004: [visual] - Look for the girl with the broken smile Ask her if she wants to stay a while
Alexis stood outside the steps of the Sanctuary and for a moment she stared up at the building where they'd been stuck for three weeks, then down at her tablet. Her expression was confused, and there was slow growing worry in her eyes
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A few months ago he would have suggested she just pick a building she liked in the city and claim it as her own. Up until that point, nothing had seemed threatening in the city to him-- frustrating, sure, infuriating-- but not dangerous.
That however was before the dead had risen, dragged him fighting out his own residence, killed him. And before he'd been on the receiving end of a vampire bite.
No way in hell is he going to tell a teenage girl to live on her own here.
"The Sanctuary at least usually has people in it... I mean, even when we're not stuck in the damn place-- and I think there's a couple of hotels too, where there'd be other people living at least.
"At the risk of sounding like a really skeevy old man, I've got plenty of room in my place... well, place I will have once I can get the hell back to it. And unless I ever happen to be glitched heterosexual-- God forbid-- you are entirely safe ( ... )
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She was babbling, which was not surprising given what Mr. Smecker said about being glitched and skeevy old man advances and that was just something not to be thought about.
There was a pause as she stopped for a breath, and she tried to smile. "And I will live near somebody. I just need to figure out who won't mind a few science experiments."
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"Novel thought, I'm sure, but have you considered picking a separate location from your living space where you can blow sh-- where you can experiment? The smell of sulfur fumes nerver gets out of upholstery, trust me on that one."
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Of course, that had been before she'd gotten a teacher who thought smoke bombs were a perfectly benign assignment. Alexis chewed on her lip thoughtfully. "I should go looking," she mused. "Someplace away from people. Maybe a warehouse or something."
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He could be concerned, though. That wasn't exactly disallowed. And after what she'd done for him, it only seemed fair that he try and return the favor.
"You could stay with me, if you want. But I've just been here, so it's not exactly the most luxurious place to sleep."
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"I might stay nearby," she answered, hoping Stefen didn't notice said rising blush. "I don't want to be in the way or anything, especially since my science experiments tend to get--" She smiled sheepishly. "Out of hand."
On the other hand, at least she hadn't made anything explode.
Yet.
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"And I promise you'd be safe with me, Lady, as I am hopelessly and incurably shaych." And lifebonded besides, but until he heard otherwise, no one here needed to know about his connection to Vanyel.
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She had a guess, but it really wouldn't do to assume given the guess.
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Kaylee frowned down at her tablet, eyes full of sympathy. It wasn't easy, when someone you were close to went home, but for whatever stupid reason or glitch the hamsters had, it happened.
"There's room at the Ranch, if you're interested. Serenity too, if you don't mind Jayne bumblin' about on occasion." She thought that Alexis would probably prefer something grounded, though. It would be more familiar, easier to adjust to. "If you got an offer already to take, that's alright too."
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"Really, Kaylee? You wouldn't mind?" she asked. She looked ready to hug the older woman on the spot. "Stefen and Mr. Smecker have been really nice about it, but it's kind of..." The blush returned, bright now on pale cheeks. "awkward."
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"Wouldn't offer if I minded," she promised, smile only growing. "No use in lettin' a room sit empty if it'll be some good to somebody. Like a little life in the house, besides."
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She nodded, the blush starting to fade now. "Thanks Kaylee." There was a pause as she brushed a lock of bright red hair behind her ear. "I think that's why my dad let my grandma stay with us too. It keeps the house interesting."
Not that the house wasn't interesting all by her dad's doing. The space cowboy costume alone...
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The apology was awkward but genuine. B'Elanna was sorry that the girl had lost the friends that she'd made in the city - and, with them, the place that she'd been staying - but, at the same time, that was the way Taxon worked. They were bound to be a lot happier in their own world and no amount of sympathy would bring them back.
"There are plenty of rooms in the Sanctuary," she suggested. B'Elanna, for her part, spent most of her time in the Delta Flyer. Which definitely didn't have a threshold. Advice was all that she could offer.
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Kirk had earned her respect and she'd deferred to him as if he'd been her captain, despite the differences in time period and universe between them.
"I'm not," she said, "But they trapped us in the Sanctuary while they rearranged the city. It should be a while before they do that again."
And, theoretically, a while before they had the resources to do it.
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She looked up at the city, as if considering the woman's words. "I suppose so." She turned back to the screen of her tablet and smiled at the woman. "Thank you. I'm Alexis Castle."
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"Have you found anywhere to stay yet?" she asked, "There's plenty of room in my surgery, but the ward isn't exactly ... homey."
Fitz lived in her spare room, which ruled out the flat above.
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