Feb 10 01:01:31 106 PA
From Chronicles
The large garage has a small corner desk, with pieces of paper and catalogues of machine pieces on shelves against the wall. Along three od the walls, huge metal shelving units hold a variety of brown boxes, each marked with some arcane mechanics scrawl that indicates the contents. The other has a long workstation against it, and a series of hooks and shelves, upon which tools sit, in apparently random order. The workstation itself bears the weight of half a dozen dismantled machines of varying sizes. The floor is concrete, stained with oil, with patches of sand here and there. A large tub containing sand squats beside the garage doors, a shovel sticking out of the top as if someone shoved it there after use.
A row of pegs against the wall by the workstation has various coveralls, coats and other things hanging on it and a large noticeboard has a range of oil stained pieces of papers stuck to it with pins. Along the beam that runs the length of the garage, several jars have been attached with a nail through their lid. They seem to be storing small components of different sizes.
A door exits the garage, apparently allowing entrance to the upper floor by the use of a key pad.
The music blaring out is loud rock, and the garage is bright lit. The morning outside has not penetrated the little world of Caliopa, and the woman herself is there. She is seated at the workbench, her face intent as she leans over a tiny piece of work, a pressure valve. She is absently mouthing words, her thoughts within the mechanics, miles away from the place her physical body is. Her hair is loose, her body encased in the usual coveralls.
Alistair pushes the door open and all but runs in, "Cali!" he calls out between breaths as he pants, and, seeing her there, working, he closes the door behind him and sinks to his knees, his eyes closing as he leans over to catch his breath. He doesn't smell good - being among zombies does that - he's got all sorts of unpleasant stuff on him. He needs a bath - but that's it on the physical end.
She is unutterly oblivious, her face still intent, her fingers moving automatically with the tiny tools and the tiny pressure valve. "Look, it ain't that hard, you jus' gotta give when it hits..." The words are mumbled, barely audible over the loud music. The poor man doesn't even get noticed by the girl, her mind still far away.
There's the smell - it might reach her in a little while. He stays there a little longer, trying to get rid of the shaking. He looks over his shoulder at the door too now and then, as if expecting someone to come through it. All in all he's a bit out of it as well - though if she has a shower in here he's considering sneaking to it.
The smell does get through, and her forehead wrinkles. For a moment, she ignores it, and then she sits back slowly, drawing her mind from the intricate whirls of the pressure valve. She lifts her head, sniffing, wrinkling her nose. Then she turns slowly, her eyes widening at the sight of Alistair. "You stink..." She informs him, sliding from the chair, the smell not putting her off as she moves towards him. "You hurt?" There is more anxiety in that question than she might admit to.
Alistair looks up at her after a few moments of panting; "Cali, you're okay" he smiles faintly, showing perhaps the slightest signs of hysteria. "I'm okay - the elf came, and then the undead, and a lot of people got hurt again" he blurts out, "Had to check you're okay" he repeats, taking a deep breath and exhaling. That just wants to make him vomit, 'cause - the stink of dead bodies ... ew.
Her forehead wrinkles, complete confusion showing in her face, her eyes shining with it. "I'm fine?" She reassures him slowly, pulling the cloth from her pocket, wiping her hands, her gaze moving over him. "The elf? That elf from the dreams? The undead?" She goes pale, moving towards him, the hand cleaning left unfinished. "Al, you hurt at all?" Her response is instant, and she steps forward, despite the stench of him.
Alistair shakes his head "No, not hurt" not physically, at least. He just doesn't take all the killing so well. "There was this massive thing with six legs made of dead too ... uh" he pauses, and starts to stand up, "I need to get clean, yuck" his breathing is still hard, though seeing that she's fine is calming him down fairly quick.
Caliopa doesn't touch him, the stench too strong for that. "Thing? Wha..." She stops, putting practicality over her need to know. "Al, go downstairs, use the shower 'n' get cleaned up?" She suggests softly, her eyes full of concern for him. "I'll make us somethin' to eat 'n' drink, we'll talk when you get clean."
