KENOS INBOX

[erbe]

COMMUNION

Reaching out to Rin is like stepping into a moonlit parlor. Everything is quiet, muted, and neatly tucked away. Almost like a "lobby," of sorts to keep visitors away from the rest of what goes on in her head... and her heart. This space is cool, and placid. Much like the surface of a lake in winter as it reflects the pale glow of the celestial bodies hanging above it in the sky.

A reflection of serenity rather the true thing. A mask of elegance to hide anything that may be unsightly. Anything that may betray her.

✧ Specifics

✦ Unable to block out: Harbinger
✦ Compatible with: Iconoclast | Advocate
✦ Discord Accrual: Exalt

(CODE)

Comments

[epiprocta]

[ She's so right. But also, there's the sense of a nose wrinkled in disgust, irritation and ire prickling through the connection. ]

Nobody has shit enough tastes for that asshole.

[ Guess who dislikes Dark a fair bit by this point. ]

An' that'd be different, anyway. You and that piece of shit are a guy and a girl. Miya and I're both guys.

[erbe]

What does that matter? It's not like there are any legacies here to keep alive. The taboo of two men or two women means nothing if you don't care about a bloodline.

[epiprocta]

That's not the point --

[ That snippy retort's blurted out before he can stop himself, immediately followed by the vague simmer of disproportionate frustration as he bites his tongue a beat too late. Gen just stews for a moment before giving a huff. ]

-- whatever. Just -- so long as you know there's nothing between us.

[erbe]

There has to be something. You be more dismissive and less insistent if there wasn't.

[What that "something" is, is unclear. He doesn't even need to tell her what it is, but the denial just makes her want to dig in her heels like a contrary cat.]

I'm not saying this to pry it out of you. I'm letting you know that someone who has nothing better to do will see it too.

[epiprocta]

I am being dismissive. Or d'you need me to tell you a few more times 'bout how stupid I think this all is?

[ But actually, Rin is right in that Gen probably does have more complicated feelings about this accusation than he should just because of (insert stupid sexuality crisis nonsense here). She can probably picture him bristling all huffily. ]

I wouldn't've even bothered with this shit if he didn't come crying to me that you were makin' a big deal about it.

[erbe]

[He's giving off, "I beg you to believe I'm straight" vibes.]

...Did he? Do you think he has feelings for you, since he's so worried about it?

[epiprocta]

[ That's just Gen's vibes whenever he has to talk about these kinds of subjects okay. ]

What, no.

[ With the delivery of 'that's stupid.' ]

You think he wants to be thought of as liking someone like me?

[erbe]

I mean... why else would he be so frantic about trying to get me to change my mind? Though honestly, "liking someone like you," isn't some kind of moral failing. I know what you did for Gray, after all.

[Gen can be nice. He was even concerned with Gray when Rin had "returned to the living". Out of all his annoyances, at least that bit is a charm point.]

[epiprocta]

[ Suddenly he actually doesn't care that much about what Rin thinks about his and Atsumu's not-relationship. Because there's something much more important to address. ]

Why d'you know -- never mind. [ Ugh, whatever. His actual point: ] Don't tell Gray what's going on here on this side. With Silco being a hissy little bitch at me.

[ Presumably, Rin can connect the dots here for why Silco is being such a colossal shitheel at him. ]

[erbe]

Of course I won't. There's no need for her to feel guilty over your actions. Besides... he seems legitimately off his rocker. The less she's involved with him going forward the better. Has she spoken to you recently?

[Hm. She wonders if Gray hasn't handed over the items she commissioned for him, or if Gray simply left her name out of the transaction.]

[epiprocta]

[ It's less that Gen cares about her feelings, and more that he doesn't want to risk her being worried enough to get tangled back up into things with Silco again, but the results are the same -- he breaths a low exhale in relief at Rin's easy agreement. Good. At least that's one less thing he has to worry about.

As for the question about their meeting -- ]

Aah?

[ That thread is currently in progress, actually, but going by Gray's ever-modest and dutiful personality, it's hard to imagine she'd fail to mention who actually made those cigarettes. There's a pause before Gen connects the dots as to why Rin is asking. ]

Oh. Yeah, we talked. [ There's the vague sensation of movement and rustling as Gen rises from where he'd been lounging around in his room to dig through the one drawer where he keeps personal belongings he cares about; the little box of custom cigarettes sits there, still safely sealed when Gen picks it up. ] Didn't know you could make things like this.

[erbe]

Of course. Those types of things are relatively simple. Even an elementary mage can fashion something like that. My actual pride lies in the engraved metal case they came in.

