impheired | Voicemail (Cerealia)

Well it... [Kuzuryuu sighs, rubbing at the back of his neck.] it happens sometimes. I don't know why, I don't think anybody does. But it's every bit as random as being brought here is. And I don't know where exactly they go either.

[He's inclined to say nowhere, since they're just backups or whatever but...well he's not going to pretend like he understands how this place works. Because he doesn't. Not fully.]

But I do know that...that error message is how you know it's happened. Two of my classmates disappeared barely a week ago and that's the message we got when we tried to call 'em.

[She's quiet and listening, but it's mostly because she doesn't know what to say. She's just sort of processing it, trying to figure it out...though after a minute her breathing quickens and her eyes start to water.]

They can't just leave though! Where do they go? How can they just disappear? I thought CERES saved us so how can they just disappear?

[Sorry...she understands that you probably don't know the answer to any of that, but it's hard to accept. Not everything of what you said is processing fully yet.]

If...if we're just codes what does that mean? They saved our codes or whatever so can they do that again? H-he's not going to be gone forever now is he?

[Dammit why can't she be the smart one. This would all make sense to Dipper but she just doesn't get it.]

Edited 2015-06-24 02:54 (UTC)

I don't know, Mabel. [Well at least he gets that she's not in any fit state of mind to properly process information. He's not mad that she's basically asking him the same questions he's already answered.] I wish I did, but the only difference between what I know and what you know about this shit is the timing.

I'm sure he's not gone forever though. They brought him here once, I'm sure they can do it a second time. We're just data, after all.

[And presumably Dipper didn't undergo avatar death/deletion so he should be fine. Then again, with as many of his "dead" classmates as there are here, avatar death hardly seems to matter.]

...r-right. They're...all super powerful or whatever so they can totally do that.

[Hearing that and saying that isn't exactly helping the tears though. But...there's rubbing at her eyes going on, so she's trying to stop at least. Just ignore those little hiccups and the fact that her cheeks are steadily getting wetter.]

I'm sorry you already said you d-didn't know that. That was a stupid question.

It's okay. [He reaches into one of his inside jacket pockets and pulls out a tissue, handing it to Mabel.] Here. Wipe your eyes and blow your nose.

[He can't deal with this. Little girls shouldn't cry.]

[Rubbing at one of her eyes with a hand still, she takes the tissue with a thank you and does as told. Gonna...keep a hand on it though. Just until she's done crying, because she'll likely need it more than that. And for a little while, she doesn't say anything either, just sort of silently crying. This doesn't last forever, though, thankfully. Eventually she quietly pipes up again.]

M...mmaybe when he comes back, he'll bring Grunkle Stan with him...

[Bright side. Gotta look on the bright side.]

[Kuzuryuu shoves his hands in his pockets, watching Mabel carefully.]

Maybe. That's the old guy with the eyepatch over his glasses, right?

Uh-huh!

[Just gonna rub her eyes one more time before looking up at him.]

Wait...when did you see him? Is he here or something?

Well I didn't... [Fuck. He probably shouldn't have brought this up.] it wasn't really him. It was back around Christmas, remember that whole mess with the mall and whatn? I ran into Dipper on my way home and the two of them were together. But...that was just CERES fucking with us. Uploading fake data or something...fuck if I know what exactly they did.

It's not important, I shouldn't have brought it up.

[Yeah...that obviously hit a little bit of a nerve, with the way she sort of curls in on herself a little after that. No, Mabel, no more crying. Come on you just calmed down from that don't you start again!! Just don't think about it. Positives, think about positives!]

...t-that's him, yeah. But...it is important! Cause since you know what he looks like, if he ever does come here for real...

If he ever does come here for real, then I know who to send him to. Same with Dipper, though I'm sure that's a given.

...yeah.

[With a snuffle, Mabel rubs at her nose with her sleeve. And then she looks back up at Kuzuryuu.]

...they better show up. It's very irresponsible leaving a twelve year old girl here all alone after all! Pretty sure mom and dad would be upset with them both!

