"You'd better up your offer," said Corrine. "A whole year."
Sloish grinned. "The only way that I'd agree to that is if you go out with me to dinner, at least once a week, for the entire year."
Corrine gulped. She looked out the window. She could see a few more Reptilians walking around, some of which looked like they were admiring the vehicle that Sloish had driven in. In many ways, their clothes were just as mundane as the other vehicles in the lot were, by comparison to those worn by Sloish.
"Look at it this way," said Sloish. "You wouldn't have to worry about the average Reptilian asking you if they could eat you, especially if it is realized that I'm interested in you."
"You're, interested, in eating, me?" Corrine asked, starting to hyperventilate.
"Let me rephrase that," said Sloish. "You're giving off a smell, not too dissimilar to that of sickness, as if you've never even sat in a backyard to tan. I mean, when was the last time you saw a doctor?"
"I had a medical exam last month, thank you," said Corrine. "They come to see me for my appointments."
"And you had a clean bill of health?" Sloish asked.
"Well, according to them, I suffer from Agroaphobia, the fear of public spaces and the like," said Corrine.
"That could be an additional factor, brought about by your experience," said Sloish. "You don't want to risk the chance of encountering a Reptilian, so you stay where you feel safe, to the point that this room is the only place you feel safe. Right now, it doesn't feel so safe."
"No, it doesn't," said Corrine.
"In that case, I'll make a deal with you," said Sloish. "Regardless of whether or not I stay here for the year, I'll see to it that the rent is paid, so long as you help me test those appliances, go out to dinner with me at least once a week, which I'll pay for, along with some better clothes, and I'll see about locating a doctor who specializes in your condition, and make sure they they are either a human, or that they have a human assistant who can come here in person, while you use the communicator to talk to the doctor themselves if they are a Reptilian, and I'll even pay for that bill."
Corrine looked at him. "Why would you do that?"
Sloish chuckled. "I'm good at reading people. I can see that you need help, but you are too afraid to go out to get it."
"That's way more than a year's worth of rent right there," said Corrine.
"Money is no object for me, if you haven't noticed," said Sloish. "The reason I moved to this area, instead of going someplace fancier is this: familiarity. Most Law Enforcement officers don't live in areas like this, so when they get called out to places like this, people won't trust them, nor will they talk to them. I'm hoping to change that. I want those people to see me as the guy that has no problems playing games with their children, even losing on purpose if that's what it takes. I want them to see me as the guy that brings little old ladies their groceries. I want them to see me as the guy that can help the woman who is afraid to leave her home to be able to leave her home without fear. Then, when things go bad, I want them to remember those good things, so that when I have to ask the tough questions, they can trust me enough to answer them."
"So, you're serious about doing all of that, just to help me out?" Corrine asked. "And all you're asking in return is to help you test out those appliances, and go out with you?"
Sloish nodded.
"You drive a hard bargain," said Corrine. "Alright."
Sloish grinned. "I'm sure you'll get a better deal than I will."
A while later, Corrine was putting her clothes back on, hoping that her skin would turn to its normal color soon. The freezer had turned too cold too soon after the door had been shut, resulting in Sloish having to, quite literally, warm up the oven in order to keep her core temperature from dropping too low. Then, of course, Sloish asked her, once her strength had returned to a more normal level, to try to force the door open from the inside. She hadn't been able to open it. Nor had she been able to open the freezer door prior to getting too cold, nor the refrigerator door for that matter. She watched as Sloish gave Mr. Skinetzy probably the biggest dressing down anyone had ever given the man, all in front of the other tenants, who had watched the whole thing.
"If she couldn't get out without help, you tell me how a child is supposed to get out of them," Sloish said. "These things are major safety hazards. You are to replace them with current models, within two days, or else some of my friends from the Apartment Inspection Unit will pay you a visit, and you'll be having to explain to them why these things aren't up to code, and they will be checking everything else that is your responsibility."
"I was informed that they were up to code," said Mr. Skinetzy.
"These things were out of Code before even she was born, if not prior to that," Sloish hissed. "I'm surprised that you've managed to get them up and running, as most have been decommissioned due to the very safety hazards that lead to them being banned by everyone."
"But new ones are expensive," said Mr. Skinetzy.
"Not as expensive as a lawsuit," said Sloish. "As it is, I wonder just how many other Code violations this place has; if it was just the oven, fridge, and freezer units, I'd be willing to let you off with a warning, but the fact that you, quite literally, forced one of your tenants to put up with someone she doesn't trust as a roommate has me curious. As it is, I might just call AIU, and let them deal with you anyways. In fact, I could probably be a better Apartment Supervisor than you, or hire someone to do it for me, and get everything fixed the way it should be."
"Alright, alright!" Mr. Skinetzy said, nervously. "I'll get right on it."
"You'd better," said Sloish. "Miss Jones, let's take a look at your wardrobe. I want to see what you have before we go out to dinner."
Corrine had to laugh as she looked through her clothes, just as Sloish brought in his things. "I've never seen anyone do that, and you never even told him that you're a Law Enforcement officer. You only told him that you'd managed to make an agreement with me to help check out those things."
"If he thinks that I have connections within the department, it might lead me to whomever it is that's been looking the other way around here," said Sloish. He then looked at Corrine's clothes. "Definitely need to get you some better clothes."
"I don't get out, if at all," said Corrine.
Sloish smiled. "I told you that I'd buy you something to wear." He then offered his hand.
Corrine looked at it nervously. She looked up at Sloish's eyes. There was a kindness to them.
"I'll understand if you don't take it."
Corrine gulped, and managed to conquer her fear long enough to place her hand in his. He gently closed his fingers, so that she could get away if it turned out to be too much for her.
"It's a step in the right direction," said Sloish. "Now, let's get you something more suitable to wear."
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