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[jacksonian]

[ voice / video / text / in-person ]

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[doubleblind]

[Sorry, Cosima is a fountain of friendliness. It confuses everyone.]

Come on, man. You've got to help me out or I'll just bring you back the most ridiculous thing I can find, and trust me, there's some weird stuff out here, you don't want to give me that much creative freedom.

[jacksonian]

[ Um. He fidgets uncertainly a moment, trying out a few responses to this before he finally settles on: ]

Where are you even going?

[doubleblind]

California. We're already nearly there. I grew up in San Francisco, and a visit was long overdue.

[jacksonian]

Oh.

[ Huh. That's neat. And...the longer this conversation goes on, the more he's becoming convinced that she actually did mean to send this to him. And that it's not secretly mocking or mean-spirited. She really does want to bring him something. ]

I have to admit that I don't actually know what ridiculous souvenirs are like.

[doubleblind]

No one's every brought you back a tacky souvenir? A keychain or magnet or snowglobe or one of those tiny spoons?

[jacksonian]

[ He gnaws slightly on his knuckle, not quite sure how to respond. He finally settles on: honestly. ]

No. No one around me ever really traveled. And the ones who did weren't really gift-giving people. A snowglobe is one of those coconut cakes, right?

[ He's thinking, of course, of Sno Balls. ]

[doubleblind]

No, that's not a snowglobe. A snowglobe is... You know, you really have to see it. Okay, it's decided. You're definitely getting a snowglobe. Maybe something else if you have a specific request.

[You have given her a new mission to bring happiness and fun to her clone... friend? They're more friends than not friends.]

[jacksonian]

[ COSIMA MARK DOESN'T HAVE FRIENDS, GOD, RESPECT THE FACT THAT HE'S A COOL ALOOF CAPITALIST, GOD ]

Oh. Do I need to get you something back?

[doubleblind]

[NO WAY. He is a fellow clone and a friend and deserves fun and stupid gifts.]

You've really never done the gift exchange thing before, have you? I'm not bringing you back a present because I want one in return. I just thought you'd like something. You don't need to pay me back.

[jacksonian]

I thought that was how gift exchanges usually worked. That's what's done at Christmas, isn't it? I've seen commercials about that on TV.

I do have a request, though. San Francisco is known for its architecture, isn't it?

[doubleblind]

True, but this isn't Christmas. But if you wanna do a Christmas gift exchange too, I'm game.

Yeah, it is. Do you like architecture?

[jacksonian]

Lord Vorkosigan does.

[ He realizes how unhelpful that is, so he amends - though this comes after several minutes of dithering over what to call him: ]

My progenitor's father.

[doubleblind]

That doesn't sound like a gift for you...

[jacksonian]

Oh, no. It's something I'd like to give to him for Winterfair. That's their version of the Christmas festival. I'll pay you back for it. Since it's your hometown, I assume you'd know something interesting you could get there.

[doubleblind]

Ah, okay. Yeah, that I can do. I'll find something cool for him.

[jacksonian]

I'd really appreciate it.

[ He flexes his fingers and practices typing a few moments before he manages this unfamiliar word: ]

Thanks. And I hope you have a good time out there.

[doubleblind]

No problem. You're still getting a weird souvenir, don't think you've gotten yourself out of that with a request for someone else.

[jacksonian]

Oh. Well. I guess that's all right.

[doubleblind]

Brace yourself for the coolest snowglobe I can find.