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It took a few days to get a hold of her own phone, but eventually Hilde would call Deni up so they could meet. Seeing as she didn’t know the area much at they opted to let Deni pick where they would meet up.

Throwing any caution to the winds, Ronin invited her home! Or, well, to the home that Ronin was currently sharing with Valkyrie, but she’s been absent for a while, so it works out!

Took a little time to get oriented on where things were in the city, but eventually Hilde located the home in question. Arriving undisguised she knocked on the door and waited.

The door flung open, as Ronin came out in full Ronin transformed state and grinning widely. [color=9b83de]‘Welcome! You’re just in time!’[/color]

[color=9b83de]‘… Oh, darn, I shouldn’t have been transformed? Now I feel overdressed! Oh, well, come on in!’[/color]

Ronin skipped over to the kitchen in the place, because she had something in the oven here. [color=9b83de]‘In the past, we had a guy that used to cook for me and my friends,’[/color] that being Joe, the Interdimensional Tourist Mariette sometimes stayed with. Deni really couldn’t go to Joe anymore, as she would get found by Mariette immediately. [color=9b83de]‘so I resolved I was gonna teach myself! Now, here! Some mince pie!’[/color] Ronin called happily, using Reinforcement on her hands as her cooking gloves, pulling the pie out of the oven and placing it on the kitchen table. It was decently clumsily made, weight-distribution was off, seasoning was probably also pretty off, but it should still taste nicely and Ronin was grinning so widely!

[color=9b83de]‘Let’s not eat it all, I’m saving some for Valkyrie as thanks for letting me stay here, but, iiiih! First time I’m letting someone else try what I made!’[/color] Ronin sounded out, excited.

Looking slightly confused, Hilde stepped in. [color=steelblue]”Is it not weird to go around transformed? I don’t exactly look dressed for the streets wearing almost nothing.”[/color] She mused a bit as she followed her friend into the kitchen. 

[color=9b83de]‘Eeeeh, guess I’m just used to being transformed all the time. I don’t really have a regular life next to my transformed one, hah!’[/color] Ronin commented on that, but that aside! A pie to serve!

Despite any imperfections, Hilde would marvel at the item that Ronin had produced. She didn’t know the first thing about cooking. [color=steelblue]”It looks great! That’s so cool that you know how to cook. I think I would have starved to death by now if my friends didn’t let me stay with them. Their parents do most of the cooking.”[/color] She poked at the pie a bit but resolved that it needed to cool a bit before trying to eat it.

[color=9b83de]‘I really just followed a recipe, but thanks!’[/color] Ronin said with a grin. [color=9b83de]‘But I seek to learn! When I get my sister back, I’m gonna try cooking for her all the time, and…’[/color] Ronin sighed a bit, as she took a piece of the pie and put it on her own plate. [color=9b83de]‘Hey, what happened to you? Su said you died, so something’s up. You do look somewhat different, and the things you say don’t entirely match up, even I can see that, buuuut…’[/color] Ronin asked, giving Hilde an analyzing stare.

Ah hah, well that made something pretty clear. Hilde frowned slightly and leaned on a hand propped up on the table. [color=steelblue]"I get that a lot. If you're talking about Amber, she's still dead."[/color] She would comment dryly. Su at least was someone she'd been told about by her patron. The twins had done a little bit to fill her in on reality that her patron failed to detail. Namely Su was Amber's familiar turned magical girl and worked at some hotel place for magicals. Meeting her was bound to be uncomfortable. [color=steelblue]"Best I can tell you is I'm some part of her soul given new life. Any similarity is unintentional at this point. I've actually taken a different name. Hilde Bell. Complements of Faith."[/color] 

[color=9b83de]‘… Aw,’[/color] Ronin made a sad-sounding noise and looked down at her pie for a bit. [color=9b83de]‘So you were different people. I… sort of figured, you’re acting pretty differently. But… I was looking forward to meeting… I wanted to tease her some more… that’s going to make the reveal a lot less impactful… [sub][sub]I liked her, she was funny…[/sub][/sub]’[/color] she complained a bit, feeling a bit down to know one of her exceptionally few connections was apparently gone. She’d definitely imagined that Su’d been somehow mistaken and that she’d have this talk with “Amber” here, then have a reunion and everyone would be happy… [color=9b83de]‘Guess not, huh…’[/color]

