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"Helloooo! You've reached Jaune Arc! If I'm not answering, it means I'm probably off somewhere fighting monsters or... doing something really awesome like saving a cat, or the president's son! You know how it is, a leader's schedule can be really hectic nowadays, ha ha! Just kidding, I'm probably in school, but I'd totally do those things if I ha-- [BEEP]"
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Yeah, I had to take my work home with me today.
[ Not that she seems particularly interested in any of it at the moment. If she has to get up early tomorrow to get it finished before leaving for the research tower, she will. ]
I - could use a break, though.
[ She's being subtle. ]
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When he hears her "subtlety", Jaune lowers the paper closer to his face, and he peeks out just enough so that his blue eyes are visible to her. ]
... Wh-what kind of break?
[ Not that it needs to be seen, but he's definitely smiling between that paper-thin barrier between them. Playful Pyrrha is cute, even if she's manhandling the hell out of him. ... No, it's probably because of it, rather in spite of, Jaune thinks. ]
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It's very childish. ]
I'll tell you... But only if you can get this back from me.
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Ah, perhaps I already have.
[ Jaune holds up a different piece of paper, hoping Pyrrha would check if she's still holding the one that Jaune is supposed to get. Best case scenario is she takes his word for it and he's declared the winner, ending with Pyrrha begging him to reveal how he pulled it off, only for him to say "a magician never tells" and then it rains confetti over them as they make out. Freeze frame, credits roll.
A more realistic scenario is that it's an obvious trick, as the two papers don't really look that much alike. ]
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The making out part sounds good, tbh. ]
You clearly haven't.
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[ Jaune bends his knees to push Pyrrha towards him as he tries reaching for it this time, one hand securing her free wrist. ]
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She's forced to shift, holding the paper far above her head, arm taut but not wavering. ]
We can end this now, if you declare my supremacy.
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Plus he likes this game. ]
You wish! I'm giving you a chance to forfeit before I bust out my secret move and embarrass you!
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[ 1: She's confident that whatever his secret move is, she can react quickly enough to evade it.
2: She's quite curious to see if he's actually bluffing or not, and if he's not, what he'll do next.
3: This is not a work appropriate use of resources. Whoops? ]
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[ Jaune pulls himself up, trying to draw his face closer to hers. ]
But this is one move... you won't be able to...
[ His mouth is so close to hers, she can probably feel his breath on her lips by now-- ]
...avoid.
[ --and then he takes out his crappy CereVice and activates the strobe light feature, flashing it right in her face. ]
Ha!! Strobe'd!!
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She's too busy being indignant to notice, anyway. ]
Jaune!
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Ah-HA!
[ As mentioned, this was a completely premeditated move, so Jaune readily snatches the piece of paper when he sees his chance. Or rather... he grabs it so hard that it tears in half.
... Ah. ]
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[ He did. He absolutely did.
She's left holding half of it, eyes wide with clear horror as she slowly looks at his hand, and than hers, and the two halves of the paper. She's not quite as terrified of Rideaux as a Tales of Xillia 2 employee of his might be, but she's far from comfortable with this situation.
In the game of Rideaux and his research documents, everyone loses and then dies. :(
Pyrrha immediately abandons their playing to take back the piece of paper - well, pieces now - and darts into the kitchen for tape, or a photocopier, or maybe their wine cabinet. Do they even have a wine cabinet? ]
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Jaune follows Pyrrha to the kitchen, but he doesn't seem as mortified about it as she is. It's just paper, man!! ]
I suppose we should call this a draw? Heh...
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- going to be fired —
[ Yeah, she's frantically searching through their kitchen drawers for something that can fix this. ]
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Jaune, have you ever... met Rideaux?
[ Dude, why do you think she worked for nine hours and then brought 100+ documents home with her to be re-filed for the next morning? Not because it's fun, surely. ]
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[ Jaune opens the drawer with the sellotape and holds it up. It's here, honey. ]
C'mon, I'll even write an apology note at the back of it. I'll say it's my fault! Partially.
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...she is queerly tempted. ]
No, that's probably not a good idea. [ Moving to stand next to him, Pyrrha takes the tape and begins to repair the document. ] It's not your fault, anyway. I should have known better than to use his notes for a silly game.
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[ Yoink! Jaune takes the repaired piece of paper a little more gently now. ]
Besides, who wants to work for a guy like that?
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I actually kind of like it.
[ Working for Rideaux, she means. ]
Every day's a little bit different and I'm learning quite a lot. [ When she's not getting coffee or picking up his dry cleaning or tending to him when he's ill... ]
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[ Let's assume that phrase has the same meaning but from a different origin in Remnant. ]
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I just think it's better than sitting here, feeling sorry for myself all day.
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[ Though, "it's better than..." usually means it's a sign of Stockholm Syndrome, HA. ]
But if your boss treats you unfairly, and I... and I find out about it, I'll-- I'll have words with him! Via email. But it's gonna be really long, and angry, and I won't even bother fixing the spelling mistakes just so it's a pain for him to read. Lime green font, too, he'll have a migraine for hours. I'll do it!
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-- I mean.
Pyrrha's smiling a little as his brief monologue winds down. The ridiculous lengths he's willing to go to in order to protect her is heartwarming, prompting her to transition from leaning against him into more of a clear, albeit loose, embrace. She was never upset at him over the paper but now she's too distracted to give it much immediate thought. ]
I'm sure that would make anyone see the error of their ways.
[ Note that she's going out of her way not to condone it, or even address the fact that Jaune wants to annoy Rideaux in this way. ]
If it ever gets that bad, you'll be the first person I complain to.
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