[ This "Oh" is in a more taken aback tone. September? When he first ended up with the app. Right. Eren misfired a comment and it lead to talk about dating and Matt's positive advice to "keep an open mind" and "It would be a shame if you missed an opportunity to experience something special." Advice he is not currently following himself. Great going Murdock. No reason Eren has to know that though. ]
In the moment I didn't realize you had someone specific on your mind. Who's the lucky young man?
I wouldn’t have said so then anyway— I was having problems with myself to start.
[ that’s why he was even asking for help in the first place. but, yeah, “oh”. he gets it. he knows it been way too long without matt knowing, and he feels a little bad— but it’s not as if he was actively trying to hide it. he takes his little charm thing back once matt’s done, beginning to braid the leather into each other and pick up where he left off. ]
Elliot Craig— he’s studying music, and he sells food on the network that heals . Red hair, green eyes . . . [ he’s fluttering again. god. he hooked a magnificent ginger. ] We met at a camp and just kept in touch for years, before he moved over to Recollé for college.
Elliot? I've met him briefly. I'm a customer- [ Oh this is awkward. He clears his throat. ] Actually I've been ordering from him regularly. When I return from a night on the city I eat one of the snacks he baked to heal away any of the night's injuries so I don't show up to work with bruises on my face. Now I feel bad for claiming they were simply for headaches. I owe him my thanks, he just doesn't know how deeply.
So he's a childhood friend then? You two must be incredibly close. I hope whatever problems you were having back in September hadn't been eating at you for too long. [ What were those problems by the way? ]
[ oh, wow. eren would say “you should tell him”, but he knows matt’s situation already, and he wouldn’t go back on his word, either. a secret identity, for how long matt held it, was going to stay secret. he simply nods with a warmer smile, adding a small yeah só matt can hear it. ]
Not that far back— it’s been four years, but. [ he finishes a knot with a feather in it. ] We were still close. He was one of the few people I talked to.
[ not to mention missing prom just to play video games with him over the internet. eren rolls his shoulders. ]
And I solved them as soon as I made up my mind. [ he nudges matt’s shoulder. ] I didn’t want to lose him as a friend— and I was confused at first, but it was a risk I had to take.
[ Matt might not object once he gets a better idea of what Elliot is like. Proper introductions are due. ]
Something worth the risk. [ Matt nods, passing the envelope between his hands like he desperately needs to set it down or read it. ]
I didn't know you were uh... I thought since you had a girlfriend at one point that... [ The fact he can't seem to say it makes this a million times more awkward. ]
[ eren quirks his brows in question— matt looks like he’s having a bit of difficulty, and he doesn’t quite get it until after a few moments, when it clicks. ]
That I what?
[ let him help with getting that out there matt, you can do it. there’s no awkward to be had, right. just two friends, dr, strangers chatting it up. ]
[ there you go, matt. good job. eren pauses himself, rocking backwards and taking the charm into his hand. ]
Honestly? Neither one. [ this is going to seem a little . . . weird, maybe, he knows. he’s had his share of “what am i!!!” but, enough was enough way back when for eren. his tone doesn’t seem upset, just— casual. ] I don’t like guys. I never really liked girls that way either.
[ the sound of his coat shifting against its own fabric zips shortly, as he shrugs and crosses his legs. he’s never really. . . held much interest in anyone. no attraction to any worked out abdomen or curves, what have them. ]
I don’t care about labels, though. I just know I like him, before I even realized it.
[ That's a new one. He hasn't heard of that sort of attraction (or lack thereof) before but then again Matt hasn't talked much about this topic since college with anyone until recently when Derek pointed an accusatory finger at him. That and talks about sexuality have changed dramatically just in the time between his graduation from law school and the present. ]
It must have been confusing and frustrating at times. I'm glad you were able to accept yourself and that Elliot makes you happy.
Next time I meet with Elliot I'll have to tell him that we know each other.
