suoxi | for striker

"Well." As long as that's clear. "Alright, then."

He guides her around the corner with a hand absently placed on her spine, leading her away from the areas they've been to and down towards the labs.

She doesn't jerk away or pull free - it's...nice to be touched with no expectation other than politeness.

"Where are we going?"

"The science labs." His hand lingers until he realizes what he's doing and he pulls away, letting it drop back down to his side. "You've yet to meet the Wonder Twins."

He leans in conspiratorially. "They're not really twins, and they're not really wonderful. You'll see."

It's almost disappointing when he drops his hand.

"...Dare I ask?"

"Dr Geiszler and Dr Gottlieb are...an interesting duo. But they're rather exuberant, and I can't promise they won't trip over themselves when they see you."

Is he laughing at his scientists? Yes. Yes he is. "They spend more time with kaiju entrails than pretty women, you see. They might not know how to react to your presence in the labs."

Oh, this should be an interesting encounter.

"By all means...let us continue." She gestures.

He chuckles again. "You can help me make sure Max doesn't try to eat anything he isn't supposed to."

"I promise - I won't let Max eat any entrails."

And -- this can only go...interestingly.

"You'll be doing me a great service."

As expected, the meeting went...interestingly. Newt seemed to be more tongue-tied than usual, and the only reason Hermann fared any better was because he was quite obviously enjoying mocking his friend.

Hercules stood back a little and watched the whole scene unfurl, an amused smirk on his face.

Ibarra handles herself with grace and dignity - as much as possible, anyway. She speaks with both of them pleasantly, treating them like people instead of freaks, which seems to earn more awkward from Newt and grudging respect from Hermann.

It's not too bad - could've gone worse.

It could have gone much worse. Max didn't even try to eat anything.

Hercules has to say, he's a bit relieved to get out of the lab so he doesn't have to look at those glowing tanks full of bits and pieces of kaiju innards. His hand comes up to rest against Inara's back again as he ushers her out of the room.

"So that's our science division."

She's rushed out quicker than necessary, and she glances over as they leave the duo behind.

"They're pleasant. Quirky -- but pleasant."

Hercules isn't overly fond of the science labs, he has to be honest. He likes kaijus where they used to be: at the end of his Jaeger. Up close and personal...no thank you.

"They get a bit wrapped up in their science and can be a little inconsiderate. Don't take anything they say personally, they probably didn't mean any harm."

"Oh, they're fine."

She doesn't mind, really. They're not so bad as some people she's met. She leans in to murmur;

"I prefer your company, though."

Again with the not blushing. He does smile, though, patting her on the shoulders before letting his hand drop.

"I suppose you're not so bad yourself."

She presses her free hand to her heart, looking awestruck.

"Why, thank you. I'll take that as a compliment."

One of the crew they pass grins at them and shouts, it's the best you're going to get from the Marshal! as they disappear down the corridor.

Hercules just shrugs helplessly.

Inara chuckles and just shakes her head.

"I'm not keeping you from anything, am I?"

"Nothing I'm not happy to be kept from," he replies, smiling reassuringly at her.

"If you're certain I'm not holding you up..."

She would hate to keep him from things that really needed to be done, though she can hardly be blamed if he chooses to do so -- right?

Her company is far preferable to the paperwork cluttering up his desk. And if it means he stays awake later than he should tonight? Well, that just means less time for nightmares.

"It's not a problem, I promise."

"Well then..."

She strolls with him, Max's leash in hand.

"How else are we to entertain ourselves today?" She leaving it in his hands.

"Do you have any preference?"

There really isn't much for them to do aside from work or train. And he doubts Inara really wants to spar with him.

...he'd be surprised, actually.

And she suggests they finish the tour and have dinner, though afterwards there are things they both need to handle. Inara needs to speak with he fellow Companions and he likely has things to catch up on

Still - the tradition continues, and Inara takes to visiting him daily.

Just because.

It goes on like that for weeks, months. Soon it becomes quite natural for people to see the Marshal and their first Companion — there are five who flit around the 'domes halls now, five beautiful colored butterflies threading in and out of the masses, five graceful and beautiful young women who have a smile for everyone they meet — walking side by side through the halls, accompanied by a fat bulldog.

Until one day, Inara will come to Hercules' office but there won't be an answer to her customary knock.

Max has been slowing down lately, and Herc had always put it down to him putting on weight or him getting old, and hadn't thought much of it. Until his dog suddenly starts throwing up and topples over, shaking, his tongue a frighteningly deep red as it lolls from his mouth into a puddle of his own vomit.

To say that Herc runs to the medical labs with his bulldog in his arms isn't an exaggeration. There's nobody on this whole 'dome trained in veterinary science, but Max is more than a dog to the inhabitants of this 'dome, and so he's basically treated like a human, being seen by the regular doctors, put through the regular machines.

And Herc stands off to the side with his hands stuffed in his pockets to hide how they shake, his face blank as he comes face to face with losing the last tie he has to his son.

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