Damn Loompas.

[acts_of_gord]

Some days are longer than others. Days where the weather outside is rainy and bleak, and an attempt to get to the target range involved several falls and a lot of scratches and mud, and the sleep the night before had been poorer, thinner stuff than usual are a fine example of this. All Gordon wants at the end of a day like this is the chance to get warm and put on dry clothes.

There is, however, a slight problem. Namely: the door to room 287 is not there.

And the replacement, a life-sized, hyper-realistic sculpture of Han Solo encased in carbonite- which appears to have been made from dark chocolate- does not seem to have a knob or handle of any kind...

Comments

[acts_of_gord]

"I'm really not the one to ask," Gordon admits. "I'm not- even by my time's standards I'm not good at this. If it helps at all, I'm almost as at sea as you...?"

[vance_prime]

"Mngh." She lifts her head just far enough to look at him. "At least you have some idea of where to start."

[acts_of_gord]

That draws a smile, at least, even if it's on the self-deprecating side. "True," he says. "You're a fast learner, though. You'll catch up soon enough, I'm sure."

That much is true, and not worth getting embarrassed over. The color's receding already.

[vance_prime]

And there it is. That smile. Is this the 'odd feeling in the stomach' Gordon was talking about?

She smiles back. "Thank you, Gordon."

[acts_of_gord]

"You're welcome. It's the truth," Gordon says. And finds himself a little bit at a loss for words; he lets out a huff of breath, trying to think what ought to come next-

"But as long as we are coming at this from such-" He waves a hand vaguely. "Different directions? Positions?... anyway, could you do me a favor? Warn me if I say or do something that's... you know, not what you were expecting to hear? I'm not used to talking things through."

[vance_prime]

Alyx lets out a little nervous giggle. "I don't really know what I am expecting, but okay."

[acts_of_gord]

"Thanks," says Gordon, relieved. "We'll figure this out eventually, I'm sure."

Well, he hopes, anyway.

"And... now I'm at a loss again, I think. Where were we?"

[vance_prime]

Good question. "Deciding who's going to sleep where?" offers Alyx. "I can sleep on the floor if you want, I can get a good night's sleep pretty much anywhere..."

[acts_of_gord]

"No, it's your room," says Gordon. "I'll take the floor. I don't mind."

[vance_prime]

"No, really, it's fine. You're used to sleeping in beds like this. I'm not."

Dammit, Gordon, I'm trying to do you a favor here! Take the freaking bed!

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon glances doubtfully at the bed a moment; it doesn't sit right with him to be someone's guest and turn them out of their own, but... well. "If you're sure," he says, "then... all right, I guess. Thank you, Alyx."

[vance_prime]

Alyx nods. "Don't worry about it."

[acts_of_gord]

Another small, uncertain smile, but it's a real one for all that.

He'll think of a proper way to thank her in the morning.