That was a different reaction than what was expected. Her slightly irritated expression melted away and she looked away sheepishly. Very different from Oros’ for sure. Problem was Hilde wasn’t really sure she could do anything about it. Or even that she wanted to do anything. Was she supposed to be Amber but just ended up missing too many aspects so she ended up being nobody? Maybe that’s why changing her name was so easy. Damn birds, why’d they have to… whatever. [color=steelblue]”I get it.”[/color] She was quiet for a moment before she turned and slid out of her chair.

[color=9b83de]‘… Well! Then the purpose of this visit has changed to celebrating our [i]new[/i] friendship, then!’[/color] Ronin pulled her head up and breathed in heavily out of a widely smiling mouth. The sadness of the most recent revelation was still there, yet her smile refused to let herself be kept from facing the future. [color=9b83de]‘I apologize that I don’t have anything more fancy to drink,’[/color] she then said, grabbing a can of water to pour some out into glasses that were totally there the whole time on the table, [color=9b83de]‘but would you toast for us getting to know one another?’[/color] Ronin asked, still smiling.

The spirit girl taking the glass absently, her gaze would slowly drift up to the smiling face. What? Hilde’s expression was blank, lost like a deer in headlights. Who was this girl? Having just suffered emotional whiplash a couple times in the span of a minute she wasn’t sure how to react. [color=steelblue]”I…”[/color] After afew moments she would raise the glass. [color=steelblue]”T-to new friends.”[/color] Trembling she tried to take a sip before giving up and simply grasping the cup tightly with both hands to keep from dropping the thing. 

Ronin was smiling, hiding the hurt. Hilde was not so good at hiding anything. She was having an identity crisis, again. Most might find it pathetic, but she didn’t know how to deal with stress or challenges. Because of things that Oros’ told her she was trying not to rely on the twins all that much. She only just made some friends. So by and large she was putting herself out and alone.

Ronin happily-seeming drank her glass of water, making a loud noise of satisfaction after as if it had been delightful. Then…! [color=9b83de]‘So!’[/color] Ronin called, looking excitedly to Hilde. [color=9b83de]‘Where did you appear from? Who are your friends? What do you do for fun? Did you inherit any memories or anything from Amber? Have you met Su yet? What do you dream for the future? Long-term, short-term? Ooh, I wanna know everything!’[/color] Ronin called, grinning at her. [color=9b83de]‘Ah, you mentioned Faith! Is she alright?’[/color] she then suddenly asked with a worried expression.

Hilde’s eyebrows raised a bit at the flood of questions. Still, it was a sufficient distraction to keep the girl busy thinking a bit on other things. Her mind worked through them all sequentially regardless of which ones were potentially more important. [color=steelblue]”I-uh... “[/color] She took a moment to breath before launching into answering. [color=steelblue]”I came from a couple of Beacon twins that stole Amber’s soul. They put it in a soul jar and my patron found it and created me. I guess they’re my friends. Seems like they’re really busy all the time.”[/color] Holding the glass close she absently took a drink. [color=steelblue]”Janet and Jenna. They’re actually really nice. They make my head hurt sometimes though.”[/color] Her face scrunched up a bit.

Moving on to the next question she had to pause. What did she like to do? [color=steelblue]”I guess I like to hang out with my new friends. I don’t know. Everything is still pretty new to me.”[/color] She would give it some more thought. [color=steelblue]”One thing I really like is flying. I could go around for hours just taking in the sights and feeling the wind.”[/color] Ronin’s barrage of questions was what Hilde needed to dig herself out of the hole she’d fallen into. Relaxing again the girl would realize she was just standing there by the chair. Sheepishly she would slip back into the chair. 

