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of course i did! i wanted to!!!

[If Anna had any idea the kind of memories being in the pool might bring up for Chloe, she definitely wouldn't have suggested it, but as it is, she has no clue. She's just excited about doing something that might be a little against the rules with her friend.

She gasps, realizing that Chloe is going to beat her there, and scrambles out of the hotel room with a quick word of explanation for Elsa, clutching the ribbon-wrapped tin containing Chloe's gift in her hands as she rushes down to the pool.]

be there soon!!!

[Chloe is definitely already there by the time Anna gets there. On her way, she'd thoughtfully swiped the hotel keys from the front desk when no one was looking- because she's talented like that.

She figures Anna would find it impressive that she mysteriously has keys, and it beats trying to pick the lock.]

Took ya long enough.

[She's dangling the keys in one hand and holding a very poorly wrapped lump in her other arm.]

[She skids to a stop in front of the door to the pool, letting out a startled laugh when she sees that Chloe's actually swiped the keys to the door.]

Woah. I'm going to pretend you asked for those nicely. Anyway, leave me alone, I had to come all the way from the fourth floor!

Yeah, I totally waltzed up like "hey can I grab your keys?" and they just. Let me.

[Sure. Whatever floats your boat, princess. She gives Anna a wink and sets about unlocking the door.]

I'll forgive you, this time. [Hacker voice: they're in. Chloe pushes the door open and gestures for Anna to go ahead.] Royalty first.

[Giggling, Anna shakes her head.] Yeah, I'm super sure that's exactly what happened!

[She gets a weird feeling in her stomach, seeing the way Chloe winks at her; she guesses the other girl is just so cool and funny, and Anna isn't used to that just yet. That's probably it. She stifles more giggles with her hand and goes through the door to the pool ahead of Chloe.

Inside, it's dark, and still, and echoey, and the lights from the pool reflect off the windows and the ceiling, making it feel like a mermaid's grotto or something.]

This is amazing!

[The hair on the back of Chloe's neck stands up a little as the two of them step into the pool room. Chloe locks the door behind them, before stepping further in. She's having hella flashbacks now, it's a little intense. It's like she stepped back into the past, but instead of Max it's Anna.

It's funny how life repeats itself. But at the same time, there's a strange rush to this, a sense of adrenaline that makes her want to see where this goes. She felt it with Rachel, she felt it with Max. Now it's Anna.

Chloe chews on her bottom lip as she steps up beside Anna.]

Right? Good gift giving atmosphere.

[She nudges Anna with her elbow and sort of thrusts the lumpy present her way, as if suddenly feeling awkward about it.]

Here you go, loser. Merry Christmas.

[Anna, for her part, is completely oblivious to any weird vibes Chloe might be getting. She stares around in wonder until she feels an elbow nudging into her, and then suddenly she's got her arms full of something...misshapen. She giggles.]

What is it? Oh, geez, here, take this.

[She holds out the tin toward Chloe; it's got a red ribbon and a little sprig of holly tied around it.]

Should...should I open it?

[Chloe wants to say yes to that, to kind of get it over with so that she doesn't have to over think it, but she's masochistic.

She realizes she wants this to go on for a little longer. If they just give each other the gifts, then it'll be over. So she's gottaaaa. Delay it.]

Wait, why don't we go for a swim first? I mean, we might as well. I heard it's heated.

[Man this really is turning into That Night all over again. Maybe she's subconsciously trying to make it into that. Blatant wish fulfillment, way to go Chloe.

Without waiting for a reply, Chloe sets the tin down gently and then steps over to the edge of the pool.]

[Anna pauses; she'd been all ready to tear into that package, but when Chloe suggests they go for a swim, she's not sure whether or not that's a joke.]

Wait, wait, seriously?

[Anna sets down her own package and scurries over to join Chloe by the edge of the pool.]

It would be fun...but I'm in my nightgown!

[Chloe lets out a laugh at that, as if it's a flimsy excuse. In truth, she'd heard a similar one from Max and they'd still ended up in the pool. She's riding the thrill of this encounter, so she's a little more daring than she ought to be.]

Yeah, but are you gonna let that stop you?

[Chloe turns her back to Anna and starts to lift up her shirt, before glancing over her shoulder.]

I assume you've got something on underneath.

[With that she finishes peeling off her shirt and tosses it aside, then the pants follow.

Chloe is impressed at her own bravery, honestly. What is even happening.]

[That sounds suspiciously like a dare, and Anna is almost physically unable to resist a dare. Plus...

...Well, it'll be fun, she tells herself. That's that. How often do you get a chance to do something like this? Definitely not often in Arendelle, that's for sure. And she wants Chloe to like her.]

