[reverie] inbox.

[artisticliberty]

voice, text, video, action = ✓

Hello. You have reached the mailbox of Yusuke Kitagawa. I am currently busy and cannot answer the phone. Please leave a message.

Comments

[ryuji]

Are you askin' me if your dick floppin' around like a candle in the wind got to me?

[artisticliberty]

Yes, I am.

[were you LOOKING]

[ryuji]

[IT WAS HARD TO IGNORE, OKAY?!]

Yeah it was like

Smacking me in the face practically

Leavin' mushroom imprints on both my cheeks

What the hell else was I supposed to look at

[artisticliberty]

You are exaggerating. Have you never swam nude before? I believe the term is "skinny-dipping". There is nothing unusual about it.

[ryuji]

Not really... the only pools I could ever go to are the public ones during summer sesh. Did you get a chance to take a break and head out to the countryside or something?

Free ballin' it might be kinda fun, but I'd proooobably just wanna do it alone.

[artisticliberty]

No, but I played in a sprinkler when I was a child. I just didn't own a swim suit until junior high school.

[what??????]

I apologize. I did not realize you found nudity so uncomfortable.

[ryuji]

I dunno why, though, to be honest? Like, I get it. It's just a body. But seein' someone naked kinda throws me off. Not even sure if it's a maturity kinda thing? Maybe it's 'cause I'm not that comfortable with myself or something. I dunno.

At least, that's to say, I could never be an art student. Specially if you're like... drawin' nudes as much as you do

[artisticliberty]

Have you always felt that way? What about at the bathhouse? Were you uncomfortable then?

[ryuji]

Well... there was a promise of cute girls

[artisticliberty]

Are you claiming that you would have fared better if you were naked in a bath with Ann, Makoto, Haru, or Futaba?

[seriously?]

[ryuji]

[UHHHHHH...............]

I

Uh

Okay maybe not

[artisticliberty]

[DIDN'T THINK SO]

Regardless, there is no need to be ashamed of one's own body. Every body is beautiful in its own right, flaws and all. That is something a true student of art learns early; there is no body type that is not worth painting. I shall endeavor to stay clothed with you from now on, but I feel I should encourage you to try and become more comfortable with your own nudity. You possess an admirable physique, and you should be proud of it.

[ryuji]

Sometimes you say the strangest damn things in the world, Yusuke, but. Yeah, you also say some really deep and meaningful stuff.

[Let's be real here, if he ever expects to eventually have a working relationship sometime, it's a hurdle he'll have to get over. The embarrassment of your body isn't something that's really that healthy.

So maybe a first step would be accepting that Yusuke thinks he has a hot six pack, or whatever that's supposed to mean. Normally, he'd try to say that he has a lot more to work on before it's actually admirable, since working out has become such an important part of his routine and accepting that he was close, when he knew he was still pretty far away is almost reflexively negatable.

Alright, cool.]

Thanks, man.

So what am I supposed to do? Streak around the pool naked for a while? I got tons of confidence but man that's a lot for me lol

[artisticliberty]

If I may, consider some of your physical traits that you like or are proud of. Can you tell me any?

[it's a thought exercise more than anything, but it's a start]

[ryuji]

[God, what?]

Uh... my hair? I guess?

[That's so superficial.]

[artisticliberty]

Good. That's one. Name me another.

[chop chop ryuji. he's waiting.]

[ryuji]

[This is actually really hard? He doesn't really think of himself that way- everything is just halfway there. He wants to work out more and get that 6 pack, because he heard that people like guys with muscle, and it's what he's focused on. What is he supposed to say?]

I guess

Like

I have really pronounced collarbones? Is that a good trait

[artisticliberty]

I have also noticed them, so I would agree that they are very nice collarbones. Between your history as a track runner and your frequent workout sessions, you also possess good muscle definition. Don't you think so?

[ryuji]

I got those chicken legs though

You know, the ones that you kinda wanna rip off and dip in buffalo sauce

Lmao wait that's kinda morbid

Anyway, I really... uhhh I don't know, dude. I haven't really gotten a ton of definition yet, I'm still workin' on gettin' up to there and it's a pretty goddamn long uphill battle

[artisticliberty]

True, but it isn't as though the journey has not yielded results so far. You are the strongest member of the Phantom Thieves, after all.

[dat God's Hand, man]

[ryuji]

[Shit, that brushstroke of ego straight to his heart paints it an ever more vivid red, and he finds himself blushing at this text. Goddamnit, Yusuke. With your weird sayings and innate talent to completely disarm punks.]

I just wanna make sure that I can always be there to protect you.

If that's the most I can actually do on this team...

Not gonna ever let you down, you hear?

[artisticliberty]

[incoming phone call! answer?]

[ryuji]

[WHY IS HE CALLING...]

Yo?

[artisticliberty]

Texting is too impersonal for this. I want to verify your conviction by hearing you say it to me.

So please repeat your promise.

[ryuji]

[Seriously? Ryuji never says shit he doesn't mean, and he's a little weary that Yusuke wants to heat it straight from his mouth, but he's not going to deny the request, either. If it means something to his friend, of course he's going to slam full speed on the gas pedal, even if it's kind of embarrassing.]

Heh, this is kinda awkward, callin' up a dude just to ask him to repeat the same thing he texted you. But. Uh.

Yeah.

I'll always protect you, man.