The quaint proposal.

[punisouffle]

Set after Cutty and Galoo's encounter in Prontera, before meeting with Reilin and Ciar in Rachel City.
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Good thing comes to those who waits.
In our case, the wait is a line - and at the end of that line glimmers the Schwartzwald pine jubilee.

Afternoon sunshine tears down the clear, blue sky. The waves on hugel shore lull lazily against the quaint village, nestled east to the republic's far, quiet reach. In town square, where people dressed in sundry colours scatter about their business. A good handful has formed a line across the square - leading to one small café. Here they seek the sweet, ice cold fruity treat. A sole remedy for today's scorching sun.

It's the rare, juicy mastela that make it savoury.

In the middle of the line, A girl robed in blue waits idly under her pointy mage hat - which casts just enough shadow to rest her eyes. She's flapping airship tickets as a makeshift fan, fighting the torrid weather. Her two companions, however, are reduced down to sweltering pile of sweat and deviruchis. A basket in her other hand holds half a dozen glacial hearts - enough to escort the treasures back to Rachel city before they thaw.
If they ever get the treasure at all.

"M-Milady Galoo," pleads one of the devils, "let's head back." "We'll be late for the meeting." Adds the other.
Today is the arranged meeting between her master Ciar and a potential collegue - Catherine McWren. They're already late, she tells the deviruchis, if they go by Cutty's definition of punctual. "And we should never go back empty-handed." One deviruchi butts down on her foot, while the other drops down flailing on the sizzling stone pavement. "You'll get cooked, comrade Ortega," says the devil on his seat. "w-we're soldiers of the legion," cries Ortega, "can't milady blow this scene and make off with the sweets?" He was loud and that raises some eyebrows.

Sweat drips down her chin. "Stealing from church may be a yes-yes-yes. But from an honest vendor is a no-no-no." The devils groan as she lectures. "We'll conquer the world - not ruining it. We wait like everyone, yup."

But principle and pine jubilee were partly an excuse. Galoo doesn't want to see Cutty meet Ciar. "Don't get me wrong, I like you," she says, making the one on her shoe cocks his ears, looking up confused. "Just talking to myself," Galoo chuckles, "but, Gaia, you know I like you too." The little one purses a sulky face, looking ahead and back along the endless line of people. The market's bell tolls noon, grumbles of discontent join in the air. Someone says the café's stock of mastela ran out. The queue hasn't moved in forever. But Galoo worries about something else entirely.

Today, Catherine will agree to join her beloved master, spinning his next brilliant plan -- whatever that may be -- into motion. Galoo knows only one thing - he is not ready. Two days ago they were still in Prontera, freshly after Ciar has rung the false Moonlight Bell. Unlike with professor Nikki, the bell didn't curse him into coma. He's her proud master after all. But the bell plagued him something else - he began becoming a stranger. Forgetting what he has said, or what he would say. Constantly wrestling with something in his mind. Once or twice, she could hear the lingering rings like those of the ghostly bell. A kind of ding that sends shiver down her spine, and those dings would come from Ciar.

The mage girl already repelled Cutty once - to arrange herself a night alone with Ciar. She looked into his mind. But with her small knowledge, forming clasps betwen two souls is still far more easy than to dissect one. Unable to cure him, but would never stop his dreams either.

Galoo sighs a heavy one.

Last time, they tricked Cutty when her third deviruchi pulled a heroic sacrifice. At least the woman isn't the kind to hang a hostage - Galoo wishes his captor would at least feed him some sweets. Well, the same trick will never work twice - and she will never buy time that way again.

"Mash was brave, and so can you two be." She speaks to her little devils. "Or you already are, in this heat together with me."
The girl shuts her eyes, knowing nothing more to do but wait. Wait for the line - for today's meeting to be over - for the inevitable.

Then come cheerful roars, queue beginning to move. The café is serving again.
"See, we won't go back empty handed." her voice brimming with joy, slapping the side of the basket. The two deviruchis, already astray from the line, darts back cutting her in front, marching forward in full vigour. Galoo's bursting with sparkling smile, forgetting everthing but the icy, sweet treasure. The airship ride back won't even take that long, Cutty or Ciar can wait a little more while.

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