inbox

[sealeted]

portal.


✪ ✉ ✆

"You've reached Hakuno Kishinami. I'm a bit new to using things like this, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can!"

Comments

✪ video ✪

[sealeted]

[wardance]

Yo~

I didn't think it would be so long to get back to you but... Gilgamesh contacted me, so I'm letting you know, as promised.

[sealeted]

Well, I suppose that's... good. It implies he was being less impulsive, at least.

[Her face and voice are neutral, like fingers drumming idly on the hilt of a blade.]

...so? How did it go?

[wardance]

[ Masamune considers how to put it before responding. ]

It went fine, I think. He's trying very hard to make this up to you, I'm almost kind of jealous.

[ Almost, despite obviously teasing her, because he is absolutely not a fan of getting things forced down his throat... kind of just like more people aren't!

He speaks more seriously, though, continuing. ] It went exactly as it should have gone, even—maybe just short of ideal—with something of a pleasant surprise here and there. I wasn't left feeling feeling happy or understanding why he was bothering me in the first place over things, but... I won't deny the sheer willingness he had to put his pride mostly to the side to explain.

He still doesn't get it, though— not with me. But, that's fine, and I never expected any different. He delivered it better than I expected. I can get over things now, at least, and that's what mattered to me beyond him doing whatever is necessary to apologize for his behavior towards you.

I wouldn't say it if I doubted it, but he's sincere in his efforts to at least change enough that you'll consider him once more. Kind of amazing, really, I didn't think he had that in him for anyone.

[sealeted]

It's not supposed to be me he's eager to make amends with.

[She frowns thoughtfully, her jaw set, but as he goes on a bit of the knee-jerk ire fades away. That... does sound like a best-case scenario. It even sounds something close to sincere, or as close to sincere as Gilgamesh ever gets.]

...I can't say I'm happy he's more fixated on me than you. What he did to me is nothing compared to what he did to you.

[She sighs.]

...but, if it was good enough to help you in some way, then I'll be happy about that much, at least. I don't know at what point I'll actually start 'considering' him again, however.

✆ audio ✆

[sealeted]

[babbylon]

[It's late. It's dark. A portal appears besides Hakuno's head, wherever it may be, and simply states in a familiar and demanding tone:]

Make yourself available to me.

[sealeted]

[Something in her, something all-but-forgotton, jars awake at that voice.]

...whuh...?

[Give her a minute for her normal processes to catch up.]

...'lgamesh?

[babbylon]

[Enunciating:]

Make. Yourself. Available.

[babbylon]

[Some weeks later after their previous conversation, Gilgamesh reaches out to Hakuno once more with a simple request.]

Hakuno, I would like to visit.

[He sounds significantly more composed compared to when last they spoke. Perhaps it is to be expected that the King of Heroes would pull himself together in a reasonable timeframe.]

[sealeted]

...

[There's a sound of rhythmic chopping, so she isn't outright ignoring him. After a bit, there's the follow-up of a blade scraping something off a cutting board, and when she speaks it's without the previous frigid firmness that marked their last conversation.]

Alright. I'll put on some tea.

[babbylon]

A thoughtful gesture.

[Not really. He barely stomachs wine as it is, but he knows he's in no position to argue and that "bargaining" didn't get him very far in the past. He'll just have to accept her hospitality as-is—quietly he notes to himself a sign of her good nature that she would offer, even with strained relations—and voice his concerns another time.]

Prop open the window, if you would. I come to you as before.

[gilgamess]

[ At some point late in the evening -- and more than a day past their prior conversation -- Hakuno will receive the following portal: ]

Hakuno Kishinami. Are you present?

[ Of course she'll recognize the voice, but will she know which Gilgamesh? Although one imagines that the vocal chords of one have been altered along with the rest of him, so perhaps it won't be too confusing. ]

[sealeted]

Gilgamesh?

[Her voice is faintly muffled, briefly, but after a rustle of cloth it's much more clear.]

Yeah. Good timing, I just finished getting dressed.

[gilgamess]

[ Whereas it's safe to say Gilgamesh is in some state of Cast Off in Atua. It's audio, so she can't see that, not that she hasn't seen it all before.

But more importantly, there's a long silence and his voice, when it comes again, is particularly flat. There's a reason he's using audio, and it's not to spare anyone's "virgin eyes." ]

Hm. I told you before that I would contact you once I had encountered that other person -- sharing my identity.

[ ... not quite a sigh. ]

I have done so.

following the conversation with Masamune

[babbylon]

So, you contracted?

[There's no segue, no lead-in, nothing. Just a straightforward inquiry in anticipation of a straightforward response.]

let's how long I last....

[sealeted]

We did.

[There's a raw, tired rasp to her voice, and she keeps her words short.]

[babbylon]

[It is noted, but not outwardly acknowledged.]

And you have lain with him?

✆ audio message

[wardance]

[ there is a message left for Hakuno... Somewhere between 36~48 hours of whatever the new mingle date is. ]

O ~kay... so...

I need to accept responsibility for my actions and apologize for saying I don't care about you.

That isn't something to be thrown in someone's face like that, especially when it's a lie to begin with.

[ so far, the apologize is very specific and particular, which could allude to the idea that he may have been practicing it for a while before offering it. The next part, however, comes out a bit slower and less easy—has he gone off script or was that the end of what he had already and he feels he needs to say more?]

If... I had known it would hurt you that much I never would have said it to begin with... even... even if it wasn't exactly intentionally said when I did that time, either.

[sealeted]

[The first thing, the very first thing he hears, just as he starts talking, is a quick, sharp inhale. Hakuno squeezes her eyes shut and listens to his voice with a heart that aches; not just from pain, but from relief. It felt, for a time, as though she would never hear him talk to her again.

When she speaks, however, her voice is soft and careful, each syllable gently placed out like some pretty tea arrangement.]

...it isn't anything that I didn't suspect for a long time, Date-san. All you did was confirm an accusation, really. But... thank you for not wanting to hurt me.

[wardance]

[ masamune pauses a moment, wondering if he should be referring to her properly by last name or keep the familiarity to try and stress his point. ]

Yeah you must have had that suspicion for one hell of a long time. [ for her to be that upset. Saying someone doesn't care about you is one thing, but he thinks even if she were to accept is true, she sees one Gilgamesh as more important to him than her. Which makes him crazy, but—]

What part of our time together has you so convinced that I don't care about you or, if you believe I do care, that I care about Gilgamesh more?

[ He avoids the name thing for now. ]

✉ physical mail and deliveries ✉

[sealeted]

THE DELIVERY IS HERSELF, obviously

[aurea]

[After their exchange over their network, Nero arrives in short order right outside her Master's lodgings. Peering up, she makes an easy leap onto the roof itself, deciding to surprise Hakuno in the bluntest manner possible—a suitably Roman sort of entrance, trotting along the edge and singing her heart out.]

Praetor! Pray tell, Praetor, where art thou...!

[...apparently using archaic and contextually inappropriate language was also her way of being romantic.]

[sealeted]

...?!

[Considering everything, Hakuno shouldn't be surprised. She really shouldn't be. She's had a literal dragon come in through the window, so why not Nero too?]

Oh, come on in. ...for some reason, I thought I'd have to go to the ground floor to welcome you in...

[aurea]

[Oh, look at that. She slipped right in, in no time at all... and right into Hakuno's arms. Who ever would've guessed.]

Certainly not! It is I who must welcome you, as a beloved guest of the Emperor! You're just that special, you know? ♥♥♥