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 Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:23 pm
"Well..." She hesitated and looked back down at her hands over the pebble. "I am still pleased that you made it through all of those things safely and have decided to not travel for a while." It was hard to tell if the blush had returned or if she was merely pink from the improved circulation of a warm room. "It means we can be friends."
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:30 pm
"I'm glad I'm here too." Hadrian said, smiling - his usual broad warm smile without the odd shy hesitation from before.
"Oh!" He had completely forgotten, both that it was Valentines day and that he had made Galatea a valentine. "I have something for you! Its uhm...well its not very exciting but...."
He stood to fetch the little paper heart from where it had left it, on top of the shelves, and offered it to Galatea.
"Happy Valentines day."
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:37 pm
Galatea looked up and her eyes widened as she realized that he was offering her something. Slowly, she unfolded her legs and stood, hesitantly reaching out to take the card. "Valentine's Day?" she repeated, curious. She studied the card, heart and glitter, and felt a unexpected smile breaking free. She didn't quite understand but it was a gift. A gift from Hadrian.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:42 pm
He'd been really very excited about the glitter. It was a genius invention, in his opinion...a substance you could glue to something to make it sparkly.
"Its a holiday...its all about love really. I used to make things for my mom. You give people little heart shaped stuff or flowers and things." He explained, happily, cheered by her smile, "Its a day to do something nice for people you care about."
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:46 pm
She traced a finger over the glitter carefully and the smile grew braver. "It's lovely, Hadrian," she announced, looking back up at him. "Thank you so much. It sounds like a very nice holiday."
Suddenly, though, she paused and the old, familiar look of near-panic sleeted over her face. She clutched the card to her heart. "But I didn't get you anything," she murmured. "I'm sorry. I didn't know about Valentine's Day. If I did, I would have gotten you something. Because I care about you."
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:52 pm
"You can't give me a present for something you didn't know existed." Hadrian said, in a rare moment of almost clear logic. "Anyway its not like you have to give someone something or you don't care about them."
It made him feel just a bit oddly light hearted to hear Galatea say she cared about him, with the little paper heart hugged against her.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:58 pm
"No, but," she hesitated and studied him intently for a moment. If he said it wasn't necessary, then it must not be. However, something in her head and heart told her that it was at least -important- and so was he. Thus, the sinking feeling in her stomach that she knew so well from when the Captain gave her a look that clearly indicated displeasure. Knowing or not, Galatea was disappointed in herself for not properly showing gratitude and friendship. She worried her lower lip with her teeth for a moment longer.
Then, moving very slowly and carefully, she set the card down and moved to stand close to Hadrian. There was another instant of hesitation but she reminded herself of the encounters with Ruby Soho and television programs and, closing her eyes, Galatea slipped her still chilled arms around the much taller feien's waist and leaned into him, hugging with an uncertain grip. "Happy Valentine's Day," she whispered.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:46 pm
Given the repeated moments of hesitation, Hadrian should have had plenty of time to see it coming, but the sudden embrace still somehow managed to catch him off guard. Galatea had been so hesitant with even patting his shoulder. He felt a funny little lift of spirit, as she hugged him - lightly and uncertainly, and with cool thin arms that reminded him of how young and small she really was.
He was warm against her chilly arms, and when he settled his own arms around her shoulders to hug her - a proper, certain hug if a little awkward because of the difference in height - it was a bit like being wrapped in a blanket.
"Happy Valentine's Day." He said, almost quietly, as if his tone was affected by her whisper. It was funny how you could hear him smiling in his voice.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:23 pm
She shivered slightly as he returned the gesture but, through some strange mix of will and enjoyment, she resisted the urge to pull back. "I think I like the idea of this holiday," she ventured quietly. "It's... Warm."
And -he- was warm and his house was warm and something inside felt a bit like an icicle left in an oven. She decided that it was a nice feeling and wondered if everyone else felt it, too. If that was what Ruby Soho felt when she talked about her brothers with shining eyes, what Dr. Beckham felt when he talked about his Astru. She hoped the Captain felt like it sometimes. It was ever, ever so nice.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:55 pm
"I think that must be why they put it in the middle of winter," Hadrian said, still smiling, maybe a little wider as Galatea didn't do what she seemed to have a habit of doing, and pulling away as if she'd caught herself doing something untoward.
It took a good amount of will to remind himself that he shouldn't pick her up or spin her around. The skipping lift in his chest prompted him to do it, and he wasn't used to not following his impulses - but he wasn't about to do anything to make his young friend uncomfortable.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 8:11 pm
She considered his words like she always did, inspecting them for sense and logic and Hadrian's own brand of wisdom. "Perhaps," she said finally. "If so, that was very clever of them. But does that mean they don't have it in the southern hemisphere of the world in February?" Thinking on the puzzle, she stayed put.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 8:30 pm
"Hmmm...I guess it depends where it was thought up." Hadrian said, apparently also pondering the issue. He hadn't considered that it wasn't winter everywhere in February.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 8:38 pm
"I hope they have it in the southern hemisphere even if it -is- when it's already very warm." Half-drowsing now from warmth, Galatea leaned against him, vaguely registering his heartbeat. "I wonder if the Captain knows about it," she mused aloud. "She did not say anything about such a holiday."
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:00 pm
It was comfortable, standing with Galatea leaning against him. Her arms had lost their intial chill, absorbing his warmth and resonnating it back. He found himself feeling vaguely protective, as if he were shielding her from the cold. It was a little silly, but it was a nice feeling anyway.
"You should introduce her to it." Hadrian answered, wondering as he said it if the Captain would appreciate the holiday, "Its too nice a holiday not to share."
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:06 pm
"I think you're right." She lifted her head and gave him one of her tiny, shy smiles. "I will tell her then. If it's a holiday to care about people, then I ought to. I care about the Captain." She thought for a moment. "And Dr. Beckham, too, and Miss Soho and Mr. Aleric and Mr. Silva. They are all so nice to me. I don't know, though, if I dare bother the Director. He knows almost everything, though, so he probably already knows that I would wish him a happy valentine's day. Don't you think?"
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