The next question was a little tricky to answer. Somewhat went with her internal conflict. Shaking her head she resumed going down the list. [color=steelblue]”I don’t have Amber’s memories. I do get vague feelings about people and things though. And obviously I look a lot like her which is becoming more and more awkward.”[/color] She frowned a bit. [color=steelblue]”As for Su, I haven’t met her yet. I know who she is and the twins have told me a little bit about her, but I really don’t know what to do there. I feel like I might just make things worse and remind her of Amber a little too much. They were close, I know it.”[/color] She’d set the glass on the table and fidgeted with the object while she spoke, rotating it back and forth. She would actually stop and look at Ronin for some kind of guidance. It seemed like she knew the girl so maybe she had some ideas of how to approach the matter.

[color=9b83de]‘Oooh, Janet made it out! Nice! No idea who Jenna is, though! Twins, you say? Heh, okay.’[/color] Ronin mused, chuckling a bit. [color=9b83de]‘Flying is pretty cool. I can't exactly fly, but I can run in mid-air! Does that count?’[/color] she then asked with a giggle. Then, she listened to that last part, and… [color=9b83de]‘Yeeaah, probably best I tell her beforehand. She can be pretty emotional. She might freak out if she's not ready to see you, might just hurt her,’[/color] Ronin agreed.

Hilde nodded in agreement. [color=steelblue]”Okay good, so I’m not completely clueless. I feel like I’m going to have to meet her eventually. If you could help prepare her for that that would be great. I don’t really know any other way to go about it.”[/color] She managed a small smile.

[color=9b83de]‘Alright!’[/color] Ronin nodded. And now… she had to decide. She WAS going to reveal her identity to Amber, but this is Hilde, now. Could she trust Hilde? Could she be sure Hilde would not run off to tell Janet, and probably consequently all of Beacon, everything? Thoughts that have to be considered before I write anything further… … … [color=9b83de]‘Right. Justine von Visceral has recruited me to help with her invasion of Mariette’s mansion, but I’m going to try to use this opportunity to instead save Mariette and Eli from both Justine and Asengav, because I know they’re mind-bent,’[/color] Deni said, staring blankly at Hilde, gauging her reaction.

Hilde looked less confused than one might expect. She’d heard of most of these names. Well, all but Eli at least. Her eyes rolled a bit as she recalled conversations she’d heard. There was a pause for a moment before things fell into place and she exclaimed. [color=steelblue]”Oh, Mariette! They were asking Cindy about her the other day. They’re friends, or allies, or something.”[/color] For the moment it seemed that she’d forgotten not to mention that name. Not that it was any surprise up to this point. Seemed the two girls present were something of gossipers that had trouble filtering what they said.

[color=9b83de]‘Indeed! And that’s what’s going on in my life right now!’[/color] Ronin said with a smirk. [color=9b83de]‘Hahahaha! Of course Mariette has to make friends with a random queen when she shows up. That’s how it works. Anyway. You’re taking that info pretty in-stride. If Justine found out I told you, she’d probably have my head. Hahaha!’[/color] Ronin laughed some more. [color=9b83de]‘… Who’re they?’[/color]

Waving her hands almost frantically Hilde shook her head. [color=steelblue]”Nope, no way. I don’t want to get involved with that. Too deep for me.”[/color] Putting her hand up she scratched her head. [color=steelblue]”Janet and Jenna mostly. Well, not Janet, that’s not how that works I don’t think. She didn’t remember anything though.”[/color]

[color=9b83de]‘Haha, not gonna ask you to get involved, got it,’[/color] Ronin said like it was decided right there, then listened to the rest. Janet and Jenna, huh… … … wait. [color=9b83de]‘Cindy had contact with people in Beacon before she died?’[/color] Ronin asked, a bit astounded. 

The spirit girl shrugged. [color=steelblue]”I don’t know. Didn’t sound like it.”[/color]

[color=9b83de]‘Wait, uh, huh?’[/color] Ronin tilted her head. [color=9b83de]‘But you were just saying she’d-’[/color] A thought crossed Ronin’s mind, making her eyes go wide. [color=9b83de]‘Wh-what did they manage with Cindy?’[/color] she just had to ask.