[Ah, so she did say so. A part of Rin thought that perhaps remaining anonymous could be less of a headache, but... if Gen actually liked the quality of her work then perhaps she'd have a returning customer.]

[epiprocta]

[ Dryly: ]

So you basically made Gray the equivalent of, like, a shitty paper airplane. You better not have charged her for them if it's junk to you.

[ Yes he is just being a shit for the sake of being a shit. ]

[erbe]

Just because something is easy to make doesn't mean it's a low quality product. I even rolled real tobacco instead of that shitty filler that most cigarette brands use.

[Don't make her climb in through your window and shove them down your throat.]

[epiprocta]

Yeah, yeah, sure.

[ So he says, but Rin might get the faint feedback of the scent of fine tobacco leaves; Gen's carefully extracted one from the case to sniff at. It does smell a bit different from the usual, cheap, local fare he smokes. ]

So what's the case supposed to be. If you're so proud of it.

[erbe]

[The scent of her own work doesn't bother her. In fact the real tobacco reminded Rin a bit of her father, who happened to be a Wine and Cigar man.]

While the cigars are what she commissioned, the case I threw in using my own discretion. Think of it like a bullet proof vest that repairs itself every twenty-four hours. If you keep it in your pocket it should protect most of your torso. I didn't know your familiarity with magic, so I fashioned it to draw power from ambient energy in the environment.

[And if he knows someone who can channel mana or feed it with energy himself to shorten the refresh rate that's up to him.]

[epiprocta]

[ There's a little blip there, the psychic equivalent of a wider-eyed blink. Gen puts down the cigarette he'd been sniffing at so he can snap the case shut and hold it up to get a better look at it. ]

... sick. [ In his room, he's shifting the case one way, then the other, watching its surface catch the light. It just looks like a normal metal case. ] Magic really is convenient, huh.

[ It's as close as he'll get to admitting that the case is impressive as hell, which it is. ]

An' you're confident it'll hold up? You know how bullshit some of the people here are in terms of strength.

[erbe]

It won't be some miracle shield considering we have gods and demons among us, but it should hold up fairly well. I would expect it to withstand one powerful impact, or perhaps five lower level ones. I don't make items I would consider useless.

[So as long as Mordred doesn't use her Noble Phantasm, or a god their ultimate skill, it should be pretty sturdy at least once. This freebie is her way of saying "thank you," for helping Gray.

'Sick,' huh? Is that similar to 'cool'? Rin will happily take that as a compliment of her work, and for a moment she's just a bit warmer. A bit softer.]

Ideally you won't need it, but the trials that Oracles present don't allow for the ideal. The important thing is that they serve you well.

[epiprocta]

So if Quetzalcoatl decides to seriously punch me in the chest, it'll just break all my bones instead of turning me into hamburger meat. Good to know.

[ Rin can probably picture the fucking insufferable, lopsided smirk Gen is wearing as he says that. But there's no sense of actual criticism or complaint; it's said in good spirits, tinged through with a touch of satisfaction.

To illustrate: ]

I just gotta keep it in my inside pocket, yeah? I'll make use of it. An' I'll let you know if it ends up coming in handy. [ A faint, warm glow of appreciation pings through his words, rare given Gen's usual shitty attitude. ] Might even end up using it before the actual cigarettes … I don’t usually smoke anything this fancy. And you only gave me like half a pack.

[ He doesn’t want to burn through them. Not when Gray gave them to him as something important. ]

1/2

[erbe]

[At first Tohsaka beams with pride. Much like a cat prancing around the 'gift' it just caught for its owner. That's right! She did good! Praise her and admire her craftsmanshi—]

[erbe]

[Ah, but even if she's happy about all of that, and the warmth shared in this little space, she has to halt it.]

Don't be stingy. Do you want to make Gray sad? She got you something with a use and a purpose. To be fair to her at least use all but one of each kind when applicable. I can always make more for a price.

[epiprocta]

[ There's another little blip -- another blink -- but this time it's followed by the vague sensation of a pout. ]

She's not gonna be sad.

[ Read: he doesn't want to make her sad. N-not like he cares about her feelings! That shit's for girls! But -- he doesn't wanna be responsible for it, okay. ]

An' I bet you're just trying to get me to blow through'em so I'll pay you to make more. What're you gonna do, charge me double what you did for her if I ask?

[erbe]

Of course I'd charge you more. I gave her a severe discount on the fact that I owed her a favor. Products and services don't always have to be bought with money, after all. In a place like this bartering can be just as lucrative.

[Information, favors, item-for-item, the teaching of a skill... it can all be valuable. It all has its worth. Gen could surely offer her something of worth if he wanted more, couldn't he? Besides, it's not like they're for recreation. They should be used with intent.]