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[His gaze flits over to the edge of the fountain. While the sentimental part of him stirs at the closure, the pen isn't worth the harassment from alien life form – or so the rational part of him argues.]

You'll find others like it. Although . . .

[Letting his own train of thought trail, he takes one step toward the fountain.]

Letting them win doesn't feel good, either.

[She studies him as he takes his step. What could be on his mind with an ominous gesture like that, she wonders? She follows suit though, admittedly curious herself if she scared them all off. She peers over the water's surface.

(Well, it'd be nice.)]

When you put it that way, it doesn't--but these things happen, I guess.

[...when you're energetic and never stop moving, like her.]

They're gone, anyway. [......] Or they want me to think they are. Do we risk it?

[The more he thinks about it, the less happy he is about his own initial advice. IV takes another decisive step, and from there he can see over the fountain edge and inside. The pen isn't very far from the wall; it'd only take a second to pull it out, if they can beat the fast swimming fish.

He scowls. Do they? He considers.]

It's right there.

[That changes things.

Leia immediately lights up when he points it out and notices the shine of pink against the dark dreary gray wall. It's literally within her reach, and yet not at the same time... making this a fairly difficult decision.]

They must have realized it isn't food. There's gotta be some way to get it out.

[Her staff... maybe. But even that's a risk--she doesn't really know how strong these guys' teeth are (losing or damaging her staff would be infinitely worse than the pen), and besides, she'd need some kind of net or something for it to be useful.

...This is really silly.]

[There has to be a dozen ways to pull out the blasted pen, but do they have those means with them right now? IV thinks on it for a moment longer. His attention drifts down to his wrist, where the morning light glints against the gem nestled in his bracelet. He loosens the brace and rolls his sleeve up, then secures the bracelet again.]

I've got an idea.

[In theory, if he can generate a small force field with the Barian power vested in the gem and be quick, he shouldn't have to worry about losing a finger.]

Your bracelet...?

[Leia looks over and notices him rolling up his sleeve. It hits her just then, what it can do--and she definitely isn't going to let IV have all the fun (nor the risk, incidentally).]

Oh, yeah! That should work, shouldn't it?

[His force fields are totally cool! She rolls up her sleeves as well, eyeing the pen with determination.]

I'll do it.

[While there isn't any scorn in his airy voice, he clearly disapproves of the idea. Clamping a hand over the gem, he watches the surface of the water for movement.]

Don't be stupid. It'll be harder if I have to watch your arm, too.

But...

[She protests, grip loosening on her sleeve. It already starts to fall back toward her wrist, and while she isn't one to let an argument end so soon, it's different this time. "It'll be harder..."

She'll make it harder.

She hesitates, biting her tongue helplessly as she waits.]

[IV plunges his right arm into the fountain, curls his fingers around the body of the pen, and pulls out with a large step back just as an alien fish comes snapping its teeth. The bracelet activates in time to bounce the fish off course, forcing it to detour midair before reentering the water. Breathing out, he flicks his wrist to throw some excess water.

He offers the pen to Leia, oblivious to the effect of his earlier words on her.]

Here.

[Leia shields her face, wincing when she sees the creature bounce off the force field. So they are still around after all. It's like they can turn invisible. She seems awestruck when she opens her eyes again, mouth hung up open with disbelief when she sees her pen in IV's hand.

That's all?

She starts laughing, the longer she stares. Finally, she'll take it.]

That was awesome! [And all that for a pen... She holds her hand up towards IV excitedly.] Come on, high-five me.

[High-fives are so juvenile. In spite of this, IV raises his left hand to do the deed. His right hand starting from the forearm is still dripping, and he'll run his left hand down on it to brush off the rest of the water after the celebratory gesture.]

Let's leave before you drop it again.

[On that light note, he heads for a bench to sit down in the gardens, mindful to keep his sleeve up to his elbow until his arm dries.]

[If he thinks that's juvenile, he's going to love the way she kicks up her feet afterwards and starts bringing around her other hand, as if that weren't the end of it.

It's a gesture that's short-lived for many reasons (lucky him): namely that one, he isn't Alvin, and two, he's already walking away. She lowers the hand left hanging, wondering what could have come over her as she quietly trots after him towards the bench.]

...Thanks.

[She tucks the (wet) pen back in her pocket, and puts away the notebook too that she'd set aside after she dropped it. In her purse it goes; at least she didn't space about picking that back up as well.]

[He totally, completely misses the fact that that was supposed to be an extended high-five.

Settling on the bench, he rests his damp forearm on the back. The childish pride in him is satisfied by how they showed the alien fish, and so the gratitude doesn't strike him as necessary.]

It's back, but I can't guarantee it'll still work once it dries.

[She shakes her head, taking a seat after him. The gratitude is always necessary; he will learn.]

It's okay! If not, I can just keep it as decoration. I'd never throw it away after all that.

[She glances down and holds her hand over that pocket protectively, as if to check that it's still there.]

[His gaze follows the various passersby as he takes in the beautiful scenery before him. He lets Leia's tone speak for her body language, which he isn't seeing.]

"Never"? You're sentimental. It's just a pen.

[She is sentimental, though she's not entirely sure that's the point here. She nudges him lightly upon noticing that he isn't actually paying any attention.]

It's my favorite! Besides, yooou just risked your hand for that pen, buster.

[After warning her about it, no less.]

Edited 2015-07-03 04:43 (UTC)

[At the nudge, he looks over at last, shrugging.]

Those fish have been terrorizing the populace long enough. We should show them now and then.

...... Why can't you just say "You're welcome" like a normal person?

[At least he's looking at her now; so Leia meets his eyes. It sounds like a rhetorical question, and yet...]

[IV smirks, a mirthful breath escaping his nostrils.]

You can't actually be bothered by that? Fine. You're welcome.

[She wasn't, and surprise, the question was kind of rhetorical. Hearing him say it is satisfying nonetheless though, so she meets that smirk with a grin.]

There you go. That wasn't so hard.

[Annnd she'll show mercy and leave it at that.]

What brings you here, anyway?

[All right, that's enough teasing. IV rolls his head to look up at the calm sky, which otherwise appears so busy everywhere else due to the plethora of technology.]

The quiet. It helps to get away from the noise once in a while.

[Whoops. So much for that, she thinks, but at least she can confidently say that with her, there's never dull moment. There's a light shrug as she laughs sheepishly.]

It is good for that.

Weird stuff starts to happen if you get too far in, but otherwise it's gorgeous.

"Weird stuff" happens everywhere here. Even our existence is . . .

[He trails off, his expression taking a solemn turn. Their being here is merely the result of fickle fate, which can change at the drop of a hat. Perhaps it's better that way.]

[Leia's laughter fades quickly, and her expression changes to match. She turns to meet his eyes after he trails off, because... well, that's not exactly the reaction she'd been expecting.

She agrees, of course, that weird things seem to be the norm, but...]

Our existence is... [Is what? She's not entirely sure what he means by that. That it's weird?]

[......Trying to read his mind just isn't working.]

What is it? Is something wrong?

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