Alistair nods his head to her; he heads off to go downstairs and has the good sense to actually disrobe inside the shower; he'll take his time cleaning up, that and nearly drowning the clothes in the shower in detergent. That poor leather jacket's really going to get it. When he comes back up, he's a bit hesitant, having had just a towel to wrap about his waist. Looking at her he explains, "Clothes need dryin'." He's a little calmer now at least.
In the meantime she has found all the food she has stored, putting it on the worktop, a feast fit for a king. She turns as he arrives, a brief flash of her smile before she replies. "Take one of the coveralls? Reckon they'll fit you." She moves, taking a relatively clean one from her pegs and handing it over to him. "Clothes need real cleanin'." She comments quietly.
Alistair reaches for the coveralls, and unabashedly takes off the towel; he folds it, and then he puts on the coveralls. He has seat near the food, though he's not ready to eat yet. Looking to her he smiles back, finally, his mind bouncing back. "I put a lot of detergent on them" he says softly. "I'm sorry, my mind is spinning...I think after a fight I can't keep things straight any more."
She sits next to him, pushing a glass full of amber liquid towards him silently, with a half smile. "Reckon they might need throwing out. Smelt like somethin' died on them." She comments softly, her hand rising to brush against his cheek, a soft touch, reassuring herself. "Ain't reasonable to keep your mind still after fightin'. I always get a piece drunk." She confesses softly, her eyes still worried.
Alistair didn't look hurt, at least. He takes the glass and looks into it, then he drinks the whole thing, that paking him pant for a moment again. His gaze meets hers and he leans into her. "I- I really need you now" he whispers, then blushes, "I don't mean like that, just ... " he starts to explain and trails off, looking just a bit fidgety.
She refills the glass silently, and then pushes it to one side. And then she wraps her arms around him, hugging him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. "You could have been hurt." Obvious stating is clearly one of her strong points. "Ain't got to explain." She mumbles against his skin, sliding from the stool so she can be closer.
Alistair does eye the glass for a moment, but he leaves it be, opening his arms to hug her back. He relaxes a bit at his mind starts to clear, though the effects from the alcohol haven't come yet. "I was worried they could have attacked you" he explains, closing his eyes. "The Elf came and people tried to attack him and his friends. He was defending and then the undead came, and this big thing - it had a crystal inside it and it was made of dead. It fell apart near me and I took a piece of the crystal. It felt like...either the elf is tricking us - yes, the one from the visions - or someone else is tricking us to hurt him. That attack, like all other attacks - it was stupid."
Caliopa listens in silence, keeping the close contact as he returns her hug, letting him talk about it. She doesn't pull away, twisting in his arms to take that glass up and offer it to him as he stops. "People are stupid sometimes." She comments quietly, taking her own glass up, "Where'd the elf go? Was he hurt?" Her forehead is wrinkled as she works things out. "I weren't even ... I was workin'."
"He went with the army" Alistair replies, taking the offered glass. He takes a sip, and blushes slightly again; a sign that he's bouncing back, maybe. "There was a lot of shooting and a lot of noise, not too far from here" he smiles at her faintly, but it's a good one - "You get like that when you're working" he murmurs, "So I was worried."
Caliopa watches him, her eyes holding a world of worry. "I hope they ain't plannin' on hurtin' him." She murmurs softly, taking a sip of her own glass, watching him over the rim. "Didn't hear a thing." She comments, giving him a wry smile, her body snuggled next to him. "Ain't nothin' likely to hurt me, Al."
Alistair relaxes some more and exhales, he was still holding his breath in. "Oh?" that draws some curiosity from him, though he then answers her, "I think they were protecting him. Everyone else tried to attack him" he explains. "You're warm" the last said softly as his arms tighter around her lightly.
"Don't like to see things hurt. We ain't got a clue what he wants, what is goin' on." She shakes her head slowly, "You're cold." She replies softly, worry in those words as she snuggles against him, willingly sharing her warmth. "Ought to eat something." The choices range from cold meat, to crisps, to chocolate, to a piece of old pie.
"Me either ... " Alistair replies, and pulls her onto his lap proper; he heeds to call to eat, picking up this and that - actually, the meat is avoided for now. "Cali ... " there is a pause, "You have pretty eyes. They always calm me down" his eyes seek hers indeedfor a few moments. An odd thing to say, but perhaps it is one of those times of pure honesty.
