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It will probably be okay in a minute or two.
[William laughed a little as he leaned back.]
...I am the wrong person to ask about matters like confession. [He would be such a shitty priest, seriously.] And don't be so nervous. It makes me wonder what exactly you did.
[He's rolling his eyes a little, though there is still a joking tone to his voice. Because he can't imagine what this could be about now, because it's Leon. Really.]
[William laughed a little as he leaned back.]
...I am the wrong person to ask about matters like confession. [He would be such a shitty priest, seriously.] And don't be so nervous. It makes me wonder what exactly you did.
[He's rolling his eyes a little, though there is still a joking tone to his voice. Because he can't imagine what this could be about now, because it's Leon. Really.]
Thanks.
[A bit sarcastically. Are high quality men not supposed to bother with him, huh? Leon is the highest quality of man, dammit! He makes a face . . . but it's softened a little by the circumstances. Obviously William's trying to help here, and doing his best at being reassuring over things Leon didn't even know he needed reassuring over.
Maybe he shouldn't make assumptions. On the other hand, he's not emotionally prepared to go up to either of his classmates and bring this up and get rejected. Even if he is already assuming the worst, that's still going to sting.
Sigh.]
What d'you mean "high quality men of that sort"? You sayin' I'm not high quality?
[At least he's not throwing a fit over it.]
[A bit sarcastically. Are high quality men not supposed to bother with him, huh? Leon is the highest quality of man, dammit! He makes a face . . . but it's softened a little by the circumstances. Obviously William's trying to help here, and doing his best at being reassuring over things Leon didn't even know he needed reassuring over.
Maybe he shouldn't make assumptions. On the other hand, he's not emotionally prepared to go up to either of his classmates and bring this up and get rejected. Even if he is already assuming the worst, that's still going to sting.
Sigh.]
What d'you mean "high quality men of that sort"? You sayin' I'm not high quality?
[At least he's not throwing a fit over it.]
I-I didn't do anything! I mean, okay, I did something, but not like that!
[Like what?! That doesn't even make sense.
He picks up his cup again, already having forgotten he shouldn't take a sip yet, but he's saved by being too busy rambling to do so. For now.]
. . . Ooookay, yeah! Uh, remember when you asked me if, y'know, I'd have a problem with it if you were dating Kazuya? Like if I'd get down on you if you were gay, I guess? Remember?
[Like what?! That doesn't even make sense.
He picks up his cup again, already having forgotten he shouldn't take a sip yet, but he's saved by being too busy rambling to do so. For now.]
. . . Ooookay, yeah! Uh, remember when you asked me if, y'know, I'd have a problem with it if you were dating Kazuya? Like if I'd get down on you if you were gay, I guess? Remember?
No, you are the highest quality of friend, Leon.
[...okay that sounded stupid as hell. He's going to take a sip of his coffee for a moment and recover.]
That is a person though who has had a different lifestyle from most normal people. Granted, I haven't had a normal life either, but he's on another level. That tends to... change perspective. Sometimes in unhealthy ways.
[It's hard to explain this sort of concept, at all.]
What I am saying is that, he might care in his own way. Strange as it is.
[...okay that sounded stupid as hell. He's going to take a sip of his coffee for a moment and recover.]
That is a person though who has had a different lifestyle from most normal people. Granted, I haven't had a normal life either, but he's on another level. That tends to... change perspective. Sometimes in unhealthy ways.
[It's hard to explain this sort of concept, at all.]
What I am saying is that, he might care in his own way. Strange as it is.
[Oh God Leon, what are you being so shifty about? Come on. Learn to be more nonchalant. Like William here.]
Why bring that up again? [He flushes a little, suddenly concerned, for himself. Is this going to be round 150 of this?] But yes, I remember that. I remember all of that conversation.
Why bring that up again? [He flushes a little, suddenly concerned, for himself. Is this going to be round 150 of this?] But yes, I remember that. I remember all of that conversation.
I'm gonna tell you! Chill out . . . I was gettin' to it. It's just—I brought it up 'cuz—what about you, huh? You ain't like that, but you wouldn't freak out about it and run . . . right?
[He says it with equal parts nervousness and hopefulness, and cringes at the sound of his own voice when he hears it. Yikes.]
[He says it with equal parts nervousness and hopefulness, and cringes at the sound of his own voice when he hears it. Yikes.]
[He rubs the back of his neck, nodding along with that—I mean, he has a point there, it's obvious Togami comes from some kind of crazyland upbringing and absolutely does not know how to function like a normal human being in any sense—but he's still kind of caught up on the first bit. Not in a bad way.]
. . . You really think I am? Yeah?
