chibisu | Ebisu's Inbox

Hey.
Still up?

[It's late when Ginia texts Kimi, well after they've returned from the temple. She's pretty sure he's asleep and wouldn't blame him if he is. She's definitely not sleeping.]

No rest for the wicked (ノ#-_-)ノ

[Sure, he could sleep, but, well. Everyone is simultaneously exhausted and worked up from what happened at the compound. He's leaning on the latter, personally. Besides, it is a night off, of sorts.]

Can I come over?

Can I come over? (#／。＼#)

May I come over?

Want company?

Want to come over?

I saw this article

[Ginia types and deletes message after message, a little frustrated at how hard it is to send a simple message. She could use company. He's still awake and her boyfriend. There's nothing wrong with wanting his company! She still feels immensely awkward asking, finally settling on a message.]

Can I come over?

[Unlike Ginia's own struggle with words, Kimi's comes immediately.]

Of course. Door's unlocked.

[A worrying amount of doors are unlocked in the living complex for Ebisu's shinki... save for the ones with no one in them anymore. But this time it's on purpose, at least.]

[When Ginia comes over, the smell of shrimp will waft out to greet her first before the sight of the room does. It shares much of the same structure that Kiwami's does, when she visited, but that's about all it seems to share. The walls have been painted a warm orange, and there's a large television set where Kiwami would have kept a fish tank. Facing it is a large deep blue couch, where a variety of colorful pillows. Paler blues, pinks, purples, yellows... There's no doubt it's comfortable, at least. There's another desk tucked away in a corner, proud to house a computer system that looks fairly modern.]

[And along the walls? Well, there are plenty of book shelves, for starters, that carry all sorts from fiction to comics to what is very clearly a very robust collection of cookbooks. In what spaces are left, there are picture frames hanging here and there. Ginia might recognize Aomi's style of painting, with one picture being ink paintings of a pair of flying crows. The others seem mostly focused on oil painting, or the fun and abstract. Over one plush chair are his work clothes, including the vest he'd worn to the compound.]

[Stepping through further, and she'll finally be able to see Kimi dressed in a red graphic tee and simple sweatpants, barefoot in a small kitchen space that's definitely been worked on more than Kiwami's has. It's bustling with all sorts of things, from the clearly expensive and fine quality like a set of knives... and then also a turner spatula with a little cat face instead of regular lines. By the time Ginia has arrived, he's set some soba noodles to one side and has some broth cooking on low. It's shrimp tempura he's working on right now, although he pauses when he hears her come in.]

Hey, Jitsumi? That you?

[with Kimi's reply, Ginia is already on the way to the door before she stops and considers her attire. There's nothing wrong with gym shorts and a t-shirt. It's been a long, stressful day, she's comfortable in her room, who could fault her? There's noting wrong going to Kimi's room dressed such. Considering how unplanned the situation is, she has no personal expectations for what he wants to wear aside from have some clothing on.

Or not, hell, whatever, it's his room and she wouldn't find eyecandy unwelcome.

Overthinking. It's definitely overthinking as Ginia stalks back to her closet. She doesn't have the energy to dress any nicer for an impromptu visit, but she throws on a pair of blue denim shorts and a comfortable cat print hoodie over her t-shirt. There. Better. Ginia pockets her phone and steps into a pair of white flats before leaving, letting the door lock behind her.

(It's not that she doesn't trust anyone or thinks anyone will enter without her permission, but the security of a place that's entirely her own private place still brings an immense amount of peace of mind.)

Even though he knows she's on the way, Ginia still knocks before entering. Her stomach gurgles at the smell of shrimp. Sure, shinki are always hungry, but she hasn't eaten since returning from the compound. Food is welcome. Ginia steps out of her shoes and sets them against the wall before entering further, curious but not wanting to pry.

It's a very colorful space, certainly compared to hers, but Ginia isn't surprised either. Work is their life and she hasn't seen much of him outside of it, but this feels like a reflection of his personality. He's vivid and lively and her life is brighter with him in it.

...That almost came to an end, didn't it.

Ginia's expression is a little distracted as she makes it to the kitchen, a smile at the sight of him. So he doesn't have to get distracted from cooking, Ginia takes out her phone, typing and playing a message.]

It's me. Whatever you're cooking smells delicious.

Soba! Well, no, the soba is sort of- on hold, now I've moved onto the tempura.

