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[Will he do it for a Toby snack??

Gina follows in his footsteps while watching him curiously, eager to see what his sniffer settles on.

And it settles on... the floor! Gina stares down at the panel in question, uncertainly.]

Down there...? [She frets and kneels down.] Wot could in there? It's... too 'igh for nuffin' to be buried there, right...?

[She's still hesitant to lift the panel. What if it's an (un)dead body??

The knocking resumes, louder than ever.]

[ Susato similarly follows Toby. As they huddle around this panel on the floor, the voice becomes clearer. Still muffled, but also in distress, and the knocking sounds desperate.

Whatever is under there isn't dead. ]

I'm going to pry it loose.

[ So Susato reaches for the edge of the panel. Toby's tail wags excitedly as he moves back an inch to give her space...

And a moment later, yanks the panel upward like ripping off a band-aid, and out pops a familiar-looking gnome creature! "Thank Gods! It was gettin' hard t'breathe in there!" ]

...!!

[But ghosts can talk too!!

Gina watches uneasily as Susato goes to lift the panel, admiring her bravery - and ready to protect her if need be!

Just as the gnome jumps out, Gina is startled.]

Ah!!

[She's immediately reloading her gas gun, ready to blast the creature, but she manages to pause as she processes the situation.]

Wait! You... Wot're you doin' down there? I- I thought the lot o' ya cleared out!

[ WOW GINA SO VIOLENT--

yeah okay Susato is not surprised in the slightest but she is staring as Gina loads the gas gun, then turns her head towards the gnome. For a moment she's rendered speechless, but at the very least Gina did not blast him to smithereens.

"Well, I got stuck, obviously! Di'nt wanna scare nobody but m'glad you two finally noticed. Guess I gotta thank the furry one too, eh?"

Another bark from Toby. Apparently he likes this friend! He gives good pets. ]

...W, Well, consider it a thank you for the work you've done with electricity! Um... [ Awkward. Do they adopt him now? But no, it seems like the gnome will want to catch up with the others. Lots of buildings to get through! ]

[So what if Gina chooses violence in a number of situations! In any case, she lowers the gun while the gnome speaks.]

Yeah, uh, sorry about that. But it's fine. Ya didn't scare us or nuffin'. [No one was scared, end of story!!]

If you're 'ungry or thirsty, go right on down to that restaurant downstairs an' tell 'em we sent ya. [She says as she waves him off.]

[ The gnome tips his little hat before leaving. It is unclear whether he takes them up on that offer; it doesn't seem like he will, but Susato lets out a sigh, showing relief that the noises were caused by something so benign.

Toby looks a little disappointed, like he just lost his favorite chew toy before he even got to play with it. ]

...He will be back if we have a problem with the electricity. I'm certain of it.

[ She could go back to reading now, but now her attention's shot, and her mood for the story is rather ruined. ]

[Gina tries to give Toby some gentle little pats to help raise his mood. At least he's earned some treats for his help!

And she answers Susato with a simple nod.]

They're a real 'ard-workin' folk, for sure. [She gives a sigh.] An' that's that, I s'pose. But now I got me energy all up... I can't just go back to sittin' around now.

[ There's a pause. When she puts it that way, she can't really do that either. Doesn't want to. So she looks at Toby for a moment, who looks back up at her with begging eyes.

You said treat!!! ]

Well, let us give Toby his treat, and then take him for a walk together.

[She gives a little laugh and then nods.]

Right, we gotta see to the 'ero o' the 'our, first of all.

[Gina reaches into her satchel to pull out a treat, which she holds out to Susato.]

Sooze, you can take the 'onor o' givin' out the Chief Inspector's reward.

Sure, of course.

[ So Susato gives a nod of her head, and takes the little meaty treat out of Gina's hands. When she turns back, Toby is already sitting with his tail wagging eagerly. ]

Good boy, Inspector Toby. [ And rather than having him sit or shake hands or roll over like he normally would, she simply gives him the treat. Sniffing out their gnome friend is "trick" enough, surely?

When he's done, she adds: ]

Now where is your leash? [ Can he go get it? ]

[It was quite the trick! Finding the being who had tricked her. There's a soft grin on Gina's face as she watches Toby with delight.

