Lexi shut the door and frowned at Mr. von Engels’ refusal of a drink. Then she noticed that he was stiffly standing next to the couch and she didn’t have a clue what his problem was. Maybe he was afraid he would soil his nicely pressed trousers if he sat on her ratty couch. Taking a sip of her drink, Lexi watched him carefully and finally indicated the couch with her glass.<br/><br/>He stood stiffly looking around as if he were looking for cockroaches or maybe a rat, but he said, genially,” So, how are you feeling right now, Miss Davis? I heard from Neo that you were actually offering him a chance for reconciliation. To be honest, I myself was quite surprised of your emotional prowess."<br/><br/>Lexi opened her mouth to explain but he smoothly continued,<br/><br/>"However, I still would want to apologize for his actions earlier. I'm telling you, his capacity for making good moral decisions is severely stunted, and he revels in this kind of ability he possesses as a person."<br/><br/>Lexi realized what the problem was even as her mind sifted through his words,<br/><br/>“Make yourself at home,” she said while she pulled up one of the kitchen chairs to join him. Her living room was sparsely furnished and she would rather sit across from the man than next to him.<br/><br/>“I did offer Neo a second chance, well, more of a truce so we could continue to work together on this larger problem. I like him, though, and to be honest, the biggest problem was that we didn’t really know each other well enough for him to play that kind of a game with me. I seriously doubt he was an intentional rapist and in other circumstances what he did might not have been so violating. But I don’t live my life in fear from anything and I definitely won’t allow myself to be in the case of sex. Things happen and I don’t plan to put myself in harm’s way.<br/><br/>I believe that Neo and I can continue to work together. During that time, we can get to know each other better. Then if we want to become intimate again, then we will have a greater understanding of the things that are ons and offs for the other one.”<br/><br/>Lexi sipped her drink.<br/><br/>“What do you think we should do going forward about this skull? I’m not sure, to be perfectly honest, that somehow what happened with Neo and I wasn’t the result of some hex or spell cast on us to create a diversion. Mr. von Engels, breaking this curse is a big deal and I bet the powers that be will do anything to protect their assets. Just what did you find in North Seattle?”