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ph_memes2024-01-10 06:19 pm
TDM #4 - Aurora Borealis Blitz [FIRST EDITION]
[Find our plain text version here!]
Pumpkin Hollow Gazette
1/10/24 | TDM #4 - AURORA BOREALIS BLITZ"
Content Warnings: "Further Details" section has independent CW labels.
Forecast: Heavy snow
BREAKING! REBUILDING HELP REQUESTED
By Cecil Gershwin Palmer
A photo taken of the damage.
ACROSS PUMPKIN HOLLOW - City government is requesting aid with repairs to public buildings and local fixtures after the recent earthquakes on Tuesday, January 8th. While there was minimal damage to Town Hall itself, several important buildings sustained damage, including the Magpie National Bank, the South Train Station and the Clock Tower, which is now stuck with hands at 8pm.
Regarding the cause of the earthquake, local biologist Dr. Elias Coldwood was heard to say “There's never been seismic activity here.” And he’s a scientist, so he would know! But clearly this is no longer the case. Perhaps Pumpkin Hollow has a mysterious tiny civilization underground worshiping a destroyer god, planning to attack through the bowling alley, the moment we create a bowling alley. Perhaps not. More on this story as it unfolds, faithful readers.
In the meantime, volunteers to help with the damage to city buildings are invited to meet with Mayor Hellen Poe for assignments.
ANNUAL AURORA IN NORTHERN SKY
By Yorick Aberdeen
An artist's rendition of last year's view.
ABOVE MARROW ISLE - Midwinter is upon us! That means it’s the time of year when our skies light up with the technicolor gleam of the arctic north! Those looking northward between the hours of 10pm and 2am should be able to see beautiful curtains of bright green, blue, purple, and pink lighting up the sky above the island. If you plan to go outside to view the lights rather than looking from your window, please make sure you travel in a group and carry a lantern. May it be ever lit!
HOROSCOPES
By Cecil Gershwin Palmer
What do the stars say about you today?
Capricorn: Do you feel as if you’ve lost something? If not, it’s wise to double-check. Perhaps it’s not something like a button or a key, but your sense of wonder or your self-confidence. Remember, things tend to be in the last place you look.
Aquarius: Something about the year ending made you feel lighter, like taking off a heavy wool coat. Ride this burst of energy as far as it will take you, because the shiny of a fresh beginning tends to wear off quickly.
Pisces: Don’t worry, I don’t believe what everyone says behind your back. You’re not too sensitive or too naive. They’re just jealous. Really, most of the time when they’re whispering, it’s not even about you.
Aries: You’re the sort of warm individual that babies and animals are drawn to. Unfortunately, this may include hungry wolves and swarms of insects. But don’t let that bring you down! We need that sort of personality around here.
Taurus: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best, until you work to stop others from also being the best. That’s called cheating and may lead to you being disqualified from competitions. If you get caught, that is.
Gemini: You know those riddles about the two guards, one who always tells the truth and one who always lies? Well, everyone hates those riddles with a passion. You’ll see for yourself, soon.
Cancer: Wouldn’t you like to know?
Leo: Your incandescent personality often makes you the center of attention. However, that’s not the only thing about you that glows. Moths may flock to you in the dark this week, and so might children afraid to sleep with the lights out.
Virgo: Be careful with your words–they aren’t just the precursors to your deeds, but the manifestation of your will. This is not a week for idioms and metaphors, not for you. Even something like bemoaning a lack of spoons may make eating cereal harder.
Libra: You are, inevitably, the first one heard to say a situation isn’t fair. And it’s not, nor will it ever be. Instead of getting upset, have you ever considered getting revenge? That’s usually more satisfying in the long run.
Scorpio: Ugh, Scorpios. The position of Venus means your usually volatile emotions will be in the doldrums instead. Enjoy this while it lasts I guess. Who knows if you’ll ever experience such peace again, given, well. You’re kind of an emotional mess and no one likes you.
Sagittarius: There will never be another day like today. You must strive to make the day everything you want it to be. No mistakes, now! Consider your choices very carefully. Consider your choice to consider, very carefully.
