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003. (v2) [video]
[At first, there is no sound; there is only the image of Xanth's forearm. Lines of letters curl around his fingers, twist around his hand, and spiral onto his arm. The ink, jet black, is stark against his pale skin.]
Th-this-- it means I-I've been-- t-too quiet, right? I-It... it wants me to-- t-to say... s-something.
[It's been a while since he's checked in, made sure people knew he hadn't vanished, but there is nothing to say.
The feed remains set on Xanth's arm.]
I'm... o-okay. I'm s--still here.
A-Are... are you guys... o-okay, too?
[He heard that crack some days ago. No one has called for help on the journals, so no one was hurt in the expedition that came after, and no one had been hurt during the initial bang.
Or so he hopes.]
Th-this-- it means I-I've been-- t-too quiet, right? I-It... it wants me to-- t-to say... s-something.
[It's been a while since he's checked in, made sure people knew he hadn't vanished, but there is nothing to say.
The feed remains set on Xanth's arm.]
I'm... o-okay. I'm s--still here.
A-Are... are you guys... o-okay, too?
[He heard that crack some days ago. No one has called for help on the journals, so no one was hurt in the expedition that came after, and no one had been hurt during the initial bang.
Or so he hopes.]
[Commentlog]
[Wait, was he asking her if he needed clothes?
Well, two could play at that.]
Heh, maybe.
[Commentlog]
H-Here, just, I'll-- I-I'll grab s-something.
[He opens the closet, grabs a shirt and some pants (does he have any clean underwear?), and he is set to go. It's all wrinkly, as folding is for people who care, but these are clean enough.]
[Commentlog]
Well? Come on, you lazy bum!
[She taps her foot in feigned impatience, eager to make him laugh at her, to make him forget the things that let him get like this to begin with.
And to forget them herself.]
Let's go!
[And she tugs him towards the door again.]
[Commentlog]
I'm-- I-I'm coming, I'm c--coming!
[Xanth lets Kairi pull him toward the door, and then if she'll take him that far, even out of the room.
He forgets entirely to lock his door, but that's for the best. His keys aren't even in his pants.]
[Commentlog]
She doesn't pull him inside.
Instead she stops short and goes to shove him gently in the back with her palms pushing him toward the door.]
And don't just go in there and pretend you showered when you didn't!
[For a moment, she's forgotten who she's teasing, that Xanth never went to school, never had to endure the stink of thirteen year old boys after gym class, wouldn't even know why she'd think he'd do something like that.]
[Commentlog]
I--I won't, I, I-I promise!
[He takes a moment to wave at Kairi, and then he makes his way into the washroom.
Even as he goes to shower, his smile lingers.]
[Commentlog]
Xanth looked like he hadn't eaten in days and oranges wasn't going to cut it. She wasn't a good cook-...
Okay, she was a terrible cook. But she knew how to cook fish! And even though Xanth didn't like spicy soup, well... That was just because chili powder didn't go in soup! But it did go in fish.
But she wouldn't have time to catch anything, and she wasn't very good at filleting. She'd have to get something from the main kitchen and replace it later. And she'd have to be fast. But fish didn't take long... Right?
These are Kairi's thoughts as she hurries away from the bathrooms and out of the barracks. She doesn't have a lot of time, but maybe if she hurries she can be back by the time Xanth is done!]
[Commentlog]
But this is, sadly, not to be.
Xanth's shower is as quick as he can make it and quite chilly. He alternates between scrubbing himself under the water and then jumping back out to warm up. By the time he finishes, he realizes that he'd forgotten to bring a towel, and he mutters a curse.
He spends some time air-drying before he decides, fuck it, and gets dressed. He's only a little damp, anyway. But it gives Kairi plenty of time to do whatever it is Kairi is doing, at least.
Xanth emerges from the washroom a little sadder, a little colder, and a lot cleaner than when he went in.]
[Commentlog]
She didn't have time to make everything look nice. There's just some fish pieces and lettuce on the plate. The fish is mildly spiced and has lemon juice squeezed over it, but that's all she could really manage. And it didn't cook evenly either. But at least it isn't burned!
