text/video/audio/hologram; @onestepforward

[ignoreher]

[ ... there's actually going to be a cycle of the different communication methods going on here, but it'll end on hologram i promise--

first up is text, which she's most familiar with using anyway: ]

Hello, world! I'm gonna be testing a few things, so I'd like your participation! o(〃＾▽＾〃)o I also have a few questions for everyone, since I'm still sorta getting my feet on the ground.

[ ...

okay, so, there's going to be a video dropped in on here. it's just of some of the feral cats by the hot springs rolling around, but their ears flick up towards the video's source after a moment and dart off; there's a soft, disappointed sigh before it ends. ]

Is there any way to befriend these furballs? They're sooooooo cute, but they keep running away when I try! ╥﹏╥ And I've tried food before anyone asks, they just don't seem to trust me too much... (ﾉ´ｰ`)ﾉ

[ the next bit she has to psyche herself up for just a bit, but once she activates the audio function she's good to go. ]

So! I picked up a camera, and I've been taking pictures of a lot of things... they're all pretty amateurish, I guess? But it's been really fun too! [ thanks march ] Has anyone else picked up photography as a hobby? What do you take pictures of? Maybe we could make a group of it?

[ she sure is excited. to meet people and do things. anyway, last up is... malkuth's really working out what she likes best (so far, it's text, she likes the faces she can insert), and this is including putting out a hologram of herself: she's 163cm, or 5'4" those off the metric system, and she's wearing just the basic outfit of some pants and a longer sleeved shirt for the cold.

... this one she won't know if she likes actually but that's fine! that's fine. she'll learn. we'll all learn. replacing the book she might have held tight in her hand is, in fact, a disposable camera she'd bought with most of the money given to her, and the hologram makes similar motions as she takes pictures of her surroundings. ]

Actually, I could use a new hobby or two in general... You could say work really ate up my time, so I never really had any to spare for things like that. Any recs? Oh, you can reply however you want, I'll match!

[ okay, that's the end of it, promise, she isn't sorry for. all that. she's definitely digging text most she misses her little faces. ]

Comments

[ignoreher]

[ yup! great! the warmth you feel from friends... would be friends... maybe friends? is totally natural. it's just because he's a different personality than she's used to. no one in her circle is. like that. no one in the City is like that. ]

Now you're making me nervous. Are you gonna wait until I'm in your room to regale me a tale?

[ she's taking it easy with her tray... she doesn't want to spill the hot liquid.... but she is going to have to kick his door for entrance. wait for it. ]

[seafloor]

[ Imagine being afflicted with one (1) Kaito Nagano for the very first time... Embarrassing...

...And imagine being afflicted with one (1) Malkuth in turn... ]

I'm gonna wait until you're in my room to EAT, you goofball.

[ Amusement dances in his tone. And luckily for all parties involved (especially the door), he can trace her aura once she's nearby.

Which means the door slides open before she has a good excuse to kick it down!!! ]

[ignoreher]

[ great, that means she's just kicking him instead. Lightly. ]

I've never been called a goofball in any of my lives, so don't make it a habit.

[ look at her............ very red soups. it's this recipe for mr. chef's tastebud refs but there's a difference in it. okay. she's putting the tray down on his desk. ]

What do you think? Looks pretty good, right? Worth waiting the extra time I took prepping everything? Give it a try.

[ it's like. technically good. but underseasoned, for the record. the spice is There though it's Hot but that's about it. ]

1/2

[seafloor]

It's a special title that only I have the privilege of invoking.

[ Oh, he's looking. And sniffing, too. That's objectively rude, but he's not doing it in an intentionally offensive way. Rather, his figurative Chef Hat has been flipped on. Kaito fans some of the steam up towards his face to get a better whiff. ]

Hm. It's interesting.

[ That's all he gives her before scooping the bowl into his hands (oi, isn't that hot? and taking a sip like he's drinking from a sake dish... ]

2/3 actually

[seafloor]

. . .

3/3

[seafloor]

[ Kaito holds her gaze for what feels like an eternity, face bluer than a berry...

...But the color eventually drains from his face (in a good way!) and he yanks one of the spoons so that he can try the vegetables. Chomp.

His smile soon returns. ]

For a moment I was legitimately afraid our worlds' palates would be incompatible. That said, I like this. It could use a bit more salt, and maybe some MSG... But it's a lot better than burnt water.

[ Kaito toasts with the bowl. ]

Good job.

[ —And then proceeds to inhale the rest of its contents like a walking, talking black hole. ]

1/3

[ignoreher]

[ isn't it hot... what's wrong with him... ]

2/3

[ignoreher]

[ why is he turning blue...? is he holding his breath? why? she didn't think there was anything that could suffocate someone in it? maybe he's trying not to let it go down the wrong pipe? she's had that happen to her too -- functional bodies are so difficult after boxlife for ten years.

... should she help him...? ]

3/3

[ignoreher]

[ -- no, seriously, what's wrong with him? is he some kind of Abnormality?

meanwhile, she's like, gonna eat it like a normal person. spice and all. she doesn't seem bothered. ]

Thanks. Was something wrong with it, though? You held a really funny face for a bit.

[seafloor]

—I was trying to see if I could psych you out by faking my own death. It did not work.

[ ...

Well, at least he's honest! ]

[ignoreher]

[ ... ]

I'm not making anything for you ever again.

[ she's sitting on his bed though. what a mean guy. ]

[seafloor]

[ That gets a laugh out of him, barked after he's drained his bowl clean. ]

You're a librarian, not a liarbrarian.

Besides, your cooking has tons of room to improve. I want to be there when you make your next culinary masterpiece.

[ignoreher]

[ how's he know she's not serious about that, huh!!!! because she hates giving up. her soup is good to her... she likes the heat... the veggies came out well too. munch.

there is a feeling of genuine relief malkuth doesn't let show, but maybe he can tell anyway; she'd poured over just making sure it wasn't going to burn or be too much for a reason, so the fact that her improvements are just flavor based is such a weight off her shoulders. that!!! can be fixed!!! she was so good about not putting sugar in it by mistake!!! ]

You'll be waiting a long time then, Kaito, I know I'm not gonna get it in two. [ she's always worked so hard because she's not talented. ] But I won't mind if you join me in the kitchen until then-- actually, I'd like it if you did.

[ then she can learn better knife techniques... she'll be learning on her own on the side but a little extra watching never hurts. ]

[seafloor]

I'm willing to wait. After all, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

[ A glance to the side, followed by a smile. Yet there's mischief brimming in his gaze again... ]

Now you'll let me watch, huh? I don't mind, but you'd better be prepared for some tough teaching. No...

[ He trails off. There's some hesitation, but it doesn't last for too long. ]

No friend of mine is gonna call it quits in the kitchen 'til they're a proper home cook.

[ignoreher]

[ friend...................... ]

Please. One thing you're gonna find out about this friend of yours is that she hates giving up. Even if it takes me my whole life to become at least halfway decent at cooking, I'd still do it.

[ but she doesn't mind tough teachers. she works best with people who tell her exactly what needs to be done to improve, after all. ]

If I ever say "I quit!", then it's not me. Okay?

[seafloor]

I'll be holding you to that, then.

[ Kaito smiles fondly before setting his bowl back on the tray. ]

Thank you for the soup, Malkuth. I'll be looking forward to more free food, regardless of whether it's as good as this or not.