Deliberations and Decisions

Andreas noticed her losing her composure. She clearly didn't want to go back. And would it be such a big hassle to keep her around? Who knows, maybe she would keep other unwanted guests? And do some chores that he didn't really want to do? Plus, he had to admit that it was nice knowing that someone else was in the house. It could keep him away from certain gloomy thoughts, get him out of the dark places his mind wandered into before.

"Is that AWIO thing far away?"

He asked after a longer pause.

"The main office I came from is like a half a day drive away."

He bit his lip and shook his head at that answer. It would be a big hassle for him.

"But I think they have a branch in the city nearby! We can go there!"

Sally quickly added, when she saw his reaction to the inconvenience.

"One moment, let me check."

He pulled out his phone and a some seconds of touching the screen later, he got his answer.

"You were right, and it's less than an hour drive."

She smiled.

"Do we have to be there together for the signing?"

"That's what I've been told."

He scratched his chin.

"Okay. We'll go tomorrow. But do keep in mind that I can't drive, so I'll get us an Uber."

"Uber?"

"It's like a taxi." He answered, but seeing how she didn't understand, he just sighed and asked: "What can you do?"

"Do? You mean, skills?"

"Yes, skills. Like, can you help around the house somehow?"

Sally thought about it for a few seconds.

"I don't possess any proper skills for this world..." She said while looking at the floor, embarrassed.

"And what about your skills from your own world?" He pressed.

"Well, I know how to cook, but your devices are way more complicated by ours. But, house stuff, I think that's it."

She answered genuinely.

"I can teach you how to use a kitchen. It's not that complicated."

She smiled again. He really was on board with her staying there.

"I'll also show you the cleaning things. You'll be responsible for keeping the ground floor somewhat presentable."

She listened attentively, not wanting to miss a single thing.

"I'll need your help to get groceries every few days. We will go together, so I can stop talking to and paying strangers to just carry my stuff..." He paused. Andreas's stomach growled, he was getting hungry. "Cellar is off limits. It's dark and dusty in there. Other than that, there may be a few things I'm forgetting, but I didn't eat yet, so if you'll excuse me..."

"Yeah, go eat. And thank you."

He just growled something inaudible in response.

Andreas didn't have his cane around, it was still in the kitchen, so getting up and going there proved much more difficult than he anticipated. After he managed to somehow use his strength to get up, he had to put his weight on the leg with bad knee. The sudden pain jolted through his entire body, the world spun around, and he was sure he had to end up on the floor.

But it didn't happen.

He was in sitting position, his back side was supported by something warm and soft.

"I got you."

Andreas heard a melodic voice and noticed that he was sitting on her tail. She must've used it to break his fall.

"Thanks."

Voigt responded, and then finally got up and went away without even looking once. He hated just how helpless he could be and how other people could see him in this state.

He was having the usual, painful flashbacks filled night until some point when he got very comfortable and managed to get through the rest of the night without any more nightmares.

When he regained his consciousness in the morning, he noticed a storm of ash coloured hair on the pillow next to him, his own head almost lodged between two soft objects, and his legs wrapped in a warm tail, his entire body basically getting spooned by someone else.

Then the realization hit him.

The Lamia slept in one bed with him!