highfiving | (no subject)

Depends on if the situation calls for it.

[ well, that's one question down the drain. ]

Come on, don't be so vague! [ which brings her to her next question: ] What do you mean by that?

[he can't help but laugh.]

Call it a practice as a reporter.

[but okay.]

Well I think it's pretty self-explanatory. I won't do anything unless I think I have to or if it seems like a suitable time.

[ if he puts it like that, she's just going to take this even more seriously than she was before. so, she considers her next question very carefully. ]

What would make you feel like you have to do something?

There are a lot of variables. Time, location, the mood. Can't really give you a specific answer because it's more of a whimsical thing.

[and she has the worst practice partner. or best, depending on how one looks at it.]

[ then it's a good thing that she's not one to back down from a challenge, because that's exactly what this is turning into. ]

That means it's something that might not actually happen, right?

You got it, but chances are it probably will.

Do you think it'll happen before we get to Xian Du, or after?

[thinks for a moment.]

It could happen at either way, but probably before.

[they still have a ways to go after all.]

You're a tough nut to crack, you know.

[ also, even if this is distracting her from how cold it is, she's starting to sniffle a little. ]

Can I use one of my questions to ask for a hint?

[ one that doesn't involve vague answers. ]

[cue the drippy nose attachment.]

I told you I wasn't going to make it easy for you. [grins.] But yeah, sure. I'm feeling a bit generous.

All right, give me a hint, then. I'll even let you decide what kind it is.

[ because she's still feeling pretty confident. ]

A hint...a hint...

[he thinks for a moment, glancing up as they pass through some icy cliffs, half out of usual precaution to make sure nothing will jump out at them as well as just out of habit.]

It'll definitely warm you up.

[well. she didn't say that it had to be a good hint.]

[ hm... ]

Are you going to start a fire?

Nope.

Are you going to try hugging me again?

[ if what he did before could even be called a hug. ]

A repeat performance? Come on, you should know me better than that.

I can't think of anything else!

[ but she also doesn't want to give up, especially since it's supposed to be something warm. life is hard. ]

Maybe you should give me another hint.

And what happened to you working hard to uncover the truth? You know it won't be so easy out in the field.

[he's being deliberately mean.]

Hey, I'm still the one putting the pieces together! I just need some help, since you're making things really hard for me.

[ and she's falling for it. ]

Come on, you've only asked, what, eight questions? And we're not even halfway to Xian Du, yet.

All right, fine. I'll figure it out for myself!

[ and she fishes her notepad out. if this is supposed to be practice, then maybe treating it like a real job will help.

so, she takes note of all of her questions, and the answers he's given her, and then looks to him. ]

... I think I've got my next question. Ready?

Ooh, the notebook. Now you're really getting serious. [grins.] Do I count that as your ninth one?

[in other words, yes he's ready.]

Try not to be too surprised if all of this ends up in the paper.

[ she grins right back. ]

Anyway, am I going to see it coming when whatever you're going to do finally happens? Like, is it something that'll be obvious?

It could be, but I'd try to make it not obvious of course.