for striker_eureka

[suoxi]

(( continuing from here ))

Inara, true to her word, arrives at his door the next morning. She's better prepared to meet Max this time; she has a pouch of treats that she has acquired, and the dress is cotton - easier to clean - as opposed to silk.

She taps on the door, and waits.

Comments

[striker_eureka]

Hercules laughs, a low, warm chuckle, and shakes his head a little as he leans in and bumps her with his elbow gently.

"A woman after my own heart," he intones dramatically, smirking. "That's the only way to drink it, if you ask me."

[suoxi]

"Oh, I agree. But you can't tell anyone." She keeps her voce low and quiet, as if they're teenage girls trading secrets. "Can you imagine the scandal, a Companion not preferring tea?"

[striker_eureka]

"You'd be ruined," he agrees, a laugh still in his voice.

"But don't worry, your secret's safe with me"

[suoxi]

"Utterly."

She smiles and bumps her shoulder against his in return, smile a little coy.

"I knew I could count on you."

[striker_eureka]

She's got a beautiful smile. All of her is beautiful, actually, but that only stands to reason. She's a Companion, after all.

They walk in companionable silence for a little while before he clears his throat.

"Are you settling in well?"

[suoxi]

Max trots along with them, the jingle of his collar the only noise for several strides.

"Well enough. Give my regards to your crew - my quarters far surpass what I have expected."

[striker_eureka]

"Well, we do try to keep our guests as comfortable as possible."

Especially when said guests bring them as much status as a Companion does. Hercules won't be surprised if they get to see many more politicians than they're used to now that she's come to live with them.

[suoxi]

"I appreciate that."

Really, she does. Even if they are moderately jesting with one another, she's being entirely honest.

"It was very kind of them to include the amenities I requested."

[striker_eureka]

"I'm assuming you requested them for a reason, so yes."

The thing is, the 'dome was built to house far more people than it does. To give her a large suite with all the things she requested wasn't much of a hardship, they had the space. And he'll be able to do it for the other Companions she convinces to join her. At least, he hopes so.

"Will your sister be requiring the same sorts of things?"

[suoxi]

Inara nods, continuing the leisurely pace they'd set.

"More than likely, yes. We all have different requests, though we are fairly accommodating if something cannot be done."

[striker_eureka]

"Well, I'm sure we'll do our best to accommodate them."

A pause, then he looks over at her, apparently giving to the urge to ask a question that's been bugging him.

"So how many other Companions are we talking about?"

[suoxi]

"Four more." She glances back at him, a brow raised.

"Is that alright? There would be five total, including myself."

A lot for one 'dome.

[striker_eureka]

"Five Companions for one Shatterdome?"

Look, Hercules isn't exactly a businessman, but he can see how renting space to five registered Companions is pretty much a win-win situation.

"You won't be stepping on each other's toes?"

[suoxi]

"Is that too many?"

She pauses and turn to look at him curiously.

"I can always tell them no."

[striker_eureka]

He hurries to assure her it's totally fine.

"No, no, it's fine with me," he says, holding his hands out almost in supplication.

"I don't know how you ladies run your businesses, I don't want you feeling too cramped or something. I know this is a big 'dome, but still." He grimaces a little, like he's aware of how poorly he's articulating himself, and hopes he hasn't offended her or something.

[suoxi]

"We will be fine, Marshal."

Inara's smile turns sly.

"We are big girls, I promise. We can handle ourselves accordingly. Why..." She lifts a shoulder. "We might even decide to pool our resources and invest in a Festival of Flowers, as a gesture of appreciation."

[striker_eureka]

Hercules does not blush. He might clear his throat a little and scratch the back of his neck, but that's it.

"I'm almost afraid to ask you what that is..."

[suoxi]

She's not chuckling. Not at all, nope.

"A party, of sorts. Everyone needs a break, now and then."

[striker_eureka]

He appears a little mollified.

"Ah. I think the 'dome could do with a party, don't you? It's been a while since we had cause to celebrate much of anything."

[suoxi]

"Whatever you were thinking, it isn't that." She leans in and whispers conspiratorially.

"We don't participate en mass."

[striker_eureka]

Again, he does not blush. He does give her a sidelong look though, and huffs a little.

"Yes, I figured that out, thank you."

It's not his fault, okay, he's never requested a Companion before, he doesn't really know how their whole system of business works, or what they offer.

[suoxi]

His indignant has her laughing.

"I will be happy to clarify anything you need, Marshal."

She's teasing, mostly.

[striker_eureka]

"You're too kind," he says dryly, his eyebrow lifting.

But her laughter is nice, and Max yaps at him, bored just standing around in the hall, so he continues their previous trajectory.

"If it's not too much... Why did you decide to become a Companion?"

[suoxi]

She starts up walking along with him, and lifts a shoulder.

"It seemed...glamorous, I suppose. All the tradition, the finery, the beauty."

[striker_eureka]

It's been a very, very long time since Hercules has let himself think about glamor or finery; it's almost a completely foreign concept to him.

"It certainly suits you," is what he ends up saying, nodding at her dress and her artfully curled hair and pristine makeup.