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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— ]

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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.

[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.

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

A relief?

[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.]

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.

["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.

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.]

[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]

[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?

[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.

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.

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.

[The suggestion clearly strikes IV as humorous.]

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

[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.

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.]

[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.

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.

Oh, yeah.

[If they linger around outside Tea for Two for too long, the cleaning bots might get ideas or something. She's been wary ever since...

Well, he knows.]

There's still some sunlight left. I might set up my booth for a while and head home after that.

[She gestures with a nod of her head.]

Let's head for the trains.

[He needs to go through the metro if he wants to go back home, so IV obliges. He starts in the direction of the station.]

You're still manning the booth? How long is it supposed to be up for?

[Leia does the same. The answer to his question doesn't require much thought, thankfully.]

When else? Until Valentine's, of course. You know how it is with people doing things last-minute.

[She's confident her booth will see a burst of activity around the twelfth, thirteenth, or later, honestly.]

You're going to have to stock up on the candy, then. Who knows how fast they'll go out on the day of?

[Since the booth is so close to the Game Center, it wouldn't be strange for couples to pass by and grab a pouch with a bunch of candy inside – or so IV assumes. This is also assuming that nothing happens during Valentine's.]

That's right! But I'm not too worried. I'm going to be ready.

[She pumps her fists, determined. She has no way of knowing the future and what might happen on the big day, but she can only hope for the best.

She doesn't really know how to live any other way.]

[IV's only response is a growing curl in one corner of his lips while they continue on toward the station. There, he eyes the masses of people boarding the metro before he turns to face Leia.]

Here's where we part. You're going back to the Entertainment District, right?

[Following close behind, Leia nods, glancing at the people boarding before looking back at him.]

Yep. That's my ride.

[Meanwhile IV's is on another, opposite platform.]

So... we're okay now, right?

[Having turned away, IV looks over his shoulder with an inquisitive hum.]

Ah, that? We are. It wasn't your fault.

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journaler - 2015-07-26 18:01 (UTC) - Expand

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