She lets him pull her onto his lap, curling an arm around his waist for balance. The odd compliment draws both a deep blush and confusion into her face, the pretty eyes becoming puzzled. "That is real sweet..." She comments softly, the words trailing off, her eyes meeting his. "Ain't sure that meat won't walk off the plate." The blunt comment is odd for the moment, misplaced.
Alistair tilts his head a little, his expression becoming a little apologetic when he sees she's confused. Soon it's his turn, and he looks at the meat. "Oh ... " a brow hikes up a little, "Should I hit it?" the other one comes up too now, and his gaze moves back to her face. He starts blushing then, realizing what a silly question that was - but he's warming up, too now.
She returns the look steadily, but the corner of her mouth gives her away, and then the giggles start. She covers her mouth with her free hand, her eyes laughing at him over the fingertips. "Al, I meant it ain't likely fit to eat." She takes the meat and tosses it into the nearest trash can, wrinkling her nose.
"I'm slow" Alistair replies, though seeing her giggle brings back his smile, brighter. "I should bring you some fresh things next time" he offers, squeezing her tightly to him for a moment; he then makes a sound and blinks his eyes, his cheeks taking on a persistant pink color. The alcohol must be starting to hit. "Hopefuly it can't crawl out of the can."
Caliopa's gaze travels over his face, the worry in her eyes fading slightly. "Everyone tries to feed me, reckon I should be the size of a barrel." She offers softly, leaning against him for that moment, the corner of her mouth quirking slightly as she realises how much alcohol she has fed him. "Reckon you ought to go sit downstairs, get some sleep."
"Mmmm, won't let that happen, I'll help you exercise any time" says Alistair, smiling at her; he nods then, "Okay, but I - will you come wake me later? I mean ... " he blushes, he means, uhuh. "Oh ... I was reading this book, but I couldn't understand ... it was big, and it had a lot of research, but it never explained what was what ... it said most women prefer clitoral stimulation to vaginal and ... uh" he frowns faintly. "What's clitoral?"
Caliopa's blush had already started with the first few comments, and deepens as he goes on, hidden slightly as she lifts her glass to sip the amber liquid. The last question, oh that wonderfully innocent question causes her to choke, coughing as she gasps in the lovely alcohol, her cheeks deepening to scarlet. "Uh, what book?" She manages between coughs, her eyes wide.
"Umm...it was" Alistair pauses for a moment - oh this is embarassing - "The female orgasm ... " he exhales, and the rest comes quickly. "It's a really big book! I thought it would help me to pelase you better but it didn't help at all!" and that part sure was frustrating. "You'd think with a title like that ... " the blush deepens.
Caliopa stares at him, her coughing slowed to a halt. She is silent for a long moment as the internal struggle to reply to that is obvious on her face. "The female orgasm..." She repeats slowly, her eyes widening slightly. "It don't look to you like I was bein' pleased?" She asks slowly, sliding from his lap, turning away to clear the dishes away. Her gesture may look a different way than the perplexion in her face.
"Are you okay?" Alistair asks, though a touch too late. His expression changes a little as he wonders whether he said something wrong. "I didn't mean it like that" he replies, a bit of confusion striking him too. "It's ... just ... a girl's body is a bit of a mystery and I was curious ... uh" he exhales and stands up as well to walk up and hug her from behind. "Am I trying too hard?"
She stacks the dishes, her movements slow as he talks, her face puzzled. "I know you didn't." She replies and, when he hugs her from behind, she lets him, leaning back into him. "It ain't needful. I mean, unless you want to. Reckon we can find out easy enough over time what pleases 'n' what don't." She hesitates, keeping her back to him as she answers the first question in a choked voice. "That bit of me that ...kinda at the front of down there. A kinda lump thin'."
