(Untitled)

[maxwellsdemon02]

As the door to the bar opens, Duo and River are just pulling away from each other. There's no mistletoe (Duo didn't really decorate for Christmas), but to the observant, it's probably obvious what they were just doing

Comments

[visible_sariel]

You know the young woman in the red uniform? The one at that table over there?

She's just raised a hand in greeting. Aha, spotted!

[maxwellsdemon02]

Oh hey! Duo remembers her.

He waves in return. The more the merrier, when it comes to hot chocolate.

[river_meimei]

River doesn't wave, but she grins back. It counts!

Hi, Sariel!

[visible_sariel]

Between the theoretical explosions and the introductions--well. Hopefully she left a decent first impression?

She's juuust a teeny bit beyond respectable inside voice distance, so that same hand lowers, then lifts again and gestures. Not every table in the bar has two empty seats just at the moment, but hers does. Questioning head-tilt, aimed as much at River as at Duo.

Translation: There's room over here, if you like?

And darn right, Duo.

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo makes a overly chivalrous 'after you' gesture to River, and heads for the bar to acquire seasonable beverages.

And the accoutrements, of course.

[river_meimei]

River is happy to lead the way!

And happy to plop down into a seat while Duo's off being chivalrous about beverages, too.

[visible_sariel]

Ooh, a River!

"Just a minute?" says the aforementioned Sariel as River sits down. Chivalry is one thing, but there's no way she's even giving Duo the impression that he's getting seasonable beverages for three. Launch pilot at walking speed, destination: Bar.

She ends up an arm's length down the bar from Duo, for what it's worth.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Yo," Duo says, looking up with a little surprise. "If you want something other than hot chocolate, better tell me now."

[river_meimei]

River is willing to occupy herself with the table while they're gone!

The wood's grain is apparently very interesting to examine.

[visible_sariel]

"Oh no," Sariel says quickly. Her attention had been fairly split between Duo and Bar, but now Duo gets it all. "But you shouldn't have to do that; you barely know me."

[maxwellsdemon02]

His eyebrows go up, and he says with no small amount of amusement, "Hey, what's a better way to make friends than buying drinks? And if you're worried about my tab, don't."

Hazard pay pads your bank account like you wouldn't believe.

[visible_sariel]

On the one hand, it's the principle of the thing. On the other...

Sariel looks, for an instant or two, like she's about to argue further. That amusement of Duo's might not be helping. "It doesn't seem fair to you that--" She stops there, probably wisely. Accept with good grace what is given with good grace. Not to mention Duo sort of has a valid point.

"... Thank you," she says after a second. She means it.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Thank me when I'm doin' more than buying someone a drink that puts me back more than pocket change," Duo says.

Seriously, no big on his part.

"You can help me carry it all back to the table," he continues, when the bar pops up the three drinks, and a bowl of cut fruit.