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“I’m glad you’re able to have a chance to visit, then.”[break][break]

Once the fire roars to life thanks to the combusken’s help, she rubs her hands together–grateful for the warmth that quickly begins to spread throughout the small cabin.[break][break]

Is this weird? Happening on the first date, and not in a drunken rush after a bunch of shots and beer pong. She hopes not.[break][break]

When he sits, she’s juuuust about to scoot closer when Uriah asks. Calla stills, head tilting. “Uh- hm. What do you have?”

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“Sounds good.”[break][break]

Calla bundles up while he settles everything, and when his hand finds hers, it makes her feel a giddy sort of silly that she doesn’t often allow herself. Not around others, anyway.[break][break]

It’s a good thing, though, that it’s only a quick walk to the aforementioned cabin, because by the time they reach their destination, they’re covered in a dusty layer of snow, and the flurry is growing heavier with each passing minute. Even though she wore boots, she can feel the cold in her toes.[break][break]

“This is nice,” she comments once she unbuttons her jacket and drapes it over a wooden chair to dry off. It gives off a warm feel, she decides–the lived in feel of it a comfortable one.[break][break]

As he fiddles with starting a fire, she makes her way over and settles on the sofa just behind him, hands on resting on her knees neatly. “Super cozy.”[break][break]

That suits her just fine.

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Cal can tell she’s provoked some thought about it, given his answer, but again she doesn’t push. It’s food for thought. And like him, she’d rather keep the fun of their date present.[break][break]

The last thing she wants is for this to turn out the same way the night at his place did because she managed to bring down the mood. Again.[break][break]

She laughs, hand lifting to cover her mouth. “Sounds suspect, Mr. Black,” she teases in a dubious tone. Then she shakes her head. “As long as you’re not an ax murderer, I think it’s fine.” Calla gives him a light nudge with her elbow.[break][break]

That would be the plot twist of the century, but she doesn’t believe it, obviously.[break][break]

“As nice as it is here…I doubt it’ll be very fun staying through the night.” She drains the last remnants of her glass and sets it on the bartop. “Probably the sooner we go, the better.” If they waited it out, then they wouldn’t have any choice in the matter.

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“Right…so then why does your dad get a free pass when he’s obviously missing out?” Her head tilts in question as she looks up at him.[break][break]

If she were feeling feistier she would challenge it more, because, yeah—she wishes that she and Kieran Roth could’ve had even a shred of a normal life with a family that cared.[break][break]

But she is too fixated on the warm, fuzzy feeling his answer provokes over what he’d do instead. Even as she tries to shut that dumb, sappy part of her brain down.[break][break]

So maybe it’s a good thing that the distraction of the snow does that for her. This is a date she’s definitely enjoying— they maybe should’ve just…planned around the weather better.[break][break[

“Where exactly are we getting snowed in? Suru we can’t stay here.” Half-heartedly she points at the rest of the brewery behind them.

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Greyson Connors ’s rapidash is so pretty. It appeals to that side of her that liked to play with My Little Ponyta toys as a kid back in Viridian City. Not that she doesn’t enjoy riding her abomasnow—it’s unconventional but also sorta fun as he lets her climb up and sit on his shoulders. It also gives her a good vantage from up high.[break][break]

Though even then, she misses the sneaky little pansage yoinking their munitions from URIAH BLACK ’s bag. From the middle of the pack, she looks back over her shoulder at him and gives him a thumbs up. Maybe she could do this outdoorsy thing after all?[break][break]

At least for right now, she feels a bit more capable. Or at least plays at it. She doesn’t voice it, but the fact that Greyson Connors suggested mounts is a relief in and of itself. It means she has to worry less about her bad knee, or about falling behind because she can’t keep up when it inevitably starts to get overworked. It means she can worry slightly less about Kieran Roth because at least he’ll be corralled by his tyrrantrum.[break][break]

All little nettles in her side that she keeps pressed close so that they only prick at her, just the way it’s always been. Externally, Calla is all business as usual.[break][break]

“Yeah, it’s kinda all- ugh, in the way,” she added as she tries to duck low from the branches swatting her in the face. Rufus doesn’t help much either because when he pushes them aside, they just snap back harder at her. “Can we do anything to clear the path a little more?”[break][break]

Maybe they aren’t having as difficult a time down there on the ground. But it was also kinda hard to spot water with a buncha leaves in her face.

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“That sounds like a lot.”[break][break]

Not for the first time, it makes her wonder if he’s really doing what he’d like to be doing, as opposed to what’s expected of him. Does that make him happy? Really?[break][break]

But then talk turns to her brother and the wondering stifles, just for a moment. There’s a softness to her when she speaks about her twin that doesn’t often show itself. An Achilles Heel for her, if there ever was one. “Yeah, I know. I try to remember that we’re not little anymore and he’s a lot tougher than he used to be.” She smiles lightly, glancing back up, “I think you’d get along well, actually.”[break][break]

They match similarly in enthusiasm and energy.[break][break]

Her head tilts, unsure if that’s really a viable excuse. But who is she to say so? “Is that really worth it, though? I mean, would you do that, if it were you?” Okay, maybe she’s going to say so anyway.[break][break]

The implication makes heat rise in her face. “You think so?” She doesn’t usually consider herself the meet the parents sort. And also, well…that would mean they’d even reach a point where it could happen.[break][break]

It’s an idea that sends a flutter of nerves twisting through her stomach, but they aren’t necessarily bad nerves, either.[break][break]

Awkwardly, she clears her throat and looks to the side– and it’s then that she really notices how heavily the snow is falling.[break][break]

“Er, was it supposed to be this snowy tonight?” she asks, grateful for a temporary distraction (not because of disinterest, but because she’s sure she’ll say something stupid or embarrassing, otherwise.)

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She’s much more eager for later than she’s willing to admit to, but it’s there—a flicker of heat in her gaze whenever he catches hers just right.[break][break]

“Do you feel responsible, being the oldest?”[break][break]

A fond little smile slips over her face at the thought of her brother. “Oh, Kieran’s, for one, a new ranger. I’m super proud of him. He’s sweet. Way sweeter than me,” she says with a scoffing laugh at herself. She pauses to take a sip of her beer.[break][break]

“I worry about him a lot, though. He’s just so prone to getting hurt.”[break][break]

Both because Kieran Roth has a soft heart and because he’s a little clumsy. She knows she’s overbearing sometimes, but she can’t help it. “It’s always been just us, you know? Our parents weren’t really all that involved.”[break][break]

Or interested in being parents.[break][break]

That’s way too bleak to talk about, though. “What’re yours like?”