Okay.  Guiding.  You didn't blow up your partnership.  "Yes'm."  The response comes without a second's hesitation.  Will she accept a handhold?

Yes she will, though she will also waggle a controller at him.

"We still need both hands," she points out. 

"Oh.  You're right."  Untangle, re-controller, and get the game going?  Without breaking any controllers, having a partner who he doesn't need to protect is genuinely great, normally he's gone through three or four controllers by now.

Should it be relevant to Sara's guiding interests, doing Tai Chi makes someone sweat like the absolute dickens.

Well, it's a little gross, but it should dry soon enough. Theoretically it might improve guiding efficiency if she licked it? But only hers, and also ew? So, no comment. 

Instead, she just winds their legs back together, and focuses on the game. She has been waiting for them to come back around to the helltree so they can see it destroyed by whatever MacGuffin is going to get it this time, and she will not be deterred! 

Yeah!  They have gasoline, and a torch!  Obviously, one cannot dual-wield a jerrycan and torch.  Safety first!  So one of them will have to splash and the other can torch.  After perhaps fifteen to twenty minutes and a form change, the evil tree monster is defeated.

Tim also has wriggled his way closer to her, octopus style.  But he’s done it much more slowly than last time, and an attentive Sara might notice the fact that he never lets her out of his peripheral vision.

A semi-attentive Sara is perfectly fine with being octopus'd, however she is pretty dialed in on the game. Her attention is split between making sure she is breathing slow and deep, and making sure the monsters on-screen are not. 

"Next chapter? It is nice that this game will let you pause any time." So they can play until he's ready to go out. 

"Sure!  I think I should hit zero pretty soonish."  In this chapter, Our Heroes must paddle through a swampy wasteland, porting their bateaux across a swampland.  Both of them can paddle, but then they're vulnerable to piscine and/or avian assault.  Or both of them can defend the bateaux, but they'll be overwhelmed eventually.  Successful completion of this level will depend on their being able to smoothly coordinate who's defending from each angle, when both of them have to stand and defend, and when they just have to get the hell out of Dodge.  Their Unkillable Monster of the Week is a massive owl who's driven off by bright lights.  Thankfully, they have a handy supply of flares!

An evil owl? Nothing is sacred, is it. 

Partway through the swamp she feels him hit zero. They're in the middle of an encounter at the time, so she doesn't pause until they've beaten back the latest swamp creatures and started rowing again.

"Should we get dinner?" The game will wait for them, after all. 

"I suppose we should..."  But it's so comfy here.  "What did you have in mind?  Claudio's, or have you sworn off lasagna for all time?"

She laughs, "I think we should not Claudio's, or else I will have to be rolled out. What else is there?" 

"Hmm.  I suppose it would be counterproductive if I carried you.  Perhaps you would like some Mexican?  Their burritos are fantastic."

"Oh! Yes, burritos would be nice," she agrees, "There is one really nice Mexican place near-ish to my dorm à Québec, but other than that it is just Taco Bell." 

Tim seems to have gotten over some of his previous hesitancy, but is still not going to make any sudden moves.  Untangle the octopus legs, turn, kneel, stand.  Hand up, if Sara's willing to take it?

She is willing! 

"We need to change," she notes, once she's on her feet, "I will meet you in the lobby?" 

"Yes'm.  See you in a few minutes!"  Tim grabs a spare change of clothes he keeps around the place, has a two-minute shower, and generally freshens up.  He's changed his outfit to what could plausibly pass for a nice pair of tan dress pants and a green polo, if the viewer didn't know the Secret of the Elastic Everything.  Pop out to the lobby and wait for his business partner?

She's a little later than he is, but she emerges soon enough, refreshed and with slightly damp hair. She has traded shorts and tank-top for a pair of plaid leggings, the same black skirt from yesterday, and a red faux-turtleneck with short sleeves, and is carrying her coat and scarf under her arm. 

"I'm still a little backlashed," she tells him when she arrives. "Would you mind guiding me while we walk? It shouldn't take too much longer, I think." 

"Of course - I'm sorry, I - " wasn't paying attention??? "didn't.  Realize."  Handhold?  The polo is short-sleeved, so at least they can get tons of skin exposure.  "Or would you like me to guide you down to zero?"

"Kiyaam, it's not a lot. I should be at zero before we finish eating, I think." 

She pulls her coat on and then: handhold. Thankfully it's warm enough out today she probably doesn't even need the coat, and she definitely doesn't need gloves. 

Tim feels pretty stupid to have simply taken his partner's word that she was good instead of actually using his senses, but.    He'll simply put it on The List of things to keep in mind.  He'll also move Sara's left hand around his waist, and hold it in his left hand.  Then his right hand will go around her waist and hold her right hand.  Strolling!  Thoughtful silence!

Indeed! Also, his hat! Which she hands to him before their strolling formation is complete. 

Then they can have a lovely stroll through the mostly-snowless streets to the Mexican restaurant. 

Hat!!!  Still a thoughtful silence, but he smiles more than he had thought he might do.  He's also going to tick up his own backlash a little bit, on the theory that it'll even her out eventually.  How hard was she pushing herself, anyway?  Usually I'm the one with the problems with that.

Not too hard, based on how she zeroes out before they arrive. She gifts him with a smile for matching her, too. 

"...I don't know about you," she starts as they enter, "But I like to get out early for a hike, when the dew is still on the grass and the air tastes fresh." Though admittedly at this time of year the dew on the grass might be frozen. 

Well, I can skip class tomorrow, that's fine.  I can get private classes whenever I want, thanks, Esper Money.  "It's pretty nice in the morning, if you don't mind the chill.  D'you want to do a picnic sort of deal for lunch?"

"Oh, hm," she splits her attention between the menu above the counter and hiking thoughts, which mostly just produces indecision. 

Little smirk and squeeze of the hands.  "Get the sampler platter, then a burrito on the side.  That way you can get a good variety going.  I like the burrito bistec, but they're all good choices."