Once Susato asks about the leash, Toby lets out a soft yip and eagerly scampers off, returning a little later dragging the leash along.]

There's a good boy. [Her smile grows as she leans down and pets at the dog's head! Before starting to put the leash on.] Wait, didn't I walk ya already? I'm sure that...

[She trails off for a moment, before she realizes what she's thinking of. With a light blush, she finishes putting the leash on with a hurry.]

N-nevermind, I was thinkin' of... sometin' else. Let's get movin'!

[ Susato grins, seeing Toby return with the leash. Another trick in and of itself! Though when Gina seems to pause and even blush, Susato seems surprised, and maybe even a little concerned. ]

...Thinking of what?

[ IS SHE NOT FEELING WELL... Toby doesn't seem to be complaining about (2) walks (???) either way. ]

[Toby's doesn't need to be golden to be good at retrieving! He pants and wags his tail, excited for his walk, the first one he's had today.

Gina tugs her hat down while starting to move with Toby.]

...Nuffin'. [She mutters.] Just musta been thinkin' of a dream wot I 'ad is all.

A dream?

[ She allows Gina to take the lead, and moments later, they're walking out the front doors and down the steps. ]

A dream... where you walked Toby?

[Down the steps they go, with a very excited boy tugging the leash!]

Y-yeah. [She murmurs uncertainly.] I was just walkin' 'im, and then 'e brought me to... [She blushes further and picks up her pace.]

...It was just a dream, alright? Ain't no need to talk about it, it's already a world o' dreams we're livin' in!

But... But you're blushing!

[ Clearly this is important!!! Toby barks just then as they reach the bottom, though whether he's agreeing or just excited to be in the fresh air, neither can say. ]

I- I ain't blushin'!!

[Blushing furiously, she ducks her head down nervously and moves even faster, almost tripping over a stair in the process!]

Why would I be doin' that? I, it ain't like I'm lookin' to get wiv someone anyhow! S-so if Bea- if anyone was in me dreams, it ain't got nuffin' to do wiv nuffin'!

[ When she almost trips, Susato rushes forward to grab and steady her. After that, they stop, and Susato can be heard letting out a small sigh. Toby is yanked back as well, and he looks back at the two with confusion.

What happened? ]

Gina.

[ Luckily she's already had this conversation with Beat, so when she hears "Bee," she is already sort of filling in the blank. ]

Was it Beat?

[Now she stops completely, her face turning tomato-red as That Name was uttered.]

B-Beat?! W- w- Wot're ya goin' sayin' that name for?

[Now she hurries down the last stairs to head right out the door.]

Wot's that cove got to do wiv anytin'? I- I didn't say nuffin' about 'im or any weird gumdrops!

You didn't have t—

[ .....Wow. She's barely managed to absorb what Gina mentions about the gumdrops, and suddenly Susato is several paces behind the pair. She bursts through the door behind Gina. ]

Hold on, you don't have to run! I... I thought we could talk to each other about anything!

[Just imagines aggressive power walking Susato-

That last part does get Gina to slow down! Leaving Toby more confused than ever.]

Blimey... 'Course we can talk about anythin'! I- I ain't sayin' that. But this is just... it ain't even anythin', innit? Wot's there to even talk about?

[ Listen, she's prepared to power-walk-slash-jog for as long as she needs to, but she's pretty glad she got Gina to slow down before she lost too much breath. She seems to reach for Gina's shoulder once she catches up, at the same time kind of catching her breath a bit. ]

Well... [ What's there to talk about? She already knows they kissed, but perhaps it would be best to get her side of the story. ] I don't know. For starters, what's this about a gumdrop?

[She groans in response as she thinks back to the memory.]

You know, those weird things that kept showin' up in the tree at the Harvest the other month? Like weird gumdrop slugs. One of 'em just... got me an' Beat in a little bit of a jam, that's all.

[ Susato bites her lip. She knows all too well what the gumdrops are, of course, having had her own run-in with them; but that is beside the point. ]

...Was it that unpleasant? [ She hopes not. Beat will be heartbroken. ]

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