a christmas dinner

[typed]

Paul’s door leads, as ever, to the houseboat. (A much improved houseboat in terms of cleanliness, we might add.) It opens out onto the living room, which is no longer a refugee camp for loose papers, but actually a living room. The coffee table at the center has a couple of rolls of wrapping paper on one side, and a few books on the other. The ashtrays and glasses that used to litter the surface are nowhere in sight.

There’s also a lamp on, which Paul neatly steps around as he makes his way across the room.

“So, um. It’s about a ten-minute drive from here,” he says, drawing a set of keys from his jacket pocket, and grabbing an umbrella from a stand by the front door (better safe than sorry – the rain’s been a bit on and off throughout the day).

“And by ten, I am considering traffic. Which shouldn’t be too big of an inconvenience.”

Comments

[untiedtheknots]

"What do you like best about it?" she asks.

"Figuring out the puzzle, or telling the story?"

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"A combination of both."

Beat.

"Is that a cop-out?"

[untiedtheknots]

"Eh, don't think so."

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"It's - true, though. I work the skin off my back trying to collect the facts, and putting them together for people to read - it's pretty damn rewarding."

[untiedtheknots]

"Sounds like it."

Artemis has always been partial to a good story.

"Taking something so disjointed and setting it all in a way that it makes sense, that everything flows..."

--is not too far from healing and the thought makes her pause very slightly when she reaches for her water glass.

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"Best gig in the world," he says, possibly a little smugly.

(The pause, he catches - he's trained to see things like that, after all - but refrains from asking after it.)

[untiedtheknots]

She grins.

"Speaking as somebody who's tried a lot of gigs, I believe you."

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"I could introduce you to the people over at the Chron," he says, jokingly.

"They hate me, sort of, but I bet they'd love you."

[untiedtheknots]

"How come?

Not that I don't think I'm completely loveable, but..."

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"Because you're completely lova-- oh, you already took that one."

Smiling a little sheepishly, he rubs the back of his neck with his fork-less hand.

"In as few words as possible, and also - possibly the least well thought-through: you're one of the best people I know. If I thought I could go on without sounding like a suck-up, I would, really."

[untiedtheknots]

And cue blushing.

"Oh, is that all."

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"I mean - I could go on. But I'd probably sound like a fifth grader."

And he is not turning red at all, what are you talking about.

[untiedtheknots]

"And we wouldn't want that."

My, the pasta is fascinating to look at.

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

And there's a remarkably sincere smile on Paul's face.

"Glad you agree."

[untiedtheknots]

Artemis glances up and can't help smiling back.

"I'd think most people would prefer you sound the way you are," she murmurs.

"Although I'm sure you were adorable in fifth grade."

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

And it's his turn to find the food in front of him extremely interesting.

"Well, I didn't steal anyone's lunch money."

[untiedtheknots]

"Nice to know your moral compass points north."

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"It is a bit of a comfort."

[untiedtheknots]

"Helps with the whole 'not getting lost' thing, I'd imagine."

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I suppose I'm lucky I've never hit any magnets."

[untiedtheknots]

"And that you don't live at the North Pole."

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

"I'd probably last a few hours."

[untiedtheknots]

"A few hours walking in circles," she counters.

[averyhasagun.livejournal.com]

He clicks his tongue.

"Just because you'd last longer than I would ..."

[untiedtheknots]

"I would not be there in the first place," she says primly.

"Not without some seriously warm clothes, at least."

She has a coat made from yak; just ask her cousins!