[ eren smiles warmly at that, twirling a feather in his finger and feeling pretty . . . at ease. ]
He’ll like that as much as I do. [ his hand claps matt’s shoulder, and he returns to his idle work— he doesn’t leave it at that, obviously. ]
—I told myself I’d never date again. I was better off alone, working— or talking to him, ironically. [ he gives a quiet sigh through his nose. ] Until he moved here.
[ maybe he just had his interest taken for longer than he thought. ]
. . . I think the thing that freaked me out the most was scaring him off.
[ Scaring off the best friend he was speaking with everyday with something like that? ]
Really? It sounds like you two were so close it would have worked out either way. But I guess it is difficult not to worry when your heart is on the line.
Challenging to judge when you're in the middle of it.
[ Sigh. Can definitely relate to that. ]
So you're officially dating then. I hope all your friends and family have been supportive of you two.
I didn’t know he was gay, so— I still worried, how awkward would it be for a friend to know they like you more than that?
[ it was so obvious now that he looks back at it, and he clicks his tongue. he was blind. he just thought they were really good friends, even though they did things that were perhaps even too close for friends to do. the worst was that it was so natural of a feeling, it flew over eren’s head. ]
And he never told me for the same reason. If I’d known sooner I would’ve done something. [ he turns to matt, and while he says it fondly, it’s quiet. ] I wouldn’t miss a chance like that. I’ve never been . . . Happy, like this.
[ and truth be told: eren was something of a troublemaker in the past. he got into plenty of fights and anger-induced mishaps, matt knows about those. it’s true: eren has never been calmer, and never been happier in a daily basis. he has his bouts, but they’re so . . . small, in comparison. ]
Funny how that works out. Did you have any mutual friends who noticed it? These things are often obvious from the outside apparently.
[ Speaking of Eren being happy... ]
I can tell you've been happier. You've also been choosing your battles more than you used to. Between graduation and dating Elliot there have been some good changes, an even more impressive feat with Retrospec present. You're establishing yourself as a young man. Guess I won't be using the baby emote for you any more in texts.
A friend noticed through text. [ and he just sort of. rubs his face. he was such a loser. ] She was the one that helped get us together.
[ okay, and he was really strict with soleil, but— he really liked her. he did it out of care. but what matt says next— there’s an unexpected flutter in his chest, a skip as he stares at his with surprise.
he’s— grown up some. it’s that noticeable. he can’t help, after a moment, to smile to himself. ]
Honestly, Retrospec helped. But . . . Still got some ways to go. [ elliot’s said that to him quite a few times, and it’s something that he’s always agreed with. he could always get better, and he wants to. ] —A lot of things’ve happened. I got memories and real good people that helped me see someone I want to be.
Through text alone? Impressive. Good to hear her help was... Helpful. Third parties don't always help in these circumstances.
[He's speaking from experience. Unfortunate recent experience. His hand starts to tighten around the letter. Thankfully the sound of it crinkling reminds him what he's holding and he stops short of bending it unforgivably far. ]
Growing up doesn't stop with reaching a certain age. You deserve credit for how far you've come though.
[ It's Matt's turn to have a racing heart. He quickly draws in a breath, reminding himself to keep calm. He can poker face his way out of this surely! He shakes his head ever so slightly. ]
It's a letter from a friend. It's uh, actually a funny story. We met at a Summer camp for the performing arts when we were thirteen and became real close. [ Real close? Clarify. ] Like old friends! But at the end of the Summer we had to part ways and lost contact. I had moved in at the orphanage not long before that and this was before people were using the internet for personal communication. We thought of writing but any letter I received would need to be in braille. [ He holds up the envelope currently in hand. ]
So we went our separate ways and then last Thanksgiving one of my friends invited his cousins who just moved to the city to join us and it turned out he- my old friend from the camp was one of them. We've been catching up since then. I guess you could say this letter is one to uh make up for the years we missed writing to each other.
