(no subject)

[linefacingforever]

Who: The Investigation Team and Nanako plus one death goddess.
Where: Yu and Nanako's apartment.
Summary: The IT celebrates Christmas together away from home... more or less.
Warnings: Yu trying to keep up his mission to bring a Green Christmas to Hinoto-ri. Horrible singing. lulz

It was a bit rushed and last minute -- and most of the work had to be done by other people because a certain grey haired leader was currently acting like an idiot -- but the apartment that Yu and Nanako shared was currently decked out for the winter holiday. Streamers hung around door frames and windows, and someone had even managed to bring in a little fake pine tree to be decorated.

There's also food, of course, though how good it is depends greatly on who cooked it. Taste with care, least you end up poisoned on Christmas.

It might not seem very festive at the moment, especially considering the current state (and presence) of certain individuals... but that will change at midnight at least.

Comments

After Midnight

[linefacingforever]

[linefacingforever]

...and once midnight had come and gone, and Yu was finally back to his normal, lineface self.

And hiding away from the rest of the group right now, disguising his humiliation with the excuse that he needed to find where he hid everyone's presents.

Because. What. Even.

Next time Velvet Room came around? He was so getting rid of Pyro Jack.

[disconinjafrog]

Sorry, Yu, you are not going to be able to hide from your best bro, he's been wanting to talk to you all night-- longer than that really, and now that you've finally permanently snapped out of your funk, he's approaching you.

Yosuke gives Yu a concerned look. "Hey, let me help out." And in a more quiet tone once they're away from everyone else...

"You finally feeling alright, partner?"

[linefacingforever]

"Ah...?"

...he should have known he wouldn't be able to escape everyone for very long. He turned away a moment, letting out a private sigh, before returning his attention to his best friend.

"Yeah, sorry for worrying all of you."

[disconinjafrog]

"You're not going to try and run off anymore? I've barely gotten a chance to see you, since you've been..." He rubs the back of his head awkwardly.

"I've had to help keep an eye on Nanako-chan. You really need to apologize to her more than anyone else." Though, Yosuke's aware that it wasn't really Yu's fault, but he's not sure Nanako-chan would understand that.

[linefacingforever]

"You think I don't know that?" Yu replied softly, the regret painfully obvious in his voice. Dammit, he couldn't do anything against... whatever the hell the Pyro Jacks had done to him. His head was still a bit fuzzy, having only recovered just a little while ago, but he could still remember just... jumping out a window, leaving Nanako to fend for herself; remember diving under the legs of a friend in the middle of a heated song off. Then there was that hip grinding he was doing against Yukiko...

If he pulled out of this without reversing his social links, he would be shocked.

[disconinjafrog]

"... Hey, stop that. Everyone will forgive you. I already forgive you, it wasn't even your fault that any of this happened anyway." Yosuke very gently, even playfully, punches Yu in the arm, giving him a grin. "It was kind of funny... When it wasn't creepy, I mean."

[linefacingforever]

Yu let out an exasperated noise; none of that was funny, and all of it was creepy. And what made things worse was...

"...I can still do it," he muttered. "Switch clothes; it's a spell and it... stuck."

Constant reminder of what happened; just what he needed.

[gigglesnortpriestess]

Nope, not getting away that easily. Yukiko did feel like like maybe she should give their leader some space; after all, he was forced to do something against his will despite the...intentions. But that just made her feel worried. Should she go see him or would it seem too obsessive?

No, it just shows that she cares, right?

"Yu-kun?"

[linefacingforever]

Yu had a closet where he hid everyone's presents half way open when she poked her head in on him. He stared at her a moment, struggling to find something to say... only to end up staring back at the inside of the closet. Wow... awkward conversations are go. They just started going out; they didn't need... all of that hanging over their heads.

"...sorry."

It was the only thing he could think of to say.

[gigglesnortpriestess]

Yes, it would be awkward but they needed to speak to each other sooner or later. And it's not just him who needs to say something. She went along with it in the beginning and even if she could blame it on the atmosphere, Yukiko wouldn't deny it being somewhat true. Because to be honest, she did. And if unbothered, she would've kept up that charade and things would be just worse.

"Yu."

She dropped the honorific this time and put a hand on his shoulder.

"There's no need to say that. It's not your fault."

[linefacingforever]

"Yeah... but I can't just say, 'It's not my fault,' and be okay with it," he replied, still having difficulty looking at her. "Besides... what I did with you..."

That went too far... but he was being honest. It just came out... really bad.

[gigglesnortpriestess]

The memory of them dancing together so close to each other made Yukiko go darker than her sweater. It was hard to admit that a small part of yourself enjoyed the closeness and to admit that...she knew keeping it to herself wasn't going to work.

"I can't say it was because of the area. Because I could've said something at first but I didn't. It should be me who should apologize to you."

[linefacingforever]

"You apologize...?"

Because, seriously, what; there was so much wrong on his end that he hardly saw anything completely bad about her reacting to it. She shouldn't be the one to take on any guilt here...

