eyes blearily just in time to the see the last of his scales disappear and his fins split into fives, forming something new at the end of his feet.
Oh shit, he has feet!
Yosuke's eyes widen as what used to be one long tail finally finishes splitting in two, ending--yep, you guessed it--in the crack of his new ass. That certainly is a thing.
And Yu is correct, Yosuke is pretty much always naked. How is this any different? ]
...Whoa! It--
[ Excuse him as he kind of awkwardly...flops--yeah, sitting up isn't how he thought it would be. In fact he basically faceplants into the dirt, recovers quickly, and tries again. ]
Hahaha!
no subject
He finally removes his hand when Yosuke starts quite literally flopping around. It's more out of surprise, but also because he isn't sure what Yosuke wants.
Seeing Yosuke this visibly delighted, though, trying so hard to walk and failing at it...
Yu ends up smiling himself, even if seeing his boyfriend tail-less is completely surreal. Yu gets to his feet, and holds his hands out to Yosuke. ]
Here. Why don't I help you balance?
[ He'll lean over a little if Yosuke wants to just focus on sitting up with legs, first, but here's here if Yosuke wants to try standing, too. ]
no subject
Standing, he realizes, is a lot more complicated than it looks.
First of all he's used to having one tail to move around, not two legs. And they can both move independently. Yosuke has to think about moving one, then the other--carefully and more than a little shaky. ]
You make it look so easy...
[ It doesn't take long for Yosuke to find positions to kneel in that are most definitely NOT comfortable. Standing is another issue entirely.
Don't mind him gripping a little tightly. ]
picks this up too while i'm at it
That sure is his boyfriend, sporting Real Human Legs™.
That also sure is his boyfriend buck fucking naked. Yu does a very good job of not letting his eyes stray below Yosuke's face, but he can't help but be real, real aware of that nudity.
At least they have this whole "learning to use your brand new legs" thing to keep them focused on the important things. Yu holds Yosuke's hands tight, not seeming to mind at all that Yosuke's gripping him pretty hard. He just smiles and waits patiently. ]
I've got a whole lifetime of practice, after all. And of course, you're more graceful in the water than I could ever dream of being. So, really, I think we're pretty even.
[ A brief squeeze of his boyfriend's hands. ]
Take it slow. ... and when we get a chance, we should get you into a change of clothes ...
[ Like, he can deal with Yosuke being naked, but
they are theoretically in public and they
would probably look real suspicious to anyone who happened across this bizarre scene. ]