exsiliumlogs | [closed] this christmas we don't need to get away

[She's glad she brought a couple of her heavier coats up with her to the moon, because it was the first thing she grabbed when planning this particular little trip. It means she doesn't shiver when they arrive in the Chicago winter air, though she does gasp a little at the sudden cold.

It's nice though, fresh air and a real climate, instead of the controlled atmosphere within the case. There's a light dusting of snow on the ground, and the air is clear for the moment. She takes another breath and looks around to get her bearings, giving herself a few seconds to make sure she knows what's going on around her before she turns her attention to Saul, grinning.]

So. Starbucks?

[She has her priorities in the right order.]

[Saul's just glad he had a suitably heavy coat to bring with him.

And he's burrowing into it now, glancing around as his shoulders hunch against the cold. It might only take her a breath to get her bearings, but it takes him a little longer — it's been a while since he was here, and even though it's familiar, it's also not. What street is this? Which way is the Starbucks?

Is that a stupid question, because this is an American city and where isn't there a Starbucks?

He's squinting elsewhere even after she turns to face him.]

Starbucks...

[Like he's thinking. Which way is the Pier?]

Here.

[And, finally, he offers her his arm so that they can get moving. He'll need a few minutes to realize that this is actually happening, so just... allow him that time. He'll relax soon.]

[She's happy to give him as much time as he needs to get his bearings; not everyone is a Bat, and she's sure it'd take her a little longer if she was dropped into some alternate Gotham.

Still, she takes his arm, tucking herself against his side and willing to let him lead the way, since he's the one who grew up here.]

I didn't realize how much I'd missed Christmas.

[Time travel is confusing; from her persepective, it's been about 16 months since her last Christmas, and it's nice to see a city kitted up for the holiday.]

[Saul's not big on holidays, actually, but he's happy if she's happy.

And it's a nice change of pace, seeing all this color and all these cheery people and not having to wonder what fresh disaster is lurking around the corner. There's a little unease, of course, when he pauses to consider the fact that everyone else is up on the moon, but — it's fine. It'll be fine.

He takes a breath and exhales slowly, watching the steam leave his mouth before he starts walking and smiles over at her.]

Make a list for me, Steph. Whatever you wanna do, we'll do.

[She wrinkles her nose at him, because that's too nice and stop it, Saul.

But that won't stop her from considering it.]

We need to go ice skating. And I'm hiring a motorbike at some point, and going train surfing and flying, but you don't have to tag along for that. [She pats his arm and smiles too sweetly, teasing him a little.]

And steak. I need steak.

[That's definitely something important on the list of things to do: real food.]

[Ice skating he can do, the motorbike thing he can do, but —

He wrinkles his nose, too, unsure of whether to laugh or not. Is she kidding? HE HAS NO IDEA.]

I can do about 80% of that list. What else?

I don't know!

[But she's laughing; there are a lot of options and it's a little hard to think of all of them.]

I want a bubble bath. Five minute showers that are cold more times than not just don't cut it.

[She knows he probably meant proper activities to do, but the mundane, little things are what she really misses.]

Edited 2013-10-17 15:39 (UTC)

[That bathtub better be huge.]

Pizza.

[And a hundred other food-related necessities. Saul's staring to wonder what they're going to accomplish this week in terms of actually getting stuff done. He guesses they can maybe take an hour out of every day to gather supplies...

Maybe...

The problem here is that he's also thinking of a million options. Places to take her, things to show her. And not just here, but Albuquerque, too. Everywhere he's ever been.]

I think we need an actual list. On paper.

Oh my god, yes.

[As if they're suddenly talking about the Holy Grail or something, because that sounds like the best thing in the entire world right now. Weeks of barely even picking at food has suddenly caught up with her.]

I bought a pen. [good job, Steph.] We can start a list once we've got coffee. Or when we get to the hotel. [oh wait a thought, she looks up at him with a hopeful grin] Can we stay at a fancy hotel?

[Things she's never done before: that]

[SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T EAT, STEPHANIE?

Saul nods. Coffee first; the list can wait. And then he's smirking, brows raised just slightly in surprise that she would even consider the possibility of not doing that.]

As if I'd settle for anything less.

[Never mind the times he's settled for roach motels filled with drug addicts and hookers.

That was for business.

w/e]

Yeah, yeah, we're not all fancy lawyers.

[One of the things she's liked about Exsilium is that it puts everyone on an equal playing field, money wise.

After spending the last few years surrounded by Bruce and Tim's money (and having to listen to Jack Drake complain about being middle class), it's nice to not have to worry about anyone looking down on her for how she grew up.]

What a world it would be if we were.

[Literally the worst world.

He has to try to not laugh about the "fancy" part, though. Even though he knows she's joking.]

But — gosh, Steph, you really think I'm fancy? It's the pinky ring, isn't it?

Oh, come on, like you're not rolling in it back home.

[There's no way he's as involved with Jesse and Walter as he seems to be and not have been making a significant profit from it.]

That's unsanitary.

[But she's not incorrect.

He shrugs, all sudden nonchalance.]

What, you don't get it laundered first?

[Steph that's not funny.]

[AND HE JUST

STOPS

WALKING]

[whup.]

What?

[The most innocent expression in the history of human existence is on her face, right now.]

Steph.

[Look at this super serious pause.

And then his straight face promptly disappears when he says:] I love you.

[There's a brief second where she thinks she might actually be in trouble, but she laughs at that I love you.]

You too.

[She gives his arm a tug, to get them walking again.]

But not if you keep me from getting coffee.

I would never.

[He practically skips back into step, because everything is stupid as hell.

At least they're only a few more blocks from their destination.]

Good boy.

[She really needs to stop calling him that, because she's going to end up saying it in polite company and it'll be awkward.]

Hey, do you have a credit card with you?

[Because there's a trick Babs taught her that she wants to try once they sit down.]

[She needs to never stop calling him that.]

Yeah, a few, but I don't think they'll work here.

I can fix that.

[stop looking so smug, Steph

It'd only be a temporary fix, anyway, but still.]

[It is literally not possible for him to fall any harder for her.

And yet that just made his big ol' heart skip a beat.]

Seriously?

Seriously. I'm not as good with computers as Oracle so we'd probably get caught eventually, but since we're only here for a week...

[who cares!]

→ arrival

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