inbox.

[girlybruiser]

❝ You have reached Haru Okumura. I apologize if I was unable to answer your call.
Please leave a message with your name and number after the beep and I will respond at the earliest convenience. Thank you very much! ❞

Comments

[darkov]

Eh-? A-are you sure? I mean, it still doesn't make this...this gift-thing make any more sense at all, so...

[girlybruiser]

N-no, it's not that confusing at all! Please forget I said anything about that before...

[darkov]

Oh...um. Al...alright.... Sorry for...bothering you, I--I'll let you go back to...whatever it was you were doing before I...uh...

[girlybruiser]

No, no, it's not a bother! I'm sorry... I don't feel I explained this sufficiently enough.

[darkov]

Well, no, I'm...I mean, this is something I...even after all this time, I've never really... [tapering off with a mumble.

a beat.]

I-it's fine. Don't...don't worry.

[girlybruiser]

Maybe I can help? Who is it you're getting a gift for?

[darkov]

...Well...um. A, a lot of different people, I guess. I thought that was the rule. The ones you know...

[girlybruiser]

You know, there aren't really rules to giving gifts. If you wanted to you could give gifts to strangers, too.

[darkov]

What-? Really? [..,] But...that's...that's too much. That--I'd rather not do that.

[girlybruiser]

You don't have to. [ A giggle. ] Some people like to do kind things during the holidays for strangers. Even people in need, like bringing gifts to children in orphanages or something.

[darkov]

O-oh... [ghah, that laugh...

after a long beat.]

Maybe just...the ones I know...who won't mind it.

[...

...]

...Would you?

[girlybruiser]

Eh? Would I...?

[darkov]

Uh, w...want a, a gift. I mean. Sorry.

[girlybruiser]

Oh!

[ Give her a moment, she didn't anticipate that. ]

You would do that for me?

[darkov]

O-o-only if you wanted! I, I don't...I mean, you already know I don't know anything about...much of anything, so it'd be...unless you told me what you wanted, then otherwise, uh...!

[girlybruiser]

[ The only response he gets at this moment is soft laughter. ]

[darkov]

[internal screaming as he gulps his own heart back down his throat.]

Uh--sorry. I...uh. That was a...a dumb thing to ask, wasn't it. Uh, I was just...

[girlybruiser]

Hm? Oh, not at all! [ She says in between giggle fits. ] You are very kind to think of gifting me something. I didn't expect anything.

[darkov]

[he...kind of laughs a little? weakly? because laughing is what we're doing now??? help?]

O-oh, uh. I-I mean, I...did say...people I know...and I, I know you. Right?

[girlybruiser]

I know, but it's still a generous thing to do.

I'm a bit excited now! I will adore anything you get for me.

[darkov]

A-are you sure? I mean...I...don't know what you like...

[girlybruiser]

You can surprise me.

[darkov]

That's...I mean... [w h y] C-can't you...give me ad-advice? About what would be good? Because I really don't know anything.

[girlybruiser]

Um...

[ Wow, he seems like he might implode if he doesn't get an answer. ]

I like [ in which this should be obvious, but even Haru spaces out ] horror movies?

[darkov]

[relief outweighs confusion:] Al-alright...I'll try.

[beat.





...horror movies????




...



no, he's not going to ask.]

I'll...I'll let you go. Sorry for...this...um. Anyway, good-bye. For now, I mean.