"of course, Walton...y'know, I'm always helpin'n such."  Charlie dropped the bag on the floor, taking half of the stack of books and setting them on the floor.  She opened the bag, laying out what Walton had given her last time; a hodgepodge of math, english, simple literature...in a more schooled place, it would be the general education.  She took a few of the books from Walton, sliding them into the bag.

"Don't you be callin' th'Cap'n things, like he's not doin' right in the world."  Charlie spoke with a smirk, stacking up the books so that they took up less space in the bag.  "We'd come back more'f we had th'time."

Walton laughed at Charlene's comment and looked up at Kale, "Loyal to the core." he said, shuffling through the books he had gathered and making sure Charlene got the right ones, while stacking up the ones she had taken out.  "It's you know, Charlene.  Not y'know." he said somewhat absentmindedly.  He paused for a second when Rhaef spoke and glanced up at the book he had pointed out.  A small smile crossed his lips, "How very appropriate for you to notice that book, Rhaef." he pulled the book from the small table and into his lap.

"Are you familiar with the story of Beauty and the Beast ... not many are these days.  It was an old Earth-that-Was fairytale.  It's really quite interesting, a man is transformed into a beast.  His outer hideous appearance meant to reflect the ugliness inside him." Walton's eyes fell upon Rhaef and did not waver, "It takes the love of a young maiden to pull the beast away from his self-loathing.  To make him realize ... that he is not a beast at all." He holds his gaze on Rhaef for a moment longer, then looks up at the group at large with a smile, "A truly wonderful story.  Not only for children.  Although I can't help but notice that you do have a child with you, Kale." he cast a questioning look at Kale before turning back to the girl, "If my memory serves me correctly, you're name is Lei?" he held out the book, "Perhaps you'd like to hold onto this for me." his eyes met Lei's for a moment and he was startled to feel not as though he were looking into the eyes of a young girl but the eyes of someone far older.  Curious, he thought.

Geoff had patted Lei's head in a friendly manner and smiled to her at her nod. "That's a good girl.", he said with a soft tone before looking back to the professor as he turned to the rest of them, after just finishing talking to Rhaef, and began leading them towards his home. His talk of a warm meal was more than enough motivation for Geoff to move at a pretty quick pace. Not too fast though or else he would yank LEi right off her feet. Just a bit more of an enthusiastic pace with a smile that matched his enthusiasm on his face.

He looked about the place when they entered with some curiousity. It was a much nicer place than Geoff had ever been in. It looked to be a comfortable lived in place, the sights and smell of the place giving Geoff an unfamiliar feeling. A feeling of comfort and peace. A feeling of...home. He realized that, to most people, this is what a home would feel like. At least in the physical sense, this must be what a home felt like. What a warm and regular place where people live quietly without having to fight and steal for their next meal felt like. That realization filled Geoff with an echo of sadness, but he shook it off quickly. No point in wishing for what he couldn't have. Besides, he had a home now.

H didn't move to sit as the captain and Rhaef did. In his mind, this was still a place where he was an unfamiliar face so he couldn't be too comfortable. He merely remained standing, gripping Lei's hand loosely, and looked around. It wasn't until the professor came up to Lei and spoke to her to offer the book to her that he stopped looking around. He gave a nod to the professor and then smiled to Lei as he gestured toward the professor with a lazy movement of his head. He knew she was naturally wary of new people so he decided that a bit of reassurance from him would probably be good at the moment.

"Go ahead, little lady. The professor's offerin' ya a book an' a friendly face so he ain't gonna be hurtin' ya. So go ahead an' take it, thank him an' introduce yerself right an' proper. It's only polite, ya know.", he said with a half amused tone before smiling reassuringly to her,"He's a friend o' the captain's so he's a friend o' ours too, ok? So no worries, little lady."

Rhaef listened intently to Walton's words, when he spoke to him, the Professor seldom wasted words. And this was one of the things Rhaef liked about the man. He thought about the story, it was one his mother had told him as a child before he had to leave to join the Hand. In the back of his mind, he wondered why Walton was pressing him on it. In the back of his mind, something was dawning, but yet it was still forming in his mind without being drawn to conscious thought.

Ren followed the others at an easy pace, taking his time walking with Acacia.  He was glad they had talked, though he felt guilty that he was taking her away from her world.  He smiled at her, love shining in his eyes.

She had given up her world to be with him.  At least here he could show her one of the better parts of his world.

