Landed Fish

[devwocean]

Who: Orphaner Dualscar, Signless, Expatriate Darkleer
Where: The plaza
When: Now! Dualscar is respawning
Style: Prose if that's OK with you guys?
Status: Closed, though I may do an open one or network post or something with DS later.

Dualscar was pretty disoriented as he arrived in the plaza. He fell to his knees, choking on his gasps, his gills opening with a popping sound and his fins stiff with terror as he scrabbled at his own, unmarked throat.

The last thing he remembered was getting his throat ripped out by the Grand Highblood's teeth. It took a few moments for his body to realize that he actually could breathe, and that he wasn't dying horribly.

Comments

[devwocean]

Dualscar eyes the thing uncertainly. Just the very idea of being a test subject is somewhat repellent to him. It brings up images, things he's seen and done, where he would never want to be on the other side.

But as Dualscar explains, he relaxes and reaches out cautiously, holding out his hand palm-up and trying to tempt the robot into his hand.

"Thank you," he says quietly, and with his other hand he reaches for the kneeling troll, curling his fingers around a lock of that long hair and smiling faintly. "I'd be happy to test your devvice, though I hope I wwon't need it."

[aim_exorable]

The fact that this is still a relatively new invention and the look on Dualscar's face is a bit worrying The nervousness in his chest makes him feel almost as if he's right back in Alternia, as if he was never exile and is before one of his superiors, trying hard to please so that he isn't culled. Not that he thinks Dualscar would necessarily cull him, especially when he's one of the few who are willing to work with him.

But then his expression relaxes, and the robot, after some apparently careful consideration, hovers down to land obediently on the tip of the seadweller's fingers. Things are going well. Darkleer can't help the small bit of pride which blossoms in him at the knowledge. Still various other things to test out, this is just a trial run, but-

Oh blast and brimstone and ash, his hair is being touched again.

Darkleer stops breathing briefly and goes still. "Yes, well, it is always the hope in testing an invention that it is not actually needed right at that moment."

[devwocean]

He smiles faintly as the tiny thing sits on his fingertips, glancing from it to Darkleer's face and then to his own fingers, tugging very lightly on the smooth, dark hair.

"You'vve done wwell, today," he murmurs, almost a stock phrase. It didn't occur to him that it might not be appropriate in this situation, with Darkleer literally kneeling before him and looking so eager to please.

His fingers slip to the nape of Darkleer's neck and he leans forward to bestow a light kiss.

[aim_exorable]

Has he? Darkleer supposes he has. He also supposes that this is the end of their meeting and is just about to ask when he feels those fingers slip away from his hair and to his... neck? Suddenly a dear in headlights, Darkleer freezes up.

Oh dear. Oh fiddlesticks. This was a bad idea and he should have listened to his past self.

Very, very carefully, he pulls back just enough to avoid the kiss. "Sir?" Oh god how is he supposed to explain this.

[devwocean]

Oh, too much? Dualscar draws back and releases him, frowning in confusion and a little out of sorts. Darkleer was the one who kissed him first, but that's the only thing they've done, and he's sure he must be doing things wrong.

"I just mean, I appreciate all a the help you'vve showwn me today," he says awkwardly. "Noww tell me howw to use this little devvice."

[aim_exorable]

Oh thank any gods that actually exist. Darkleer realizes that this has most certainly evolved into a horrible, horrible problem that he really should fix but he just... does not know how. Darnit.

Breathing in quiet and deep, he nods. Right, explain the robot and then abscond.

"It's mostly self-automated. It recognizes the specific individual it has been assigned to watch and makes sure to stay in close contact and visual range. I'm still working on the AI- it's nothing extraordinary, simply enough to recognize when its charge is in danger or is in physical pain. I'm going to make changes so that it can be changed briefly for sparring sessions or duals, but that is still a work in process. This is simply a beta."

[devwocean]

Dualscar nods. It looks like Darkleer is nervous, and perhaps that's the reason he's being so skittish. But he doesn't really know how to reassure him, or even if he quite wants to do that at all.

"Wwhat kinds a information does it transmit, and wwhere?" he asks, because the fact that Darkleer might want to spy on him for more than just his physical safety is certainly a possibility. He sneaks out a foot and rubs it against Darkleer's leg where it's folded under, just a subtle caress.

[aim_exorable]

Uh.

Uh.

That is unnecessary. Darkleer... thinks...

A shiver goes up his spine at that foot and Darkleer's eyes twitches behind the safety of his glasses. Why in god's name did he let himself kneel? "Most of the information it observes, it keeps to itself, with an exception. That would be its location. I'm the only one who can access that information at all times, although I doubt I'll ever have cause to. I plan on making a receiver for the local defense force so that when it sees that its charge is in danger, it can alert capable individuals."

[devwocean]

Totally necessary, Darkleer, and you don't seem to be objecting.

Dualscar nods, frowning faintly. He's not entirely sure he likes being monitored, but if it would keep him from getting killed again, he's willing to put up with it. "I'll be trustin' you to keep that information to yourself," he says quietly.

[aim_exorable]

How do you even object to something like this? Darkleer is still working on it okay!

Darkleer answers the question smoothly. "Of course." Besides, he has the robot that's probably still keeping Dualscar's hive tidy to spy on him, silly seadweller. "Now, I'm sure you've had a... traumatic morning, sir. You should go rest until your nerves have calmed." AKA please do this thing so I can abscond.

[devwocean]

Silly hoofbeast, the Summoner destroyed the drone while Dualscar was dead. Sorry. Not that Dualscar knows that yet, either.

He sets the firefly on his shoulder, not sure what else to do with it, and nods. "I suppose I havve." He smiles, and pats Darkleer on the shoulder. "Wwe'll see each other again, soon, no doubt?" There was just a tiny uplift of a question there.

[aim_exorable]

Point. So they're both silly idiots. Although that will probably end up repaired anyway whenever Dualscar moves back in. Darkleer doubts the other will actually want to do his own chores.

Finally rising to his feet, Darkleer wonders once again just how to break this off. Cleanly. Neatly. Is there even a way? For now, he just bows his head obediently. Maybe if he just keeps this strictly professional, it will get through? "I'm certain we will, sir. Rest well."

The mechanical bug whirs its wings in quiet acknowledgment and Darkleer turns to leave.