onerous | IC Inbox

[Wow, this rudeness tbh. No hello first??

Not that Yuri actually cares, she's more amused at the briskness of the question.]

Assuming we're talking about the same thing, it's currently in a heap in the corner. I don't really know what to do with it. I'm not convinced it won't just turn on on its own later.

What about you?

[He's not rude he's. Efficient. And also slightly flustered because of course they're talking about the same thing Yuri, what the hell else.]

I can't throw it away when others seem to be amassing them.

[Typing things is annoying. He gives up. Give him a literal second and--]

I don't want to even tamper with it. It isn't that I'm afraid of the thing, I just don't see a need for it. [Which was, sincerely, not an excuse and rather just a fact-of-the-matter explanation.] If everyone really was so wary of the things CERES so generously gifts us then there'd be no talk about it over the CereVices, would there?

[Did he really call just to bitch? The world may never know.]

[She switches to voice too since he did and listens quietly.

It isn't that I'm afraid of the thing, I just don't see a need for it. SUREJAN.GIF]

I think some people just reach a point of, 'how much worse can it get?' and curiosity gets to be too much, so they test them anyhow. There's also no guarantee that waiting and not turning them on manually means you're safe. CERES has to know how little we trust them now, I'm sure they have things in place in case we're not cooperative.

[You know, like the implants in the eyes and brain thing. Fun stuff.]

I guess if there's any actual talks against it, it'd be in the Sanctuary. No CERES technology is allowed in there, so I guess that's where people would go to plan and talk about stuff they don't want CERES overhearing.

[Gods, is Neji glad he didn't think to switch to video. It takes a(n) (un)healthy amount of effort to keep his mouth shut and swallow back an unfriendly scoff. Because yes, he's sure CERES has ways to coerce them too.

So shut up, Yuri. --is what he would say. Instead she gets to go on entirely uninterrupted (isn't he polite) and Neji even gets to learn something new. The Sanctuary. And anyway,] CERES will hear whatever is said aloud, in the Sanctuary or outside of it. Especially if its supposed secret purpose is continuously talked about over CERES' own technology.

[That's some bad humor leaking into his tone anyway. Neji shakes his head. That wasn't what he had come here to discuss. --or whatever. He should have to known to keep this short.]

If you're not thinking of utilizing that robot, would you mind simply keeping watch over another inactive scrap of metal?

Yes. [She doesn't try to deny it--she's a realist, even if others might call it pessimism. CERES likely has eyes and ears everywhere, even their so-called 'safe spaces.'] But it makes other people feel better to have them. If there's nowhere really safe, I guess the illusion of safety helps some people.

[There's a short pause as she considers his words and what he's actually asking her]

You want me to take the one you were given too? I wouldn't mind. [Her apartment is pretty empty anyhow except in regards to the hologram things that make it look pretty. She owns very few actual things. So what's one pile of junk?

Amused she adds in a mildly joking tone:] Worried someone might accidentally activate it for you? [You know, someone like...Lee.....]

Yes. [SURPRISE, that was easy.]

He's already named his own.

[And by some cruel twist of fate, some day Neji will return from work and find that Sasuke fucking Uchiha thought it was a good idea to gift Lee an extra bot buddy. But that is not today so Yuri is spared the whining.]

I'll repay you somehow for the favor.

[She makes a slightly pained expression even if he can't see it. Of course Lee named it...] I don't know if the robots will map to the one who woke it up. I like Lee, but I'm not sure the city can survive more than one of him....

[A mildly surprised pause and then an automatic] You don't have to-- Ah... [She trails off, cutting her protest off. Honestly she doesn't need repayment, but she's not sure if refusing would annoy him more. In the end she sighs in resignation] Alright. It's really not necessary, though. I don't mind helping you out. It's... what friends do, right?

...Mm, well, maybe it's too early to say 'friends'? I'm not sure on these things. But either way, it's fine.

[This was amusing, not annoying. At least it'd ended up that way apparently, because Neji's leaving the CereVice long enough to turn his gaze upwards towards nothing, not that Yuri can see, and his lips quirk into this

thing that kind of wants to be halfway exasperated, halfway amused

but of course not even in private is that loss of composure allowed, so.]

We can be friends.

[That lilt isn't imagined, no.]

When could I find you home?

Ah-- [A surprised noise, less at the declaration and more that he said it out loud to begin with.]

I...would like that. [Her voice is softer, a little uncertain, but pleased nonetheless.]

I'm free and home now, if you'd like to bring it over now. I'm off tomorrow too.

[As if he'd be able to put up with Lee's nagging about the power of friendship or somesuch long enough to even survive until tomorrow.]

I'll be right over.

[And he hangs up. No, he doesn't even need to ask her address. No, he doesn't really think it matters. The problem at hand is now figuring out a way to tow the box housing the robot all the way to her apartment.

