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	august_heir 2013-10-29 10:14 pm UTC (link)
	Xian blinked in surprise. No sooner had he come in than Petra started marching at him like she was on a mission. "I..okay." Perhaps it was something important. "Is something wrong?" (Reply to this)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-29 10:16 pm UTC (link)
	And march she does, pushing him right outside. "Come on. Too many cameras in here. Outside. I'll beat you up if I have to." As soon as they're out the door, she grabs him by the belt, and takes off into the air with her usual blunt force variety of 'flight'. She manages to land them on a rooftop with the help of an ice slide. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-29 10:20 pm UTC (link)
	"Beat me up?" He almost looked amused by the idea until she grabbed him and took off. "Hé dìyù!?" He cursed in frustration. When she let him down he was furious. "What is the meaning of this!? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-29 10:24 pm UTC (link)
	"I wanted to make sure I have your full attention, and that we have privacy." She makes them each a chair out of ice, sitting down and steepling her fingers. "I want to know how long you plan on leading Lizzy on." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-29 10:26 pm UTC (link)
	"What? I am not leading her on!" he protested. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gal_gardner 2013-10-29 10:30 pm UTC (link)

"Yes. You are." She says flatly. "The two of you are adorable together, but you keep going on about the potential impropriety. She likes you. You like her. You have amazing chemistry. Your sense of duty and professionalism is unassailable. You're both attractive, and in or near your sexual prime. I don't think a few rounds of Miss Choi's Wild Ride is going to endanger anything." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-29 10:39 pm UTC (link)
	"I was honest with her," he maintained. At first he gapes in surprise at her choice of language but then he narrowed his eyes. "I have my orders! You think I don't want to be with her? The state does not want my integrity compromised!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gal_gardner 2013-10-30 06:11 pm UTC (link)

"I'm not saying anything you said was a lie, but that doesn't mean you were being honest, with her or yourself. For fuck's sake, Xi, you're a grown-ass man and patriot who isn't led around by his hormones. And even if you were?" She starts counting off on her fingers. "Sarkozy got cozy with and married his mistress, Camilla's been sitting pretty for years, Clinton had the blue dress, and JFK was banging Marilyn Monroe, pin-up girls, aides, and Russian spies two at a time IN THE WHITE HOUSE POOL... and NONE of that had a damn bit of difference as to their ability to do their job without compromise. But maybe I'm just being naive..." She rolls her eyes sarcastically. "I can just imagine what your exact orders were from the Party brass... 'Hey, Fang Xian. We love the work you've been doing. Exemplary performance, being part of an international effort, protecting the helpless against threats to the planet. Outstanding representation of China's ability to contribute cooperatively to a humanitarian effort on the world stage. All great. Oh, but, before we forget... what we're really worried about is where you put your genitals at the end of the day. That's gotta be priority one.'" She's gotten out of her chair by now, and is staring at him with her hands on her hips. "You either admit to me that you're scared of a relationship, or you tell me exactly what your orders are, to the letter, that prohibit you from going on one date.. with a sweet, intelligent, sexy girl that thinks you're a catch... and just seeing where it goes" She furrows her forehead. "Wǒmen shènzhì kěyǐ shuō xiàng nǐ zài jiālǐ, zhè shǐde tā gèng róngyì.*" *We can even talk like you're at home, if that's easier. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

august_heir 2013-10-30 06:28 pm UTC (link)

