Seasons: IC Contact/Overflow

[happydreamed]

"Hello, you've reached Kantera. If this is a medical emergency, please hang up and call a hospital. Otherwise, please leave your message after the tone."

Comments

un: kantera

[happydreamed]

[There isn't, but he appreciates the check-in all the same.]

Not well. As is to be expected, I'd imagine.

[kingside]

Quite so.

[Gods, this is not his forte. Still—]

Do you have everything you need?

[happydreamed]

As a matter of fact, I was considering visiting your bakery to purchase my body weight in chocolate.

[kingside]

[Yeah, that sounds about right.]

I'll set some things aside for you, then.

[happydreamed]

I'll be there in twenty minutes.

[...and in roughly twenty minutes, Kantera arrives at the bakery, looking visibly exhausted. Even his wings are drooping.]

[kingside]

[His body weight in chocolate was likely (hopefully?) an exaggeration, but Lelouch has taken those twenty minutes to mark out some likely cakes and pastries for the purpose. Black forest cake—perhaps some chocolate mousse? Pain au chocolat, obviously, and...

And then Kantera walks in.]

... Were you looking to eat this all here or at home?

[Because, for the record, there are also cats here to pet. Not that this is a cat café because it definitely isn't, but if that might help influence Kantera's decision, well.]

[happydreamed]

Here would be best, I think.

[Immediately looking at the cats-]

[kingside]

[Medusa is already padding over, her tail in the air. She's hairless, but this does not detract from her cuddlability in the slightest, thank you very much.]

Then would you like to take a seat? I can bring the food to you.

[happydreamed]

[Absolutely going to sit down and go in for the pets that are so clearly being offered.]

I would be grateful, thank you. Let's see, I would like-

[-he doesn't order literally his weight in chocolate but he does sure order a lot.]

[kingside]

[Medusa is the best emotional support cat, so Kantera is in good hands. Paws. Whatever. Please enjoy her persistent purring, especially as it will likely attract Natasha to the cuddle pile later.]

Very well. Let's see...

[Gathering all that up, or possibly at least what will fit on the table, then bringing it over on a tray, which he carefully unloads because dang. And, once he's finished...]

... Would you like some company as well, or will Medusa be enough?

[The bakery is conveniently rather slow right now, so it wouldn't be impossible.]

[happydreamed]

Your company would be appreciated, should you be willing to give it.

[Even if there are no other customers, Kantera wouldn't blame him for considering the matter too difficult to engage with.]

[kingside]

... One moment, then.

[He steps away, taking the tray with him, and goes to retrieve some tea for himself along with some chocolate mousse, because. Once that's accomplished, he's returning and sitting down, Natasha soon finding his lap.

He doesn't say anything just yet. Instead, he'll have a spoonful of his mousse while he waits to see where Kantera might take this.]

[happydreamed]

...It hasn't been all that long. I shouldn't miss her this terribly already, should I?

[That's where, apparently.]

[kingside]

[A quiet hmm.]

There's no minimum requirement for that sort of thing.

[Although it's interesting that Kantera seems to assume so.]

[happydreamed]

Nor the knowledge that she'll return in only a few days?

[Revivals in Imeeji were almost immediate, none of this waiting - but it's still a
far cry from someone being dead permanently.]

[kingside]

You love her. That's all the reason you need.

[happydreamed]

...Fair enough. I can't argue when you put it like that.

[kingside]

[Isn't Kantera supposed to be the expert? But he won't say that out loud, instead sipping at his tea.

Silence for now. He doesn't want to force the conversation into something that Kantera doesn't want to think about, so he'll wait again,]

[happydreamed]

...I deeply wish I could do more for her.

[Even though she insisted that he didn't have to and that she didn't want him to overwork himself for her.]

I have never dealt well with the feeling of helplessness.

[kingside]

[... Mm. That does sound familiar.]

For some things, all you can give is time. I know that doesn't diminish any feelings of helplessness, but...

[He shrugs. It doesn't help to be unrealistic either.]

Do you have something you can redirect your energy toward?

[happydreamed]

I've taken extra hours at the clinic. I can feel that I'm helping someone, at least.

[kingside]

[... He wishes he could say he was surprised.]

Perhaps a gift as well, to welcome her back. Something you make with your own hands?

[happydreamed]

Something more out of the ordinary than cake? I often bake for her for no reason at all.

[kingside]

[A thoughtful hum.]

I was thinking something you could knit or sew, perhaps. Have you done either before?

[happydreamed]

I haven't, as a matter of fact. Are you proficient?