milliways_bar | (no subject)

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In the last few weeks, he's been keeping hours that start before dawn and end deep into the darkest hours of the night. He looks it, too, enough so that a few media reporters have inquired.

When they do, Gabriel just smiles and tells them that some things are worth giving up a little sleep for.

Still, he knows he can't keep this pace up forever. He doesn't care-- it doesn't matter, as long as he can keep going long enough. Which means, of course, that he's got to find at least a little more time to rest, and soon.

With that in mind, Gabriel brings a sheaf of documents with him to Milliways, and settles at a side booth to review them. If he can get a few hours' work done here instead, then he can spend those extra hours sleeping back in New Mayfair.

Or so he hopes.

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After about half an hour, a waitrat comes over, bearing a small carafe of coffee and a cup to go with it. It's accompanied by a small note, scrawled:

Nǐ chǒu fán máng -- wǒ wàng zhè yuán zhù.

Kaylee

She's sitting over near the bar, though not at the bar, with a cup of tea and a book, head down.

She hasn't seen Peter Petrelli today, and she doesn't know whether to be glad or sorry.

He reads it, then looks around the room, finally spotting her at the bar. Gabriel takes a pen and adds to the note, then sends it back.

It does, xièxie nĭ. What would make it even better is if I might convince you to share your company with me, if you're not too busy?

Well.

Maybe it won't be an exercise in masochism or antagonism. Stranger things have happened.

Kaylee slips the card inside her book to mark her place, and brings the book and her cup along with her.

"Ni hao." With a small smile -- warm, but small.

(And a little curious, and a little concerned -- he does rather look like hell, not that she'd say as much.)

"Nĭ hăo." Gabriel's tired, but the answering smile he summons up is cordial and sincere.

"I'm glad to see you -- you're well, I trust?"

"Oh, I'm doin' all right." Quick, as though it doesn't matter.

She's got her fingers curled around the handle of her cup. "How about you?"

"Fine -- well, busy, of course, but that's nothing new."

His smile broadens slightly, and there's something of surprised wonder about it.

"Although speaking of things that are new-- I understand congratulations are in order?"

"...reckon so." With a crooked smile. "He told me he told you."

"He did. Gōng xĭ gōng xĭ, then."

Gabriel shakes his head, a little bemused.

"I'm afraid I'm still getting used to the idea of being a grandfather."

"Xiexie" Kaylee picks up her cup of tea. "And -- it's a hell of a thing to get used to."

"That's certainly true, but it's a pleasant one all the same."

Kaylee nods. "Yeah." That's quiet.

If it's putting his mind at ease, that's good.

Then again, there's what she told Peter.

What puts his mind at ease might not be what puts hers at ease.

"I'm sure Regan would love to talk to you about it," he continues. "If you needed--"

He catches himself there, almost visibly.

"Although I don't suppose you would."

...that's not helping much, with the ease-putting.

But he's tired, and looks it. And Kaylee knows that they don't exactly do a good job at communicating during the good times.

Least she can do is ask and see, before jumping to conclusions. "Don't suppose I would what?"

"Need to ask any advice of Regan," he finishes, carefully. "I'm sure Constance will be able to answer any questions you could possibly have."

That gets a quick smile. "We just got back, maybe -- a week or so ago. From a visit. Spent four days or so at home."

"Oh?" Gabriel smiles back. "That must have been nice."

Smile freezes, a little, and Kaylee ducks her head, and tries to cover it up with a sip of tea.

"It was, yeah," she agrees.

That's certainly unexpected, and Gabriel realizes instantly that he's got about half a second, if that, to decide how to respond-- and whether or not to pursue it.

He curses his exhaustion, which has him just that much off balance, but even as he does so he feels the quick surge of surprise-induced adrenaline rush through him, sharpening his awareness and spurring his decision.

Gabriel reaches for his coffee and takes a sip, discreetly looking at the cup in the process and allowing her the privacy of the emotions she's so clearly trying to hide.

"I'm glad," he says, simply. After a socially correct moment, he glances back.

"But I expect it's good to get back to Serenity, too. I myself often enjoy traveling, but it's not the same as being home."

Good decision.

"Oh, shi a." Kaylee cradles her cup in her hands. "And it'd been...a year and a half or so since we seen Mama and Daddy, and so doin' that was good, but -- four days away from everybody and you start to get a little twitchy, wonderin' where they are, and whatnot."

He doesn't show his relief. Gabriel's learned, over time, that even as much as Kaylee seems to distrust certain social behaviors from the Core-- they still seem to work very well. Much better, unfortunately, than his attempts to be open and familial had, before.

Besides, he's still reeling over something else she's just said.

A year and a half? But that's--

Quietly, Gabriel gives inward thanks for the place called Milliways once more, and says easily,

"I can see how that would be; it's never comfortable to change from something that's familiar."

A quick, crooked grin. "Don't get me wrong, though -- just as nice not havin' people underfoot everywhere, you know? Bad and good in most everything."

"I'll have to take your word for it," he says, striving for a dry tone, only it comes out a little more wearily than he'd meant it to.

Weary enough for her to notice the change, and Kaylee's gaze sharpens a little. "Everything all right? I mean -- if I can ask?"

"Dāngrán -- of course you can, Kaylee."

Gabriel scrubs a hand over his face, willing his eyes to stop blurring and the exhaustion to go away, and then gives her a small, weary smile.

"Things have just been-- very, very busy, of late."

"With the...?" She nods to the papers. "The bill thing? The IIGA?"