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She had questions, all of the questions, and as much as she had wanted to shake the answers from her cousin that same night Ophilia had kept her own council. At least until their regularly scheduled ‘date’, aka afternoon tea. The slight delay was actually useful since it gave the young woman a chance to organize her thoughts and to write down her various questions. So that is exactly what she did, armed with a small little notebook with rather innocuous questions written down in it, Ophilia settled into her chair with a cup of tea on hand.
With a flick of her manicured finger, she flipped the cover open and tapped the first question. “Cousin dearest, just why did you keep your little pet to yourself?” A raven dark brow rose even as Evans blue eyes stared into the exact same colored eyes. She smirked and picked up her cup, sipping at the brew, before continuing. “Of course I can’t blame you. Such a skittish little kitten,” Ophilia sighed and shook her head lightly, remembering just how the child she had interacted with had waffled between wary and overly friendly. Landing somewhere between by the end of their interaction.
With a flick of her manicured finger, she flipped the cover open and tapped the first question. “Cousin dearest, just why did you keep your little pet to yourself?” A raven dark brow rose even as Evans blue eyes stared into the exact same colored eyes. She smirked and picked up her cup, sipping at the brew, before continuing. “Of course I can’t blame you. Such a skittish little kitten,” Ophilia sighed and shook her head lightly, remembering just how the child she had interacted with had waffled between wary and overly friendly. Landing somewhere between by the end of their interaction.
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Tea time, high tea, was a normal everyday occurrence in their family. It was when secrets were spoken, among other things, it wasn’t a mandatory thing as people did work but it was expected if you weren’t at work or school. He wasn’t at work and while he couldn’t join one of the larger groups, consisting mostly of those his own age, Alexandre had found himself being grabbed by Ophelia for a one on one high tea. He knew it was going to be more of a questioning than the usual tea times were but he knew it would come, he knew his cousin, he was expecting the others to get to him as well to be honest.
Leaning back the blond reached for a finger sandwich on his way back into his seat, some small little cucumber thing, and nibbled at it as he prepared himself for this. The table was set, a small stack of snacks and little finger sandwiches, there was tea for his cousin and a cup of espresso for himself. “My little pet? You mean my little civilian…” Trailing off he smiled lightly. “I didn’t want to scare her off. She didn’t even want to make a deal, take anything from me, but I figure it’s easy energy and I can use it to fill in for whatever Rene may be lacking in his quota. Or I can pad my own numbers.” Either or, it worked all the same for him, it was easy energy to gather.
“She is young and in a tight spot, one none of us has ever been in, it can’t be easy.” He’d been in spots, plenty of them, but none involving money. Relationship issues, being betrayed by someone, even turning a friend into a youma - but never money issues. More little nibbles, to make the bit of food last longer, while he tilted his head a bit. “She is rather sweet though, innocent, and oh so needy. It was easy to offer her a solution, I just needed to make a deal that seemed balanced enough for her….and write up a contract.” One which would have Gerard making faces, possibly scolding him, but certainly unimpressed with him. If his elder cousin didn’t decide to draw up a proper contract, just to show him how it’s done, he would be surprised even.
Leaning back the blond reached for a finger sandwich on his way back into his seat, some small little cucumber thing, and nibbled at it as he prepared himself for this. The table was set, a small stack of snacks and little finger sandwiches, there was tea for his cousin and a cup of espresso for himself. “My little pet? You mean my little civilian…” Trailing off he smiled lightly. “I didn’t want to scare her off. She didn’t even want to make a deal, take anything from me, but I figure it’s easy energy and I can use it to fill in for whatever Rene may be lacking in his quota. Or I can pad my own numbers.” Either or, it worked all the same for him, it was easy energy to gather.
“She is young and in a tight spot, one none of us has ever been in, it can’t be easy.” He’d been in spots, plenty of them, but none involving money. Relationship issues, being betrayed by someone, even turning a friend into a youma - but never money issues. More little nibbles, to make the bit of food last longer, while he tilted his head a bit. “She is rather sweet though, innocent, and oh so needy. It was easy to offer her a solution, I just needed to make a deal that seemed balanced enough for her….and write up a contract.” One which would have Gerard making faces, possibly scolding him, but certainly unimpressed with him. If his elder cousin didn’t decide to draw up a proper contract, just to show him how it’s done, he would be surprised even.
