IC CONTACT

[saving_sound]

I'm sorry, but I seem to have missed your call... Please leave a message after the tone and I will get back to you as soon as I can!

TEXT ✔ | AUDIO ✔ | VIDEO ✔

Comments

[freezerburned]

[And isn't this familiar? Isaac knocks on her door an hour or so later, looking sheepishly toward the ground.

There are bags at his feet with the hamster food, but there's also a handful of long-stemmed flowers he's unsubtly trying to hide behind his back as he waits for her to answer the door.]

[saving_sound]

[She actually dozed off for a little there, but she does come hurrying to the door when she hears it.

She opens it just a crack at first, but more so once she's seen who it is.]

Ah... Isaac-san. You made it...

[freezerburned]

Yeah. Uh.

[He rubs at the back of his head before procuring the flowers. Sorry-I-murdered-you flowers? Hope you feel better now that you're back from the dead? Something like that.]

Here- these are for you. [And they're not the prettiest, or the most in bloom, but he tried at least. They're not terrible to look at.]

[saving_sound]

[Her eyes widen and she carefully, almost disbelievingly holds her hands out for the flowers.]

A-ah... Thank you! You really didn't have to...!

[She thought it was just going to be hamster food! But she does seem to be a little happier, even if she's still mostly surprised.]

[freezerburned]

Well, you know.

[He flushes a little, but he's glad that she at least seems pleased with it. Isaac hands over the flowers a moment later, before leaning down to heft up the bags of food.]

Thought it was appropriate. Where do you want the food?

[saving_sound]

By the desk should be just fine. Ah... I should probably get water for these, huh?

[She steps aside to let him in first, however. Sure enough, her hamster is hanging out in its cage on her desk, although it's not the only critter around - a hummingbird sits in its own cage in the other corner of the room, and a twin-tailed squirrel-like creature is curled up around her Cindaquil as they both nap.]

[freezerburned]

It might make them live longer, yeah.

[Isaac sets the bags over next to the desk, glancing around a little at the assortment of animals. He can't help but to smile, just a little.]

You're running a little pet store yourself, here.

[saving_sound]

Oh, not really-! I don't want to sell them or anything...

[Hibiki, that's not what he meant.]

[freezerburned]

[That makes him smile, and he glances back at her.]

I meant that you have a lot of them. I take it you're an animal person?

[saving_sound]

Oh. [Whoops.]

An animal person...? I guess I never thought about it before. But... I do like animals.

[freezerburned]

You certainly have a lot of them.

[He leans down to look at the hamster, curious to see how it's doing.]

You take care of them all by yourself?

[saving_sound]

[The hamster seems to be fine with doing its hamster thing in a corner of the cage for... whatever reason.]

Yes, I do. If there's anything I don't know, I just look it up in the library!

[freezerburned]

[Hamsters do their thing yo.]

That's great. We used to have some animal care books in the pet store too. If you want any- well, they're no use to us, sitting in a closed store.

[saving_sound]

Ah... I think I'm okay for now!

But still, thank you very much for the offer!

[freezerburned]

Yeah, of course.

[And then there's a pause- a little too long to not be awkward, and Isaac rocks back on his heels, a little nervous.]

Right, well... thanks. For everything, I mean. The hamster, and the- you know, not... hating me, I guess.

[saving_sound]

[Her expression becomes serious right then.]

...It really isn't your fault, Isaac-san. So please, don't...

Don't think about it like that. Okay...?

[freezerburned]

[There's a long pause as he watches her, as if considering her words, before Isaac lets out a small smile and reaches forward to ruffle her hair.]

I'll try. But- really, thank you.

[saving_sound]

[Even at a time like this, hair ruffles continue to be one of the most comforting things in the world.]

Mm. And thank you too, Isaac-san. For... telling me, and for all of this, and everything.

[freezerburned]

Yeah, of course.

[There's a pause, and his smile gets a little sad.]

I just think it sucks that you kids have to be here, you know? I mean, being a teenager is one thing, but- kids aren't meant to go through this.

[saving_sound]

...We have to, though. When there's a war... kids can't just run away from it, either.

[That was true of her own world as well.]

[freezerburned]

[Isaac just shakes his head a little.]

Just seems wrong, is all. But- don't worry about it.

[saving_sound]

Mm... For now, we'll just keep doing our best.

[There's not much else to do.]

[freezerburned]

Yeah.

[Isaac rubs the back of his neck, feeling suddenly as if he's overstayed his welcome. So he lets out a deep sigh and nods, moving for the door.]

But hey. I'll see you around, alright?

[saving_sound]

Mm. See you around...!

[freezerburned]

Yeah. See you.

[And Isaac makes his leave- feeling much better than he had coming in. Sometimes, friends are like that.]