(no subject)

[vance_prime]

The snow has finally cleared from Greenbrier. The Resistance moves at dawn. They're as ready as they're going to get, which even Alyx has to admit isn't much.

All that's left is to get a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done.

Hence, we find Alyx in the Bar, doing her meditation exercises in the hopes of settling her mind enough to sleep. So far, it's not working.

Comments

[hello_freak]

We're sure that the footsteps stalking towards her and the exasperated sigh that accompany them don't aid her meditation, nor does the sound of a body slumping into one of the arm chairs beside the fire.

A bass voice informs a passing wait rat, "Tea. Bring a whole pot."

[vance_prime]

It's not a voice Alyx recognizes. She opens one eye a crack to look for its source.

[hello_freak]

Human. Male. Early thirties, perhaps. Extremely tall, whip thin build. Mop of shaggy black hair falling into his face. Sitting cock-eyed in the chair, one leg over the arm, fingers steepled under his chin.

He left his peacoat and scarf on the rack by the door, so he's just in a grey suit, a bit worn but presentable. He's currently glaring into the fire with intent blue eyes.

"Sorry, did I disturb you?"

His tone says he doesn't particularly care one way or the other.

[vance_prime]

"...not really?"

Not like she's getting a hell of a lot of meditation done, anyway.

[hello_freak]

His brow furrows minutely, and he shoots a glance her way.

One eyebrow rises.

"How long?"

[vance_prime]

"How long what?"

[hello_freak]

His gaze flicks to her belly and back, his expression cool.

"I would guess you're in your last trimester."

[vance_prime]

"--ohhhh, okay. Yeah, not quite yet, give it a few more days."

[hello_freak]

His head tilts and he re-examines her physique again, his manner very clinical.

"Really..."

His brow furrows again, and his lips thin.

"Twins?"

[acts_of_gord]

There's someone else who's having trouble with sleeping as well, for whatever that's worth. But then again, for him it's nothing new. He hasn't slept properly in years of subjective time.

He'll be sitting and watching Alyx for a bit; it's something of a fond pastime for him.

[vance_prime]

After about five or ten minutes, Alyx shifts positions in the hopes of finding one that's more relaxing, and spots Gordon out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh. Hey."

[acts_of_gord]

The corners of his mouth turn up a moment. Alyx of all people knows it's a fond smile, on him.

"Hey," he murmurs. "How're you holding up?"

[vance_prime]

"Can't sleep," admits Alyx. "You?"

[acts_of_gord]

"About the same," Gordon admits. "Never been to South America before."

[vance_prime]

"Ditto. I just hope we run into some people who speak a language other than Portuguese."

[acts_of_gord]

"Brazil was a pretty diverse country," Gordon says. "We've got a good chance of hitting Spanish speakers, if nothing else."

(Watch, with his luck, they'll find a relocated cluster of Surinamese who all speak Dutch.)

[vance_prime]

"Mmm." Alyx nods and falls silent for a long moment. Then she half-crawls, half-sidles over to Gordon's chair to lean against his legs.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle wanders over to Alyx, carrying two strange, sling like things. She's modified the baby carriers a bit, as the original manufacturer didn't plan on their devices potentially being used under combat conditions.

[vance_prime]

Alyx... has no idea what those things are, and it shows on her face.

[aeons_crackshot]

"I was asking Bar what you and Gordon might find useful, and she gave me something like these," Annabelle explains. "They're for carrying babies around when you need to have your hands free. Clever idea, really."

[vance_prime]

"Oh!" Alyx brightens a bit. "Thank you."

[aeons_crackshot]

"You're welcome," Annabelle replies, beaming. "I modified them a bit, as the original manufacturer didn't take the possibility of mom or dad carrying weapons into account."

[vance_prime]

That makes Alyx hesitate.

"If you're under enemy fire, I'm pretty sure putting a baby right in front of your center of mass is a very bad idea."

[aeons_crackshot]

"You can sling them on your back or your hip too," she points out. "But there's really no place you'd want them to be if you're in a firefight."

"I figured that if that situation came up, you'd only be carrying them long enough to get them somewhere out of the battle."

[vance_prime]

"Okay, fair enough." Alyx shifts positions and stretches a bit. "How've you been?"