[Relaxed, he flicks one hand through the air before going back to what he was doing. Tempura is something he needs to keep an eye on, if he wants to get it right. Or maybe that's just him.]

I thought you might want something to eat, since you're coming over to visit. There's no better food than soba to eat, honestly, so it felt like the perfect thing. Wanna take a seat, or?

[A part of her wants to protest. it's a lot of work, he didn't have to do that for her, but he's already cooked and there's no taking that back. Besides, it's clear Kimi enjoys cooking, and when she's truly honest, she likes being cooked for.]

Thank you. Can I watch? I'll stay out of the way, promise.

[If there's one thing she misses from her previous temple, it's watching someone cook. Sure, she's competent enough to help peel vegetables or help stock in the kitchen, but there's too much work to do to stay idle. There's something nice about watching a good cook work. It's something to admire.]

Unless you plan on sneaking into my room, you'll probably be stuck watching me cooking anyway, heh! So knock yourself out.

[He manages to flash her a smile over his shoulder before he gets back to the shrimp. Considering how busy everyone else tends to be, there's not often a chance for regular workers to watch the kitchen get to work. Kimi in particular, or at least while he's casually cooking like this, seems to keep fidgeting. A bounce of his heel against the floor, a faint song he keeps starting to hum-sing before he abruptly cuts off to do it in his head...

[It's probably energy drinks which keeps him moving after a hectic day like the one they've just add.]

[As he finishes the last of the tempura, he calls back to her.]

Feeling like movies or video games? Figured might as well enjoy something tonight before falling asleep.

On second thought, maybe I'll sneak into your room and look for your porn.

[Hah. Nah, it's probably easier looking through his browser history. Ginia leans out of the way against a counter and watches. He's adorable when he's fidgety and she takes a stealthy picture, smiling a bit to herself. It's nice. Isn't this what couples do? Would he mind if she came over more? Do they even really have the time? A tiny sigh escapes as her gaze falls downward, looking up as he speaks to her.]

What do you have? I'm not really choosy, though I haven't played a lot of video games. Mostly rhythm games and visual novels.

Oh my. All you need to do is ask.

[Because yeah, most of it is definitely in the computer at this point. Gotta keep up with the modern age and all. While he messes with the presentation of the bowls, Kimi shrugs.]

I got a lot of everything, most that I haven't finished yet recently. Uh, a few horror games, some of those really technical combat types... Oh, there's a fun game where you just go around taking pictures of fantasy animals.

[Pausing, he taps his bottom lip with the chopsticks he has.]

Which sounds sort of nerdy when I actually say it out loud... A farming game? I just grab whatever is popular or looks fun at the time, so I have a bunch of stuff.

[Horror is out of the question on a good day. Though on a good day, maybe it'd be less scary watching him play. After everything today, a combat game seems like it'd feed too much into her stress. On the other hand, taking pictures of fantasy animals sounds like a great time on any day.]

Taking pictures of fantasy animals sounds pretty cute.

I guess I'm looking for any kind of distraction.

[Her chest feels tight again. Ginia's fingers tap along the back of her case, trying to stave off a growing feeling of dread. It feels like she's drowning. The day should have felt triumphant in some way, but there are only more questions, more unsettling revelations.

She won't be a dark cloud in such a bright room, she won't drag Kimi down with her.

But it's hard feeling strong right now, so maybe it's time to count on someone else. Mi, many, no one here is alone. Ginia waits until Kimi's hands are free, until he's not doing anything too time sensitive or dangerous. She steps behind him and wraps her arms around his waist, holding him close as her face presses against his shoulder. He's warm and real and without their stab vests in the way, Ginia presses fully against him.]

Sorry I'm weak. [She signs in front of him.] Bear with me.

Then you'll like this. It's a kind of spin off from this other really popular series- one of the more action ones. But apparently people liked the designs so much, so the company actually took a risk in making something a little different. It's pretty...

[Kimi stops himself when he feels her stepping closer, and only waits for a moment so that she can adjust against him before he reaches up to gently curl his fingers against her hair. His other goes downwards, resting against her fingers.]

Of course. It's okay to be weak.

[Is it? Ginia laughs harshly, a huff of hot air across his shirt and skin. She leans a little into his hand, holds him tighter though careful not to squeeze him too much. She hits hard. She knows her strength. Maybe she doesn't know her strength. Strength and weakness, her scale of herself is broken when what is normal? What's the baseline to judge herself against?]

