<div align=center>Though Jericho had personally taken the blame for everything, it seemed like Ettein placed it on him. Now that Jericho realized it he had gotten a little carried away in fear and probably scared Ettein more than himself. Some friend he was. He sighed, running a hand through his hair before moving over to allow Ettein to side beside him. "It's okay, really. It must be scary being little while I'm a practical giant." The snake was at ground level and he was a little over six feet in the air. No wonder why he was scared at the time. But there was no use in going back and forth with the blame. But he still held it against himself that he almost hurt him.
But it seemed like there was a perfectly logical explanation as to what was going on. He physically showed his concerned interest in relaxing a bit to show Ettein that he was all ears and wouldn't mock him. Well, the truth came out soon enough to reveal that Ettein was in hiding for such a long time for shedding... That was what he was embarrassed about? Sure, not many creatures did this, but he couldn't see why he was so scared. Personally Jericho understood and was relieved by the fact that he truly hadn't done anything. Which was good. But then it appeared he was getting flustered and his words were being rushed out a mile a minute. Even that last part went over his head and into his memory... For him to eventually pick back up on.
To calm Ettein down Jericho made a soft 'shhh' noise, putting a hand carefully on his shoulder to show that it was okay. "Hey, it's alright..." He didn't mean to interrupt, but that relaxed voice often used in a singing context had been brought out to quell his fears of misunderstanding. "I-I don't think it's gross. It's apart of who you are, and sure it's okay to be comfortable but not scared of what will happen with others." He smiled faintly. "Look Ettein, it's okay to be yourself around me. Just let me know when things are going on with you, okay? I was just... Scared that something happened to you. But if you happen to lash out on somebody I'd want it to be me. Because if I had known I would have been there to help you with what you needed, because that's what friends do. Food, water, anything... But at the same time if you wanted solidarity I understand too. Just... I don't want to lose you, as a friend, or..." He cut himself short, his eyes falling to the ground. "Anything. Really, I just don't want to lose you."
He meant a lot to him, regardless of the time period in which they knew each other. His eyes still couldn't bear to meet his, as for once the confident young man had been humbled. "Please, just don't be embarrassed or hesitant to tell me anything. For all my life I've tried to conceal who I was, and the last thing I want to see is for someone else to be doing to themselves. You never need to be scared of me, besides when I act like a total fool and forget that my friend can turn into a snake." He then pulled one of his signature smiles again, crooked yet full of sincerity. "Which reminds me... Well, remember when I said that you shifting into a snake would be adorable?" He chuckled a bit, glancing at him for a brief second. "The moments when I wasn't pissing myself it turns out I was right. You do make for a cute lil krait."
But that wasn't the main goal of his speech. Though just as he was about to bring up another topic, that memory pinned down at the back of his head upon Ettein's confession resurfaced. And it hit him.
"You... Like me?" He attempted to clarify in a whisper before standing up. "As in... 'Like me' like me?" That weird feeling he often got from him coursed his system once more, his cheeks flushing with warmth. This was too much. "I thought... After the theater you wouldn't want anything to do with me." He folded his arms before turning to the window, unable to understand what was truly going on with both him and his friend. He tried to suppress what was rising up within him, but... It was getting harder. "But this... I..." He was losing words and losing them fast. And the only words he did have? Well, they were more so the instinctual thoughts clamoring up in his mind that were spoken in strangled whispers. "I d-don't... I don't deserve it. I'm not... I'm not good enough..."
He turned his back to his roommate, his wings almost swaddling himself in a shield to prevent the outside world from seeing this weak side to him. This was just overwhelming, and the Nephilim had never felt this way before. And there were just so many things he wanted to tell Ettein that needed to be explained from pits of his heart. </div>