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 Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:54 am
Not keeping as many secrets was a perk, but it hadn’t mattered before–not in the big picture. He’d covered for Luke when he was out late, and he was pretty sure Luke had covered for him, too.
How was Luke so comfortable with this? Well, he was always easy-going, it seemed. Always quick, always had something to say.
Dering still felt dizzy but he was afraid that if he let his form slip away he might lose whatever magical strength he had.
He couldn’t just stand here like this, though; if someone felt his energy signature and came to investigate, Luke might be in danger.
It took another few seconds of forcibly pushing himself out of his comfort zone to accommodate what needed to be done. He regretted it a bit afterwards; as he slipped back into Julian, he became keenly aware of the cold air around them. He was dressed warmly, but it felt like stepping outside after being in the nice, warm safety of your favorite place.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. He was still shaken, and crossed his arms over his chest nervously. “I didn’t know. About you. I would have told you sooner.” Probably. Maybe. He was still terrified of this creating some big shift, some great change in their friendship.
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 11:15 am
“...Do you…can…do you want a hug? I know you’re not super big on the touching but like, it’s what I would do for my brother or cousin and…I mean…”
Luke was a very tactile person, but he had been trying to be better for Julian. Trying to respect boundaries and just be a good roommate whenever he could.
“It’s going to be okay…I didn’t know either or I would have absolutely told you. I know there were a few times where I just wanted to let it all out anyway…but…it’s going to be okay! It’s not that we didn’t trust one another…we were just trying to keep the both of us safe…secrets like that are…okay to keep and now we know?”
He was babbling but…
Luke couldn't help himself. “What can I do to help you feel better? Are you really okay?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 6:03 pm
He nodded quickly, eager and desperate to reassure Luke. He didn’t want Luke to worry about him. He didn’t want to seem pathetic or useless or embarrassing or weak. “I’m okay,” he said again. He tried to sound more confident but it was more energy than he had in him.
“I feel okay,” he promised. Lied, really, but if he said it enough times he knew it would come true.
“The things you were saying, I was just getting nervous that I was wrong and you weren’t Luke. I don’t know what I would have done if…”
He shrugged and sucked in a quick breath. “I just got worried. It’s okay. Please don’t worry. I’m sorry for worrying you, it was just really surprising.”
He felt so stupid. How was Luke ever going to take him seriously again? This was so embarrassing. He pulled his arms in a little tighter and tried to keep his eyes focused on his friend, but he wound up looking just over his shoulder, in the treeline, in the sky–
Julian was trying to pull himself together!
Oh, at least he could look at the sky and pretend like he was just making sure it was safe!
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 6:18 pm
“No, it’s okay…I’m surprised that you were able to figure it out…I honestly had no idea, and I’m really glad all of the people who know me best know who I am in all of this now…that would be pretty bad for me if someone found out who I was just from me being chatty…and I know that I’m chatty.”
Giving a rueful smile, Luke shrugged. “Do…you wanna head back to the dorm? Or maybe stop for something to eat? If you’re up to it…my treat of course!”
Now that the shock had really started to wear off, he chewed his lip. “Or maybe…grab something to eat and then go back to the dorm? I have a lot more things I’d love to ask you. And to talk about! And you’ll have to meet my brother and cousin at some point too–ah, if you want! But I’m sure they would love to meet you! I’m not going to tell them though, obviously.”
That was Julian’s business…and even though he was outing his family…well…
They liked meeting new Lysithea knights anyway so…it didn’t really matter…
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 6:36 pm
Julian nearly fumbled his response. He nodded, but not quite sure what he meant to agree to. Maybe everything.
It clicked only a few seconds afterwards, and he was quick to insist, “You don’t have to get me anything. We can stop if you’re hungry.” His stomach was still doing flip flops. “But we can, um. Talk. I’ll try to answer any questions.”
He wanted to request that Luke maybe try to keep it quiet that he was a Knight too but he couldn’t find the words. He couldn’t guarantee that he’d know the right thing to say but he’d try! Luke was his friend, after all. And…if he could be cool about all of this, Julian would try, too.
…Although, he might have to find a way to encourage him to be a little less chatty with his personal information. Just in case.
He didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. Especially not now.
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