coastal | voicemail.

voicemail.

[Following the "record your voicemail at the beep" message--]

What? Who gave you the right to order me around? -- W-Wait, was that the beep?

I wasn't prepared--!! [a whispered hiss:] How do you get this thing to stop-?!

[Beep!

You know the drill! IC Inbox for voice/video/action threads for whatever occasion.]

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[Well, prickly relations are how all of Lili's relationships start. Yet even as Yu is too sincere in his text, Lili has to look down at it in mild wonder.]

Not for too long. Tea is acceptable.

[Is that... fair? If he wants to spend time with her and - and she can't deny that she's been in need of company for some time. She's really rather lonely in the end... even if she doesn't realize.]

Great. How does this place sound?

[ He texts her the name of a cafe he goes to often, smiling down at his CereVice. Lili isn't an easy person to know, but that's fine. She's a person whose companionship must be earned. ]

[Ah, she's heard of this one - but it's not a place she's actually been to. Regardless, she's going to collect her things.]

Acceptable. I will meet you there.

[ He texts back with a "See you soon" before tucking his CereVice away.

Thankfully, he's had enough time to prepare for this. He's always wanted to pay Lili back for that particular gesture... it was probably a little overboard to put as much effort into this as he did, but it felt appropriate. Maybe this is him being too forward with his gestures again, but... it's a kindness for a kindness.

Hopefully she'll like it.

Grabbing a little box from the apartment's refrigerator, he heads out.

The cafe isn't too far. He'll grab them a table and wait there. The box - it looks like a small cakebox, white, unlabeled, largely unremarkable - sits on the table before him, and he stares off into space idly, lost in thought. At least, until he spots her, and he sits up a little, smiling. ]

Good to see you, Lili-san.

[ . . . stop smiling.

Lili still doesn't know what to do with that - doesn't know what to do with Yu in general and so she narrows her eyes a little bit out of habit before just choosing to nod once. This is fine. She can learn to deal with whatever he's going to throw at her. (No, she really has no idea.)]

Good day.

[And she'll take the seat opposite from him, even if she's not quite admitting that it's good to see him too.

Lili is so difficult.]

Did you want something from me?

[ He regards her with quiet surprise. If she were anyone else, he might laugh at such a question. But it's Lili, so he doesn't. Instead his smile returns, but it's a little wry this time. ]

Only to see you.

[ After a moment's thought, he places a hand on the box and slides it towards her. ]

Please, take this. I made them for you. Consider it repayment for the time you got me those macarons.

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . . what the flippity flop.

Lili's blinking in obvious surprise at that, looking between the box and him, the box and him, the box and - ]

.... Only to see me?

[Proceeds to just confusedly parrot him, because she's not used to that at all.]

And you made these for me as repayment?

[For something that she had almost forgotten?

Lili An needs a second to catch up, sorry.]

[ He pauses, careful.

There are things he might say, to another person. Easy things, the things that come naturally to his lips that right now he holds back.

Of course; I'm happy to see a friend.

But he won't say that to Lili. If he ever does, he'll have to feel the word has been earned, hard-fought. He's made too many mistakes with his brash, forward words around this girl, with all her delicacy and all her strength, her gentleness and her pride; if he can help it, if he knows to avoid it, he won't make another. ]

I like your company, [ is what he says instead, quietly sincere. He can't help but feel drawn, a moth to her flame. He was burned, but he doesn't mind that. He burned her first, and worse. The repairing is his to do, such as it can be done. ]

Go on, open it.

[ If she does, she'll find inside a small collection of hand-made mochi. There's about six of them in there. He didn't have the time or ingredients to make more. The labyrinth is still fresh in all their memories, after all, and everyone is still recuperating. But he could manage this much. ]

[There's another moment of confusion - and vague suspicion. Lili doesn't consider Yu to be a dishonorable person and that's why she doesn't immediately lash out. But "I like your company" is still not something she's used to hearing. Her face turns red for a moment before she shakes it off, fights it down.

Yu doesn't understand her and he's made that clear before. While it may not entirely be his fault, she's still more wary than she would be with someone else.

Regardless, she'll open it and her brow furrows in confusion. Hand-made mochi - it's so neatly done and personalized, unlike the items that Lili buys for other people. It's a sweet gift.

So she comes to a natural conclusion:]

You likely intended this for another person....

[ He doesn't understand her ... and he knows he doesn't. That's why he's here. That's why he wants to get to know her better. Because he'd like to. He wants to learn. He truly thinks there's something special about Lili.

The comment again almost gets him to laugh. Instead his brows draw up and together over his smile, pinching. He gives his head a slow, gentle shake. ]

No, they're definitely for you, Lili-san.

[ . . . well that manages to get her to flush because it's so - personalized and kind that she still can't quite understand. A person like her, who is so very much used to gifts that come from lavish places and are meant to win her favor over strictly because of her status.

No, these are just cute treats from a well-meaning person.

Even if she's not sure how to handle that and instead she fixes her gaze down at the table.]

.... Then... thank you, I suppose - even if I still can't comprehend why you'd put this much work into wanting to get to know me.

Your time must be valuable.

[Since... he does seem like the kind of person that other people would want to be around.]

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