[Trying to lighten the mood a little, even if that makes her sad saying that out loud. Because now she's got that big two bedroom apartment all to herself...what is she supposed to do with that? God now there's suddenly a lot of things she has to think and worry about with him gone.]

Yeah, it is.

[Okay he knows he can't just leave it at that because that does exactly nothing to cheer a person up. What can he do instead that's better for that...]

Here, come walk with me for a bit.

[He'll turn and take a step in the opposite direction, but not quite moving away until he's sure Mabel is following him.]

Okay...

[It takes nothing at all to get her to follow, moving to actually catch up with Kuzuryuu even. So at least she's not so upset that she's willing to just walk behind him, that's a good sign. Not all that talkative yet though.]

[That's fine. She'll talk when she's ready and Kuzuryuu's not going to try and force her into a conversation when she's clearly not up to it just yet. So he leads her through the shopping district in silence. It'll take them a few minutes to reach their destination, which turns out to be a small, out of the way café.]

In here. [He pulls open the door, attempting to usher Mabel inside. It's kind of dimly lit inside, but it has a surprisingly cozy atmosphere in spite of this fact. And due to the very small number of staff and patrons inside, it's fairly quiet inside too. But the desserts in the display case at the counter look really good! And judging by the display boards, there's no shortage of drinks to try.]

[Followed in silence she did. And she's grateful that no conversations were forced out of her. When he opens the door, Mabel stops and looks at the cafe before up to Kuzuryuu. She's not going to ask, because she's not so naive that she can't recognize why someone's taking her to a cafe, but there's still a questioning look on her face.

Despite this though, it's easy to usher her inside, eyes just looking all around. At the tables, at the lights, at the desserts case and the display boards. Not straying too far away from his side though.]

[All the questioning look gets is a nod in the direction of the door. Go in, go in! And once you're in, move towards the counter. Come on, come with him.]

Order anything you want, I've got it.

[Hot drinks are good for feeling better, yes? Yes. Something sweet doesn't hurt either.]

[She's going! She's coming! Jeez hold your horses, action brackets! Though once they reach the counter, and he tells her to order whatever, hopefully he won't mind those fingers curling into his pant leg there.]

Anything? Are you sure?

[Okay, usually people just ask her if she wants this or that and she's okay with that. But being told she can get anything is different.]

[He glances down when he feels the fingers on his pants, but he doesn't try to swat the hand away or pull away from it.]

Wouldn't have said it if I wasn't.

[Yup, anything.]

[She nods at that, looking back at the menus and displays...what to get, what to get...

After a moment she's decided, letting go of his pants to approach the counter more fully and give the cashier her order. Hot chocolate sounds good, yes. With whipped cream, yes please! Annnd one of those really big, delicious looking strawberry parfaits! Just as the second item leaves her mouth though, it's followed by a, "wait," and she turns to look back at her friend.]

Is it okay if I get both?

[Kuzuryuu nods.]

Yeah, go ahead.

[With a little smile she turns back to finish her order then, stepping out of the way so Kuzuryuu can place his order too.]

[Kuzuryuu's order is simple. Just oolong tea. Wow, boring. But at least now Mabel knows she was right to give him tea for Christmas?]

Wanna go pick a seat?

[Meanwhile, he'll pay for this and presumably bring it over once they've prepared everything.]

[Oh good! That's really good to know. More tea will be in his gift future now.

But alright, gonna go pick a seat! It takes a few moments, because it's gotta be juuuust the right seat...oh! This cute little table looks perfect over here. Out of the way, cozy against a wall, perfect! And when he reaches the table with all the goodies, she's quick to take a sip of her hot chocolate.]

This is really good...thank you.

[That small smile from before persists because it's hard to be sad when you have sweet stuff to enjoy with a friend...]

Good. It better be, otherwise I'd have to go have a talk with that barista.

[Is he joking or is he serious, it's really kind of hard to tell from both his tone and his expression. He's probably serious though.]

And you're welcome.

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