The Magic of Time

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[Video]

[There's a girl on the network who looks about ready to cry. Which is... familiar, if you know Hibiki. But at the same time, she looks too old to be the girl in the green cloak everybody is so used to...

Well, unless you were around for the aging event, at least.]

I-it happened again. I got turned into a teenager again...

What should I do? I can't move like this... Last time, I kept falling, and I never figured it out-!

[Wah.]

Umm... W-would somebody be able to tell the people at the hospital that I can't come today? I don't think I can help out very much like this...

Rutherford-san, I don't mind cooking a meal today, but I don't think I can deliver it. B-but I'll try to see if somebody else can bring it instead-! [Because she would feel bad if she didn't at least try.]

[Action; Sigyn kitchen]

[After some effort, she's finally made it down to the kitchen, still miraculously in one piece. There's a bit of a red bump on her head, and some minor scuffs on her knees, which might explain why she's seated at the table for the moment. She did manage to brew up some tea at least, which she is enjoying, but judging by the soaked towels on the floor and a suspicious bandage pad stuck to her hand, it took quite a bit more effort than usual.

But all of that aside, she does look up when she hears somebody coming, and even manages a weak smile.]

Umm... Hello.

((OOC: Hibiki has been hit by an age-up curse, making her about fifteen or sixteen years old. ...She's not much taller really, but it's still enough to make it difficult to judge distances.))

Comments

[Video]

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It... looks that way, yes.

[Ahaha sob.]

I hope the curse ends soon. The last time this happened, I got bruised up pretty badly. I can't help people out if I'm tripping all the time...

[talking_dead]

[Okay, advice. He can work with that.] Have you tried a cane before? It might help.

[saving_sound]

[That... would be an idea!]

A cane? I didn't think of that! I wonder if I could find a stick in the Welcome Hall somewhere...

[Because yeah let's not leave the building when prone to faceplanting.]

[talking_dead]

I could make you one with a shadow in the meantime if you have trouble finding one. [Wouldn't want to have more tripping...]

[saving_sound]

Ah-- Really? It's not too much of a bother?

[Norman you are the best.]

[talking_dead]

It's no problem. You're still at Sigyn, right?

[Hey, she's his friend. Also, he sort of wants to compare their heights.]

[saving_sound]

Yes, that's right. Should I come down to the main hallway to meet you?

[talking_dead]

Uh, no. I'll come up to your room. I remember the way. [Falling down stairs is something he wants her to avoid.]

[saving_sound]

Okay... I'll see you soon! Thank you so much, Norman-san!

[PROBABLY FOR THE BEST since she is four floors up.]

[talking_dead]

It's no problem. See ya!

[And soon enough. he'll be knocking at her door after a walk over to Sigyn.]

[saving_sound]

[And with only a single sound of something falling to the ground on the way, Hibiki manages to open the door! She's... about the size of a short teenager now, but it's still a bit of a height distance from what she's used to.]

Norman-san! Thank you for coming all this way.

[Because Hel is totally a huge distance to cross to get into Sigyn.]

[talking_dead]

[Norman's discovering very quickly how awkward it is to have to look up at her.]

Hibiki, it wasn't that far. [Why so formal, Hibiki?]

[saving_sound]

[If it makes him feel any better, looking down to see him is also pretty strange.]

Still, I really appreciate it.

[She steps aside so he can come in, her grip a little tighter than normal on the handle - at this point she's using whatever she can to ensure she doesn't fall over.]

[talking_dead]

[He steps inside, not really noticing the way she's gripping the handle since he's still occupied with her height, but he's quick to get to work.]

I don't know where they sell canes here, but lemme make you something...

[His gaze lands on her shadow, and with some concentration, it snakes along the ground towards Norman before rising up and curling in on itself to form more of a long, pole shape for him to take a hold of. It's a taller than a cane, but shorter than a staff when he holds it out to her.]

Is this good?

[saving_sound]

[She gives a small gasp before clapping happily.]

This will work wonderfully!

[She takes it gratefully, leaning her weight on it as a test and marveling at the fact that her own shadow has now taken on a solid form.]

Thank you so much! With this, I'm sure I will not fall as much!

[talking_dead]

[Oh Hibiki, so much praise, you're going to make Norman blush.]

Well, don't thank me too much. We have to find something for you to use instead before I go. [He still looks really proud of his work though.]

[saving_sound]

Mm! But still, it will be so much easier now...!

I wonder where a good place would be to start looking?

[talking_dead]

You...could probably use something like a hockey stick. I don't know if there's a sports store around here, but the Arena might have some we can use.

[saving_sound]

I don't think I've seen a sports store around here before, so... The Arena might be best.

[It'll be a reasonable walk in this state, but with the cane, she's confident she'll be okay!]

[talking_dead]

Okay, and if we see anything along the way, we can just stop there.

[saving_sound]

Right!

So, should we go?

[She uses the shadowstick for support, stepping out into the hallway.]

[talking_dead]

Sure. [He'll close the door behind her before moving towards the stairwell. Time to conquer four flights! To say the least, Norman will go ahead, taking the stairs slowly so he can turn back and check at her every once in awhile.]

[saving_sound]

[It's slow going, but between the railing and the shadow stick, she does eventually make it to the first floor again!]

...Th-that felt like the longest flight of stairs ever...