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A white one? That one I saw was pink... [She raises an eyebrow.] Wot did it mean by fluff? Yer 'air...?

[She asks genuinely, because that's the first possibility that comes to mind!]

Good on ya to ask the lot of 'em first. [Sometimes she wishes she could be asked before receiving a surprise hug.] So that's it? It worked, just like that?

[ Yeah, she doesn't blame Gina for thinking that. The first time, she took it literally too, as did her father. She gives a light shrug, and Gina seems to move on. ]

It took a while?

[ It would have been nice if they could have just stayed like that, honestly. ]

...I've never seen a pink one. [ Or... well, maybe she has? She's certainly never been trapped by one. ]

[Definitely her fluffy little hair then. Got it!

She takes that in with a nod, while Toby scampers around.]

I see. [She guesses that it felt like it took forever to get through her own gumdrop ordeal.]

Do the different colors want different things or summat like that? ...Well it's all gone an' over wiv now. If those things know wot's good for 'em, they won't come back to mess wiv us no more!

[ She gives a nod, remembering how there was a red one as well. Are there yet more colors to be discovered...?

With Toby scampering, she takes it as a sign to keep walking. With all that said, it at least feels like Gina is a little more at ease. Her determination (even in the form of a threat) is somehow endearing. ]

Did you shoot the slug?

[ She has to ask. ]

[No one knows for sure ~~- except Laena~~!

Gina shuffles along slowly to keep the walk going. And Susato's comment gets her to give a big sigh.]

Blimey, why didn't I think to try that? If I ever see one again, I ain't just gonna blast it, I'm gonna stuff it into the gun an' shoot it right up into the sky! [Gina shakes her head. And smiles.]

[ Such violence...! (She thinks, as if she hadn't also threatened the white slug. She did.) But since it is about what she expected (she asked Beat the same question), Susato can't be too surprised. When Gina smiles, she decides the girl was just joking. ]

Then... did it appear during your contest? Was it hidden within your bowl of noodles?

[It's probably just an over-the-top empty threat. Maybe.]

Yeah, it showed up outta nowhere just while I was about done trouncin' Beat! It wasn't in the noodles, though. That woulda ruined the meal even more! I did 'ear people say they saw it restin' on our tree at some point, though.

[ Oof. Yeah, now that she thinks of it, she doesn't know if she'd even be able to bring herself to eat it anymore if that happened. Resting on their tree sounds about right, though. ]

And within our decorations. They made themselves right at home, didn't they?

[ A brief pause as she considers those hollow, glass ornaments. ]

...Did you still win? [ The contest... ]

[Gina shakes her head as she thinks of the creatures living in the Christmas tree.]

Yeah, an' we're the ones who paid for it!

[For once, Gina's not happy with sheltering some type of creatures.]

...I was about to win, so... I'm countin' that as a victory for me! [She smirks proudly.]

[ She'll have to ask Beat if he agrees. For now, however, Susato seems abused at Gina's confidence. ]

Of course.

You two are so competitive... But you know, I can't help but think that Beat may have won, too, that day. [ Just a little. Go on, ask her how. ]

'Course we're competitive. We're rivals, that's wot we are.

[It's the nice and simple and not complicated and confusing way to think about it. He's just someone to butt heads with and try to one up!

But she does bit her bait, looking towards her with narrowed eyes.]

...'Ow d'ya reckon that now?

[ Rivals, huh? ......Kazuma and Ryunosuke were rivals, in a way. But they were also partners. Susato grins. ]

Well, he got to kiss you, after all. Maybe you both won.

[And now her face grows redder again, her chin and hat sinking.]

O-oi... It- it ain't like I'm a prize-worthy kisser or nuffin'... [She says shyly. But she does feel kinda warm and fuzzy at the thought.]

. . . [ She is very cute when she does that. Susato has to stifle a chuckle. ] Well, I think you are.

[ Toby barks just then. Probably at something unrelated, considering the pup hasn't even looked back up at them, but Susato continues regardless, ]

See? Inspector Toby agrees with me. [ And his word is Law!! ]

[Gina shakes her head, trying to wave away the embarassment, though her cheeks remain red.]

