ic contact;

[condoner]

This is Tsunemori! I'm sorry, I'm not here right now, but please leave a message. I promise to get back to you once I'm able. Thank you very much! ( action → text → voice → video )

Comments

[condoner]

[ she smiles softly as she looks down at her plate, poking her cake with her fork a bit. ]

I'm fine.

[ she really is. ]

[zitteraal]

...Is that right.

[ He says it more for his own benefit, and puts his cup back down on its saucer. ]

Then I won't say anything. [ as if he talks that much anyway... ] Have you done anything to unwind?

[condoner]

I've just been checking the network to see if there was anything important I missed.

[ she's not very good at unwinding anymore... workaholic alert. ]

[zitteraal]

That isn't what most people consider unwinding.

[ Akane...!! Not that he can talk, but he's a hypocrite at best. ]

[condoner]

I guess I'm pretty bad at unwinding, ha ha...

[ awkward laughter. ]

[zitteraal]

Yeah. You invited me in instead of doing more constructive things with your time. I'd call that 'bad at unwinding'.

[ Ah. But it's a joke, the kind of dry one that just sounds like an insult, but a joke.

He clears his plate, and then gets up to head towards the kitchen... clearly with the intention of doing his own dishes, what is even up with this guy. ]

[condoner]

[ she's stunned for a couple of moments before she gets up and rushes in front of him, attempting to take the plate. ]

What are you doing?

[zitteraal]

...?

[ And he holds the plate up out of reach, thanks height advantage. ]

Washing the dishes. Bring yours over when you're done.

[ This is perfectly normal?! ]

[condoner]

I can do them on my own, thank you.

[ yeah, she's going to tip toe and try to reach it...

why are they being like children? ]

[zitteraal]

You're the one that showed me hospitality. Sit down and let me do this much.

[ That verges on a command, even if he has no authority here, what a loser.

He's still holding this plate above her head, though... ]

[condoner]

[ she puffs her cheeks, hands on her hips. ]

As a guest, I simply won't allow it.

[zitteraal]

I asked if I could come, and you let me.

[ Not budging...! ]

You've done enough. Now sit down.

[condoner]

This is, by far, the strangest thing I've seen a guest do.

[ she is not going to sit down, though. but rather, she'll join him in the kitchen and watch him work. ]

[zitteraal]

...It isn't that strange. Do none of your friends offer to help with the cleaning?

[ He rolls up his sleeves a little, starts washing the dishes with strangely practiced ease, like he's done this a million times... which he has, being that he was completely whipped back at his home. ]

[condoner]

Well, of course, they do, but I wouldn't let them do that.

[ she'll just watch him work with intensity. damn you adolf!!!!! damn you!!! ]

[zitteraal]

[ It's all Akane deserves for bullying him into friendship!!! ]

There's a first time for everything. [ So blithely... and he makes a gesture, a little crook of one soapy finger. ] Bring me your coffee cup and plate, I'll wash it too while I'm at it.

[condoner]

[ ugh... she just makes a face at that comment. ]

No. I'll clean them on my own.

[zitteraal]

...Do as you like, then.

[ But at the same time, he's just going to also dry these dishes with the nearest dishtowel... and whatever may be left on the drying rack, because. Because Reasons. ]

[condoner]

[ why are you such a housewife??? ]

That's right, I will.

[zitteraal]

[ he's had a lot of practice, ok...!!

but once he's done drying the dishes, he wipes his hand and then

pats Akane on the head. ]

Don't look so offended. I'll get out of your hair soon.

[condoner]

That's not— [ needed? of course, it is. adolf has a life, too, you know.

what she means by that look? of course not. why would she want him to leave?

but she fumbles with her words instead of being able to say anything coherent, and eventually just deflates. ]

[zitteraal]

[ In all honesty, it'd unsettled him when he couldn't find Akane in his list of contacts: someone'd asked him if all his 'friends' were well and accounted for a few days after the jungle incident, and he'd had to stop and sidestep talking about it, because her absence was disconcerting.

It'd reminded him not to get too attached to anyone— it'd just be difficult otherwise— but Akane's fumbling in the here and now is still endearing, and he still has a hard time being completely dismissive. ]

I know. [ He says simply, before patting her head again and putting everything in her kitchen back into place. ] ...Don't think I don't appreciate it.

[condoner]

W- Well, [ ah... she's still kind of flustered. ] thank you for visiting.

[ ... ]

I appreciate it even more.

[zitteraal]

It was just a status check.

[ His last attempts to be tsun... but it's largely destroyed by how his expression softens for a moment, for just the split second between him looking at her and then turning to move back to the living room to gather his scarf. ]

Try not to go missing again.

[condoner]

It'll be something I'll try not to do again.

[ she nods as she follows him back to the living room. ]

If I can help it, anyway.