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Ophilia nibbled on her own sandwich, finding the mix of cucumber, dill, and cream cheese familiar but not overly pleasant. Dill was always a strange herb and she just didn’t understand why people insisted on using it. After cleansing her pallet with her tea, and letting Alex speak his peace, the dark haired woman just sighed, “Please tell me you didn’t sign a binding contract that she wrote with that child.” She wasn’t a lawyer, or someone who handled contracts in more than a tangential way, she handled money and stocks mostly, but she was well aware of the dangers and benefits of them. Some of the clients she dealt with had learned the hard way that fine print always favored the one who drafted the contract. “But if you wrote it… that's different.” He wouldn’t have snuck anything in it that would have hurt him, only the young woman.
“Just how long do you think your little pet will stick around before being scared off,” Ophilia asked rather honestly. She was interested in the concept, if not the child, but also knew that Alex was skating on thin ice meeting with a civilian while alone. Yes he was stronger, faster, more knowledgeable then her in all aspects when it came to the Negaverse but he was also alone. No back-up. No one to watch his back. No one there to protect him when, not if, one of the others showed up. And since they tended to move in packs it was just a bad idea for Alex to go on his little charity runs alone. “Who else knows about your stray?” She narrowed her eyes and tapped the porcelain of her cup as a rather irritating face flashed in her mind. “Not that insufferable woman, right? Even if she wheeled a free meal out of you, sharing that kind of intel is too much, even for her.” Ophilia practically sneered even as she remembered their rather memorable first meeting. The older woman practically radiated ‘gold digger’ and ‘schemer’. She honestly didn’t understand what her cousin saw in the captain, nor why he kept her around. Not when he had his family.
“Just how long do you think your little pet will stick around before being scared off,” Ophilia asked rather honestly. She was interested in the concept, if not the child, but also knew that Alex was skating on thin ice meeting with a civilian while alone. Yes he was stronger, faster, more knowledgeable then her in all aspects when it came to the Negaverse but he was also alone. No back-up. No one to watch his back. No one there to protect him when, not if, one of the others showed up. And since they tended to move in packs it was just a bad idea for Alex to go on his little charity runs alone. “Who else knows about your stray?” She narrowed her eyes and tapped the porcelain of her cup as a rather irritating face flashed in her mind. “Not that insufferable woman, right? Even if she wheeled a free meal out of you, sharing that kind of intel is too much, even for her.” Ophilia practically sneered even as she remembered their rather memorable first meeting. The older woman practically radiated ‘gold digger’ and ‘schemer’. She honestly didn’t understand what her cousin saw in the captain, nor why he kept her around. Not when he had his family.
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“I wrote it, though it’s rather to the point and only mentions the transaction of money for energy.” He was sure more should have been involved, more to protect himself, but he was no lawyer. He dealt with plants, mother nature's way of killing idiots whilst providing a weapon for those who had no other means, he had a love for plants and knew which ones were good and which were bad. It had served him well over the years, for various reasons, but that was what he was good at. He was not good with contracts; never would be.
“But what do you mean she wrote with the child? It’s just me and the child you met, no one else is involved, I can promise you that everything is as safe as can be.” As safe as he could make it anyway, without the help of a lawyer. “You and Shannon are the only two who know about my pet civilian. The girl plans on only providing me energy until she graduates and has a job, her money issues will be solved at that point, there will be no need for my offer of financial help after that point.” So he’d have nothing to offer in return for her freely given energy. He didn’t have long, he knew it, he’d lose her soon enough and while it did displease him he knew it wasn’t all bad. Some night he’d be found, someone would come, and he’d need to teleport out before they found him taking her energy and decided to butt in where their presence was not needed nor wanted. Once that happened things would be ruined in a rather permanent manner, so really the expiration date on this arrangement was sooner than the contract stated.
“I’m thinking of taking this idea and making more of it. Shannon, despite you not liking her, has had ideas which can prove useful for energy gathering. She’s already implemented one idea, which worked rather well, and had a few more I’m considering joining in on; though not in a financial sense.” No, the negaverse could pay for those ideas; he was not. Alexandre also failed to mention Lorcan having a few patients who got caught up in Shannon’s plot; oops. Leaning forward to grab his drink from the table, sipping slowly, the blond savored the hot drink.