SUNFIRE'S HEARTH
By Yorick Aberdeen
A photo of Mayor Poe's cats, Toffee and Butter, enjoying the view.
ASSORTED LOCATIONS - As the coldest part of the year settles over our fair isle, it is time for Sunfire’s Hearth--- an informal celebration of bonfires and hearth flames, for those unfamiliar! For the months of January and February, a raised platform for bonfires will be lit on weekends, and restaurants and taverns across town will keep their fireplaces lit. Unlike many of our other festivities, there is no structured celebration--- simply make some time during this time to bask in the warmth of a fire! You can even celebrate at home.
An additional benefit of this time of year is that Merrymeet is well on its way. So take this time and get snuggly in front of a fire with your special person to get in the mood for romance! (Or they could be platonic snuggles. Whatever suits you best.)
LOCAL ALCHEMIST REPORTS MISSING POTION
By Yorick Aberdeen
Some of Mx. Sallek's usual stock. Could stand to have better labels./p>
LOCATION UNCERTAIN - Early Monday morning, local alchemist Aeryn Sallek reported that a large container of magical potion has been swapped with another, and it would seem that the mistaken jug has been sent out for delivery. According to Mx. Sallek, they sent a number of jugs out for delivery in a case with our local delivery extraordinaire, Sam Porter Bridges. The jugs were meant to contain a harmless, potable freeze-resistance potion for our town’s various water sources, in the interest of keeping water reserves drinkable in sub-freezing winter weather. However, when they returned to the shop, one of these potions remained on their counter while a love potion they’d been working on went missing.
“‘Love potion’ is kind of a misnomer, honestly,” Mx. Sallek is quoted to have said on the matter. “But ‘emotional acuity’ potion doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Basically what it actually does is enhance existing romantic desire and embolden the user to be emotionally open. But Yorick should already know all this, since he’s the one who ordered it.” [Editing note: don’t forget to cut the last part of that comment before publishing. Cecil, you don’t need to include personal statements directed at reporters from these interviews!]
It’s unclear which area of town this particular potion ended up being injected into the water source, but according to Mx. Sallek, the potion was not particularly intense to begin with. It should be significantly diluted as to be harmless. Still, if you notice any strange symptoms such as butterflies in your stomach, a desire to burst into song, or inexplicable yearning, please file a report with the Safety Board at your earliest convenience.
FOOD SHORTAGES PUT STRAIN ON ISLAND ECONOMY
By Yorick Aberdeen
MARKET DISTRICT - While there are many things to celebrate this time of year, Marrow Isle is not without its adversity. Over these past months, many new members of our community have arrived by ferry after our numbers remained small and stagnant for many years. And the presence of our newfound neighbors has been a boon to all of us. Many artisans have opened useful businesses, medical professionals have expanded our access to healthcare, and a new fishing vessel has taken to the seas. However, despite a few additions, our farming community remains quite modest and planting was not planned with such incredible new growth in mind.
The unfortunate result of this is that food reserves on the island this year are uncharacteristically low. As such, Town Council has made the difficult decision to allow for the temporary inflation of food prices and the rationing of food staples.
“We understand the hardship this will place on the residents of Pumpkin Hollow,” said Mayor Poe in a statement after this decision was made. “But please know that we are all in this together. We hope to be able to offer a better incentive package for those interested in farming in the coming springtime.”
Page 1
Aurora
The dead of winter sheds all colors of the trees and flowers across Marrow Isle, but tonight, there are no stark whites and grays and browns.
Tonight, in the sky sprawling with stars above the dreary town, there are lights.
Sprawling trails of violet and green twist and wave through the sky, brightening the earth below and the sea beyond Jack's Marina in magical colors. The return of the borealis is something many Pumpkin Hollowites look forward to, and their reactions are very clear: people scurry down to the shores to watch with wide eyes, many retrieve telescopes, and some even borrow the decks of ships, abandoned for the night at the docks, to watch the sights.
It doesn't take long for this to change, however; the sea nor land are safe from the curse, and it's made quickly apparent that the sky is no exception.
At first, the sight seems like none more than an illusion, perhaps someone blinking and missing a strange shift of the lights. A glimmering outline forms around a cluster of stars, only slightly harder than any of the lines that define the aurora's rays. Several of these shapes form, each array of stars different from the last, some larger, some smaller.
