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Jimena and Erika don’t talk as they wait by the avenue, each minding their own thoughts. The car arrives; Jimena raises both eyebrows.
ᕙ <span class="mu-s">Jimena</span>: <span class="mu-i">(A Reno12? For real?)</span>
The Renault 12 (commonly called ‘Reno 12) is a cheap, budget French car that became extremely common in Buenos Aires after France stopped its worldwide production ten years before Argentina halted its own factories. The one in front of Jimena is a classical red model; Its old engine purrs as Erika opens the back door and invites her in. Still surprised, Jimena just dives into the back of the car.
ᕙ <span class="mu-s">Jimena</span>: <span class="mu-i">(Wait, oh, right, you just asked for a cab. Right?)</span>
<span class="mu-s">Driver</span>: <span class="mu-i">New friends, Miss Erika? Where do I take you?</span>
ᕙ <span class="mu-s">Jimena</span>: <span class="mu-i">What?</span>
The driver is a fat man who looks just like any other cab driver, wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
■-■ <span class="mu-s">Erika</span>: <span class="mu-i">Just an acquaintance. Take us to the Obelisk.</span>
ᕙ <span class="mu-s">Jimena</span>: <span class="mu-i">(Oh, right, this is just your usual guy. I thought this was your personal car. As in, that you owned it.)</span>
■-■ <span class="mu-s">Erika</span>: <span class="mu-i">(This is my personal car. I own it. And that is my personal driver, Mario.)</span>
Erika just stares up front as Jimena grimaces with her whole face, made even worse by the fact she’s made of gum.
ᕙ <span class="mu-s">Jimena</span>: <span class="mu-i">(Then where’s the motherfucking jacuzzi?! The champagne?! The cocaine?! What do you even do with your money?!)</span>
■-■ <span class="mu-s">Erika</span>: <span class="mu-i">(I keep myself safe. Being alive is nice, isn’t it?)</span>
ᕙ <span class="mu-s">Jimena</span>: <span class="mu-i">(Then why don’t you just donate everything to the church?!)</span>
■-■ <span class="mu-s">Erika</span>: <span class="mu-i">(Because i don’t want to make fucking little kids even easier.)</span>
Jimena doesn’t argue. The distance to the cafe is minimal, less than fifteen minutes by car, but Erika wants the car on standby when they arrive. Ever since she heard of the Order of the End in Buenos Aires, locating Kyubey had become much harder for everyone. And now Kyubey has become a vital part of her plans because Omniscience requires a reference for her brain to search for the things she already knows, that she learned from her wish- and what better than the cat itself? She will teach the Order the Soul Gem Signal Interceptation method and there will be a ceasefire; plenty of time to learn Kyubey’s ways.
There is a method to the madness, Erika thinks, finally. Her eyes are fixed forward as the Obelisk, the heart of Buenos Aires, looms into view.
