worldisyours | IC Inbox

[Well, if she won't acknowledge the Kelpie thing, he won't either…? But her bashful reaction is kind of… cute. Especially the way her ears move. And she's a little taller now, isn't she? …No, stop staring and start listening, don't make it worse! Focus!

It's true, everyone except Neku and Swallow had departed for the wastes, leaving the house rather empty-feeling. He didn't have the details, but it sounded dangerous, so he was more than glad that Swallow had elected to stay home this time, especially after the lake expedition incident.

Normally, her offer would make him happy, but in those circumstances, it's hard not to feel like she's just defaulting to him for lack of other options. And her wording doesn't help. It… kind of stings, actually—so much so that he doesn't notice the hint of a smile on her face.]

Not really. But, uh… are you sure…? You don't have to force yourself to bring me along or anything…

Edited 2023-04-16 02:41 (UTC)

[At first she snorts, sounding at once confused, amused, and faintly annoyed.] Uh, yeah, I'm sure?

[Then he finishes his thought and she realizes, with a pang of guilt, why he asked that. The way she said it, couched in excuses... It's a natural compulsion for her, but of course he wouldn't take it well. Frowning, she makes an effort to soften her tone and allow herself more genuineness.]

Yeah, I know I don't have to. It's not like that. I want you to come, dummy. Wouldn't've asked if I didn't.

[A pause, then, as she tries to think of what else to say—if she hasn't already blown it.]

Y'know, at the Cube... FanGO works there. It's not exactly the same as back home, but... we can finally play together in person, you know? I've been wanting to show it to you, but there was so much going on, and... Ugh.

[It's the truth, so of course she feels a little too vulnerable saying it. She averts her eyes, turning her scowl onto her hooves.]

["It didn't sound like it", Rindo's mind initially protests. But then as Swallow continues talking, he realizes that this is just like the day he arrived in Ryslig—her prickly, distant veneer melting into reluctant sincerity. It makes him wonder if she, too, has an easier time communicating through text. That would explain why she acts so differently in person…

Were she looking at him, she'd see his face light up almost immediately at the mention of FanGO.]

You… You really want to? I'd love to play with you!

[He'd all but given up on FanGO. He'd sorely missed both the game itself and bonding with Swallow over it, but even knowing about the Cube's ability to simulate it, he'd convinced himself that she'd lost interest in playing it with him. More than an offer to hang out, to Rindo, this was a sign that Swallow still thought of him as her friend—as Rindragon. So is it any wonder that he's beaming at her right now? He hasn't smiled this wide in weeks.]

Yeah, I really do.

[That doofy grin of his is infectious. She smiles more easily too, then, at once relieved and fond.]

Well, lucky me! [By force of habit, she starts to reach for one ear of her hoodie—but, since she isn't currently wearing it, she winds up fidgeting instead with her actual ear when she adds, more gently,] Thanks... Seriously.

Thought I'd add the cafe just for winding down. Bet we could both use it after... y'know, everything. I was thinking Kit-Tea-Kat—the cat cafe we've got here. You haven't been yet, right?

[It feels… really nice, seeing Swallow smile like this. She can be so distant, sometimes, but that makes those rare moments of genuineness all the more precious. And it's because he accepted her offer… If that's really all it takes to make her happy, he must be important to her, right? A pleasant warmth spreads at the thought—and at the sight of her fiddling with her ear. It's adorable… (He may be blushing, just a tiny bit.)]

Of course!

[And… a cat café? That's even better!]

No, I haven't. [He's hardly gone out, so…] I didn't even know there was one here… It's a great idea. I actually really like them.

[…Maybe she already knows that? He hadn't told her—it'd been a fairly recent discovery, in fact—but perhaps the Rindo she knew had mentioned it. The newfound worry tempers his happiness, just a little. It's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, but reminders of their uncomfortable situation are never welcome.]

Oh, yeah? [It's hard to tell if she knew that already or not, but she at least sounds at once relieved and pleasantly surprised.] Well—glad it's got your stamp of approval! Up to you where we start.

I'm just gonna grab a couple things, and... then I'll be good to go. Sound good?

[…Well, Rindo's not going to let that little bit of uncertainty ruin his day.]

Yeah! Lemme think about it while I get ready.

[Hopefully he'll have decided by the time they leave. With that, he turns to grab his jacket from the closet, then heads downstairs to wait for Swallow by the door.

He looks deep in thought. The Cube first is enticing, of course, because he's missed FanGO so much, but at the same time he's kind of hungry, and the café would be a nice way to ease into hanging out…]

[When Shoka joins him minutes later, she's clad in a jacket of her own, oversized and black with a cat-earred hood that bears the face of Shibuya icon Mr. Mew. She wears the hood up for the first time in too long, after being unable to as a Merperson on account of her gill stalks, and it seems to have her smiling a little brighter.]

