The look Tal shot her was initially wary of compliments from this woman with the clever tongue, but he couldn't find any obvious catches. He gave a wry nod of acknowledgment, afraid to say anything else that might get used against him later, and changed the subject with a snowball to her face.
Or at least, at her face. His jaw didn't quite drop as she seemed to effortlessly dodge the surprise projectile, but by the time she looked at him again his aplomb was mostly back in place and he was reaching for another big handful of snow.
This time he packed it carefully, and his lips were already tugging back up towards a grin. "It's only practice if you use the axe, right?" he called challengingly before stepping into the throw with a lifetime's practice of throwing snowballs at insufferable older sisters - this one aimed for Hotaru's left shoulder.
Or at least, at her face. His jaw didn't quite drop as she seemed to effortlessly dodge the surprise projectile, but by the time she looked at him again his aplomb was mostly back in place and he was reaching for another big handful of snow.
This time he packed it carefully, and his lips were already tugging back up towards a grin. "It's only practice if you use the axe, right?" he called challengingly before stepping into the throw with a lifetime's practice of throwing snowballs at insufferable older sisters - this one aimed for Hotaru's left shoulder.
