video;

[failassassin]

[Turlough looks...well, slightly fidgety.]

I know this might be a stupid question. But what all do you give someone on Valentine's Day-either on your world or on Asgard? Dates are out of the question because of her...job, but I'd like to give her something anyway. I've had girlfriends before, but that was ages ago and we didn't really do Valentine's Day like you lot do it. [because whooo aliens!] And when I was on Earth, most of the time was spent in an English public school-not of my own choosing, mind you. [by the little scrunched up expression on his face, it's pretty obvious what Turlough thinks of English public school (it sucks.)]

So while I'm no stranger to the subject of love, I...sort of am to gifts. [it took him a lot of strength to admit that and now he's frowning a bit.] Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

[failassassin]

Souji mentioned marshmallows...maybe that would work?

[windbreak]

... You asked Souji!?

[He's clearly taken aback - he needs a second to recover.] Ahaha, ha... Oh man, if you wanna do this like he does it, I don't know what to tell you.

[failassassin]

Let me guess: he doesn't know much about romance?

[windbreak]

Whoa, no no no, that's not it... [But he lowers his hands about as quickly as he raised them.] Jeez, how do I put this? Um...

[It's nearly possible to hear the cogs in his head squeaking away for a moment.]

...Well, if he was serious about it, you should listen to him! Really.

[Why yes, he is capable of sounding a bit more emphatic than this.]

[failassassin]

[Turlough just frowns.]

So he's too enthusiastic about romance.

[windbreak]

[He laughs nervously again.] I wouldn't say that, either... [Besides, is too enthusiastic even possible?] But if you already decided on this one girl, uh...

[He trails off.]

[failassassin]

I don't understand what you're trying to say. Why shouldn't I ask him for advice?

I have permission for this

[izanyagi]

[The funny thing is that the location of the book Souji had promised Turlough was that it was located inside the Investigation Team's new building...the very same one that Yosuke had been talking in for the past while.

Maybe Turlough had heard an opening door a while ago; but there was no one else on camera and it had gone silent again. The place was huge and when Souji had noticed Yosuke was busy speaking with someone, he had gone upstairs to get what he wanted without saying hi. Only when he did come down, all he heard was you asked Souji?.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he peeked inside. Still far off for him to show up on the camera, he listened the next part of the conversation in all it's cacophony and misunderstandings. Why was he...

It was only then that he began to walk closer, behind Yosuke. The black figure becomes much easier to see, greyish hair the telltale sign of who this was. In the end, he just stood really close to him, arms crossed, silently. Let's see how long he notices...or if Turlough would run along with it and just egg Yosuke on.]

[windbreak]

[He certainly doesn't notice yet.]

No, no, you should! Probably! I mean - he's good with advice, and he knows a lot about - well, maybe not a lot about it... uh...

[In an attempt to keep his floundering explanation afloat, he hurriedly waves his hand. It misses Souji by a hair.]

I'm just warning you, it could... backfire, you know?

[failassassin]

[Turlough DOES notice. His eyes widen a bit, as in confusion, but he's a horrible person, so then his expression returns to normal.]

So his advice has backfired in the past? This I'd like to hear.

[izanyagi]

[Yes Yosuke, he'd like to hear about this as well.]

[windbreak]

[Sometimes, Yosuke can be startlingly perceptive. This is not one of those times. He still doesn't look around yet, either; he's busy rubbing at the side of his neck.] Not... exactly...? It's more like, umm, his kind of image... his whole approach to it, it wouldn't work for everyone... I guess.

[failassassin]

[Turlough is practically chinhandsing at this point.]

I have to say, I don't know him that well to know about his approach. Care to elaborate?

[izanyagi]

[Souji on the other hand is half amused, half confused. He never really did think about it, but yeah, he did have a particular approach to it. Although what he thought he did and what Yosuke saw him doing might actually shine some light on how others saw him.

It's a risk he's willing to listen in on.]