She's so engrossed in the food that she doesn't notice Xanth right away. When she does see him, she stops short and does her very best to stifle a giggle.
He looks damp, especially his hair. If he were anything like Riku or Sora, he'd look cranky at her.]
Come one.
[She turns toward the stairs. There's a dining room in this building, right?]
We're eating.
[Commentlog]
He follows behind Kairi, peeking over her shoulder at whatever it is she's made. Looks fishy, smells spicy. Cue apprehension. Spicy is not his favorite, but Kairi knows that by now, doesn't she?
Xanth puts his trust in her. Whatever it is, he should eat it anyway. He could count his ribs in the shower...]
W--We?
[Commentlog]
[She isn't the best judge of that either. Would it be enough for both of them? Well, if Xanth was really hungry, she could always have less.]
I can't cook very well, but you looked hungry.
[She starts climbing the stairs. It's a half-truth. He looked like he hadn't been taking care of himself, and that probably meant he hadn't been eating.]
[Commentlog]
I-- I-I bet it's good.
[In truth, he has no idea; anything Kairi has ever made for him was some sort of dessert. But whether it's good or not, as long as it's edible, Xanth will eat as much as he can, because he hasn't been taking care of himself. He hasn't been able to muster up the will to even go to dinner regularly. Despite his lack of appetite, he knows he needs to eat.
That, and he doesn't want Kairi to feel bad about her cooking. He's already upset her once.]
[Commentlog]
[She glances back at him as she turns onto the second flight of stairs.]
Bet what?
[Commentlog]
U-Um--
[He smiles again, though it's unsure.]
I-I wasn't, uh, r--really serious!
[Besides, he doesn't have anything to bet but clothing! And he will not bet his clothing for even a joke.]
[Commentlog]
[She hadn't really. But she was still game if he was.]
Come on, if I win, you have to eat the whole thing.
And if you win...?
[She trails off. She's forgotten who she's talking to again. Were he Sora or Riku, he would know the play. Now it was his turn to name what he wanted in exchange.]
[Commentlog]
[But he's got nothing to bet!
Kairi has things to bet, though, doesn't she?]
H-How about, if-- i-if it i-is good, a-and I win, you-- you make it for me a--again?
[Commentlog]
[That was easy.
And with a smile, she turned into the hallway and soon after, the small dining hall.
She deposited the plate on a table and glanced back to see if Xanth was following.]
Well?
[Commentlog]
[He takes a seat at the table. The fish smells spicy and it's cooled from hot to warm, but Xanth would eat anything Kairi put in front of him at this point. Without further ado, he digs in.
Ha. It might not be the best thing he's ever eaten, but it is good. Xanth swallows the first bite, licks his lips, and then shoots Kairi a small grin.]
I-- I win.
[Now, please excuse him as he continues to eat!]
[Commentlog]
Hey, are you just saying that?
[She giggles.]
Because you can get better food from the kitchen.
[Commentlog]
[Xanth gets a forkful and then offers it to her. Come on, Kairi! It's good! Really!]
Re: [Commentlog]
But it would be rude to say now.]
Heh, okay.
[She takes the fork and nibbles at the end, swallows and then grins.]
You win.
[Commentlog]
S-So you'll-- y-you'll make this a-again? I-If I... a-ask?
[Don't worry. He'd never inconvenience you with making him food. Just... if he ever stops feeling like making food for himself again, he knows who to call.]
[Commentlog]
Well, not all the time.
[Cooking is not one of Kairi's favourite hobbies. She's discovered that unless she's with friends and they're having fun, she doesn't actually like being stuck in a kitchen.]
[Commentlog]
[His tastebuds would die! Some spice is good here and there, but the burnination! Xanth is no Trogdor.]
[Commentlog] I HAVE NO APPROPRIATELY CRACKY RESPONSE ;A;
[Kairi could, and happily.
Well, no...]
Heh, I'd miss the smoothies.
[Commentlog] IT'S OKAY, IT JUST SPRUNG UP ON ME