ic inbox.

[lucentia]

HELLO

"Greetings."

GOODBYE

TEXT | VIDEO | VOICE | ACTION

Comments

[vacuous]

Maybe both. My parents are kind but...

... Feels kind of bad to leech off of them at this age... and... she's curious about if I'll look for a partner and stuff...

[lucentia]

... Indeed, it can be suffocating—feel almost shameful—to receive kindness that you can't yet repay.

[said softly, though his tone turns more wry at the next part.]

People are always preoccupied with others' marital status. I suppose most parents would be especially.

[vacuous]

Both of my sisters are married. ...I guess you knew that already since you mentioned my niece.

I'm 27 now. [ PROBABLY. idk when his bday is. ] Most men my age are either dating or married by now. That's what's normal.

[lucentia]

[tokinaga your bday]

Perhaps, although if you aren't interested—pardon my presumption—then personally, I think that's fine too.

[vacuous]

[ He's either 26-27 but since it's November chances are he's 27. ]

I mean...

...

It's fine. I know she's just worried.

[lucentia]

... She doesn't want you to be lonely?

[vacuous]

......

Yeah, guess so.

[lucentia]

... If you want to vent to the unjudging ear of a stranger, I'd be happy to listen. Though of course, I won't press, and feel free to say if my questions are making you uncomfortable.

[he looks to the sky, holding his hand out briefly to catch a drifting snowflake.]

Either way, I really do hope you can find some measure of peace here.

[vacuous]

It's fine. It's a little awkward to be honest, but maybe it is nice to have someone...

[ Though like, what would he talk about is his issue. ]

It's really foggy, isn't it? And grey.

[lucentia]

Indeed. Be careful not to get lost in the fog—although I suppose the point of my accompanying you is to prevent that.

[vacuous]

Oh. Yeah, thanks...

How did you say you knew me again? Through my niece...? Which side? I guess it doesn't matter that much. You're... a tutor...? English?... She's probably too young to be learning English yet, huh. How?

[lucentia]

Ah, apologies—I may have misspoke earlier. I have a younger sibling, you see, who I help look after when I'm home, and who plays with her on occasion. I met her and her family that way.

[continues lying with such a straight face that might be surprising to someone with memories of lucien considering that he's usually honest.]

[vacuous]

Oh. Okay. But you're all the way out here?

[ He kind of aimed for a place with zero acquaintances so maybe this is a bit awkward... oh well. ]

[lucentia]

[SORRY, TOKINAGA!!!]

... Well, you could say I wanted to get away from everything for a bit as well.

[vacuous]

Really? Funny coincidence.

What're you getting away from then?

[ School...? ]

[lucentia]

Mm... worried about the future, I suppose, and whether or not I'm equipped to handle it.

[vacuous]

[ Oh, yeah... he looks maybe around high school or college age, huh... ]

...Yeah, that's pretty scary stuff. Society is a lot.

[lucentia]

Any advice as my elder?

[vacuous]

...

[ Thinks about it... ]

Find someone you like...

[ Thinking about how his sisters and parents are such happy people. ]

...

[lucentia]

[...

the awkward look of someone who doesn't think this is going to happen for himself?]

[vacuous]

[ Kids these days. ]

...Find a decent workplace with decent people...

[ Still thinking about what to say. He hasn't really noticed. ]

[lucentia]

[lucien already knows that there is probably no advice tokinaga can give that he can use, but he listens to see if tokinaga is going to say anything else anyway for fun.]

[vacuous]

...Enjoy life.

[ Finishes off on that. Dead air... ]

[lucentia]

[just :man_standing: because he can't follow any of this advice. luckily he only asked to avoid having to talk more about why he's on this alleged trip, in which case he'd either have to lie or vomit disguised truths to a tokinaga who might remember later...]

... Thank you. I'll keep those things in mind.

[vacuous]

[ He just nods vaguely. Trails off into awkward silence walking. ]