IC INBOX: HUGTOPIA.

[begguiling]

Heeeey, you've reached me, Magolor! Actually, you've reached my voicemail. You must be so disappointed. But don't worry, leave a message and I'm sure I'll call you back!

[text/action/other?]

Comments

[daikonrose]

[ Admittedly, Magolor isn't the easiest fella to read when you're accustomed to human bodies and uncovered faces; and Kyoko is aware that she doesn't know him well at all anyway. Something feels a bit curious about the way he finally releases her, but she's not sure she can pinpoint the emotion behind it any more accurately than "maybe serious, possibly, for some reason."

Unsure of the kinds of feelings she's supposed to be responding to, all she can do is fold her hands in front of her, tip her head a bit, and be just as frank as usual. ]

No... I didn't think you were hassling me. [ Except for the hug. ] It just feels dishonest to let someone praise me for doing what I felt like, you know? And it's not like I'm making anything all that amazing. [ She doesn't even have real butter! Or vanilla! It's a travesty! ] --Oh, but I don't plan to stop making cakes! Don't worry!

[begguiling]

You're a very honest person, aren't you?

[She must be. It feels dishonest to her even to accept praise; that's a strange thought for Magolor, who mostly feels dishonest when he's literally lying to people's faces, and sometimes not even then.

He hesitates, tipping his head at her with an enigmatic smile.]

I'll tell you something honest in return, okay? I don't have a very good sense of taste! It's not part of my biology. I like things that taste really sweet and rich, and fruit, because it's sugary. I can taste those things more easily. And I like things that feel good in my mouth. So to me, they do taste amazing!

[daikonrose]

Huh!?

[ Her cheeks burn, half for being called out--she knows it doesn't make her cool, okay!--and half from a wave of guilt over all the things she's ever lied about. What is she supposed to say to that!?

Fortunately, Magolor keeps talking, and what he has to say is way more interesting than her embarrassment. Kyoko leans in a bit, eyes round. ]

Is that how it is! I wouldn't have guessed at all! You talk about sweets so enthusiastically, but I thought that meant you were a big-shot connoisseur!

[ ... Well. It's something her imagination supplied during long hours toiling desperately over sugar and flour, anyway, rather than anything Magolor himself made her think. ]

[begguiling]

Don't get me wrong! I'm definitely enthusiastic about them! I'm just telling you why I am. Something like a riceball isn't going to do much for me, but a piece of cake is perfect. The point is, it doesn't have to be as perfect as whatever standard you're holding yourself too to be great! . . . Not that you should start slacking off on it either. Hehehe!

[He winks. She's not the type who would do that, he's pretty sure, but he has to needle her a tiny bit anyway. He does still have standards! But no, he is never going to be a great food critic, and she may as well know it.]

[daikonrose]

[ It doesn't have to be perfect to be great, he says. It's been a while since anyone thought to say something like that to her--since anyone knew her well enough to see a need, really. There's a pause, and Kyoko's face softens, before she gives him a fresh smile. ]

Then, next time I'll just make a really, really big one! Seven is a good number for cake layers, right?

[begguiling]

[It's a really striking point that for a moment he's distracted enough by her face being cute that the prospect of getting a seven-layer cake is a secondary consideration.

. . . But, just for a moment. It filters in pretty quickly, and of course he brightens even more. Who would turn that down?!]

It's a very lucky number! Especially for the one eating the cake! ♥ Hmmmmm . . . make it big enough to share with me, okay? That's my only request!

[daikonrose]

[ That just earns a pleased little giggle. ]

Seven layers is going to be big enough to share, no matter what! I mean, I definitely wouldn't make you a miniature cake.

[begguiling]

Eating a cake that size wouldn't make for a miniature me, either. I have to watch my figure!

[No he doesn't, and he says it with exactly as much seriousness as it deserves, which is none. Then he goes in for another hug, echoing her giggle.]

The least I can do is help you earn back a little money for your labor!

[daikonrose]

[ There's hardly time to decide if she should laugh before HUGS ARE HAPPENING AGAIN?! ]

--You--you don't have to! It was a gift, a gift!!

[begguiling]

Well then, consider that this is a gift to myself too! It's not like I don't also make money from it. But that time, I just wanted to hug you in thanks.

[To his mild internal chagrin, he means it.]

[daikonrose]

[ Wow, it's... impossible to find an argument against either of those things. Cheeks flushed, Kyoko goes quiet for a second. ]

... I guess I don't mind letting you earn some money off me this time.

[begguiling]

Ahhh, you're doubly generous. ♥ Be careful, or you might become one of my favorite hug targets! Awful, right . . . ?

[IS THIS FLIRTING . . . not a thing Magolor whips out often, especially not in a one in one sense, but there you go.]

[daikonrose]

[ Is... is that a threat? That's definitely a threat, right? Definitely a threat! ]

Th-this time, I said this time! Just this time! I'm not generous!