[He isn't expecting the weight to be lifted off him so he stumbles, but Ken emerges from behind the bulk. Most kids would be out of breath lugging that all the way from Nonah to Heropa, but Ken hasn't broken a single sweat. In the Florida warmth, there's no chill to excuse the flush to his face before he grins sheepishly.]
[He's nonplussed for a full beat before he steps back to make room for Ken to come in. Somehow Minato still doesn't really think of himself as receiving gifts, even though he's gotten a slew already. But he's mostly gotten to have those reactions quietly and privately, opening them by himself, smiling softly and staring at them for probably longer than such simple gifts warranted.
Hanging out with Jaime and his housemates this morning had just been hanging out with friends, with gifts involved. That wasn't much different. But Ken... always means something a little more to him.]
... Thank you, then. Sorry, maybe I should've gotten you something more. [It's maybe a little weird that Minato associates physical gifts with friends and acquaintances and non-physical gifts with really close friends. Ken had gotten that recording, Jaime that coupon.
He retreats back to set the box on the island counter, leaving Ken to close the door.]
[The box isn't terribly heavy, at least. It's light enough for its size that it's not difficult to tell that whatever it is inside, it's probably hollow. Ken's honestly a little pleased by the reaction he received; a surprise from Minato is difficult to get, and this on top of him liking the gift -- Ken is actually pretty confident he'll like it, if only for its practicality -- is enough to raise his mood already. There's a small spring in his step as he follows him into the house, shaking off the coat and hat and scarf and mittens he had on while wandering through Nonah.
They're all orange and brand new part of the gifts he received this morning as well.]
It's just huge! I really liked the recording you gave me -- I played it on the way here, too. We sounded pretty good, huh?
[He's happy to see Ken so energetic-- a sight it feels like he hasn't seen in ages, maybe since the soccer season stopped-- even if he looks like a crossing guard in all that orange.]
Yeah. We did. [Minato's glad he liked it, anyway; that's what really mattered. And he did help Jaime with the scrapbook, so there's a few pages in there that are blatantly obvious that he worked on them.]
I should open this now, right...? [But he's only asking for formality's sake; he's already unwrapping it, more by unfolding the paper than by tearing it, Minato's customary patience at work again. As the contents are revealed, he says,] Oh-- this is great. Thanks, Ken-kun. Especially if I get into the conservatory, I'll need something like this.
[He's just been using the case that came with the violin, which is cheap and not all that protective. This one will be much better.]
[He feels like Minato's mentions of that conservatory have been coming less hesitantly lately, though he can't tell how much of that is Minato forcibly accepting this change in his life or actually accepting it, Ken's not keen enough to tell. He is, however, patient enough to wait for him to finish unwrapping (it's interesting to him that they unwrap things in almost the same way) and there's nothing but a smile waiting when Minato gives his reaction, his cheeks coloring as he's pleased by the reaction.]
I couldn't think of what to get you, at first... but since I'm the one you play your violin for [with] the most, I figured you wouldn't be getting a lot of violin-related things from anyone else.
[It's sort of a combination of both. Minato is starting to accept it a bit, but he's also ushering himself along, impatient with his own inability to adjust. He'll get there. By the time it's actually happening, maybe he won't be dragging his feet so much. He hasn't even gotten in yet.
He watches Ken smile and blush and wishes he could take a picture of it to memorize. Actually--]
I didn't. Well... Lapis-san gave me a Barbie with a violin. [Minato looks bland as ever, but from the lightness of his words it's obvious it'd amused him. As he speaks, he pulls out his phone, pretends to check it while setting up the camera, and then lifts it up to point at Ken.]
Hai, chiizu.
[Minato stoically takes a picture without warning, and then lowers his phone.] Sorry. You looked really happy, so...
[Lucky for Minato, Ken's expression doesn't fall apart until after the picture is taken. The smile is still there, although by the time the phone is lowered his eyes are round as saucers, mouth open in surprise as it slowly dawns on him what had happened. You looked really happy, so...]
... I would've expected that from Jaime-san, but not from you. Maybe he's rubbing off on you too much.
[He fiddles with his phone for a second, checking the image and making sure it saves, before tucking it away.]
Everyone's been giving me things, so I have a box with mementos in it now. [Needless to say, this is the first time that's happened.] Jaime said you take pictures a lot. I thought-- it seemed like a nice idea.
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[He isn't expecting the weight to be lifted off him so he stumbles, but Ken emerges from behind the bulk. Most kids would be out of breath lugging that all the way from Nonah to Heropa, but Ken hasn't broken a single sweat. In the Florida warmth, there's no chill to excuse the flush to his face before he grins sheepishly.]
It's for you, actually.
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Hanging out with Jaime and his housemates this morning had just been hanging out with friends, with gifts involved. That wasn't much different. But Ken... always means something a little more to him.]
... Thank you, then. Sorry, maybe I should've gotten you something more. [It's maybe a little weird that Minato associates physical gifts with friends and acquaintances and non-physical gifts with really close friends. Ken had gotten that recording, Jaime that coupon.
He retreats back to set the box on the island counter, leaving Ken to close the door.]
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They're all orange and brand new part of the gifts he received this morning as well.]
It's just huge! I really liked the recording you gave me -- I played it on the way here, too. We sounded pretty good, huh?
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Yeah. We did. [Minato's glad he liked it, anyway; that's what really mattered. And he did help Jaime with the scrapbook, so there's a few pages in there that are blatantly obvious that he worked on them.]
I should open this now, right...? [But he's only asking for formality's sake; he's already unwrapping it, more by unfolding the paper than by tearing it, Minato's customary patience at work again. As the contents are revealed, he says,] Oh-- this is great. Thanks, Ken-kun. Especially if I get into the conservatory, I'll need something like this.
[He's just been using the case that came with the violin, which is cheap and not all that protective. This one will be much better.]
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I couldn't think of what to get you, at first... but since I'm the one you play your violin for [with] the most, I figured you wouldn't be getting a lot of violin-related things from anyone else.
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He watches Ken smile and blush and wishes he could take a picture of it to memorize. Actually--]
I didn't. Well... Lapis-san gave me a Barbie with a violin. [Minato looks bland as ever, but from the lightness of his words it's obvious it'd amused him. As he speaks, he pulls out his phone, pretends to check it while setting up the camera, and then lifts it up to point at Ken.]
Hai, chiizu.
[Minato stoically takes a picture without warning, and then lowers his phone.] Sorry. You looked really happy, so...
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[Lucky for Minato, Ken's expression doesn't fall apart until after the picture is taken. The smile is still there, although by the time the phone is lowered his eyes are round as saucers, mouth open in surprise as it slowly dawns on him what had happened. You looked really happy, so...]
... I would've expected that from Jaime-san, but not from you. Maybe he's rubbing off on you too much.
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Everyone's been giving me things, so I have a box with mementos in it now. [Needless to say, this is the first time that's happened.] Jaime said you take pictures a lot. I thought-- it seemed like a nice idea.
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It's kind of fun. I look at them sometimes and remember little things I would've forgotten otherwise.