[ Just ignore the fact it's on Valentine's okay Eren? Besides what kind of love letter starts with U R AN ASS? Matt adjusts his glasses and hopes he wasn't too suspicious. ]
I'm surprised... Must have found someone with a braille printer to print this out.
[ if this were just an ordinary thing that came up, it probably would’ve gone right over eren’s head. just friends, summer camp, lost contact, found each other again. sounded like a good friendship to reunite with!
except he said all of this, as in, all this dating stuff, and matt responded with more than a simple explanation. he replied with a story that had meaning behind his nervous uhs. not even with “oh, this is just a friendly letter”, like eren did with bakugou’s jerky. ]
Sounds like he really likes you if he went out of his way to find a braille printer.
[ these days, when you have the internet and privacy of a phone? to say the least, it was sweet. ]
[ So much for poker face. Eren's tone gives away the warm smile on his face, not that his words didn't speak volumes. Without thinking Matt jerks his head away and frowns. To his surprise it's relief that hits him next. Of course Eren would accept this news, he has his own boyfriend. Another close friend, family member really, who doesn't bat an eye at the revelation.
He hesitates for a moment before he turns his head toward Eren again to speak in a low voice. ]
I... I really like him too.
That Summer all those years ago I had a truly embarrassing crush on him...
Then I- I went home to the orphanage. And... Well I discovered what I was when the nuns kicked out a couple of the older teens when they caught them together. I put it out of my mind the best I could. I liked girls too so nobody would have to know. In college I reconsidered, dated around a little. But as I was finishing my education I- [ He shakes his head. ] It's a long story.
That's why I never told you before. I only just told Mary a couple months ago.
[ yikes, but aw at the same time. he gets where it’s going at least, and he does frown at the explanation out of sympathy. even then, in the end, he half smiles— it feels just a tiny bit familiar. ]
At least you knew for a while. [ but he doesn’t mind not knowing until now. he never had the chance to tell matt either. ] Does he know?
He wants to date, he said he doesn't mind keeping it on the down low since I'm not out yet but... That hardly seems fair to him. He deserves someone who won't feel self conscious about holding his hand in public. Someone who will proudly tell others that he's the one they're with.
That's not even counting this. [ He gestures towards the material covering his face. ] And it's not even a matter of just telling him what I've been doing at night. Last month I got a memory and he was there.
[ eren could say a few things to that. take your time, do what you feel comfortable with, talk to him, or a la grandmother willow: listen to your heart, you will understand 🌲
but there seems to be something slightly pressing! ]
Wait— he was there in the memory or, he was there when you got the memory–?
He was in the memory. Our Other Selves knew each other. Last month...
[ He pauses to rub a hand over his face, an action that looks a little funny when half of it is covered. ]
I found out at the beginning of last month. Something bad happened to me then and it triggered a memory where he and I were having an argument. Then about a week later while I was out on patrol a guy jumped him and put a knife to his throat. After I knocked out the attacker he said he recognizes the costume but he doesn't remember who is wearing it. I couldn't bring myself to tell him.
I have concerns about how the Other Life will affect our relationship.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ This "Oh" is in a more taken aback tone. September? When he first ended up with the app. Right. Eren misfired a comment and it lead to talk about dating and Matt's positive advice to "keep an open mind" and "It would be a shame if you missed an opportunity to experience something special." Advice he is not currently following himself. Great going Murdock. No reason Eren has to know that though. ]
In the moment I didn't realize you had someone specific on your mind. Who's the lucky young man?
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[ that’s why he was even asking for help in the first place. but, yeah, “oh”. he gets it. he knows it been way too long without matt knowing, and he feels a little bad— but it’s not as if he was actively trying to hide it. he takes his little charm thing back once matt’s done, beginning to braid the leather into each other and pick up where he left off. ]
Elliot Craig— he’s studying music, and he sells food on the network that heals . Red hair, green eyes . . . [ he’s fluttering again. god. he hooked a magnificent ginger. ] We met at a camp and just kept in touch for years, before he moved over to Recollé for college.
