[Sometime during AU week]

[the_ex_in_xp]

[meanwhile at the dorms, a half-pirate and some girl who managed a +3 lockpicking skill in her bag of tricks are trying to break in to "their" room]

This lock is way more sophisticated than the others. You'd think they were worried about unsavory people trying to break in...

Comments

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[well, she's basking in that smile as long as she can because it's one of her favorites. Resting her head on one palm for a moment, too]

I'm pretty optimistic about that they will.

[the_ex_in_xp]

You should charge interest on it, just in case.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

And how do I do that with personal relationships?

[the_ex_in_xp]

...make them pay for your drinks?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

I'm not sure that's really applicable to any of those. Maybe in the future.

[the_ex_in_xp]

I dunno, if they usually start trouble in a bar, the least they could do is pick up your tab. But maybe just in general do little things for you, like...uh, hold on I can think of nice things people do...

[the_ex_in_excessive]

I guess I wouldn't say no to receiving nice compliments on a regular basis?

[the_ex_in_xp]

You might start, depending on how lame the compliments can be.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Maybe, but, I dunno, I really like being liked? Even for lame reasons.

[the_ex_in_xp]

The reasons might not be lame, but the delivery could suck. And you know how bad those can be working at a greeting card place.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Hmm. Is that a compliment? Knowing bad deliveries on compliments?

[the_ex_in_xp]

I--if you want it to be? It didn't really seem compliment-y when I said it.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

It didn't to me either, but you could have been using it as a sneaky example!

[the_ex_in_xp]

A sneaky example of a bad line delivery?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

It's only bad line delivery if it's meant as a compliment, and it's not. So it's a good line, like all of your lines.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[laughs]

Wait, so because I didn't mean it as a compliment it was a good one, but if I did, it sucked? Am I following this or is this lack of full sobriety holding me back?

[the_ex_in_excessive]

No, it was just a good delivery of a line. As, y'know, an observation or whatever.

[and, teasingly;]

C'mon, Flowers, keep up with me here.

[the_ex_in_xp]

It really, really wasn't. But you're sweet to say so.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

[sighing fondly and shaking her head]

It totally was, but okay, I won't push it.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[waiting a beat then clearing her throat]

...that part was supposed to be a compliment.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

... oh.

[the_ex_in_xp]

[chuckles in spite of herself]

See? I told you.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

Whatever, no fair. You know when you get self-deprecating my brain immediately goes into "no, stop that, you're amazing" mode.

[the_ex_in_xp]

I'm not self-deprecating. I'm having standards for, like, once in my life...

And nice wasn't a good compliment either. It's so generic and usually I hear it as an excuse for a lack of anything else to describe someone like handsome or talented or smart. But you're...you're actually nice. Like, dictionary definition, decent human being, how the word should be used nice.

[shrugs a bit, like this attempt of sincerity is really unsuited for her]

...even if your brain goes into the wrong mode sometimes.

[the_ex_in_excessive]

... I really like that. I feel like I owe you one back now.