text, backdated to 7/13

[justicedevil]

So, I turned 17 today. I completely forgot that was going to happen. In my defense though, my birthday is usually in March and it's only now because it was September instead of May when I arrived in the last world that pulled people in that didn't live there.

... Anyway, for something those of you who haven't known me since before I showed up here might be interested in, does anyone want martial arts lessons? I was training a couple of people back in the last world I was in and it went pretty well there, so I figured I should probably start that up again.

For now compensation is negotiable, since I don't know how many people would even be interested in this in the first place and money here is... weird. Days of the week, time, and how often the lessons happen are going to depend on just how many are interested, but I'll let people know sooner rather than later.

Comments

[dj_jiraiya]

And I'm sure you miss your friends and family back home too.

[He nodded and couldn't help himself when he reached over to take her hand, to give her a reassuring squeeze.]

I take it you have someone back home, then?

[It's the only thing he could think of that would give her issues with having a relationship, what happened in Duplicity notwithstanding.]

[justicedevil]

Yeah. Exactly.

[ Her eyes widen slightly at the contact on her hand, but she's quick to squeeze him back.]

And as for someone back home... sorta. I mean, I definitely love him, and I know he loves me since he was in Duplicity with me for... like, the first month or so, but back home we never officially got together. [ She pauses for a moment.]

And well... that's part of the reason why I'm hesitant to consider dating anyone, but it's mostly Duplicity that's the bigger problem. I mean, I haven't slept with anyone since I got here, but it's not like I'm... deliberately stopping myself. It just hasn't happened.

[ She sighs.]

I'm... not really completely out of the mindspace I got into while I was there. Or out of the mindspace at all, I guess. I don't even know if I'd be able to actually be faithful to anyone in a relationship yet. Especially with all the stuff that happens with the moons.

[dj_jiraiya]

[Yosuke nodded and paused for a second, he really needed to think about what to say next or he was liable to say something stupid and he didn't need his foot in his mouth now of all times.]

Well... there's nothing wrong with not having sex. Whether it's by choice or the moment hasn't happened. [That's something he was learning himself. A month and a half here and his friends got way more action than he ever did. Hell, he was still a virgin! And it was tough to not let that wound his pride because when he really thought about it, it really didn't matter, did it? Especially as she said, with the moons of this place.] But I guess it might depend if you wanna get out of that headspace or not?

[He realized he probably sounded like he was judging her for that and he was quick to pull back with a stammer, damn it, foot get out of his mouth!]

N-Not that there's anything wrong with it! I-I just mean... ugh, hold on. [He was still weirded out by how open was everyone himself, and he knew it was all consensual so he shouldn't judge.] Sorry. It's just I mean... some people here are being open about having lots of people? And it seems like it's all agreed upon so I don't think it has anything to do with being unfaithful?

But if you are wanting to keep to one person, my friend Kanji is proving that you don't have to share if you don't want to. He and his girlfriend are making it work as far as I know. And I think I know there are others who aren't even doing it at all, you know?

[He leaned back in his chair to take a breath. He wasn't even sure he conveyed his thoughts properly, given this was all still new to him too.]

I guess what I'm saying it is that I don't think anyone would get mad at you if you wanted to keep it casual or something. I've never been in a relationship myself, but I have been in love. She's... not here anymore but I think even back then I knew that if I was in a relationship, I'd have only wanted to be with her and no one else. So, if that happened here, I'd just have to take a page from Kanji and Naoto's book and make it work.

I think you can too, whichever way you go.

[justicedevil]

[ Videl listens to him, making sure to try to keep all of her own doubts out of her head as she processes what he says. He does make a lot of sense, and she this place wasn't Duplicity. The fact that she hadn't had sex since she arrived here was proof enough of that.

And she also knows that what he was saying was the truth, hell, she had already run into Ryuji and even back in Duplicity he, Ann, and some other people were definitely together. But at the same time, the thought of trying to do that herself was just... not wrong for her, per say. But she's pretty sure she's not going to be able to actually do what Ryuji and Ann have.]

I guess. I mean, as far as my brain goes I do know all that. But it still doesn't stop me from feeling this way. But I'm not sure I'd be able to do something like what you were first saying. At least not without a lot of work on my part; I'd probably be a bit too jealous. [ She sighs, leaning back against the chair.]

... I mean, for the relationship with multiple people thing. I'm able to handle it if it's just a casual thing between friends. Or at least I have been so far.

[ Maybe she should just... think about it some more and figure out exactly what she wanted. If only it were that easy.]