i_amregistered "Always comes back to Towers." (Inara & Eddie at City Industries tower. Open)
The Tower was a massive place of business, Inara was instantly reminded of the Core worlds just by the sheer size and presence of the place. This was more in keeping with the life she had grown accustomed to. Wealth and privilege afforded many social blind spots to the rest of the world. Having had the chance to see both sides of that fence the Companion was more willing now to gently guide Eddie Dean rather then chide him as she might have in another life.
"I doubt they will be entirely comfortable with your sidearm. Is there any chance of you parting with it so long as we are inside?"
Mal gave up his weapon only when he had no other choice, she expected no less resistance from Eddie. Still the towering structure would live on quite well with or without them, they would be the ones to have to accommodate it. Bodies passed them on the walk up the many steps leading to the buildings large glass front, sunlight glinted off brass edged doors as they swung offering entry and exit to the masses.
"Is this what things were like where you're from?" It would at least hopefully break the building tension she had noted in him since they first sighted and began moving for the Tower.
"What?" He had been lost in his own thoughts, thoughts along the lines of; 'I'm not giving anyone my – Roland's – gun.' And 'it's just a tall building Eddie, you crossed a falling down bridge, you can handle this'. He maybe should have mentioned his whole; I don't like heights thing before this.
He shook his head to clear it, really he needed to focus right now, and managed to answer her question. Well her second one at least; "Sort of. I mean in some places yes, lots of towers like this."
Hs hand than drifted to touch the handgrip of the gun. "I can't take it off." He wouldn't take it off, that was it his only connection to his Roland's world. There was a million other reasons for him not wanting to take it off, but he'd keep them to himself.
Eddie pulled his shirt out of his pants and draped it over the gun and looked down. Yup, you could still tell he was packing. He closed his eyes; "Maybe they have a 'guns allowed policy.' Or maybe I can just promise not to shoot anyone."
In her time their would most assuredly be scanners to tell he was armed no matter what pains he took to hide the pistol. It would just have to be something they would have to find a way around.
"Perhaps not a promise, but.."
Lower lip chewed for a brief moment in thought and Inara straightened her wrap and pulled herself to her fullest most dignified bearing. An impressive sight when she chose to be, Inara could carry the air of a queen.
"How do you feel about playing bodyguard? Surely no one would ask a woman to leave her protector behind nor to disarm him."
Loopholes and charm could get you everywhere in life.
Eddie snorted, “I don’t think I look like a bodyguard, but sure. You do the talking, I’ll try and keep my mouth shut.” He’d, he really would, but no one, but no one was taking his gun away from him.
Feeling a bit better, because they had a plan (and Eddie reminded himself, he’d out riddled a talking, crazy train, he could talk these fine folks into letting him in with his gun, sure he could) he moved up the stairs and held the door open for Inara.
Inara swept into the lobby of the great building, shimmering cascades of satin fluttering around her. Chin held high, dark eyes sharp and fixed on their destination, the front desk. Guards were given the merest wave of her hand in dismissal.
"Eddie, would you please take my wrap?"
She shrugged a bit to loosen the forest green velvet at her shoulders. Two fold in action. It would give Eddie something behind which to conceal that sidearm and it was a definitive passing of the guards who were left to do nothing more then follow them with gaping jaws.
Inara was good at getting attention, it was her job. The more the guards looked at her the less they studied Eddie, the better off they all were.
The lady was good, Eddie would give her that. He could play guard duty, he'd just make extra special sure to keep his mouth shut. In his experience rent-a-cops didn't like it when people mouthed off to them. And these guys looked a few steps up from the rent-a-cops that he had had run ins with as a child.
He took the wrap, making sure to keep it off the ground and also making sure it didn't tangle his feet and asked quietly; "Elevator? That what where after finding?"