highfiving | (no subject)

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[It had been a couple of weeks since the New Year, and it...well it wasn't exactly the best of starts. After Leia's confession, the two had been a little distant. They still talked and met every now and then, but it wasn't as often. A lot of it as on Alvin, and not just because of increased work with the business.

That night over several glasses of various strong alcoholic beverages, he had told Balan what had happened and for once his cousin didn't mock him or throw sass at him. Instead he just asked Alvin why he rejected her and why he thought they couldn't date. Age aside, from what he had seen, Balan thought they could work out. Balan only knew vague details about their past (well, he knew Alvin had shot her, so perhaps it wasn't so vague), but they were friends now so did it really matter?

And really, Alfred, you don't seriously think you don't feel anything for the girl, do you? I'm no expert, but it's obvious to everyone except you.

In the end, all Alvin could say and be hung over about was the fact that he wasn't the right guy and that whatever feelings he did have shouldn't be allowed. That it's better this way.

Elle and Elize—man did he get an earful from the both of them. Elize yelled at him so much and now she refuses to talk to him. Elle just thinks he's an idiot and doesn't understand why grown-ups have to be so complicated.

If you get along so great, what's the big deal?

All of these questions only make him wonder if he really is doing the right thing. It also makes him realize that...he really might have had deeper feelings for the girl. That those impulses he had weren't just strange, one-off things. If that's true, then why is it so hard for him to accept those feelings and act on them? He already knows how she feels. Or...is he doubting that? Is he afraid that something might happen to change that? That even if she likes him now, she might leave because he can't get his act together?

Whenever those kinds of doubts and thoughts crawl into his mind, he immediately tries to banish them. Leia wouldn't be like that. He knows her better than that. Yet that kind of fear...and knowing how he's not really ready for that kind of relationship either...

In the end, it was just a complicated mess. A mess he himself is creating.

But he does want to keep their friendship and he does realize that he misses her company. So although he recognizes he's being a hypocrite here, he finally sends her that text asking her if she wants to watch the movie. He's glad and relieved when she accepts, even when he offers his place since he has the better system. It wouldn't be the first time, but it would in a while. And the first after her confession. Things...could get awkward, but he would try to act as normal as possible.

So it's now the day they would watch the movie and he's waiting for her at his apartment. And for some reason he actually feels a little nervous about this.]

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[ after she got back to her apartment on new years, leia had... probably just as much thinking ahead of her as she did after their date. a lot of thinking, a lot of stuffing her face to forget about her problems, and a lot of talking to elize. recounting the night to her had stung— it was reopening a wound that was barely even a few hours old— but there was also something cathartic about it, too. while elize wasn't her very best friend (that was a position that was still reserved for alvin, even if things were bound to be strained between them), she was sharp and a good listener. at the end of their girl-talk, she even assured leia that she would personally talk to alvin about what had happened between them.

that combined with keeping her distance for a few days gave leia the boost she needed to at least try to be normal around him. while things weren't quite where they used to be, she still texted him often and called him every once in a while, too. it was a step up from their awkward parting on new years, at least, even if she did find herself missing him from time to time— which was a feeling that she was doing her best to shove down.

needless to say, when he texted her to ask if she wanted to finally watch that movie together? she definitely jumped at the opportunity, genuine cheerfulness and all. she even volunteered to supply them with food and drinks, since they would be using his apartment. it was a fair trade, she figured.

so, she shows up to his apartment right on time, a bag of takeout in one hand and a bag with a... surprisingly nice bottle of wine in the other (because he's into that sort of thing, right?), and knocks as best as she can, given the things she's carrying. ]

Alvin, open up! It's me!

[ and, unlike before, for their date and new years, when he opens the door he'll find that she's actually not dressed up. if anything, she's more casual than usual— her hair is up, her clothes are more suited to lounging around, and she's basically doing her best not to give off any date vibes. ]

[Whatever unexpected nerves he has, he shoves them down as he opens the door and—wow. It's been a while since he's seen her so......casual. He's rather casual himself, but not quite her level. Then again, Alvin's definition of "casual" still tends to be on the trendier side.]

Looks like you brought enough for a party.

[Said jokingly as he reaches out to help with the goods. Wait, is that wine in this bag...?]

[ hey, her version of casual is trendy, too! just in a... different way.

