5th Card Dealt [Action]

[kineticcajun]

[Gambit is back from his mission today, and, much as he hates to admit it, he's exhausted. It's not often that he gets worn out, but this mission definitely managed it. But still, tired as he is, he's got a few things to attend to before he heads back to his apartment. He just means to knock them out as quickly as he can so that he can knock out as quickly as he can.

And so, early afternoon finds him slipping into the Item Shop, careful not to make a sound on the way in, so he can leave a card - a joker, to be specific - on the counter as a sign that he's gotten back safely. His way back out isn't quite as quiet as he'd been hoping, though, and just before the door shuts, the bell goes off. Merde. So much for that.

Once that's done, it's off to the grocery store. Food. Food is definitely needed before he sleeps. Too hungry not to eat.

After nearly ten minutes of staring blankly at spices - he suspects he may have fallen asleep on his feet - Gambit shakes his head and decides to just grab a can of soup and some instant cornbread. Nevermind cooking. Easy stuff. Quick.

He hates cooking this kind of stuff, but pride be damned, he's too tired.

Eventually, he finds his way through the town and back to CH1 to make aforementioned soup and lurch his way into his apartment to sleep, but it's very slow going. Feel free to run into him anywhere on his journey~]

Comments

[tinyten]

[EXCELLENT.

Melanie nods excitedly, eager to get started.]

So should we count to three? [Might as well start off fair. After that there will be NO MERCY.]

[kineticcajun]

On the count'a three, then.

[Standing back up a bit stiffly and summoning up remaining energy.]

Ready? One, two....

[tinyten]

Three! [AND Melanie immediately moves to form a snowball and throws it in Gambit's direction. Once that first one is thrown, she doesn't hesitate to get started on forming a second one.]

[kineticcajun]

[He'll let that snowball hit. In part, it's because he knows he can't dodge without slipping on the ice, in part it's to humor her. He scoops up the snow for his first throw, pauses just a shade of a moment to make sure he's calculating the throw right, and then launches it to sail just over and to the right of her head. Even if she moves in that direction, there should be just enough clearance.]

[tinyten]

[It's definitely enough for Melanie to stay clear of, though she tries to dodge anyway and slips a little. NO MATTER. She's not going to let a bit of ice keep her down. She's already got another snowballed formed by the time she gets up, and quickly tries to rush behind Gambit so she can hurl the snowball at his back.]

[kineticcajun]

[Even without being up to his usual speed, he still can get together another snowball. He lets her get about halfway around him before he turns to throw his second snowball. This one he aims so that it should hit her in the foot.]

[tinyten]

[That snowball hits, but Melanie just laughs and keeps going. She quickly starts to make two different snowballs. Almost as soon as she's done forming them, Melanie tosses them both at Gambit, one after the other.

Is it cheating? Sure it is, but that's not going to stop her from doing it.]

[kineticcajun]

[Feigning that the snowballs have done some kind of critical damage, Gambit rolls backward in the snow.

And then comes back up with a snowball in each hand. One he deliberately lets go wide, the other he holds onto like a baseball pitcher contemplating the throw.]

Your move, mademoiselle.

1/2

[tinyten]

[Oh he's good. Clearly, Melanie will have to choose her next move wisely.

On the one hand, she could form another, bigger snowball to throw at him. But that would give him a chance to throw that snowball and hit her while she's working on her own.

On the other hand, she could move out of the way and he'd miss. But he could just turn around and do the same thing while she forms another snowball.

Hm...]

[tinyten]

[You know what? SCREW IT. The possibility of getting hit is part of the fun, anyway.

Melanie sticks her tongue out at Gambit (though this time it's in jest) and forms one last - and relatively big - snowball to throw his way.]

[kineticcajun]

[He starts laughing in spite of himself when she sticks out her tongue, and counters by throwing his snowball right into the big one she threw. The end result is a minor explosion of snow that will probably shower over both of them, but he figures it's worth it.]

[tinyten]

[And once that little explosion of snow happens, Melanie bursts out laughing and allows herself to fall back into the snow. Once the laughter dies down a little, Melanie lifts her head to look back up at Gambit and grins.]

That was fun!

[kineticcajun]

[This is why there were no little sisters in the Guild, he figures. Otherwise he and half the others would be trapped by cute and never get anything done. He grins back at her.]

You got good aim, petite! You're givin' me a run for my money.

[tinyten]

Thanks! My parents always told me it's important to have good aim. [They never let her practice with anything dangerous, though. Practice for the future is all well and good, but a child with throwing knives is never a good idea.]

[kineticcajun]

Your parents got the right idea. Good aim's gotten me outta a lotta jams. [He stands back up, dusting some of the snow off of his coat. Having it all melt and freeze him on the spot is not a good idea. It's bad enough it's already melted into his hair.]

Now we oughta get you warmed up, non? You stayin' wit' anyone?

[Please say it's the X-gang, because he at least knows where they live.]

[tinyten]

[She nods.]

Yes! I'm staying with everyone in House 16!

[kineticcajun]

[Awesome. That he can manage.]

Let's get you back there, then.

[tinyten]

Okay! [And Melanie will just get up and reach for Gambit's hand.]

Are you friends with everyone there, too?

[kineticcajun]

Somethin' like that. [He'll take that hand gently. Tired as he is, even after rolling in snow, his hands are still really warm from the energy moving through him. He figures it'll help keep her fingers from freezing, at least.]

We all knew each other back home.

[tinyten]

Really?

[She squeezes his hand a little bit - he is warm.]

I wish I had friends from home. [Or her family, more specifically. She was never really in one place long enough to make any friends.]

[kineticcajun]

You never know who's gonna show up, petite. [Or how long they'll be here, either, but hey. Trying to be positive here. He gives her hand a slight squeeze in return and grins down at her.]

'Sides, the people in House 16 are real good friends to have. They'll always be lookin' out for you.

[tinyten]

I guess so. [Maybe her family will show up later.]

They've all been really nice to me! [And so has Gambit, buuut he doesn't live in house 16.]

Do you live nearby?

[kineticcajun]

Not too far. I've been stayin' in the community housin'. The building's only a few minutes away.

[tinyten]

Ohh. Okay! [HMM.]

Could I see you again sometime?

[kineticcajun]

'Course you can, petite. Maybe we could build that snowman for you.

[Lord knows there's enough snow.]