CONTACT | Call me, maybe

[intercalaryninja]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, HAZYREFLECTION FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 011.04.151.01 *** HAZYREFLECTION has joined 011.04.151.01 <HAZYREFLECTION> Only contact me if it is necessary. <HAZYREFLECTION> Report to me immediately if it's regarding Reira-dono. <HAZYREFLECTION> I will be checking this nightly when possible.

Comments

[intercalaryninja]

[The first couple of times, Tsukikage figures that Yuya's just going through some things. It's been hard these last few weeks and changes in behaviour wasn't abnormal.

However, once he notices it's less about instinct or trauma and more about him>/i>, Tsukikage figures it's time to confront Yuya. One afternoon, the spider ninja appears out of nowhere with all the silence and stealth as a shade, a plate of cookies at hand. He taps Yuya lightly on the back.]

You seem troubled. I hope I have not offended you, Yuya.

[pendulumentertainment]

[Yuya flinches, for a brief moment he seems wary at first until his eyes meet Tsukikage's, and he relaxes.]

What? No no- [He's quick to correct that.] I-I'm just...

[...

Even now he's having a hard time getting the words out. And he hates it. He grumbles a bit, before trying to force something out of his mouth.]

I wanted to... A-ask you something...?

[He sounds unsure, to say the least, but his eyes do drift to the plate of cookies for a second.]

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage tilts his head curiously, like a small animal unable to understand. But he nods and straightens back up.]

Then ask away. [He offers a cookie to Yuya. Maybe that will help him calm down.] I'm here to be of assistance.

[pendulumentertainment]

[Something like that for Yuya is easier said than done. But he's gotta at least try... right?

But how do you start something about... something you don't know?]

U-um...

[He starts pulling on his long pointy ears to focus...]

What's it called... Wh-when you... don't like anyone...? [Wait- that sounds bad-] I- I mean like...

[He doesn't finish, he just breathes out and whines. Why is this so hard to say?]

L-like how Yuzu likes girls and boys... I-I don't really like anyone- is that... Normal?

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage looks at Yuya calmly, wondering what has Yuya has so worked up. He's patient though, giving the man that time to process his emotions.]

It's normal, yes. [And if it's like Yuzu...] Do you not like anyone romantically? Or you don't really like physical displays of affection? Or both?

[pendulumentertainment]

B-both?

[He sounds anything but sure.]

I don't know- Yuzu wanted to get together and I... I was too scared. Like I... I didn't want to kiss or do... that stuff... cause you have to do that in a relationship... Right?

[It all just sort of jumbles together in his head, like when he tried to write the confession to Yuzu at the start of all this.]

And like... I... I don't want to do that? It just... Doesn't interest me- I-I don't know...

[intercalaryninja]

Hmm...

[Well, if Yuya can't be sure, Tsukikage can't be sure if he's aro, ace or both. But everything else seems pretty cut and dry.]

You don't necessarily have to kiss and the like. You pick the things you do in a relationship together. There's no real ruleset for this sort of thing.


[He smiles at Yuya and pats his shoulder.] But you're fine, Yuya. There's nothing weird about how you feel. Some people just don't feel romantic attraction to other people and don't like that sort of contact, and that's okay.

[pendulumentertainment]

[Yuzu had said something similar. Was it just something he didn't get? When kids had talked about boy friends and girl friends, they always talked as if... As if you had to do that, and yet he didn't have any want for that himself. Maybe he should...]

W-well I... I think I love... I think I love Yuzu? [He still sounds so unsure.] I just... I don't want to um... Kiss her or... Or do anything like that... But I wanna... I wanna be around her? A-and give her things?

[His face is turning a very weird shade of blue now. Ever since the goblin thing, his blushes haven't been red so much as... grey blue. He also might be tearing up a bit, maybe from frustration, or something else.]

Please don't... Don't tell anyone about this... please?

[intercalaryninja]

[Well, people did have a pretty fixed idea of that sort of thing. But just because the majority did it, didn't mean they had to follow.]

More than your other friends? Understandable, she's very precious to you. [He's seen first-hand how determined Yuya is to saving and protecting her. Tsukikage stops patting Yuya but rests his hand on the man's shoulder, trying to give comfort in whatever way he can]

I won't. Whatever you confide with me, it will remain a secret. Fuuma Clan's honour. May you cut out my tongue should I break this oath.

[pendulumentertainment]

Eh?! I'd never cut out your tongue!

[For whatever reason, that's what Yuya focuses on. Maybe just to not talk about the thing's that make him confused. Or maybe it was to get a laugh, either way he shakes his head and then tries to get back on track.]

I mean, thanks...

[He pauses and looks at his hands for a second before looking back up. Eyeing the hand on his shoulder for just a second before continuing.]

S-so Yuzu's thing was called like... Bisexual... Does... Does not liking people have a name?

[He doesn't like the thought of it just being called 'not liking people'. Because he very much did like people! He was an entertainer after all! It was just those things... (recalling the words would make him flustered, so even in his own head, he kept it vague)He don't thinks he could get used to that.]

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage smirks at that. Typical Yuya, always jumping away from the most violent option. Tsukikage waits for Yuya to be more sure of himself before he pulls his hand back. He nods seriously.]

They do indeed. Some people like all genders, some people like none. Not feeling romantic attraction to someone is called aromantic and not liking people in a sexual way is called asexual. Some people are both- aromantic and asexual- and I've heard them address themselves as aroace. Which one you are requires you to figure it out- or at least find something that makes you feel comfortable, Yuya.

[pendulumentertainment]

[Aromantic, asexual... Both of them are new terms to him. And both of them confuse him to a degree, mostly cause he's not sure himself. Is it sexual? Romantic? He just doesn't quite know.

But he's glad to have names for things now.]

Alright... thank you... [His voice is quiet but sincere.] I... I wanna think about it for a while, I think-

[A long while. But he's unsure if that's rude.]

[intercalaryninja]

[They have names. It's nothing weird or stranger about Yuya. It's just different to what he's used to and that's okay. Tsukikage knew that more than anyone.]

Of course. Not a problem. Like I said, take your time. It took me a long time to figure out I had little attraction to women. There is no rush.

[pendulumentertainment]

[Yuya's just about to leave before he hears that. And for a minute his eyes go wide.]

So you're that... um...

[There's a long pause.]

Home of sexual thing? Like um... Like you like guys?

[intercalaryninja]

... Homosexual. Like to have interest in the same sex. [Like something that's homologous!] But yes. I do like guys. I have bad taste though...

[His cheeks tint pink under his mask.]

[pendulumentertainment]

Eh?

[Yuya sticks his lip out, pouting and thinking at the same time.]

It can't be that bad! I mean... most people are good... Right?

[intercalaryninja]

I had a crush on Reiji-dono... and Sawatari.

[he says it as if it explains everything.]

[pendulumentertainment]

[Yuya blinks almost comically slow.

He feels like he should say something, but all that comes out of his mouth is;]

Ah...

[Because... Well yeah. That's interesting taste alright. But also...]

... Did you ever date them?

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage knows his tastes vary wildly and while he does joke about it, it's still a little embarrassing. Still, he laughs at Yuya's innocent question and shakes his head.]

The Fuuma clan expects me to marry a woman, should I survive to an age where I can have heirs. Reiji-dono was only a childish crush from afar. And Sawatari... well... I kissed him once when he was here in Ryslig but I was very drunk. And that was the extent of things.