[ Gen is generally an inconsiderate and rude piece of shit, but he's also very much used to being one of the tallest people around. So almost by reflex, he holds the cigarette case lower so Gray can point out the two batches without having to get up on tippy toe for it. ]
Hmmmm.
[ Good thing he did, too, because the explanation is interesting enough. It earns a thoughtful little hum, and Gen idly picks one out -- the privacy type -- to hold up to his nose and give a sniff. Is magic is supposed to have a smell? It just smells like an expensive cigarette. Is Rin used to handling smokes? She didn't seem the type, but it sure looks and smells legit. ]
I don't really smoke anything this fancy ... [ He says, rudely. But it's just an idle observation, not a complaint. He returns the cigarette to the case and snaps it shut afterward, knowing something this nice should be handled properly. ] I'll take'em, though. See if I ever need'em.
[ A pause. Then -- ]
What're they for, though? You need me to do something for you?
[ Rin did indeed pick out the tobacco (nice but not too nice because she knows Gen likes the cheap stuff) and roll it up herself. Just one of the many miscellaneous talents of Tohsaka Rin. Maybe there's a pile of less-than-perfect practice cigarettes lying around somewhere — or maybe not, since that would be a waste of money.
Gray is satisfied to see that Gen is satisfied, though she sobers at the insinuation that she'd only give him something nice in pursuit of a favor. ]
Gen...
[ Please!! She pauses briefly, picking through her thoughts. ]
I'm not in a position to protect you anymore, and you never wanted to let me before anyway. So this is my compromise.
[ If she can't protect him, then she wants to give him more tools to protect himself. Especially if he's going to get into public spats with Silco. ]
Please... keep this with you, even if it's just the case.
[ It's nothing personal? Gen wouldn't even think poorly of Gray if she were to be offering that gift to set up for a request. They might be akin to something like friends, but Gen still knows most relationships are transactional -- give and take. Debts and repayments. So what she says next earns a blink. ]
...
[ His first instinct is to laugh, honestly. Yes, Gray is a superpowered fantasy freak, but still. How much of a laughingstock would he be if he needed to be protected by anyone, like some weak little damsel, let alone by some little girl half his height? Ridiculous. (The fact that she wants to protect him at all is ludicrous.)
The only thing that gives him pause, really, is her sincerity. The fact that she's saying this so seriously. There's something sobering about it.
He'd simply been looking at her for a moment, but Gen gives a quiet sigh the next moment. Then raises his free hand -- to poff onto the top of her hooded head. He doesn't even rustle it this time, just pushes a little to get her to duck her head a touch. A little gentle bullying, mostly, but also so she'll be distracted away from the slight stiffness in his delivery.
He's always had a harder time lying about shit like this. ]
Alright. [ His compromise will be that he'll pretend her desire is a valid one. ] I'll carry it around. Right in my inner pocket and everything, promise. So you won't have to worry 'bout me, yeah?
[ As he planned, she ducks a little under his heavy hand. She recognizes it at least partially for what it is: a physical action to make up for a mental hesitation. She's found it to be a common tactic among a certain type of person. It isn't so different from her own tendency to withdraw into her hood when she's uncertain; in Gen's case, he is just bullying instead of retreating. In any case, she doesn't mind too much. She'll take it as an awkward show of appreciation. ]
... Alright. You promised.
[ She isn't completely sold that he'll keep the case on him as much as she'd like, but if he'll at least do it when he's headed into danger, she'll count that as enough. Though she'll disagree that she won't have to worry about him just because of this. There are so many ways for him to get into trouble, many of them bloodless and self-inflicted.
With her mission complete, Gray takes a last glance at Bloody Marie's. A fascinating establishment, even if it's not for her. ]
I should probably head back now.
[ The fight for the next Oracle is coming up, and a Meri in Highstorm will be viewed with more suspicion than usual — on both sides, even. ]
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no subject
Date: 2023-11-30 06:00 am (UTC)Hmmmm.
[ Good thing he did, too, because the explanation is interesting enough. It earns a thoughtful little hum, and Gen idly picks one out -- the privacy type -- to hold up to his nose and give a sniff. Is magic is supposed to have a smell? It just smells like an expensive cigarette. Is Rin used to handling smokes? She didn't seem the type, but it sure looks and smells legit. ]
I don't really smoke anything this fancy ... [ He says, rudely. But it's just an idle observation, not a complaint. He returns the cigarette to the case and snaps it shut afterward, knowing something this nice should be handled properly. ] I'll take'em, though. See if I ever need'em.
[ A pause. Then -- ]
What're they for, though? You need me to do something for you?
[ Is this a bribe. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-01 05:13 am (UTC)Gray is satisfied to see that Gen is satisfied, though she sobers at the insinuation that she'd only give him something nice in pursuit of a favor. ]
Gen...
[ Please!! She pauses briefly, picking through her thoughts. ]
I'm not in a position to protect you anymore, and you never wanted to let me before anyway. So this is my compromise.
[ If she can't protect him, then she wants to give him more tools to protect himself. Especially if he's going to get into public spats with Silco. ]
Please... keep this with you, even if it's just the case.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-02 06:20 am (UTC)...
[ His first instinct is to laugh, honestly. Yes, Gray is a superpowered fantasy freak, but still. How much of a laughingstock would he be if he needed to be protected by anyone, like some weak little damsel, let alone by some little girl half his height? Ridiculous. (The fact that she wants to protect him at all is ludicrous.)
The only thing that gives him pause, really, is her sincerity. The fact that she's saying this so seriously. There's something sobering about it.
He'd simply been looking at her for a moment, but Gen gives a quiet sigh the next moment. Then raises his free hand -- to poff onto the top of her hooded head. He doesn't even rustle it this time, just pushes a little to get her to duck her head a touch. A little gentle bullying, mostly, but also so she'll be distracted away from the slight stiffness in his delivery.
He's always had a harder time lying about shit like this. ]
Alright. [ His compromise will be that he'll pretend her desire is a valid one. ] I'll carry it around. Right in my inner pocket and everything, promise. So you won't have to worry 'bout me, yeah?
no subject
Date: 2023-12-03 08:37 am (UTC)... Alright. You promised.
[ She isn't completely sold that he'll keep the case on him as much as she'd like, but if he'll at least do it when he's headed into danger, she'll count that as enough. Though she'll disagree that she won't have to worry about him just because of this. There are so many ways for him to get into trouble, many of them bloodless and self-inflicted.
With her mission complete, Gray takes a last glance at Bloody Marie's. A fascinating establishment, even if it's not for her. ]
I should probably head back now.
[ The fight for the next Oracle is coming up, and a Meri in Highstorm will be viewed with more suspicion than usual — on both sides, even. ]