[handshakegreeting]

And as soon as that realization spread over Yu's face, someone quietly slid out from view. Well, for a moment, anyway. She was back before most, if anyone, realized she was gone. Though, at least one seemed back to normal. ...Minus avoiding them. Sad, really. She at least wanted to thank them for inviting her, despite the tension in the air.

No she hadn't used the opportunity of the 13th Hour to stealthily sneak in presents for everyone. No idea what you are all referring to.

No Frost Dolls were given in the making of these threads...just a copy of blackmail material in the form of someone receiving a copy of Green Christmas Style.

[linefacingforever]

It took Yu some time before he came back out, and even then he still looked like he wasn't in the best of social moods. Still, his conversations before had picked him up a little; enough to show his face again as he brought out the presents he had gotten for everyone.

He happened to look up as he was setting the presents under the tree, spotting Izanami keeping to herself as she had been for most of the night (at least that he noticed; he'd been too busy pouting over the fact that he couldn't wreck havoc. He held onto one present, excusing himself for a moment before heading right to her.

"Izanami..." he began. "Would you mind if we talked privately?"

[handshakegreeting]

Congratulations on coming out of the emo corner for a brief moment. No, truly, you deserve an award for doing so so soon.

She paused in what she was doing when she noticed someone had spied her soon after she had returned. Somehow, she shouldn't have been so surprised by that, yet he had always been one who defied her expectations. Stubborn child.

"Of course not." After all, she had babysat you while you were... you know. Lead the way.

[linefacingforever]

Yu gave a nod, before considering a moment. With Nanako asleep, that meant the kitchen was probably the most private place to talk... He took her there, setting the present on the table and pressing his hands on the flat surface. This was... seriously humiliating, and it was still taking him a bit to get his thoughts together.

Finally, though, he managed to piece his courage levels back together enough so that he could turn to face her, hands in his pockets.

"I... want to thank you," Yu finally began. "You helped everyone, helped them against me, even though you knew they wouldn't trust you. I... owe you a lot for that, and I can't thank you enough."

Now that he thought about it... he ended up in trouble, and Izanami ended up with all the social links. Funny how that works.

[handshakegreeting]

Izanami chuckled for a moment, before following him to the kitchen. At least for the moment there was no Mystery Liquid Concoction X. That... had nearly been a disaster no one would have recovered from.

Still, to say that she was not at least somewhat surprised by his words would have been an understatement and distortion of the "truth" they claim to hold so dear.

"You do not need to thank me," she replied without skipping a beat. "-and you owe me nothing. It is I that owed you and your friends. Rather, I will in yours and Amagi's futures."

Only one, technically. Silly normally silent protagonists.

[linefacingforever]

"Still, it was a risk you took," he replied. Heck, for all he knew, they could have viewed her as a bigger threat, and decided to attack her instead. Or maybe even worse; blame her for him acting like an idiot. He tilted himself forward, giving her a respectful half bow.

"Thank you very much."

Yu turned his attention back to the present he had brought in with him, finally handing it to her.

"...I got this for you," he explained softly. "I was afraid you wouldn't come, so... thank you for accepting my invitation. Merry Christmas."

[celebrity_commentator]

"So...you're really her, right?" Rise asked the stranger now that things had settled down a bit. She could probably pull out Kanzeon and verify, of course, but it was already really crowded in here, so she decided to trust her feelings and the process of elimination.

[handshakegreeting]

"I am." Really, was it that much of a surprise? She had even kept her hair the same on purpose this time. After all, most of them knew by now if they had not already experienced her wrath. There was little she could or would do in hiding this truth from them.

[celebrity_commentator]

"You caused everyone a lot of grief, you know."

Of course she knew, but it had to be said. "But Senpai seemed to trust you even before he went crazy, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I have got a lot of questions, though."

More than she really knew what to do with; talking to the 'perps' was really Naoto's job, and Rise was even worse at cutting to the chase than she was. Besides, now that she thought about how that just sounded, wasn't Izanami a guest here?

"But...since this is a party, I think that can wait. A little bit. Unless you feel like sharing now."

Ace*Detective.

[handshakegreeting]

"I am aware." How could she not? And yet, events proceeded as the world had decreed. She does not hold any grudge against them, though she was rather amused by just how long they could hold one against both god and man. Maybe they could use that to their advantage, or maybe it could be their downfall. Only time would tell.

She chuckled, almost amused by how this started out. Well, at least she had a little more gall than the Hanamura boy.

"If you are so curious or would feel uncomfortable, then I do not mind answering at least a few. However, you realize that you could reach me at any time...?"

She was a COMP, too, Rise. Though it seemed as though she would be answering quite a few questions tonight, anyway.

[celebrity_commentator]

"Oh, with the COMPs? I uh...I guess that didn't really occur to me," she admitted. "I figured you'd be a little more aloof and hard to reach."

Unless she was talking about praying, but Rise is 99% sure Shinto doesn't work that way.

"I guess the most important question is if you're really satisfied with us winning," she said. "Most people I've met just dig in their heels and get mad when someone shows them they're wrong."