( voice test ) ibuki;

[dogmatically]

[maybe for late morning — very late morning, someone like ibuki should actually be up and about. maybe he should have been up and about hours ago. but today, nobody woke him up and now he's more of a flustered mess than usual.

but rather than actually running around, he's sitting on the engawa, a tray of rice balls at his side... but he's not eating them. why? because blue mop of hair it's a tangled, knotted mess. while the food he wants to eat just sits there, waiting to be stolen by anyone who passes by? he's tugging at the matted mess.]

Oi— Ah-t-t-t-tch! Why the hell is it is so bad today!? [his yells are both pained and aggravated as he winces. he's trying to work his fingers through the mess (instead of looking for a comb), which isn't succeeding at all. help him comb it? make fun of his agony? steal his breakfast? the choice is yours.]

Comments

[dogmatically]

[their rules are weird and strict. of course, ibuki himself is also a strange anomaly to how things work around here, and serizawa has definitely kept women on the premises before, despite the rules set in place.]

It's pain, it's fine though... I'm used to this kind of thing. [every day, really. today's a little worse than most, which means he probably slept more restlessly than he even realizes (or someone fucked with him in his sleep, but he's electing to ignore that possibility). it's a hassle and it hurts, but he'll get it all taken care of eventually. mai's presence almost immediately necessitates changing his priorities. and the subject along with it.]

Hey, do you really not know why you're here? That's... weird. [his tone conveys more than one thing now. there's a bit of skepticism, since it just seems strange. but at the same time? he's kind of concerned about it. that's not exactly a normal response.]

[upcard]

[Used to it... her hands itch to sort out his hair, honestly. She doesn't really know where the knowledge came from, but she's pretty good with hair, especially braids. She's sure she could sort it out-- but asking to sort out a strange man's hair is not something she's willing to do.

Especially when he seems so suspicious of her now.

(She kind of is a suspicious person, isn't she...?) She stammers a little at that, fingers twisting together nervously.]

O-oh, I'm um... [... and then, more weakly--] I can't remember... [She knows she shouldn't be saying, but if she tries to hide it, she doesn't have any other answer, does she...? That's even worse, somehow.]

Are you sure it's okay? [She's still stuck on his hair ok.]

[dogmatically]

Wh—You can't remember? What... what does that even mean? People usually don't just go wandering places and forget what they're doing!

[or do they. well, ibuki's never had that sort of experience, so he can't help but be a bit incredulous about it. it's still suspicious and concerning, especially because she's diverting the conversation. he can be kind of dumb sometimes, but he's also obstinate as all hell, so he's not going to drop it quickly.

she could really need help, or she could be some kind of threat. he can't just sit back and do nothing, right? right...?

(right. because if he questions himself any longer, he'll start to have doubts.)]

[upcard]

[Okay so that could've gone better. This is why Orion warns you against these sorts of things, Mai! Dumb, dumb, dumb.

But honestly, she's starting to feel pretty uncomfortable. She's obviously interrupted this man from a task he was struggling with (and also his meal...?) and now they're both uncomfortable...

But she just flinches a little at that, because...yeah that's...probably true.]

I'm sorry...! [The only thing she can think to do is apologize...eat your heart out, otome protag. She bows her head as well, her hands twined together more tightly to keep them from shaking.] I don't...want to be trouble, so please don't worry...

[SHE'S SURE IT'LL BE FINE (no she's not, no it won't be)]