[color=steelblue]”Manage?”[/color] She thought about what they were talking about with a little more focus. Oooh. Ronin had been there with Cindy when all that went down. Well, the twins did say this was going to get out eventually. She would lower her voice a bit. [color=steelblue]”Don’t go spreading this around, but you were her guard right?”[/color]

[color=9b83de]‘Yeah, I was her frickin’ bodyguard, tasked with guarding her life and making sure she got out alright! Suffice to say, I didn’t get paid that night,’[/color] Ronin lamented, sighing out a bit. [color=9b83de]‘[i]Really[/i] wish I could have done something differently. I don’t even know what, just, [i]anything[/i] so she would have lived… but alas…’[/color] she shook her head. [color=9b83de]‘Yeah! I wouldn’t spread a secret a friend told me to hide! You can count on me!’[/color] Ronin said, a Reinforcement-user’s words apparently extra encouraging. She’s not lying, of course.

Oh good, keeping this was driving her crazy. When you’re as young as she was you didn’t exactly have a lot of secrets to confide to people. This one was a little more critical long term though. [color=steelblue]”Okay, so.... Janet somehow nabbed Cindy’s mind and has to share…[/color] She trailed off for a moment trying to figure out how to explain the mess. [color=steelblue]”I don’t understand the details actually, but basically Janet can become Cindy and vice versa. They share her body.”[/color] She looked a bit confused herself.

[color=9b83de]‘…’[/color] Ronin stared with open mouth for a bit at Hilde. [color=9b83de]‘… Hahahaha! Well. Guess that’s better than it could have been. Nicely done, Janet, I wouldn’t have expected it!’[/color] she said with a bit of a laugh, then. [color=9b83de]‘Could you deliver a message? Like, “This is Ronin, I am super-happy you’re still sorta around, sorry I failed to save you, do you need me for anything?”, or so? Haha,’[/color] Ronin chuckled some more.

[color=steelblue]"Yeah, I can let her know something. We're working on how to announce that she's still around. Some of the other Beacon people aren't making it easy."[/color] She rolled her eyes. Admittedly she wasn't as in the loop, but since she wasn't actually in Beacon she had more freedom to move around and kind of be a go-between. 

[color=9b83de]‘Alright! I’m happy you told me. Makes me feel a lot better about Cindy all of a sudden. Best would have been if she’d survived entirely and I’d managed to convince both sides not to fight, but this’ll do~!’[/color] Ronin said with a smile. [color=9b83de]‘This has been cool. Let’s continue talking like this to one another whenever we can. Alright, I think the pie has cooled down enough. Let’s eat!’[/color] Ronin said, grinning as she took a knife and fork, because she wants a slice of her own pie, too~!

Oh, pie. The conversation would be shelved for a bit while they dug into the dish Ronin had prepared. Hilde found she enjoyed the dish, though provided just a little critique on the flavor. Not that she was a great cook or anything, but she had attention to detail that she could maybe provide. There wasn’t a whole lot said while they ate aside from light comments. Hilde could definitely go for more visits like this.

Ronin took any advice to heart and tried to consider how to take it into consideration. The pie definitely wasn’t perfect, but tasted good all the same. Now, for next time… yupp, light chatter as they ate.

After their meal, Hilde checked the time. It wasn’t late, staying at the twins house the two’s parents had something of a curfew in place. Seemed the magic had somehow rationalized that Hilde was the girl’s cousin in the adult’s minds. How that happened she didn’t know but it made sleeping over a whole lot easier. Since there wasn’t a rush Hilde would strike up some conversation again. [color=steelblue]”You were saying earlier that you were trying to save some people? Are they friends of yours?”[/color] The girl may not be very experienced, but the whole thing sounded pretty serious. Even though she said she didn’t want to get involved she couldn’t help but be curious.

