tvk | [004. Action/Voice] // The thought is tempting.

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natalia luzu kimlasca-lanvaldear

[004. Action/Voice] // The thought is tempting.

[Action]

[Natalia stretches out an arm, her fingers just inches away from reaching an item on the uppermost shelf of the grocery store. She's already on tiptoes - not on the floor, but balancing haphazardly on a lower level.]

Honestly! If they're going to insist on filling such tall shelves, one would think that the store could at least have the courtesy of providing a ladder!

[She doesn't seem to have had too much trouble, however. Across the aisle there's a very generous pile of bags and boxes which seem to have originated from all over town.]

[Natalia lets out a sigh before reaching for her cellphone.]

[Voice]

This is entirely unacceptable! Would one of you please tell me how I might propose--ahh!

[Following this is a loud clatter.]

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[...what in the...]

Natalia... what just happened...?

[At least now she needn't worry about reaching the bubble bath... Five of them is a bit much, but she supposes they'll keep well enough.]

[Natalia takes a breath before responding.]

Nothing's happened. I'm perfectly fine.

[BLANDLY; he's not falling for it, princess.]

Something fell on you, didn't it?

[A little more forcefully than necessary.] It was a simple slip of the hand. Nothing has fallen on me.

Despite what you may think, I'm in complete control of the situation.

[Asch tried not to sound amused, but he failed almost entirely.]

If you say so, Natalia.

[Natalia flushes in embarrassment. Men certainly can be infuriating at times. It doesn't sound as if he believes her at all.] I do say so. And now you're making fun.

Is what I said so difficult to believe?

It is when there was a noticeable clunk on your end.

I've already told you that my hand slipped!

[...]

And then the shelf came loose and containers began spilling everywhere...

[SNORT]

[Sorry, Natalia. He TRIED not to laugh...]

Asch!

[She should be glad that Asch is actually laughing about something, but Natalia is too busy being mortified.]

Has no one ever taught you how rude it is to laugh at another person's expense?

[COUGH]

My most humblest apologies.

[Now he's just teasing her.]

Perhaps I won't accept your apologies.

[Two can play that game.]

[A shrug, not that Natalia can hear a shrug.]

Your choice.

[Natalia sighs as she begins straightening up the mess. It's not as if she wants to stay mad with him, and if that's the only apology she's going to get, well.]

I suppose that'll just have to do, although it would have been nice if you could have said something a little more romantic.

Did you need anything while I'm out, Asch? I think I've about finished with my own shopping.

[Pro Tip: She's well past finished. She doesn't need half of what she bought.]

I'll try better with romantic next time.

[You can HEAR the smirk in his voice.]

And no, I'm fine. Try not to knock anything else over.

[Natalia finds her nails digging into her palm. To even suggest that she would knock something else over!]

I'll do nothing of the sort.

[And her irritation is enough that she considers hanging up on him, but she doesn't, because it's "Luke".]

Good.

I don't want to have to come running to rescue you.

[And he means that in the most sincere way possible... which doesn't have much effect, because he's trying not to laugh.]

[Have an indignant huff. Honestly, Asch, stop laughing!]

You needn't concern yourself with running anywhere. I've had quite enough of being considered a liability. After a few more months of training, I may very well be the one coming to save you.

[If she feels like it. Thanks to the wonderful effects of reverse arcana, at this moment, she doesn't.]

Somehow I doubt that.

[...that response came a little too quick, and Asch almost sounded like he was about to shove his foot in his mouth... but he wasn't taking it back either.]

Well, I never...! [That's it. She isn't going to rescue him at all. Infuriating man.] For your sake, Asch, I hope the Shadows haven't become any more powerful. After all, you'll no longer be able to bully Luke into healing you.

[Wait. That's a little unfair of her to say. Natalia hesitates for a moment. Shouldn't she apologize? And why is she picking fights in the first place? Oh, but he started it...!]

[...ouch, Natalia. Why don't you just stab him next time? The silence over the other end is practically deafening, before Asch let out a mumbled, "Whatever," and cut the connection.]

[She might. Natalia narrows her eyes at the phone and before she can second guess herself, attempts a redial.]

[Asch is extra testy when he answers.]

Yes, your highness?

You haven't any reason to speak formally with me, Asch.

I'm sorry. It may be true that I shouldn't have said what I did, but then who are you to doubt me? [He's only...]

I will become stronger. I'll swear on it!

Sure.

