lempereur | IC Contact; MoM

[It's been days since the party; longer still since the coffee shop, and aside from running the occasional errand Yuri hasn't been showing his face much around Heropa since either of them, not even at the ice rink where he'd been a daily occurrence until everything came falling down around him. It's late the night before Fanport, some time after midnight, when a simple text comes in.]

you awake?

Edited 2017-06-24 00:19 (UTC)

I am.

[ Well...not really, but he is now. ]

How are you feeling? I've barely heard from you.

I've been busy

I'm okay [An obvious lie, but he can hope he won't be called on it.

just tired. I cant sleep

Akira's Persona has a skill to put you to sleep. But it stings...

nevermind.

I could keep you company, if you want? Or just talk.

why does it sting...

just talking is good. Viktor cant sleep either so he might notice if i sneak out

It puts monsters to sleep. It makes it easier to kill them.

Like I said, nevermind.

He probably won't notice if I sneak in.

why are you figbhting monsters?!

my room's on the 2nd floor. Can you get up to the window if i open it?

We do it pretty regularly. What did you think the Personas were for?

There is...a lot I still have to tell you.

Second floor is nothing.

crime fighting??

I'll open it. it's the one at the back of the house.

Yes...it's complicated. I'll tell you when I get there. Give me ten minutes.

k

[The window will be open, as promised. The soft sound of exceptionally angry rock music that only a teen could love playing from inside the room makes it a little easier to tell which is which.]

[ This is nothing compared to...casinos, cruise ships, and banks. He doesn't even bother with the disguise. Yusuke scales the building in a few short leaps, without a sound, until he pokes his head in and taps the window frame. ]

He's in bed?

[Yuri's lounging in bed, tapping away at some kind of phone game. He doesn't look that great; pale and run down, hair mussed, bags under his eyes...

He looks up when Yusuke peers in, then glances at the door of his room and shrugs.]

In bed, but he's probably not sleeping either. ...Katsuki hasn't come back yet. His fiance. He's taking it hard.

[ Yusuke's face drops, and he climbs through the window carefully, making sure not to knock anything over. ]

How long has he been gone?

[There's not much right next to the window, at least. Just a cat's climbing tower complete with a sleepy himalayan watching him from the very top of it.]

Since the coffee shop, at least.

...you only left for a couple of days.

[ Oh hi kitty! Yusuke will make sure he gets some quality head scratching before he sits down on the corner of the bed opposite Yuri. ]

Will he be alright? Will you?

[ ...he might not have been so cold towards him earlier, if he'd known. ]

[Yuri frowns uncertainly, the look heavy with worry.]

I don't know. I'll be okay, [very believable with the way he looks] but Viktor's... The only time he eats is when I make him, and he's barely left his room at all.

[ I mean. Yusuke usually doesn't eat until someone reminds him to. And he's mostly fine! ]

Is this a bad time?

[He sets his phone down and shakes his head sharply.]

I called you over here. It's fine.

[ For a moment, the only sound out of Yusuke is that of a full bodied sigh, one he is focused on fully, as if emptying his lungs will take the worry out with it. But it can't, of course, the conversation with Viktor that morning is still weighing heavy on his mind.

He had made it sound like Yuri knew everything, but he didn't. Not because the artist was keeping anything from him, not on purpose, it just...hadn't come up. Things were hectic, everyone was busy and upset and pissed off. But it really can't wait any longer, he knows it's only a matter of time before Akira broaches the subject, and they both need to know what the answer is when he does. ]

If you're sure, then we need to talk about the Phantom Thieves. I know that you have a lot to deal with right now, but I haven't any idea when, or if, things are going to get easier. You have already been involved. Do you want to continue?

[That sigh is concerning, and the question doesn't do anything to soothe him. The lead up sounded more than a little ominous. Could he really deal with more right now? It was already taking so much energy just to keep on top of looking after Viktor now...

He makes a low, dull sound like a tired groan and scrubs a hand over his face to wake himself up.]

With the thieves...? Or what? Are you really doing much here right now?

Not yet. Between the others getting settled in, and everything with Adachi, there hasn't been time.

[ A finger curls around his hair, as he tries, and fails, to suppress a yawn. This is serious, and he knows that, but damn if he isn't tired, too. ]

Now, things are not perfect, but it's time. We want to continue our work back home. The longer we do nothing, the longer wicked people thrive. I think if it is something you wanted, and you are comfortable with, you could make a difference. At the very least, I have to explain it all to you. I don't wish for there to be any secrets.

[ Well, maybe just one. ]

I... I mean, yeah, I've been thinking about it... That's why I'm trying to learn about my powers now. But I don't know...

[He didn't actually think he was good enough to make a difference though, much less get...scouted? Is that what was happening now?]

Do you really want to explain it right now? You seem kind of tired.

I am sure. I shouldn't have waited this long, we gave you a mask and a code name, but no idea what you were getting into. That was wrong, but with everything else going on...I didn't want to burden you with everything at once, especially after bringing up Madarame.

[ Scouting...not really. This is more than that, there are so many strong and capable people here side eying authority and wanting to help. They had their pick, if they were recruiting based on ability. This is a gesture of trust, from Yusuke to Yuri, about the Phantom Thieves, and yet separate from them. He wants him to know the full story, and hopes that he will still understand him once he hears it. ]

It is more strange and involved than just crime fighting. Our goal was, and still is, to steal the hearts of the corrupt who would seek to hurt others.

You...steal hearts?

[Out of all the scenarios he might have thought he'd hear, that was the last. It sounds like something out of some trashy romance novel Georgi kept stashed in his room. How the hell did a bunch of weird soul monsters figure into that?]

What... How does stealing hearts do anything? What does that mean?

[Text - Late night]

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