Oooh, right, she said that. [color=9b83de]‘Well…’[/color] Ronin considered a bit. Would be somewhat troublesome if she said she was a friend of a horror-girl, possibly. Especially if this girl was going to run back and tell Beacon. [color=9b83de]‘Not currently. But I know they’re mind-bent, all the same. It feels wrong to have them destroyed for something that they’re not doing out of their own choice. As such, I’m going to save them. Somehow,’[/color] Ronin said, smirking at the end again.

Hilde would connect some dots in her head. [color=steelblue]”...I think Janet would help Mariette if she had the chance ”[/color] She mused out loud. Everything she knew about the twins and what they were working toward even right now.

[color=9b83de]‘… Would she?’[/color] Ronin gave Hilde a curious look. [color=9b83de]‘You ARE aware of what Mariette did to Janet, right? … Then again, now that I think about it, maybe simply BECAUSE of that. Not too dissimilar circumstances, hah!’[/color] Ronin chuckled a bit as she thought of it. [color=9b83de]‘Then perhaps, deliver a message to her that Mariette and her companions are mind-bent, and that mind-bending can be reversed. They'll never WANT to have their mind-bending reversed, that's what mind-bending is all about, but if the girls of Beacon find themselves victorious and find they have a choice between capture and kill…’[/color] Ronin said with light mirth in her tone. 

Sitting up straight, Hilde would give a light smile. [color=steelblue]"Yeah, I know. Janet isn't like a lot of the others in Beacon. She got a second chance and is willing to give others that too."[/color] How should… Oh yeah, Ronin was there. [color=steelblue]"You probably didn't recognize her, but the knight girl that tried to talk down Cindy before the smoke bomb went off was Janet. She used a Red Coin and she became that girl with a twin."[/color] 

[color=9b83de]‘Oooh, that makes sense! I see!’[/color] Ronin called with a grin… and then really realized she'd made it really clear she was someone from the past. Well… [color=9b83de]‘… Can I ask you not to ask around for who I am? There's someone who absolutely can't even start to suspect it might be the case. I WAS going to tell Amber, but you're not Amber. You're a WAAAY more mature girl than Amber, but probably not as fun to tease, heh, You’re way sweeter than Amber, but maybe not as fun to tease, I predict,’[/color] Ronin said with a chuckle. [color=9b83de]‘I keep quiet about a thing, you keep quiet about a thing, and so.’[/color] Ronin said with a little smirk.

Rubbing her chin a bit, Hilde would shrug slightly. [color=steelblue]”Okay I guess. If it’s that important then… Eh?[/color] She blushed a bit. [color=steelblue]”Tease, wait. What do you mean?”[/color]

Ronin took a pause where she lost the smile looked curiously at Hilde’s blush.

[color=9b83de]‘Awwwwww…’[/color] Ronin said with a sudden smirk, pulling herself up on the table to crawl slightly over it and lean in closer to Hilde, her expression… a bit different. [color=9b83de]‘You want to be teased, too? Feeling envious of your previous soul? How cute of you. Don’t worry, I can give you all the teasing you want…’[/color] Ronin said, reaching forward to potentially stroke a little under Hilde’s chin and push to raise her head a bit… her actions and tone of voice clashing [i]horribly[/i] with the fact she’s currently a tiny samurai loli.

Hilde had no idea what was going on and stared confusedly. She stiffened a bit from the touch which made lifting her head a bit harder. [color=steelblue]”W-what are you doing?”[/color]

Ronin grinned. [color=9b83de]‘Teh-heh, perhaps current me is inappropriate for this particular task. Would you close your eyes for a second?’[/color] she suggested, and if Hilde did not, she’d place her own hand over her eyes as she skipped off the table to walk around behind her, making sure that Hilde didn’t peek. Then… Hilde found her chair turned around, and…

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A handsome young man with blonde hair and emerald eyes, slightly older than Hilde’s current age, looked down at her with an admiring gaze.

