IC CONTACT - MASK OR MENACE

[performance]

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[performance]

Well, good.

[ He's the picture of calm, though his face is still a little puffy from crying. At least he has the sunglasses to hide his eyes. He takes a cupcake, too, just holding it for the moment. ]

... Sorry about earlier. I'm usually more composed than that.

[maglevflash]

Please, you don't have to be composed. I'm not here to throw stones right now.

[She slowly eats the frosting, nodding lightly at the taste. Not terrible. Certainly not Aunt Cass's desserts, but not terrible.]

You're entitled to your breakdowns, just like any of us.

[performance]

I hate crying. Gives me a headache.

[ He sweeps some of the frosting onto his thumb, popping it into his mouth. ]

[maglevflash]

Me too. I've done plenty of it this week. [Her tone is clear on how she feels about her own inability to stabilize herself.]

...

You didn't really have to come visit, you know. I'm glad you did.

[performance]

I didn't want you to pass out in a ditch looking for my secret hideout.

[ He kicks a foot out, nudging her ankle with the toe of his sneaker. ]

It's almost like I kind of like you or something.

[maglevflash]

Well, I definitely like you, ninja tendencies and all. You brought me cupcakes.

[Okay, she is not as easy to please as all that, but the night they met had been a pretty convincing argument in his favour even without Wally waxing poetic about him at any opportunity.]

[performance]

Oh, so I can buy you with desserts, huh?

[maglevflash]

It's a start.

[Sectioning off pieces of the cake itself to nibble on.]

[performance]

[ There's a pang in his chest, thinking about all the food he's bought for Wally, but he can't go there again. Not now. ]

Does that make this a date?

[ who cares if she's in college, shoot for the stars ]

[maglevflash]

[A wry smile.]

You're really lowering your standards, here.

[performance]

I beg your pardon? I have impeccable taste.

[maglevflash]

[She looks down at herself, then raises an eyebrow at his skeptically.]

Broken chicks in hospital clothes do it for you, huh?

[performance]

[ His smile softens, goes a little sad, and he nudges her foot again. ]

Hey. You're not broken.

[maglevflash]

I'm held together with scotch tape and insomnia, but thanks for the faith.

[performance]

Well, I never sleep, and I'm adorable, so you'll have to do worse than that.

[maglevflash]

That you are. It's almost unbearable.

[Another nibble of cupcake, but she's smiling.]

[performance]

Only almost?

[ He still hasn't touched his, except for that first taste of frosting. ]

[maglevflash]

I've seen worse.

[performance]

Well, you're probably the prettiest girl in this wing. And you're still pulling off the cool thing, scotch tape or no.

[maglevflash]

[God, if she hadn't known before had they were best friends, this would have nailed it. They are so alike.]

Well good. I work hard on this reputation. I'd hate to be shown up by a girl with a broken leg or something.

[performance]

[ Excuse you, Robin's flirting is way, way smoother. Which isn't actually saying much, but. ]

And yet you make it look so effortless!

[maglevflash]

[Both of you flirt hilariously.

She snorts and nudges him with her foot in return.]

If you keep being so adorable I'm going to have to do something drastic.

[performance]

Will I like it?

[maglevflash]

That depends on how much affection you can handle before you fly away.

[performance]

I'm not allergic to it, if that's what you're implying.