Reading by the River ((open))

[Aqua]

Emily gave a small smile again. "There are quite a few options for my ad already," she remarked. "Sounds like I might get myself some very busy time this fall."

[Odin]

::Odin returned the smile with a small one of his own.:: "Being busy will be worthwhile. It'll help you with the adjustment to higher learning."

[Aqua]

"That is true," Emily said. She paused, then asked, "Do you think combining work and studies is doable?"

[Odin]

"If half the students in the country are any indication, I'd say so," ::Odin confirmed, in perhaps a roundabout way. A number of the others when he'd been a student had worked through their education; he had, and although he hardly had a Nobel, he considered his current course in life to be fulfilling.::

[Aqua]

"Well, in that case, I probably have little to worry about, other than my diligence," Emily remarked.

[Odin]

::Odin was better at holding his tongue than he might otherwise give off, considering how people reacted to his sense of humor. As such, he kept his "and your purity" remark to himself. It was nothing more than a humorous barb to him, but most wouldn't see it that way, and all the better to avoid being slapped. He chose, instead, to nod in agreement.:: "Diligence and practical jokes."

[Aqua]

"Practical jokes?" Emily asked. "Oh, I don't worry about those. Like I wouldn't worry about death. It's horrible and it will happen to me eventually, but there's nothing I can do about it, so I choose not to worry. Neither about death nor about practical jokes."

[Odin]

"You could always plan a few," ::Odin suggested wryly. Not that he would advocate them, but he also wouldn't keep a person from them. And it might give her a sense of freedom, depending on which practical jokes she tried.::

[Aqua]

"I'm sure those would be rather clumsy," Emily said. "Anyway, do I look like someone who would attempt practical jokes?"

[Odin]

::The question sounded genuine enough to Odin, or rather, it wasn't blatantly teasing enough to bypass the compulsion. As such, he had to reply with an honest answer, but once free, could, and did, return to banter.:: "No, you don't, but you know what they say about judging a book by its cover."

[Aqua]

Emily chuckled. "What cover?" she asked. "I'm an open book. I really am. I can't even tell a decent lie when I need it."

[Odin]

::Odin could no longer lie, either. Not that he had been in the habit of lying each time he spoke, but the ability to conceal information was invaluable, and he was without the resource. He still had his observation skills, which helped to balance the disadvantage, rather than give him an advantage.:: "To do a practical joke, all you need to do is engineer it, and then hide. You needn't lie about it."

[Aqua]

"If you insist," Emily didn't argue. For some reason, he chose to stick to the subject of practical jokes; she couldn't see why it was necessary.

[Odin]

::Odin had no particular fascination with practical jokes; however, he enjoyed pursuing most topics of conversation, and making points. There were times when he thought he should have gone into Academia, although he had no particular drive for it. He preferred his life as it was.:: "In all honesty, I don't."

[Aqua]

"Could've fooled me," Emily smiled. She glanced at her watch. "You know, fun as it is, I better go. I haven't eaten anything for a few hours."