[001]

[techtonic]

[Guy has nothing against women. Really! He likes them just fine! It's when they get too close. When they appear out of nowhere and try to corner him - well. You can understand why he'd get a little anxious. "A little" referring to clammy palms, tremors, and difficulty catching his breath.]

[So when a foreign tradition known as Valentine's Day was cheerfully bestowed upon the populace, Guy's survival instincts went into overdrive. It's not that he wants to upset them... It just seems better to keep a low profile until this all boils over. After all, wouldn't it be even more hurtful to cower away from their well-meaning offerings of chocolate than to simply not be around? It's still pathetic, he knows, but there's just no helping it.]

[His plan might have worked out all right, too. Except that a guy's still got to eat. Which is why he happens to be crab-walking along a wall, attempting to stay out of sight from an energetic group of maids while simultaneously trying not to drop his groceries.]

Comments

[techtonic]

Well, just because he's missing, it doesn't necessarily mean he's in any danger. Still, in a place like this, you never know what could happen.

Tell you what. If you'll give me a moment to clean this up, we can look for him together.

[failguardian]

[She heaves a sigh.] I'm not even sure if he is here. This place has a pretty weird way of spiriting people around.

[Leaning down, she helps him pick one of the bags, peering at its contents.] How come you were being all sneaky anyway?

[techtonic]

[Bag: Fishy, fishy. Pasta. Onion. Screwdriver.]

Can't argue with that. To be honest, I'm still not entirely sure how I wound up in this place. But if I've learned anything since then, it's that anything and anyone can turn up - usually when you least expect it.

[Guy glances cautiously around the corner, then answers in a hushed voice.] Don't take this the wrong way, but there's a group of young ladies over there I'd rather not offend.

[failguardian]

[One of these things is not quite like the others. In the meantime, she shakes it a bit, hoping to unveil something of a more scandalous nature.]

[Aaaaand here comes that smirk Guy should have learnt to fear by now.]

Don't tell me you're still scared, Guy!

[techtonic]

[Unfortunately for Anise, the most scandalous item in the bag is a bottle of olive oil. Probably not the blackmail material she was looking for.]

Who, me? No, I just...!

[Okay. Okay, she got him. It's true. He's still jumpy around women. Not that he doesn't wish it were otherwise.]

[...Sigh.]

I just don't think that maintaining a few yards between us would make a very good impression. Especially not after today's been declared a holiday.

[failguardian]

[Booooriiiing. Disappointed, Anise shuts the bag, looking up at him with a mischievous grin.]

Ohhhh, that holiday? Don't you think it'd be great for some lonely young girl if you got over your phobia today and swept her off her feet?

[hint hint]

[techtonic]

It's not that I don't agree it would be a nice gesture, but...

[Finished refilling the other bag, he hefts it up.]

You know I can't just get over my phobia, right? If it were that easy, I'd be cured by now.

[He suppresses an involuntary shudder at the memory of several previous "curing" sessions - none of which solved the underlying problem.]