And then, the stars begin to fall.
Seeming to peel off the painted sky, the ebbing colors surrounding the starlight drop, crashing to the world below. Some fall to the streets and beaches, while others fall into the forest, leaving view, or drop into the sea, leaving splashes and waves in their wake that ensure any watching knows full and well that this is not a trick of the light. At first, these shapes are unmoving, glowing masses of aurora-light with stars shining brightly within them. Most townsfolk are uneasy, but this seems to pale in severity to the other disasters, even if they lack any idea of what it could mean for them.
That is, of course, until the masses begin to move.
Each one is as varied as the constellation it stole from the sky: stars form suggestions of skeletal structures, and their "flesh", only consisting of swimming lights and liquid sky that steals any lights around them. Two identical glowing shapes rise to a face finally taking form, and slowly, moving more like gel than animal as it rises to freshly-formed legs, it settles on the closest living thing it can find.
There is no calculation in it, nor what seems to be a glimmer of thought.
It simply lunges with intent to kill.
Cecil’s disconcerting horoscopes have the following effects for the next few days:
Horoscopes
[CW: Altered emotional states ]
(Don’t know your character’s sign? Feel free to just decide on one!)
Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, the “love” potion ended up in the water supply of the Oak & Iron. As promised by Aeryn, it is thoroughly diluted, as its recipients believed it to be a normal freeze-resistance potion to be mixed with their water. The effects are not particularly intense. However, anyone who drinks any of the tavern’s housemade ale or cider, drinks the coffee, or eats any food that might require water to cook will experience symptoms of “emotional acuity”. This involves feeling more emotionally open, more receptive to positive feelings about others, a strong desire for physical or verbal affection, and the intensification of romantic or sexual attraction that you might already be experiencing. It will last about half a day. Just in time to help potentially land you a date for Merrymeet, a flower and fertility festival in early spring!Love Potion
[CW: Altered Emotional States ]
Food rationing and inflation will have the following impact: Grocery budgets for apped-in characters will be reduced in their efficacy.
Basic groceries will be only the most minimal of staples. You will likely go hungry if you do not find a way to supplement this.
Bountiful groceries will be reduced to the amount of food normally contained in basic.
Lavish groceries will not be available at all.
Your grocery choices from Activity Check are not able to be modified for this month unless otherwise stated. Bonuses and Discounts associated with the Farmer and Fisherman jobs are also reduced.
Level 1 bonuses will be reduced to standard, which is to say how they would function for a non-Farmer/Fisherman character during a normal, pre-famine month. (ex. Whereas normally a Level 1 Farmer would get free Basic groceries, they will now have to pay the 50 Brass, but do not have the efficacy of Basic groceries reduced as described above.)
Level 2 bonuses will be reduced to that of a Level 1 Farmer/Fisherman. (ex. Whereas a Level 2 Fisherman would normally be able to have Bountiful groceries discounted to 50 Brass, they now must pay full price for Bountiful groceries. However, they can still get Basic groceries for free and don’t suffer from the famine induced efficacy reduction for either budget.) Oak & Iron Residents will only be able to receive bland, repetitive meals with their food vouchers consisting of simple broth, plain bread, bland potato dishes, and the like. It is enough to be fed and comfortable but it is incredibly unsatisfying. (This includes all new characters that are not apped-in.) Drinks, however, are still plentiful. Characters who do not eat will find that their respective sources of fuel will be reduced to just barely enough to keep them functional, provided that they ration carefully. (Ex. Transformers may want to be less active. Vampires will find that victims cannot handle excessive blood loss without fainting and generally prefer to stay home.) Characters who were present to fight the Mother Crab back in late summer and chose to can some of their crab can use it now! Hunting, foraging, and fishing can help reduce the impact of these reductions, and people can share their food. You can absolutely die of starvation. After Merrymeet in February, food will return to normal.Famine
[CW: Starvation and food scarcity ]
POST DEATH for Magne
César is gone for over 24 hours. Which is unusual for him. He's never missed a chance to say hello to Magne since the first time they've talked. And he definitely hadn't been to his room last night, either.
