[PRP] Homeward Bound (Ami + Lex) [FIN]

[chiickadee]

Ami was cross. Ami was always cross, but that was besides the point. Today she was particularly upset because her day off? Completely ruined. To her misfortune, she'd discovered that the portals were indeed still closed today, which meant no shopping. Which meant her day off was completely wasted. The only time she ever took time off was to go shopping in the human world for the essentials- things like new books and new clothes.

Now? She had a birthday and nothing to celebrate with. So she'd spent the entire day reading old books in her room, curled up in a corner of her bed with a bunch of pillows, not stirring at the slightest thing.

It really wasn't much of a day off when she could still hear the noisiness of Deus Ex. Shouts from the training field, trainees crashing down the dorm hallways- at one point she swore she heard Allan screaming something about nakama again. She sighed as she flipped a page- she was almost through the 5th book of Harry Potter now- trying to ignore everything around her. She really did appreciate having the time off to read, it was just ...

She wanted shopping. Q_Q  

[Carhop Cavalier]

Lex was slightly worried about a certain short Life trainee, for a very good reason. Ami spent her entire life in the labs, even sleeping there on multiple occasions. So, when he hadn't seen her all day, he knew something was up. A mission, perhaps? It could be that. He was more concerned that she'd finally gotten herself sick by staying up all night. Without her weapon to provide the immunity it did, Ami was especially fragile. He considered her a favorable acquaintance now, and he hated seeing people he knew in distress.

Getting up from his computer station, he gave a yawn to hide his checking the clock. 6 PM. He could leave the labs now, he'd put in a good amount of work that day. Grabbing his books, he made his way to his room to drop them off before heading to check on Ami.

A few rapid knocks, and the tall Lifer called, "Ami! Hello, are you in?"  

[chiickadee]

She really couldn't get a break. Now it really wasn't a day off. It was just a night at Deus Ex. Part of her actually wanted to get back to work just so she could be left alone.

At least it was a trainee she'd grown fond of, in the way a stranger thinks of a stray cat. Familiar, amiable enough, but no lasting connection to bond the two. Which meant enough friendship to at least answer him.

"Come in," she said, not looking up from her book. She'd kindly tell him to leave, and then he would, and it would be great. Regardless, Harry's adventures were clearly more important than anything Lex had to say at the moment.  

[Carhop Cavalier]

Well, she didn't sound sick. A sigh of relief passed through his lips before he opened her door, finding her curled up in a pillow nest on her bed and, of course, reading. It would have been endearing, if Lex knew the circumstances. Instead, he was just slightly frustrated.

"So, you weren't in the labs today. What's up?" Not that he let his frustration show at all. He used a caring, charismatic voice, hovering by her door. Ami wasn't one to be lazy or neglect work. "Did you go on a really short mission? Spend the day sparring?" Hardly likely, that last part. Still, better to ask than to assume.  

[chiickadee]

"I took the day off," she explained, looking up quickly at the man, and then back to her book. She gestured to the chair that sat by her desk, mostly out of politeness. She wasn't expecting him to stay for very long, but it would have been rude to just leave him standing there.

She finished the page she'd been on and reached to the metal bookmark she'd acquired, saving her place and then setting the book down on her bed. "I ... had a bit of a bad morning and can't say I'm pleased to see you, but what do you need?" she asked tiredly. Truthfully she didn't want to move anywhere, but why else would Lex be here? If something went wrong in the labs ...

A look of alarm crossed her face and she sat up, "Is someone messing up my lab area?" Oh hell no.  

[Carhop Cavalier]

Whoa. Stop the presses, tell the workers to go home, and hide your families. Ami Raine had taken the day off. The woman that had gone into a tizzy because Lex and Marcus both were trying to get her to take care of herself had actually treated herself to a break.

He sat down, thinking about putting a hand to her forehead. She had to be sick to have done that. He'd interrogate more, though. Unexpected physical touch was a thing that Lex had learned not to do with Ami.

"No, no one's messing with your lab space. And I'm sorry you had a bad morning." Maybe she was sick, then? A bad morning could mean a morning full of throwing up, or cramping, or what have you. A genuine frown tugged at his smile. "Is that why you took the day off?"  

[chiickadee]

Ami shook her head. "No, I took the day off so I could go shopping ..." she admitted. It wasn't unusual, it was what most hunters did with their day off. That, or spend it cuddled up with their fiancee, completely shirking their responsibilities. Looking at you Marcus. "You can see how that turned out though. I wasn't aware the portals were still closed- we were scheduled to have those fixed by last week," she said with a sigh, blowing hair out of her face. Bitterness flavored her expression as she spoke, clearly annoyed with the morning's events.

She hesitated for a moment, debating the benefits and consequences of telling Lex it was her birthday. She really didn't want to raise a fuss about it, lest Madeline come popping out of a stripper cake or something.

"Considering I had nothing to do," she said, rolling a hand, "I just ... wanted to spend the day alone." Ami looked down, picking at her nails and mumbled, "Some birthday."  

[Carhop Cavalier]

Ah, shopping. Lex knew that feeling - he'd been pining to shop a bit. His own clothes were well taken care of, but he'd only been on island for three months, and he was fine with the island issued toiletries, for now. He'd buy his own things on his own time - but he understood the frustration Ami was probably feeling. The portals had been down since before the man had awoken, after all.

