(no subject)

[reported]

[ with her latest idea for an article revolving around the different ways that people from Rieze Maxia lived, it was only right that Leia would need to do some legwork before she could start writing. even if she had been born and raised there, she didn't know all of the ins and outs of every city, and besides— research was an important part of journalism.

of course, even the best reporters needed sidekicks help once in a while so, naturally, she had decided to drag Alvin along on her little adventure. he wasn't bad company these days, and she figured he would be especially useful when it came to their first stop: Xian Du.

... which brings her to where she is now, knocking on the door to his room in Kanbalar's inn. ]

Hey! Are you ready? We should probably head out soon, you know.

[ she might sound a little impatient, but there's no real bite behind her words; even if they're out here on business (sort of), she's not that uptight. ]

Comments

[reported]

Seriously? I totally thought I had it!

[ and she kind of put all of her eggs in that basket, so she's fresh out of ideas. ]

What else could it be?

[opportunitycosts]

That's what you were supposed to figure out. [grins. clearly, he won.]

So you wanna know?

[reported]

Heck yeah I do!

[ yeah, he definitely won, but she isn't too torn up over it. ]

Are you actually going to tell me?

[opportunitycosts]

I am...but now I'm debating if I should wait until we actually get to Xian Du like I originally planned.

[reported]

Come on, there's no way I'll be able to wait that long!

[ even if they are getting closer. ]

[opportunitycosts]

All right, all right.

Close your eyes.

[reported]

Well... all right.

[ that wasn't really what she was expecting to hear, but he went along with her game of twenty questions, so she'll go along with this.

and she slows to a stop and closes her eyes. ]

[opportunitycosts]

[there's a slight rustle from underneath his coat before she feels something settle right on top of her head.

it's a pair of gloves that are both fashionable and cute—just her style. SURPRISE. Merry Christmas]

[reported]

[ when she feels the weight on top of her head, she cracks open one eye, then the other, and reaches up to take the gloves into her hands. they definitely fit her taste, if the smile that spreads across her face is anything to go by. ]

Are these seriously for me?

[ because she doesn't know what she expected, exactly, but a sincere gift probably wasn't it. ]

[opportunitycosts]

Yep. Call it part of the tradition.

[reported]

Thanks! [ now she's smiling a little wider. he just scored major points with her. ] That's really sweet of you.

[ and then, as she's pulling the gloves on, an idea strikes her— ]

... you know, come to think of it, I might have something for you, too.

[opportunitycosts]

Oh?

[he was not expecting that.]

I'm not going to have play twenty questions to figure it out, am I? I prefer the more direct approach.

[he likes having OTHER people figure things out. not so much for himself.]

[reported]

Nope! All you have to do is close your eyes.

[ if her smile looks a little more mischievous now it's. probably just a trick of the light. maybe. ]

[opportunitycosts]

[should he be getting a bad feeling about this? but he gave her gloves! surely that should, you know, warrant something nice.

so okay, HE'S TRUSTING YOU LEIA. crossing his arms as he closes his eyes and waits somewhat patiently.]

All right, eyes are closed.

[and now he really is curious on what she could have up her sleeve.]

[reported]

[ once his eyes are closed, he should be able to hear the sound of her walking through the snow, and maybe the occasional sniffle (because the gloves are definitely helping her fingers thaw out, but it's still pretty cold).

then, after a very short silence...

she tosses a snowball at his face. and it's his fault, since he gave her something that would make it easier for her to play around in the snow. ]

[opportunitycosts]

[suddenly SNOWBALL!?]

What the—hey!!

[wiping his face as he half glares half looks at her dumbfounded.

WHY LEIA WHY just as planned.]

[reported]

[ that reaction was totally worth it, wow. she brushes some stray snow from her gloves and grins at him. ]

I totally got you, didn't I?

[opportunitycosts]

[dryly.]

Haha, very funn—ah, damn— [and suddenly he has a hand over his eye, wincing in pain as he hunches over.]

I think some of it got in my eye—[DOWN TO ONE KNEE LOOKING VERY MUCH IN PAIN or is he]

[reported]

... really? Are you okay?

[ she edges closer, moving so she can kneel beside him. ]

Do you want me to take a look at it?

[ and there's some very real concern leaking into her voice now. ]

[opportunitycosts]

No...it's fine...I think...I got it...

[and then with his free hand he's grabbed a fistful of snow and just dumps it on her head.]

[reported]

Hey—!

[ she sputters and scrambles to her feet, wiping at the snow in an attempt to get it out of her hair and away from her face. ]

I thought you were supposed to be acting nice!

[ except, in spite of what she's saying, there's a small smile tugging at her lips. ]

[opportunitycosts]

[already balling up another one.]

Yeah, that all ended when you threw a snowball at my face.

[and THROWING.]

[reported]

[ ... and it hits her! so she brushes it off and reaches down to gather up a handful of snow, pack it together, and toss it his way. ]

Come on, it was just a little joke!

[opportunitycosts]

[this time he's ready so he's able to dodge it—barely.]

And after I gave you a gift, too!

[and chucking another one! though it's all in good spirit.]

[reported]

I said thank you!

[ the snowball grazes her, so she's going to make a break for a nearby tree, that way she can try using it as cover while she makes another one of her own. ]

That counts for something, right?

[ and she throws it. ]