IC INBOX; CEREALIA

[kaihentai]

[All that can be heard is the sound of a man spilling his guts- Literally. He's losing his lunch over and over again. After an dismaying array of wretching noises, a voice finally echoes throughout.]

Is this thing on?

[BEEEEEEP.]

Comments

[helmets]

I'm not mad.

[ just appalled by ur behavior. ]

[kaihentai]

You're so patient.

[He hesitates to speak what's on his mind.

"Is it because you've had a lot of time? To wait."

He gets the feeling that she's been around for a long while.]

Why?

[helmets]

Humans have a saying.
"Good things happen to those who wait."

[kaihentai]

I hope many good things come your way.

Don't mind me- I'm just messin' with ya. I'm sorry.

Does it bother you? Feel free to let me know!

[helmets]

I hope the same for you.

No, it doesn't really bother me.
It surprised me at first.
I'm getting used to it, I think.

[kaihentai]

I'm only teasing.

I like just... Talkin'. Is that weird?

[He's never really gotten to do this.

It feels nice. Terrifying, and at the back of his mind there's a voice screaming at him to run in the other direction, but... Where will he go?]

[helmets]

I know.

It's not weird.
I like listening to people talk.
Is that weird?

[ she's heard so many voices in her lifetime. but his reminds her of home. ]

[kaihentai]

No.

I'm the same.

[helmets]

I'm glad.

If there's ever anything troubling you, I'd be happy to listen, if you want to talk about it.

[kaihentai]

Oh? Would you like me to call you?

Ahhhhhh! I feel so lucky. You want to hear the sound of my voice, huh?

[He needs to talk to someone.

Otherwise he'll burst.]

[helmets]

If you'd like.

[ he's hard to read through text, is the excuse she gives herself. ]

[kaihentai]

[And he does call.]

Celty-saaaan! Can you keep a secret?

[helmets]

[ she picks up and holds the device to her helmet. she can't speak and he knows, but she nods anyway despite the fact that he can't see her face. ]

[kaihentai]

I've never done this before.

[helmets]

[ what does he mean? does he mean being in a relationship? talking to a headless woman? both?

but maybe it's something deeper than that. there's a sort of sadness she can hear in his voice, and t makes something in her chest ache. ]

[kaihentai]

I don't take very well to being grounded, you see!

I've always been naughty.

[can u hear urself]

And that sort of lifestyle doesn't lend itself well to, ah! Things like this. So forgive me- This is a first for me.

[helmets]

[ so that's what he means.

she recalls her conversation with vietnam earlier (i'm not sure if i'm ready for a relationship yet, we haven't known each other for very long), thinking they weren't ready yet. and maybe she was right.

what is he trying to say? does he want them to stay the way they are? does he want to pull away?

maybe he doesn't want to start anything at all. ]

[kaihentai]

Are you worried?

[He pauses for a moment.]

Don't worry. I don't have anywhere to go.

Besides- My feet are actin' strange, these days. I find myself walkin' towards your place real often. I always stop halfway, 'cause that's just crazy but...

Thanks.

[helmets]

[ something inside her seizes up, much like the time he called her a woman a few nights ago. she clenches her hand around her device hard, shoulders slumping as she leans down to rest her helmet between the handlebars of her motorcycle.

it's painful. but the kind of pain that burns slowly, achingly sweet. she wouldn't know what to say even if she did have a voice.

she feels too much. a part of her wants to return to before, when she felt less, detached from emotions. but at the same time, she feels more alive in this moment than ever before. ]

[kaihentai]

I really like talkin' to ya.

Even when you don't say anything.

[It feels nice.

And yet there's this strange feeling in his gut... Worry? Guilt?]

[helmets]

[ she wishes she could say something, but she can't.

she thinks about what he said earlier, imagines him showing up at her doorstep unannounced. she imagines what she'd feel: surprised? elated? happy.

she likes the idea more than she thought. ]

[kaihentai]

What're you doin' right now? Ahhhh, it's so late.

[He should go.

Zura is dealing with his own shit. And the cat seems to like him a little better...]

Sorry if I'm keepin' ya up.

[helmets]

[ she steels herself mentally and ends the call, sending him a text right after. ]

Would it be alright if I saw you for a few minutes right now?

[kaihentai]

Sure.

Where should I meet you?

[helmets]

I'm just outside the housing district.
I can come to you.