“But what do you mean she wrote with the child? It’s just me and the child you met, no one else is involved, I can promise you that everything is as safe as can be.” As safe as he could make it anyway, without the help of a lawyer. “You and Shannon are the only two who know about my pet civilian. The girl plans on only providing me energy until she graduates and has a job, her money issues will be solved at that point, there will be no need for my offer of financial help after that point.” So he’d have nothing to offer in return for her freely given energy. He didn’t have long, he knew it, he’d lose her soon enough and while it did displease him he knew it wasn’t all bad. Some night he’d be found, someone would come, and he’d need to teleport out before they found him taking her energy and decided to butt in where their presence was not needed nor wanted. Once that happened things would be ruined in a rather permanent manner, so really the expiration date on this arrangement was sooner than the contract stated.
“I’m thinking of taking this idea and making more of it. Shannon, despite you not liking her, has had ideas which can prove useful for energy gathering. She’s already implemented one idea, which worked rather well, and had a few more I’m considering joining in on; though not in a financial sense.” No, the negaverse could pay for those ideas; he was not. Alexandre also failed to mention Lorcan having a few patients who got caught up in Shannon’s plot; oops. Leaning forward to grab his drink from the table, sipping slowly, the blond savored the hot drink.
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“Simpler is better in this case, and that is something at least.” At least in Ophilia’s opinion. That and it wasn’t likely that such a contract was signed with his civilian name, so there was no court on this planet that would enforce such a contract. At worst, one of the higher ups would have some words with Alex but that would be all, after all… it was energy for cash. Simple. Easy. “Oh, I meant that the child herself wrote the contract, not that there was a third person involved.” She metaphorically waved away Alex’s confusion over her turn of phrase even as she nibbled on one of the other tea sandwiches she had chosen. This one was a simple egg salad, and much better than her last choice.
“Are you sure there is no way to keep the child around longer? If all she wanted was money then it is simple to add her to a payroll somewhere. It wouldn’t be hard to make a position in one of the family’s companies just for her. I’m sure we could even give her real work, if desired.” Ophilia was already contemplating just where they could stash the pet. Which company could use a mail worker or something insignificant that could be overlooked. Forgotten. So if she ever disappeared, because she knew too much, no one would realize. Ophilia did feel a little twinge of guilt at that thought, the civilian really had been rather sweet so it would be a shame to have to get rid of her if required, but the family came first. She would do what had to be done, if needed.
Ophilia snorted softly before finishing off her tea. “Of course she has ideas, it would be odd if she didn’t. I am, however, a bit more surprised that she had actually done anything with them.” Maybe she wasn’t such a waste of space, she mentally finished. “So, what exactly are you thinking? And is there anything I can do to help?”
“Are you sure there is no way to keep the child around longer? If all she wanted was money then it is simple to add her to a payroll somewhere. It wouldn’t be hard to make a position in one of the family’s companies just for her. I’m sure we could even give her real work, if desired.” Ophilia was already contemplating just where they could stash the pet. Which company could use a mail worker or something insignificant that could be overlooked. Forgotten. So if she ever disappeared, because she knew too much, no one would realize. Ophilia did feel a little twinge of guilt at that thought, the civilian really had been rather sweet so it would be a shame to have to get rid of her if required, but the family came first. She would do what had to be done, if needed.
Ophilia snorted softly before finishing off her tea. “Of course she has ideas, it would be odd if she didn’t. I am, however, a bit more surprised that she had actually done anything with them.” Maybe she wasn’t such a waste of space, she mentally finished. “So, what exactly are you thinking? And is there anything I can do to help?”
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“I don’t know, she seems rather determined that this be a short term thing. You know how some people are, they don’t like deals that go on for a while; they don’t like help.” Shrugging a bit as he spoke easily, he could understand it himself of course. For himself he didn’t like help in other ways, he didn’t need to worry about money and he could easily accept monetary help from his own family. This girl seemed to not like the idea of needing help, of taking from others, some people were in a sense too good.
“If we could stash her somewhere, give her some title at some company, I would. The Negaverse needn’t know that I’m paying some civilian for energy; they wouldn’t be paying. I’m certain if I can convince her to let this go on for a while I could manage to lose her somewhere, no one would notice and I doubt anyone would care if I suddenly hired them an employee….even if they never show up for a day of work.” Though it might have him answering some questions, which might be hard for him to answer without lying, but he could handle such matters when they came up. “I’ll see what I can get her to agree to.” Maybe, once she graduated school, he could get her hired for a job that she actually would turn up for - a proper job.