"Okay ... maybe I was rushing again. It was a bit fun too though, trying to find out" Alistair says softly, pressing a kiss to her cheek. " ... down there?" he blushes, the heat from his cheeks easily felt. "Maybe you can show me later ... um" his eyes close for a moment, "Cali, I'm really drawn to you like that. It's a strong feeling this lust, but uh - I don't mean to impose. I just want you to know, I like being with you, just like this, or otherwise. Your smile makes me happy - please forgive me for getting so physical ... I never expected that, and I really enjoy it."
She is blushing deeply, the colour touching the skin on her neck, the tips of her ears glowing. She turns around slowly, tilting her head back to look up at him. "It ain't imposin', Al." She is speaking slowly, her forehead wrinkled. "Al, seems like you reckon I ain't gettin' the same feelin's, or that you reckon I don't want you jus' as much, don't enjoy that reaction from me teasin' you a piece..." She shakes her head slowly, her eyes on his face. "Ain't any forgivin' needed."
"No ... I enjoy it all, I understand" Alistair fidgets a little, "Where I come from, maybe you remeber, everyone sort of ... leaks their feelings. It's easy to tell what they feel, maybe I'm too used to it ... I can read your reactions just fine, but I guess I worry about things too much" he smiles at her and makes a face, "And I think maybe I now worried you without need. I really like you Cali; don't change anything because I'm being silly. Maybe it's the ... being after the fight and the drink. I don't know how else to express my feelings for you right now other than this" he says softly, a hand gently touching under her chinwith his fingers as he leans in for a soft kiss on her lips - if she's willing that is.
Caliopa does look worried, her face turned up to look at him. Her gaze moves over his face, studying him thoughtfully. "I guess I ain't good at hidin' my feelin's but I guess I ain't able to send them, not like you can." Her forehead wrinkles, and she parts her lips to speak as he bends to kiss her, the kiss silencing her. She lifts her hands, lightly resting her palms against his chest, returning the kiss gently.
Alistair lingers, his lips meeting hers repeatedly, slowly, his hands roaming her back for the duration. When he does break it he leans back just a little to look in her eyes, his warm and the smile a little sheepish. "I try to tame them, Cali. They make people uncomfortable. If you want to try though, I can let go, and you tell me if you want me to stop and keep'em under wraps again." he offers quietly.
She doesn't protest that kiss, her eyes closing, the girl's eyelashes dark against her skin. "Ain't no need to tame them..." Caliopa whispers softly, opening eyes that are hazy from the kiss, her cheeks flushed. "It don't harm to feel them, but I ain't promisin' that I ain't gonna get a piece startled." She picks her words carefully, aware of her own weaknesses. "Ain't able to do it back..."
"You'll be startled...they're strong" Alistair murmurs, biting his lower lip. "I know ... I won't feel bad if you tell me to stop" he murmurs, and leans in to kiss her again; he tries to do things gradually, letting that wall down - there's a lot of feelings. Frayed nerves from the fight, a bit of worry - probably due to putting his foot in his mouth - a little bit of lust, but mostly as his lips meet hers, it's like someone turned up the volume on a love song she loves to listen to, the sort of euphoria and warmth that surrounds a person on a good moment like this.
She kisses him back, but her movements stall at the first flow of emotions, and she pulls back. Her eyes widen as she tries to untangle some of them, make them clearer in her head. Her gaze drops to the place her hands rest on his chest, blinking at the force of them, and when she lifts it again, the brown eyes are soft. "Uh, strong for real." She comments softly.
Alistair opens his eyes, a touch alarmed at first, but that fades soon enough. "Too much?" he whispers, his eyes looking back into hers. She hasn't asked him to stop yet though, so he reaches for one of her hands, taking it, tangling fingers and then turning the clasp over so he can kiss the top of her hand. There's an urge then - a desire to say something, which is then held back. He smiles at that moment, too - it's something good, or at least so he thinks. A little battle with his own impatience there.
She shakes her head slowly, bemused by his emotions but she catches that one, narrowing her eyes at him. "What?" She asks softly, her gaze staying with his eyes, her fingers deliberately brushing across his lips. "Tell me. I felt that." She is speaking softly, the sound only just reaching him above the music that still blares out.
