begguiling | IC INBOX: HUGTOPIA.

[Dear Magolor, were you in the habit of texting all your friends and loved ones with inane chatter? Is there perhaps a chat history here already? Yes? No? Either way, how about this crazy concept: the tablet chiming with a text message that he didn't initiate! Whoa.]

Question.

[DEAR KAITO . . . there is probably a chat history here already. But surprise! A Kai text!]

Here's hoping I have an answer! I'd hate to look stupid.

[Surprise!!]

Doubt you would look dumb

Your directory thing's got you down for engineering n stuff. you think you could modify a bike?

Of course I could! What kind of bike? And modify how? But I really doubt you'll give me any answer I can't work with.

Course not. its an electric motorbike. been thinking it could use like... storage?

i can bring it over and show you?

I'll be waiting outside with bated breath! I do want to see this. That's nothing I can't do!

[As above: he realizes his place is absolutely not suitable for company right now, because he lives alone and no one ever wants to visit him, not that he encourages it. Whoops. Outside, outside . . . it's not like he'd bring the motorbike in anyway! Phew!]

[That's all a Mood right there. Sorry Kai wasn't the "burst through the door at random to say hi" kind of friend. Or you're welcome? A mystery.]

Gotcha.

[Let's not keep the wizard waiting! It wouldn't be too long after that Kai came cruising up on his exceedingly quiet set of wheels, keeping an eye out for the bright spots of color that were Magolor. (He roughly knew where he thought Magolor lived, but the actual house? Didn't know which one. Until.... now!)]

Yo.

[He waves when he sees Kai approach; both of them are at least unmistakable, especially when a bike is involved! He has a little front yard that he waves Kai into to park and dismount, giving the bike a look over before it even comes to a stop.]

Welcome! You know, I didn't realize you had one of these. When'd you buy it? Handy~!

Ha, it doesn't make a racket like my bike back home did. Get to sneak around a bit.

[Kai gave the seat a fond pat.] S'been a little while now though. Kinda just showed up at the temple one day and the priests wouldn't let me leave till I took it with me.

[Not that this was a complaint, mind you.]

I see . . . so, this is a new bike that mysteriously arrived, not a bike from home that mysteriously arrived?

[Interesting. He'd wondered if it might be like Shinji's cello, but that had been Shinji's personal instrument from home, as far as Magolor knows. He turns a slow circle around the bike, inspecting it.]

Where are all my mysterious presents, huh?

Ah, well, the one back home is kinda mangled in a ravine somewhere.

[He shrugged with a breathy chuckle as if this wasn't uh. Alarming. Rest in pepperonis, Zephyr.]

Maybe you gotta try petting more ravens, huh?

Maybe they should pay me for it if that's what they want! . . . I guess that is kinda what you were suggesting, but you know what I mean. Anyway, keep this one away from ravines, okay? Don't make me build a full-body airbag into it.

[He finishes his circle of the bike and reaches up to pat Kai's shoulder. Yo.]

[Sup, buddy. Kai inclined his head a bit, smirking.]

Won't make you go that far. I'd rather keep everything in one piece. Ah-- [He briefly raised his hands to tap a fist in his palm.] That does remind me though, I meant to ask about helmets too.

Geez, you'd better! You should have done that first.

[He scowls! For a moment! That rare, protective side of him bubbles to the surface, and he nudges hard at Kai's side.]

I'll need to do a minute's research on it, but I don't see why I couldn't make one for you. I'm already versed in protective headgear! Just the kind that wards off dragons, not motor accidents. It can't be that different.

[That egg bump caught him by surprise and he staggered a slight step with a short laugh. He leaned back into place, reaching over to give Magolor's head a light pat.]

I've been the safest driver without one so far. Promise.

[It definitely helped that sometimes he had a passenger with him. So safe! The safest.]

Yeah, sounds like it's probably not too different. Definitely maybe less dragon wards involved, though. Think my temple mates might be a bit offended.

That's right, you drew the short straw in terms of gods.

[He winks. He can't not jab at dragons! Fuck dragons! But no offense, Kai.]

I'll look into it! Just be careful in the meantime. So for the bike itself, tell me what you're thinking.

[None taken, good egg. Kai chuckled, holding a hand up lightly over his chest.]

No one will be more careful than I am.

[BIKE THOUGH. Kai turned to give it a pat, his expression going thoughtfully intense as he started walking Magolor through some of what he'd been pondering.]

I'm thinkin' maybe I wanna try putting this to work, since I have it. Deliveries or rides, stuff like that. We got more people doing food work now, maybe there's a market for it. There's just [he gestured] nowhere secure to put stuff. It not having a fuel tank anymore kinda opens up some options.

So I'm thinking either somewhere up here where the fuel tank woulda been... [He tapped the space in front of the rider seat where there was some real estate.] Or maybe something here at the back if it can get secured well enough. I don't mind sacrificing a little bit of speed, but keeping the space for a passenger is important.

[Magolor's ears noticeably perk up at the mention of food delivery. Food delivery! A luxury he can get behind 100%! He already spends what little of his Dora he's willing to part with mostly on other people cooking for him when he can't get it free; what's a little more for the option of having it come right to his house? He nods along at the explanation with renewed interest.]

Oh, that's easy enough. Don't worry! It looks like there's plenty of room to secure something like that safely. And I'm a creative guy! So, room for another passenger and room to secure cargo?

[Dinner and a friend to bother, what a good combo.]

Yeah, that'd be good. And maybe like two helmets, eventually. I think that'd be everything.

I can do that. Juuuust a moment here . . .

[He pulls out his tablet and brings up the camera app, then does another, slow loop around the bike, getting photos of it from all angles. It's not like he wants to hang onto it while he does all the plans before he can begin construction. But he's already pretty excited, more than he would have expected. It's been so boring . . . not having physical projects . . . not having happy customers he can look in the eye . . . !]

By the way, I'll definitely be the first customer of your delivery service! Now there's a niche we need filled.

Ha, I'm hoping its a good idea anyway. [Kai grinned at him.]

Which just means sure, you're first in line. Y'don't gotta wait for me to say anything either, just lemme know what you need done.

Remember you said that when I call you up for a pizza at 2 AM!

[He winks. Just kidding! Except ordering a pizza at 2 AM is definitely something he would do. He will at least probably not do it to a delivery boy he actually knows and likes . . . and also, pizza's not exactly plentiful here. Speaking of which,]

I kind of wish I hadn't said that. Now I'm thinking about pizza.

[Mental Note: establish work hours.

But speaking of pizza. And thinking about pizza. Kai frowned.]

... Now I'm thinking about pizza too. Damn. I probably wouldn't even mind a 2 AM delivery if it meant pizza was here.

IC INBOX: HUGTOPIA.

also busts down your inbox. this is backdated maybe? to? mystery april?? ???

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this just in: bret doesn't actually know a damn thing about bikes and is googling frantically

IT'S OK I KNOW EVEN LESS

TOGETHER WE WILL GESTURE WILDLY AND GLOSS OVER EVERYTHING

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