Audience: Yuri Leclerc

[probe]

Comments

[aubins]

[ oh that makes it better. ] They think of everything with this, huh? I was thinking how easy it'd be to smudge this if it took a long time to dry.

[ he tilts his head. ] So you were a mystery fan tag-along? [ .. cute... ] What sort of crimes did your friends solve?

[probe]

It's pretty bad if you get the clumpy kind. But I have a topcoat, too, that we can use when the whole thing's done and dry.

[painting, painting.] Something like that! I guess I was also sort of involved. [don't say that so casually, lust.] They were solving some murder mysteries.

[aubins]

This is a really big hobby of yours, huh?

[ watching watching ] ... In the cases themselves or the solving of them? [ hello? ]

[probe]

I don't know if I'd call it a hobby, but I have an image to maintain. So I learned how to do this myself.

[hello!] It was kinda both though. But everything's okay now.

[aubins]

Image is important.

[ he understands. ] ... I'm going to pretend that was reassuring. [ he wants to boop them on the forehead, but not while they're painting his nails. ] But I'm glad it was okay in the end?

[probe]

Somehow I thought you'd understand. [thank you, leave their forehead alone :(]

But it was! Everyone's okay and everything turned out the way it was supposed to, so...can't really complain.

[aubins]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to look good.

[ he leaves the forehead alone :c ]

Were they your friends? The people who were solving the case.

[probe]

[there's a nod and it seems to be both for wanting to look good and an answer to the question.]

Yeah. They didn't really want me involved at first, but I talked them into it.

[aubins]

... Sounds like they care a lot about you. [ and that lust is stubborn as fuck. ]

[probe]

I think when we first met they just thought I'd get in the way. [the silver should be dry, so they begin to work on the purple carefully.] But I like to think we care about each other now.

[also. yeah. lust is absolutely stubborn as fuck.]

[aubins]

[ the star of the nail show ]

Sometimes it just happens when you get stuck with people long enough.

[probe]

Do you have people like that, too?

[aubins]

... A few, I guess. Yeah.

[probe]

Do you miss them?

[aubins]

...

[ hm ]

I guess I do. It's a little weird not having them tagging along.

[probe]

What're they like?

[aubins]

In general? A good bunch. The ones I spend the most time with...? Exhausting. But they're good people. Had some terrible luck along the way, but they're all pretty reliable.

[probe]

That sounds like my friends, too. [they seem pleased with that.] You're lucky. I think having those kind of people is a really, really good thing.

[aubins]

Yeah? Maybe. [ he laughs. ]

They can be annoying, but they all deserve better than they got. I know that much.

[probe]

How'd you meet 'em anyway? That academy? [is lust just asking because they're nosy? yes. what kind of people does yuri attract himself to?]

[aubins]

In a... roundabout way, I guess. [ haha, abyss. ] We were all at the academy, technically, so yes.

[probe]

Are they the people you want to keep safe? Or are they different people?

[aubins]

... Them, and then some.

You're all aware of what we want, then?

[probe]

Yes and no? You belong to Wrath, so I'm kinda only sort of aware. Like...the idea but not all the deets? So that's why I like to ask and hear what you have to say.

[aubins]

Oh, so you know your own people's wishes, but everyone else is a mystery to solve. [ interesting. ]