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so did mine|

[She's not going to get upset, though! Yet. Because. That would be dumb. Right? Besides, she'd been really looking to telling him about...

...Well.]

where are you?

[On his end, IV frowns. Maybe he's got it wrong, but he doesn't have anyone else to suspect.]

Outside Tea for Two.

[Leia stops. She'd been at the station, ready to board the train, but she steps back and changes her mind, much to the dismay of the crowd.

She leaves the building as easily as she had come.]

i'm not far!

You're coming over?
Fine. I'm waiting.

[To be fair, if he'd said "home" or "the game center," she might not have bothered--at least not right away. Since it's less than a ten-minute walk though, they may as well talk about it in person?

...Actually, it sounded like a better idea in her head than in practice. What if she can't convince him? She finds herself sighing as she reads his message and tucks her CereVice away in her purse again; and she straightens the tag attached to the white pouch that's inside before zipping it back up again.

She'd almost forgotten.

At some point, she passes by Tea for Two, and though their nametags don't match in color, they stick out like sore thumbs.

She hasn't changed.]

Hey.

[She looks at him like she's surprised he waited. She can't tell if this is more or less awkward yet than before.]

[The blind date itself hadn't gone in a particularly wrong direction. Still, IV's lukewarm to the idea of being set up and played. So he waits for Leia, not surprised in the least that she's dressed for the occasion which has just ended.]

Here to explain? So was it you?

[After all those question mars, he's started doubting his initial assessment. What he can't puzzle together is why she'd want to meet.]

I'm here because I was nearby anyway.

[Slight agitation to her voice, she folds her arms. Any indecisiveness she had starts to waver off, and she actually feels... confident.]

You really think I would sign you up behind your back after you...

[...Next time, invite me somewhere that's not the Frozen Cavern.
You know, you're my third friend.
You seem like a straight reporter. Keep writing for the paper.
Call me if you need anything...

...]

I mean, you think I would disrespect your feelings like that?

[Just like that, he's been cornered. IV glances away and folds his arms over his chest, his brow creased in veiled shame. With that kind of response, it's clear as day that Leia wasn't the culprit. Rather than dwell on the bubbling guilt, though, he focuses on the lingering confusion.]

Then who . . . ?

[Making him feel guilt hadn't been her intention (far from it!); though with her strong words, she's not sure he'd believe that or not. She feels strongly though, and that much seems to be getting through...

She's glad for that.

Her voice takes a gentle tone again.]

I don't know yet. When we talked about it, you didn't even know it was happening.

[At least, it didn't seem so. He came off as pretty oblivious.]

[If only for the sake of keeping up appearances, IV continues to look off to the side in thought. No matter how much he mulls over potential suspects, he hasn't a clue. Rio's rather playful, but he doubts she would have done such a thing without asking.]

You're the only one I talked to. It had to have been someone I know, but I can't figure it out . . .

Someone from Heartland...?

[But there are also plenty of people he's met here, so she's not sure she can make that assumption.

Leia peers at him to read his expression, but is only met with his hair. She leans against the wall next to him, but since he seems to be avoiding eye contact, she'll just look forward, contemplative again.]

. . . Maybe.

[A noncommittal answer is the only one he can give. IV stares at the ground, then looks up to his other side where Leia is. While he doesn't move, the rigid shrug is evident in his tone.]

Well, it's over now. In the end, it looks like I went on a date after all.

[Noticing the shift in tone, Leia turns to face him again. She doesn't say anything at first, but is quietly relieved and amused at once, now that it's sort of sunk in.]

As a reporter, I would've loved to be a fly on that wall; but as a friend, I'm sorry someone felt the need to do that.

[She means that sincerely.]

[His shoulders seem to sink as IV waves, a metaphorical gesture of brushing off the incident. If Leia had nothing to do with it, there's no point holding onto a minor grudge.]

I'll find out who did it and confront them when I do.

[That being said, he'd much rather move on from this conversation.]

. . . How did yours go?

[She has no doubt that he will. At his question though, she'll happily let go of the topic and grin almost mischievously.

Oh, yeah.]

You should ask your friend Rio.

[He blinks and studies Leia. On second thought, perhaps it's not so surprising that Rio was also involved. Being paired with Leia was only a matter of probability.]

Rio? She was your date?

That's right! Finally got her name, didn't I?

[Since he never thought to mention it before.]

[He nods; it occurs to him then that he never had.]

If you're telling me to ask her, it must've gone well.

[She did say she'd walk out of it with a new friend, and she did. She looks proud.]

It was great.

[...]

I hope yours wasn't that bad. You weren't a grump the whole time, were you?

What? Of course I wasn't. I have a problem with the guy who signed me up, not the girl I was paired with.

Juuust making sure.

[She grins teasingly, but spares him more of the same. Her expression turns thoughtful instead.]

By the way, there was one other reason I wanted to see you.

[He figured there was, and he gives her a neutral look that waits for an elaboration.]

What?

[It is definitely a reason she was considering the whole time and not something she remembered when she put away her CereVice.

She digs into her purse again, taking out a pink pouch of heart candies. Attached to it is a tag that's somewhat damaged around the edges (he could probably guess she's been carrying it around).]

...I didn't want to wait until Valentine's Day.

[She offers it to him, and she'll even wait for his reaction. She can immediately feel why he didn't, though. She glances off to the side as she waits for him to take it...

Why is she even the least bit nervous? (What if he thinks it's dumb?)]

This pouch . . . It's from your booth.

[He recognizes the pouch instantly, and it occurs to him that Leia means to respond in kind to his "gift" from before. How unusual. Accepting the gift, IV turns the worn tag to read the legend. For the most part, he keeps a neutral expression, but the last line brings out the mirth in his voice.]

"I wrote more than you so I win"? What kind of logic is that?

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