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[The gusk gives an unhappy squeak, scampering back to Hibiki's arm again. However, she seems happy at the hair ruffling.]

I was wondering what I should do! I never got a hat last year... I just had a scarf and jacket.

[She really should have, though. The cold really nipped at her ears then.]

Thank you so much! I'll definitely wear it lots!

[Her smile is still a little watery, but it's genuinely grateful.]

[2cool4guardian]

No problem. I'm glad you liked it.

[Look at how happy Jack is. He made Hibiki smile, hooray! A watery smile, but it still counts. Still wanting to make it better, he opens the jar of candy and drops some on the table for her.]

How... [-are you feeling? No, bad question.] Do you need anything? [Worried Jack is still worried.]

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[She shakes her head.]

Mmm... I think I'll be okay for now.

[She takes one of the candies and pops it into her mouth, even though it's not like she's hungry or anything - it's hard to be after finding out the truth behind one's own murder. But it seems like the polite thing to do.]

...! It's so sweet!

[2cool4guardian]

Well, you're a sweet girl, so it fits.

[He ruffles her hair again. He can't help it. He knows she likes it, and since there's nothing else he can do right now, he goes for that. At least she seems okay, but still. Feeling useless as hell over here, thank you.]

If anything happens... or you just need to cheer up again, you WILL let me know, got it? I'm moving from the hells soon, to my own place. No side effects there, you can come by whenever you want.

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[...Getting compliments is still weird, but she won't say anything this time because headpats are lovely and she's trying so hard as it is not to be negative.]

-?

You're moving? Where?

[2cool4guardian]

I got a... kinda like a shop, but not really that. It's a surprise, you'll see it when you come by later.

[It's not really surprising considering this is Jack, but oh well. Getting restless, he starts making some piece of candy float, forming shapes in the air.]

There's an apartment above it. I'm moving there, and Sandy is coming with me. Oh, and it's still on the Loki district. You can come by whenever you feel like, got it? You and your pets too, why not. Sandy has a thing for animals.


((omg Totally forgot to add! The hat also has the little card with a snowflake, so Hibiki can guess who gave her that plushie that other time, haha.))

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A surprise?

[Why would a store need to be a surprise, though...]

...Then, I'll definitely be sure to visit! But it's really okay if I bring my pets along?

[There's... kind of a lot of them.]

[2cool4guardian]

Sure. They need to get out and have fun too, right?

[It looks like the chatting is really keeping Hibiki distracted, so Jack tries to keep it up. He offers his hand to the gusk again before asking.]

Does this little one have a name?

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[She shakes her head.]

Uh-uh... I couldn't think of a good one.

[The gusk is sniffing at him warily again. You won't betray him again, will you?]

[2cool4guardian]

[As long as Hibiki keeps smiling, then no, Jack won't get distracted again. So this time he does go for the petting.]

Maybe they can ask the rest of the kids. Vote for the cutest name ideas or something.

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[Aww yessss pettings. The gusk does love those.]

Huh? I-is it really okay to make it that big of a deal?

[2cool4guardian]

[Jack isn't very used to petting, but he tries his best! And he nods at Hibiki, always smiling at her cuteness. Gosh, this girl never stops.]

Why not? Your pet needs a name and the kids like animals. It's a win-win situation if you ask me.

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But using the network for that sort of thing just seems kind of...

[...Flagrant misuse of power, perhaps?]

[2cool4guardian]

[He can't help it, he starts laughing. Jack is going through the internet era at home, of course her comment is funny in perspective.]

I guess you don't have some sort of network in your world, huh? Hibiki, people use this kind of thing for everyday stuff like this all the time. They put up pictures of their lunches and complain about the weather.

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Eh-- R-really...?

[It sounds so... mundane.]

But then... do you mean there's something like this where you're from?

[2cool4guardian]

Yep. I think Loki took the idea from it actually. [The chitchat is making him relax, the incident they were supposed to talked a about forgotten for now He crosses his legs on the chair, almost sitting on his bare feet.]

You can use for whatever you want. To serious stuff like work, or to talk to friends around the world, to play games... actually Loki's is a veeeery limited version of the real thing.

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A-around the world...?

[That... that sounds so impossible, and yet...]

Is that... something technology can do...?

[2cool4guardian]

[He nods, smiling and thinking again how cute Hibiki's reactions are.]

Yes, that's it. I guess you don't have machines in your world, huh? But you have magic, and that's better.

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[That only makes her hesitate even more.]

Mm... I wonder about that...

[2cool4guardian]

[He notices that hesitation, and looks at her with worry.]

Hibiki? You wonder about what?

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If... magic is really better. In my world, that is.

[Magic here is fantastic, as far as she's concerned. But when it comes to using it where she comes from...]

[2cool4guardian]

Why wouldn't it be? Does it scare you?

[He's having thoughts about black magic and he. Is. Not. Amused.]

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It doesn't scare me! It's just...

...You have to sacrifice something to use it. And... people I know got hurt because of that.

[2cool4guardian]

[Jack's eyes widen and suddenly he's feeling a bit bad for the advice he's given her.]

...sacrifice? Are you sure all your magic is like that?

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[She nods.]

In order to use magic, you have to make a sacrifice. Your voice, memories, life-- things like that. That's what makes it so magical.

Until I got here... I didn't know there could really be magic that didn't need sacrifices like that. I... wanted to create a magic that didn't need any even when I was at home, but... I still don't know if it's even possible, and I'm not really good enough at real magic to even begin trying.

[It was so spur of the moment; Ahito questioned her belief in magic, and she couldn't think of any better answer.

"Then I'll create a new magic that doesn't need any sacrifices" - in the end, it's no real surprise that he had laughed.

But after witnessing the pain so many people have gone through... and after seeing the magic here, she wants to try.]