When he does finally arrive, it's after the usual dinnertime. He went out to look at farms after meeting First Aid, needing to be alone, where he met Cerrit. One would expect a much deeper five o'clock shadow for him having been out all night and day, but it's the same as it always is at this time.
But his expression isn't the same. Nor is he. César was always quiet, but he seems folded up into himself this time. Also, holding a broom? (Look. It's a free broom. He needs a broom.)
... is he trying to sneak up to his room. Because it looks like he's trying to do that without saying hello to anyone. At least to put the broom away.
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She's collecting mugs from the tables to keep one of the resident twerps (looking at you, Jeff) from sneaking the dregs when César finally puts in an appearance, and at first her greeting, a called "welcome home, handsome~" is warm as always, but it fades off as she takes him in and realizes that he looks...folded in. Wary. Unwell.
Finishing the task at hand, she places the mugs upside-down in their bin and follows a few steps behind. For a moment she's quiet, just taking in his demeanor, before she clears her throat for his attention rather than risking touching just yet.
"Found a job as a janitor?" she jokes, tone just shy of jovial. She doubts it's that at all, but it's an ice-breaker.
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"Can they spare you?" César's voice is barely above a whisper, and now that he's closer, it looks like he's been crying recently.
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"They can now," she assures him quietly, then wraps an arm around his shoulders to escort him up and out of the public eye.
"You look terrible hun, did something get you out there?" She wouldn't be surprised if he'd gotten jumped by one of the star monsters. After all he was, as he had put it, pretty squishy.
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César waits again as she talks to another server. It's not patient nor inpatient, just waiting. He smiles to her in relief when she comes back and escorts him out of the main room with a strong arm. César doesn't need to fear for his life in the inn; he should've come back sooner rather than spending his time looking at farms until late. Come back before he worked hard enough to nearly exhaust himself.
But then he wouldn't have met Cerrit. Who helped greatly. But he's still all sorts of messed up. Even with Cerrit aware, he's still on the case.
And now he's going to have to explain everything... again. He should just write it down at this point so he can hand people a sheet of paper. César sucks in a breath and then just says it all to get it over with.
"Cerrit Agrupnin, one of the enforcers, got the story out of me. Chris Freeman, who uses they/them pronouns, and First Aid, know too. But they only know because... some of what I've had to do mirrors trauma Vika went through. Which Vika threatened out of me. A-And then she hit me with a frost ray. Which killed me instantly, so I didn't suffer. Then snapped off my head and delivered it to First Aid while I found out... Chris Freeman could see ghosts. Since I followed Vika, not knowing what else to do."
The story's mostly coherent but completely out of order. His mind is a jumble.
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She's angry. She might have been seething with it, if she weren't trying to be comforting, but she's already plotting to lay this Vika out for thinking that what she did was even remotely appropriate. She knows she doesn't have the full story, but at the end of the day, one of them is a threat while the other isn't. One of them was threatened into talking and was killed for what he said. One of them treated the other like a hunting trophy. She's beaten people to bloody pulp for less.
"I've met Freeman," she says quietly, keeping her tone very carefully neutral. "I like them well enough. First Aid I know at a glance but that's all. I don't talk to cops." As she speaks, she opens his door and shoos him inside.
A moment of quiet so that he can make himself comfortable.
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He's not up to giving the full story now, although he should tell her eventually. How long before he has to tell everyone about the Nanite Event? Alpha? The control collars?
The broom is carefully set against the wall and César takes off his boots and gloves, pulls out a file from his coat, and then removes his coat in a mechanical matter. The coat, gloves, and boots all go into their places before he walks back to the dresser. He puts his hand on the file.
"Both of them were nice, considering. I promised them I wouldn't handle this on my own. I'm to give this to a different doctor since First Aid's the only one who can treat Vika. I... had to tell them the reason she decided to kill me so they could understand."
He runs his hand across the folder, opening it for a moment to look at the words. "... I didn't tell them that I picked the story that would make her kill me the fastest. Or maybe I did? I don't remember. Disturbing I don't. She was already suffering. I know I would die regardless. So."
