pencilcase | patterned useless pretty boy call-out post

Well-- you don't need to be rude about it.

[He leads the way, though, grumbling a bit. His gait has lengthened since Sabra, too-- is he a bit taller? He's a bit taller. They make good time to the apartment, although not without being stopped several times by people on the street who seem to know Albert. Of course he's friends with all the neighbors. He smiles and waves to all of them, stops to ask them how they're going, knows all their names.

Did you want to move quickly, Kanda?]

I'm not being rude.

[just LOOMING at the neighbours whenever they stop to talk]

You're definitely being rude! It's been at least two years since I saw you, and "get moving" is all you have to say to me...

[THE MOST PUT UPON OF SIGHS.

Still, they reach the front gate of Albert's apartment block. He stops and collects the mail outside first, then unlocks the building and wanders up the stairs. Finally they reach Albert's door, and he unlocks that one too.]

I'm going to apologise in advance for the mess, by the way...

[snorts a little, dismissively, but doesn't say anything]

[Albert steps in, setting his books on the table by the doorway. The inside is definitely... cluttered, but it's not hopelessly messy. Most surfaces are covered with books and papers and empty coffee mugs. The books have titles like "International Law", "Political Science 201", "Introduction to Economics," and so on and so forth.]

Ah-- Franz isn't home for another few hours, by the way. If you wanted to say hello. But feel free to make yourself comfortable. Just make sure you watch out for the--

[A small, scrappy-looking cat pokes her head out from around a corner and makes a "prrt" sound upon spotting Albert. She looks like she's lost half an ear in a fight-- in other words, she's exactly the kind of stray Albert would pick up, even though he's a dog person through and through.

Funnily enough, she ignores Albert then and walks straight over to Kanda.]

--cat...

[Albert narrows his eyes at the cat as she makes her way over to Kanda happily.]

... You traitor. Even though I'm the one who feeds you.

[snorts again]

[and against all expectation, crouches down and offers a hand, smoothing his fingers over the cat's spine]

[Congratulations! You have been blessed by cat. Cat has decided your presence is acceptable and is happy to let you pat her majesty.

Albert, meanwhile, looks disgusted.]

... What the hell? She always bites me.

You need to be calm with cats.

[says Kanda Yuu]

I can be calm...!

[Unsure.]

Anyway. [He gives a small sigh.] Do you want some tea? You don't look so good. [Way to be subtle, Albert.] I'm still not the best at cooking, but we have some snacks.

Tea. Yeah.

[rising to sit heavily in one of Albert's chairs. just giving a little grunt when the cat leaps up on him, too]

[Albert smiles, and he quiets a moment while he fusses about making tea. Once that's done, he places it in front of Kanda with a clink and sits himself down as well. He places a packet of shortbread on the table between them too. After a moment:]

... You ... were surprised to see me at the library today, weren't you.

[Read: you're not really here to see me, are you? It's a slightly subtler line of questioning than Kanda might remember of Simba. Not very, but still.]