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Something like that. [Quietly, Kaede scrambled to remember what the people working at the shop told her. It seemed so simple just a few minutes before.] They said it was harder than steel, but more brittle.

[And lighter, which was why she was so unfamiliar with it; light metals weren't what killed diclonius.]

It looked nice.

[More stilted awkwardness as Kaede scuffed a foot again.]

You can have it.

[Nailed the gift giving ritual, 11/10]

[With her free hand, Rey gives a few flicks of the wrist with the knife. It doesn't take much for her to get a good feel of it. Light. Easy to move. She could make good use of something like this is she goes camping again, or needs it for anything else. Something is always bound to come up...]

Ah, thanks. It's pretty. [Rey nods, giving it a few more test sweeps before deeming it an effective gift to keep on her person.

[For now, she'll keep it tucked away into the deep pockets of her cargo pants. Probably wouldn't be very nice to go walking around with a pretty conspicuous knife.

[Afterwards, she casts Kaede a hesitant look.]

Got something for you, too. At home, though. [She didn't exactly think to bring everything she'd planned to give out to her place of work.] Can go get it, or... You can just come along, if you'd like. Whatever.

[shrug]

[Owlishly, Kaede blinked.]

You--oh.

[Through a little weak point in her armor, something softer peeked out. Bewilderment, yes, but also something hopeful, even a little grateful, that she might have had an impact on someone like this. Well. A nice impact. Not the ones that involved missing limbs and unending grudges. She had done a nice thing this time.

Having it turned back on her was more of a surprise. But...she supposed it'd be worse to refuse. Or at least more of a bother to extract herself from the situation.]

I--sure. I'll go.

[Whatever Rey was expecting, she isn't sure. But Kaede had been kind enough to bring her a gift right now, so it just seemed appropriate to return the favor.]

Come along, then. Apologies, it's... quite a walk.

[By that she means it's a flashpoint teleporter away, and a hike into Emerald Park before they're there. Rey never minded being way out here, far from the reaches of the city and unwanted visitors. The only kind she tends to get here are the ones she's expecting.

[In a little over half an hour later with only the occasional attempt at small talk, Rey is leading them to a little round house by the river. Casa de Shithogs is a modest but cozy newly built home, with a pretty decent land around it.]

Well, um. This is it.

[Gesturing towards the front entrance, Rey starts opening the door for Kaede.]

[The teleporters always made Kaede feel a bit nauseous, but she follows without complaint. Even though her stomach insisted it was still falling for the first ten minutes of the hike, all she let slip was a stiffening of her shoulders that gradually relaxed the further into the park they got.

Kamakura didn't have forests with trees as big as this, and Kaede tended not to wander too deeply into what woods were around in winter. But now she had nothing to worry about from the cold, and she could crane her head up with impunity to see what was in the canopy above or after flashes of movement between the trees from some bird or deer.

The house was smaller than she expected, though it fit in with the trees neatly. And...if it didn't need to handle guests, she supposed it was just the right size.]

Looks warm.

[Kaede hesitated just a little at the door, glancing at Rey as if making certain she was welcome there, as if that wasn't already obvious. But the other woman opened the door and swept those concerns away, and Kaede stepped inside.]

[Despite not actually knowing that much about Kaede (or Lucy/Nyuu, when they had met in Lunatia), Rey had a good feel that they were similar in various ways. She didn't dare to make things awkward by attempting conversations on the way there, and she tried to make the trip as quick as possible. She doesn't even blame Kaede's reluctance to come inside seemingly uninvited, until it's clear that she left the door open for her.

[Once they're inside, she shuts it, trapping what little warmth there is inside. There isn't much in the ways of central heating, but it didn't bother her nor Kainé that much -- they were both resilient to the cold.

[Still, it's probably worth it to ask...]

It... could probably be warmer, if it bothers you. [She glances over to the woodstove in the makeshift living area.] Can set up a fire. Am usually the one who heats up the place.

[Since her body is a walking powerhouse of such energy.]

[Kaede's vision didn't need to adapt to the gloom as much as she thought; there were more than enough windows here.]

Rey. [Kaede didn't move, but something poked a finger into the taller woman's shoulder. The light filtering into the house caught the reflection of a vector.] It's fine.

