✿ IC CONTACT

[journaler]

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『 Hey hey hey, iiit's Leia...! Sorry I missed you, but I'm pretty tied up at the moment--probably chasing my next story. Leave me a message and I'll call you back as soon as I can. Thanks! 』 [ beeeep— ]

Comments

[rebelia]

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

What?

[journaler]

[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?)]

[rebelia]

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?

[journaler]

Leia logic!

[She answers jokingly, nerves calming. She had looked over at some point when she didn't hear any reaction from him at all. She's grateful, suddenly--and glad she kept that particular line in.]

Come on, it's just a joke.

[rebelia]

I've heard better punchlines . . . Well, I suppose it's pretty good.

[At the very least, the thought behind the whole gift has IV less grumpy and more in a good mood. He pockets the pouch, making sure to tuck the tag in so it doesn't hang out precariously.]

. . . So you feel lucky, huh.

[journaler]

[Wow!! The jab at her humor aside, she grins; but there's an air of seriousness about her expression, too. She opens her eyes to meet his.]

That part wasn't a joke.

[rebelia]

[Has anyone else ever considered it lucky, his friendship? The curiosity is mild and he dismisses it.]

Heh . . . That's good to hear. Then I can say the same about you.

[journaler]

[She perks up again so easily. It's almost like she's genuinely surprised to hear that, since no one's ever told her that before either.]

Really? You mean it?

[rebelia]

I don't say what I don't mean.

[It's part of trying to be a straightforward person. Besides, he's too blunt to throw words.]

Don't look so surprised.

[journaler]

[Oh okay. She just reels in her emotions a little then, smile more controlled. If only it were always that easy.

She speaks quietly.]

I guess I'm not. But still... it's a bit of a relief.

[rebelia]

[IV inclines his head to the side. That's a rather odd thing to say.]

A relief?

[journaler]

[Leia's an oddball to be sure... she looks a bit sheepish, though doesn't stop smiling as she thinks of how she should explain this.]

Yeah. It's nice when someone reminds you that you're... not just tagging along, and that you're actually important.

[There are times when she needs that reassurance.]

[rebelia]

Huh?

[IV lets the words sink in before he shifts his weight, considering the weight of what Leia's just disclosed. The need for validation – what a surprise.]

Is that what this is? Of course you're important. We're friends, aren't we? I don't invite you to play ViViD with me so you can be a tagalong.

[journaler]

["Of course you're important" ... haha. If her cheeks turn a bit pink, he's just imagining it; though she looks sheepish, too. Did she offend him? Arrgh, she's so stupid--]

I... I know that. And we are! We totally are.

[There's a "but" that goes unsaid. He was never really the problem to begin with.]

...Thanks. [She giggles.] I know you'd get your butt kicked without me anyway.

[rebelia]

Oh? Are you sure it's not the other way around?

[To be honest, it probably isn't. He's not too shabby as a gamer, but Leia's got so much more under her belt.]

Either way, we work together well enough. If I were with Ryoga, he'd be complaining all day.

[Despite the teasing remark about his first friend, there's definite fondness in IV's tone.]

[journaler]

[Being that she's pretty good picking up on that sort of thing, that much is obvious. He holds his friends dear, and that's something she's come to admire about him.

She's right to feel lucky. She's glad she let him know that.]

...When we met, he thought I was an NPC.

[oops]

[rebelia]

[Now that's interesting to hear. IV quirks an eyebrow at that, amused by the thought of Ryoga making such a rudimentary mistake.]

Did he? So you two met in ViViD. How was he?

[journaler]

[It's pretty funny in hindsight.]

Well, our weapons weren't working right. This was a day or two before the city blacked out, so the level was pretty glitchy.

Still, I don't think we did too badly.

[......]

He... warmed up to me. Sort of.

[rebelia]

Oh? Really? You must've done something right, then. [It sounds insulting, but he actually means it as a compliment.] Ryoga tends to play cold, you know.

[journaler]

Yeah, I noticed.

[Hence "sort of" being the key words. She sways, sheepishly scratching at the back of her head.]

Maybe you can put in a good word for me.

[rebelia]

[The suggestion clearly strikes IV as humorous.]

Me? Don't get your hopes up. That guy does what he wants.

[journaler]

[If it can get a smile out of him, that's good enough for her. She shrugs, clearly amused as well.]

Well, that makes all of us.

[Who she's referring to beyond Ryouga and herself is anybody's guess.]

That's okay. I guess it's up to me.

[rebelia]

Don't be put off by his lack of charm and you'll do just fine.

[He's a good guy – and much softer than he thinks, so IV doesn't doubt that Leia will wear him down.]

[journaler]

[It worked on IV, at least. Leia nods, clearly encouraged.]

Right!

[Though she kind of just agreed to the fact that Ryouga doesn't have any charm, which is kind of mean. Oh well. (Not like he heard it.)]

I'm not easily put off anyway. Giving up isn't even in my vocabulary.

[rebelia]

I've noticed.

[And it's incredibly endearing, because IV respects conviction. That being said, with that settled, he looks off in the direction from which Leia had approached.]

Anyway, weren't you doing something before you came down here? I should be heading back to the apartment, myself.