The fun one can have with playing with someone's feelings - in a good way. The fingers draw another emotion from him which comes and goes, along with everything else: It's perhaps a bit of a high, and his lips form to kiss them. "Would you be terribly cross with me if I begged for your patience on that one? Only a few days" he murmurs. And what's in a few days? He smiles at her, a little uncertainty to what her reaction might be to his request.
Caliopa is watching his face, her lips parted, her eyes wide as she experiences the emotions he is sending. The corner of her mouth quirks slightly, a tiny warning before she moves her hand from his lip, running the fingertip down his neck, lazily exploring his chest with a light touch, a hint of teasing and promise in her eyes. "I'll wait on it." She promises softly.
Alistair smiles wider, happy with her decision to wait. Her touch though, that brings something she undoubtedly expected to - he bites his lower lip, closing his eyes. It's enjoyed in a different way, especially in the context of the teasing and promise. That high starts coming back, a desire - for her! For her luscious body no less, and her touch - it starts off mild but it quickly becomes strong ... he really is quite easy for her, even with just those couple of touches. His lips part, letting out a small breath. He doesn't let her be the only one to tease this time though, a hand slipping into her hair and teasing her ear lightly with his fingertips. And if she does like it - that there again is a different kind of pleasure.
Her emotions might not be entirely sent to his head but they reflect on her face as easily. Caliopa's eyes darken and her cheeks flush slightly, keeping her gaze on his face. A new game, this, and she plays it, teasing this power out, her fingertip running down the centre of his chest, oh so slowly, until it hits his belt buckle, sliding along the waist of his trousers. His own touch did get a response, her lips parting as she tilts her head into the touch, her eyes closing for an instant.
Emotions aren't everything though, strong as they are. He draws in a breath, his desire becoming stronger yet as she makes her desires even more clear, insofar as he can tell - he caresses her hair there still, then his hands move to caress her shoulders and quickly down to her breasts. There's a squeeze. "That night when you stayed over ... when you were sleeping, I was ... " there's some embarassment there, but the thought is making that desire throb. "I thought you wanted, but you swatted my hands away" which brings an amused feeling from him. "It was really hard to just hold you and resist. I kept thinking to the first night, when you took me in your mouth ... " more embarassment, and a little hope.
Caliopa keeps her gaze on his face, the corner of her mouth quirking, mischief entering her eyes. The two of them are stood close together, the music masking any words they speak but a picture speaks a thousand words, and this one suggests that this scene is a pace away from descending into something much less verbal. Caliopa's cheeks are pink, and she moves her hand, the one running across his trouser's waistband, lightly sliding it over his hip. "You liked that?" She asks softly, the words barely reaching him. Alistair is dressed in one of Caliopa's coveralls, his hair still damp.
Vixen comes into the garage after the low sound of her motorcycle pulling up outside. It'll be about a minute before she steps in, one of her brown, handrolled cigs dangling between her fingers, trailing a slim line of smoke. Of course, when she sees the sights, so to speak, she comes up short, a faint grin quirking on his lips. "Was coming to see if things were alright over here, but I suppose that's answered," she says. "Should I come back in an hour?" Her tone is pure amusement, she half turning, as if considering a departure just as she mentioned.
And his hands are on her breasts. Touching. To anyone sensitive to such things when coming in here - and to those not, but to a lesser degree, there's wisps of tangled emotions. Primarily something warm and fuzzy, and plenty of desire sprinkled throughout. "Yeah ... " he's blushing too, brightly. "You sto-" it was a mock accusation, but on hearing Vixen he tenses, the feeling changes a little bit to something resembling panic, and then vanishes. Mostly. His hands move to a more appropriate place one her body for public displays of affection.
Her cheeks flush deeply as she jumps, the movement causing her fingers to brush across the...ah.. more personal parts of the young man as she spins to face Vixen. "Uh, things are fine. Weren't no undead, no zombies... Not here, at least. Al here jus' got cleaned up, covered in stuff from them..." She stops herself, the awareness that she is babbling as she struggles with her own shock and the emotion from the man next to her. "Uh, did you need somethin'?"
