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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.))

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.]

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?

[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?]

Edited (was not quite done yet) 2013-10-23 10:07 (UTC)

[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.

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

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

[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.

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

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

[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.

Eh-- R-really...?

[It sounds so... mundane.]

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

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.

A-around the world...?

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

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

[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.

[That only makes her hesitate even more.]

Mm... I wonder about that...

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

Hibiki? You wonder about what?

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...]

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

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

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.

[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?

[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.]

That's... that's awful, Hibiki. And definitely not what I meant. You should never use magic like that, you hear me? It's not worth it.

[It's amazing how he suddenly changes his speech, but he doesn't want her to get hurt for a few tricks. It sounds too much like dark magic.]

But the magic here, and in other worlds, that's good magic. And you can practice your skills. [Know what time is it? Time for petting her cute kid head.] I'm sure you'll be successful one day.

But that's just how magic is at home. And... I want to learn it!

[She's very determined, even despite the head pats.]

...At first I only learned because my Master was the one teaching me. [The research didn't matter to her; it was the fact that she was in a kind, caring environment. She wanted him to be proud of her.] But now... I really do want to get better. At all the kinds of magic, both here and at home.

I... I want to be able to help people. To use magic for good.

And that's wonderful, Hibiki, really. But I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for it.

[Yeah, he can see the head pats aren't working this time, so he just drops his hand.]

Go ahead and learn, but don't use anything dangerous for yourself, got it?

...I don't think it's possible to avoid danger. But... I'll try to be careful when I use it.

[She's not really the risk-taking type anyway.]

That's just how magic is in my world, so... I think, if I want to find a way to change that, I need to learn how it is right now. And then... maybe I really can find a way that won't need sacrifices anymore. And my friends won't have to--

...Won't have to get hurt so much.

Sounds like you have a plan. I know you can do it.

[He realizes they're touching another bad topic when he's supposed to be distracting her. Maybe it's time to call it a night. He ruffles her hair before speaking again, he's just addicted to that gesture.]

But I think ti's a little too late to think too hard about that stuff. I've kept you up, sorry, kiddo. Just wanted to make sure you're alright.

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