IC Inbox | goldenet

[unionized]

@shinra

▶ TEXT

▶ AUDIO

▶ VIDEO

▶ ACTION

Comments

un: idlemaiden | text

[theidlemaiden]

Ruru! I finished the little project you asked me to work on. Did you want to see it over smoothies at The Nest?

[ His treat, naturally. ]

[unionized]

First: don't call me "Ruru".

[He is under no illusions that this is actually going to stop her but for the sake of form he's obligated to be a pillar of salt about it anyway.]

Second: is it really finished, or is this just another excuse to get favors out of me? :)

[theidlemaiden]

What about Rufy?

What! I'd never.

But if I really wanted to get more favours out of you I'd tell you that I ran out of material and needed more °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° Since that isn't the case, have you considered that I maybe just want to get smoothies with you just because?

[unionized]

Absolutely not.

[While it may be a criminal offense to look this good, don't compare him to any other kind!!]

...I hadn't, actually. Most people don't contact me unless it's with an agenda.

[theidlemaiden]

Well, I'm afraid that unless we come up with another nickname for you it's going to be one of those two.

...Do you not have friends at home?

[unionized]

[DAMN HILDA JUST GO FOR THE JUGULAR WHY DON'T YOU.]

I'm not obligated to have a nickname, am I? Otherwise I might have to insist you get one as well.

[lowkey sidesteps the friends question.......]

[theidlemaiden]

[ Winkity wonk. ]

I love a good nickname. Would that make us friends if you come up with one for me?

[ Get back here you stupid tall, handsome man - ]

[unionized]

It would make you special. I don't do it very often.

[WATCH HIM SERPENTINE]

[theidlemaiden]

If writing the word "friend" is difficult for you, you could just say so you know.

[unionized]

Is that really so important to you? Calling this a friendship?

[Text may not convey tone all that well, but here's the thing: it's actually a genuine question.]

[theidlemaiden]

[ She's been bitchy and annoying enough to him (and others) over text to know when there's a tonal shift. It's the main reason she doesn't continue to be a brat now. ]

I'm just trying to understand you.

I've seen people who interact and surround themselves with other people but that doesn't mean that they have friends. Not having people you can count on like that seems lonely to me.

[ In a place like this where sex isn't necessarily synonymous with feelings, platonic or not, doesn't sit right with her. The next message comes after a beat of silence. ]

I guess I don't want that for you.

[unionized]

[Ah. Well. Hm. In another time and another place and another life, this would've been the point when he did a hard pivot straight out of this conversation, but...

But, well...

It's that thing again. The idea that everything about this place is, on some level, dissevered from the people they were before they came, and the people they'll be when they return. This is a liminal space. What are the risks, really, for it?]

I don't. Have friends at home, like you said.

I'm fine with what I do have. Friends have just never been a part of it.

[theidlemaiden]

[ What is her deal with befriending calculating, somewhat paranoid men? She's cursed.

It's hard for her to believe that people, Rufus included, would just be fine with not having friends. But she'll let him have it for now. ]

So if you didn't have friends what did you have?

[unionized]

[NOT THE CLAUDE ALLEGATIONS OH NO]

I have a dog.

[That sounded slightly less stupid in his head than it looks in retrospect in text.]

And power. Influence. Wealth and status. That sort of thing.

[theidlemaiden]

[ SHE CAN SMELL THEM A MILE AWAY. ]

A dog.

You think all of those things and a dog are fulfilling enough that you don’t need other things in your life?

[ She’s not trying to be judgey but… ]

[unionized]

I said I was fine with it. That's not quite the same thing.

[theidlemaiden]

You never tried to make friends though?

Or is this a, "I'm so powerful and influential that everyone who offered me friendship probably has an ulterior motive," situation.

[unionized]

I'm curious to hear who you think I would've made them with.

Friendship is a two-party proposition, isn't it?

[theidlemaiden]

That's hard to say without knowing what your world is like, don't you think?

You're right. It is. So it's really rude to leave my invitation to smoothies at the Nest unanswered. Maybe you can tell me more about where you've come from, I can deliver your commission to you, and maybe we can both weigh in on the fate of our friendship.

[unionized]

...Hm. Not bad.

All right. I'll bite. Smoothies at the Nest it is.

[theidlemaiden]

Great! Don't be late and look cute. I'm not friends with people that aren't cute.

[unionized]

[The whole way to the Nest, Rufus tells himself that he's showing up for the sake of the commission, and not just because This Girl™ keeps hassling him about the concept of friendship. It's definitely just for the commission. And to buy her a smoothie because she's a Three and that's no way to live. It's definitely just that. It's not for any other reason.

Except that he does show up, and he isn't late, and he does look cute (because he knows how to dress himself, thank you very much) in a crisp sport coat and white slacks and a dress shirt with the collar unbuttoned, and his favorite pair of aviators pushed up onto his head like the proper rich boy on forever vacation that he is.

It isn't difficult to track her down. He refrains from waving, but does offer her a nod as he approaches.]

Hello, special.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Rufus there isn't even any sunshine in the Nest. Why do you need sunglasses?

That aside, she does think that they complete the look. Sometimes you need a little accessory to tie everything together. Case in point, the bow tied around her ponytail that quite literally is tying the athleisurewear look she's chosen together. In a pink tennis skirt and white cropped jacket, she looks like she's just finished a tennis match or practice.

(In reality it's neither. She's just making use the things she's scrimped and saved for - and the closets that she's been allowed to borrow from.)

While he doesn't wave, she does, immediately perking up at the sight of him as she waits just outside the Nest for him. ]

Special? I didn't realize we were starting the nickname trial early, Ruru.

[unionized]

[BECAUSE THE SUN NEVER SETS ON COOL, HILDA, THAT'S WHY. Also, gods bless her for looking like an actually put-together person despite the terrible circumstances of her destitute rank. There's absolutely no excuse for most of the higher-ranked people around to just walk around being badly-dressed eyesores when this is what a Three is capable of.

He makes a mental note to buy her something, just idly. She's not the only one who can't be seen hanging around with unfashionable people, after all.]

It's a practice run. I'm not much of a nicknamer, so I'm working up to it.

[He glides to a halt just near her, clearly ready to go flex his authority on some unsuspecting minimum-wage smoothie workers. This rich bastard.]

Did you bring my item?

[theidlemaiden]

[ IF YOU HAVE TO SAY IT LIKE THAT, CHANCES ARE YOU AREN'T VERY COOL, RUFUS. 

Just because she's basically a peasant by rank, she's not about to let that dictate how she dresses - even with a limited number of chips at her disposal. And as if she would be seen walking around in the equivalent of gas station clothes. Even if came to that, she probably would have found some way to get a hold of some scissors and thread and make it look somewhat more presentable before wearing them off the rack.

Listen, he can be a rich bastard if it means he buys her a smoothie. But that will not stop her from pouting at the straightforwardness before holding out a little pink gift bag stuffed with tissue paper and tied with - you guessed it - a white bow. ]

Obviously. Did you really think that I'd forget? Even if I had, it's not like we'd have to go very far to get it from my room.