“We were floating the idea of an air bnb or I had the idea of apartments, low cost of course, where we would gather energy via items in the units from those staying within. Both are promising with one being a more steady stream of energy, you may go a while without booking an air bnb, but the question is what to use to grab energy. It would need to be something which can be harvested easily enough, something replaced fairly often, but something she couldn’t replace herself or wouldn’t tamper with.” Reaching for another little cucumber sandwich, the egg ones were not his favorite, he grabbed something a second one which looked like it contained some sort of seafood. The second sandwich went onto his little plate while the first one, the cucumber one, he started to nibble at as he waited for Ophelia’s thoughts on things. He knew she’d have thoughts, and ideas.
“If we could stash her somewhere, give her some title at some company, I would. The Negaverse needn’t know that I’m paying some civilian for energy; they wouldn’t be paying. I’m certain if I can convince her to let this go on for a while I could manage to lose her somewhere, no one would notice and I doubt anyone would care if I suddenly hired them an employee….even if they never show up for a day of work.” Though it might have him answering some questions, which might be hard for him to answer without lying, but he could handle such matters when they came up. “I’ll see what I can get her to agree to.” Maybe, once she graduated school, he could get her hired for a job that she actually would turn up for - a proper job.
“We were floating the idea of an air bnb or I had the idea of apartments, low cost of course, where we would gather energy via items in the units from those staying within. Both are promising with one being a more steady stream of energy, you may go a while without booking an air bnb, but the question is what to use to grab energy. It would need to be something which can be harvested easily enough, something replaced fairly often, but something she couldn’t replace herself or wouldn’t tamper with.” Reaching for another little cucumber sandwich, the egg ones were not his favorite, he grabbed something a second one which looked like it contained some sort of seafood. The second sandwich went onto his little plate while the first one, the cucumber one, he started to nibble at as he waited for Ophelia’s thoughts on things. He knew she’d have thoughts, and ideas.
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Ophilia absently tilted her head just slightly as her nails tapped out a rhythm on the porcelain tea saucer, her mind spinning through several different avenues. Compiling everything her cousin had told her about his little pet, and everything she had observed herself. She wanted to tuck the girl away just as much as he did apparently since it was too good to be true keeping a willing energy bank around. But if Alex was right then the child was too head strong just to accept ‘charity’, and if they forced her it would shatter any trust that had been built. If they even pushed a little too hard it would end. Such an end wasn’t exactly bad per se but why ruin a good thing if they didn’t have too. “No,” She smiled softly, coldly. “Let the contract ‘expire’ but tell her you will always be willing to assist in the future. Keep the number live and in a few months just text to check in on her.”
The young woman refilled her cup from the pot on the table and gracefully stirred in her desired amount of sweetener. “Of course she will be in a tight spot since civil service doesn’t pay enough,” she sighed dramatically as she decisively tapped her spoon on the side of the cup before placing it on the saucer. “Once she is desperate enough she will agree to whatever terms we come up with.” Ophilia took a sip of her tea and grinned at her cousin over the rim of the cup, “Of course there is nothing to say we can’t pull a few strings to make the fall a bit harder though.” She was sure that a few well placed calls, maybe a greased palm or two, could be done to make the little pet turn towards the only ‘sure thing’ she knew… Alex. And the safety net he represented.
She shifted her attention away from her tea and selected a cute little strawberry petit four, popping it into her mouth, and after enjoying her little sweet treat Ophilia ticked off three things on her fingers. “Air filters, water filters, and smoke alarms. They all periodically need to be checked and replaced in every unit, or at least they should be.” She raised a brow, silently reminding her cousin to check his own house. “I can’t imagine that there can’t be something built into such equipment. It wouldn’t be an everyday collection though. Once every three or four months at best. The AirBnB just needs to be something nailed down so it doesn’t get stolen.” She paused for a moment and asked, “Don’t a lot of those places have locked closets for owner use? It’s probably for cleaning stuff and the like but how hard would it be to add a device in there?” She hadn’t really ever stayed in a place like that before but she had found herself on the side of TikTok where people ramble on about their lives as they clean and reset their rentals. “Either way, both are solid ideas, just let me know what you need.” Suprising really but it was likely Alex who came up with them.
The young woman refilled her cup from the pot on the table and gracefully stirred in her desired amount of sweetener. “Of course she will be in a tight spot since civil service doesn’t pay enough,” she sighed dramatically as she decisively tapped her spoon on the side of the cup before placing it on the saucer. “Once she is desperate enough she will agree to whatever terms we come up with.” Ophilia took a sip of her tea and grinned at her cousin over the rim of the cup, “Of course there is nothing to say we can’t pull a few strings to make the fall a bit harder though.” She was sure that a few well placed calls, maybe a greased palm or two, could be done to make the little pet turn towards the only ‘sure thing’ she knew… Alex. And the safety net he represented.