My second temple was full of fighters. I thought it was where I belong, what I wanted.

[Her signs spill from her hands. Strangely, it doesn't hurt as much as she thought it would to think about those months. It'll still take awhile for all the embarrassment and shame to burn off, but it doesn't ache as much.]

They were faster, stronger, I couldn't keep up. Or maybe it was all in my mind, I don't know. I made a lot of mistakes there.

[Maybe one day it'll be easier talking about it. Right now, looking back on those months still feels too embarrassing and shameful. Ginia tries to refocus and tie together the stray thoughts drifting around. It's a level of honesty she's not used to, but bottling everything will eventually suffocate her and her gods too.]

I didn't learn it was okay to be weak until I came here. I guess I'm still getting used to the idea. There's a lot I'm getting used to still. But coming here was the best thing to happen to me. I guess it's the case for everyone here from what I've heard.

[And I could have lost everything. It's nothing she needs to say; Kimi was there, he knows. Her breath skates across him again. Ginia glances at his neck, traces up to where it connects into his jaw.]

...I really want to kiss you right now, but I'm afraid of making the same mistakes again.

Edited 2019-03-21 20:09 (UTC)

[Patiently, Kimi keeps his hold on her, reading her hands as she tells him her worries. There are a lot of people who are quite fond of her already in the temple, as relatively short a time she's been among them, and he knows that she's seen of as reliable and strong. But this sort of thing... It doesn't seem too surprising.]

[Strength is good for a lot of things, but it's a weight of its own when left in the hands of people who don't have confidence or knowledge of other things in life.]

[A soft smile flickers across his face at her last words, and he turns his head just enough to look at her.]

If you know what the mistakes are, then you know what to look at for, right? If you want to kiss me, then you can kiss me... but you can wait, too, until it's not so frightening. You don't have to rush.

I'm right here.

[He's better than I deserve, Ginia thinks, but isn't that undercutting Kimi's judgement? He could have asked anyone out on White Day or at any other time. It didn't have to be her, but it was. Trust in his judgment, trust in him.

Because he's the one right here.

Ginia lifts her head from his shoulder and smiles at him. Oh, Kimi. They're not very far apart, it'd take no effort to kiss him. And she wants to. She wants to feel his lips, against hers, see what would happen next. Maybe she'll push him against the counter, or the wall, or the floor likes he wants. He could do the same to her. Forget food, forget video games, they could pass the time with each other, remind each other they're still living in the afterlife after another brush with death.

That's why it'd be a mistake.

Just once she'd like a kiss tied to happier memories. Just once, she'd like to look back at things and remember the moment as itself and not the circumstances around it. Is it silly? Maybe, but it's how she feels.

Ginia pulls away, hands lingering a little as they slide off his body. Sorry, Kimi, getting pinned against a wall will have to wait. But she feels better, some of the dread of the day burned off. Sentiment takes its place, eyes shyly averting and cheeks red.]

Thank you, Kimi. You're a good boyfriend. ["I hope I can be a good girlfriend for you."] I'll let you finish cooking, it'd be a shame to let the food go to waste.

[It is not entirely a surprise when those hands move themselves from around him, and he looks back with a smile that she might not see with her avoidance to eye contact right now. At least his hands are easier.]

So many compliment, and you haven't even taken a bite. The good news is that it's mostly done now.

[Just a little bit of arrangement, and ta da! Scooping his hand beneath one bowl, he offers it to her.]

Take a seat and I'll get the game stared up. The graphics are pretty good, although I haven't gotten to explore everything yet.

[It's not as if she hasn't had his cooking before. Ginia takes the bowl and carries it to the couch. The pillows are comfortable; she nests into them with one at her back and one on her lap. As she waits for Kimi to set up the game and join her to eat, she takes pictures of the food. The plating is nice and it's a nice memory for an otherwise stressful day.

...It wouldn't be hard sending the rumor mill turning. The night shift needs entertainment too. Ginia whistles to get Kimi's attention, taking a picture when he turns her way.

It's also the first opportunity she has to look at his shirt. Her brow furrows as she puzzles over it, face crinkling and huffing in amusement when it clicks.]

Nice shirt.

Ebisu's Inbox

April 1st

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject