Topic: Perfect

Shen Lei

Date: 2011-01-10 15:14 EST
"So ....what do you think?"

Shen Lei turned to look at her companion, a distinguished-looking man in his mid-forties who was clinging onto the rope for the bridge between the two parts of her prospective new house in utter terror. He swallowed, glancing down, and instantly went even paler than he usually was, closing his eyes as his head lifted. When, eventually, he'd gotten himself under control, he looked across at her.

"Well, it's not very substantial, is it?" he commented in a shaky voice, reaching out toward the more solid railing that ran around the outside of the main part of the tree house. "I thought we'd agreed that you should be looking for somewhere that was easily defensible."

"Oh, come on, Rufus, how much more defensible can you get?" Lei demanded from where she was lounging in the doorway, notably unbothered by the height at which they were conversing. "I mean, sure, it's not stone or brick, but look - running water underneath it, multiple exits, pretty damn difficult to get to unless you're determined ....it's perfect!"

Rufus made a lunge for the doorway, pushing past her to sag against the inner wall with a gasping breath. He'd never been particularly good at heights, and now it looked like he was going to have to get used to them fast, if his Slayer was determined to live here. Their move to Rhy'Din had so far consisted of temporary accomodations in the Red Dragon Inn, which he would be more than happy with, were it not for the slightly perilous journey every day to get to his not insubstantial library, stored in a warehouse by the docks.

"If you are happy to live here, then I really don't see why I had to come," he pointed out as Lei moved into his line of sight. "Was there something in particular you wanted me to see" Apart from my breakfast, of course."

Lei chuckled at him, unmoved by his lack of comfort.

"Aside from the obvious entertainment value in getting you up here" Nah," she admitted with a grin. "But I wanted to run something by you."

"Could it wait until my feet are on solid ground?"

"What do you mean, solid" This is solid!"

To to accompaniment of Rufus' pained and panicked groans, Lei proceeded to jump up and down with as much force as she could muster. Despite her Watcher's fears, the tree house gave no indication of being under stress at all, not even vibrating at the abuse from a small woman with far denser muscle and bone mass than most people would expect for someone her size.

"Enough, Lei, for goodness' sake," Rufus moaned, covering his face with his hand. "What did you want to tell me?"

Laughing wickedly, Lei jumped once more for good measure, and relented, leaning her hip against the kitchen counter beside her.

"The realtor said something about setting up in business as some sort of supernatural pest control," she told him, thinking back to conversation with Fiora Shantalaine that had spawned this thought process. "She mentioned needing a nest of vampire harpies moved on from a property she wanted to sell, and she offered to pay. Wouldn't that be kinda cool?"

"Slaying is not cool, Lei, it's your duty," Rufus reminded her in a long-suffering voice. "And I'm not convinced of the ethical and moral right you have to ask for payment for abilities that you were born with."

"It's better than holding down a paying job as well as doing the whole fight 'em, dust 'em, replace ruined clothing deal," she pointed out. "Besides, we could get you an office. With a big room for books, just like you always wanted. And I bet Miss Shantalaine's got a place that you could live as well as work in."

The cajoling note in her voice seemed to be doing as much good as the words she was using. Tempted by the prospect of a secure library and office space, as well as somewhere decidedly more secure than this tree house to live in, Rufus was wavering. He sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Get me down on the ground in one piece, and then we'll talk about it."

Clapping her hands delightedly, Lei agreed. The battle was as good as won. Now all she needed to do was get back to Fiora's office before she closed up shop to sign all the stuff and make enquiries about an office/living space for her Watcher.