. . . You really think I am? Yeah?
[William raises an eyebrow and then shakes his head. If it was back home, he might have been... annoyed by such things. There were certain rules of society you had to follow, regardless of your feelings and he hated when others flaunted their inability to do so.
But he had become more flexible on those things back home and here... well, it didn't matter. And he had done A LOT of thinking on it.]
Why would I run? There is nothing to fear in that situation, as long as it is not a pretext for acting untoward.
But he had become more flexible on those things back home and here... well, it didn't matter. And he had done A LOT of thinking on it.]
Why would I run? There is nothing to fear in that situation, as long as it is not a pretext for acting untoward.
[He flushed a little, and then nodded.]
You have been one of my best friends here. And I know... I know that I am not the easiest person to get along with. But I enjoy speaking with you and you have always been good to me.
You have been one of my best friends here. And I know... I know that I am not the easiest person to get along with. But I enjoy speaking with you and you have always been good to me.
'Course I am . . . ! Damn, don't get all mushy on me, you're gonna make me blush!
[Too late for that. He already is. The best he can do like this is reach across the table and mess up William's hair, in a super manly bro-like way, so that's what he does, laughing off his (pleasant) embarrassment. Geez.]
You're the best!
[Too late for that. He already is. The best he can do like this is reach across the table and mess up William's hair, in a super manly bro-like way, so that's what he does, laughing off his (pleasant) embarrassment. Geez.]
You're the best!
I didn't mean in a fear kinda way, c'mon, you know what I mean, right . . .
[Actually, he doesn't quite know what he means himself, so he just trails off the end of that already weak-sounding sentence and sighs. At least that reaction wasn't bad. Okay. Leon rubs his eyes and nose with his hand, which doubles as a good excuse not to look at anything or anyone.]
—I don't even know what you mean by "acting untoward"! Isn't pretty much everything untoward for you? Like—like if, like just for example, if I slept with a dude or something, that'd be . . . untoward! Right?
[Actually, he doesn't quite know what he means himself, so he just trails off the end of that already weak-sounding sentence and sighs. At least that reaction wasn't bad. Okay. Leon rubs his eyes and nose with his hand, which doubles as a good excuse not to look at anything or anyone.]
—I don't even know what you mean by "acting untoward"! Isn't pretty much everything untoward for you? Like—like if, like just for example, if I slept with a dude or something, that'd be . . . untoward! Right?
You keep doing that...
[William sighed as he ducked his head away, quickly smoothing down his hair. And then, to be slightly more serious.]
I don't know what the future holds or if anyone here can hope to stay together, but don't assume that no one cares about you. Please.
[William sighed as he ducked his head away, quickly smoothing down his hair. And then, to be slightly more serious.]
I don't know what the future holds or if anyone here can hope to stay together, but don't assume that no one cares about you. Please.
Heh . . . I didn't mean it like that. Promise!
[He hadn't quite, though he can't entirely deny some of that was lingering in there too. He wiggles his fingers at William's head again and then lowers his hand with a laugh, though he's also embarrassed.]
You caaaaare about me. . . . Friggin' nerd.
[He hadn't quite, though he can't entirely deny some of that was lingering in there too. He wiggles his fingers at William's head again and then lowers his hand with a laugh, though he's also embarrassed.]
You caaaaare about me. . . . Friggin' nerd.
For example...
[Wait, what? That was...
Leon is like Kaz you know. Terrible at doing things with anything regarding tack. And lying. And wait what?]
...I thought you only liked girls.
[That is the first thought that pops into his head. Because he's not going to be kind and humor your Leon with your bad, bad totally a hypothetical.]
[Wait, what? That was...
Leon is like Kaz you know. Terrible at doing things with anything regarding tack. And lying. And wait what?]
...I thought you only liked girls.
[That is the first thought that pops into his head. Because he's not going to be kind and humor your Leon with your bad, bad totally a hypothetical.]
I-I do! I do!
[Shit, William had seen through him . . . well, no, deep down he's relieved. The alternative would have been having to actually clarify later that this hypothetical wasn't a hypothetical at all. William's smart, of course he got it right away.
But god, talk about embarrassing. He's ready to feel the rush of relief that will hopefully come with getting this off his chest, but it's not rushing anywhere just yet. He's still seized with uncertain humiliation, staring down at one of his hands curling next to himself on the couch.]
I definitely do, but . . . that . . . still happened?
[Shit, William had seen through him . . . well, no, deep down he's relieved. The alternative would have been having to actually clarify later that this hypothetical wasn't a hypothetical at all. William's smart, of course he got it right away.