... at least she didn't come over in her pajamas, okay. ]

Well, that's kind of what this is, right?

[ even though she feels a little nervous being around him, the cheer in her voice and the smile she flashes him feel natural. it's almost like they're back to normal if she ignores the tell-tale signs of feelings on her end (like the way it feels like her heart skips a beat when she hands the bags over and their fingers brush). which she is. because she's bound and determined not to ruin this night. ]

I guess it's more like a mini-party since we're the only ones here, but it still works out!

[Add to the fact that they're alone in his apartment...and both of them have some level of feelings for the other... No this won't be awkward at all. But like her, Alvin is setting aside whatever feelings he has and tries to be normal.

Except what happens when their "normal" was already pushing the boundary between casual and intimate?]

Well I know what I'll be enjoying. [Let's focus on this bottle of wine, shall we? He's moving over to the kitchen now so they can set up their food before moving to the den where everything else was set up for the movie.] Not a bad choice, either.

Though I'm guessing you'll be having something else.

[ she follows closely behind him. ]

Yeah, the guy at the store said it was supposed to be really good.

[ and knowing that it has alvin's seal of approval makes her feel even better about her purchase. she had bought it with him in mind, after all. ]

But, I dunno. I think I might have a glass if it lives up to its reputation. Wine's not as strong as other things, right?

[ "other things" meaning shots. because she never wants to live through a repeat of that ever again. especially not when they're both at least acting normal. ]

Wine? Well it's stronger, but a little slower as well. Maybe a small glass of you really want to try it.

[Because he's thinking the same and would definitely not want things to get...well no need to risk things.]

Deal!

[ she flashes him a thumbs up and then moves off to the side, her hip propped against the counter while she waits for her food. she's expecting him to put everything together, since she... actually doesn't know his kitchen too well. she's been to his place before, but since they usually go out to eat, she hasn't had the time to familiarize herself with where everything is. ]

I mostly bought it for you, anyway.

[ that's safe to say, right? friends buy each other things like this all the time... probably... ]

Aw, how sweet.

[He flashes her a teasing grin, a grin that should be coming naturally. However, even if his response is like how it usually is, there is a part of him that wonders about that. If there's one thing Alvin is still not sure of, it's whether Leia still has those feelings for him. He knows it's not something to just "let go" easily, but... Is she actually letting go? How much is she forcing?

Well, he's forcing a bit himself now, so really he's not one to talk.

He keeps himself busy, gathering the plates and the glasses. He gets two wine glasses, but also a normal glass for her glass so she can have water as well. He has some sodas, too, in case she wants it.]

Mind grabbing the forks? They're in the drawer right next to you.

Sure thing!

[ she slides the drawer in question open, picking out two forks and setting them on the counter. nope, no risk of hand-on-hand contact here.

she really is forcing herself now, her fingers drumming on the counter as she fishes for something they can talk about. normally, talking to him comes naturally— now, she has to think about what she's going to say before she says it so she doesn't blurt out something that could make things awkward.

... she's not very good at thinking before she speaks, either, which doesn't really help matters. ]

So, are there any special rules to drinking wine?

[ like there had been with the shots. ]

I don't know if I'd call them "special," but there are a few things.

[Plates set and take out spread, she can start dishing up while he pours the glasses. Half a glass for him to start with and then... Not even a fourth.]

If you're a true connoisseur, before drinking it you swirl the glass a bit, let the aroma and liquid settle. After that, you drink it in sips rather than gulps. Like I said, wine is actually strong in substance, but unlike a shot it won't knock you out if you drink it slowly and in moderation. Of course anyone can down a bottle in one go if they really wanted to, but that's only if you want to get drunk fast, not to mention a waste of savoring the flavor.

It's usually better when paired with the right food, too, as it can give it more flavor as well as help the body deal with the alcohol.

[Commentary over, he sets her glass by her.]

If it's too much for you, I have some water here, too, and a few soft drinks in the fridge if you want.

[And standing close next to her isn't awkward at all nope. That's totally not why he doesn't linger and instead moves away to grab his own plate of food. Yeah. Totally.]

