voidtreckernet | Audio: Someone's Home!.. and pissed

[ There's a slight moment of hesitation, since Madoka sure doesn't like to be the bearer of bad news. But it's not like she could lie, so.. ]

No. I think it was longer than that.. [ She tries to think really hard of when she last saw him. It's been a while, right? ] I was already getting a little worried when I never saw you playing chess anymore.. but I'm glad to know you're alright now.

[ Or. Well. More or less alright. ]

.. aside from your knee, maybe.

[Oh no. He knows what that hesitation was likely for. He groans when she confirms it.]

How long has it been?

[Yes, that was totally a whine. This was so annoying!

At least the comment about the knee gets a bit of a chuckle.]

I'm fine! I've had way worse than a scraped knee before. Thank you for the concern though.

Um..

[ There's still some slight hesitation, but she can't avoid answering when he's asking her so directly! So she instead starts thinking and counting on her fingers for a moment. ]

I don't think I've seen you since we returned from the last stop.. So that's maybe been three weeks? [ So. Yeah. A lot longer than he thought, huh. ]

[His jaw dropped (not that she could see it) and he was speechless for a few moments.]

I've been gone for three weeks?

[ Oh bother. This is exactly why she hates to be the bearer of bad news. Madoka definitely doesn't want to cause anyone to feel bad, even if having been stuck in a suitcase - or wherever people go before they show up there - sucks!

It's why she looks on the verge of panicking herself for a moment as her brains wreck themselves in order to find a positive side to all of this. ]

Y.. Yes, but..! I.. It's not all bad! I mean, you're here back with us now, and you're doing okay..! That's the important thing, isn't it?

[He was trying to be so mad but he could hear the fluster in her tone and felt bad.]

Yeah, it's okay. I'm okay and I'm back. Thanks, Madoka.

[He should probably say something else, shouldn't he? Something nice. Uhhh..]

Have you played any more chess?

[ She shakes her head. At least a little more calmly now it seems like she didn't screw things up just now. ]

No. Actually.. you're the only one I play chess with. [ Because he's so patient and kind to her about it, despite her still not being all that great. ] So I haven't played at all since you disappeared..

Ah, then you might be rusty. That's okay. We can start playing again if you'd like.

Would you like to?

[ Should've seen that question coming, Heiji! As if Madoka can ever decide anything by herself when another person is involved. ]

I can understand if you'd need a while to rest first, considering everything.

Nah, I don't need any rest. I don't feel any different than when I was standing in my cabin before I apparently was kidnapped. Would you be willing to tell me what I missed while we play?

[ There's a very slight pause. Mostly since Madoka has no experience with the whole showing-up-in-a-suitcase deal, so she didn't know that it doesn't make you feel different. That's such a weird thought, she assumes someone would feel weird after disappearing for so long..

But on the other hand, it's a relief that he's alright, so she quickly moves on to answer. ]

Hmm, of course! I'll do my best to tell you everything, so you don't have to feel like you missed anything.

[He laughs lightly.]

Madoka, you're so sweet! You're like Ku- er- um.. Conan's.. he's friends with a girl who is like you.

[Wow, maybe he was out of practice. Yikes.]

Ku..?

[ She repeats, sounding a little curious. She has no idea what he was trying to say, but at least she just slowly blinks - her curiosity doesn't seem too insistent, like she's willing to drop it if he doesn't want to talk about it. ]

Is that so? What is she like..?

[He laughs sheepishly and stammers a bit.]

It's.. it's nothing. Just a nickname I call him sometimes. It's not very nice.

[So lying!]

Ren? She's pretty with long hair and always friendly. I think the only person I've seen her get mad at is K- Conan. But they're best friends so it's going to happen sometimes, you know? But she likes cake! I know you like cake too.

[ It's a good thing that Madoka is so gullible. She believes him instantly, so she doesn't even mention anything about it anymore. ]

Hmm, I do! [ And she's totally distracted by the mention of cake. She even smiles. ] I wonder if they ever ate cake together? That's what I do with my friends.