[windbreak]

Elaborate? [He spreads his hand in a half-shrug; this time it does bounce lightly off the front of Souji's shirt.] Dude, if I knew how he always made it work - [He glances behind him.] Oh, sorry! Didn't know you were still in. But yeah, back home? He's got five or six... [And then he starts to sound hesitant.] different...

[Then he looks up again, and promptly falls out of his chair. Enjoy this view of a water-slick wooden floor!]

[failassassin]

[Turlough can't help but laugh at this, obviously enjoying this.]

I really should have told you, but I wanted to see how long it would take you to notice!

[izanyagi]

[Please enjoy Souji looking down at him, meanwhile, judging him for every single word he's been saying.]

Five or six?

[Seriously.]

[windbreak]

[Hey, geez - that mysterious private life of Souji's, it's not like he has an exact number... He doesn't say that, though. In general he'd be willing to die for for his partner, but honestly, he was kind of hoping for cooler circumstances than... these.

In a frantic tangle of limbs, he scrambles back upright before too much of his shirt can get soaked, and immediately throws himself into a bow so low he might as well not have bothered.] Oh god, dude, I'm sorry... I-I was lying! It was a lie! Please forgive me! I didn't mean it! I don't know how many...!

[Yes, the thing's still recording. Yes, it's slipped his mind. Could anyone blame him? Apart from for, you know, the obvious.]

[failassassin]

[Turlough's just watching this, pretty much just chinhandsing now.]

Still, five or six? Impressive.

[izanyagi]

It's okay.

[Grooooooooooooan. Why is it so hard to stay angry at him? Probably because he knows that in his own way, Yosuke (sorta) meant well. He wasn't saying all of this because he meant ill at Souji (jealous maybe but that's Captain Ressentiment for you). So maybe he was just trying to warn Turlough that his approach could be dangerous from a public eye's point of view? ...of course that made him question if his methods were that bad enough to get into that line of conversation in the first place.

When he moves in view of the feed again, he's slightly flustered, idly scratching the back of his neck for a second while looking at the ceiling. When Yosuke says it, it hadn't sounded all that bad (humorous actually), but when it's repeated by Turlough, somehow he feels like he should be shameful. So, he tries to explain because he feels like he needs to for some reason.]

They're my friends, it didn't go that far. I just helped them with with their problems as best as I could...

[He certainly hadn't meant to break anyone's hearts, or cause issues. Sure, hahaha for most guys having so many girls like you might be the greatest thing to happen, but for Souji, he honestly WAS a nice guy. Yeah, he did like everyone, and part of him was curious about going a little farther then just talking on the couch, but he hadn't pushed it that far. He had never expected anything from his friends in return, just glad that they were there. Moving from one place to another, he hadn't really connected with that many people before. Like his mirror shadow had said; he didn't want to be alone again.

He coughs, clearing his throat.]

But speaking of the issue at hand, I found the book you wanted, Turlough-san. There's also recipes for chocolates as well.

[He'll try to steer the conversation a bit.]

[windbreak]

[Naturally, all of this goes over Yosuke's head. By now he's at least straightened up and folded his arms, although he seems to want to skulk at the edge of his own video rather than look Turlough in the eye again.]

Y-Yeah... Yeah, that's what I was gonna say...! I wasn't trying to...

[His voice is no more than a mumble, although it might still be a bit more intelligible than he was hoping.]

[failassassin]

That sounds wonderful! When shall I pick it up?

[izanyagi]

[Yes good thank you, he appreciates that we've switched and are ignoring what was past. He mellows out considerably.]

What if I bring it over to you?

[windbreak]

[Certain people aren't mellowing out quite as much, although Yosuke has the presence of mind not to say anything else as he shoots a nervous look back at the camera. Seriously, please hurry up and let him end his own suffering already.]

[failassassin]

That's fine by me, [Turlough says, with a small nod.] I'm in Hel 202. Ignore my idiot flatmate if he's around.

[said idiot flatmate being Moran.]