She shifted her attention away from her tea and selected a cute little strawberry petit four, popping it into her mouth, and after enjoying her little sweet treat Ophilia ticked off three things on her fingers. “Air filters, water filters, and smoke alarms. They all periodically need to be checked and replaced in every unit, or at least they should be.” She raised a brow, silently reminding her cousin to check his own house. “I can’t imagine that there can’t be something built into such equipment. It wouldn’t be an everyday collection though. Once every three or four months at best. The AirBnB just needs to be something nailed down so it doesn’t get stolen.” She paused for a moment and asked, “Don’t a lot of those places have locked closets for owner use? It’s probably for cleaning stuff and the like but how hard would it be to add a device in there?” She hadn’t really ever stayed in a place like that before but she had found herself on the side of TikTok where people ramble on about their lives as they clean and reset their rentals. “Either way, both are solid ideas, just let me know what you need.” Suprising really but it was likely Alex who came up with them.
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“I was already planning to let it expire.” Another little bite, the corner, as he replaced the sandwich with espresso and sipped slowly, when he placed the empty cup down onto the little saucer his pale eyes looked his cousin over slowly. “I had not considered that, though I do not know if that will push her too far. The night I happen upon our little pet she was sitting on a park bench, utterly alone, crying over her situation. If we can build her up, somehow, perhaps she could handle another small fall. If we make her into a modern Icarus, without building her up, I think she’ll wind up just like Icarus - broken.” There was, sadly, only so far a person could be pushed…so much loss one could take. Everyone had a limit but some had a much lower limit and he didn’t wish to push her to that, even if he already had more than enough blood on his hands, it would be best if he could build her up just enough to keep her from falling too hard if and when it happened. Just enough that she would survive and turn to him once more, to set aside her pride.
He was certain something could be done with the little one, she was sweet and wanted to help people, perhaps he could find her a job amongst his family…a decent job to start with after schooling. It might help build her up, as she needed to be, the issue would be getting her to need him once again. He’d think on that, perhaps get Ophelia’s help. He might also check with a doctor he knew, outside of his family. Who worked on his team. Arsenopyrite worked in a hospital and could perhaps get her in there, and some family help might just back that up.
“Hmm, that would mean a slow drain, very slow, so far the items we use gather a bit quicker. I could check with Katya, and maybe Dessire, about something slower acting to match those times frames.” Because to check things too often, or have things needing replacing too quickly, would no doubt gain too much attention and lose trust of people staying in a place. Katya was working on her tech skills, she had gotten rather motivated lately, and giving her such a task might be helpful for her growth in that area. “And yes, my smoke detectors have new batteries.” He did not mention air or water filters, he didn’t even know those were a thing, should he have Rene get someone to come in and check on those? It sounded like a good idea, one he’d bring up to his fiance, if nothing else he’d look into it himself.
“I’ll let you know, and that would be a good idea, maybe try the air bnb and work into a whole apartment building if the first idea works. If we do that…I think I’d have you help me stock the place.” As he was rather certain his cousin would enjoy the excuse for some shopping, even if it was little things, he’d never seen or even heard of restocking videos so he had no idea his cousin knew about such things and might be all for it. “We can, and should, include Shannon as well with an air bnb since the idea is hers as well.” The apartment was more his idea, because of course it was, he’d gone for the bigger idea right from the start.
He was certain something could be done with the little one, she was sweet and wanted to help people, perhaps he could find her a job amongst his family…a decent job to start with after schooling. It might help build her up, as she needed to be, the issue would be getting her to need him once again. He’d think on that, perhaps get Ophelia’s help. He might also check with a doctor he knew, outside of his family. Who worked on his team. Arsenopyrite worked in a hospital and could perhaps get her in there, and some family help might just back that up.
“Hmm, that would mean a slow drain, very slow, so far the items we use gather a bit quicker. I could check with Katya, and maybe Dessire, about something slower acting to match those times frames.” Because to check things too often, or have things needing replacing too quickly, would no doubt gain too much attention and lose trust of people staying in a place. Katya was working on her tech skills, she had gotten rather motivated lately, and giving her such a task might be helpful for her growth in that area. “And yes, my smoke detectors have new batteries.” He did not mention air or water filters, he didn’t even know those were a thing, should he have Rene get someone to come in and check on those? It sounded like a good idea, one he’d bring up to his fiance, if nothing else he’d look into it himself.
