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[ctrl_z]

"This is Ekko. Get back to you when I can."

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[deuceoftears]

"I'll put it back later, probably," Jedao says airily. Gliss chime-chirps, then hops up to sit across the top of the chairback. "And you should come up with a password for her, so that if you ever don't give it, she knows you're being possessed or mind controlled or something."

[ctrl_z]

A lightly amused sound at the first part, and at Gliss, he reaches up to pet her. If accepted, of course.

He makes a face at the words that follow.

"Not exactly the kind of distraction I was hoping for."

Ugh. He really needs to get used to this sort of bs, huh...

He looks at the cat for a few moments, considering, before he says:

"Firelights."

[deuceoftears]

"Play the game. It's good for her and it's good for you," Jedao tells him as Gliss rings softly in pleased acknowledgement, then settles in with her cool titanium paws draping down to make gentle biscuits on Ekko's shoulder, while she makes a low singing-bowl like hum that seems to be her version of purring.

"If you can get to level 30 I'll give you a gold star."

[ctrl_z]

The reactions from Gliss manage to earn a little smile. He looks to Jedao with raised eyes, then gives a baffled little noise of amusement.

"You do realize there's nothing like this from my world and I only just started getting used to it, right?"

Nevertheless, he leans forward to get into position.

"I don't suppose you'd let me look at the guts sometimes?"

He's a nerd, so getting to figure out how things work is much more exciting than any game.

[deuceoftears]

"There's no time limit on the prize. And also there are 255 levels."

So, there's that. The plinky music comes on: absolutely classic arcade Tetris.

"Have you opened up your communicator yet?"

[ctrl_z]

"Guess I got time, then."

Talking while playing is going to be even more challenging, but he'll give it a shot.

The question gets a snort.

"Yeah, and it's about as sensical as the stuff in here."

Ekko hadn't known whether to be disappointed or amused.

"The game machine like that, too?"

[deuceoftears]

"This whole room is. We're not supposed to make the mechanics of the barge work. We're just here to give her...effort, attention, interaction. Care. The details don't matter, but treating it like it matters, matters."

Or at least, that's Jedao's best theory after three years working here.

[ctrl_z]

"Hmmm," Ekko responds, focusing on the game for a moment.

He loses on the first level, makes a face, then starts again.

"I'm definitely more a mechanics guy. Won't say it isn't cool, though. The whole "living ship" thing."

[deuceoftears]

"The precision helps," Jedao promises. "And...yeah. I think she's cool too." His voice gets a little warm and soft as he says it; Jedao isn't just proud of his work or intrigued at the concept. He cares about the barge like she's a person he loves.

"Did you build stuff before?"

[ctrl_z]

He'll take Jedao's word for it. There's a brief glance at him at the tone.

"A few things. I'd show you my mace, but I don't have it with me. My hoverboard, too."

He sounds a touch sad when he says it - they're not just his inventions, but parts of him. Even if he can, very begrudgingly, understand why he couldn't have the former back.

[deuceoftears]

"What, like - a morningstar?"

The only mace he knows is Zerxus's.

[ctrl_z]

"Sort of. Except replace the spiky ball with a gear that can rotate- Yes!"

Level 3 defeated, baby! He is moving UP in the world!!

[deuceoftears]

"Nice," Jedao compliments, though whether on the mace or the level-up isn't entirely clear.

"I'll request your hoverboard from the Admiral later if you'll show me how it works," he offers.

[ctrl_z]

His whole gaze lights up from that, and he immediately turns away from the game to look excitedly at Jedao.

"If you do that, I'll even strip it to the bones!"

Ekko. Ekko, you didn't pause the game...

[deuceoftears]

"Your score, your score!" Jedao exclaims when he realizes he's diverted Ekko by accident. He doesn't yell, but he does gesture very emphatically.

[ctrl_z]

"—oh, crap!"

He tries to recover, but there goes another life. He looks at Jedao.

"What do I get if I reach level..." ... "...five?"

[deuceoftears]

"Snacks?" Jedao offers. "I got meringue cookies. Unless you're allergic to eggs."

[ctrl_z]

"You got what now?"

Listen, he's a slums kid, cookies were probably a luxury as it was.

[deuceoftears]

"They're crunchy."

He pulls out what is absolutely a little picnic basket from under a bulkhead, and pulls out a tupperware of uneven, only slightly cracked homemade meringues.

"My husband makes them for me because he's the best." Jedao gets a properly smitten look on his face about it, then offers the open tupperware to Ekko.

[ctrl_z]

He glances over, raising his eyebrows. That... doesn't look like food? That doesn't look like food.

"Huh."

But there is a faint smell that smells like it could be edible, soooo why not, he supposes.

Back to gaming.

"Who's your husband?"

[deuceoftears]

"Cho Hakkai. We met here."

Jedao leaves the tupperware on the bulkhead, and he does help himself to one of the meringues before starting to putter around, turning a hand crank here, ringing a bell three times there, tossing a second cookie into the little steam boiler and then stoking up the coals.

[ctrl_z]

"Oh, right, Sebastian's warden."

An unfortunate way to meet a guy, but so it goes. Hey, turns out your inmate killed me! Honestly, it's probably not an uncommon way to meet people here, all things considered.

"He's sure got his work cut out for him."

[deuceoftears]

"He enjoys the challenge, I think. If I were a gambling man -" and he is, "I'd say Sebastian's got another three years or so. You'll be out of here long before, unless we all fail you horrendously."

[ctrl_z]

"Three years? Is that normal?"

Said with no amount of hidden concern. He can't help but glance at Jedao at the last part.

"Yeah? What makes you say that?"

[deuceoftears]

"No, one to two years is average, I think. And I'm pretty sure you've just learned to deal with bad circumstances and need a fucking break and some new tools. It's the one with bad values they're clinging to really hard that get stuck for ages," is Jedao's observation.