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Hey D2, I don't know if you'd want to talk to him, but... Riku's back. He's a god again. Over here he's checking in with people who knew him before.

Hey. Yeah, I met him during the festival, which...was a surprise. But at least it was easy to figure out he's a god. Thanks, Kairi, for telling me though.

Oh! Okay then. You're sure it wasn't a bother?

No, it's not a bother at all. Why would it be a bother?

I don't know... It's okay though, I'm glad. Talk to you later!

Either way, it isn't, so no worries about that. Yeah, I'll see you later!

Good morning, D2. I wanted to let you know my temple has moved-- new location attached.

I also wanted to apologize to you for getting you involved in that situation with Loki. I badly misjudged it, and I owe you my thanks regardless of how it turned out.

That's good to know. Where to?

You don't need to apologize for that. But next time we're going more recon first.

Quite a bit more. It wasn't my best plan.

I'm in the Central District now.

Not out of the ones that I know of, at least. The only good thing that came of this bungled operation is that the other guy is dead and has stayed dead.

So you're living among the big-shots now. Does that mean I have to use honorifics when addressing you?

For which I think I have you to thank.

No honorifics, please! I'm only here to keep a closer eye on life among the... ah... rich and famous.

[And potentially ambitious.]

Shooting people is no different from my old job.

That's an accurate description. [ As is the ambitious part. ] So you're our man on the inside, then. That's always good to have.

I'm sorry to have gotten you involved with it, but I'm glad you were the one there.

As for having someone on the spot, I thought it might help. Especially if I look as though I'm playing by their rules.

[That might be difficult... but he can at least try.]

Like I said, you don't need to apologize for that. I wouldn't have said yes when you asked if I didn't want to get involved. I'm glad that there was at least something that I could do, even if it feels it was too little too late. Seriously though, at least TRY living until you die of old age, please.

Is playing by their rules going to work out for you?

I'll be sure to pray for long life and good health!

And as they say, "You can't know until you try." I'll at least try.

Really? I think I better add some prayers of my own to those.

Well, good luck. If you need anyone to complain about them to I'll always be willing to listen.

I'll have to take you up on both of those offers! Ha ha.

In any case, I'll see you around.

Go ahead and do so!

Oh definitely. You're not getting rid of me yet. And I have to move your name on my maps anyway.

[ D2 will find a paper bag outside his temple’s door with a small card with a message: ]

Merry Christmas, D2.
-Alex
[ Whether he decides to open it then and there or on Christmas itself, inside he’ll find this and this. ]

[ He absolutely loves this!

These things will definitely see a fair amount of use. ]

[Remembering the suit, Dust has added a hat as a present, wrapped up in a neat box.]

Merry Christmas.
-Dust

Dear mister D2

You are invited to Gegute's library (Elfnein's temple) on the 29th of April for a party! It is going to be a book party so you can bring your best book or even dress up as your favourite character!
You can bring your god too if you want and any other friends! There will be tasty food to eat!
See you there!

Romeo and Elfnein

Hey Carl

if you're not busy do you mind coming over for a little bit?

Hi Alex.
No, I'm not busy. Give me about 15 minutes and I can be there.

No rush!

[ Alex nods proudly to herself. She wasn’t sure if he was free or not, so this was lucky. ]

[ He had just been playing with the cats, so he just needed to disentangle.

So after that he's on his way and around 15 minutes later he is indeed knocking on her door. ]

[ The knock was her cue. ]

Come in! I’m upstairs!

Alright!

[ He'll just go inside and head up, then. ]

[ When he makes it upstairs, he’ll find Alex behind the dining table with a cupcake in front of her. There’s a sparkler candle that’s just been lit stuck into it, letting out a variety of colors like sprinkles. ]

Belated happy birthday!

[ This was unexpected. At first he's very confused. And he's confused for a while longer after that. ]

Uh... Um... Thanks...?

[ Confused was..maybe not a good reaction, right? ]

I-it’s not for the stuff you gave me or anything! I know you didn’t really want anything, but I thought this might be..okay..

[ Was it not? ]

It is, it is, yeah, it's just, birthdays are... complicated..

[ And something he generally ignored in the past. ]

Yeah..I get that. I shouldn’t have pushed it..I just thought maybe you could celebrate it differently ..here.

[ But that wasn’t her call, was it? ]

Sorry, I made you come all the way out here..

Well, I mean, I'm happy... I think, I don't know, exactly, I just... It's nice though, really.

It's just, I'm dead, and I'm still unsure if it counts even though some's said that it's fine, but um... Also I've never really... celebrated birthdays at all so I don't know how it's supposed to happen...be done.

[ She ought to be feeling that swirl of complicated emotions. ]

[ Yeah, she does feel it. ]

After a while, I forgot how too. What was there to be happy about and with who? But you’re..not alone here.

Even if you’re not alive, you’re still around. And I think you existing is something to celebrate..I know I’m grateful, and I think others feel the same way too. But I guess that sounds more selfish than it should.

It's okay to be selfish.

[ He sighs. ]

Thanks, Alex, really. Sorry about my reaction.

Right back at you.

[ She does smile though. ]

You don’t have to say sorry for anything. If you want, we don’t have to call it a birthday cupcake. Just a.. regular, cinnamon cupcake.

[ She’ll even take the sparkler out, though she doesn’t blow it out just yet. ]

[D2 smiles a bit awkwardly. ]

Yeah, sure, okay.

Do you want to blow out the sparkler?

[ She holds it out to him. It seemed really childish now that she thought about it. She might’ve gotten a little too excited setting up. ]

You can make a wish too if you want.

I'm no good at wishes, but, okay.

[ He can blow it out, at least. But no, he won't make a wish. Wishes didn't come true anyway. ]

[ She holds the sparkler out for him, but she does glance towards one of the chairs where a small bag sat. She debated whether it was a good idea considering how things went so far. It didn’t seem like she was very good at guessing what he liked. ]

So..um..

[ She starts to shift in place. ]

[ He notices her glances when he blows out the sparkler, and spots the bag. ]

Um....?

Okay, I promise it's nothing big I just...

[ She scuttles over to the table to place it on the table, reaching in to pull out a lei. See? No bombs here. ]

They said these can be used for birthdays but..they said it also showed gratitude.

[ Maybe that would make it less uncomfortable for him? ]

You also don't have to take it!

[ And back in the bag it goes. ]