“I’ll let you know, and that would be a good idea, maybe try the air bnb and work into a whole apartment building if the first idea works. If we do that…I think I’d have you help me stock the place.” As he was rather certain his cousin would enjoy the excuse for some shopping, even if it was little things, he’d never seen or even heard of restocking videos so he had no idea his cousin knew about such things and might be all for it. “We can, and should, include Shannon as well with an air bnb since the idea is hers as well.” The apartment was more his idea, because of course it was, he’d gone for the bigger idea right from the start.
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Ophilia just looked at her cousin before shaking her head, “That is why my dear Alex we either clip her wings before she learns to fly or you make sure she knows there is a net below her for when she falls.” She knew what he was worried about, especially if the kitten had been at the end of her rope as it were when he stumbled upon her that first time, but if they played it right then when she tumbled, not if but when, the child wouldn’t fall beyond their grasp but right in it. There was already some trust built, now Alex needed to curate that trust into friendship. Someone the child could lean on, gain comfort from… ask for help from. “She hasn’t balked too much from the little extra you give her has she?” At least she hadn’t for her when Ophilia had gone in Alex’s stead. “Then I would say you're on your way. Just remember to reach out occasionally to check in on her, or better yet,” She grinned, “I could ‘steal’ the phone and strike up a friendly chat with her. Woman to woman.” She could be the confidant, the friend and he could be the protector, the provider… and the young woman would be dancing to their tune, none the wiser. “But this is something we can work on once she graduates, we have time.” Graduation season wasn’t quite yet, right?
The dark haired woman nibbled on a lemon tart this time, finding it to be a bit sweeter than she would prefer, even as Alex thought out ways around the limitations on equipment, and practically admitted to letting his own house maintenance fall. “It might be best to see exactly what lower income housing has since they might not have filters on their air intake or on their water tanks. That would leave you with smoke detectors and I am not sure if you will get people who would just disable them to smoke indoors. Like what they do on planes or trains.” It was also a subtle way of letting Alex know where to check in his own home, although her own water filter was on the sink rather than the apartment building’s water system. Then again Alex had his own house so he wouldn’t have the same issues she did since she was in a highrise. Neither of them were familiar with the type of housing he was hoping to run. “Maybe Shannon would have a better idea of general apartment fixtures that require periodic checking.” Of course Ophilia didn’t intend to disparage the captain’s living situations… there was absolutely no way she would do that.
“Of course I’ll be happy to help, you have only to ask,” She happily agreed to his plan to tap her for stylistic purposes only to lose a bit of her shine at the insistence of including Shannon on the plan. “If you say so,” Ophilia ultimately stated even as she did her best to keep her thoughts to herself, and hidden behind the tea cup she sipped from. She really didn’t know what her cousin saw in that woman, but whatever it was she absolutely did not agree with it. But if Alex wanted her around who was Ophilia to say no. She just had to make sure to stick close enough to step in when anything went wrong.
The dark haired woman nibbled on a lemon tart this time, finding it to be a bit sweeter than she would prefer, even as Alex thought out ways around the limitations on equipment, and practically admitted to letting his own house maintenance fall. “It might be best to see exactly what lower income housing has since they might not have filters on their air intake or on their water tanks. That would leave you with smoke detectors and I am not sure if you will get people who would just disable them to smoke indoors. Like what they do on planes or trains.” It was also a subtle way of letting Alex know where to check in his own home, although her own water filter was on the sink rather than the apartment building’s water system. Then again Alex had his own house so he wouldn’t have the same issues she did since she was in a highrise. Neither of them were familiar with the type of housing he was hoping to run. “Maybe Shannon would have a better idea of general apartment fixtures that require periodic checking.” Of course Ophilia didn’t intend to disparage the captain’s living situations… there was absolutely no way she would do that.
“Of course I’ll be happy to help, you have only to ask,” She happily agreed to his plan to tap her for stylistic purposes only to lose a bit of her shine at the insistence of including Shannon on the plan. “If you say so,” Ophilia ultimately stated even as she did her best to keep her thoughts to herself, and hidden behind the tea cup she sipped from. She really didn’t know what her cousin saw in that woman, but whatever it was she absolutely did not agree with it. But if Alex wanted her around who was Ophilia to say no. She just had to make sure to stick close enough to step in when anything went wrong.