...I guess I appreciate yer votes o' confidence. [She's still not accustomed to thinking of herself in that way, though she does have some kissing experience back home at least.]

A-anyway, that's the long an' short of it. It's no big deal or nuffin'. It 'appened, an' it's done wiv.

[ Well, at least she's not running.

Susato does back off slightly, not wanting to question the finality of it, but she still can't help asking: ]

He hasn't spoken to you since?

[She glances ahead with uncertainly while going ahead with Toby.]

No, we've... talked an' all. Just- just not about that. ...There were other things goin' on.

[She shakes her head. They were just a bit preoccupied with Beat's most traumatic memory and learning about his fate back home. Kissing didn't really come up naturally in that conversation.]

I- I'm sure we'll just carry on as we were. Simple as that.

[ Other things...

The way Gina says makes her wonder whether she should keep prying. Susato waits to see if she'll elaborate, but when it's clear that she won't, she speaks, ]

Is that what you want? [ For them to just be rival-friends? ]

[She sputters a response.]

W-wot... Why would I want anytin' different? Things were fine the way they were.

[Gina shakes her head. And she pauses for a moment before glancing towards Susato.]

I dunno wot's so great about all that stuff anyhow. You... really enjoy bein' wiv 'Soggy an' all that?

[ The way Gina says it almost seems like she's trying to convince herself. It's almost endearing, though as soon as Gina turns things around, Susato starts to feel rather tight-lipped. This is her friend, of course, but does she really have the expertise to speak on such things?

Her and father were supposed to figure this stuff out together.

... ]

Well... yes. [ It takes her a moment, but when Susato finally speaks, she realizes there is no reason why she should be hesitant. Kazuma wouldn't. ] Yes, I do. It is not as though I am an expert on the matter, but I can say that much. I love him.

[She probably should have realized that someone as proper as Susato might be a bit tight-lipped about the matter. But what she does manage to say is still sweet.]

Ah. Yeah, that sounds good. Love an' all. If you're glad wiv it, then that - that's good for ya, Sooze.

[She shifts uncomfortably, focusing ahead as Toby trots along, the pup stopping every now and then to take in some smells.]

I just... I never really thought of all that as stuff for me. [That all seemed like fairy tale stuff to her, not something a street kid like her could ever have. Not that she was sure that she wanted it, either. To be that close with something... to be that vulnerable...] I dunno wot to make of it myself. ...It takes a lot, trustin' someone like that.

[She's come a long way in trusting others and accepting friendship. But this is a whole other level of feelings and trust.]

[ Susato doesn't interrupt Gina. Even throughout the pauses and the distraction of Toby, she can tell that she's not quite done speaking. She should have guessed that it would be a difficult topic for her, and she's actually proud that Gina is talking about it. Even if her arm did need a little twisting......

Susato smiles wistfully, swallowing down the pang in her chest. Gina has always deserved better than that. She deserved to trust. ]

It can be hard to earn, and easy to lose, yes. But... for what it is worth, I trust Beat.

[ She wonders if that means anything at all. Some would say Susato trusts too easily, but... ]

Did you know that he saved my life?

[Susato did point out that they're supposed to be able to tell anything to each other... and Gina wanted to get that all out to someone. Especially to Susato, one of the people here in this world who understands her the best. Gina feels no regrets confiding in her, just as she still feels generally uneasy navigating the murky waters of this subject.

She raises a curious eyebrow as Susato brings that up.]

'E did? ...'Ow did 'e go an' do that? [She finds herself wanting to know the whole story.]

[ It's not a topic that readily talks about often. Even now, she can feel a chill that seems to come out of nowhere when she thinks about it. She allows that to pass, however, wondering where she should even start. ]

Well... It was in the Wildlands, back in the summer. He and I were called there one night because a friend needed our help, and... I wound up falling through a frozen lake.

[ It is most definitely not the whole story. Whoops. ]

He jumped in to save me.

[Gina rubs an arm idly as she feels the chill blow through. But she focuses on listening to Susato.]

A frozen lake? Cor, that musta been 'orrible. [She shakes her head.] An' Beat got ya right outta there?

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