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[daemonized]

ARDYN IZUNIA

Ardyn Izunia. Professor of law. Lord of law. Liege of law. The one grading your papers. Leave a message.

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[daemonized]

[...Ah.

Ardyn takes a moment to parse his response before he replies. But he's not put-off by this revelation in the slightest; only, that lingering concern threatens to rise to the surface once more.]

There's no need for an apology. I don't expect for you to share if you're feeling uncomfortable doing so. We've not known each other -- /properly/ known each other -- for very long. I suppose in that way I'm still a bit of a stranger to you boys.

[And so he leaves it up to Yu, regarding whether or not he wants to clarify what he was not being completely truthful about.]

[covenantal]

... that was part of it. I felt uncomfortable. Still, I don't think that was cause to lie to you about it. You deserve, and have, more of my respect than that.

I'm ... looking forward to getting to know you more, as we live here.

[ That's a ... stilted and formal way of saying it, but the sentiment is there, at least.

He actually does want to explain, he just ... wanted to say this, first. ]

[daemonized]

[It's the sentiment that stands out the most, honestly. In his few interactions with Yu thus far, Ardyn has already been able to tell that he's more the type to keep to himself than Souji. Aloof wasn't quite the right word, but something vaguely similar.

It only makes this admission all the more poignant.]

The feeling is mutual, Yu. Any time you like, you're more than welcome to reach out to me if you need anything. Or even if you don't need anything at all.

[covenantal]

[ He feels ... strange. Vulnerable might be the right word. Exposed to the air, like the slightest breeze could make his raw, exposed core start to bleed. He's felt so lonely all of his life, but the idea of opening himself up to another is terrifying beyond description. Even if - maybe especially when? - that other is family.

But he wants to try. ]

I was thinking I might come over a day or two during the week to do homework at the house?

[ Since.

He has the keys, now. ]

[daemonized]

[The reply is immediate, since it's an easy answer for Ardyn.]

Of course. I know you won't mind the cats walking all over your books, so I needn't warn you about that ahead of time.

[He chuckles on his side. His home was becoming livelier and livelier as of late; not that long ago, he might have found the idea dubious. But in practice Ardyn seems to have taken relatively well to it.]

I'll tell your /other/ uncle to leave you be so you can focus.

[covenantal]

[ It's a while before he responds; maybe about 10 minutes or so. Mostly because he sees this reply and has to put his phone down for a little bit to just kind of emotionally process.

He wonders if he'll ever get accustomed to family, caring. ]

Thanks, Izunia-san.

I wanted to tell you what else I remembered about falling into the TV. I do remember how I felt. It wasn't actually anything that special. I remember feeling startled. Unsure, a little scared... something about it gave me a headache.

[daemonized]

[For a brief moment, he thinks that perhaps that's the end of the conversation, or Yu's grown busy. Regardless, when his phone does light up again, he knits his brow a little at the message displayed on its screen.]

Feelings that most might have felt in a situation similar to yours. [The headache, though? From shock, fear, or stress maybe?] At least it reveals that it wasn't a commonplace occurrence for you -- that was what I had been wondering about.

[covenantal]

... there was a voice ...

[ He's been reluctant to mention this, too, for probably obvious reasons. Hearing voices isn't the strongest indicator of mental health. ]

Something about it made my head hurt.

So, no. Definitely not commonplace.

[daemonized]

[Neither is remembering fantastical monsters, or thinking you once had magic powers to heal the sick.

(And neither is feeling a bubbling sort of hate in the pit of one's chest, while a faceless man stumbled towards you in anger, obscured by the white of snow.)

Ardyn's not judging.]

What did the voice say?

[covenantal]

[ Another pause. ]

"I am thou. Thou art I. Thou art the one who opens the door."

[daemonized]

[Well, then. What's one supposed to make of that?]

A door? To what, I wonder?

[Surely not a television screen.]