vatheon | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Shulk and Tech
Where: Defense Force Headquarters, Laboratory
When: Early morning, Monday
Status: Closed

[It’s not exactly irregular for the coyote to get caught up in a project and work well beyond his projected (and healthy) time frame. This is one of those times. But really, most of them are. He prepares the lab before he leaves, only storing the most vital or otherwise dangerous odds and ends. Most of it will be used again in the morning, anyways. After all, it couldn’t be that—oh. It’s tomorrow.

In fact, it’s very tomorrow. Tech sighs to himself as he begins to lock up. It’s a very half-hearted sigh.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Shulk's had time to adjust to being in Vatheon. He's had time to grieve, he's had time to read the Welcome brochure, and he's had time to get his bearings in this underwater... city. He's made a decision: to try and find a way back. He's probably not the only one who's trying to get back, it's just a matter of finding others working out a way to return.

He has no leads, though. No leads except for a vision... He's seen visions of the future, changed outcomes, been unable to change others.

The vision is the reason he's here, outside a building approaching a creature he's never seen before, holding a box of electronic components. The vision had prepared him for the humanoid animal but it's still startling to see in reality.]

Uh...

[He isn't really sure how to even begin. Hey, I saw you in my head and I thought I should meet you? It might be alright for Reyn and Dunban but not for complete strangers. Shulk settles for...]

I heard you needed these.

[It's not surprising for there to be others in the building at this hour, but Tech is not expecting to be addressed--leastwise by such an unfamiliar face.]

You heard? From wh--

[His expression brightens when he sees the box.]

Is that a diffusion conduit?! That's just what I need to finalize the device's regulatory functions. I was going to have try and find one myself this afternoon. I'll need to measure it first, of course, but from here it appears usable!

[There's something familiar about the way this person brightens upon spotting the box. Shulk can really relate to finally finding that missing piece of equipment he needs to finish his various projects, so he can't help but smile a little in the face of that.

He wants to know what exactly this guy's making, but first...]

Where do you want me to put it?

Oh, uh, here. Let me take it to the lab.

[He reaches for the box, his left hand coming in contact with the human's as he does so. He finds himself unable to remove the box, however.]

Heh, it's okay, I've got it. You can let go.

[Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Shulk cranes his neck to look around to the side of the box.]

I did.

[His left hand's free -- and he supports the bottom of the box with it -- but his right hand... Shulk attempts to lightly pull his right hand away. It remains firmly stuck to this person's left hand.]

...I think we're stuck. Somehow.

What?

[Tech leans to get a better look. It doesn't really illuminate anything.]

Did you. . . do something?

[Shulk shakes his head.]

Not at all.

[He wants to try and figure a way to separate their hands but...]

We can figure out how to get unstuck after we bring the diffusion conduit inside.

[Tech rubs his chin.]

Maybe. But I have a thought. Just follow me [He turns to re-open the door] and hold on to the box.

[Shulk nods before shifting the box around so he has a better grip on it while his right hand is stuck to this person's left.]

Alright, I've got it.

[The door is still unlocked, and he activates the lights as they enter.]

Unless I missed my guess, I believe we have a curse on our hands. Literally. I'm going to check the network to see if there are any other cases. You can leave the box on my desk [Which is where he has been leading them, further into the room].

A curse?

[Why does that sounds familia--]

Oh, right. This was mentioned in the pamphlet.

[He puts the box down on the table carefully so he doesn't damage anything.]

If it's a curse, shouldn't the effects have started yesterday?

Oh, you must be relatively new.

[That explains the unfamiliar face. Well, beyond the possibility that he just isn't paying attention.]

In the sense of a few hours ago, sure. It is a little odd, but maybe the effect did start then, and is only actually noticeable when...contact happens.

[With his free hand, Tech wakes up his communicator and begins to scan the network feed.]

[CLEARLY THEY SHOULD TOUCH MORE AND SEE--

Okay no not really. But Shulk does have the thought briefly before he discards it; it's already really inconvenient, there's no need to make it worse. The weight on the end of his right hand reminds him that yes, this person is still stuck to his hand -- Tech might feel a light tug on his stuck hand before Shulk remembers and stops pulling -- and, no, if he's going to think, he's going to have to forget about going into his usual 'thinking pose'. Shulk settles for curling his unstuck hand by his chin.]

