coastal | voicemail.

[Well, he does grant himself the permission of looking amused for a moment. Had Tenten heard that, she'd have loudly wondered what kind of brain damage Neji had recently sustained. And maybe Shikamaru had a point about Troublesome Women- did Lili want him to speak, or not?

Look at just how much he cared.

Yes, the war was won. He'd said that already.

Lili won't even get a nod of affirmation because if they're playing at being rude shits then Neji sure won't fall behind. It's that same unapologetic poker face throughout.]

Yes, it makes perfect sense. Even in my home, we had electricity but our preferred means of relaying information was either in person or by hawk and I do hope chatting through the screen of these devices doesn't become as popular back home as it apparently has here. Misunderstandings are abundant enough without the help. Either way, you can only call this place futuristic based on your own experiences, and that's hardly fair.

[To whom, son-- he shrugs. He told her this was uninteresting; he can't be faulted.]

It hardly matters.

[Oddly enough, Lili doesn't even consider this to be that rude - walking away from her (or essentially doing the technological equivalent) was very rude to her. However this? This sort of exchange is crisp and clipped and nothing that she's particularly offended by. Her standards for amiable conversation are so hilariously low.

She raises a brow.]

You don't think it matters? The nature of the world that we've found ourselves in for an indefinite period of time, handled by incompetent people and constantly putting the lives of innocents in danger - it doesn't matter?

The environment hardly matters.

That we've been led to believe our worlds have been destroyed and that it is a mercy of the benevolent CERES that we're subjected to whatever games fit their fancy is what matters. And we could have been taken to rough it in a jungle or placed in a gilded cage with more luxuries than Cerealia, and it would change nothing.

[It would change only their everyday, their new Normal, and before the girl gets the idea to point out the obvious to him yet again:] People would survive or grow complacent and perhaps a few will always remember that we're here as prisoners and not guests. Subjugation matters but where it happens, doesn't.

[There's a sharp look at that because Lili might agree to a certain extent - there are definitely people here who have grown way too content with the life that's been put in front of them, including all the new amenities. However the idea that he thinks that there are only a few who disagree with the status quo bothers her.]

Excuse me?

You speak boldly for someone who is so newly arrived to the colony. Who are you to pass judgment on those who reside here?

[She's excused.]

Do you make it a habit to focus on the most trivial things that've been said?

[Because he doesn't even know how they've ended up to this point-- he should have ignored her call. There's the tell of frustration bleeding into his tone despite himself. So he'll have to remember to weigh the meaning of each and every damned word around her from now on (or not, he was under no obligation to her), and the idea of it was enough to make him want to shut her off again.

Here he thought policing every phrase out of his mouth was finally over and done with. How stupid of him, apparently.] Make it 'a few' or 'plenty'- whichever will best suit you.

If you don't want what you say to be a focus of the conversation, gauge your words better. Or perhaps say clearly what you mean.

[SHE'S NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE.

However she's just going to huff at that, shaking her head.]

Neither suits me because you seem to think that subjugation is inevitable here and it thoroughly discredits the work of the people who have been here for some time. I'm just pointing out that it's incredibly offensive to those people for you to pass judgment so harshly.

[She had the makings of an exquisite politician. Neji schooled himself back to convey nothing but blank detachment. There was no way he could say it aloud without the insult beneath the words being betrayed.

And anyway, insult wasn't his objective here. Suddenly it's to learn and he dares to hope--] There was someone saying we have implants in our eyes and in our brain, every last one of us. Is that a lie?

[Such is the life when the only thing you've been taught in life is to be a wallflower and decided to lash out the complete opposite direction and try to Lead.

Lili raises a brow.]

You have a lot of nerve to insult and then ask for answers.

[Regardless, she's also not interested in keeping information to herself so she admits:]

It's not a lie. There is a circulation of information being passed around with every new disaster. Are you interested in learning more?

[The boy's bright enough to take the compliment and don't you dare say it isn't one. There was little to make life worthwhile if a servant gave in to becoming docile.

And what did he care, really, if she wanted to take his words and turn them into insults? She would know when he would ever match distracted words with fitting intention.

He holds a breath. Ice behind the white eyes hardens-- it's all routine, really.]

Then whatever work has been done by people here prior is appreciated but not enough.

[Facts that could be said in a kinder voice. Still.]

Information in my world has been worth killing for; I find it difficult to believe anything truly important can be passed around so freely.

... You're a very irritating person, do you realize that?

[Though it's rather ironic coming from Lili. Still, she's just going to square her shoulders and refuse to back down from this, for once feeling in her element when she faced against someone that she inherently disagrees with on many levels.]

Unless you decide to do more than what's been done, then your judgments are coming from an empty place. I have no interest in hearing criticisms from a coward who will only take information and then judge the sources.

However also recognize that this is not your world. I don't care for you, but if you have an interest in helping the people here return to their homes and find out more about the situation, I'll share with you what I know. I don't care for what you may find "difficult" or not, I don't lie and I don't find a purpose in withholding information.

Take what I say as you will.

[That's nothing new; Neji has the gall to seem almost disappointed.

Everything from her was wrong- when in heaven's name had he ever criticized instead of repeat facts given to him and. Oh, but then she calls him that word and. And no, that won't do, won't be tolerated. Because it's nothing new to him either. And certainly he's been called worse.

But his jaw tenses as he wrestles his own barrage of obscenities back-- because no shinobi would take that lying down, because he had fought to--

And she knew nothing of it, and called him the Judge?

And Hyuga were old, and ruthless, and prideful. And Neji was as old as he was going to get and so why shouldn't he--]

I will learn what I must on my own.

[Docile as a lamb.]

Will be there anything else to entertain you with tonight, Lady Lili?

[And the practiced title of contempt. For good measure.]

[She raises an eyebrow.

At least contempt is something that she's able to swallow. Being treated badly is hardly anything that she's unfamiliar with, after all, and so she doesn't flinch at how he addresses her.]

Just Lili.

Don't delude yourself into thinking that status has anything to do with this.

How very generous of the noble to say.

[The Coward dips his head low.

And again, that's that. He shuts the video feed off.

The only regret being that he's well aware of how petty he'd been- ignorance would have been much more pleasing.]

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welp

laughs

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