STARSAND ✦ ic inbox

[dereban]

contact post

text ✦ audio ✦ video ✦ action

CODE

Comments

[dereban]

We're not making bombs in here, you dumbass!

[spacialeyes]

But knives are fine..?

[His tail flicks with mischief; A sign that he isn't just putting a silly mask, but is invested in the conversation.]

[dereban]

I want new kitchen knives anyway.

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto laughs lightly.]

Mm. If that's what you wanted, Inaba-san. If I could be by your side a little while longer...

I'd make you a whole set. If you'd accept my company..?

[dereban]

Fine, but on one condition.

[spacialeyes]

oh..?

[dereban]

Drop the honorific. It's been bothering me... for a while now.

[spacialeyes]

Au?

[isn't this what they agreed to???

Yuuto's tail wraps around one leg nervously.]

'Inaba..?' But, um? [That does not line up with his self hatred.] Okay.

[dereban]

. . . better, I guess.

[ She sighs, uncurling herself and trying to wipe her tears with a sleeve. ]

Since I'm awake, I might as well grab something to eat before I get back to work.

[spacialeyes]

"You guess?!"

[Some of his sass slips out and his dumb tail clicks against the floor.]

Iiiinaba then. [Huff!] Mm, let's go. Can you stand?

[dereban]

I can at least do that much.

[ She'll put her palm on the ground and try to raise herself onto her feet, although it's definitely a bit wobbly. ]

[spacialeyes]

[He waits until she's standing, ready to help if she seems to need it... but also, aware that she'll get her balance faster by standing on her legs for a bit. Yuuto offers his hand out of habit for only a second, then hides it behind his back again.]

Good. What are you in the mood for? We're... W-We're walking... if we may.

[Yuuto won't teleport! He's being 'human' for now.]

[dereban]

I have a few options in the freezer... probably go with heating up the salisbury steak.

[ She is in fact referring one of the many frozen dinners she has. ]

[spacialeyes]

... I'm sorry, but this housewife has to have a word with you.

[He might not be able to drag her out, but he's not letting her eat a frozen dinner either! Yuuto sighs and moves towards the kitchen.]

Hang on. Let me see what we're working with...

[dereban]

Hey-- the steak is perfectly fine and edible! Don't waste food!

[ Don't judge her taste in food, wtf.....

In any case, the kitchen seems to be primarily stocked with canned goods and junk food. Things that can last a long time and don't have to be thrown out after a couple of days. ]

[spacialeyes]

[Good news: He's got a lot of things to judge about her! He also finds this a weird kind of cute, but-

It occurs to him that she's been eating this way for a while.

And it's probably not healthy.

Or very good for her mental state!]

I'm not going to waste it. Give me a second to see what you have... [He does take the dinner that she suggested, checks the ingredients on the box, then looks for some spices.] I'm making stew. You wanna fight about it or naw?

[dereban]

...how long is it going to take.

[spacialeyes]

Hmm...

[His expression does twitch into a competition smile. And the kitchen comes to life with floating ingredients and cookware.]

I could be done before you finish playing a pop song?

[dereban]

If you're not done by then, I'm going back to sleep.

[spacialeyes]

You're threatening me now? Accepted.

[He giggles, then steps towards the counter to focus on cooking. Secretly, he's curious to hear what kind of music she likes. He needs to get her a Christmas gift that isn't her upcoming set of kitchen knives, after all.]

[dereban]

Of course. I'll play one song and then you have to be done.

[ She goes through her pockets-- ]

Shit, where's my phone... don't start yet until I find it!

[spacialeyes]

Okayyy! Clean victory or no victory~!

[Yuuto is spinning knives, like the safe person that he is. He doesn't turn around to face her yet, but his tail points towards the living room.]

Living room coffee table~.

[dereban]

[ Okay, yeah, she's getting her phone and then she immediately freezes.

Oh.

Right.

This is what made her collapse... is she even ready to look at it? She's sure that she's not. And yet, she braces herself for it anyway.

Ah- ]

......

[ Let's ignore that and shove it under the recesses of her mind for now!

Closing the application for a moment before opening her music application and well. She opts to play a song.

That sure is, by all technicalities... her own voice. ]

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto listens as Inaba leaves to retrieve her phone. While he never checked what was on it, he knows that she would only have been able to argue with Ryoko over text. For a few seconds, he holds his breath and quietly wishes her the best. She's can get stronger, bit by bit.

When he hears her returning, his shoulders sink with relief. Before Yuuto can finish whispering 'thank you' to whatever kami must be watching over her, Inaba starts to play the song--

And Yuuto, recognizing the voice, freezes up... and wastes a few seconds by focusing too hard on the vocals.

Then he gasps and turns back to the task of cooking.]

Eh- Th-That was..! Auuu I'll make you pay for that! I'm still gonna win!

[dereban]

Hmm? What's wrong? Cat got your tongue, Yuuto?