TLV Inbox

[ctrl_z]

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

Comments

before first Flood

[ctrl_x]

[She crouches near him, watching him work on... whatever that thing is.]

What're you working on, anyway?

[ctrl_z]

Just a lil' something for the Barge's greatest Warden.

[He looks to Jinx for a moment, then back to the apparatus, leaning down as he carefully tweaks it.]

She needs the ability to get around the Barge unhindered, after all.

[ctrl_x]

[She blinks and then grins at him, lightly patting his shoulder.]

Aw, look at you! You absolute softie!

[Despite the words, the teasing tone is mild.]

Not a bad idea, though. If anyone around here deserves getting around easily, it's definitely her. How else will our glorious queen be able to mind all her humble servants~?

[All of that is said with a dramatic tone, clearly being played up for the sake of (maybe... hopefully) a bit of a laugh.]

I'm guessing it'll function kind of similar to a prosthetic. Where do you plan on having the base?

[deuceoftears]

[4-5 days after the Sebassacre]

I hope you haven't been trying to work since all that.

[Not that there would be any way into the Engine Room, with Jedao busy and Vash losing his key.]

How are you feeling now?

[ctrl_z]

[Pfff.] Please...

[At least he's not jumping at her touch this time.]

You said it.

[A tone of agreement before he looks to Jinx.]

Figured the back was the best. Sort of like a bit of a harness. Easy to fold against her length-wise when it's not in use and mostly out of the way.

[He looks back to it.]

I'm still puzzling out the controls, though.

[ctrl_z]

Ha ha.

[Very funny, Jedao.]

I've been keeping busy.

[Because like probably a grand majority of the Barge, Ekko is allergic to sitting around doing nothing even when unwell.]

Mm, I've been better, but at least I'm not feeling dead on my feet.

[ha ha]

[ctrl_x]

Good choice! Having it there means just shifting her front legs would be enough. So, basically, a lightweight - but not too light - switch could go near her shoulder blades. Doing that, though, you'd have to account for any other situation that she'd raise her paw for.

[She looks up for a moment, considering...]

Oh, oh! What if it was voice-activated? Tuned to specifically to her voice.

So, basically, she says the activation word, the harness shifts into movement mode, in response, and then she lifts her paw to have the device move to press a certain button or open the door!

[deuceoftears]

I'm not gonna make you turn up even when you're better, but if you want the distraction -

[ctrl_z]

[He's watching her.

It hadn't occurred to him how much he'd missed this. Their excited little chatters over their inventions, sharing their insights and revelations.

Heh... "insights" and "revelations". They were just kids, after all.

Even so, seeing her so excited again, her eyes lighting up as she speaks... makes a certain emptiness he'd felt inside for a long time feel... not so painful, for a bit.]

Yeah, you know...

{A beat, and then... What the hell? Where was the harm in it?]

I feel pretty good about what I've got going so far, but I'd feel even better with another set of eyes...

[He looks to her.]

Maybe even a second brain?

[ctrl_x]

[She blinks and stares at him for a moment, like she's waiting for the catch.]

Really? You... [Genuine surprise, a hint of wariness.] Want... my help with it?

[ctrl_z]

[Gently teasing:]

I don't see anyone else I could be talking to, do you?

[ctrl_z]

[A softly amused sound.]

Do I.

[The response comes out a touch more hollow than he means it to.]

No worries, boss, I'll be there.

[deuceoftears]

"I'll get a chair for you. And you can just call me Jedao, if you want."

Although he doesn't really mind boss, if Ekko prefers some distance; it doesn't have the military connotations that sir has for him, it seems less formal.

[ctrl_z]

Wait— did he...?

There's a surprised blink, Ekko looking briefly awkward and unsure what to do with himself, before he just kind of seems to accept it.

"You got it, bossman."

Maybe that death knocked a few screws loose, or maybe he's experiencing some weird high of still being alive. Either way, he's regarding Jedao with more levity than usual.

He eventually makes his way to the Engine Room, knocking on the outside wall. Can't come in until he's sure he won't just be bounced back out.

[deuceoftears]

The wards only need to be told to include him once, but Jedao still locks the door when he's working, so without a key Ekko has to be let in anyway. Jedao opens the door for him, and sure enough, he's somehow gotten one of the comfy chairs from the common room in here, set up by the Tetris console.

Gliss - the beautiful steampunk-looking mechanical cat, whose wings make wind chime noises when she moves - is sleeping on it.

"Up you get, girl, that's for Ekko," Jedao murmurs as he shoos her.

[ctrl_z]

There's a belated blink as he comes in and sees the chair.

"Isn't that from the common room?" Jedao,,, you didn't have to do all that!

There's a small smile, and as he walks over and sits down, he says, "I don't mind sharing if she doesn't."

[ctrl_x]

[She huffs and lightly pushes his shoulder.]

Alright, Mr. Comedian...

[Jinx is smiling though. After a moment of consideration...]

Sure. I'll lend you my expertise.

[major_rawne]

Hi. How are you, after the flood? I know those can be tricky, the first couple of times.

[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 little grin.]

Now you're making it sound like you're doing me a favor.

[And then he gives a nod of his head to the papers he's got spread out.]

Alright, here's what I've been thinking of...

[time for nerd talk!]

[ctrl_z]

[Rawne? He definitely hadn't expected this.]

I've... been worse.

[He looks very, very tired.]

You?

[major_rawne]

[Rawne cares about Jinx, Jinx clearly cares about Ekko, therefore Rawne cares at least a little about Ekko.]

I've been worse, as well. I've been a hell of a lot better, too.

[He doesn't look quite as tired, but he does look like he hasn't been sleeping well these past few nights.]

[ctrl_z]

Yeah, I feel that.

[He rubs at an eye.]

Got blindness later on.

[So that was fun. Especially the not being completely sure if it was just something he'd have to Deal With after the flood or not.]

[major_rawne]

Shit, that's hard.

[He hadn't been blind, but B had something similar. Seeing out of someone else's eyes when they're somewhere else might as well be blindness.]

[ctrl_z]

Yeah, it sucked. Definitely never been more grateful to see, again.

[heh]

Gotta admit, though, the racing was fun.