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[mister_10_below]

[Bobby's outside, holding the journal facing towards him with one hand and tossing a snowball with the other.]

I promise this is not my fault! I had absolutely nothing to do with this.

[Not that anyone except for maybe two people would have any reason to suspect him. But he's too used to having to give a disclaimer every time snow comes when it

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[ghostly_stutter]

[Grins.]

I should have known this is the first place you would go.

[She hollers out over the lake to him, looking down warily at the ice, taking a deep breath before stepping onto the frozen lake and trying out a few shuffle steps in her shoes. Hey--not so bad.]

[mister_10_below]

[He turns when he hears Chloe calling out, and smiles brightly, skating over to her.]

Apparently I'm a little predictable! Though I did build a few snowmen first.

Enjoying the snow?

[ghostly_stutter]

[Chloe laughs--indeed she was enjoying the snow, for all she was freezing and parts of her were numb.]

Snowmen first? With button noses? Be careful--you never know with this place, you might actually bring one to life.

[She grins, plainly joking around.]

I am. Almost feels like home.

[mister_10_below]

[He laughs, delighted.]

Nah. The place doesn't need to, I could do that myself!

...If by life you mean make it move around. But it counts.

[Not even the thought that the Keep actually would do that can bring him down. Living snowmen? Bring it on! Today is a day of snow and awesomeness.]

I know what you mean. It's feeling like that for me, too.

[ghostly_stutter]

I bet you can.

[Chloe shuffles forward awkwardly on the ice, trying to do a makeshift ice skating impression.]

So, do you want to skate, then? All we need are lights and it'll be just like New York.

[mister_10_below]

Sadly, I can't do anything about the lights.

[He gives a brief headshake, then smiles.]

But! Skating, I can do! Do you want skates, or are you going to try the shoe attempt and see if you can get it to work?

[His tone is teasing.]

[ghostly_stutter]

And here I thought you could do anything. [She tosses a teasing glance his way, smirking slightly until she hears the tail end of his words. She mock-gasps, pretending to be deeply affronted.]

Just because we don't all have the 'cool' power--literally--and ability to make 'ice' skates does not mean I am an inept supernatural. We can't all be born with awesome abilities.

[She's grinning now.]

I don't know. I think my abilities could take yours. Feel free to prove me wrong, though.

[And she's grinning, moving to sit on the ice and point to a lifted shoe.]

[mister_10_below]

[There's a gut instinct to protest that that definitely wasn't what he'd meant, and he in no way thinks she's inept, but he catches the teasing glance, mock-gasp, and grin, and knows she isn't serious. So instead, he just laughs.]

Weell. I don't know. That might be a challenge. But!

Anything you can do, I can do better.

[It's possible there's the tiniest hint of a tune along with those words, as he leans down to fix ice blades onto the soles of her shoes and then offers hers a hand up.]

[ghostly_stutter]

[Chloe accepts the hand, more grateful than Bobby realizes as she attempts to stand on wobbly knees. She nearly pitches forward after he helps her up, only just catching her balance as she bends over in an 'L' shape.]

I-I'm actually n-not very good at i-i-ice skating...

[Chloe's staring down at the ice as she admits this.]

[mister_10_below]

[Fortunately, he hasn't moved away from her when she almost loses her balance, and he reaches out to catch her, holding her steady.]

If I'd known that, I wouldn't have let go.

[His tone is light, gentle teasing, and he takes her hands again.]

I can help you get your balance, if you want?

[ghostly_stutter]

[Gripping tightly to Bobby's arms for balance, Chloe waits a bit to gather her bearings before she attempts to stand up straight. She exhales a small, relieved sigh, and smiles.]

Maybe I should have mentioned I've only ice skated a small handful of times in the past. Very small. Who in their right mind would want to walk around in their sneakers, though?

[Now that she's standing up, Chloe's grip is fairly tight on Bobby's hands, feeling as though she might fall over backwards if she lets go. Her cheeks redden a bit at how little she actually remembers of ice skating.]

Did I mention I had been fairly young, too?

[mister_10_below]

[He chuckles.]

No, I think you left all of that out. But hey, at least you've been! You're one step up on a lot of people.

[And yeah, he can feel that tight grip. He smiles again.]

Don't worry. I won't let you fall.

[ghostly_stutter]

[Chloe slowly and ruefully shakes her head.]

There is that.

[Smiling up at him, Chloe forces her grip to loosen. She doesn't want to appear more needy and inept than she was, after all. She could do this.]

Okay...

[She skates forward slowly on slightly wobbly knees, muscles tensed and pinching from concentration.]

[mister_10_below]

[He shifts his grip when hers loosens, adjusting so it'll be easier to hold onto her while helping her skate.]

Relax, Chlo, you'll be fine. Don't concentrate so much, just find a balance that seems natural.

[ghostly_stutter]

[Inhaling another deep breath of air, Chloe attempts to do just that. She relaxes the muscles in her legs and back as she exhales, standing a little taller and moving around a bit more easily.]

[mister_10_below]

[He keeps holding her hands, watching her closely and smiling when she starts to relax.]

There we go. You'll pick it back up in no time!