[color=F1E1A9]‘Why, I must have stumbled into heaven, to have encountered a lovely angel such as you,’[/color] he said, in a suitably confident and admiring voice. [color=F1E1A9]‘Your skin strikes as smoothly and intoxicatingly as the freshest of fruits, your eyes as warming and comforting as the rays of the sun, and your hair reminds me of the sweetest of chocolates, makes me want to taste it…’[/color] he said, leaning forward a little to gently reach to caress the side of her head. [color=F1E1A9]‘Tell me, fair maiden, what is your name?’[/color]

Hilde hadn’t closed her eyes so Ronin did have to put her hand out. [color=steelblue]”Hey!”[/color] She protested but didn’t struggle to remove the hand. She was quite confused as to what her friend was doing. Allowed to see again and turned around she glanced up slightly at the boy that had seemingly come from nowhere. Who, what… Had he been in the other room or something? For a brief moment while she was being showered with compliments she would take a look around for her friend who had seemingly vanished. 

Eyes snapping back to the boy her face was turning redder and redder by the second. Who was this? He was cute but still. And who talked like that? Was she dreaming? What was in that pie? Stupefied she stammered as she answered the question. [color=steelblue]”R… H-Hilde Bell.”[/color] She had to correct herself.

[color=F1E1A9]‘Hilde Bell. A delightful name given by a voice as clear and lovely as the object of your last name,’[/color] the boy said, smiling. [color=F1E1A9]‘I’m Dorian Hay,’[/color] not at all derived from Dorian Gray, [color=F1E1A9]‘and I would like to get to know you [i]much[/i] more intimately, Hilde,’[/color] he said, gently caressing her cheek. [color=F1E1A9]‘I’d like to take you out to dinner, dance with you at a ball, swim with you in the sea, eventually consider marriage with you, have a bunch of cute little children with you and live happily ever after, with you…’[/color]

As he said the final parts, he was slowly leaning forward with an admiring gaze in his gaze, like if he was going in to potentially kiss her.

She wasn’t entirely sure what Dorian meant by “intimately,” but most of the things he was saying sounded like nice and fun things to do. Or they did until the last part. Was this boy delusional? They’d [b]just[/b] met and he was talking about kids. Could magical girls even have children? How would that work? It didn’t really matter though as the moment, whatever moment it was, was over. Not knowing if this guy was a magical boy or not she would have to pass on transforming for the moment. 

Shoving a hand in the guy’s face Hilde would push him away. Her other hand searched around for a moment on the table before it found a fork. [color=steelblue]”Okay, I don’t know what kind of weirdo you are. But you try that again and I’ll actually stick a fork in you.”[/color] The improvised weapon gripped firmly while she held it threateningly. 

[color=F1E1A9]‘Ohckt,’[/color] he made a noise as her hand in his face pushed him away. He listened to her threat, and then… he started to giggle into her hand. [color=F1E1A9]‘Sorry, sorry~’[/color] he said, lifting his hands to grip Hilde’s hand a bit just to be able to lift his own face off her hand. [color=F1E1A9]‘But I must say…’[/color]

He then tilted himself to the right to look at Hilde from the right side of the hand… except now Hilde was greeted with the exceptionally off display of “Dorian”’s body and hair… and Ronin’s grinning face.

[color=9b83de]‘But I must say, you have a really pretty blush, Hilde~!’[/color]

“Dorian” skipped back, and as he did, his body shrunk and hair and clothes changed back over the course of a second, and then Ronin was standing there again… until she wasn’t, because she had collapsed on her knees laughing, hands over her stomach.

[color=9b83de]‘Hahahaha! Okay, I take that back, you’re also fun to tease! Different flavour than Amber, but strawberry and raspberry both taste as sweet, hahahaha!’[/color] Ronin laughed a bit where she now was on the floor.

A very confused, yet still blushing Hilde stared for a little while. What had just happened? The boy was Ronin? It didn’t feel or look like any illusion magic she’d ever heard of. Shaking for a second she would drop the fork. [color=steelblue]”Ronin what... “[/color] Hilde wasn’t really sure how to react. Embarrassed, befuddled, angry, impressed, and betrayed all at the same time. She would draw her arms in as her eyes watered. 

