blahblahblah | [06 ~ Video | Locked to Hayate]

[Rita is known to research topics that are interesting to her. She's also been known to steal spell ideas from sources that make themselves known. A certain young girl's recent post happens to have done both at once, and simultaneously make her intrigued, curious, and worried. Notes are taken on the bright pink death beam and she starts to get some spellwork done, but there's something nagging at her as she reads the rest of the message and responses; once she realizes Hayate has persistent medical issues that just aren't going away, and that the girl is looking for magical help, she sighs, bringing the community to bear.]

Hey, kid. I saw that you were looking for someone to take a look at you. I'm... not much of a medic, but I know someone who is, and I can probably figure out enough to know if she'll be able to help you at all.

[It hasn't yet occurred to Rita that perhaps the girl won't take well to offered medical help from unknowns that have offered their services out of the blue. Then again, even if it had, she likely wouldn't have cared anyway.]

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I wonder if anyone could set up some relief projects for those poorer and in need in your world...? [Hayate nodded at the way Rita looked and stated what was coming to him.] Good then.

Okay. You can sit down too.

They had one of those: Flynn, Yuri's knight buddy that was the lower quarter's guardian angel. But Flynn's off on a pilgrimage, so he's not in the capital right now. That's the other thing we've been doing, chasing Flynn from place to place. We have a mission ahead of him for now, though.

[Rita thinks, and after a moment, starts a slow and deliberate explanation.] I think what I know isn't much different from what your doctors found out. I can see what the problem is, I can see it's spreading, and I can see a source... but I don't think any of them are fixable. We can maybe make your legs work better for a little while, but... [She frowns, acutely aware she basically just got the girl's hopes up for nothing. She's also leaving out the technical things, and the "you're probably not going to last a very long time like this" part.]

I'm sorry, Hayate.

[Hayate nodded. This was what she expected after all. But for magic not to be able to fix what was wrong, well, that was disheartening at best.

Still she put up a brave face and nodded.] I know. The doctors were able to notice. Eventually... it'll get to my chest, and then my shoulders. At that point, I don't know if I'm going to be able to survive unassisted.

Still... thank you for coming to see me, Rita, I... [Hayate took a deep breath.] Can... I call you Rita-oneechan for a while? It's how girls my age address older women.

[There's a sharp sigh, and a pause as Rita considers something.] I want you to promise me something, Hayate. [She moves to sit right next to the girl, her expression serious.] Promise me you're not going to give up. Even like this, there are still things you can do. And there's still hope for you. Just because I can't fix it doesn't mean there isn't someone out there who can. I mean, among the hundreds of worlds we're connected to... someone, somewhere, must be able to do something.

I... [Rita clams up for a moment, unable to continue as her mind berates her for being a huge hypocrite.] I wish there were something else I could do for you, aside from being here. So don't thank me. I... didn't really do anything. And yeah, you can call me that, or... whatever. [She's reeling from Hayate's strength of heart; Rita lost her family when she was little and turned out like this. Hayate is dying, how is she still functioning?]

[Pure stubborn willpower, the strength not to give up... Hayate was a lonely sad girl, and yet she was beginning to hold on again. Everyone on the community was looking out for her now, and she couldn't give up. Not yet. She nodded at Rita's request.] I will. I won't give up. I don't want to die and...

[She took a shuddering breath again.] I know, somehow, it'll be all right!

[Looking at the calendar next to her bed, there was a marking on it. It read "Birthday" with a 10 marked with sparklers. She was nine, and she accepted everything.]

[Rita can't help herself; she reaches forward to wrap her arms around Hayate, closing her eyes to not tear up, and trying to smile all the while.] Yeah. It'll be all right. We'll make sure of it.

[After a moment, she opens her eyes again and notices the calendar. If she remembered Hayate's mention of the date correctly, that's not far off...] Your birthday's coming up soon?

[Hayate hugged her back, leaning into Rita's shoulder. She felt warm, comforted. She didn't get enough hugs recently, and it made her sad.] Yeah, it will.

Yes, my birthday is in a little while. A couple of weeks, provided time doesn't go weird between worlds again. Last time a whole month had passed, and it doesn't seem like it's doing it again.

[She lets the contact last a while longer while she schemes. The seeds of an idea are beginning to form in Rita's head, but it's going to take a lot of work, a few favors, and plenty of luck if she's going to pull it off.]

Hey, Hayate. Would... you mind if I came to visit for your birthday? Probably nothing fancy, but we can celebrate, at least. I'm sure some of the others on the community would be willing to come by, too. [Rita is trying very hard not to think about the fact that Hayate might not have another birthday coming after this one.]

Really? You mean it? [Hayate nods enthusiastically, smiling happily.] Of course! I'll definitely let people come on my birthday! It would be great to see everyone I talked to. And the house is big enough to host a party.

Yeah! I'll be there, whatever it takes. And I'll let the others know. I think it'll be good to have a party or something... [How she'll make the logistics work, she has no clue. But she's not worried about that now.]

[Rita finally breaks off, sitting back and looking at Hayate, with a sad smile.] I know I haven't been here a long time today, but I probably should get back... Yuri is probably waiting for me. I left at a little bit of a bad time, but I wanted to figure this out first.

[Nodding, she smiled a little at Rita and brushed a tear away from her own eye.] Don't worry, I'll be fine. Go see Yuri-san then, I'm sure he's waiting for you.

And thank you, so much for doing this for me. It's really appreciated.

It would be too cruel of me to have this power and not use it. Besides... [The girl regains a little of her normal composure.] As a scientist, it would be wrong to pass up the opportunity to investigate. If I'd found something, it could advance medical science so it never happens to anyone else again, right?

[She shakes her head.] I'd better stop stalling, otherwise I'll be here all day. [Rita starts pushing books to leave.] But if anything happens, you know how to reach us. [Click, as the odd chained book makes a faint sound at the movement.] And even if not, talk to us anyway. [Click.] Talking to you'd be better than listening to Karol ramble about monsters any day. [Clunk, as the bookshelf shines.]

Bye, Hayate. I'll be back in a few weeks. [She waves, ready to hop through.]

Mmm. I'll talk to everyone as soon as I can. Thank you again, and be safe, Rita-oneechan.

[Hayate smiled, waving at her as she watched Rita prepare to make the world jump.]

[Rita just grins as she hops through; since she doesn't need to stop anywhere else this time, she finds herself back in Dahngrest, in Altosk's conveniently unoccupied office. Her expression immediately falls.]

I made that girl a big promise. How the hell am I gonna organize a party on another world... wait! If I ask the others...!

[She laughs a little to herself as she starts outside, glancing down at the duck around her neck, fire in her eyes.] I might be able to pull this off after all.

[06 ~ Video | Locked to Hayate]

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