Hope you didn't think about it too hard. [After briefly adjusting the strap of the purse hanging off her shoulder, she heads out.] Come on.

[Ultimately, Rindo picks the cat cafe first. It isn't too far from the house and Shoka clearly knows the way well, so they walk, chatting along the way, more easily the further they go. Shoka knows the way so well because she works there most days, she explains, before telling him (maybe a little too casually) that the commute is even easier when she's a horse.

When they arrive, they put in their orders and get a peaceful little corner to themselves—and the cats, of course. Some of the feline residents are naturally bolder than others, so Shoka has a treat packet or two stowed away in her bag for encouragement, but Rindo seems content to wait around patiently for them to come to him.

She has to smile at that, though she does eventually pipe up,] Brought along my own treat stash if you wanna speedrun your cat bonding a little...

[Horse reveal aside, the commute is pleasant and surprise-free. Rindo finds himself wishing they could play FanGO on the way, but it'll happen soon enough.

After they sit, it's not long before Rindo spots one of the cats making her way over to him, tail raised high. He raises a hand in Swallow's direction.]

Hang on, look…!

[The approaching feline has short black fur, with white markings on her chest and face. As soon as she reaches Rindo, she starts to rub her face against his ankles. He lowers his hand to her level, slow and steady, first to allow her to sniff it, then to gently pet her around the ears. It seems to be a hit.

Meanwhile, an orange and white tom is padding over to them. His slow, cautious approach is a lot less overt, slinking around chair legs and dodging other customers, but he's undoubtedly headed toward Swallow. Rindo doesn't notice him, distracted as he is by the cat that took a shine to him.]

Didn't even need treats…

[Rindo speaks quietly, his words more of a mutter and not directed at Swallow in particular. There's a little hint of smug pride in his voice.]

[Recognizing this particular cat, Shoka is prepared to give Rindo the same warning she's given other customers in the past—but ultimately, to her pleasant surprise, it isn't needed. He's careful and patient, and the usually testy Umbra waltzes right up to him like they're old friends.]

Well, look at you, Mr. Cat Whisperer! [He already looks smug about it (earning an amused little laugh from her), but after a moment, she decides that he probably deserves to be.] Low-key, I'm actually impressed... That's definitely the warmest reception I've ever seen her give a stranger.

[Meanwhile, she's apparently been chosen by another resident of her own. Once she notices the (also familiar) tom slinking his way toward her, she quiets, waiting patiently for him to reach her. When he does, she'll offer out a cautious hand for him to sniff, too, as she greets him in an unusually gentle voice.]

Hey, you. Miss me much?

[Evidently a fan of the scritches Rindo's giving her, the cat hops onto his lap, to his surprise. He begins to run his hand along her back as she settles down.]

…She's not usually like this?

[He looks back up at Swallow, spotting her very own feline visitor in the process. …It's nice, seeing her so relaxed after everything that's happened. Maybe even comforting. He finds himself smiling fondly at the sight.]

Hey, you're popular too.

Heh, far from it. Full disclosure: she's a serial biter. And clawer.

[Many an unwelcome hand has been shredded by those needle-fangs... But right now she looks perfectly docile.

Shoka gives her own feline companion a gentle scratch on the head. Though he responds with a slow blink and a purr, he seems to take a moment to weigh his options afterward, briefly eyeing Rindo and Umbra... But eventually he decides the coast is clear, apparently, because he proceeds to follow Umbra's example and climb cautiously up into Shoka's lap.]

Well, somebody's feeling brave today...

[She rewards him with long strokes to his fur as he curls up. Rindo's comment earns a chuckle.]

With him, maybe. Been trying to get this guy to come out of his shell a little for a while now... So he knows me. [The cat shuts his eyes. Shoka's smile is soft.] I guess we usually do kind of just get each other, though... Me and strays.

[Guarded, often testy, unwanted...]

[…Really? This fluffy purring pile of fur on his lap?]

Oh… I wonder why she's being so nice, then?

[Not that Rindo's complaining. It'd have been embarrassing if none of the cats had cared to approach him.]

I'm not surprised you got through to him.

[She's so good at soothing his worries; it only makes sense for her to be a calming presence for animals too. The strays comment makes him smile as he shoots a pointed glance at what she's wearing.]

So the hoodie's more than just an aesthetic?

Who knows? Maybe she's just naturally drawn to loser aura.

[Or he was just one of the first to be patient enough with her—but that's a little too sweet for Shoka to say to his face. Much easier to teasingly imply that he was just so sad-looking already that the cat didn't need to knock him down a peg or two.

When he brings up her hoodie, Shoka smiles, too, and lifts a hand to fiddle with one of the hood's ears.]

Maybe. [Definitely.] It's the first thing I bought in Shibuya, actually... It sort of just spoke to me, y'know?

[She gets a sense of déjà vu, talking about this with him again, but it isn't at all unpleasant.]

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