#goldfinchfreehold

Colton beholds his is ...?

A large sized mug emblazoned with the punchline of a meme: I AM THE STORM

A smile "A classic, and double meanings. THanks"

"Saw it, thought of you, got it...." she says with a grin and a shrug, and then finishes opening hers.

Her's is a bit heavy... a suitcase?

An actual suitcase? If so...she opens it.

And it unfolds, and things start to rise... like a pop up book "Careful, lay it flat on the floor"

"See, it's compacted and you can take a set anywhere you go..."

Her eyes go VERY wide. "Colton...." She pauses partway through opening it and stares at him.

"Some assembly required, I admit... "

"This...was this expensive?"

"You realize that question is a trap right?" A smile "Like I'm going to say 'nah, it was cheap', and seem like I'm stingy, or 'Yes, it was, I'm eating Ramen for life now' and have you worry?"

"But...I mean...I gave you a mug."

"This is perfect...but it's a lot."

"You didn't give me 'a mug' you gave me a STORM mug. Heck, Chief Brekke would take terribly vengeance if someone stole HER mug"

She gives an embarrassed grin. "Well. Thank you. It really is perfect."

"And just to put your mind at ease, I remind you I know Dougals and Nockers, some of which are in my debt " He says, then adds "Glad you like it. I figured your career in make up is easier to keep going if you have a portable case you can take with you. A BIT Heavy but hey, we're trolls."

She opens the case a bit more, exploring some of the bits that slide around or prop up. "Oh, it's got....and there's this....Oh! I didn't see that...!"

He probably gets the sense that she kinda likes it.

"YEah, it's got comparments for... okay, honesty I had no idea make up stations NEEDED all that" Sheepish

"Well, this is pretty luxurious. I've made do with a lot less."

"Thank you, again." An awkward pause as she kind of wants to hug him but doesn't want to give confusing signals or something.

He looks just as awkward, and rubs at the back of his neck "Glad you like it." A beat "SOOoo.... "

"So!" A pause. "Yeah." Pause. "So you're doing good?"

"Better than I was" He nods "Hold is a lot safer than it used to be. ' A beat "We still rub the Symon statue for luck"

"Oh, knowing that would make him crazy." She smiles.

"Feel free to share that" A smile, then "I want to apologize"

"For...?"

"When we first... parted, I kind of avoided you. I might have been aloof? And maybe that came across as cold?"

"Um. You came across as pissed." A shrug. "I mean, I get it."

A brow knit "Pissed? damn. I guess part of me hoped you missed me more. Shallow of me. I missed you, still do, but not so much I meant to be a dick about and risk our friendship period"

She looks uncomfortable. "I don't think it was shallow of you. I think it was kinda normal, I guess. I mean, it wasn't your idea, so I can understand why you'd hope that."

"I pushed for it," he reminds "love someone then let them go yadda... I was so hallmark it's amazing I didn't have Christmas special about it."

That gets a brief laugh. "You need to wear flannel and hiking boots."

A slight smile back "Yes, I'll pull away the big city girl from her 6 figure salary and fast paced living with with that flannel shirt. Anyway, I... I wanted to be honest with you. I...went on a date"

A blink...and her attempt to hide her grin and keep a neutral expression probably comes off a little odd. "Really?"

"Yeah.. it's been bothering me for weeks" He says "Which is nuts because we're SO on a break slash gap slash who knows, right? "

"Right." Pause. "Was it a good date?"

"Akward, really? On my part, not hers. She was very nice." He says "I guess I'm rusty at making first impressions on a girl"

A beat "you?"

She weighs her words. "I've been out a couple of times." But things like Samhain don't really count as dates, right?

"Good dates?"

"Yeah. A little awkward at first, but....yeah." A bit of a grin.

"You're seeing her again?" Trying for that neutral tone again.

"Nope." He says "I blew it"

"What? How?"

"Mostly talking about my ex" A blush "Apparently girls hate it when you do that for more than 15 minutes on a first date with them"

'Or so Zane tells me"

"Oh, Colton." A pained look. "You didn't."