Ronin looked up at Hilde and realized that she had a situation on her hands. [color=9b83de]‘Aaaah, sorry! I’m really sorry! I just… had to try doing that once!’[/color] she skipped forward to get on her knees in front of Hilde and clasp her hands together in front of her. Ronin was still smiling, but she had realized she may have just hurt her friend. [color=9b83de]‘I’m, uh, actually a shape-shifter, though I can’t use it as it’s tied to that identity I didn’t want you to ask around about. I’ve never been able to play around with it, I just… really wanted to try it when you looked so wide-eyed about me mentioning teasing. I didn’t mean to hurt you if I did! Sorry! … Still, I didn’t do [i]too[/i] badly as a handsome boy, did I?’[/color] Ronin asked, with a little giggle.

The girl would take a step away. Conflicted would describe Hilde pretty well at the moment. Ronin was supposed to be her friend. They'd only just met, really. Was this something Amber would have found funny? As they'd established though, the girl was not Amber. Shuddering again Hilde would finally speak. [color=steelblue]"That wasn't fair Ronin."[/color] She wiped her eyes with the back of her arm. [color=steelblue]"I need a moment."[/color] 

[color=9b83de]‘… OK! Take as long as you need!’[/color] Ronin’d say and then stand up to start carrying the plates and form that had contained the pie back to the kitchen, and then took extra time washing the things by hand in there. If she eventually got done with that she’d sit down at the table, hands together, lips bit together and passively kick a bit with her legs. Because it felt like anything she’d say probably would make it worse at this point.

In the time Ronin was away Hilde at one point she could be heard seemingly talking to someone. Of course any time the little samurai might check there was no one else to be seen. By the time she’d returned her friend seemed in a much better mood. [color=steelblue]”Hey there, so… sorry. I just wasn’t ready for something like that. I think you went a little too far with it I mean.”[/color] She was a bit more stern than she had been up to that point. Ronin needed to know there was a line that probably shouldn’t be crossed.

Ronin looked worried, but still made herself smile, because otherwise it wouldn't be her. [color=9b83de]‘Er, which part of that was too far? All of it? Just when I was seemingly trying to kiss you? I'll note, I was never going to kiss you, I would have stopped just before, just wanted to see how you'd react, while giving you a unique experience, hah…’[/color] Ronin said, trying to chuckle at the end but not quite managing it.

Folding her arms around herself she frowned. Before going on she would recite her incantation. [color=steelblue]"Through the past we forge the future."[/color] A ring of ethereal energy would swirl around her starting at her feet and working its way up, transforming her into her magical girl form. [color=steelblue]”I barely know you. You scared me and I’m not… If you can change and toy with me like that how am I supposed to know who you really are?”[/color] 

[color=9b83de]‘Um,’[/color] Ronin looked decently honestly confused, not really getting the idea of transforming. [color=9b83de]‘I didn’t… consider that? I only did it as a slight prank I can only use once. Other than that, I’ve been genuine. This is my real transformed form. I honestly thought we’d both think it was sorta funny afterwards. I’m sorry,’[/color] she said again, still looking a bit confused.

Ronin’s reaction seemed sufficient to relax Hilde a bit. Maybe they were both a little clueless. It was something she realized more and more about herself. Her transformation was merely a precaution. She couldn’t use her magic otherwise if needed. She scratched her face awkwardly. [color=steelblue]”Maybe we will later.”[/color] She gave it some thought. [color=steelblue]”I was pretty convinced you were going to kiss me. I wasn’t necessarily against that. I think it was what you said that was over the edge.”[/color]

Ronin breathed out a bit in relief at that Hilde seemed to relax a little. She listened a bit further on the subject, and then… [color=9b83de]‘Oh, um, the things about wanting to go out and do stuff with you? I, er, didn’t get you hopeful, did I?’[/color] Ronin said, almost smirking wider before thinking that might be a bad idea. [color=9b83de]‘Or, um, was it the part after I turned back?’[/color]

[color=steelblue]”Children!?”[/color] Was all she would exclaim, putting her hands on her head before throwing them in the air.

