Fractal let's his face remain stable through some minutes, and apart from the terrible noise of the white noise generator only he can hear, silence takes place for some moments. What can be pierced on the depths of the his metallic eyes are anyone's guess. His solemn and inninterrupt silence is the sign of respect for the tragic sentiments just shared.
But what an amazing thing is communication. On Mayuri said voice and stead tone, she shared more information than her simple and direct words carried, at least to the proper receiver. A sad story was designing itself in the sound of the shamisen, and the impassable face of the geisha suddenly became, to Fractal's perception, a monument of human despair and control. The Kikuya Chaya was a very fitting background for that.
Fractal would store this image with him. It was sad, but it was also filled with strong emotions. It was inspiring, and he was grateful to understand that.
But as respect would call, nothing of this could be read on the elf expression.
"So ka." His answer as a simple one, but as Mayuri's words had not contained all the message Fractal received, Fractal trusted the geisha's social ability to interpret what else was on his message: it was not just an "I understand", but an "I REALLY understand; and I'm sympathetic to your pain."
He blinks, looks down, and then returns to meet her eyes. "I see. Listen, Mayuri. It was really important for you to say that; even though your statements have turned all my previous plans useless, now I know what we are dealing with, and the difficulty in working this all right. I thank you for this." He finish his tea, and then, with a regained confidence, continue: "But difficulty is not impossibility, and you have not just given me a better understanding of the situation; you gave me a worthy challenge and a stronger motivation to work this all right. Mayuri, I don't know yet how I will accomplish this, but I guarantee you that we will accomplish it. This is no longer just a job; that's a run - and I will put my whole on it."
The way Fractal thread his words are quite strange... He has no need to put any sub-layer of meaning in them - what he says is true -, but they are not being spoken without a very definite and clear reason. Fractal wants Mayuri to trust them. This will ease her burden, and it will also make their jobs easier. Fractal acts as a dancer - he talks with intent and calculation, but in a graceful way that is only possible in someone who only plans his next steps unconsciously. His social-fu and empathic quality are not skills or assets; they are part of what he is.
Before rising from his position and making Lips a signal indicating it's time for them to leave, Fractal asks: "It would be better if you could inform us who is the lucky guy with whom we may find you in your near future, Mayuri-kun. May I ask this as well?" As before, Fractal trust her skills to know it's not just a passing curiosity that makes he ask that.