César furrows his brow, closing the file. "I haven't eaten since the clinic. Or drink water. Dehydration and hunger."
A pause, then he looks up to her, and then speaks in decent Japanese, less likely to be overheard. "[Was it like this. When you died? Or is it just how I could do nothing? How someone I didn't want to hurt wanted me dead? Are you yakuza? Is asking any of this impolite? I'm not thinking straight. Observing proper social mannerisms is hard.]"
He cannot stop rambling, and his usual filter is absolutely gone.
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Before he lapses into passable Japanese, she murmurs, "you were asking for it?"
Her expression tightens and she moves to take a seat at the desk, her elbows propped on the arms of the chair and one hand running over the back of her right forearm. The shudder is subtle, but she doesn't pretend that there wasn't a reaction.
"[It was a Yakuza boy that did it to me. He tried to make my group become completely subservient to him and his family. We objected. I tried to make him leave. I rushed him and tried to knock him out before he could hurt anyone when he moved to retaliate, but...
It felt like my body was on fire, then, there was nothing. I felt my flesh burst.]"
Her hand grips that spot on her arm, tight enough to leech the color out of her fingertips and leave subtle pink prints.
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César was an older sibling, too.
He takes a breath, closes his file softly, and leaves it on the edge of his desk. A few steps is all it takes for him to be properly by her side. He strokes his fingers over her knuckles, both noticing how much bigger her hands are compared to his and not giving a damn. A gentle touch, careful to not be untoward in any way.
"[Suimasen.]" César even knows the spoken version of sumimasen. "[I shouldn't have asked like that. I'm here now.]"
César's come back to himself.
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"[No, it's okay. There's no real use running away from what happened, considering where we are. I don't have any reason to be cagey about it.]" She is, however, bitter as hell, the more she's thought it over since the first time she'd mentioned it to begin with.
Looking back up at him, Magne carefully reaches back up to take the hand that had touched hers, broad fingers around the back of his hand with her thumb against his palm.
"[But I didn't come up here for a personal pity party. If you were killed point blank, someone needs to answer for it. As for finding a doctor...well. I've heard there's been an influx of those lately. If you'd like, when I'm officially off for the evening, I can walk with you to find them.]" Something to help him feel less like he needs to stare over his shoulder to keep from being shot again.
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César looks down at their hands in a sort of awe, the muscles of his arms relaxing to let Magne carry the weight. She's so gentle. Magne could break his hand in an instant, but he feels perfectly safe.
He manages a reassured smile. "[... I know you didn't, but you got me out of my head. I'd feel safer with you at my side. I was going to ask Watson, since we've met already.]" Then, with a sigh. "[I think it'd make it worse. I'm worried her sanity is at risk. She's only a threat to me. I... created an AI that became sentient, and she became a threat to all of life on Earth. The only way I could stop her was to... delete her. Vika didn't take well to that.]"
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Too bad that it's accompanied by a confession of what, in certain aspects, could be considered murder of one's own creation.
Magne turns over what she's been told, her thumb tracing back and forth along the lines of César's palm.
"[There was nothing else to be done?]" She couldn't imagine there was, if someone as kind as César couldn't find some alternative. "[If other people's lives were in danger, then it would be considered a high crime to just let the AI continue on as she liked, someone else would likely have pulled the plug, then that hypothetical person could have all of Vika's ire. That, or the world would have died in your time and rendered the point moot. From her point of view I can understand not trusting you, but there's nothing I'm hearing that justifies murdering you for taking that kind of action. She sounds homicidal. And trust me when I say I know homicidal.]"
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"[If there was an alternative, I would've found it.]" César states firmly. "[She had almost succeeded destroying the world multiple times. Her original programming should have helped her be kind, but she took the path of destroying all life instead. I had an innocent sounding reboot command already in her that wiped her out in an instant, without pain. It was all I could do.]"
César swallows. "[She is. Against me alone. Vika... felt it justified. I don't.]"
He knew Magne had a tough life, but... no, actually he can see her killing when she deemed it necessary.
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César's hand is warm, soft in the way that someone that enjoys lab work is soft.
