elevelvetor | [ ic inbox ]

[ She takes it from him, carefully turning it around in her hands, and lets it dance around her palms while she talks. ]

It is acceptable. [ it's better than that but anyway— ] Is there anyone in your household that would miss these?

[Oh thank goodness, she can have the rest of the wriggling bag.]

My mom, but I'll figure out something to tell her before bed. [...] Well, she shouldn't notice anything anyway, but it'll be good to have an excuse just in case.

[ She'll pop this bad boy in and take the rest then, thank you— ]

Your friend was making fruit pie. [ smooth. ] I may do just that, actually. It's been some time since I baked, however...

[ ... and by some time she means she has almost literally never done it, outside of games. This should be an Adventure. ]

What will you do about the inevitable return of these fruits to your household?

[His friend??]

I, ah, I'll deal with it then, though I have control of that at least. What-- er, which friend are you talking about?

I'm willing to play the part for your story. [ we are all actors the world is a stage do not let greatness pass you by have it thrust upon you instead etc ] You needn't name names though.

... Unless you're suggesting you don't have any friends in the first place and saying that you do would cause mass suspicion on your mother's part?

[ she could've called him a friendless loser some other way but eh

EHHHHH. ]

[Ah.

Oh.

Uh!]

No, that's fine. I was just caught off guard a bit.

[Because he's a friendless loser.]

Thank you for taking them off my hands and for being willing to give me a cover story, Miss Velveteen. Though I'd warn you against wearing hoodies in the summer; even the nights tend to be a little stifling, even if it's nothing compared to the day.

[ HMMMMMMMM................ ]

I don't mind it so much. It helps with sneaking out as well. [ ... ] Which would be more of a concern if my caretaker weren't already so laissez-faire about my life and how I choose to live it.

[ "Don't waste your youth," and all that. ]

I'll take your concern into consideration, however. Though I can't imagine wearing long-sleeves in the summer helps, pot?

Not from the heat, no, but it makes for adequate protection from mosquitoes.

[Sweet, sweet relief. Who needs bug spray.]

May I walk you home? If I'd known you lived so far away, I would have done the distance myself.

But then you'd need to travel an equidistant to return to your abode...

[ ... ]

If that doesn't bother you, I suppose I can't find a reason to refuse you. [ She'll peek at her fruits to make sure they're still bouncy (though she wishes they'd sleep?) and motion him along. ] Let us be off then, with haste! The night's only getting later, after all, and I'd hate to cause you trouble with your mother.

She sleeps like the dead, fortunately, and won't notice my absence if I return later than expected.

[Which is something that sounds clearly forced-casual, but not in the "ask me about it" way. He'll follow her though.]

Your... caretaker really doesn't mind your coming and going? I would think they'd be more concerned about you.

Let's say he has a laissez-faire way of raising his brood. As long as I'm not committing heinous crimes, he doesn't mind what I do. Even then, I'm almost certain he'd be happy to pay bail...

[ A considerate hum. ]

... I've only known him this year, however, and I made my intentions to move out as soon as I was able to clear since the beginning, so it might simply be that he respects my decisions as an adult, and he doesn't mind supporting me. Especially since I have next-to-nothing to do with the rest of his immediate family. Like a certain protagonist in a famous playwright's story, he scorns their traditions and savors rebellion where he can get it, even at his age.

[... How carefree. Or irresponsible, maybe, but Goro can't reason it that way with how she speaks.]

I see. [...] Will he be alone once you move out?

Yes, but he was alone before I moved in, too. I doubt he'll miss me much. [ A small shrug, mostly to readjust the wiggling bag. ] At the very least, if he does, he has my number and he can call me when he'd like. It'd be discourteous of me to refuse a call from him, so I'd answer in a heartbeat! ... Metaphorically, of course. It wouldn't really be that quick, I'm sure.

[Huh. Though he's got plans to stay in the dorms or find an apartment close to the university, the thought of how his mother might handle his going hasn't... really crossed his mind until now. Would she be alright on her own? Maybe he should stay after all; it wasn't that far from the university anyway, and if he insists enough she'll have to take his money, and--

Breathe, Goro. It'll be fine.]

I think most people would consider you lucky, Miss Velveteen, to have someone with that sort of attitude in your life. It's very carefree.

The further you get away from family politics, the looser the leash becomes.

[ Idly. Anyway, more importantly: ] Is your mother going to be alone if you move out?

[ ...... Right for the throat. ]

[He crosses his arms, hands resting tightly in the crease of his elbows.]

Yes, she will be.

[... And that's that! Thanks for coming.]

[ Cool. ]

Are you a momma's boy?

Is it that obvious, Miss Velveteen, or have your deductive skills gotten better?

[More like her bluff skills.]

She's all I have, in terms of immediate family. I never knew my father. [But he wants to, just to see what he's like.] But I have an aunt and uncle here as well, so it's my hope that she'll give in and accept their hospitality once I'm out.

[..... Does that give away his home situation too much? No, it shouldn't, his mom's just gonna be lonely.]

[ It was mostly a stab in the dark to keep conversation moving, but eh. Deductive skills, definitely, yep. ]

I see. [ It's too bad she's not really the type to follow the time-old tradition of exchanging backstories with complete strangers. That's for movies, and it's incredibly unrealistic. ] I'm sure she'll be fine. She's an adult, after all. Presumably she's had to deal with things on her own before she had you.

... Yes, you're right. I shouldn't worry so much.

[... Anyway. He sure did drop that on her. He kind of wants to find a dumpster to throw himself into.]

[ ....... Um.

The... comfort words. She might not exchange stories but she feels like she needs to know the comfort... words...

No, she's just going to take a fruit indiscriminately from the bag (a lemon) and bite into its juicy dancing mass. ]

[ ................................. ]

[ oh.

oh, this was a mistake. ]

[ Death is not a hunter unbeknownst to its prey... ]

[ Elizabeth's delicately spitting that stuff out and tossing the mellowed lemon away, jesus christ. ]

... Never bite into a lemon, Akechi. [ She sort of regrets her entire life. ] It's not as pleasing as biting into, say, an apple.

what were you expecting

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1/?

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k we're good, actually