vatheon | A Mouseless and his Tin Helmsman

Who: Signless and Psiioniic
Where: In their hive
When: After Signless' frustrating day dealing with the Summoner
Style: Bitchy and squeaky
Status: Closed

Signless takes it in stride that, while he has shrunk considerably in size and also changed into a mouse, Psii has stayed about the same size and shape, but it now made out of metal. He has noticed, though, how Psii's joints aren't in very good shape, and creak and move awkwardly, impeding his movement. Being tiny and agile, he can get inside Psii's hollow body quite easily through the gaps in his form, and he's crawling around inside him now, going where directed and spreading greasy oil over his joints.

And complaining. He has a lot to complain about after his day.

"I just can't believe how foolish they're both being! Obviously they both care about each other, but they won't admit it! They both just keep denying that they have any interest in each other, or in romance, but if that was true, they wouldn't be so depressed and upset over this!"

He's worked up enough that he squeaks incoherently for a moment, then aggressively rubs some grease into Psii's hip joint, his mousy little voice echoing up through his hollow torso.

"And I don't know why I'm so angry about this, but it's just upsetting me!"

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"You have become very invested in their personal lives," the Tin Helmsman comments quietly, keeping his voice low so that any possible reverberations through his strangely empty form might not disrupt the tasks of his friend and savior that was now a mouse. It would not do to further aggravate the furry messiah.

"There is nothing more you can do beyond counsel," he continues, his voice a soft murmur as he pronounces all his sibilants with perfect, careful clarity. "I suppose I can imagine reasons you would experience frustration."

A lack of a lisp and the alterations to his physical form have done quite the fascinating number on his ability to function. The self-consciousness, deeply engrained even when only with his closest of companions, had kept him much more succinct. In a way, being turned into some sort of metal being actually made him somewhat more expressive.

"It's because they're my friends--at least, Summoner is, and Darkleer is going to be, just you wait and see--and they're being so stupid about this. I just don't understand why they keep trying to sabotage their happiness!"

Signless has noticed that Psii is talking more, and he's caught the happy little lilt he gives to all words with an s in them, but he doesn't comment. He knows well enough how self-conscious Psii can get about his lisp, and even though he can always understand him just fine, he thinks drawing attention to the lack of lisp would upset his friend. So he just keeps talking, enjoying the rare treat of having Psii talk back so freely.

"But anyway, I'm not giving up on this. They're going to at least admit that this isn't settled by the time I'm done!"

A mousy little head pokes out from the join in Psii's hip and looks up at his friend.

"How's that hip joint? Where else do you need some oil?"

"My hip is improved, though I wonder if my left shoulder requires additional attention," he answers very calmly. He can't say he understands exactly what has Signless so frustrated. He would like the other men to be happy as well, but this isn't really the way to go about it, he's fairly sure. Darkleer, at least, tended to dig in when something pushed him.

What he really needed was someone to support him, not to get aggressive. But he can't say that, it isn't his place.

"Do you really think they would be happier to pursue this issue?"

It's too bad; if Psii did say that, Signless would probably try a different tact with Darkleer. Being pushy seems to work fairly well with Summoner, after all. Of course, Signless would never think of himself as a pushy individual. He's helping! This is really for everyone's own good.

"Okay."

Rather than crawl back through Psii's empty torso, Signless starts crawling up his front. The metal that makes his new body has enough scratches and dents in it to make climbing fairly easy, giving Signless plenty of footholds and grips.

"I think they would. Neither one of them seems particularly happy about this; I know Summoner is upset about it, and I can only assume the same for Darkleer. Moreover..."

Signless stops, pausing at Psii's chest. "Hey, what's this?"

The Helmsman watches, somewhat bemused, as the small mouse skitters his way up his frame. One metal hand moves up to where the Signless paused, the automaton's face expressing as much curiosity as it can.

"What is what, Signless?"

He loves saying that.

Signless loves hearing it.

"It looks like there's a little door here, right over your heart."

Signless looks up into Psii's face, his nose and whiskers twitching.

"Do you mind if I try opening it?"

"I do not see what it would harm."

Seriously, he was a metallic construct that has no real proper function. What is the worst that could happen if his savior-turned-rodent opened some bit or piece of him?

"Okay."

Signless braces his back legs, grasps the knob with his paws, and pulls. The door doesn't want to give way at first, as rusted and creaky as most of the Tin Helmsman's joints, but when it gives, it gives all at once, swinging wide. The action startles Signless, and he lets go and falls backwards with a loud squeak.

"Signless!" It's a surprisingly emotive outburst from the Helmsman, and he moves to gently scoop Signless up. His metal features shift, concerned. Carefully, he rights him in one of his hands, bringing him close to his face to inspect his furry little body. "Are you unharmed?"

Signless just laughs; Psii's hand was close enough that he didn't have far to fall, and the only thing hurt is his pride.

"I'm fine." But while he's so close to Psii's face, how about some mousy nuzzling? Huh? How does that sound?

That... sounds rather nice, actually. He quite enjoys mousy nuzzlings, as much as he can enjoy anything. His emotions all seem so muted, but he does not pay it any real heed. He gently runs a finger over the furry little head, unsure of what to do exactly, but this seems to be about right.

That is exactly right, and Signless rubs his head up into Psii's finger, into the petting. He could do this forever, except there's a mysterious opening in his friend's chest that need investigating, and after a few more quick nuzzles, he grabs hold on Psii's chest and runs down it again.

"Hey! Look at this!"

It's a little chamber, set back inside the Helmsman's chest, right where his heart would be if he wasn't hollow. It's almost perfectly mouse-sized, and Signless crawls right on in.

"I could build a nest in here!"

What, building a nest in your friend's chest cavity is weird? Silence, all you doubters.

Why would a mousy savior building a nest in his chest cavity be weird? A bit on the unorthodox side, after all, but he was rather lacking in something to occupy that space.

"And to what end would that be, Signless?" he asks softly, a gentle fondness present there. "To replace that which has been lost?"

That... was an odd thing to say, perhaps. But there was a reason he didn't have a heart.

Signless pokes his head out, looking up at Psii.

"No... just to keep the space company until you find what you lost again."

Weird response to a weird question, perhaps, but it makes perfect sense to him.

A Mouseless and his Tin Helmsman

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