[ Cid has the privilege of having all of zero thoughts about the optics of the situation. He's spent the past several years living in a hole in the ground, where his office doubles as a bedroom, so he hadn't particularly considered that his motel room might read a bit differently. As things stand, people are in and out of there at all hours of the day.
When Kimiko arrives, she might hear an unfamiliar voice from inside, muffled by the door.
...have any children of your own, Cid?
I have to get that is Cid's only response. When he opens the door, he greets Kimiko with a friendly nod. ] Right on time. Celeste, this is my new apprentice, Kimiko. She might be helping with Allie's leg the next time you stop by.
[ Celeste, a woman about Cid's age, smiles as Cid steps out of the way to let her get outside. She's got a sleepy toddler balanced against her shoulder, the metal of a prosthetic foot sticking out from Allie's sweatpants. Don't let him work you too hard, dear.
Cid huffs, gestures for Kimiko to come inside. ] Come on out of the cold, lass. Is one of those for me, or are you just not much of a morning person?
[ Cid's motel room is more workshop than bedroom. The bed's been pushed right up against the wall to allow for the largest possible space, two mismatched desks side-by-side forming a work table. There's little additional shelving that isn't taken up by tools, projects, and scavenged parts.
Just as he warned, there is indeed a giant basket of muffins taking up what's left of his kitchenette counter. ]
Sorry about the mess. It's usually tidier than this, but I've got to move it all into a proper workshop and I haven't got the joolies to pay someone to handle the grunt work.
[ Kimiko isn't really inclined to any time of day over another. Mix a chemical cocktail that gives you superpowers with a childhood spent conducting guerrilla warfare as an indoctrinated terrorist and you've got a recipe for, well, not needing a lot of sleep. Being able, and trained, to go without. She likes coffee for the warmth more than anything. One is set down for him to grab. She reaches into her pocket, pulls out a few packets of cream and sugar, leaves them alongside.
New apprentice wins a smile from her, if a slightly shy one. Celeste and Allie are given a nod — hello, goodbye — and it's only when the door is closed behind them that Kimiko removes her coat, mittens.
The mess isn't an issue. If anything, it makes her feel better about being invited into his motel room.
Communication comes from her phone, same as usual. Next time, she'll remember to bring a notebook to write in. That feels more apprentice-y. ]
It's okay. I can help you move. I'm stronger than I look.
[ Despite his teasing, Cid does grab the second cup, emptying one of the little cream packets into it with a little nod of thanks.
He didn't exactly ask her about the apprentice thing, so it's good to know that she's not too bothered by it. Cid has the tendency to decide things without properly consulting anyone, for better or worse.
He leans in to squint at her phone. ]
I don't doubt you can manage a few boxes. I was going to let you have your pick of projects and leave you to it... [ He gestures toward the shelf. Was he just going to let her be unsupervised in his room while he makes trips back and forth? Sure was. ] But if you want to help with the moving, I won't say no. Best I can offer in return is a free lunch and a favour, mind. And you'd be stuck with me the whole time. Downsides all around.
[ He offers her a wry smile. He's not trying to discourage her — having a bit of help would be a godsend — but he'd hate to have her think he'd dragged her all the way out here just to help him move. ]
[ Leaving her to make the decision on her own is a bit... interesting, isn't it? She has no strong feelings either way on helping move versus sitting here and getting up to her elbows in one of his projects, but there's the creeping sense of — something. For the Shining Light, this would have been a test for her to fail. And who knows what tiresome, vulgar vitriol Butcher would have masked in some saccharine Dick van Dyke-coated pleasantness?
A brief glance over the shelves, the half-finished projects laid out. Frenchie wouldn't have wanted to help someone move when there are toys for him to play with. And it's clear Cid is providing a service to his clientele that's more valuable than just being a pack mule. She wanted to know if she could do more, right? More than fight, more than shield, more than carry. There's no bad time to start finding out. So, a bit shyly, she gestures toward the shelves, the work desks.
She's officially rescinding the offer to carry boxes. She'll stay here. ]
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When Kimiko arrives, she might hear an unfamiliar voice from inside, muffled by the door.
...have any children of your own, Cid?
I have to get that is Cid's only response. When he opens the door, he greets Kimiko with a friendly nod. ] Right on time. Celeste, this is my new apprentice, Kimiko. She might be helping with Allie's leg the next time you stop by.
[ Celeste, a woman about Cid's age, smiles as Cid steps out of the way to let her get outside. She's got a sleepy toddler balanced against her shoulder, the metal of a prosthetic foot sticking out from Allie's sweatpants. Don't let him work you too hard, dear.
Cid huffs, gestures for Kimiko to come inside. ] Come on out of the cold, lass. Is one of those for me, or are you just not much of a morning person?
[ Cid's motel room is more workshop than bedroom. The bed's been pushed right up against the wall to allow for the largest possible space, two mismatched desks side-by-side forming a work table. There's little additional shelving that isn't taken up by tools, projects, and scavenged parts.
Just as he warned, there is indeed a giant basket of muffins taking up what's left of his kitchenette counter. ]
Sorry about the mess. It's usually tidier than this, but I've got to move it all into a proper workshop and I haven't got the joolies to pay someone to handle the grunt work.
no subject
New apprentice wins a smile from her, if a slightly shy one. Celeste and Allie are given a nod — hello, goodbye — and it's only when the door is closed behind them that Kimiko removes her coat, mittens.
The mess isn't an issue. If anything, it makes her feel better about being invited into his motel room.
Communication comes from her phone, same as usual. Next time, she'll remember to bring a notebook to write in. That feels more apprentice-y. ]
It's okay.
I can help you move. I'm stronger than I look.
What are we doing today?
sorry i've been so slow work has been nuts
He didn't exactly ask her about the apprentice thing, so it's good to know that she's not too bothered by it. Cid has the tendency to decide things without properly consulting anyone, for better or worse.
He leans in to squint at her phone. ]
I don't doubt you can manage a few boxes. I was going to let you have your pick of projects and leave you to it... [ He gestures toward the shelf. Was he just going to let her be unsupervised in his room while he makes trips back and forth? Sure was. ] But if you want to help with the moving, I won't say no. Best I can offer in return is a free lunch and a favour, mind. And you'd be stuck with me the whole time. Downsides all around.
[ He offers her a wry smile. He's not trying to discourage her — having a bit of help would be a godsend — but he'd hate to have her think he'd dragged her all the way out here just to help him move. ]
no worries!
A brief glance over the shelves, the half-finished projects laid out. Frenchie wouldn't have wanted to help someone move when there are toys for him to play with. And it's clear Cid is providing a service to his clientele that's more valuable than just being a pack mule. She wanted to know if she could do more, right? More than fight, more than shield, more than carry. There's no bad time to start finding out. So, a bit shyly, she gestures toward the shelves, the work desks.
She's officially rescinding the offer to carry boxes. She'll stay here. ]