Wei-Li followed the others, but when she saw how they interacted with the professor she felt an odd twinge as she realized -- family didn't always have to mean blood.

She smiled, as she watched the others, and learned more about them as the interacted with the man.  She could see while Kale liked him so much.

Lei's eyes were all over the house as they came inside. She followed beside Geoff taking in the scent of the old books and pipe smoke, the warm colors and the homey surroundings. It was odd to be in a place that somehow seemed so comfortable. Everything was so soft and inviting looking instead of the hard cold metal of the ship or the bleach white walls of the White Place.

Her hand squeezed Geoff's when the professor offered her the book he had been talking about. The story intrigued her, but nevertheless she glanced at Geoff before taking the book in her hand.

At Geoff's insistence she spoke softly, "Yes, I'm Lei. Thank you." She hugged the book to her chest and moved back beside Geoff, but a little less scared and obviously intrested in continuing a possible conversation.

Walton offered Geoff a smile as he prompted the young girl to go ahead and take the book.  He had barely spoken but the large man reminded him immensely of Kale at that age ... probably part of the reason Kale had choosen him to join his crew.
When Lei took the book Walton did not pat her on the head or continue to treat her like a child.  Something told him that this girl was anything but a child.  "I have others if you're interested." he said serenly, not forcing them on her but merely presenting the opportunity.  He looked back up at Kale then, waiting for the story behind Lei.

Kale watched the exchange between Walton and Lei before speaking, "Kinda interestin' story really." he said, in reference to Lei's arrival on Destiny.  He proceeded to explain all about Cortez and the trip to Valon.  How Lei had arrived in a crate ... it was a little dificult story for him to recount.  He wasn't exactly proud about the danger he had landed his crew in on that mission.  But he knew that he had done right in keeping Lei on board.  "So, now she's here with us." Kale finished.  He watched Walton's expression but he was merely smiling placidly, nodding his head.  Kale couldn't tell what the man really thought about the entire situation.  He figured it was something that they'd speak on later.

Lei glanced up at Geoff again and then turned back to the professor, "I would like that very much, Professor... I've only been able to read medical books. What kind of books do you have?"

She spoke with a little more confidence, remembering that Geoff had said the professor was her friend. She was more curious about reading different books than what the professor might do to her.

Walton said nothing in response to Kale's story.  He had his thoughts on the matter but now was not the time to discuss them.  Suffice it to say it was clear to him that this was no ordinary girl.  When she spoke again he turned his gaze back to her.  Medical books, of course. he thought.  "I have all sorts, anything you can imagine, anything you want to know.  It's like the whole world sitting at your fingertips." he smiled, "You like to read." It wasn't a question.  And if it were Walton already knew the answer.

"Tell me Lei, what have you found most interesting in your reading thus far?"

Lei's eyes opened with wonder and curiousity when the professor mentioned that he had a large collection of anything and everything that she was intrested in. her hold on the book tightened slightly as she considered the possibilities.

Her grip on Geoff loosened slightly as she answered his question, "I find the skeletal structure of the human body to be quite fascinating with 205 bones and connective tissues.I am quite intriguied by all of the systems in the body from the muscuskeletal, digestive, respiratory and circulartory to the nervous and endocrine system. The various glands; the hypothalmus, pituitary, throid, parathyroid adrenal glands have the most amazing functions considering their receptors and control systems."

She looks down for a moment as if all of this information wasn't much, "The medical books focus more on diseases and treatments and there aren't as many images of their functions as I would hope to see. I'm more intrested in their functions."

Acacia listened in amazement as Lei spoke of what she'd read, and a smile crossed her face as she saw Lei relax a little and interact with someone who wasn't part of Destiny's crew.

She looked up at Ren and smiled, knowing that she'd made the right decision coming with him.

Walton nodded, "Yes ... yes indeed.  The human body is a cornucopia of facinating mysteries. I've always found the mind most intriguing myself. It is still so elusive to us and that is precisely why it captivates me so much.  The untapped capacity ..." he trailed off and began rummaging about the room for a few moments before letting out a triumphant 'ah-ha!' and pulling a large book from one of his selfs. "This you should read.  I would love to hear your opinions and theories." he said handing the book to the girl.  In gold letters it said simply: THE HUMAN MIND

She was quite remarkable, Walton thought. Her answer to his question had confirmed what Walton had suspected.  This was no ordinary girl.  He looked up at the rest of the group now, "Dear me, I'm being a terrible host.  I believe you are all ready for some dinner.  It is not quite finished, if anyone would like to assist in the kitchen the help would be much appreciated." he looked around with a laugh, "Now don't all jump up at once."

