What a depressing sight that was, Alexa thought to herself, staring at the backpack on her bed. The rest of the room was bare, just another in a long line of rented rooms. There was never any point in making those rooms a homely place; she hadn't stayed in one town or city for more than a few months since ....Kieran ....well, never mind that now. That was done with. Time to move on. Just like she always said.

With a low sigh, she leaned down and heaved the backpack onto her shoulder. It contained everything she owned in the world; clothes, a few books and papers, a keepsake or two. And her laptop. Mustn't ever forget that. She hoisted the pack onto her back, sliding her arms through the handles, and jumped about a bit, settling the carrier on her back more comfortably. Then, without a backward glance at the room she had rented and lived in for barely a week, Lex turned and left, thumping down the stairs of the inn and out into the city.

Of all the places she had been in the last three years, this RhyDin was by far the most accomodating. People were friendly, but not too inquisitive; no questions were asked that absolutely had to be answered, and she was grateful for that. Too many people in too many places wanted to know all about her past, pushing her to relive memories that still cut deep into her heart for their own gossip and amusement. She hated it. But here ....here, no one asked those kinds of questions and expected an answer. No one expected her to be anything but what she appeared on first impressions; a rather inhibited young woman with a talent for organising.

Evidently it had appealed to the right person, this first impression of hers. Her notices asking for work around the city had recieved only one reply, and that had been a little late in arriving. For the first night she dared to venture out of her room to mingle with the crowds of people who frequented the Red Dragon Inn, she had somehow found herself a job. Aja Bird, a cheerful, friendly woman, had made her feel welcome, along with her companions, and on discovering that Lex was looking for a job, had promptly offered her one, in exactly the area she was most productive. Apparently Ms. Bird had an office and a computer she didn't know how to use - somewhere underneath the piles of paperwork she had cultivated over the years. Now that was a challenge Alexa Catherine Phoenix felt confident she could rise to.

Walking through the streets of the city in the morning sunlight, Lex dug around in her pocket, pulling out the card Aja had given her the night before. Arcadia Ship Yards, that was her new place of work. And apparently there was a room for her at the inn Aja owned, too, Dragon's Something-Or-Other, she couldn't quite remember. She was fairly certain she'd know it when she saw it, anyway. Still, first things first - she'd said she would drop into the yards today, and she was definitely going to, if only to make sure that her new employer hadn't been pulling her leg about giving her a job and a place to live. And to see what kind of monumental task was ahead of her. Lex knew the sort very well indeed; charming, pleasant people who were very good at what they did ....just not so good at organising everything that went with what they did. Aja had struck her as that sort.

Her only vague concern was the fact that it had been mentioned that a large number of 'guys' worked at the yards, and the implication that she would be working among them. Not building ships, obviously; a weedy little thing like her would be more harm than use in such work. But in the offices on site, and that was perhaps a little troubling to the naturally shy young woman. She'd never been very good at making friends, and the only true, lasting friendship she had ever cultivated had ended in tragedy. That, in itself, had made her wary of people in general. Given that it had all come to pass the last time she had worked among a mainly male work-force was not helping her nerves settle themselves as she walked through RhyDin city, heading west.

A short stop in the marketplace to buy herself breakfast - an apple; it was all she could really afford to buy until she was certain of a regular income - and Lex continued on her way. She liked to walk. It gave her time to think things over, without the crowding feeling of walls around her. Additionally, in this case, it gave her the chance to see the city properly, without simply wandering aimlessly and running the risk of getting lost. Of course, it could still happen, she knew, but she had the ship yards' card in her pocket, and enough confidence to tentatively ask strangers for directions.

It was a relief, though, to see the ship yards in the distance, and she unconsciously quickened her step, eager to be settled and ready to settle properly into what she hoped, this time, would be a new life. No more running away, no more staying only a few months before moving on again. It was time she stopped somewhere, and RhyDin seemed as good a place as any. Better, if the way she had been recieved was anything to go by. Maybe this time, Lex thought as she approached the entrance to the yards with no little trepidation. Maybe this time she could finally let go of the past.

-The New Girl-

Rico watched the tiny redhead putter around the office. He felt bad in a way. Between him and Aja, that office was a disaster. When Aja wanted to work on designs, she would clear her desk of anything that was on it, moving the pile of papers to the floor or file cabinet without looking at what they were.

And he often tossed papers on the desk and went on to the next thing. Always meaning to go back in, but never quite made it.

He was a First Mate, not a secretary. A wry grin formed on his lips at that. Aja would often reply that he was whatever she needed him to be. Looking at his watch, he picked up the phone and dialed the office. She seemed startled, but Aja had said not to sneak up on Alexa, or Lex as Aja had called her, till she had gotten to know who was who.

He simply told her to head home for the night and motioned to the guards to keep an eye on her while she went up the street to the Dragon's Lair.

Rico peeked into the office after she had gone. He could see it starting to look like an office now. He'd keep Aja out till it was done for now. She was easy to distract, just point her to the Breeze and she would happily go.

Rico smiled and headed back to work. New secretary was going to do wonders here.