(Untitled)

[acts_of_gord]

They're about two days away from the assault on the dead zone gene worm, and Gordon still hasn't figured out his exit plan. True, they could go with what worked for Shephard, or they could try an alternative variant, but he'd like to have something a little more reliable lined up if possible. He needs time to brainstorm, so he's slipped off to

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[a_mere_child]

Eventually, he is joined by his fiancée.

"Hey, you."

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon looks up and offers a smile. "Hey," he says, pushing the papers aside. "How're you doing?"

[a_mere_child]

"Mmm... could be better," she admits as she sits heavily on the seat next to him. "Hormones."

She'll spare him a more thorough description.

[acts_of_gord]

That gets a wince. It's something he can literally only imagine. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Hey, you never know around here.

[a_mere_child]

"Other than putting up with me if I start acting like a total nut case? Not really," says Alyx. "But thanks for the offer."

[acts_of_gord]

"I can do that," Gordon says. And that's all he says, because while he's lost a lot of his old habit of silence, he's aware that there are still more than a few conversational minefields out there, and elaborating on the prospect is one of them. He does, however, reach over to squeeze Alyx's hand gently. That's generally pretty safe.

[a_mere_child]

Alyx squeezes back and murmurs "Thank you."

After a bit: "So, uh, how's it going?"

[acts_of_gord]

"Not too badly," Gordon says, looking at his papers. "I got some advice from a woman who had to fight her way out of a creature probably about the size of a building, and another woman promised to put me in touch with her boyfriend, who had similar experience. Most of it involved digging, but that's still something."

[a_mere_child]

Alyx smirks a little. "It's too bad we don't have lightsabers, then you could just cut a big hole and walk right out..."

[acts_of_gord]

"I wouldn't be a very good Jedi. I get angry." Gordon shrugs. "It'd be a useful tactic, though, I'll give it that."

[a_mere_child]

"So do I," points out Alyx. "At least you never punched somebody because you were mad at a third party."

[acts_of_gord]

"I had some of that trained out of me after I knocked out my brother's teeth," Gordon says. "Mom dragged both of us to therapy. A lot."

[a_mere_child]

"What was that like?"

[acts_of_gord]

"A lot of talking," Gordon says. "Mostly from the therapist, at first. She asked questions, and then she'd sit back and wait for an answer. And then she'd stop anybody who tried to interrupt whoever was answering. I didn't get to explain anything I'd done or said until Mom or Jay was done talking, and the same for them." He considers for a moment. "I think that helped Mom realize what was going on more than it helped either of us. Jay was eight. I was six. Kids aren't all that reasonable at that age."

[a_mere_child]

"Speak for yourself," says Alyx teasingly. "I was completely reasonable when I asked for a jet engine for D0G."

[acts_of_gord]

"Okay, boys aren't all that reasonable," Gordon says. Then he pauses. "Did you get one?"