[ she starts piling food onto her plate as he gives his explanation, taking generous portions of a little bit of everything. she'll need to work all of these calories off later for sure, but she got a few of her favorites (and several things that she knows he's a fan of, too), so splurging a little couldn't hurt. besides, if she's focused on her plate, there's less of a chance she'll say something weird.

when he's finished talking, she takes the glass (he really didn't pour much for her, did he?) and takes a small sip, just like he instructed. she typically drinks pretty quickly, so making a conscious effort to take her time is going to be... interesting. ]

This should be just fine! [ it's different from the shots, and it tastes... interesting in a way she can't put her finger on, so it's at least drinkable. she's not enough of a fan to insist on him pouring more or even to start drinking it regularly, but this glass shouldn't be a problem. ] It's actually not that bad.

[ and now she's going to grab her plate with her free hand so they can head into the living area to watch the movie. lead the way, little buddy. ]

[Hah.]

Just be glad you didn't get any of the cheap brand. You can really taste the difference in quality.

[And he leads the way, making his way over to his spiffy couch and coffee table. Don't forget to use the coasters, Leia (yes he actually minds glass marks ssssh).

Once they're seated, he'll reach over for the remote. Of course he has one of those special ones that also controls the lights, so he automatically switches those off. Belatedly he wonders if that's really a good idea, but it's the best way to watch a movie! Speaking of which, since he already has it in, it's just set to the menu screen.]

Ready?

[ he's probably had to get on her case about coasters before, so she knows well enough to use one, thank you very much.

anyway, she takes a moment to balance her plate on her lap and take a bite from her plate (manners? what manners) before nodding. ]

Yeah, totally! [ she says that around a mouthful of... whatever she's eating, but she at least swallows before continuing: ] I was pretty much born ready.

[ because sitting in the dark and eating while they watch a movie can't be too weird, right? and she's been looking forward to this particular movie since it was released. ]

[If she spills any, she's paying for the dry cleaning.

But he just grins a bit before he hits play, leaning back and being a bit more casual. He's not sitting too close to her, which is a bit different but also necessary given their current...circumstances.]

So why did you want to see this movie again?

You'll see!

[ she mirrors his grin, settling back against the couch. she's making a conscious effort not to get too close, since the last thing she wants is to make this night as awkward as new years had been. luckily, she actually does a good job throughout the first chunk of the movie.

the thing is, this movie is very good at what it does. what it lacks in blood and gore, it makes up for in atmosphere. the music and lightning add to the suspense, often keeping the things that go bump in the night under the cover of darkness.

leia's food is long gone by the time the first death happens, and that's probably a good thing. she jumps when the camera cuts to the scene of the crime, officially showing the body for the first time, and her hand moves on instinct to grab at alvin's sleeve. during the scene leading up to the reveal, she had started to gravitate toward him, too, so she's... actually pretty close now. she's going to try to be casual about that as she turns to look at him, though. ]

Things are really starting to get creepy, huh?

[ and she laughs nervously. it's more because of how much the movie freaked her out, but the fact that she's sitting close to him and she can't smoothly move herself away from him isn't helping. ]

[Whether it was because of the movie or because of this being something that he had been accustomed to, Alvin hadn't noticed Leia moving toward him. But he actually almost jumps when he feels her grab his sleeve, especially since he wasn't expecting it. And then his nerves rise for different reasons, because now they are close together.

He tries and hide his own uncertainty and awkwardness behind a teasing grin and a laugh.]

Getting scared, are you? [The words, "Want me to hold you?" almost leave his mouth. In the past, it would have been part of the joke and the could have easily laughed it off. But now if he said it, it would just increase the level awkwardness. Joke or not, it's still a little too soon for that. So instead—] And here I thought nothing could scare you.

Come on, everybody gets scared sometimes! Even people who are totally tough.

[ like her. obviously. ]

I bet you're feeling a little spooked now, too!

[ he doesn't seem to be scared, but teasing back helps her feel a little more comfortable as she releases his sleeve and draws her knees up to her chest, laying her hands on top of them. she still can't bring herself to scoot away from him, either, though at this point part of it may just be because she doesn't really want to. sitting close together isn't inherently romantic, anyway, right? ]

Not really no.

[That grin remains, but he does notice how she hasn't moved away. Well...that's not really bad either. He does consider putting his arm around her for a moment, but...well that might still be much. Instead he goes halfway, raising his arm to rest on the back top of the couch behind her. So it's not around her, but it does open him up so that she can settle in closer if she wants.

The movie continues on, though things are getting even more suspenseful and a little creepy as well. Even he's leaning toward her a little and then...

