{004} Log: White Day [CLOSED]

[lovesickkiller]

Who: Misa Amane + Lazarus, Cesar, Emilia, and Stefan.
What: It's reverse-White Day! A chance to thank those who have helped her out so far.
Where: Various houses in Locke City and Las Vegas
When: March 14
Warnings: None expected

It was a little unorthodox to be giving chocolate instead of receiving it on White Day, but since no one else here seemed to have even heard of the holiday before, Misa figured that she could take some liberties. She really did feel bad for not using Valentine's Day as an opportunity to thank those who had taken her in and helped her out in this strange new city, even though she'd had a pretty decent excuse for laying low during that time. There was a lot that she owed the people here, and if nothing else White Day could function as a delayed Numbered appreciation day this year.

A small package of handmade chocolates in hand, Misa visited the homes of those she felt most indebted to one by one. She had prepared a little box for each of them; nothing fancy, just chocolate fudge squares dusted with cocoa. Maybe store bought would have sufficed, but Misa thought they all deserved a personal touch.

Some addresses were harder to come by than others, but one way or another Misa approached each door with a firm knock, and waited.

Comments

[lovesickkiller]

Misa is like a deer in the headlights as Cesar attempts to communicate with her through hand gestures she doesn't understand. It's a relief when he goes for the tablet again.

"That would be great, thank you. Just water is fine," she answers, looking around for somewhere to put the chocolates down. Seeing as the table is very much taken, Misa takes a seat on the couch and sets her box next to the bag of chips.

[evowhisperer]

Cesar gives her a nod, slipping into the kitchen. Cupboards open, water runs, and soon he's coming back with two glasses of water.

The sofa is big and comfortable, and everything about the setup looks very pleasant for relaxing and spending time with friends. Speaking of which, Cesar sees that she's sitting, and walks the other way around the couch to hand her a glass, joining her at a comfortable distance on the couch.

The tablet (tucked into his belt previously) is back in his hands.

'What's White Day? I've never heard of it before now.'

[lovesickkiller]

"Thanks," she says, accepting the glass and taking a sip as he types. "It's basically like Valentine's Day in reverse. On Valentine's Day girls give guys chocolates, then on White Day boys return the favor with little gifts. I'm not really doing it right, but I thought since no one here celebrates it anyway..."

[evowhisperer]

He smiles, seeming happy with the sentiment.

'Thank you. I don't often celebrate holidays, but it might be nice to do something new for the next one.'

It's one of the first times he's had a friend drop by for anything like this in months, and he's surprised by how cheering it is. Has it really been that long? He reaches for the package of chocolates and opens it carefully.

His eyes widen, swing towards her, and then he reaches for the tablet again.

'Did you make these?'

[lovesickkiller]

"Mhm!" she answers, clearly pleased. "They're my specialty, I hope you like them."

[evowhisperer]

Cesar gives her another smile and turns back to the box, selecting one with a set of concentric circles in white icing. He's not a big fudge connoisseur, but he takes a bite of it, chewing.

It's very rich. He deliberately savors it, lifting the fudge and making the sign for 'Good' a couple of times.

The piece is finished off in a second bite, and he can type again. 'This is delicious!'

Of course, most people would probably never say anything otherwise, no matter the reality. As it is, Cesar seems genuinely pleased, and he reaches for a rectangle to break in half, offering her the box once he has one.

[lovesickkiller]

Misa grins, charmed by how insistent he is in assuring her that it's good. Not that anyone has every told her differently, but the compliments are still nice to receive.

"Oh no, they're for you!" Misa says, lifting her hands up to reject the offer. "I already ate too much in the baking stage."

[evowhisperer]

He takes the box back and closes its lid when she declines, still nibbling on the second piece of fudge. There's a sign here that might mean a casual 'thank you', but he doesn't beleaguer the point.

The slight conversation between them has run out of momentum, and for a few seconds he looks for something to say.

Oh. He knows what he wants to know. The tablet is back in his hands, though one hand is too busy holding the treat to type. Hopefully the ease they're both feeling will dull this question's edges?

'Was it out of your way to bring it here?'

This isn't what he wants to ask, but he's hoping to steer the conversation close.

[lovesickkiller]

"No, not at all," Misa assures him, not yet aware of his motives. "I had a couple others to drop off, and you're not that far away from the school."

[evowhisperer]

He nods slowly, finishing chewing and swallowing. There's a silence on his end that goes beyond simply not speaking out loud, and he worries an edge of the tablet's screen, trying to think of words to use.

Before the quiet has stretched out too long he starts typing again. The words come slowly. When he turns the screen around, his face has arranged itself in a placid, apologetic look.

'I'm glad.'

'I'm grateful for the fudge, but I have to ask: how did you get my address?'

'Did someone from the Network tell you?'

Translation: is his doppelganger handing that information out, too?

[lovesickkiller]

Confusion takes over Misa's expression as she reads his message, glancing up at Cesar's face for any hint of accusation. He looks sorry for asking at least, but has he forgotten?

"You told me," she says uncertainly. "When we talked on the Network. I mean, I talked, you were writing on that tablet."

[evowhisperer]

His eyebrows lift, but--that kind of explains everything, doesn't it?

'I didn't, actually. That answers my question, but I would remember giving this kind of information out over the network. My 'twin' must've somehow blocked the messages from me.'

It would explain a lot if he had, and not in a good way. Did this recent silence mean that he was still active, and that Cesar just wasn't hearing about it?

This isn't the time to wonder. Cesar is more than sensitive enough to know that finding out you were never invited might have a strong impact on this kind of visit, and his gut is telling him that whatever kind of person Misa is, she's not unkind. He needs more people like this in his life, doesn't he?

'You're still welcome here, for the record. This fudge is very good, and I needed the break.

[lovesickkiller]

"Wait, are you saying that you have a doppelganger, like Lazarus?" she asks as he writes the second message, shocked. The difference had been more than obvious with Lazarus, but she hadn't been able to tell with Cesar— of course, she knows him far less well. Perhaps the fact that he was talking with her openly at all should have been a tip off.

"I'm sorry, I had no idea—" she stops to glance down at his next message. It's reassuring, but no wonder he looked so confused when she showed up. "Thank you, I... I'm sorry if I freaked you out, showing up all of a sudden."