IC Mailbox for exsilium

[peachbaths]

"You have reached Kougyoku Ren. Um... Ah, if there is anything you need, please leave a message. Thank you..."

Comments

[audio]

[inline]

[After listening to her away message:]

Man, they gotta work on the reception 'round here... Kougyoku! You there?

[audio]

[peachbaths]

[ She almost drops her tablet when she hears Kazu. How does she do this? Does she just hold it like this or... Oh, right, he's expecting a reply. ]

Ah, um, uh... Helloooo!

[audio]

[inline]

[Hears her fumbling! And kind of has an 'ummm' moment.]

...Sorry! This a bad time?

[audio]

[peachbaths]

Nonono! It's fine! I'm free right now. [ She sounds like she's just shouting into the distance than talking to the device... ]

[audio]

[inline]

[Huh, maybe it's broken! Her away message did sound staticky after all. Clearly the logical solution is to holler back, just in case she can't hear him.]

JUST THOUGHT I'D CHECK IN. HOW'RE YOU HOLDING UP AFTER ZOMBIES.

[audio]

[peachbaths]

[ That's not static, SHE'S JUST THAT SHY. Obviously she's going to copy his example as if it's a normal thing to do. ]

I'M OKAY. HAKURYUU MADE A WALL WITH THE PLANTS ON THE BALCONY AND WE ALL ESCAPED. UH. HOW ABOUT YOU?

[audio]

[inline]

[Oops! Either way, the fade-outs had sounded weird, so maybe her tablet's malfunctioning and YELLING WILL FIX THIS.]

S'COOL, WE TOOK 'EM OUT. BASTARDS WERE 99 LEVELS TOO LOW TO TAKE US ON.

[Just... pretend they didn't start off by freaking out completely.]

YOUR FRIENDS'RE ALL RIGHT TOO?

[audio]

[peachbaths]

YEAH! ALADDIN'S NOT MY FRIEND THOUGH...

[ just. just to be clear. she doesn't want to go around claiming they're friends when he doesn't feel the same. they still haven't forgiven each other okay!!! ]

[audio]

[inline]

HUH? REALLY? BUT THAT'S THE KID WITH THE BRAID, RIGHT?

[audio]

[peachbaths]

YES! HE AND I HAVE... A HISTORY! [ Then she mumbles without thinking: ] I'd rather not talk about it.

[audio]

[inline]

HE SEEMED TO THINK YOU'RE FRIENDS, THOU—dsjkh man this shouting thing gets tiring fast.

[audio]

[peachbaths]

[ ...HE THOUGHT THEY WERE FRIENDS? Ah... she should talk to Aladdin about that later. ]

Oh, we're not supposed to shout? This device is really strange...

[audio]

[inline]

[Maybe! All Kazu knows is the kid hadn't objected when he referred to Kougyoku as Aladdin's friend.]

Not usually? I just thought it'd help you hear bett...

[. . .]

Waaaaaait, you can totally hear me.

[audio]

[peachbaths]

I can hear you loud and clear! What about you? Can you hear me?

[ After adjusting her hold on the device, her voice sounds closer to where the mic is now. So they both shouted for nothing. Ahah. ]

[audio]

[inline]

Loud and clear! Why'd it sound so weird at first? I thought it broke for you or something.

[audio]

[peachbaths]

Maybe it's because I was holding it [ She hold the tablet away from her. ] like this? Should I hold it [ Then she brings it way too close. ] like this?

[audio]

[inline]

[What Kazu's hearing is a distinct lack of middle ground.]

Uh... Definitely not the last one; only creepers do that. Where're you anyway?

[audio]

[peachbaths]

[ It should sound pretty normal by now. ]

In my room. [ Alone, rolling around, eating peaches. You know, things shut-in princesses do. ] I'm bored and there's nothing to do.

[audio]

[inline]

[Sounds like an active lifestyle.]

Wanna learn how to use this thing then? I can come over.

[audio]

[peachbaths]

[You know it.]

Yeah! You can come over right now if you want to!

[Wait until she realizes this is the first time she's invited a friend over.]

[audio]

[inline]

[SURE IS. Kazu just chalks her enthusiasm up to a byproduct of boredom, but he'd understand if he ever found out the true cause. He used to have no friends until Ikki came along and beat him up.]

All right! Be there in five.

[The connection cuts, and there's a thump in Ikki's room some time later, followed soon by Kazu walking out of it. He came in through the window—doors are overrated when you're a storm rider.]

Ooooi. Kougyoku?

[Which room belongs to her...]

[action]

[peachbaths]

[ Yep, that sounds like him. Kougyoku peeks ever so slightly behind the door to her room. ]

Kazu? [ Wow, he looks taller in person. If he turns this way, she'll quickly close the door. ]

1/2 { [perma-action!]

[inline]

[Too bad he's taken his A-Ts off to be polite, or he'd look even taller (and be a cheater). At the sound of his name, he'll naturally turn her way, one hand half-raised in greeting—]

Kougyo...

[inline]

[—and stare at her reaction, fingers drooping.]

...ku? Oi, I saw that!

[peachbaths]

[ Her voice is muffled by the door. ]

Don't — get the wrong idea, okay? I don't hate you or anything, it's just... [ He won't judge her like Judal will, right? Might as well say it. ] It's my first time!