(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

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[wolflord_andain]

Galadan, seated fairly unobtrusively at a nearby table, arches one eyebrow very far upward.

"And you, of course, are the very picture of industry."

His lips do not twitch in the slightest.

"River. And -- Duo, was it not?"

Hi.

[river_meimei]

River, not remotely daunted, makes a face at him.

It's amiable; it's also very expressive.

"Merry Christmas," she informs him. (Neither one of them celebrates the holiday, but Galadan needs to be pointedly reminded of fun sometimes.)

[maxwellsdemon02]

...well. It's been a while.

The last time he actually spoke with Galadan was years ago, right after he decided to 'switch sides' and said he was going to protect Mary.

"Galadan," Duo says, a little cautious. He didn't know River knew him.

[wolflord_andain]

"Ah, Christmas, is it?"

His lips fail to twitch. Again.

"I'm sure I had no idea. Dare I hope your celebrations, such as they are, went well?"

[anthy_rosebride]

Anthy looks at Duo and River with interest.

"Do you remember the one about sea urchins?" she says, politely.

[river_meimei]

"They don't like chocolate," River supplies, earnestly.

Whether she speaks from experience here is for the reader (or listener) to guess.

Her face is brightening even as she says it; there's a smile lightening her whole face a moment later. "Anthy," she says.

It means hello, and welcome back, and a couple other things besides.

[anthy_rosebride]

"Hello, River," Anthy says happily.

She looks at Duo, and says, with a note of approval, "You look clean."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"I-"

He pauses, laughs, and shakes his head.

"Hi, Anthy. You too."

He didn't realize he kind of missed her until now.

[2020sight]

Epimetheus, lounging at a table with a hot toddy, spots River and lifts a hand in a cheerful wave.

And then notices that she's holding hands with a boy.

His grin widens, but he manfully resists the urge to go awww.

[river_meimei]

River, halfway through grinning back, sticks her tongue out at him instead.

It's a friendly greeting anyway!

[2020sight]

He sticks his tongue out right back.

[maxwellsdemon02]

It's about now that Duo figures out River is sticking out her tongue at a specific person.

"Friend of yours?"

[04_after]

"...," Quatre says, uncharacteristically, from his place at a table near the door. Then, picking up his medium-thick book on the basics of cooking science, he stands.

"River," he says, in tones of very mild concern, "you know I respect your judgement, but I can't help but be troubled by the company you keep."

His concern is so genuine! So genuine.

He's not looking at Duo, because if he does he'll crack up.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Shut your face," Duo says, without any real ire.

Then, to River, "When did you meet this reprobate?"

[river_meimei]

"He's a good dancer," River says helpfully. To Duo.

To Quatre, she adds, in sympathetic agreement, "Sometimes he's a dorkface."

(She fails to let go of Duo's hand, it must be noted.)

[04_after]

At Duo's reply, Quatre started laughing, silently. He's grinning, but he's shaking slightly from the laughter, and keeping it quiet.

So he can't speak immediately, when River addresses him, he just nods to her in acknowledgement. Duo is a dorkface. Glancing to Duo, he says, voice recovered, "Happy Christmas, Duo."

He glances over to River to include her in the next question, "Would you two like to sit?"

[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.