[How he makes that sound like such an accusation is beyond her.]
I was just curious! My shift doesn't start 'til the afternoon.
[It's around then that the waitress comes back and collects their empty, ice cream-less bowl and glass together. She refills their water, and leaves them their bill when they both deny any more service, for the time being...]
[IV doesn't miss a beat as he pulls out his card to set atop the bill without glancing at the total amount. He's saving up ViViD points, and along the way he's accumulated a fair quantity of credits. Price has never stopped him.]
Oh? If you don't have any prior engagements, why don't you run one mission with me before I leave and you clock in?
[Her actions mirror his. Their cards are set down at almost the exact same time, though the waitress has left them alone for the time being as to not rush them.
She takes his words as a dare of sorts, resulting in folded arms and a teasing voice.
What else is new?]
If that's a challenge, I'll take it. Maybe we'll even have time for more than one.
[It's such an afterthought that Leia almost misses it. Then she realizes it's the most important part of his response, as she looks at their two cards on the table.
Wait, what?!]
N... No way! I can't let you do that. I was the one who dragged you out here.
[.......Her cheeks deflate. It's just not fair to be shut down so quickly on such flimsy, self-absorbed logic.]
I'm fully capable, too. How is that beside the point? It's only fair that I...
[Just then, of course, she feels someone else's presence at the table. She glances out of the corner of her eye before turning, but instead of their waitress, it's... one of those cleaning bots.
It starts to wipe down their table and seems to freeze at their two cards.]
[The colony is so advanced that he wouldn't be surprised if a cleaning bot can take money. In fact, it'd be a downright disappointment if all the thing can do is clean like the bots back at Heartland. He lifts his card from the bill and holds it out to the robot, testing its response.]
[In hindsight, it wouldn't be all that surprising. There are other robot cashiers, though they're usually more humanoid than not, so this would be different. Leia's shoulders slumps and she withdraws her hand, which had been reaching for her own card at the same time.
She watches with a sigh, thinking her assumption will be correct after all--until the robot seems to open up like a mouth, only to swallow his card whole.
IV raps on the head of the cleaning bot with his knuckles. When the robot doesn't respond, he leans forward and tries to pry the mouth open to no avail. He scowls, then gives it a light kick.]
[Leia stands up out of her seat when IV starts beating on it, though doesn't move to stop him. A strange mix of curiosity and concern churns in her stomach as she watches, waiting to step in if she needs to. She jumps a little when he kicks it, and notices that its mouth seems to bounce open briefly--
Though it slams closed again with a quickness.
She doesn't wait. She walks over and kicks it harder. This time, it stays open, though she winces and withdraws that foot afterwards.]
Ow-- [She can see it through one eye, sitting atop some napkins, surrounded by cherry stems and various straws...] Quick, grab it!
[That's disgusting. But it's now or never, and, vaulting out of his seat, IV darts a hand in to snatch his card out of the bot's mouth before it comes slamming down by the hinges. The very edge catches between the robotic jaw, prompting him to pull hard and, at last, retrieve his key.]
[With a disdainful look at the cleaning bot that slinks away, IV slides back into his seat. He fingers the card back in his grasp, annoyed, and places it back on the bill.]
I'm definitely paying after what just happened.
[His expression still somewhat sour, he throws Leia a side glance.]
[It smarts that he got his card back at Leia's expense, even if the ache is slight. He lowers his voice to a near mumble as though he's salvaging the scene in the only way he knows how.]
I would have found another way if that hadn't worked.
[He's a bit defensive, isn't he? Well, she can't really blame him. She spots their waitress out of the corner of her eye, and quietly slips her card back into her pocket.]
Let's just call her over. You don't need any seconds, right?
[This time, the card is handed over to the right person and the waitress takes off with it and the bill to run through the system. She comes back shortly after, and IV pockets his returned card as he rises from his seat.]
That's it for tonight, then. I need to turn in for tomorrow's shift.
That's right; we're in the same building. [That makes things significantly more convenient. He starts for the door at the entrance of the "cave."] Let's go.
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I was just curious! My shift doesn't start 'til the afternoon.
[It's around then that the waitress comes back and collects their empty, ice cream-less bowl and glass together. She refills their water, and leaves them their bill when they both deny any more service, for the time being...]
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Oh? If you don't have any prior engagements, why don't you run one mission with me before I leave and you clock in?
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She takes his words as a dare of sorts, resulting in folded arms and a teasing voice.
What else is new?]
If that's a challenge, I'll take it. Maybe we'll even have time for more than one.
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[With that established, he moves onto the more pressing matter at hand.]
And I'm paying.
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Wait, what?!]
N... No way! I can't let you do that. I was the one who dragged you out here.
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So? I have the credits.
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I wouldn't have invited you if I didn't...
[Her response is weak in a lot of ways, and she doesn't take back her card. Should she just accept it...?]
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That's not the point. The point is that I'm fully capable of paying, so I'm going to.
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I'm fully capable, too. How is that beside the point? It's only fair that I...
[Just then, of course, she feels someone else's presence at the table. She glances out of the corner of her eye before turning, but instead of their waitress, it's... one of those cleaning bots.
It starts to wipe down their table and seems to freeze at their two cards.]
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Wait a minute. Can this thing also act as... a cashier?
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[The colony is so advanced that he wouldn't be surprised if a cleaning bot can take money. In fact, it'd be a downright disappointment if all the thing can do is clean like the bots back at Heartland. He lifts his card from the bill and holds it out to the robot, testing its response.]
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She watches with a sigh, thinking her assumption will be correct after all--until the robot seems to open up like a mouth, only to swallow his card whole.
Er.]
...That was unexpected.
[Wait--]
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[This bot is not an ATM.
IV raps on the head of the cleaning bot with his knuckles. When the robot doesn't respond, he leans forward and tries to pry the mouth open to no avail. He scowls, then gives it a light kick.]
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Though it slams closed again with a quickness.
She doesn't wait. She walks over and kicks it harder. This time, it stays open, though she winces and withdraws that foot afterwards.]
Ow-- [She can see it through one eye, sitting atop some napkins, surrounded by cherry stems and various straws...] Quick, grab it!
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Why does it eat them in the first place?
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It probably thought it was trash. Maybe it's new.
[And by new, she means not quite correctly programmed. (Or something.)]
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I'm definitely paying after what just happened.
[His expression still somewhat sour, he throws Leia a side glance.]
How's your foot?
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...Huh?
[She glances down at her foot, feeling a tingling sensation upon being reminded.]
Oh, yeah. [Her tone is kind of flighty and dismissive.] It's fine. I'm glad it opened.
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I would have found another way if that hadn't worked.
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[He's a bit defensive, isn't he? Well, she can't really blame him. She spots their waitress out of the corner of her eye, and quietly slips her card back into her pocket.]
Let's just call her over. You don't need any seconds, right?
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You don't, either, do you?
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Not today.
[Especially not if he's paying...... Despite her second thoughts about this, she waves the waitress over. It's not too hard to get her attention.]
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That's it for tonight, then. I need to turn in for tomorrow's shift.
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[She peeks at her CereVice, catching the time, then stands up with a nod. They've definitely had their fun.]
I'm heading back too, so I'll walk with you.
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