That makes sense.

[When Tech takes out his SFC, Shulk's gaze focuses on it, observing how Tech navigates the device.]

I'd love to test your theory, but it seems inconvenient if we were stuck any more than we already are for the rest of the week.

[Tech's eyes flash from the screen quickly.]

You would?

[No one ever wants to test his theories! But now is not the time to be either over-excited or emotional.]

Yes, of course. We don't have to take that approach, though. It would make more sense to begin by analyzing how we're connected. Perhaps I can even find a way to separate us. That would certainly make testing more convenient.

[Shulk nods, glancing back down at their connected hands. It's a bit hard to see how they're connected from this angle, even after a lot of craning, so he'll wait until this guy's done with what he's doing.]

Sounds good.

[Oh yeah.]

I'm Shulk, by the way.

Tech.

[After a few more seconds of scrolling, Tech pockets his communicator.]

Nothing. That means we're on our own. Come with me.

[Tech, huh. Shulk gets the feeling Tech is pretty business oriented -- a little like Dean, actually -- so he doesn't say anything when Tech leads the way.]

[There's a telescopic glass with a lit platform set into a table, near a collection of microscopes. The latter would be more precise, but not exactly suited for this sort of examination. Tech switches on the lights and pulls their hands toward the platform.]

Put your hand here and try to keep still. I'm going to see if I can find anything that might illuminate the nature of our problem.

[Shulk obliges and stays still. Unfortunately, the glass really isn't designed for two people looking into it, so with nothing better to do, Shulk looks around the lab. All the equipment in here... He can't help but say aloud--]

This lab's a lot more sophisticated than the one I had. Is this all for research?

Research and development.

[Tech adjusts the scope as he peers through the viewer. There's nothing much to be seen, as expected. Just a pair of hands that won't come apart. He tugs around his glove with his free hand, but everything stops at the connection. Then, producing a small pair of forceps, he tries to find the exact spot where they seem to meet.]

Hm. No residue or give of any kind. As far as I can tell, there's nothing physical holding us together, or if there is it's contained entirely within the attached site, and otherwise immovable. It also penetrates my glove, which is interesting.

[R&D, huh. Shulk's attention is brought back to their stuck hands when Tech starts fiddling with them.]

Although this is different, we could try applying heat. Warming pitch loosens its binding ability, so it's not impossible.

[Using hot water or something. Not, like, boiling water, but hot water that isn't scalding.]

Maybe. Assuming we could get it hot enough without direct contact, as there doesn't appear to be any space between our hands at the connection.

[He lifts up from the device and stares for a moment.]

But first we should probably get what information we have onto the network. Here, I'm going to record to the SFC.

[As he speaks he retrieves the communicator from his side. He stands it on the table and begins to adjust.]

[Shulk nods. And then this post happens. When they're done, though...]

...Oh.

[That sure is his right hand getting unstuck from Tech's left.]

[Tech blinks, and lifts his hand to his face to examine it.]

Huh, interesting. I wonder if...

[He looks to the human.]

...we should probably hold off on further testing. For now.

[Shulk nods and takes a step back. You know. Just in case.]

Good idea.

[He hesitates for a moment.]

Uhh...

[His next words are blurted out.]

Would you mind if I observed what you do here while I'm in Vatheon?

[At first Tech gives him a look as if to say 'come again?' but of course he heard what was said. On brief reflection, he shrugs and offers a more pertinent response instead.]

We've already established that my assistant and myself would like to study your weapon. Unless you intend to leave it in our care and simply await the results, it seems like you would be here regardless.

[Ahahaha no. Shulk has absolutely no desire to let the Monado out of his sight. He scratches the back of his head.]

It's just...

[How to explain?]

Some researchers don't like other people asking questions and taking notes while they work. I thought it would be a good idea to ask, first.

Yes, of course. But it's no trouble at all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only