whenyouneedme | INBOX

[ ...Was... that a positive reaction, or not? Was he disappointed that it was so lame? Annoyed that she was so persistent?

She was being admitted into his home, though, so that was probably a good development! Folding her hands in front of her, Kyoko quietly stepped inside. ]

Thank you.... Um, were you saying something before?

[Hard as it was to tell, it was mostly positive. He just sucked at this. Sorry, Kyoko. He sounded cheerful enough when he spoke again. Or at the very least, not annoyed! So there was that!]

Huh? Oh, yeah. I was just saying I did it, the static thing. It's been a real zappy few days.

[Which might explain the wider berth he was giving her there at the door, paying closer attention to where exactly she was in relation to him.]

[ That actually did not lend much clarity at all to the situation. Turning around once she was inside, Kyoko squinted at him. ]

Zappy... days? Do you... have those often?

[ He talked about it so casually. Maybe it was like Tanjiro and his weirdly vivid ability to smell? Maybe Kai was just an extra static-y guy, and that was a thing in his version of Japan. ]

[That alone told him she wasn't having a curious case of electric zaps either. Kai frowned a little, thoughtful.]

No. They're pretty new. It's like I'm all charged up or something? I was thinkin' it was like the gravity and stuff but...

[He shrugged and motioned towards the kitchen.]

[ Padding over to the kitchen, Kyoko thought that over, brow furrowing. ]

I wonder... Electrical powers haven't awoken in me, and I haven't noticed anyone else like that, but.... Are you really, really sure you don't just need a humidifier in here?

[He laughed at that just behind her.]

I thought that too, but sometimes the static turns into actual crackles and stuff. I can turn the lights on and off, weird little things.

[ Turning around to walk backwards, Kyoko gave him an appropriately bug-eyed look. ]

But then... that sounds like you really are awakening to mysterious powers buried within you! That's the only thing that makes sense! Kaito!!

Is it??

[It was amused but also? Maybe??

Like, sure, there was some stuff back home that he figured wasn't normal across every instance of the world. This was different though! Wasn't it? And as far as he was aware, he hadn't actually met his own demise just yet.]

It is!! Because! It totally doesn't make sense if this is another one of the weird pranks from the gods to get everyone involved with everyone!

[ Like, sincerely, no offense, but. ]

What could electricity have to do with that, right? This just has to be some aspect of your true potential coming to fruition!

Mm. You got me there at least, it definitely doesn't seem all that great for touchin' at the moment. Still, I dunno what would have caused it. These sort of things usually have a trigger or something, don't they?

That's true.... [ She nodded sagely, like the expert she was not. ] You can't think of anything? Something unusual that happened to you, or that you did, right before it all started? No premonitions or tingly feelings under the night sky?

I mean, I slept on my hand so it was tingly when I woke up.

[That wasn't... No, Kai. Anyway here's the replicator.]

But nothing like... impactful, no.

Hmmm.... [ Such a mysterious situation! Even if it was really very interesting! The replicator and its fruity bounty went unnoticed for the moment, not that Kyoko would have presumed to use it without being told. ] It's possible your memory of the event was erased, of course....

Or it could be another instance of the gods being clumsy. Maybe you're their Chosen One.

Sure hope not.

[Kai helped himself to hoppin up on his kitchen counter.]

They'll be real disappointed in those results.

What? Why, are you planning to defy them?

[ Kyoko blinked up at him, a touch owlish. She'd thought Kaito was more or less at peace with his situation here. He wasn't like her. ]

Nah, defiance takes a lot of effort.

[He grinned at her, a little quirky around the edges.]

But I'm not exactly putting forth a lot of effort into being a stellar role model.

[ That earned a head tilt. ]

How much more of a role model do you need to be?

[ She thought he was a pretty good one?? From what she could tell? ]

[There was a short laugh.]

I guess to be a Chosen One I'd probably need to be one on any level.

You're a role model. [ Just puttin' it right out there, easy as pie. ] For me. You're definitely my role model for if I decide I can't be mad anymore.

[What. Oh, no, he'd gone and tricked someone else somehow, hadn't he.]

I don't think you'd need me to model any kind of role for you in that scenario.

No... I mean, [ This is dipping into slightly heavier territory than she'd wanted to, but, ] if I run out of anger for this place, I think... I probably won't know how to deal with it at all anymore.... Something like that. So, if I ever need an example of "how to get by," you definitely come to mind. That's all.

[ A pause, and then she comes back in full force earnest. ]

So, you definitely have role model qualities! You're qualified for sure.

[Kai studied her for a few moments, quiet. It did seem pretty heavy when she worded it that way, and while she seemed pretty good about adapting in the moment... well. He didn't know her deal. It wasn't his place to make those calls.]

Well, sure, not giving a shit is definitely a way to get by.

[Said as optimistically as one could.]

It's amazing! I thought I had a konjac heart, but you really know how to roll with things!

[ What could be a more valuable trait in a situation where you're kidnapped and somehow expected to just happily adapt? She continued just as earnestly, but her tone softened. ]

But, you know, you're not cold, either. That's even more amazing.

You caught me at a good time.

[Those bits and pieces of a smile went a bit more enigmatic as he thought about it. She really had, huh? Things probably should have gone a lot differently.]

This place isn't cold either. That helps.

No... [ Kyoko met his eyes, then lowered hers. ] --I mean, I don't know what things were like for you, before I met you, but... as far as I'm concerned-- [ Her gaze lifted to find his again. ] this place is cold. To me, you know? It's cold.

It's only people like you who warm it up enough to be bearable. The gods probably see it too.

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