Vixen remains half turned, her hand lifting to casually take a light draw off the cig. Taking her time for a moment to do so, "Like I said, just checking up on things." Said after she breathes out the smoke, turning a bit more towards the two again. Her expression a bit more serious. "Things are getting.. very interesting out there. Dunno if you've walked around the city yet. I know how you like to linger around here." The last said directly to Cali herself.
Alistair's face isn't going to turn a lighter shade of red any time soon. He does stay behind Cali, his hands on her waist now. "Oh ... hello Miss Vixen" he says quickly, "People are restless because of the Elf" he says, and exhales. "I ... am going to check on my laundry and finish it up" he smiles sheepishly. Things need to be taken care of!
Caliopa is pink, as she turns back to the dishes on the workstation next to them. She gives Alistair a quick grin, biting her lower lip to try and smother the speaking look she gives him. "Uh, interestin'? I ain't been outside, not since gettin' here." She replies quickly to Vixen, as she picks up the plates, "I ain't lingerin', I'm workin'." She turns the conversation to her own habits, even as she steps away from Alistair, to put the dishes in the large sink. "Al was tellin' me what happened?" The words are a question, as she glances at the other woman.
Vixen lets the subject shift without complaint, casually coming up to where Cali works with the dishes. Alistair's excuse to depart for a bit met with a simple nod. "People are going crazy out there, seems like," she says, the subject touched upon in a more sober manner. "Just hearing talk on the street, feels like people are dividing up into two camps and the government is cracking down. You might wanna prepare going out there, Cali. Heard there was shooting in the streets, but I ain't seen it yet. You don't wanna get mixed up in that unprepared."
Alistair smiles at Caliopa - there's no hiding that he's a little frustrated. A smile is given to Vixen too before he heads down the stairs to take care of this alleged laundry. Some stuff has to be washed in cold water, right? Right.
Caliopa draws water into the sink, beginning clearing up from what was apparently lunch. "Folks." She comments softly, rubbing the dirt from them, making a pile beside her. "I'll mebbe lock up for a bit, work from home." She hesitates as she finishes washing, running the water away. "I sent a note, see if I can meet with the elf." The comment is softly spoken.
Vixen arches a brow slightly at that, glancing towards Cali with a thoughtful, sidelong glance. "Yeah? You think maybe you could let me know when? Maybe take my camera with you. Not to record.. I doubt they'd left that happen, but I got some mics. Just record some sound. I'd try coming, but I figure the more that want to get in, the less likely it is."
Caliopa hesitates, drying her hands, her face thoughtful. "I ain't sure, I guess I could. Depends what is said." She replies softly, glancing at the door to the downstairs. Her cheeks flush a little more and she smiles, the corner of her mouth quirking. "Seems I missed a real fight."
"Yeah, don't worry about it. Could have been ugly as hell if that elf didn't do..whatever the hell he did," Vixen states, her head shaking slightly. "Damned if I know, almost got skewered myself, but got saved by the coat again." She pats her chest lightly over the opened armored duster. "Though I think I might get the old armor out for a while, just for general purposes once I get back to my place today."
Caliopa's cheeks darken and she glances away. "Uh, Al didn't give so many details, was more worried 'cause he turned up covered in stuff." She wrinkles her nose, the scent still hanging around the garage. "Reckon armour is a real good idea." She turns back to the worktop, pulling out a sheet of paper, holding it out to Vixen.
Vixen takes the paper and looks it over as she says, "Details are gross, that much is true. Kinda like at that rally thing, though there was something even worse that came to this party." She then pauses and studies the diagram. "Huh.. this is looking pretty good.." She looks up with a grin. "How much does it cost to make so far? Don't wanna make it too pricey, though if it works well it won't be too bad to put a nice number next to it on the shelf." She looks down at the diagram again.
"Reckon it'll cost 500 credits or so, to make the first one. Reckon it'd go down in price, more I make." She comments softly, her mind on the work, "Gonna be costly, ain't aimin' at cheap but it'll do it." Caliopa reaches out for a pressure valve on the worktop, showing the other woman how it should work.
