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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"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?"

He nods, and one corner of his mouth twists, making his smile a wry one.

"It's caused quite an uproar."

A pause.

"Perhaps a bit more of one than I'd expected, but--"

Gabriel shrugs.

"...but?" Curiously.

And a little hesitantly.

"But it's nothing to worry about," he finishes, firmly.

"That, I promise you. Neither you or Simon or River, or anyone else, will take harm from this."

Kaylee looks -- almost startled, for a moment; she picks up her teacup and doesn't respond immediately.

When she does, it's with a slightly wry half-smile. "That's...not exactly the only thing I'm worried about, but it's a pretty gorram big one." And then the wryness is gone. "Thank you. I appreciate that."

That's not the same as saying that she believes him; she's smart enough to know that that's a big promise, that nobody will get hurt.

She's also smart enough to know why he's making it.

"You're welcome. I just--"

A pause, and this time he's the one to glance aside, needlessly shifting a piece of paper and reaching for his coffee cup.

"I thought you'd like to know."

Steadily.

"And now I do." Easily -- and it sounds as though she's smiling.

"Just -- you groupin' yourself in with anybody else? It -- just looks like you been workin' a lot. Is all."

"Grouping-- shenme?"

He looks up, a little startled, and then gives her a quick, practiced smile.

It's worn around the edges.

"Well, yes, I have, but not too much-- and besides, some things are worth giving up a little sleep over."

"...don't want you to take this the wrong way, but..." Kaylee's eyebrows are raised, ever so slightly. "A little?"

There's a moment's visible hesitation, and then--

"Perhaps more than a little, yes."

Kaylee takes a sip of tea.

(At least he'll admit to it. That says something.

She's pretty sure, anyhow.)

"...can I ask what it is has it necessary for that?"

He leans back in his seat, just a little, studying her-- but it's almost automatic, and there's nothing cold about it.

Just a weary sort of curiosity, as a bit of lyric drifts through his tired mind.

Try again, you politicians...

"I sponsored the Act," he says, with a shrug. "I'm responsible for it. The more questions there are, the more challenges, the more that needs to be done in order to make sure it passes, that it doesn't get torn apart before the third reading and the vote -- the more work I have to do."

"And -- there just wasn't supposed to be this many people tryin' to poke holes in it?" Curiously; Kaylee likes to know how things work, the whys and wherefores.

Even if people aren't as easy to get as machines.

"I didn't expect quite this many, no."

It's very dryly amused.

"I did expect opposition, though."