The X-Project

Backdated A few days after Gaia is released, Kyle introduces her and Laura as roommates.



It was probably a good thing to let the two girls with limited exposure to the whole entire world room together, because then neither would get lost in the pop culture references. Probably, Kyle thought. They would at least both understand what the other was dealing with, even if the scale of one was so much bigger.

He shook off the moment of doubt, and adjusted the cardboard box of supplies - sheets, blankets, towels and washcloths, two canvas laundry bags, pillows that he'd grabbed from storage, and made his way over to the shared suite, and knocked with his free hand at the open door - either girl might've gotten there first, and neither was someone he wanted to startle, for their own sakes.

"Hello Kyle." Laura popped her head out of her room and walked over to see if he needed help. "Need help?" She was settling nicely and she was going to have a roommate.

"Not yet, but I've got another of these welcome boxes one of you is gonna have to deal with." Kyle's grin was broad, and relaxed. "Set that one at your door, it has kitchen stuff, couple of throw rugs, surge protectors. Doubles of everything. Figure between the two of you, you probably have almost nothing and need everything."

Laura walked over to take the box and set it down. "We left everything at the safehouse. Only the most important things were kept on us at all times. I still need to go clothes shopping." She had been rotating her jeans every three days and her shirts were on every four days. She did a lot of laundry. Laura picked up the pots in the box and looked at Kyle, "I don't know how to cook. Does she?"

“No,” came a voice from the doorway, pink-haired presence deciding to announce herself. “I am sure these first few rotations will be…. enlightening.”

She took stock of the other girl for a moment, grey eyes lingering for a few seconds more than was comfortable. “You are Laura.” The man in the room didn’t seem consequential to her in this moment.

The unfamiliar scent rose to Laura's nose as she also looked at the girl for equally as long. It wasn't a scent she was familiar with, it smelled, foreign. Almost unearthly. "And you are Gaia." She said and placed the pots on the small counter space. Laura pointed to a door opposite of Laura's door, "That one is yours. I only opened the window in there as it was starting to smell a little stale."

Gaia nodded, staring at her for some time longer. She didn’t make a move to enter the room, just stood at the entrance. It didn’t seem hostile in nature, but one could never really tell with her.

Kyle paused, about to say something and his teeth clacked a little as he rethought himself. "There's always food in the big kitchen, but if either of you wants to learn to cook, we can make that happen." He rubbed his forehead, and considered early retirement. Between the two of them, something was going to get set on fire. "We'll start with easy stuff, sandwiches and microwave pizza." A pause. "Don't put anything metal in the microwave, it'll make a ton of sparks and break."

Laura moved her attention back to Kyle, "I learned that once. Sarah decided to do all the cooking from then on. She said cooking wasn't my forte." Turning back to Gaia, "The main kitchen has pretty much everything you can think of. Including..." She went back into her room and came out with a big can of pringles. "These" Laura popped it open and held it out for Gaia to take one.

Cautiously, Gaia moved forward to delicately extract a chip from the can. She considered it for a moment before taking a small bite, unprepared for the rain of crumbs that cascaded down subsequently. A face was pulled at the taste, “BBQ” not agreeing with her sensitive taste buds.

With a huff she picked an offending piece of crisp off her shirt. Faith in the food available in the kitchen diminished, she turned to Kyle, “I would like to learn to cook, yes.”

"You know, if someone asked me I'd have guessed she'd hate the Pringles.' Kyle pointed at Laura. "I can't stand most of them. I can get both of you setup with some cooking lessons, we'll rotate you through a couple people." He pulled his phone out of his pocket, and tapped. "Let’s see. Names, toiletries, kitchen stuff, food." He set the box of bedding down. "Gaia, has anyone taught you how to make a bed? I don't care if you don't ever after this, but I've got sheets and blankets in here for you, and i'm guessing you don't know what to do with them?"

“You surmise correctly.” Beds. Another miraculous invention of this world. Gaia turned to inspect the aforementioned bedding, and then the feral himself. “Your assistance would be… appreciated.”

Laura put another pringle into her mouth with a crunch. "More for me then." The younger feral knelt down and pulled out a bag of toiletries and then sniffed the shampoo bottle, "That is strong." Before putting the pringle can to her nose to get rid of the smell.

"There's two unscented, and a couple of more interesting ones. Sooraya usually sets these up, there's some variety." Kyle laughed at the pringle can in front of Laura's face. "Other bag has the super nose safe ones, and the laundry room has scent-free detergent." He took two bundles out of the box of bedding, and handed one to Gaia. "Two sheets, two pillowcases, and a comforter and if you hate them, let us know. There's other options.' He pointed with one thumb towards the room Laura hadn't already started taking over. "Come on, lets get you setup. Laura you wanna crash course too, or you good?"

Laura pulled out the other bag and sniffed it before giving her nod of approval. "Yes." She stood up and walked over to Kyle. "Sarah had been doing all of that. I should at least learn to do things myself."