[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

[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.

[artisticliberty]

[there's silence for a few moments before yusuke responds]

Very well. I'll accept it. And I shall make you a promise in turn: in times of doubt or crisis, I will stand by you. When you struggle, I will support you. I won't blithely accept your protection without returning it in some way. Do you accept?

[ryuji]

[I AM THOU...

THOU ART I...

Wait, this shit has already been done before. Scratch that.

Ryuji stands there, kind of... awkwardly for a moment, but. It's a good thing. He recognizes it as good.]

Hell yeah, man. If this were a collect call, I'd accept all the charges right goddamn now. [Maybe be a little more serious? This is a serious thing.] I mean. We only really got each other anyway, you know? If you're offering something to lean up against, I'll take it.

[artisticliberty]

Good. Please don't forget it.