Cora accepted the little ice sphere, holding it in her hand and letting it sooth her fingers. Chalk washed away and revealed a few little scratches, but nothing bad. She had done worse just screwing around in the gym.

He deflected the questions initially, which confirmed what she had already seen. Heck, she could see the different threads on him. He had his share of relationship, or rather, lack thereof. Maybe that was what caused him to dance between honesty and trying to avoid commented on it. She was a little happier though she at least ranked higher. She could handle that.

"I don't really try to impress guys very often. They seem to take a hit to the ego pretty hard," she said in a thoughtful voice. Then she looked over and smirked. "Girls, I have impressed a few of those. That scare you?" It was true, she dated a few more women than men. But there were flaws to both. She found it easier to be casual with a guy, they were less likely to get attached.

”Not sure I’m like most guys.” Sam said repeating what he had often from women when they described themselves. He cringed and started to laugh following it up so the day with Cora would end then and there. ”
I mean, pretty sure my ego can handle some hits.” he smirked staring off at the people walking in and out of the building. No one was ever worried about that especially Sam.

”And should it?” Sam asked curiously, ”Just means we have that much more in common.” he said with a little laugh. He recalled saying that to Serena recently he hoped his interactions here would turn out better than with her. ”Never bother me too much.” Sam said truthfully. Love or lust after who you want as long as both parties were into it, it didn’t bother Sam either way.

”Why you waist time trying to impress the wrong guys?” Sam asked jokingly. ”Not like I never wasted my time trying to impress the wrong girls.” Sam shrugged, ”Live and learn. None of them could ride or climb like you so I’m already doing better there.” Sam said pushing himself up after a moment.

”About that ride down.” Sam said as he opened his arms. ”I can carry you or you are gonna have to hang on.” he smirked, ”and no, this isn’t my way of getting you close. Just a happy coincidence.” he winked.

Cora quirked an eyebrow at him, and laughed about the ego comment. She rolled her eyes as the laugh dissolved into a smirk, ”If your ego can take the hits does that mean you need to come down a few notches? Because there are other things we can try next time. We can backpack to a real cliff and take another shot at this. Eventually I’ll get one up on you.” she bragged.

Something in common huh? Cora grinned a bit more competitively, ”Guess it’s only a problem if we pursued the same person. Then you would really take a blow to the ego when you found out you still lost.” Thinking about it actually sounded fun. Going to a bar and seeing who could pick someone up first. A true challenge.

He mentioned the ride down and she stood, holding on but not with a death grip like some girls might do. Tight enough not to fall, and certainly to satisfy his interest in being close. ”Hey be careful or its as close as you’ll get.” she warned playfully.

”Yes ma’am. Sam said nodding his head wrapping one arm around her back as she held on to him. ”What if I always feel like I win though?” Sam asked as he used his free hand and shot some ice from the cliff face. The icemancer took a step forward then leaned forward.

Depending on who he was sliding with the ride might have felt like forever it was a pretty quick decent that turned into a corkscrew the further forward they went. Sam wanted to make sure he didn’t occupy Cora’s entire gym nor did he want her to think he was showboating the entire time. Sam leaned to one side with the turn the way you would while you rode a motorcycle that should at least in Sam’s opinion be somewhat familiar to her.

”Man, could have destroyed your time climbing.” Sam said as they got to the bottom of the slide. Sam tightened his one armed hug around Cora and held tight at the little jump at the end of the slide. Once they landed he let go and smirked, ”Be lucky I didn’t throw more jumps in there, would have to start charging me to set up a course here. Everyone would want a ride.”

”Pretty sure that was careful right?” Sam asked raising an eyebrow.

Cora considered his question, "If you always feel like you're winning then we will just have to change the bets. You only get a drink when you lose. I can be creative." The two of them hanging out could either be a lot of fun, or it would turn into two stubborn showoffs fighting for attention. So far, she didn't have a clear verdict on that.

When they reached the bottom she got her feet under her easily. It had been fun, actually, taking his fast path down. They may have a little clean up to do later, but that was normal in this part of the gym. He hadn't gone into the main area at least. "I don't think they would pay to ride the slide down, but maybe to climb an ice wall up. You underestimate the clients here. I mean, we are climbing rocks for fun." she joked.

She considered his question. "I think it was careful enough. I mean, you already won the race to the top. And I still get a drink out of it. I feel like this was more a benefit for me in the end," she remarked. Now that they were on solid ground, Trish went back to the other area of the gym, and things resumed a more typical operation. Well, typical while avoiding the ice currently in the mutant zone.

”Sounds fun.” Sam agreed. ”So I would never drink then.” he agreed more smirking this time. ”When and where and I’ll be there.”

”Ice wall?” Sam asked thinking. ”I’d have to refreeze it pretty often otherwise it would break off in chunks.” Sam said scratching the back of his head the more he thought about it. He never thought to use his power that way. Ice wall for protection not for climbing.

Sam noticed Cora’s employee walking away leaving just the pair. ”Well if you want I could do an ice climbing wall for you.” Sam said as he focused on his ice slide and started to deconstruct it. The ice started to break apart before it turned to snow, mist and then gone.

Nodding his head happily at his ability to hide evidence he was at places. ”Oh? Losing a race to the top is a benefit? I mean, you could have just asked to by me a drink.” Sam smiled pretending that she was going to pay for his drink.

When and where... Cora gave a devious smirk then answered. ”Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Sam's Point. Get there however you want and I’ll have the drink for you. Thursday, 5:00.” She didn’t give details on how far away the trail was. From experience it was almost two hours on her bike, but the trails were worth it. If it was winter, the caves would be too.

She watches as he took down the ice, fishing out a pen from her bag. Like any good old school date, she grabbed his hand and put the number there in sharpie. If he was smart he would write it down before it washed off.

”There are benefits to beating me or losing to me. You just won’t know which until it happens. You like whisky?” she winked, and then walked away to leave him with a sense of mystery. ”I’ll see you Thursday then!”

>>>>”Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Sam's Point. Get there however you want and I’ll have the drink for you. Thursday, 5:00.”

Sam raised an eyebrow and smirked, ”Sold.” he only heard his name and state park and that was enough to piece together the rest. He thought for a second to himself wondering if he named a park after himself. It sounded like a good idea. He’d have to do some research into the files his older self left him. There was a bar, half a dozen warehouses and a bunch of land in the outskirts of Canada towards the Artic circle how he got that he had no idea but was sure he’d find out at some point.

His hand moved and got a number on it, good hand. Sam looked at it then looked to Cora and nodded his head, ”Irish.” because bourbon was about as bad as country music and he didn’t want to have that conversation again.

”It’s a date!” Sam yelled after her as she started to walk away making sure at least one of her employees heard. Sam smirked and took a photo of his hand and then decided that he’d head home to the mansion and do a little research on the location.