"Nèi jiāngyào bù bèi suǒxū,"* He responded with a sigh. "What they said was not to engage in scandalous behavior that could embarrass the state." He rubbed his eyes once. "Fine, maybe I am scared, not of Lizzy, but of what my actions may cause back home. I am already considered a poor replacement for my father, and anything I do will not only effect me, but him and mother as well. As much as I would want to be with Lizzy for myself, I have to think of them too." *That will not be necessary. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-30 06:38 pm UTC (link)
	"So don't get caught banging on the National Mall while you light the fuses for Independence Day fireworks. Go on dates. Make love. Buy each other flowers. Have stupid arguments. Be two young people that like each other." She lets out a ragged sigh. "Y'know, it's normally the girl that brings the daddy issues into a relationship." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-30 07:02 pm UTC (link)
	That last part actually got a chuckle out of him. "You..you make a lot of sense, Petra." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-30 07:05 pm UTC (link)
	"Course I do. I'm a genius. Family trait. Not a genius like Din and his dad, but... we get people. And we're rude enough to just get to the point when we have to." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-30 07:51 pm UTC (link)
	"I would not say rude, perhaps more outspoken." He smiled more fully. "Not saying that's a bad thing." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-30 08:06 pm UTC (link)
	"Mister Fang..." Petra puts a hand to her breast and flutters her lashes. "You flatter a girl; and here I thought I'd just sold you on Lizzy." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-30 08:09 pm UTC (link)
	And now he's outright chuckling. "I was sold on Lizzy long before this conversation. I'm simply stating a fact." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-30 09:27 pm UTC (link)
	"Okay, so here's how it's gonna play out." Petra takes a business card out of her bag and pushes it into his pants pocket. "Go here. Tell Jeff 'Petra is calling in her favor'. He'll set you up with a nice suit. Buy flowers, wear the suit, and show up at Lizzy's door. Take her to dinner. You two can figure out the rest." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-30 09:34 pm UTC (link)
	He looks at the card a moment before nodding once. "A suit? ..Never much cared for them, but I suppose I can make an exception." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-30 09:46 pm UTC (link)
	"Just go tart yourself up and be delivered to her tent. I'll make sure she's waiting for you this evening." She heads for the edge of the roof to get them back down. "Come on. Time's wasting." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-30 09:52 pm UTC (link)
	He raised an eyebrow as he followed after her. "You've been planning this." It wasn't a question. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-30 09:56 pm UTC (link)
	"I plan lots of stuff." She shrugs, making an ice slide for them to take back to the ground. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-30 10:04 pm UTC (link)
	"But why," He asked, curious. "because Lizzy is your friend? I mean, do you even know me that well?"" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-30 11:18 pm UTC (link)
	"Because I like people being happy. I make that my business. Do I really need another reason?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-30 11:30 pm UTC (link)
	Xian thought on that a moment before giving a small smile. "No. No I suppose not." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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	august_heir 2013-10-31 12:22 am UTC (link)
	He had done as Petra asked, though he still felt awkward wearing a suit. He held the flowers, he wished he could remember what they were called, shifting from one foot to the other as he stood outside Lizzy's door. He adjusted the collar, the fifth time he'd done so, before tentatively knocking on the door. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-31 01:08 am UTC (link)
	"You should get that." Petra commented. She'd descended upon Lizzy with some encouragement to get her quarters at the Hall in order. "I got this." She continued unpacking the box of pictures from Lizzy's home. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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	august_heir 2013-10-31 09:30 pm UTC (link)
	Xian fought the urge to dart off. "I..I have.." He took a breath, and then blurted out, "Wǒ yuànyì fǎtíng nín!*" *I wish to court you! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gal_gardner 2013-10-31 09:31 pm UTC (link)
	Petra, because she is a genius, manages not only to hold back her laughter to just a snort, but also not drop the picture she almost fumbled at the same time. "I'm shocked... shocked, I tell you..." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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	august_heir 2013-10-31 09:52 pm UTC (link)
	Xian did his best to compose himself. "I'm sorry..I did not mean to speak so quickly." ANother deep breath. "I..I wish to court you." he holds the flowers up. "These are a small token of my affection." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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gal_gardner 2013-10-31 10:17 pm UTC (link)

"She really was starting to think that, you know." Petra smiles, putting a hand on Lizzy's shoulder and ushering her away. "You have a seat handsome. I'll have her back in a minute." She moves Lizzy to the bathroom, where an outfit is already set to go. "Now, be nice to him. He's got a lot of question marks about this evening, but it took a lot to get him to finally go for it. As soon as you know how the date's going to end, let him know so he's not kept guessing." Petra chatters away as she gets Lizzy undressed and starts double-checking cosmetics. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	august_heir 2013-10-31 10:19 pm UTC (link)
	He smiled with both relief and joy, "This is wonderful news." He looks confused for a moment when Petra tells him to seat, but he does so. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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	gal_gardner 2013-10-31 10:39 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm a genius, that's all you need to know. Inhale." She abruptly zips up the back of Lizzy's dress she just pulled onto her, causing a marvelous demonstration of displacement and repositioning to happen on the opposite side of her torso. She then spins her around and gets to work on a few careful touches of makeup. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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	gal_gardner 2013-10-31 11:00 pm UTC (link)
	A touch of eyeliner, and Petra seems satisfied. "Okay girl. Go get him. But be gentle with him." Pause. "Well... just bring him back in one piece." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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	august_heir 2013-10-31 11:14 pm UTC (link)
	And she's rewarded by a small look of awe that crossed his face. "You look beautiful," he said standing up. He removes a paper from his pocket. "I was told this would be a suitable place for a first date. Would you agree?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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	august_heir 2013-10-31 11:48 pm UTC (link)
	"Excellent." He offered her his arm. "Shall we?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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