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So he's a childhood friend then? You two must be incredibly close. I hope whatever problems you were having back in September hadn't been eating at you for too long. [ What were those problems by the way? ]
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Not that far back— it’s been four years, but. [ he finishes a knot with a feather in it. ] We were still close. He was one of the few people I talked to.
[ not to mention missing prom just to play video games with him over the internet. eren rolls his shoulders. ]
And I solved them as soon as I made up my mind. [ he nudges matt’s shoulder. ] I didn’t want to lose him as a friend— and I was confused at first, but it was a risk I had to take.
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Something worth the risk. [ Matt nods, passing the envelope between his hands like he desperately needs to set it down or read it. ]
I didn't know you were uh... I thought since you had a girlfriend at one point that... [ The fact he can't seem to say it makes this a million times more awkward. ]
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That I what?
[ let him help with getting that out there matt, you can do it. there’s no awkward to be had, right. just two friends, dr, strangers chatting it up. ]
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That you were gay or bi. Whichever orientation you identify as.
[ Did that come out okay or...? ]
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Honestly? Neither one. [ this is going to seem a little . . . weird, maybe, he knows. he’s had his share of “what am i!!!” but, enough was enough way back when for eren. his tone doesn’t seem upset, just— casual. ] I don’t like guys. I never really liked girls that way either.
[ the sound of his coat shifting against its own fabric zips shortly, as he shrugs and crosses his legs. he’s never really. . . held much interest in anyone. no attraction to any worked out abdomen or curves, what have them. ]
I don’t care about labels, though. I just know I like him, before I even realized it.
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It must have been confusing and frustrating at times. I'm glad you were able to accept yourself and that Elliot makes you happy.
Next time I meet with Elliot I'll have to tell him that we know each other.
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He’ll like that as much as I do. [ his hand claps matt’s shoulder, and he returns to his idle work— he doesn’t leave it at that, obviously. ]
—I told myself I’d never date again. I was better off alone, working— or talking to him, ironically. [ he gives a quiet sigh through his nose. ] Until he moved here.
[ maybe he just had his interest taken for longer than he thought. ]
. . . I think the thing that freaked me out the most was scaring him off.
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Really? It sounds like you two were so close it would have worked out either way. But I guess it is difficult not to worry when your heart is on the line.
Challenging to judge when you're in the middle of it.
[ Sigh. Can definitely relate to that. ]
So you're officially dating then. I hope all your friends and family have been supportive of you two.
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[ it was so obvious now that he looks back at it, and he clicks his tongue. he was blind. he just thought they were really good friends, even though they did things that were perhaps even too close for friends to do. the worst was that it was so natural of a feeling, it flew over eren’s head. ]
And he never told me for the same reason. If I’d known sooner I would’ve done something. [ he turns to matt, and while he says it fondly, it’s quiet. ] I wouldn’t miss a chance like that. I’ve never been . . . Happy, like this.
[ and truth be told: eren was something of a troublemaker in the past. he got into plenty of fights and anger-induced mishaps, matt knows about those. it’s true: eren has never been calmer, and never been happier in a daily basis. he has his bouts, but they’re so . . . small, in comparison. ]
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[ Speaking of Eren being happy... ]
I can tell you've been happier. You've also been choosing your battles more than you used to. Between graduation and dating Elliot there have been some good changes, an even more impressive feat with Retrospec present. You're establishing yourself as a young man. Guess I won't be using the baby emote for you any more in texts.
