[Anonymous | Text]

[beautiful_monster]

[After a series of texts early that day, Yuri spent the rest of his morning trying valiantly to figure out how to hide his name from the network. There was a very serious matter he needed to ask about, and he didn't want to think of the consequences he'd face if anyone knew he was the one asking.]

What the hell are you supposed to do on a date? A first date if that matters. Something like that has to be special, doesn't it? So...what do people expect? Do you have to dress up? How do you know who pays for everything?

I really don't know anything about this junk so I'll take any advice people have got.

[Viktor would never let him hear the end of this if he knew.]

Comments

[lempereur]

[ Yusuke looks down at the finger jabbed into his chest, and back up, a shaky chuckle slipping out from between his lips. ]

Of course. Considering everything that's happened, I would say you're stuck with me no matter what.

[beautiful_monster]

[There's no masking the relieved sound he makes or the way his shoulders sag as tension floods out of them. He'd been terrified enough of screwing things up with Otabek, and there hadn't been such a dramatic revelation involved there.]

Good.

[lempereur]

Good.

[ Yusuke makes a similar sound, letting out a breath of air it feels like he's been holding onto for ages. ]

I'm glad you came. It feels good to have it off my chest. But... [ but what now? ] What will you tell him?

[beautiful_monster]

I... [He trails off at first, staring vacantly off into the distance.]

I have no idea.

[lempereur]

[ He isn't laughing at you, Yuri. Just the utter absurdity of it all. ]

Well, that isn't good.

[beautiful_monster]

[He lets out a whining groan, hanging his head and covering his face in both hands.]

Don't laugh! I know it's not good. It's—ugh!! [He scrubs his hands up over his face and pushes his hair back, staring incredulously at nothing in particular.] I've fallen into a fucking soap opera!

[lempereur]

...I almost told you a week ago when I climbed through your window. Maybe I should have.

[ He can say a lot of stupid things to try and relieve tension. Here's another. ]

At least the other person who has feelings for you has good intentions. I assume. He'd better. There's an obsessive, manipulative alcoholic out there angry with me for not returning his affection. So...it could be worse. I don't know if that helps.

[beautiful_monster]

[He'd meant to say something about Otabek; some reflex response that Otabek was great and would never consider doing anything to intentionally hurt him. What comes out instead is anything but that. There's a sudden icy edge to his tone, and, although he hasn't turned back to Yusuke yet, his eyes are narrowed with a furious focus.]

There's a what angry with you? What the fuck— Who the fuck is he? He doesn't get a say in whether or not you like him! Or if you like anyone at all! He can fuck off!

[lempereur]

[ He waves his hand, as if to dismiss it. The situation has been diffused by now...hopefully. ]

I've tried telling him so, in gentler words. I don't think he's a danger to anyone but himself.

[beautiful_monster]

[That doesn't satisfy him at all. Nothing about this guy sounds like he's a danger only to himself, whoever he is.]

But he keeps bothering you?

[lempereur]

He's easily avoided, he spends his time drinking himself into a stupor and dreaming up overwrought speeches to blame me for his issues. I am getting better at ignoring them.