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[Who needs to lift when they can duel – ]

A little. You want to skate?

[Of all the options, it sounds the least ugly and intrusive. He can't say he would have liked to go swimming.]

[She does! It's obvious in her tone, plus she would have never suggested it otherwise. Still, she's a bit coy, folding her arms and acts like she has to think about it.

The ever present smile gives it away.]

Are you going to laugh at me?

Why would I? Skating is a fine activity.

[He gestures to the gardens entrance. ViViD can come later. Checking out the gym doesn't sound bad.]

Let's head to the gym, then.

Oh, wait!

[...He's totally going to laugh.

Leia realizes this isn't actually a bad thing--and with that, she'll pipe up suddenly when it comes time to actually leave. It's been a while since she's collected any of these flowers for her room, so she'll run off towards those bushes she'd been staring at just off their path.]

First let's get some souvenirs.

[IV turns around on his feet, watching Leia run toward the bushes. He hasn't the slightest clue, but her going there probably relates to what's attached to said bushes.]

Souvenirs? You don't mean the flowers.

[Although she probably does, unless there's something past the leaves.]

[... Yeah, about that.

She turns after the first couple are safely plucked and in her hand, and you'd think she were caught hoarding food or something.]

What's wrong with flowers?

[The gardens house such lovely flowers that it's little wonder Leia has started picking them. Rooted in his spot on the path where she'd left him, IV shrugs.]

Nothing. Who are they for?

[Generally, souvenirs are given.]

Myself.

[Oops. She laughs a bit sheepishly, but decides not to go overboard. After just a couple more, she'll come walking back.]

I wanted some for my room, but now that you mention it, I think they suit you better.

[She tilts her head, and holds up the flowers to his hair as she approaches; notably near one of his ears, like she's going to tuck one behind it. The purple of his hair and flower's pink hue really play off each other, and it brings out his eyes, too.

She pulls them back and holds them out. Some are white, which go with anything. She'll just keep one of each for herself.]

Here!

Huh?

[He eyes the flowers with mild suspicion while Leia holds them next to his face. When she pulls back, IV raises both hands to his waist and stares down at the colorful bunch of offerings.]

You're not expecting me to take all of these, are you?

[Having grown up in the most industrial of areas, he can't claim that he's adept at caring for flowers, much less in possession of a green thumb.]

[Wow.

...WELL she can't say she's surprised, at least. In hindsight, this was a stupid idea. One that she hasn't given up on, for some reason, so her hand lowers, but isn't withdrawn...]

If you don't want them, I guess that's okay.

[Kind of a shame, though. She can't help but feel a little disappointed, but that's also stupid.]

[She seems to have a habit of taking the worst message out of his responses (is he being too vague, he wonders). IV peels his hands from his hips, perhaps indicating that he's interested in his own way, although he's yet to reach for the flowers still.]

I didn't say I don't want them. Which ones are you keeping?

[Oh.

...She's getting whiplash! Is he just humoring her now...? Even if he is, she undeniably perks up again.]

It doesn't really matter to me. We can split them.

...Though I didn't even really pick that many.

[You big baby.]

Fine.

[She's so easy to please. IV scrutinizes the flowers, which all look fair to him: The gardens are surely kept in high quality. That leaves one slightly humorous option.]

. . . You experimented earlier. Which flower suits me best?

[...She tilts her head and experiments again, now that he seems more receptive. Indecisive as usual, this one, before she gives her final answer.]

They both do. Why not take one of each, and I'll put the rest in a vase?

[Nodding, IV plucks a white flower and a pink flower by the stem from Leia's hands. He's going to have to invest in a vase, too, if he doesn't want to just lay the flowers down on the kitchen counter. That'd be mistreatment of a gift from a . . . friend, is it. But not right now.]

It looks like that's taken care of. Now, the gym.

To the gym!

[Leia is enthusiastic to the point of pumping a fist in the air, as if rallying a crowd. It's her free hand she's not using to hold the flowers, thankfully--and speaking of that, she definitely thinks they'll be okay until later.

For now, she leads the way. It's not even that far a walk, so there's the convenience factor, too.

She wonders if Rock Lee is working today, and if Athena is feeling any better...?]

[The ice skating rink is not bound to be a lively place at this hour, but he doesn't doubt that there'll be noise with Leia around. Besides that, the cold industrial metal should be like splashing in water after all this nature.

Half a step behind her at Leia's side, IV follows, the flowers clutched by the stem in one hand.]

[She doesn't know what it is about the colony. Despite walking this exact path countless times before, it feels like there's always something new to see, and she finds herself silently observing everything: IV as he walks, passersby who are giggling together and the couple resting on the bench.

It's busy, which is what he was going for, so she'll hold the door open for him once they reach their destination.]

There's an information booth over there with a map. That should help.

[Compared to the gardens, it's so much livelier. Then they reach the gym, and IV strides past Leia to head inside. He turns his head left to right and back to the left, surveying the interior that's typical of CERES' design. He gives a dismissive wave of his hand.]

I don't need it. You know the way, don't you? Besides, it's only the rink.

[--She has a general idea. It's an area of the gym she doesn't frequently visit, though; plus it really is a neat reminder of just how big the gym really is.

With a huff, she follows IV this time, who's pulled ahead.]

Fine.

[The halls and paths are well-labeled anyway; so they follow the signs.]

We'll have to rent skates.

[With signs like those, who needs a brochure with a map?]

That's a given. Where do we go for that?

Umm......

[Leia doesn't see an immediate answer, but they do approach some metal doors that look promising. Through the window, she catches glimpse of the rink, but before they go in, she peers off down the hallway that extends to their right.

Just a food stall... but to the left, she spots what appears to be a counter, and behind it, a room. With "shoes," and a service-bot--

Bingo.]

There!

[Is it possible for a robot to look bored...? Because it does.]

[That's the most bored robot IV has ever seen; it doesn't get any better as they close in, either. He walks up to the counter. After stating their business – hey, we need skates – he kneels down to untie his boots on request. He slips them off and trades them in for a pair of skates, which he holds in his free hand.

Having gone up before Leia, he looks over his shoulder on his way over to the metal doors.]

I'll be getting ready at the rink. Grab your skates and meet me there.

[If he can have it his way, he'll be at one of the front bleachers near the entrance of the ice rink itself.]

Okay!

[Leia's already taking off her boots as well when IV receives his. She has a bit more trouble than him with this, but eventually, she's handing them off to the robot all the same.

After it determines what size she needs, she receives the pair of skates and trots off towards the doors, looking back at the robot with sympathy. Finally, she opens those metal doors and--

Unsurprisingly, she's greeted with a blast of cold air. Yet in surprise, she winces, having definitely not braced herself.]

F... Freezing...

[She mutters outloud to no one in particular. Soon, as she walks in further and her body adjusts a little more, she sits down near IV at the bleachers to tie on those skates.]

[It's been years since he skated, but some things are never forgotten by the body. Sliding on and tying the skates is a familiar task, if rather awkward at the start. By the time Leia arrives, he's finished securing one skate and has moved onto the other.

Being a generally warm person, the coldness of the rink doesn't bite into IV's skin as much as it does to Leia's. He regards her with a look before he finishes knotting the ribbon on the other skate. He pulls back, straightening on the bleacher.]

Are you ready?

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