Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

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[phaselocknroll]

[ she's in her own little world, dancing through the relatively small space with her mop. When she finally does a little twirl, she catches a glimpse of Peter and very nearly puts him in a phaselock on instinct.

As it is, she lets out a startled yelp, jumping back and nearly colliding with the table. ]

Fuck! Shit, Peter. You nearly gave me a heart attack!

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He notices the way her arm twitches and he's ever so thankful that she reigns it in before a lot of awkward apologies will have to be made.

Still, he can't help it-- he laughs at the way she jumps out of her skin. ]

Holy shit! [ It's choked out between gasps. ] You should've seen your face--!

[phaselocknroll]

[ She glares at him, cheeks blazing with the embarrassment of getting caught. The look on her face suggests two things: one, that she doesn't find this anywhere near as funny as he does, and two, that she's sorely tempted to phaselock him anyway. ]

How long have you been standing there?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His laughter dies down finally, and he looks a little guilty, especially given how seriously embarrassed she looks.

So he tries to spare her: ] Not very long. Couple seconds at most.

[ It was more like thirty seconds, maybe? But she doesn't need to know that. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ She somehow doubts that, but she lets it go for the moment, tugging her headphones off and stopping her music. ]

What are you even doing here? Did something happen?

[nostalgiabomb]

Huh? [ For a moment there, he had nearly forgotten why he'd turned back around -- he remembers now, though. ] Oh, uh, no. Everything's fine, just decided to call it an early night, is all. Folks at the bar were pretty boring.

[ He rubs the back of his neck, hesitating. He could totally just bail, he thinks -- but that'd be an extra dicky move on top of laughing at her and making the mess in the first place, so after a few seconds of dithering, he finally ventures, ] You, um. You want any help around here?

[phaselocknroll]

[ Sometimes he is such a terrible liar, and at this point she likes to think she can read him fairly well. She knows he didn't come back "just because" and the pieces suddenly fall into place when he offers to help. ]

You came back to help me clean?

[ Bless her heart, she actually looks a little incredulous ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He looks down at the floor, shifting his weight a little awkwardly. ]

Well, not-- specifically, no. But I'm back now, so I mean, if you want a hand, I'm, uh-- available?

[ Jesus. For someone who makes a living on lying, he really is shitty at it sometimes. ]

[phaselocknroll]

Don't bs me. Yes you did.

[ She puts a hand on her hip, leaning her weight on the mop in her other hand. ] Why?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He has no idea why he suddenly feels so defensive, but he suuuure does, and he stares at a point on the bulkhead. ]

Look, if you don't want my help, I can just head back out. I'd probably get in your way anyway, right?

[phaselocknroll]

Whoa. Wow. Where did that come from?

[ She sighs, her tone and her facial expression softening ] You don't feel... I don't know, obligated to do this, do you? Because I really don't mind it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ At her surprise, he looks sheepish and offers a quick, "Sorry." ]

It's mostly my mess, man. I really oughta be the one cleaning it up, so-- obligated in that way, yeah.

[phaselocknroll]

Hey, come on. Did I look put-out to be doing the cleaning a moment ago?

[ She offers him a small smile, but she's unable to stop the hint of color that rises to her cheeks again ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ At that, he totally grins. ]

Yeah, about that. I thought you said you weren't a dancer?

[phaselocknroll]

I think you might want to get checked, because I'm pretty sure I caught that from you.

[nostalgiabomb]

Whoops. Guess I should've mentioned when we first started dating? It's highly contagious.

[phaselocknroll]

Look at what you've done to me Peter. I trusted you, and now here I am, dancing in the galley.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Somehow, the grin becomes even wider. ]

And singing.

Can't forget the singing.

[phaselocknroll]

Can you at least try to forget the singing?

[nostalgiabomb]

Why would I ever try to forget that? It was precious as hell.

[phaselocknroll]

It was not.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Because Peter is secretly five-years-old, ] It was too.

[phaselocknroll]

I was gonna invite you to come dance with me, but if you're going to keep bringing up my singing, then maybe I won't.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Puppy-dog eyes are go. ]

But I like your singing and your dancing.

[phaselocknroll]

Don't give me that look.

[ Must... resist... ]