begguiling | IC INBOX: HUGTOPIA.

I'm just kiiiiidding! I love company, don't worry about that. Er . . .

[Okay, that's not always true. In fact, the reason he trails off is that he is realizing exactly this second that he's never once had company in Havenwell. He's plenty socially aware enough to have been on the urge of inviting her in, but, uh. Is his place in a suitable state for company? No, no it is not. Because he's been living like a gremlin since Taranza left, never once having considered someone else might want to visit him, especially not when he's been doing the Slight Depression Thing.

Oh no. He looks genuinely embarrassed for a moment before he shutters it, taking the box instead of addressing that.]

What's this about?

[ Luckily, Kyoko has shockingly low expectations of manners for everyone besides herself. She didn't come here expecting anything in particular, except to hand over the fruits of her labor, and it doesn't occur to her that she would definitely invite Magolor in were their positions switched. So the only transgression occurring here is that she showed up out of the blue, early in the morning!

Surrendering the box easily, she clasps her hands neatly in front of her. ]

A snack! Please accept it! Even though it's just the same orange cake as before.

[ There were extra caramelized almonds on top this time though. ]

[THE CAKE . . . THE DELICIOUS CAKE! He holds it to himself in a moment of grateful surprise, like he might think it's going to be taken away again—then he sets it down and moves in to give her a big hug instead. Deal with it, Kyoko!]

Reallyyyyy?! For me~? It was so good last time! I've been thinking about it every day!

[ Her eyes widen in the moment before the hug happens, but oh no, how rude would it be to duck away in this scenario? And that time lost to hesitation destroys any chance she had.

She goes completely stiff, neither actively protesting nor reciprocating. She's dealing?? ]

You really didn't have to think about it that much! And it doesn't deserve this much thanks! Really!

[Dealing is good enough. Dealing still means profit! He holds onto her as he tips up to look at her shocked face, quietly amused. . . . The truth is, he hasn't actually gotten as much touch lately as he was when he was going hard months back, and it turns out he'd acclimated enough to that lifestyle that now he misses it. How embarrassing?! Geez.]

Hehehe, don't get me wrong. I wasn't thinking about it for your sake or anything. I wouldn't waste my time on anything that wasn't worth it! So take the compliment, hmm?

[ Wow, something about that compliment felt kinda rude? But she's not totally sure, and Magolor's embrace isn't the ideal place to think it all over. She stammers uncertainly. ]

Y-yes... thank you very much.... Please enjoy it.

[ She is trying to find a polite way to squirm, but it manifests as just plain old ordinary wiggling. ]

[He wiggles along with her as if he thinks it's part of a game or something, and not her being uncomfortable. But then, after another moment too long, he pulls back, though he keeps his hands on her arms.]

Mind if I ask you something? You've got some good talent here! Why are you spending it on me? Especially when you're not the kind of person who takes a sincere thanks gracefully.

[ WOW what an extremely awkward moment or two he kept her in, there, thank you Magolor. Kyoko is still recovering when he asks his question, so it's another moment before she gathers herself enough to process it. ]

Huh? Talent--no--I mean, it's not like I was too busy to figure out how to make a cake the first time around, and I didn't have to worry about wasting money when it kept coming out wrong.... And now that I have the recipe figured out, it's not a big deal at all, you know?

[ That doesn't quite answer the question though, does it? Kyoko clears her throat, eyes flicking to one of those hands still resting on her arm. ]

If you mean this time--I just woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, last night. I still had some oranges from Kaito, so I thought I would use them up. And then I just thought, I hadn't seen you in a while. That's all it is.

Hmmmm. I see.

[He smiles at her, still perky. Internally, though . . . well, he's not sure how to feel. Or maybe more accurately, he's not sure how much he wants to sit here and feel the way he knows he feels. She just hadn't seen him in a while! She'd thought of him. "That's all it is." There's something deeply embarrassing about knowing how nothing that is, and having her lampshade herself how nothing that is, and yet it doesn't feel like nothing to him. Because he doesn't get it often, especially here. Because he doesn't encourage it in any honest terms from anyone. Because he doesn't really know how, or want to cave to the part of himself that wishes it did.

Now he's the one who feels awkward about the hug, because he wishes it had been a better one, and it's too late to give her a better one now. He lets go of her arms instead, though slowly.]

Just so you know . . . I asked because I really wanted to know, not because I was hassling you about it. I don't want to discourage you! Not just because I get cake out of it.

[ 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!

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!

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. ]

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.]

[ 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?

[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!

[ 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.

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!

[ 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!!

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.]

[ 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.

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.]

[ 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!

IC INBOX: HUGTOPIA.

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