[Even if she hadn't been a Ruby herself, Kaede was used to tolerating cold; there were many times in her life where she had to make do staying outside instead of in a...newly vacated house. But it seemed like a nice thing to say about this place.]

[Right. It's strange not being the only one in the world capable of self-producing heat the way Rey was equipped to, but that just means it's less work for her.

[Much like how those vectors make less work for Kaede, it seems. Rey isn't surprised when she feels the invisible hand touch her. She just blinks for a moment, nonplussed with herself.]

Ah, if you're sure...

[Rey will just retrieve one of the boxes from the shelves, where she'd stored the other presents. She'd labeled them to make sure she got the right one, at least.]

You can sit wherever, if you'd like. [Rey nods over to the couch or the dining table. The odd thing about this place is that nothing seems to really match, like they just picked out whatever from different locations. But that's become part of its charm since she and Kainé started living here, making it their home.]

[Kaede nodded, and quietly shuffled over to the table to pull out one of the chairs. Once she'd gotten comfortable in it, she started to glance around again, first subtly, then more openly as she realized no, she wasn't seeing things. Not all the chairs were the same make, the cushions were sometimes different colors. It reminded her of the odds and ends she gathered and left on her desk; a pressed flower, pretty stones, a scrap of pink seashell. An eclectic gathering of things that meant little on their own, but represented something more when put together.

By the time Rey came back, Kaede was leaning as far back in her chair as possible to get a better look at what was on the shelf without actually getting up. She only stopped when she noticed the scarred woman's presence again, slowly sitting back up and crossing her ankles like she'd been doing nothing at all.]

[If Rey had paid any mind to Kaede's idle snooping, she doesn't show it. As she returns with something wrapped in the same pale paper as everything else she got, Rey slips into a chair alongside Kaede before sliding the gift over.]

Sorry, it's... kind of stupid.

[Way to set the expectations before the damn thing is even opened, Rey.

[Inside is a small music player device, equipped with a speaker and a couple of earbuds to enjoy in private or with company. It's half the size of a phone, with a touchscreen and several playlists already downloaded and organized. Most of the songs are varying kinds of opera, from classic to more gothic-sounding.

[Did Rey seriously just get Kaede a mixtape for Brumfast? Yes, she kind of did.]

[With no scolding to concern herself with, Kaede sat quietly again. Not for too long, though--she still had to stiffly accept the gift. And while her mouth creased into a little frown when she glanced at Rey, it didn't stop her from opening the package. She was neat about it, and perked up a little when she saw what was in the paper. Kaede carefully turned it over, flicked the little screen on, unhooked one of the earbuds to see how it clipped back on.]

It's nice.

[It was a gift. That she didn't recognize the songs on it was a secondary concern; Kaede usually didn't know which songs were called what, living under a reclusive rock as she once did.]

[That perk springs back some confidence. It's good to see that Kaede isn't deflating with disappointment or seeming ungrateful for the gift, right?

[Rey will take her victories where she can get them.]

Most of it are gem songs, but there are some from home, too.

[Thanks to the Gembonded who so kindly uploaded them.

[She shuffles, hands stuffing in her pockets.] Picked out the ones you might like.

[The horned girl glanced up at that, a slightly astonished look replacing her usually impassive expression.]

You--oh.

[Kaede blinked, the gears almost visibly turning in her head while she absorbed that, processed it, and tried to think of a reply.]

Um. Thanks.

[Did her human impression pass muster? That was what you were supposed to say, right?]

[Did she pass? Rey might not be the best one to judge; she's not very good at playing human, either.

[Her lips purse as she glances around rather than at Kaede, herself.]

Y... You're welcome. Yeah. [Pause.] Do... you want anything? Like, food? Have plenty.

[Rey dragged Kaede to come all the way out here. It seemed only fair to try and be a good host, or as best as she can play the part.]

[They'll fumble their way there eventually!

Kaede relaxed a little when Rey didn't seem taken aback or irritated by her, and straightened up again at the question.]

Sure. Something warm would be nice.

[She might have a magical furnace embedded in her chest, but she wouldn't turn away fuel for it.]

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I thought I replied here aaa

it's cool, lol. notifs were borked for a bit, anyway.

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