[ Never forget Matt learning how to use emojis. Sept 2017. ]
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[ okay, and he was really strict with soleil, but— he really liked her. he did it out of care. but what matt says next— there’s an unexpected flutter in his chest, a skip as he stares at his with surprise.
he’s— grown up some. it’s that noticeable. he can’t help, after a moment, to smile to himself. ]
Honestly, Retrospec helped. But . . . Still got some ways to go. [ elliot’s said that to him quite a few times, and it’s something that he’s always agreed with. he could always get better, and he wants to. ] —A lot of things’ve happened. I got memories and real good people that helped me see someone I want to be.
[ you’re included, buster. ]
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[He's speaking from experience. Unfortunate recent experience. His hand starts to tighten around the letter.
Thankfully the sound of it crinkling reminds him what he's holding and he stops short of bending it unforgivably far. ]
Growing up doesn't stop with reaching a certain age. You deserve credit for how far you've come though.
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[ it’s always good to bask in it just a tiny bit, but watching matt for a second and looking up and down, especially to the letter— ]
What about you?
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[ He didn't expect the conversation subject to turn to him. He lifts his face slightly, lips parting. ]
Regarding what?
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[ you know, dating, and stuff . . . matt just seemed too thoughtful about that last part. he taps the top of the letter. ]
Who’s it from?
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It's a letter from a friend. It's uh, actually a funny story. We met at a Summer camp for the performing arts when we were thirteen and became real close. [ Real close? Clarify. ] Like old friends! But at the end of the Summer we had to part ways and lost contact. I had moved in at the orphanage not long before that and this was before people were using the internet for personal communication. We thought of writing but any letter I received would need to be in braille. [ He holds up the envelope currently in hand. ]
So we went our separate ways and then last Thanksgiving one of my friends invited his cousins who just moved to the city to join us and it turned out he- my old friend from the camp was one of them. We've been catching up since then. I guess you could say this letter is one to uh make up for the years we missed writing to each other.
[ Just ignore the fact it's on Valentine's okay Eren? Besides what kind of love letter starts with U R AN ASS? Matt adjusts his glasses and hopes he wasn't too suspicious. ]
I'm surprised... Must have found someone with a braille printer to print this out.
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except he said all of this, as in, all this dating stuff, and matt responded with more than a simple explanation. he replied with a story that had meaning behind his nervous uhs. not even with “oh, this is just a friendly letter”, like eren did with bakugou’s jerky. ]
Sounds like he really likes you if he went out of his way to find a braille printer.
[ these days, when you have the internet and privacy of a phone? to say the least, it was sweet. ]
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He hesitates for a moment before he turns his head toward Eren again to speak in a low voice. ]
I... I really like him too.
That Summer all those years ago I had a truly embarrassing crush on him...
Then I- I went home to the orphanage. And... Well I discovered what I was when the nuns kicked out a couple of the older teens when they caught them together. I put it out of my mind the best I could. I liked girls too so nobody would have to know. In college I reconsidered, dated around a little. But as I was finishing my education I- [ He shakes his head. ]
It's a long story.
That's why I never told you before. I only just told Mary a couple months ago.
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At least you knew for a while. [ but he doesn’t mind not knowing until now. he never had the chance to tell matt either. ] Does he know?
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He wants to date, he said he doesn't mind keeping it on the down low since I'm not out yet but... That hardly seems fair to him. He deserves someone who won't feel self conscious about holding his hand in public. Someone who will proudly tell others that he's the one they're with.
That's not even counting this. [ He gestures towards the material covering his face. ] And it's not even a matter of just telling him what I've been doing at night. Last month I got a memory and he was there.
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but there seems to be something slightly pressing! ]
Wait— he was there in the memory or, he was there when you got the memory–?
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[ He pauses to rub a hand over his face, an action that looks a little funny when half of it is covered. ]
I found out at the beginning of last month. Something bad happened to me then and it triggered a memory where he and I were having an argument. Then about a week later while I was out on patrol a guy jumped him and put a knife to his throat. After I knocked out the attacker he said he recognizes the costume but he doesn't remember who is wearing it. I couldn't bring myself to tell him.
I have concerns about how the Other Life will affect our relationship.
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