LOUD NOISE.

Yeah, okay, he might have jumped and his arm might have come down around her.]

[ she does settle in a little more, though it's not entirely a conscious decision. it's just comfortable, and even if things are strained between them, she's still used to being close to him like that. she reaches forward at one point to finish off the rest of her drink, but she goes right back to her prior position when she's done with it.

it's almost like things are back to normal between them in that moment, even if she does feel very aware of him and of how close they are.

then, the loud noise happens. she jumps again and she might even let out a surprised gasp, her shoulders going ridged as she does. it's only as she's settling back down that she realizes his arm isn't behind her anymore— it's around her. the worst thing about that is that it actually feels... kind of nice, in a way. so, even if that makes her feel awkward all over again, she's not going to try to remove it, and she's going to force herself to be casual about it. ]

See, what'd I tell you about everybody getting scared sometimes? You totally jumped that time!

Yeah, yeah, so it got me.

[At first he doesn't realize how his arm is around her, but when he does... ...Should...he...remove it? Actually maybe he should, so he hastily removes his arm, using it to reach for his glass to take a rather large swallow of the remainder of his wine.]

But we must be getting near the end. What do you think will happen?

[Let's just. Return to their normal commentary and not think about his instinctive reaction back there. He does move his arm back to the back of the couch.]

[ if she thinks anything about the way he removes his arm, she doesn't comment on it or even seem to notice, instead focusing on his question. ]

Well, I'm guessing they'll figure out a way to fix all the things that are going on. [ she gestures toward the screen, where the villain of the movie— whoever or whatever it is— happens to be prowling around. ] And... maybe the people who are still around can just go back to their normal lives? I dunno. It's been a pretty wild ride so far, so it feels like anything could happen.

[ and a wild ride it will continue to be, because one of the few remaining members of the cast gets picked off as she says that, which makes her grimace a bit. she may not have a weak stomach— she wouldn't have been able to be a nurse if she did, let alone take part in the kinds of battles their group tended to wind up in— but the movie isn't really pulling any punches. the end is very, very close at this point, too, so that doesn't help matters much. ]

What about you? Any predictions?

If we're going for the usual plot ending, there will be one survivor and the big reveal will be the guy is some psychopath.

[Clearly his expectations are a lot less optimistic. One more cast member is offed, leaving it to the last main hero. But when it starts winding down for the final show down...

The antagonist proves to be a woman. A woman out for revenge. All of the people that were trapped and killed were those who had wronged and betrayed her in some way, and they all actually died in ways symbolic of that betrayal. And the last guy? First love and he cheated on her. And the next woman, too. Apparently the guy was a real douche in the past.

What had once started as a big mystery ended up more along the lines of survival horror, and in the end, everything bursts into flames and everyone, including the woman, is killed.

....Or is she? The last frames of the movie is a shot of the same streets the movie started with it, and there's a glimpse of the woman's face in the crowds.

And then the credits roll. He's just going to be. Silent for a moment.]

Well...definitely didn't see that coming.

[Leia were you trying to send him a message—]

[ wow, she would never! if he broke her heart, she'd just kick his butt the old fashioned way. ]

Same here! I heard there was supposed to be an awesome twist at the end, but that's not really what I had in mind.

[ and now she's going to scoot away from him, since the movie's over and there's no real reason to be so close anymore. not that there had been one before, but... still. ]

So, what's the final verdict? Did you like it?

[ she's still processing it, trying to puzzle the plot together and come up with her own opinions on it, so asking for his is probably the next best thing. ]

[He leans back against his seat, arms crossing over his head as he thinks it over.]

I think this is one of those movies where if you watch it again, it would make a lot more sense. Other than that twist at the end, it wasn't too bad though. I can see why it got high reviews.

Well, since you got your hands on a copy, we can always watch it again sometime! I probably missed a bunch of things this time around, anyway.

[ she can't sit still through another movie— especially not one she just watched— but getting together again soon and watching it couldn't hurt. especially if things stay as normal as they have been so far. ]

Wanna hand over your plate so I can run it to the kitchen?

[ ... and maybe get herself another drink and a snack while she's at it (that's her real motive here, now that the movie is over and she's not risking missing anything). smaller hiccups aside, this night is actually going better than she expected, so she's not quite ready to head home just yet, anyway. ]