But god, talk about embarrassing. He's ready to feel the rush of relief that will hopefully come with getting this off his chest, but it's not rushing anywhere just yet. He's still seized with uncertain humiliation, staring down at one of his hands curling next to himself on the couch.]
I definitely do, but . . . that . . . still happened?
It did.
[Apparently. Why are you telling him this Leon? That's what he wants to ask, but that's not going to be helpful Because well, there is probably a reason.]
Are you okay? I mean? With it. Having happened. Or...
[Apparently. Why are you telling him this Leon? That's what he wants to ask, but that's not going to be helpful Because well, there is probably a reason.]
Are you okay? I mean? With it. Having happened. Or...
I—I dunno, that's why—I don't know!
[That's why. He turns a pleading look on William, suddenly intense, and he's not even sure himself what he's pleading for. Someone to figure all of this out for him, maybe.]
Which one am I supposed to say?
[That's why. He turns a pleading look on William, suddenly intense, and he's not even sure himself what he's pleading for. Someone to figure all of this out for him, maybe.]
Which one am I supposed to say?
[His hair is never safe around this guy.]
I am hardly the nerd here. [Such a lack of self awareness] You should be glad. I seldom say such things out loud.
I am hardly the nerd here. [Such a lack of self awareness] You should be glad. I seldom say such things out loud.
[And he doesn't know. Really he doesn't know and this is hitting far too close to William's own issues. But after a moment, he manages to say something.]
I... don't think you are supposed say one thing or the other. I mean... what matters is what you feel about it. I mean. It doesn't change who you are. At all.
I... don't think you are supposed say one thing or the other. I mean... what matters is what you feel about it. I mean. It doesn't change who you are. At all.
Yeah, I know. I mean, if you did, I'd start to wonder, y'know? Not that I wouldn't like someone followin' me around complimenting me all the time, but I'll leave that to my groupies, not my friends!
[He thinks for a moment about reaching over to fix William's hair where he messed it up, but there's something awkward-feeling about that, especially in public and across a table. He shrugs and pulls his compact out of his pocket, though, and slides it across the table for him. There. Adjust thyself.]
[He thinks for a moment about reaching over to fix William's hair where he messed it up, but there's something awkward-feeling about that, especially in public and across a table. He shrugs and pulls his compact out of his pocket, though, and slides it across the table for him. There. Adjust thyself.]
[That . . . helps. He relaxes—forcibly, with a huge sigh, letting his whole body go slack at once as he sways forward to lean his elbows on his knees and rest his head on his hands. It's a bit dramatic, but despite the show, something does loosen inside of him to hear William say that.]
. . . You mean it?
. . . You mean it?
Do you even have groupies? I thought that was some celebrity thing in the future.
[He drops the jab rather quickly though, because he's not too inclined to be mean today. And he never quite understood what the point of groupies was or the word? Wouldn't that just be followers? Or admirers? The future was strange.]
[He drops the jab rather quickly though, because he's not too inclined to be mean today. And he never quite understood what the point of groupies was or the word? Wouldn't that just be followers? Or admirers? The future was strange.]
...of course I do. It is a bit strange to hear about, but I do not think that such things change a person's character.
[He bits the inside of his mouth, feeling a little knotted up inside over this.]
...do you mind telling me what happened? I understand if you don't though.
[He bits the inside of his mouth, feeling a little knotted up inside over this.]
...do you mind telling me what happened? I understand if you don't though.
[It's kind of funny, and Leon even snorts a little, managing a smile.]
You want all the juicy details? Heh . . . just kidding. Just kidding!
[It's especially funny because how many times back home had he fooled around with a girl, and had that conversation with a dude friend the next day? But William's not that kind of friend . . . and this wasn't a girl.]
I, uh . . . I mean, if you're wondering if we're like, a thing now, we're not. It's nothin' like that at all! We don't even get along as friends half the time! It was just, I dunno, there was something goin' on there, and I guess he picked up on it, and he asked if. If I, y'know. Like, wanted to "experiment."
You want all the juicy details? Heh . . . just kidding. Just kidding!
[It's especially funny because how many times back home had he fooled around with a girl, and had that conversation with a dude friend the next day? But William's not that kind of friend . . . and this wasn't a girl.]
I, uh . . . I mean, if you're wondering if we're like, a thing now, we're not. It's nothin' like that at all! We don't even get along as friends half the time! It was just, I dunno, there was something goin' on there, and I guess he picked up on it, and he asked if. If I, y'know. Like, wanted to "experiment."
Hey, you got no idea how famous I was for baseball crap! I had plenty of groupies! But not as many as I would've gotten as a rock star . . . so I'm workin' on that.
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