OOC: Okay I'm hoping to get a scene with Geoff and Kale and Walton in the kitchen.  I could take perhaps one more person but I want to refrain from having every character want to help.  I was thinking more along the lines of Walton being stuck with just Geoff and Kale since their not exactly the most helpful in the kitchen (or at least Kale's not as we have established :)

Lei let go of Geoff's hand and excitedly took the book. She looked around and found a large arm chair in the corner. She moved to the chair, set the Beauty and the Beast book on the table and opened the book. She immediately coughed as some dust came wafting out of the pages. She turned the binding toward her and blew hard. A small cloud of dust flew onto the floors.

Satisfied with her blow, she began looking through the contents and then set to read page by page.

Ren smiled at the Professor and nodded towards Acacia.  "We'll set the table sir," he said, his smiling growing.  This was one of the better parts of their life, their friends and he was glad to share it with Acacia.

"Where do you want us to set up?  Table?  Veranda?"

"Well, sir, you know I'm not exactly helpful with cooking, but I'll go out and haul a block of ice in for you. I assume the ice box is still out back?" Rhaef stood asking, glad to be of some use.

Geoff smiled as Lei took the book that the professor offered and then as she actually spoke to the professor for longer than a few sentences. He was glad to see her getting along with people other than him and the crew. He didn't think it would be good if she was always deathly afraid of other people. He watched her go to sit down with another book that the professor gave her, a book that was probably way out of his reckoning judging by how Lei and the professor talked right before she got it, and nodded in approval.

He heard the professor ask for help in the kitchen and he looked to the older man with a grin and a nod. "Well, I reckon that I could be helpin' a bit, Professor. I mean, I've had occasion ta be cookin' a few times an' I think I could be helpin' out a bit.", he said with a a slight smile and a gesture to Kale,"'Sides, I do believe I have some big talkin' that I did earlier ta back up. Don't I, Cap'n? Heh."

Walton smiled as Lei sat down with his book and began reading immediately, then he turned to Ren.  He hadn't had a chance to speak with the man yet and he did not know him as well as he knew Rhaef and Charlie but he was still always wonderful company.  He wondered curiously about the woman at his side.  There was obviously a connection between the two but he was sure he would be told the story later, for now there was a meal to get served.  "Inside the dining room I believe will suffice, it is a bit chilly outside for us to be eating on the veranda tonight.  And Rhaef that would be very helpful."

Then he looked at Geoff as he offered to help and gave him a rather dubious look as he heard the bit of a bet it sounded like he and Kale had going on.  "Well, I suppose that would be alright." he looked around, "Uh ... anyone else?" he asked somewhat hopefully.

Kale laughed at Geoff, "That you do, my friend, that you do.  Lots of big talkin'. I'll help out too, Walton, Geoff cookin' is somethin' I gotta see." Kale said, rising to his feet.

"Ah ... wonderful." Walton said dryly.  Kale wasn't exactly the help he wanted in the kitchen.  The man was more apt to burn his entire house down then actually cook anything.

Geoff laughed wryly as the captain stood up to offer his help for the chance to see him cook. "Heh. Well, see? Now I dunno if I should be cookin' anythin', seein' as how it's motivatin' ya ta be tryin' yer hand in the kitchen.", he said and then looked to the professor with a wide smile and a gesture to Kale,"Ya've known him longer so ya know what I'm talkin' 'bout. 'Less his tendency ta be burnin' an' manglin' anythin' edible is a new development in his life."

While Walton, Kale and Geoff moved toward the kitchen, Rhaef slipped out the door to the veranda, and lit up a cigarette. He would enjoy this, and then go haul a block of ice in for the Professor's ice box in the house.

Wei-Li hesitated for a few moments and then stepped up.  "Sir, if you'd like some help.. I'm good at chopping vegies.. mixing things... "

She watched him, trying to get a feel for the man by the way he moved.

Walton laughed heartily and clapped Geoff on the back, "No, my boy.  That is most certainly a long acquired skill of Kale's.  He was burning things out of recognition long before I even met him." Walton smiled at Kale, then looked up as Wei-Li spoke.  There was a hint of relief in his voice as she volunteered to lend a hand, "Ah, thank you, Miss ... Wei-Li, right?" Walton inquired, "Your help will be much appreciated, lord knows I'll need it." he said with a doubtful look at the two men and the four of them made way to the kitchen.