He hasn't seen her before. To someone else, that might not count for much, but for Eames, the realization of it, sinking in as his gaze skims over the figure seated on the edge of the trampoline, gives him two reasons to very quickly reach one conclusion. First, he would remember someone who looked like that, and second, as someone who studies people, can no longer do so as a profession but has made up for that by using it as his chief source of entertainment, it seems unlikely that he would be idly walking by a complete stranger.
Unless she were new.
"Settling in alright, love?" he asks lightly, as if the question were the most natural thing in the world. Whether she'll make anything of it or not, he has no idea, but he never can resist the opportunity for a little fun.
It's reasonable that he would recognize her newness so quickly. The island population is small, their efforts and organizations grassroots, personal by necessity. A new face among them could certainly be a novelty, but still, Natalia marks her new companion for quick witted straight away.
"As well as can be expected," she says, showing him a friendly smile before she pulls her eyes away, not wishing to appear too curious. Touching the hem of her dress, Natalia adds, "I've only been here a few hours yet."
"Very new, then," Eames says, head tipping to the side, returning her smile easily, though deliberately. It isn't like he thinks it much of a feat, but it's still nice to have confirmation that he was right, that he hasn't lost his touch entirely (not that he'd ever think he has, but with so little to do in a place like this, he'll take what he can get). "Well, I'm sure you've heard it already, but allow me to say welcome."
"Thank you," says Natalia, smiling up at him again. "Natalia. You're only the third person I've met." Her eyes pass over the Compound, its toolshed, the chicken coop and the barn, the pub in front of them. If she breathes in deep, she can catch the scent of baking bread on the air. "You've all found no shortage of ways to keep yourselves entertained."
"It would seem that way, doesn't it?" Eames asks wryly, almost amused. For someone so new, she really does seem to be handling it well; a lot of people, he thinks, would still be disoriented right about now. He likes that she isn't. "To tell you the truth, it's not half as exciting as this looks, but we make do."
It isn't exciting, a thought Natalia does not entertain to be cruel. Magic though the island may be, it's more peaceful than any place Natalia's yet visited, naught but the sound of wind in the trees and the distant crash of waves to be heard over their conversation. She's certain her complacence will fade, but at present, the quiet is a relief.
"It seems very calm here," she says, looking more uncertain than she feels when she adds, "You don't seem a man who takes kindly to boredom."
"Never have, darling, and never will," Eames says, like it's a necessary reassurance coming from a stranger. It's true, though. No matter how long he spends here - closing in on a year now, a fact that's only mildly unsettling - he doubts he could ever let himself really grow accustomed to this way of life. He's adaptable, yes, but he still craves something more. "Name's Eames, by the way."
Unless she were new.
"Settling in alright, love?" he asks lightly, as if the question were the most natural thing in the world. Whether she'll make anything of it or not, he has no idea, but he never can resist the opportunity for a little fun.
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"As well as can be expected," she says, showing him a friendly smile before she pulls her eyes away, not wishing to appear too curious. Touching the hem of her dress, Natalia adds, "I've only been here a few hours yet."
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"It seems very calm here," she says, looking more uncertain than she feels when she adds, "You don't seem a man who takes kindly to boredom."
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