Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

But-- [ and here he looks a tad confused ] What do you do with them when you're done?

[phaselocknroll]

Save them so I can read them again? I'm really baffled at how foreign a concept this is to you.

[nostalgiabomb]

But, I mean, you know the ending already. Isn't it kinda pointless?

[ Books are seriously weird. ]

[phaselocknroll]

By that logic, isn't it pointless to watch Star Wars over and over again? You already know what happens.

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah, I guess, but Star Wars has lightsabers.

[phaselocknroll]

You say that like my books aren't filled with amazing stuff too.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He looks dubious still, but he has the good sense to keep his opinions to himself. ]

I can only carry so many of these, you know.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She caught that dubious look, and elects to ignore his statement for the moment. Instead, she gives him a long, scrutinizing look. ]

If I gave you a book, would you read it?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That catches him by surprise. He doesn't want to say no, that sounds seriously boring, because he's pretty sure Maya would bop him on the head again for it, and with him carrying all these books, he'd be defenseless. Different tactic, then. ]

Uh? I-- don't really have time?

[phaselocknroll]

The nice thing about a book is that it doesn't go anywhere if you have to set it down for a little while.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He shifts the books in his hands as he thinks of a suitable counter. ]

Yeah, but then I'd keep forgetting what happened before and... stuff.

[phaselocknroll]

Come on, Peter. I watch your movies, don't I?

[nostalgiabomb]

You say that like I choose bad movies.

[phaselocknroll]

You say that like this shouldn't be something that goes both ways.

[nostalgiabomb]

... I'm not gonna get out of this, am I?

[phaselocknroll]

All I'm asking is that you try.

[nostalgiabomb]

Alright, fine.

But only because I like you so much.

[phaselocknroll]

Thank you. [ she leans over to give him a quick kiss ] I have just the book for you back on the ship.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The kiss seems to mollify him -- or at the very least, he's a little less pouty than before. ]

So do I need to go look for a wheelbarrow soon to cart around all these books, or...?

[phaselocknroll]

No, I think I'm done for now.

Thanks for being my pack mule.

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, I did have to thank you for busting my ass out of jail.

And for-- you know, not spreading the news around.

[ The last part is said as a statement, but the inflection is tentative and hopeful. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ She gives him another kiss, then. This one lingers a bit longer ]

My lips are sealed.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He sighs with relief once they separate -- not that he actually thought Maya would rat him out, but still, it's nice to have that confirmed. ]

You're the best.

[phaselocknroll]

I know.

[ She flashes him a smirk before heading off in the direction of the register.

Books bought and paid for, they head back to the ship. If anyone asks where they've been, Maya will just smile and tell them that she needed someone to carry all her new books.

She guides Peter back to her quarters and instructs him to dump the newer stuff on the bed, while she goes riffling through her rather impressive collection (especially considering the small space) for the book she'd promised him. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter flops onto the bunk next to the books, sprawling out as if he owns the place.

(Technically, he does. It is his ship, after all, as he's been known to remind everyone when he's feeling particularly peevish.)

He knew, of course, that Maya was a bookworm (Neeeerd, his mind helpfully supplies) and that she had a number of books aboard the Milano, but he'd never actually noticed just how many. ]

Holy literacy, Batman. How long have you been runnin' a library out of my ship?