--80

[feathered_earth]

[the handwriting is large in an effort to keep it neat, but does resemble Krile's normal cursive.]

Bastet I don't think I can do my shift today. I woke up really little.

Lockon, I'm still going to come to the shop. I can still do files and things.

I can't do magic either.

And I have red clothes. With a hat.

[obviously this fact is critical.]

Comments

[Quicklog]

[bal_daisy]

[So Krile did pick up her shortsword this morning and quickly concluded that it is not a good idea for her to deal with weapons right now. Didn't even try the spear.

Despite that, she is not willing to sit at home twiddling her thumbs while she waits for her roomies to come home. She won't be completely useless and lonely on top of it.

So in the early afternoon she walks into the shop, fully decked out in the Red Mage outfit the Sphere decided she should have.]

Hello!

[Quicklog]

[imthefavorite]

[He hadn't checked the journals yet that day. He figured Krile was running other errands: it wasn't terribly out of the ordinary to see her missing for a few hours, especially since she had other duties.]

[But when the tiny figure came in, he did a double take. Sure enough, it was her...he thought.]

Is that...you?

[Quicklog]

[bal_daisy]

[She grins.]

If you ask anyone that the answer has to be yes. But I'm Krile.

[She takes the splendid feathered hat off, so it's a little easier to recognize her.]

I just woke up really little today.

[Quicklog]

[imthefavorite]

[Wow, she is cute. Not that this is anything new or different but, especially. He smiled at her response.]

You knew what I meant....And yes, you are really little, aren't you?

[He leaned over the counter to get a closer look, squinting his eyes comically.]

I can hardly even see you!

[Quicklog]

[bal_daisy]

[She crosses her arms. Yeah okay, Lix called her cute and she knows it's... kind of inevitable but she still has some pride.

...Although she is aware that crossing her arms and trying to look serious will probably just make things worse. But he's too far away to bap with the hat.]

Well then the Sphere needs to make you little too. I'm surprised you can see anything from up there.

[She walks around the counter... man it is over her head now.]

I know I can't do anything with the weapons 'till I grow bigger again, but I can still file stuff.

[Quicklog]

[imthefavorite]

The Sphere has already made me little once, remember? I was about as big then as you are now, so I understand.

[He was trying to treat her like the grown-up he usually treated her as, but it was difficult, and there was no way he could wipe that grin off his face. But he still gave her a look...]

You really don't have to work, you know. I think I've got things taken care of.

[Quicklog]

[bal_daisy]

Well then it should do it again. [She stops, realizing she's getting more frustrated than she should. And it isn't like he's being mean.] ...sorry, no it shouldn't.

[She fidgets at the look. Even though meeting Lix made her feel better about this--despite the strangeness of his own situation--she still didn't want to stay home.]

I don't have anything else to do except wait for Sailormoon and Nova to come home and if I'm on my own I have to watch the journals all the time. [Oh, and. Important concern because this is him she's talking to.] You ate lunch, right?

[Quicklog]

[imthefavorite]

[There was something hilarious about being asked by a small child if he'd been taking care of himself, but he resisted the urge to laugh. Instead he just nodded.]

Yes, I ate lunch. [He paused, looking at her. He wondered if she could even get on to one of the stools now.] And I am certainly not going to work to drive my company away. It's been kind of slow.

[Quicklog]

[bal_daisy]

[Yes well, even as a small child she would not come to work with a 100+ fever or budget away lunch money for a date auction. So she thinks it's perfectly valid.]

Good. And see, I can still be helpful. You'd just start talking to the guns if I wasn't here to keep you sane.

[Yeah she's eyeing that stool. It's roughly the same height as she is right now... discretion may be the better part of valor here, though it involves swallowing her pride at the moment. Gah.]

Um... [FIDGET.] Could you help me up, please?

[Quicklog]

[imthefavorite]

[He rolled his eyes and smirked.] How do you know I don't alreadytalk to the guns when I'm alone?

[Without another word he hopped up at her request and picked her up, plopping her down again on the stool. It was difficult not to comment but he would spare her. For now.]

So you just woke up like this, eh?

[Quicklog]

[bal_daisy]

[She grins.] Should I be worried about this? You haven't named them, have you?

[Pride is taking another hit. Maybe she should just give up and make the best of. Five-ness.]

Thanks. [SIGH.] Yeah. At least I got clothes that fit. But I can't do magic or anything right now.

[Quicklog]

[imthefavorite]

[He finally wiped the grin off his face as he looked down at her sympathetically.]

Wow...that really does stink. [She was pretty much helpless right now, and it made him hope, especially now, that the Sphere wouldn't throw them anything dangerous any time soon. After a moment his look softened once more.]

But, what you're saying is, I could put you in my bag and take you home with me and you couldn't really stop me? That's not too bad.

[Quicklog]

[bal_daisy]

[She nods. The helplessness is her main worry right now. If something bad happens, monsters or some person deciding to attack like Apostle and Zombie did, the best thing she'd be able to do would be hide under the counter. And she hates that thought. It's her job to protect others.]

[But she gets a very indignant and slightly horrified look on her face at that.]

No it isn't! I mean, yes it is bad! You wouldn't do something like that to your wonderful boss.

[Quicklog]

[imthefavorite]

[He gave in to a chuckle finally, standing up and patting her on the head.]

I'm sorry. I know you're still you, but you're just too adorable like this. You've got to let me get it out of my system. It doesn't make me respect you any less.

[Quicklog]

[bal_daisy]

[She tries to look grumpy but... it just ends up as a giggle. It's not like she wouldn't tease him if it was reversed.]

Okay, okay. Lix said I was cute too. But you'd better get it out of your system quick!

[She gives him a poke in the arm, swinging her feet against the leg of the stool.]

[Quicklog]

[imthefavorite]

[When she poked him, he gave her arm a tiny pinch.]

You could make it easier you know. Maybe we could put a paper bag over your head. In fact, I think the one I brought my lunch in is still in the trash!