Ｉｎｂｏｘ ◈ thefarshore

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"This is Add. State your business and I'll get back to you if necessary." [ beep ]

Comments

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What are you talking about? [it's still pretty early in the day...]

[cloak]

After a successful mission, isn't it normal to get some kind of reward?

[See where this is going?]

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[Oh...

Oh. About that?]

Answering prayers is your duty as a god, I assumed it's only needed so we can continue living here. [kind of like paying rent, but much more annoying] We live under the same roof, so an additional reward would be unnecessary. Unless you're trying to tell me that the entire activity was pointless and you dragged me out there for no reason.

[cloak]

Are you actually talking yourself out of getting something?

Without even finding out what it is?

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I'm saying that I know this isn't required so obviously you're trying to win my favour. Or should I perceive it as a bribe instead?

I'm not accepting anything until you tell me exactly what you want.

1/2

[cloak]

You did the job with me, what else is there?

2/2

[cloak]

The memories I have...

After a mission, you do something as a reward for completing the task. But I didn't have the means, at the time.

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So you just want to make sure I'll continue to serve you willingly. Is that all?

Don't give me a reason to quit and I won't. I can tell you myself if there's something I need.

[cloak]

That's not the way I look at it.

I just thought it was something you'd like. And like I said...things like that always came after a hard day's work.

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You don't have to give me anything.

[He's starting to realize he might just be getting a bit flustered, but it's too late to back down. It's not like he did anything special...]

[cloak]

I don't have to, but I've already got it. And I don't have any use for it myself.

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What is it?

[cloak]

Come find out.

[Because he doesn't barge into Add's room, unlike some people]

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[Wow, not rude enough tbh.]

You're so annoying.

[... but he'll come to see what it is anyway, just to make Roxas shut up about it. It's not because he's curious or anything.]

[cloak]

[And Roxas is waiting right outside the door with a bag. The moment the door opens he lifts that bag up expectantly.

He might not have barged into the room but Add could bonk right into him if he wasn't looking]

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[He's still looking at his phone as he opens the door so... yeah, that happens.

Luckily, he doesn't fall over or do anything embarrassing other than maybe look a bit flustered. He is going to shoot Roxas a glare, though.]

... Were you texting me from outside my door?

[cloak]

[And here Roxas doesn't seem the slightest bit repentant under that glare]

Yeah, I was.

[The bag's been jostled, sure, but he just holds it back up again]

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[sighing, dragging a hand down his face]

Next time just knock. There's no point in texting me if you're already here.

Is that it? [Pointing at the bag, obviously. It's a bit bigger than he was expecting...]

[cloak]

I'll remember that for next time.

[He remembers everything, but he'll say this anyway]

Yeah, this is for you.

[Holding up the bag just a little higher, just about nudging Add's hand with it]

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[It's obvious what the gesture is supposed to mean, but he still hesitates. It feels weird, getting a reward for doing something he was expected to do. Especially such an oddly late reward. He didn't really do anything special to deserve attention.

... maybe he's making too big of a deal out of this. Just because it's a "reward" doesn't mean it's anything special, either. It's probably something practical. Keeping that in mind, he finally takes the bag from Roxas' hand.

It's... a bit heavier than he expected, too. It's difficult to hide his nervous frown.

Finally, he opens it and takes a look inside, and... okay, he has no idea what this thing is. He stares at it for a few overly long seconds.]

... So, what the hell is it?

[cloak]

It's a machine.

[This answer is offered as though it will clarify everything that Add wants to know, or it seems so at first. But he elaborates before he can be questioned further]

Apparently it wanders around your room cleaning the floor. You like tidy spaces, right?

[Surely that makes it perfect for Add]

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It looks like...

[He trails off, extracting the device from the bag. It's shaped like a large, thick disc, with small wheels on the bottom, censors and buttons on the top... something about that shape seems strangely familiar, but it looks too... short?

He flips it around a bit, looking over the machine curiously before planting it on the ground. Yeah, it definitely feels like it should be taller somehow.]

Hm.

It looks cheap. [That material doesn't look very sturdy, either...]

[cloak]

[About 52000 yen is a unique idea of cheap, but Roxas isn't going to get into the price. He's pretty sure he heard that the recipient of a gift isn't supposed to know how much it cost.

But he certainly had to put some work into affording such a thing. He can say that much, right?]

It took a while to save up for it.

[That being said, he moves right along to more pressing matters]

The name is Rin, so you know.

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[It doesn't look too advanced, but... it's certainly some kind of machine. Even if it's not useful to him, he could always take it apart or try to improve on the design. He's been reluctant to take apart his phone in case he can't put it back together, but something like this wouldn't be a big deal if it breaks.

Add isn't really sure what to say. Save up for it how? He only has a vague idea of how this world's currency works but they didn't get anything for answering a prayer. Did Roxas go out of his way to buy this?

... And Add already brought up the price. Isn't it rude to say something like that when you're given something for free? He stares at his feet sheepishly.]

You didn't have to give me anything.

[cloak]

You told me that before, but...

[He trails off, just long enough for the hesitance to be noticed. Add doesn't remember how much of a tooth-and-nail fight Roxas used to put up about having feelings, or rather, being capable of experiencing them to start with.

Still...]

I guess you could say I felt like it.

[The words are vaguely wistful, edging into his tone just enough that one might notice if they had a mind to. For his part, Roxas doesn't really. He's too occupied with how awkward it is using the word "feel" with regards to himself or anything relating to him]