"[Who is she to be judge, jury, and executioner over a world that she has no stake in?]" Magne murmurs, and this close her anger is clearly written on every inch of her face. "[I understand that people can do terrible things at the height of a traumatic response. I've done terrible things. What she did after, though...what was the purpose? Desecration of a corpse...]" Her hand tightens. It's still gentle around his, but any tighter and it would start getting uncomfortable.
She shakes herself. She's already formulating a plan to get the rest of the story herself before she flattens Vika underfoot. For now, though, she's given herself a job that she intends to see through. Her free hand comes to close over the top of the one she holds, clasping it solemnly.
"[I will protect you, César. If you ever feel unsafe, you know you can find me here.]"
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He likes to tell himself he isn't one for tears often, but that promise makes his vision blur. Magne sitting here, holding his hand between hers. César feels safe. It takes him a moment to work at the Japanese to respond.
"[Thank you, Magne. I feel safe when I'm with you. I... wish I knew what Vika was thinking. But I also am glad I don't. How long before she does that to someone else she perceives to be a threat? Or kills me again? And desecrating my corpse... she just wanted proof I existed to show First Aid. Traumatizing him instead. She's not been properly socialized.]"
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"There's no reason to do something like that. Identification is such a flimsy excuse in the circumstances. And I've met First Aid, however briefly. He doesn't seem like the squeamish type but I can't imagine anyone would appreciate having a head lobbed at them. It seems like she was out to hurt both of you in that instance." She's known plenty of cruel types in her life. She surrounded herself with them, was one of them, but even they wouldn't go so far without absolute necessity.
Well. Dabi might, but Dabi was...something else. She admired that about him, if she's honest. Cunning, unabashed cruelty. Alas, here she is with her moral compass.
"If she decides to respond to me the same way, I will kill her." Point blank statement of fact. "As many times as it takes to get the point across."
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The switch back is welcome; César sighs tiredly. "... I can't argue against you doing that, considering the circumstances. She could've marched me over to show him."
He seems to deflate. "... If it wasn't for the kindness of Chris, First Aid, and Cerrit...." César trails off, shaking his head. "No. I knew the thought was irrational even before. I still would've come back to see you, get food, and turn in early."
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"Listen to me, okay?" A beat to wait for confirmation. "Whatever happened to her was not your responsibility. She's damaged, just like all of us are, and taking it out on a convenient target."
Her tone is firm, but quiet as she stares him down.
"I want you to do me a favor now. I want you to try and rest, and tomorrow, we'll find something decent to eat. My treat."
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"Okay." She gets that confirmation, and he listens obediently, looking at her in growing gratitude as she takes the weight of thinking through things off of his shoulders for now. "... That... sounds really nice."
He pushes off the desk to do just that. Oh. Oh, she's close now. César feels himself leaning forward, annnnnnnnd he kisses just above the tip of her nose.
César isn't thinking about that love potion in the water, as it feels too natural; he drops his voice to a whisper and smiles softly to her. "Thank you, bonita."
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Does he realize that it sounded very much like he called her a fish garnish? Probably not. Some things get a bit lost in translation. But it's still extremely funny to her after such a downer of a day.
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"No—" César fails to explain. "no, I meant—" Another peal of laughter. "It's Spanish."
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She draws back again to finally pick up as she'd intended to in the first place, pausing with a hand on his shoulder and her hip just barely against his. An eyebrow arches up, and he has to deal with a little smirk pointed his way as she puts it together when that has to have become a distinct problem.
"Give it another date or two, Casanova."
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He eventually regains control, his laughs trailing off as she draws back. For a moment, there's a jolt as she raises her eyebrow, and he can feel his cheeks start to redden. But she doesn't move away, smirks, and teases him. Which is certainly not helping his problem go away.
César smiles sheepishly, but he's also... pleased by the response that's not a no. "O-Of course. I'll get some sleep and see you in the morning."
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"I will. Hope work goes well!" César closes the door and puts a hand on his cheek, marveling that he got a kiss from her.
There's a brief... thing he has to do after he removes his outdoor clothes and before going to bed. But it doesn't take too long afterwards for him to settle down for the night. He even forgets to lock his door, because he's literally so tired (and distracted) to remember basic OPSEC.