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[aididitmyway]

Hi! You've reached Ruby Hoshino, but I wasn't able to answer. Just leave a message and I'll get back to you ASAP!

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[aididitmyway]

[It doesn't take her horrifically long, at least, to get to the store. The lines at the checkpoints weren't long...

But now to find Kalim. She grabs a few things, picking them up as she passes, but otherwise: trying to find Kalim.]

[goldencharms]

Ruby!!

[ kalim waves as soon as he sees her-- it seems he's stopped outside one of those handmade jewelry stalls. He was having a nice conversation with the shopkeeper. ]

You gotta take a look at these!!

[aididitmyway]

But it's not food—

[She says, knowing that Kalim is like. Kalim. Easily distracted, but also generally just doing what he wants... even if he's gotten better over the months.

... But the jewelry is pretty.]

—They're pretty!

[goldencharms]

They're really well made, too, even if the materials aren't the best.

[ he says without care or concern to the shopkeep. ]

I think they just need to get good models for them, so they can get more money to buy better stuff to make them out of, then they're really gonna take off.

Here, hold out your arm!

[aididitmyway]

[She does, but seems a little confused... and offers a confused smile to the shopkeeper.]

I'm a model, but I'm probably not the model they're looking for... wouldn't a dominant be better?

[goldencharms]

[ he ties a bracelet onto her wrist, examining it for a moment and then nodding, ]

I'll take it!!

[aididitmyway]

Wait, why?? I don't need anything right now!

[Confusion is now replaced with a little bit of suspicion. Offering to make her curry, buying her a gift... weird. She doesn't think she deserves it.]

[goldencharms]

Because it looks really pretty on you, and even dominants have submissives, right?

[ he's clearly worked out a deal, so it's expensive but it won't break the bank. something that's a fair trade for both of them. he's good at that, sometimes. ]

[aididitmyway]

I mean... yeah, but seriously! Kalim, it's expensive!

[She pulls her wrist closer to admire it...]

You don't have to give me anything... what's going on?

[goldencharms]

It's not that bad!

[ he is still a bad judge of this. but now they can move on, and she has a nice bracelet on her wrist now. ]

Anyway, I was thinking, especially after talking to your brother!!

[aididitmyway]

[Alarm bells are starting to go off.]

What... did you talk about?

[goldencharms]

PTSD!!

[ he should probably not say that so cheerfully.





oh well. ]

I learned a lot, talking to him!

[aididitmyway]

Why were you even talking to him about that!? What does it have to do with me??

[goldencharms]

Because of that school thing!

[ he says, utterly innocent about how that could be misconstrued?? ]

And he said you both had it.

[aididitmyway]

[She's quiet for a moment, and then just—turns around, nope, she's not talking about this out here, or at all, this is not what she expected!!! This is a threat!! She's gonna walk right on off.]

[goldencharms]

Ruby!!

[ he reaches out to grab her wrist, a look of utter surprise on his face, ]

Wait...!

[aididitmyway]

[He manages to catch her, and she spins around... distress barely controlled.]

I don't want to talk about it, Kalim!

[goldencharms]

Okay!

[ he says, agreeing instantly, ]

Just don’t run away. Please…?

[aididitmyway]

... Okay.

But I'm fine, you really... don't have to worry about me. Is that why you were being extra nice?

[goldencharms]

No…

[ he pauses. ]

Well, a little. But it’s not because of that conversation only… I really thought that bracelet would look nice on you, and I’ve got plenty of jewelry.

And— Jamil’s favorite meal is curry. He always goes without it because of me…

[aididitmyway]

[She frowns... maybe it was okay after all? And she just overreacted? Oh no, what if she hurt his feelings?? Time to damage control.]

Oh. ... Sorry. For overreacting. Just—... thank you? But you don't have to do all of this for me, I promise... not even the curry. I'm okay with that! Unless you actually want to, but...

[goldencharms]

Eh? Why are you apologizing??

[aididitmyway]

Because I got upset??

[goldencharms]

That’s ok though.

[ he blinks and then shakes his head quickly. ]

Aqua said curry was different for you than for me, so I wanna see if maybe I could make it for you— and then the next time I see Jamil, make him some curry from home!

He’d be so happy, and I’d feel less bad about stopping him from eating it.

[aididitmyway]

It's not really okay that I got upset...

[She shakes her head.]

But I like the idea of that. I'll help! Because Aqua's right, our curry is way different than the stuff you know.