"I guess that'll just have to do.. not like mercs lack cash anyway," Vixen states, grinning broadly. She looks over to see how the part of it in Cali's hand works. Understanding it somewhat. "Knew I could count on you, Cali. I'm alright with jury rigging things, but never got much learning in real building," she comments, laying the diagram down lightly. "This could make us some pretty good cred, I think. And make a name. What do you think we should call them?"
Alistair had the hairdryer going downt here too - when he comes back up, he's in his clothes, they're just slightly damp - fortunately it was detergent and not bleach he drowned them in. "Phew ... " he blinks his eyes, stopping at the top of the stairs. He smiles at the girls and comes over to look at the work that was done, curiously.
Caliopa's smile has a touch of pride as she turns back towards the work. "It got a glitch in it, but I'm workin' it out..." Her voice is slow, the distraction showing as she frowns at it, picking up the tool she was using. "Here, see, it already triggers, jus'..." She trails off, her mind clearly slipping off to solve the problem.
Vixen just lets Cali get back to it, seeming well pelased with matters. "A little more cred to the cause," she murmurs glancing at Alistair as he returns. "Not going to have to worry as much about vampires soon once Cali gets that little gem done. Heck, could adjust it to carry all sorts of payloads after that. Whatever's liquid will do." She lifts her handrolled cig for another draw, turning to take a few steps away from Cali. Perhaps to spare her some of the second hand smoke, though she holds this lated double lungfull for a few moments before softly releasing it. The smoke carries a distinctive smell apart from normal cigarette smoke.
Alistair doesn't disturb Cali when she gets into workmode. He does like to watch her though - inany case, since Vixen is here he does turn his attention to her. "Oh?" he smiles, and hms softly. "Hopefuly there won't be too many needed" he comments, his brows hiking up as her also gives Cali her room. He blinks his eyes at the smoke, making a comment on it: "Strange cigarette."
"Don't know about need, but times like these, people need something that makes them feel safe. Figure we could sell a lot of these to people wanting one more good weapon for that which goes bump in the night," Vixen opines, still quite pleased with matters. She glances at her cig, then grins at Alistair. "Want a hit? Heck, might help to mellow you out some and stop all that blushing. Nothing bad in it, just good quality marijuana. Not like the chemsticks that most people pollute themselves with." She extends a hand, wrist twisted to offer it up to the man.
"But some people will put acid in them to use on other people. Not that they need those, I suppose" Alistair muses, his brows hiking up for a moment. He smiles sheepishly at the offer, and waves his hands at her a little. "Thank you, I don't do any drugs at all though, interferes with things" he explains.
Vixen smirks faintly. "Like people won't walk around with guns and shoot people without them." She shakes her head slightly. She then lifts the brown wrapped cig and eyes it for a moment before she shrugs her shoulders. "Your choice, man. But all this does is relax you.. and make you a bit hungry after the fact. Let me know if you chance your mind, though. Nothing wrong with living a little." She grins and lifts the cig for another draw of her own.
"Yeah ... " Alistair makes a face and hms softly. "Oh. With all due respect I do live" he points out, haven't missed Vixen's meaning either. "I was brought up to be polite and there's nothing wrong with that either I think" he adds, shrugging his shoulders lightly. "I'm sorry, I left you ... were you alright?" he asks.
Vixen chuckles lowly. "Maybe you do.. though it ain't like a little hit ever hurt anyone," she notes. But she seems content to leave it at that as she gives her shoulders a little roll. "You don't leave me, cause you weren't with me, man. Though I appreciate the sentiment. Got another bruise to go with the rest, but I'm whole. No complaints, except that I didn't get to interview the elf before he got carted off by the military. But I got things to broadcast."
"You asked me once about fighting ... or twice" Alistair starts; another sheepish smiles, and then, "Because of what I can do and because I can't stop my training, I have to stay in control a lot more than most people" he tries to explain, his brows hiking up just a little. "Oh. Yes, that all ... felt fake" he frowns a touch, looking back at Vixen.
"I think you overestimate a little hit, man," Vixen states. "Maybe if you smoked a whole one by yourself, you might get a bit loopy, but even then.." She shakes her head. She then asks, "What looked fake?" She asks that question curiously, though she seems to have her own thoughts on the matter, given the thoughtful, canny lean to her expression.
