simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

They came to an agreement early on: since Kaylee's much busier than Simon right now, even if he helps, and since Simon will be much busier after they've moved, it only makes sense for him to do the bulk of their packing now and for her to do the bulk of the unpacking later.

This means careful documenting and labeling, while he's putting things into boxes; it'll save a lot of trouble in the unpacking, since he might not be there to remember where he put what. In short: making lists.

He's a bit confused by the pair of unfamiliar books he's just come across, though.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yeah."

She looks away -- a little ashamed.

"You don't have to tell me anything else about it." Quiet. "Now or later. Until you want to. I just ..."

A breath.

"I know you don't want me to worry about you, but it'll be easier not to worry if I know you've got something like this."

Her gaze slides back to him. "Seriously?"

He nods silently.

"Why?"

A small headtilt, like a shrug. "The same reason you wanted to do it in the first place, I guess."

"...because you're gonna be bored and need somethin' to do so you don't go crazy?" Beat. "Crazier?"

"Because you would be. Because I remember how much better things got on Osiris once you had -- not just something to do, but something to do that's ... what you're best at."

Her smile's a little fragile.

"Handsome, I'm more likely than not to fail. I don't want you gettin' your hopes up neither."

Soft: "Why do you think you're likely to fail?"

"Investment's got to happen before I can do any serious work on the business if I want to finance it myself, which I do. And from what I'm readin', all the homework in the world's not gonna make up for a good set of instincts. And I never done this before."

Simon bites his lip, and nods.

"That's going to be the tricky part."

And I don't know how much help I could be even if you wanted me to; I've never done this before either.

"So's the math. 'Cause it's not like I'm plannin' on high-risk nothin' until I know what I'm doing, which means I got to look at simple and compound interest and all that business."

She aims an eye at the rest of the engine room. "Course, it's not like I'm ever gonna be done here, so most of it's moot."

He makes a rueful face. "Are you done here for the night, or ...?"

"Maybe." Quiet. "Didn't decide yet. I know I got more work to do."

"Could you use an extra pair of hands?"

A faint smile. "You could just sit there and look pretty and promise to give me a real good back rub later."

He smiles. "I can do that."

"'M just so stiff." The last word comes out with a sigh, and she shifts a little. "Worst bit is I can't even sleep for a week when it's over."

His hand moves back to her shoulder, thumb seeking out the tightness of muscle behind the joint.

"I could give you that backrub now," he offers quietly, "if you want. You've already done a lot for one day."

"I'd fall asleep." Kaylee shakes her head a little.

"...unless that's what you was hintin' at."

Gently wry: "Something like that."

"That's some pretty vile temptation." She closes her eyes again. "You might just sway me with your wiles. On account of I'm weak and vulnerable."

Simon shifts a little, moving his hand from her shoulder to the base of her neck, following the lines of tension.

"Mm."

Her mouth curves a little.

"Cut you a deal."