Will that be all?

[Frigid much?]

Ah--

[Dazedly.] Yes, that's all.

[Hangs up.]

[Yuri's attention is caught by the loud crash causing her to com to the source. She honestly doesn't look very amused, instead she stays at a distance.]

Are you alright?

[That makes two of them, then. Natalia kneels, examining her wrist. She seems unharmed, but there's a shelving segment and its contents of bath bubbles and oils littering the floor.]

Yes, I'm all right. Although I cannot say the same for the top shelf.

[ Yuri blinks at the mess before coming over to grasp one of the items on the floor.]

Here; I'll help pick everything up.

No! ...No, it's fine. [She hurries to her feet, brushes out her skirts hastily, and scoops to begin collecting the items.]

I'm sure I can manage. After all, it is now my duty to look after myself. [Natalia seems determined in this.]

[ Yuri simply chuckles before glancing back up at the shelf.]

I may have no idea what you mean; but I do know what if you had troube getting something off you're going to have trouble getting it back up there.

Oh...! But I was going to purchase all of these. [Anyone can see that there's far more bath supplies strewn on the floor than she could possibly use if she took a long soak five times a day for the next two months.]

Although, it'd still be best to fix the shelf back into place, would it not? I wonder how it goes...

[She's glancing over at the shelf. Does it snap onto the rest of the structure? Hmn.]

[ Yuri can't help but raise a eyebrow; was she kidding. Unless she really didn't want anyone else in Prospero to have them, there wasn't much really to buy this much.]

You don't have to pretend you're actually going to buy all this.

[ Glancing up at the shelf, Yuri nods. It would Mae sense if it snapped onto the rest.]

I figure it would snap.

[Natalia looks slightly offended.] But I wasn't pretending. To reach an appropriate level of cleanliness, it'll take at least half of a container. Perhaps two.

[She stretches her fingers towards the broken off piece and then turns her attention back to the shelf.]

Reaching the top again might be difficult.

[Yuri simply shrugs; she doesn't know anything about baths therefore she can't exactly challenge her cleanliness logic.]

It could be if we both stay down here.

[Glancing at Natalia, she smiles.]

How about I get up there to talk a look at it?

I'd honestly rather do it myself, thank you. I'm trying to prove to someone that I'm quite able to fend for myself.

[She glances over at the other girl, her expression frank, though not completely rude.] Besides, will it not be just as difficult for you to reach the top shelf as it will be for myself?

I won't be able to learn anything if I continue to accept everyone's offers of help. Knowing how to put structures together could prove useful.

[ Yuri isn't one to take offense, besides she gets where she might be coming from. So she nods and simply glances back up at the shelf for a moment.]

I'm athletic and light enough that it wouldn't be a problem for me to make my way to the second top shelf and reach from there. [a beat] You handle it though; what's your plan?

Getting married?

[ If poor Natalia is still on the ground and covered in groceries, Souji will help her up! ]

Well, yes, eventually but... No, that isn't what I meant. I was trying to say that I'd like to propose the installation of a ladder.

Congratulations.

[ Have all of Souji's nearly six feet tall self with a basket of groceries dangling off his arm. ]

What can I get for you?

[She smiles slightly, and it seems a little forced.] ...Thank you.

I believe I've obtained what I was trying to find already, but I'll need to fix the shelf somehow. A boost would be sufficient.

[ Souji notes the awkwardness of her appreciation, but he looks at the partially dismantled shelf.

Souji is tall enough where he could reach it, but...

He looks at her again. Instead of asking to do it for her, he kneels down, setting his basket on the floor. ]

Okay.

[ He holds his hands out, fingers woven together for her to step on...

Souji thinks it would be easier if he could do it, though... ]

[Never one to miss a chance to MAKE A FRIEND, here's Gentarou offering a hand to help her up.]

What were you trying to get?

[Her sudden determination to prove how capable she is of doing everything on her own seems to be failing, as everyone has been trying to help her. Natalia sighs and reluctantly allows herself to be pulled up.]

I did manage to get them... The bath bubbles and showering gel.

[She got them all right. They're now cluttering the aisle.]

[he glances around as he looks around, tilting his head.]

You sure about that? Looks to me like the floor got 'em instead.

Well, yes, but now I am able to reach them, aren't I?

[She sounds a touch smug, as if she meant for this to happen and it wasn't all just a sad accident.]

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[004. Action/Voice] // The thought is tempting.

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