[ Although she doesn't really argue with her friends. But that's just.. since it's Madoka.. She's too sweet to get angry unless it's really important. ]

[He feels bad! Ugh, so bad. Why did she have to be so nice?]

Conan's not the biggest dessert eater, but she's good friends of my best friend back home, Kazuha and they like to go to cake buffets.

Speaking of.. I'm hungry. Want to see if there's anything good in the kitchen?

Hm! [ There's very little hesitation on her part before she's already making that affirmative sound and nodding. (Although he can't see that part of it, obviously.

After all, Madoka does like spending time with other people. And it's been a while since she's seen him. And - most importantly - it's an easy way to make sure he's really alright like he's saying. ]

Let's find something yummy. I'll be there in a moment.

[He grins. He can almost hear her nodding- or maybe he's just guessing. He doesn't know.]

I'll meet you there!

[However, he hurries through the halls to see if he can't catch her even before she gets to the kitchen. Not that there's a reason to do that. He just.. don't ask. He doesn't know why he's doing this.]

[ It's most definitely possible. Madoka doesn't like making people wait, so when she says she'll be over in a moment, she's definitely heading in the direction of the kitchen right away. But she's not exactly the fastest person around, so he definitely catches her walking through the train before she's arrived there.

Madoka's eyes grow wide in surprise when she spots him. ]

Oh..! What a coincidence, I guess the timing worked out. [ That's what you think, Madoka.. But when the initial surprise fades, she gives him a sweet smile. ] You really look like you're alright though despite.. um..

[ She's not sure if she should address the Suitcase Situation with words, since he seemed upset enough about it earlier to cuss and all! So she just vaguely waves her hands a little instead. ]

Despite you know.. but I'm glad to see it.

[He breaks into a bright smile when he sees her. He laughs when he sees her struggling over whether she should mention his disappearance.]

Yeah thanks. It's okay the initial shock has warn off. It's disturbing but really, I'm okay. See?

[He gives her a little spin as though somehow that will prove he's fine. He catches the door to the kitchen and holds it open for her.]

So nothing really interesting happened while I was gone?

[ She giggles at the spin. It's just a fun way to show her! And it really does convince her that he seems alright. She's not sure what this place does to make people disappear and reappear in suitcases like this, but apparently it really doesn't harm them.

Madoka walks ahead of him through the door, turning around once she's in the kitchen so she can look at him while speaking. ]

Nothing important, I guess.. Although we did get to have some fun in the snow. The garden carriage was suddenly all covered in snow.

[He sighed, bummed out that he missed the snow.]

It's too bad it was only the one carriage. My friends and I from back home love to ski.

[He spots a cake that has a tiny card in front of it stating it was a 'chiffon cake'.]

Hey, look at that! I was right about there being cake in here. Would you like something with it? I can make us some hot chocolate or tea.

Hehe, it was probably not big enough to--

[ She's totally stopped though the moment she turns her head to see what he's talking about when he mentions cake. There really is cake! Sometimes the simple things in life are all you need to get excited - like eating cake with friends, practically one of Madoka's favourite hobbies. Her eyes light up as she glances from the cake back to him. ]

Yes, please! I'd like some tea. Let's have a tea party together to celebrate your safe return..!

[He laughed at her overly cute reaction.]

A tea party? Like kids have?

[He was too humored by that.]

Sure, why not? What kind of tea would you like?

[He went over and put the kettle on.]

Anything is fine. [ Madoka would hate to be picky, anyway. ] But if I have to pick.. um, anything fruity?

[ Her thoughts don't seem to linger on it for too long though, since a pout appears on her face afterwards. ]

Tea parties aren't just for kids though. [ Not that Madoka seems fully offended in the slightest. Her heart is too soft for her to ever feel like that. If anything, her pout is just more cute than anything else, especially on a face like hers... ] I knew someone really cool back home who also held tea parties, you know. It's for anyone who enjoys spending time with other people!

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