6th ♥ [Audio][Backdated to the 25th]

[lightwithin]

[Kairi stands for a long time on the bailey bridge, looking out at a specific point where a knot of pumpkins stand gathered on their posts. Then, her resolve strengthened, she flips open her journal and brushes the page with a fingertip before beginning to speak.]

Xanth?

Could I talk to you?

It's important.

Comments

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

[Xanth stares out at the water and chews on his lip. She's right; they don't have to go far.

It's now that he recalls the one time the Elegante docked. He and Kairi took a boat out on the ocean, and then were nearly eaten by a fish. Good times. The thought does bring a crooked smile to his face, which he tries to force away immediately. (He's not entirely successful.)

He nods.]

Y-Yeah, we-- w-we could-- just go out a-a little.

[He nods towards the boathouse.]

C--C'mon.

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[And as she turns to follow him, she sees the expression.]

Hey...

[There's a question in the word that she doesn't know how to ask; is something funny? What's he thinking about?]

What is it?

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

[Oh, no. She's seen him. Xanth laughs, a little surprised, and then he tries twofold to curb his amusement. Now is not the time for laughing.]

U-Um. I, uh, it's, i-it's just--

O-Once, I-I was, uh, y-you and I, we... w-we took a little-- boat, o-out on a-- a beach, a-and then... w-well, there was this-- fish. It... it capsized o-our boat, a-and, um, sort of.

W-Well it, it didn't... try to eat us? B-But it-- it grabbed us, i-in its mouth. [He makes little grabby motions.] A-And then-- it-- spat us back out o-on the, the sand.

[Then, he twiddles his fingers, his smile finally abating.]

I-It's, um, it's not-- really-- th-that funny. S-Sorry.

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[It's the gestures that get to her, the snapping motions and whatever he's doing with his fingers. The story itself is just bizarre and she tries not to hard to think about it - were they on a date? - but the gestures she can't ignore.

They make her smile.

It's an awkward expression, like her jaw is stuck on rusted hinges and she's long since forgotten how. But it's there, however briefly.]

Come on.

I don't think a giant fish will try to eat us here.

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

Y--Yeah, [he agrees.] P-Probably... prob'ly n-not.

[He's thankful for the smile, however short-lived it was. It brings a smile of his own back to Xanth's face, and his lingers.

He makes a gesture to Kairi to follow him, and starts off towards the boathouse.]