(no subject)

[vance_prime]

Enter Alyx Vance.

She's looking very subdued at the moment, and has a moderately-sized stack of papers under one arm.

"Bar? I need a map of North American rail lines in my world, circa 2001. The biggest one you can get me."

She takes the folded paper that materializes and heads for the biggest table in the Bar. Vance Prime has work to do.

[ooc: Open until it scrolls.]

Comments

[acts_of_gord]

"... sorry."

[vance_prime]

"No, it's okay," says Alyx. "It's just... a little weird, y'know? Dating a guy who's technically twenty-five years older than me?"

[acts_of_gord]

"It's not that much easier from my side," Gordon says. "People used to make all kinds of comments about men in their forties or fifties who dated women in their twenties."

[vance_prime]

"But you're not, really," says Alyx. "I mean, chronologically you are, but..."

[acts_of_gord]

"But if you had to identify how old I was by biological or forensic markers, you'd say you were looking at a twenty-seven-year-old-" He pauses. "Huh. You know, if you count Bar time... twenty-eight-year-old male."

[vance_prime]

Alyx shakes her head. "It's so messed up here. I've had two birthdays here, and you haven't had any."

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon thinks for a while. Eventually he nods. "I think you're right," he says. "I've been here long enough to be due a birthday, but I haven't had one. Not here, anyway. And at home it's still the wrong time of year altogether."

[vance_prime]

"Same here," says Alyx. "But I'm sure we could work something out..."

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon shrugs. "If we're still here in January by the local calendar, do it then," he says. "My birthday's the twelfth."

[vance_prime]

"I'll keep it in mind," promises Alyx. "--on that note, Christmas is probably coming up soon..."

[acts_of_gord]

"Huh. I think you're right," Gordon says. "Got anything you'd like?"

[vance_prime]

"I dunno, does Santa have a Combine-killing superweapon he can put in my stocking?"

[acts_of_gord]

"You might have to settle for some candy canes," Gordon says. "But I'll see what he's got."

[vance_prime]

"Well, what about you? What do you want for Christmas? Or your birthday?"

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon starts to say something about being so lucky this year that he doesn't need to ask for more; then he stops, remembering.

"You know... I never did get around to building a bike to go with yours."

[vance_prime]

Alyx's smile broadens.

"That just might be doable."