[color=9b83de]‘Oh, right, um,’[/color] Ronin had to put a hand on her mouth, because she was very close to giggling and it may have been inappropriate. Very honestly, Ronin didn’t get what was so bad about that, but that was a pretty interesting reaction to it. [color=9b83de]‘I wanted him to say he wanted to live happily ever after with you and that is part of a true happily ever after to me?’[/color] Ronin said with the tone-shift of a question.

[color=steelblue]”It’s not, ugh!”[/color] Hilde was clearly getting frustrated. She was going to have to explain. [color=steelblue]”I’m like two weeks old. I’m trying to figure out who I am and why I exist. Every time I turn around people are mistaking me for someone they use to know and expect me to act like them. I’m just a stupid girl that can’t keep herself together. I’m confused and I don’t need people toying with my emotions!”[/color] During her outburst small objects started floating in the air. Spirits were responding to her and picking things up. Hilde would turn around though and yell out. [color=steelblue]”Go away!”[/color] Everything dropped back down with some clattering and a few thumps.

[color=9b83de]‘Woa…’[/color] Ronin made a noise of some amazement when Hilde had a little outburst. And even more so when things started getting picked up- [color=9b83de]‘Wait, these are Valkyrie’s things…!’[/color] Ronin commented with sudden panic in her eyes, and tried to reach out with her hands to use Reinforcement magic to the floating objects before they fell down again, hopefully without breaking, Ronin smiling but looking a bit pale there. [color=9b83de]‘Okay, um…’[/color] Rightou, now, how to say this.

[color=9b83de]‘First things first, you’re not stupid. You’re a bit disorientated, but given your origin, it’d be weird if you weren’t. I didn’t think my prank through, and for that, I am sorry. Give people some time, after a while they'll have learned you're not Amber, like me, from the toast onwards. All that was for you, I'd have teased Amber with a big breasts lady instead, for example. If you need help with [i]anything[/i] from now on, I'm your girl. Because I want to be your friend, okay? Can I hug you and make it better?’[/color] Ronin asked, looking somewhat serious but smiling regardless.

Hilde would listen silently. When the question was presented at the very end she would shake her head yes. [color=steelblue]”I would like that.”[/color]

Ronin smiled, before bouncing off the seat and running around the table, slowing down before Hilde to hug around her more gently, subtly using her shapeshifting ability to make her legs just a bit longer for the hug. She’d hold it before speaking. [color=9b83de]‘Everything will sort itself out eventually, alright?’[/color] Ronin said with a little grin while still embracing her.

Returning the hug Hilde let out the air in her lungs. [color=steelblue]”Alright.”[/color] After holding the hug for a while she would eventually let go. When Ronin backed up she would find that Hilde had been crying a bit. She wiped away the tears. [color=steelblue]”Thank you. It’s been really hard for me.”[/color] 

As Ronin backed off, she also let her legs shrink back to normal, smiling at Hilde’s still partly teary-eyed face. [color=9b83de]‘We'll have to make sure the hardships were worth it in the end, then, won't we?’[/color] Ronin said with a little grin. 

Hilde nodded. [color=steelblue]”Yeah. Uhm…”[/color] She looked back at the disheveled items in the room. Thankfully nothing looked broken. [color=steelblue]”Sorry about that. I didn’t realize that could happen.”[/color] 

[color=9b83de]‘Haha, don’t worry about it! Let’s just make sure the place looks great when Valkyrie comes back, okay?’[/color] Ronin told with a grin.

They’d then go about picking things up and putting them back, making sure it looked as it did. Hilde needed some air after all the internal turmoil. She thanked Ronin for the pie, company, and support. There was a loose end she needed to put to rest for herself. Ronin waved her goodbye after a while of hanging out and cleaning, and then she was off on the streets again.