And an hour or more later (yes, it's taken a while; no, he won't expend more chakra than he must to speed up the process), there will a knock at her door.

And Neji will be holding a rope, and tied to the other end is a

dog, tail wagging and white furred and shaggy. It sits put, never leaving the space right behind Neji's ankles. Its lolling tongue never really drips drool onto the floor. So hey, at least one of the cretures waiting for Yuri is well trained.]

[Yuri ansers the door only a few seconds after Neji knocks, dipping her head lightly in a greeting she's about to follow up verbally but--

Well.

Her eyes follow the rope to the dog and she does a small double-take, brow furrowing in surprised confusion.]

Is that a CYBuddy? [She assumes only because she's not sure she's seen any live pets around here before. That and, you know, the lack of drool]

[He sighs. Of course. Because it's like she's gone and asked a very dumb question. But Neji catches himself and remembers he shouldn't be so-- difficult? was he a difficult person? Anyway, maybe the sigh can pass as just him expression relief at having gotten the right door. Or something.

He's not even trying.

So Yuri gets that formal-enough, polite and shallow bow of greeting in return.] It isn't.

[He shouldn't be so curt either.] Lee's got enough of those back at the apartment, too. We certainly don't need another one.

[He steps to one side of the- dog. And it still doesn't move, save for its doggy little head following Neji's movements. Because that's what dogs do, right? Hell if Neji had any idea. He does the hand signs. It's nothing intricate. And

poof!

the dog's no longer there, disappearing in a puff of white smoke and in its stead is that distinct box from CERES, rope tied to a little... wagon? where the heck had Neji gotten a wagon? Before Yuri asks:] It's a basic transformation jutsu. School children could do it.

[No animals were harmed in the making of this idiocy.]

I didn't want to be seen lugging the thing halfway across the residential district. It's cumbersome.

[Her brow furrows somewhat, both in exasperation at his attitude and at his poor explanation. Because if it's not a CYbuddy then...?

But she doesn't ask, pursing her lips and frowning at him with the expectation that an explanation was coming soon. And there it was, though it certainly didn't help her confusion too much. Magic?? No-- More of that chakra bullshit. It was close enough to magic though, and it was enough to make Yuri start in surprise, her eyes going wide.

Yuri wants to know if she could do something like that, if even school children could (and she's not particularly impressed with the impression he's giving with that sentence, like it should somehow be obvious or not a big deal when HELLO her world doesn't have these things!! It's a big deal to her!!!) but she knows she can't so she won't ask. Even if she really wants to.]

It's still impressive, even if it's a common sort of trick. It was smart too. [Though she doesn't get what the difference is between pulling a wagon and pulling a dog at this point. Maybe appearances just mean a lot to him, who knows...

But she steps aside and gestures for Neji to come in. Her apartment is simple--the holograms activate once they pass the threshold to make the interior look like some mix of traditional Japanese homes with a modern flair. It was similar to what she'd had back home, so Yuri was rather pleased with it.

But her furniture was simple, nothing more or less than what she'd need for herself and maybe a couple guests. There were few frivolous decorations and everything was kept neat (you know, so long as you don't go back to her bedroom which was certainly more of a disaster. Who needs to make the bed come on she's just going to get back into it at the end of the day--)]

You can put it wherever. [There's another box set against the wall in the living room area where Yuri's robot is clearly still waiting to be activated.] Ah... Do you want some tea, or coffee or something...?

[Give him a moment to decide if he should enter at all.

Neji lingers by the door, his head slightly tilted to one side after Yuri had invited him in. Yes, he'd entered private residencies before. No, he doesn't care that she's female and he's male and that, if there were senile old persons around, they might loudly whisper stupid things as he left but. He glances around the hall first and seeing that there are in fact no spectators, he bows (again) and steps in.

And doesn't really care about decor or lack of. He'll put the robot next to where he knows hers is and.

That's it that's literally all he came here for. Ah-] You shouldn't bother yourself. Thank you, but I'm fine. [Probably rude to refuse. But. Eh.]

[Honestly there probably are enough tongues wagging about the fact Yuri would frequently visit her former male next-door neighbor at like 2am with food, or that people might've seen Lee carrying Yuri in through her window at one point or another (don't ask okay). Neji would just be another drop in the rumor mill of Yuri's supposed love life.

Not that she took notice of any of those rumors or things. Honestly she probably didn't even know they existed in the first place.

She shrugs lightly.] If you're sure. The offer still stands. [And then, because it seems appropriate to offer and she feels kinda bad for him:] If Lee's robot gets to be too much, you can come here for some quiet. The door's open to you.

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aaaand we're doing voice now

omg neji make up your mind??

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action.......

action foreverr

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