compnetwork | Backdated to May 13, VIDEO

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Backdated to May 13, VIDEO

[It's taken the better part of the day for Alex to get his bearings and settle into the cramped lodgings that have been provided for his use. The place is a far cry from the one he used to have, it makes him quite glad he never had many belongings. Fitting things in here would be a nightmare.

He's examining the one object he did receive rather dully, slowly turning the clear container around in his hands and eying the powder inside as it shifts about. An inconsequential piece of junk for most people but for him it's going to be a constant reminder of the past. More immediately it's reminded him there's something he needs to ask this new madhouse, boy won't this be fun.]

So, this clearly isn't another F3. Not sure if I should be relieved or not about that, guess I'll reserve my judgement for the time being. I've still got questions though, very important questions.

First off, are there any others here from the Facility? You can't miss them, gaudy collars, no survival instincts, most probably suffering from some form of post-traumatic stress. I'm actually looking for someone specific out of any that might be here... but if she is here, knowing her she'll be breaking down my door the second she sees this. [That thought brings a flicker of a smile, but it instantly dies away when he considers that she might not be here. He shakes his head and pushes that prospect to the back of his mind, it's not something he wants to dwell on right now.]

Secondly, if anyone recognizes me at all it'd probably be better for everyone involved if you just spoke up now. I'd really hate to find out about that second hand, it could lead to all sorts of unpleasantness.

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[He strokes her hair gently, just as he always does to soothe her. Internally there's a bit of anger welling up inside of him, the fact that she had to spend even so little time without gives him the urge to punch the person responsible for bringing them here. He knows how badly it effects her when he's not there, making her suffer that is unforgivable.]

Sorry, sorry, the train was late. [There goes his humor again. It's for both their sakes, making a light of the situation will turn the whole thing into something they can laugh at rather than dwell on.] I hope you didn't get into any trouble without me keeping an eye on you.

[ Her hold on his jacket slackens, but it's hard to tell if it's because of him stroking her hair, the joke, or just the knowledge that he's here with her. It's most likely all three at once; it's hard to stay ill at ease when he's holding her. There's even a smile tugging the corners of her lips upward. ]

Nothing I couldn't get myself out of. I guess you behaved the best you could?

[He makes a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat while he considers the question.]

Well I haven't entered into any feuds, haven't killed anyone, and haven't demolished anything. So yeah, I'd say I've behaved pretty well.

[ Good, no one's given him any grief. She doesn't have to rip off an arm or a leg or a head, though it's almost a pity. She'd actually rather like ruining someone's day because they ruffled his feathers. ]

After hearing that, I want to ask if you're sick, but that's a ridiculous thing to ask.

I wouldn't worry too much, it seems there's going to be plenty of time for me to change that.

[And let's be realistic, it'll probably take him a day before half this city wants him dead.]

What about you? Made any new friends I should know about?

[ She shrugs before pulling back slightly to adjust the front of his shirt for him. ]

You're just a troublemaker. I've come to expect it. [ Pot calling the kettle black. She practically brushes his statement off as if it's just a bug to be swatted away. ] I don't make friends.

And that's what I'm worried about.

[He fixes her with a serious look, staring unblinkingly into her eyes.]

Is there anyone that's given you trouble, anyone at all?

[ It's a stare she gives right back to him in the midst of fixing one of his buttons. God, Alex, why can you never button your shirt right? ]

No. This place is surprisingly...boring. There are creatures that appear during a certain time of night, but other than that...

[Because buttoning shirts properly is for squares, that's why. That and because he knows if he doesn't she'll do it for him, it's one of those little things that always gets him to smile.]

I'll take boring over that damn space station any day... I'm glad that you're alright.

[ She ceases to mess with his shirt and instead briefly glances up at him before her eyes focus intently on his collar. ]

Lily came with me. I left extra food for her for tonight, so I don't have to...leave.

[ Because letting him out of her sight is anything but attractive right now. She's had happy moments like this before, and she doesn't want to risk him vanishing the second she lets her guard down or lets him out of her sight. ]

So we're all here then.

[He's perfectly okay with her staying, in fact he'd insist on it if she didn't already intend to. There's no way he'd leave her alone again after she had to spend a few days without him.]

Maybe we should just move in... [He cuts his sentence off as he looks around the tiny apartment, suddenly feeling very annoyed. These places just wouldn't support two people and a dog at once, there's no damn room!] I'm going to have to figure out how to get a bigger place for us, aren't I?

You don't need to. I don't mind the smaller space. [ It's really no different than the apartments they're used to. Well, actually, it's more like the rooms they used to live in for F1. Just with less torture and more floors. It's not something she minds, being so used to it. ] Everything here is too spread out anyway.

[He actually bristles at that.]

I'm not letting my wife live like a canned tuna if I can actually help it.

Edited 2013-05-17 03:49 (UTC)

[ She supposes she should have expected that reaction from him. He's always been unfailingly eager to get her what he feels she deserves, even if she doesn't mention wanting it at all. ]

I don't like the open spaces...

I know, Kitten, I know.

[He smiles and lifts up a hand to stroke her cheek. As much as he'd love to give her everything under the sun he tries to be mindful that some things are just too much for her.]

It doesn't have to be wide open, just less cramped than this.

Edited 2013-05-17 04:05 (UTC)

[ Slowly her smile comes back, helped tremendously by his touch. It's easily the most comforting thing she's felt in days, banishing her worries the instant his hand touches her skin. ]

As long as you're there, it doesn't matter that much to me what we live in.

[She gets a small kiss as a reward for that. The more she's smiling the better it makes him feel, easing both the guilt over not being there for her and whatever concerns he may have about this change of scenery.]

Somehow I knew you'd say that.

[ She doesn't care if he's teasing or not. The kiss makes it even better, and her grin grows wider. ]

It's what you'd say too.

[He tilts his head and considers her words for moment, then nods.]

Yeah, you've got me there.

[ She lets out a "hmph" in amusement, then settles against him, still hugging him tightly. ]

You're really here. [ It's spoken solely for her own sake, for further proof he's there in her arms. She can hear him and feel him holding her, but the clarification is nice. ]

[He continues to stroke her hair as she settles in, holding her just as tightly in return.]

And that's never changing. [Something he knows for a fact, but voicing it out-loud is something they both need to hear. It makes the truth of things that much more solid.]

[ Hearing him say it makes it all the better. Where she could doubt her own words, she doesn't doubt his for an instant. ]

Good.

[For a few minutes Alex is content to just stand there and hold her, petting her hair in total silence. Sadly they can't stay like that forever, but when he does pull back and break the silence it's with no shortage of regret.]

So what's the plan? If there even is one yet.

[ Dammit Alex, she was perfectly fine with just holding you. ]

Plan? What plan?

[Sorry Lucy, but there's scheming to be done!]

The plan for what we should do about the new mess we're in, of course. I'm not about to just sit back in this apartment and go domestic, are you? [And there's one of his grins that can only mean trouble.]