A quirked brow shot up, however, at her last statement. Birthday? Today was her birthday? He had to smile a little, if not a confused smile. Why would anyone be alone on their birthday? Sorry to break it to you, Ami, but books don't count as people.

An easier, more relaxed grin spread across his face. The cogs in his head turned quickly, and formulated a small plan. Something simple - she didn't seem the type to go for extravagant parties or gifts. A small dinner, however, would probably suit her tastes. And if it didn't? He'd use the guilt trip tactic.

Getting up from the chair, Lex headed for the door, smirk on his face.

"Happy birthday then, Ami."  

[chiickadee]

Every muscle in her body relaxed as Lex stood up and strode to leave. It was so odd to see someone leaving her when she asked them too- so many people here on Deus were obnoxious twits who wouldn't leave her alone.

At the same time ... she was a little sad? Ami had never actually spent a birthday alone. She wasn't really coping with it, just pushing the feelings aside. Lex had been the only one kind enough to notice she was missing.

He was probably just concerned that she wasn't there. A stimuli to irregularity, not a compassionate response. She marked it off as nothing.

She opened the book again. She got her wish, right?  

[Carhop Cavalier]

The plan was simple, really. Kill the batman. Make a light dinner, desert, and bring her the scarf back. Maybe even read a little with her? He didn't really quite know what else to do - back when he was managing his mother's nightclub, he would give a person a free martini if it were their birthday. There was no alcohol available to him on the island, plus he didn't take Ami as a martini type. He didn't even take her as one to go for a Shirley Temple.

Scrounging in the kitchen, he found some broccoli, cheese, a hunk of crusty bread, and chicken stock. He sighed, but used it all to make soup. Not a substantial meal by any means, but...well, it was all he could find after that Thanksgiving party that he'd skipped on. Luckily flour and sugar and eggs never seemed to be in shortage.

Once dinner was finished, the Lifer made off to his room to grab the pink scarf she'd left behind, and the copy of the Hobbit he'd rented from Kostya and stuff them in his coat pockets. He wasn't quite sure why he grabbed the book, but maybe he could spend a bit of time with her, even if in silence? Better silent company on her birthday than none at all, right?

He grabbed the soup and cupcakes, balancing them both in his hands as he walked back to Ami's room, tapping on the door with his foot.

"Ami? Let me in?"  

[chiickadee]

Ami was deep in thought, staring blankly at her book, but jerked at the loud pounding on her door. She scowled at the late night visit, wondering just what could he need at this hour, but got up nonetheless because it sounded a tad urgent.

Of course, now she was in pajama shorts and a camisole, hair in two long pigtails that draped over her chest to keep it out of her face as she slept, but wasn't uncomfortable like her braids. Yes, she redid her braids every day.

She panicked, reaching for her hunter coat and snapping the buttons shut, as it was the only thing that covered her entire body from unsightly eyes. In a rather old-lady manner, she opened the door with a frown, arm crossed tightly across her stomach, holding her jacket shut. She was rather surprised when he was holding soup and cupcakes. "What do you want?" she hissed. Did he need advice for some girl he was trying to woo- did he need cooking advice or something? "Do you know what time it is?"  

[Carhop Cavalier]

"It's 8PM, and I wanted to give you company on your birthday." Lex stated with a simple smile as he passed by Ami, into her room. She was too tiny to block the whole door frame, even if she tried her hardest. He set the soup and cupcakes down on the nearest empty space on her table, and observed her. The hair was different - did she redo her braids every single day? Holy crap...

She kinda looked like an old grumpy woman in a frock, the way she was holding herself. He couldn't help but chuckle.

"Oh, just settle down Ami. It's a birthday dinner. No one should spend their birthday alone." He pulled out the chair for her, insisting that she sit down.  

[chiickadee]

Ami huffed as Lex merely passed her, ignoring her clear dislike of people entering her room without asking. Only a few people had that special right and Lex? Lex was not one of them.

She didn't really have a say in the matter as Lex laid food out on her desk, soup coming precariously close to dripping on some documents she'd placed. She immediately leapt for them, brushing them off and scowling. Luckily they hadn't been ruined, but they'd been dangerously close. Just for good measure, she grabbed her journal too and set it and the documents on her bed.

"Now as pretty as your words are, what do you really want?" she asked, voice full of skepticism. Nobody ever did things on Deus for nothing. Least of all a lifer. Bribes and under-the-table deals were standard. Even for a birthday.  

[Carhop Cavalier]

Lex gave an inward sigh, but an outward chuckle. Of course she thought he was up to something - why wouldn't she? He had made a little reputation for himself already, it seemed. But, "Nothing up my sleeve. Just being a good person, is all." He held his hands up, grin becoming a cheeky smile.  

[chiickadee]

Ami took his answer and slowly chewed on it, gears clicking in her head and weighing the pros and cons on a silver scale. When she finally decided, she didn't say anything, but instead sat down at the chair he'd offered her and picked up the spoon that sat next to the bowl.

Hesitation. "You ... You should have one of the cupcakes," she said. "You're not much company if you don't enjoy it too." Her own stubborn way of inviting him to the dinner table.