..Well, yeah, okay. I'll do it. Just...don't look.

[She's still shy, especially around someone so cool, and she turns her back as she starts to pull her nightgown over her head. Here goes nothing!]

[And this is the moment in the game where everything pauses and you press A to look or B to not look.

If you think Chloe isn't pressing A, you're wrong. She hesitates, but- finally, she risks a little peek Anna's way. God. Gay.

She's so gay.

Chloe coughs and turns away, suddenly feeling all kinds of hot. Honestly if she knew Anna thought she was cool, she'd be both flattered and wonder how the hell she thinks that. Sometimes she feels like a total goober.

At least she's good at pretending??]

I hope they lied when they said this thing was heated, cuz it sure is hot in here.

[Is that an attempt at flirting? Is it her being awkward? We just don't know.]

[Anna's thankfully oblivious to any peeking; she's too busy staring straight in the other direction. She's suddenly gripped by a weird fear that if she looks at Chloe and sees her in her underwear, something will be...different. She might feel different.

She's shaken out of her worries by Chloe's words, and she blinks, turning over her shoulder to glance at the other girl.]

You think so?

[Waaaaay over her head.]

[There are sometimes when things go over Anna's head and it's funny, then there are others, when she's trying to be flirty or drop certain hints, that it's not funny at all. This is the latter.

When it seems like Anna is finally finished taking her night gown off, Chloe decides to just turn around like it's No Big Deal.

Her eyes move over Anna, and yep-]

Definitely hot in here.

[She's gonnaaaa. Just go and jump into the pool now.

Sploosh.]

[Anna turns, too, and sees the way Chloe looks at her, so pointedly, and—

Oh. Oh, she thinks she gets it. Oh, no.

Giving a startled laugh, Anna follows suit, jumping in right after Chloe with a big old splash. Way easier than trying to dissect her own weird feelings right now.]

[TBH, she really hadn't meant to be so pointed with it, she just sometimes has the subtlety of a Snorlax on a treadmill.

Chloe surfaces and twists in the water, waiting for Anna to surface. Man, she honestly needs this, as much as she has weird feelings about the entire thing. It feels... honestly like the most normal thing she's done since arriving in the fucking Pokemon world. It's real.

Even if there is some really chill background music. It kinda adds ambiance.]

I think this is the best idea you've ever had, girl. You never realize how much you need to break into a swimming pool and chill until you're living the moment.

[Anna's head bobs up, followed by her shoulders, and she pushes her wet bangs away from her face, her braids floating to the surface of the water. She grins at Chloe.]

Yeah? Y'know, I've never done anything like this before. Like, I've broken rules like 'no sliding down the banisters' but I've never actually broken in anywhere!

Oh my god, you slid down the banisters?

[Chloe can't help but snicker a little as she pushes hair out of her face and lets herself float slowly closer to Anna.]

I think you need to calm down, that's a little hardcore even for me.

Well, yeah! [Duh! Anna laughs, but then looks at Chloe uncertainly, treading water.]

You're making fun of me.

I'm not making fun of you, it's c- [she doesn't want to say the word cute. She's already flirted SO MUCH she ain't about to come off as desperate] cool! It's cool. You're so edgy.

[Chloe @ herself: shut the fuck up.]

[Slowly, the uncertainty fades from her face, and Anna giggles, looking bashful.]

Really? You think I'm cool? [She tucks a stray bit of hair behind her ear.] I never expected to hear that from you of all people.

[Holy shit Anna needs to stop. Chloe wants to play it cool and pretend everything is No Big Deal but she's still got some weird hang ups. So it's like on one hand she wants to kiss the girl. On the other, what if she does and suddenly the other shoe drops and Anna gets sucked up by a giant tornado??

These are real issues Chloe needs to deal with in therapy.]

Yeah- wait, me of all people?

[Still drifting closer, Chloe stops a foot or so away from Anna, giving her raised eyebrows.]

Well, yeah! [Anna gives Chloe an incredulous look. How could she not understand this when it's so incredibly obvious.]

Because you're, like...the coolest person I've ever met. You're really funny, and...you're way more gutsy than I could ever be, actually.

[Wow. Be still her heart.

No one's ever... said that to her before?? At least not really since she met Rachel, but even then it was... her being the one to say those things. This is kind of new territory.

But thank fuck Anna made it easy to turn it right back around on her so she isn't the one being overly vulnerable.]

Wow. You sound so gay for me right now, I'm not sure how to feel about that.

[WINK WINK]

Edited 2018-01-27 20:24 (UTC)

[Anna half-laughs, but it's obvious when something bothers her, and now's the time to blurt it all out, she guesses.]

Y'know, every time you say that...I can't help but feel like you and I mean very different things by 'gay'.

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