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[neveraskedtwice]

It's a longer walk to the smaller waterfall, which, so close to so many homes, generally seems crowded to Emma. She can deal with the people, though, and she doesn't mind the exercise. It's preferable to the other one anyway, so close to Jean's house; she'll be damned if she's returning to the scene of that particular crime anytime soon. Or ever

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[missingthekeep]

Sean doesn't make a habit out of frequenting any of the local hot spots when he's not on duty (at least, none of the ones without bartenders), but hearing a yelp like that this early in the day proves to be curious enough for him to pick his way over, trying to decide whether he should be disappointed or not when he notices who it came from. "Doubt it's too fond o' ye either, lass," he says dryly, crossing his arms as he looks down at her. "The hell happened?"

[missingthekeep]

"Yeah, well, maybe I'm tryin' ta work on me manners some while I'm here," Sean deadpans, as if she'd need to know him for more than five minutes to know what a load of bull that is. It's the pretense that counts. "Or I jus' figger there's got ta be more t'ye than all this."

[neveraskedtwice]

"What, this isn't enough?" Emma asks, hands flat on the rock as she leans forward, lashes fluttering, just short of rolling her eyes instead. That first comment doesn't even deserve a response, it's so ridiculous. Typical. "There's much more, yes, but it's not for you and if you think I might secretly be sweet, you're sorely mistaken, as usual."

[missingthekeep]

"Nae fer me?" Sean scoffs, taking a step forward against his better judgment. Or what little of it he's ever had, anyway. "An' jus' what is that s'posed ta mean?" The second part of that remark, of course, is just plain ridiculous. Doesn't even deserve a response.

[neveraskedtwice]

"You'd have to get to know me better," Emma says, as if amending her own words aloud. She's usually so careful about what she says, but even a younger Sean is still Sean Cassidy, and while she's not one to form attachments, she doesn't have much else left of before. "That's what it means. I don't see that happening, do you?"

[missingthekeep]

Sean feels like he's missing something at her response, but that's not an unfamiliar sensation these days, particularly around Emma, and he brushes it off easily enough. "Guess nae," he says flatly, carefully not pointing out that he's still standing there talking to her now, isn't he?

[neveraskedtwice]

It's a wonder how much entertainment Emma can draw from his reactions when they're all variations on a theme, but then, annoying him happens to be a theme she enjoys deeply. Besides, it's always nice when he acknowledges she's right. "No," she agrees, then holds out her hand expectantly. "Now if you wouldn't mind, I'd like my towel back."

[missingthekeep]

"What, this thing?" Sean asks as he loosely holds up the towel in question, far more relieved than he should be to be on equal footing again, however insignificant the matter. "Thought that was a gift."

[neveraskedtwice]

Emma sighs and, after a quick glance at the offending wound on her leg, however small, gets to her feet. "Better cherish it, then," she deadpans, determined not to be annoyed. Not to be more annoyed, anyway. "I don't suppose it makes any difference - I've worn less than this as a uniform."

[missingthekeep]

Sean makes a face and sighs, unceremoniously tossing the towel back over to her. "Why does that nae surprise me in the slightest?" he asks, shaking his head. At least with the climate here, she's actually got something of an excuse for traipsing around like that, but he really can't imagine her in anything fitting the description of a uniform.

[neveraskedtwice]

Catching it easily, Emma just winds up using it on her hair, looking around for her shoes. In this heat, she sees no reason to go wrapping herself up when she looks this good anyway. "An overactive imagination?" she suggests, amused. "Or my reputation preceding me, perhaps. It tends to do that."

[missingthekeep]

"Again wi' the complete lack o' surprise," Sean scoffs, crossing his arms again and scowling. Admittedly, he's already been a little guilty himself of furthering that particular problem, but he's not about to feel bad for it when she really brings it on herself.

[neveraskedtwice]

"You wouldn't be," Emma says airily, letting the towel fall around her shoulders. "No class at all in helping it along, especially when you barely know it. I'd say I'm surprised at you, but I'm not." God knows he probably complained - will complain? She hates figuring out the way this time business works - about her to Moira, too. It's not as if she really minds what they think of her anyway.

[missingthekeep]

"Oh, please," Sean shoots back, and the urge to roll his eyes is damn near impossible to suppress. He's already committed himself to not feeling bad about this, after all. "No one's e'er accused me o' bein' the classiest fella 'round, but it's nae as if ye havenae given me somethin' ta go off of."

[neveraskedtwice]

"Oh, because you're such a treat yourself," Emma snaps. There's absolutely no restraint on her end when it comes to eye-rolling, at least, though she keeps herself from telling him to just grow up. "No one's making you talk to me, Sean. You choose to stick around."

[missingthekeep]

"An' as we've already determined, I havenae the foggiest why I e'en bother ta try," Sean says, throwing up his hands in frustration and making a disgusted sound through gritted teeth. Finally, reluctantly, he bites the bullet and turns to leave without so much as a goodbye. He does, however, call back to her once over his shoulder on his way back to the path. "Get that foot looked at."