whenyouneedme | INBOX

[ 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.

[Kai couldn't say he agreed. At least in regards to himself. The basic idea though, that he understood perfectly well. He tilt his head a little and nodded.]

Mmm, I get you. I guess that's more what I mean. Iruma, Tokyo, Havenwell... the place doesn't matter much, to me. It's the people, like you said.

You're warm too, y'know.

[ She hadn't been trying to invite that kind of comment at all, so there was a genuine little start, and then a tiny flush coming up in her cheeks as she shook her head. ]

You don't have to say that kind of thing! I really meant it, you know!

[ Time to hurriedly turn towards that replicator. ]

Aah, I've been taking up all your time, too--is it fine to go ahead and use this?

Yeah, I did too--

[But oh, okay. Replicator time. Kai blinked and leaned over a bit towards the machine.]

Of course, yeah. You want that button down there. [He gestured a bit, avoiding actually touching anything.]

[ Bowing her head over the machine, Kyoko tried to settle herself down. Jeez, somehow she'd got Kaito calling the likes of her warm? She really had been taking too much advantage of his kindness from the start.

... But he didn't seem to mind very much, and that was an awfully nice feeling. ]

This one? --Um, if it's okay, I might need to take a lot of them, now that I think of it. I'll definitely need at least a few practice runs to figure out the recipe.

[He didn't mind at all, in fact.]

Yeah, that one. S'fine, take as many as you want. I don't think there's a limit or anything, I took a whole bunch over to someone else before.

[And also made juice with more. It had seemed to work well enough.]

Thank you... I'm really gonna owe you.... [ Gonna go ahead and start harvesting those sweet, sweet, oranges. ] Of course, I'll make sure you get a piece of the final product!

[Kai clicked his tongue, tapping his fingers on the lid of the container she'd given him.] You already made me food you know.

Not that I'm going to say no to more, but you don't owe me nothin'.

It's only natural that I couldn't come to your house empty handed, especially after asking for a favor out of nowhere. [ She explains evenly, setting her first fruit on the counter as she pressed the button for more. ] And it also wouldn't be right to leave you out of the end result when you were a crucial part of the project. Giving you both is completely logical.

Everyone comes empty handed though? So that's just something nice on your part. Which is fine, I appreciate it. You can do whatever you want.

But you don't owe me. I don't want anybody owing me anything.

Then I'm grateful. [ Gosh, did he have some kind of issue about this? Kyoko didn't quite roll her eyes, but the desire was there. Not that that changed the sincerity of her statements. ] And if I can do what I want, that means I can show gratitude however I want.

[Why yes, it was a Thing. Right up there with getting Thanked for stuff, but he could stomach gratitude a teensy bit easier.

He shrugged, rubbing his hand behind his head. That stopped real quick when he felt some more zip zaps under his fingertips though.]

S'long as it isn't out of your way, sure. I guess.

[ Knowing nothing of either the zip zaps happening or what exactly Kai's thing was, Kyoko frowned a little as she kept jabbing the orange button. Sit tight, she's gonna take like 20 of these suckers. ]

Kaito... I'm not sure how to say this, but inventing a dessert from scratch without a recipe, and using specially-acquired, ultra-rare ingredients... is kinda going out of my way in the first place? And I already can't remember the exact reason I offered to do this for Magolor. [ Her brow furrowed as she tried to think--did she say something kinda dumb and felt bad enough that she wanted to make up for it? That sounded right. ]

If I manage to make something good out of this, spreading around the results a little more will make the whole thing better, you know? Sharing with you would be a form of self-satisfaction, too.

[ Oh it was getting kinda crowded on the counter now, time to start piling POUNDS UPON POUNDS OF ORANGES into her bag. ]

So, don't overthink it.

[Take them, take the dozens upon dozens of oranges. He leaned back on his hands, shaking his head. He didn't really understand the issue here? Offering a treat to someone was an entirely different thing?]

I mean, yeah, s'kinda extra. That's just doin' something nice though.

[He grinned a bit.]

Magolor can be kinda extra too, but I support getting him a treat.

And I support treats for Kaito! [ Bag just about bursting at the seams as she carefully fit the last orange in, Kyoko jabbed a finger at him. ] Your days are numbered! It only takes one person to make it happen!

[He peered at that finger, heaving a resigned kind of sigh.]

Right, right. I'll take this threat of kindness to heart, I guess.

[He gestured at the fruit bounty.]

You good with that?

[ Drawing her finger up, she added a second to make a V. We're all good here buddy. ]

I've carried heavier burdens than a couple oranges before! And since they're free, they're practically weightless!

[ Kyoko, that's. That's not. No.... ]

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