darkbishop | NOCTIUM INBOX

You've learned how to mute your phone?!

[ That's the best part about all of this, oh my god. Rukia is immediately going to pick that up from Hubert, because goodness this thing can be real noisy sometimes?? ]

I see. That should be very useful then, though I do worry I'll forget to check it if someone tries to contact me...

It seems as though you're able to change the sound if you dislike the one it's currently set to.

[Give him a sec to go through the options... Here's how you can do that if you want to look through them!]

Unfortunately, it seems that you'll have to remember to check it on your own without the sound. I haven't found another way for it to notify you.

Oh! These are ringtones. I'm familiar with this concept; the phone I used back at home had these as well.

[ But they didn't sound nearly this...clear? Crisp? She's so impressed. ... Don't mind her Hubert, she's going to try out every single one. Please stop her. ]

[.............you know, this might as well happen.

So no, he won't stop her. He will sit here and listen to every single ringtone and try very hard not to make a face. This is his lot in life now. Hubert von Vestra suffers so much.]

[ You're a good man, Hubert.

She at least doesn't listen to each one all the way through, but he'll be treated to an assortment of sounds. Rukia eventually settles on one that's at least nicer on the ears and puts her phone down, looking at Hubert with a grin on her face. ]

Well, that was fun!

[ FOR SOME PEOPLE, SURE... ]

[FOR ONE OF US...]

They certainly do have a lot of options.

They do. Far more than my old phone did, at least.

[ Now that Hell is officially over, Rukia goes back to just casually looking at her screen. She flips through some of the screens before finally forming a question: ]

"gemBANKING"...? What is that?

[he's Free.........

from that, at least.]

That one seems to be a resource to track your income. I haven't gone through that one very thoroughly, however.

[Enough to get the general idea, not enough to really know how it works, in other words.]

Ah. And income is earned...through Manna, was it?

[ Which is like. Fantastic......just fantastic.... ]

Yes.

[Which is absolutely fantastic.]

It... certainly is a unique system.

[That's the nicest thing he can say about it.]

It really is.

[ Thanks, they both hate it. ]

I can see you aren't fond of it either, Vestra-san. What do you intend to do in order to survive here?

[There's something odd about being called by surname, but given the -san on the end, he's assuming that's some form of proper address. He'll leave it be for now.]

Strike bargains with likeminded individuals to produce enough Manna to keep our overseers at bay - at least initially.

[It's blunt, but there's no reason not to be when we both clearly aren't here for this concept.]

I see...

[ She actually seems to give this a lot of thought. There's a quiet moment that passes in which Rukia seems to be weighing her options, and she makes a slightly embarrassed expression, eyes shifting so they're looking off to the side. ]

By "likeminded individuals," are you referring to others who are also looking at this transactionally?

[He's noticed, but he won't mention it.]

That's correct. There are at least a few of us who would prefer to avoid more... casual physical contact.

[Those of us who are touchy and need awhile to properly open up so we don't punch someone on reflex for trying to hug us, in other words.]

[ A nod at that, then: ]

I understand. I'm not really one for physical contact myself, but it is a necessity here, isn't it? So...

[ A pause, then: ]

If you aren't opposed, I may take you up on that. Physical contact to mutually ensure our survival here.

[Hubert doesn't have to think too hard about that, he nods.]

Precisely. Seeing as how we are neighbors, it will be convenient in case either of us need to obtain Manna quickly, to keep them from routinely pestering us, of course.

Right. I'm glad we're in agreement on this.

[ Well, that was easier than she expected to be. She looks a little less tense now, and there's a small smile on her face. She clears her throat a little. ]

What kinds of physical gestures would be simple enough for something like this?

From my experience, simply holding hands is enough to generate Manna.

[It's stated in a straightforward tone, but like. Hand-holding is still So Much. You get it, right, Rukia??]

[ SHE SURE DOES. ]

Ah, well... I suppose that would be one of the easier forms of physicality. Very well, then. Hand-holding it is.

[ ...This is probably when she should extend her hand or something, but she looks a little nervous to do so. Rip. ]

[Rukia, that is such a mood. But he'll take pity on you and not pull a Michalis and demand your hand—]

Would you care to start now?

[—so he'll just. ask about it. which is really not much better, tbh.]

[ Bless you, Hubert. She looks up at him, mildly surprised, and takes a moment before she just. Extends her hand, back of her palm resting on the countertop. ]

...I don't see why we shouldn't.

[That gets a nod from him, and he takes her hand. He's wearing his gloves, because apparently it doesn't need to be direct contact, and he greatly prefers to keep his gloves on.]

We don't have to do this for very long.

[ Her hand is quite small in his, and it's one of the only times she's held hands with someone who isn't Renji or Byakuya. Outside of those instances, she'd reserved hand-holding for people who were special to her, and it always seemed like a more romantic ordeal... This is anything but that. Certainly not romantic by any means, nor is it with someone she's familiar with. It's strange in that way, a little embarrassing, and that's absolutely why she's red in the face.

But it's fine. This will benefit them both, anyway. ]

A-Ah, of course. Still, I'm grateful for your help.

[Listen, he gets it... Hand-holding is something you're supposed to do with someone you're seeing?? But listen, here we are now.]

It benefits us both, and it is easier to do this with someone who feels similarly.

[That this is A Lot. Better to do this with someone who won't make it weird!!]

I agree. I would rather do this with someone who understands why it's difficult...

[ Or, well, you know. Someone she's seeing, like it's supposed to be done -- but this...works. And she's glad he's not making it weird, either! ]

To pass the time a little, Vestra-san, I have a question for you: Has anyone else from your world been brought here, to your knowledge?

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