voice

[deem]

Hey guys, can you hear me?

[YoRHa unit 9S, forever uncertain as to whether he's thinking at people properly]

I just wanted to let you know that 2B and I are doing renovations on that old house on the western side of the island. At the moment there's no water or electricity so it's probably not the most hospitable for humans...

But once it's in working order, this'll give us an outpost in this area.

Also we were discussing some hands-free lights for working in the dark. Devices like that would come in handy, right? Are there any other types of equipment you could use? Seems like during our downtime, that's something to work on. Maybe we can also establish what resources we've got at our disposal, too. We're a team and all, right?

[Now that they're not dealing with invading hostiles, it seems to him it's time to put his technical skills to work]

[ooc: Feel free to thread-hop/jack, let's get geared up]

Comments

[talim]

Hmm...

[ jude hums in thought. at the very least, this is a good distraction from 9s saying such sincere and heartfelt things. it seems so... sudden, like there was some sort of trigger, a catalyst.

whatever it might be, jude tries to push the issue from his mind for the time being. ]

So are you asking me to come over and take a look? Because that's the impression I'm getting.

[deem]

[There was, of course, some advice he had gotten... Not that he'd point out he asked Julius how to respond to a friend wanting to know how important they were to him.

The more he'd thought about it, the more uncertain he was, until he simply had to get some input]

Well, if you wouldn't mind... When you're not busy, that is.

There's still a lot of work to be done, but I'm pretty used to conditions that're different from this. I don't know what's needed other than water and electricity.

[talim]

[ for what might truly be the 100th time: ]

I'm never too busy for you.

[deem]

[And yet he will continue to never take it for granted]

In that case, let me know when I can meet you.

You're safe from the boars if I'm around.

[talim]

It's a bit of a hike, so how about meeting me halfway?

And I promise I'll be more careful this time.

[deem]

You sure? I can cover ground pretty fast, even if I don't have that pop-up-behind-others trick you've got.

[You kids and your fancy pivots that snap]

[talim]

I'm not letting you carry me again, if that's what you're getting at.

[deem]

That's not what I meant, but was it really that bad?

[talim]

[ jude instantly regrets his choice of words. if only 9s knew how nice it was. ]

... No. Not at all. I just don't want to trouble you again.

[deem]

That's not possible.

[Just a fact, plain and simple]

[talim]

Are you sure?

[deem]

Within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty.

[talim]

[ jude heaves a sigh. there's just no winning with him. ]

Come on over.

[deem]

Alright, give me around ten minutes or so...

This place is pretty big, all things considered.

[For an island floating in the middle of a sea surrounded by The Void]

[talim]

Will do. I'll be outside.

[ and jude is, right outside that navy blue shack of his. ]

[deem]

[True to his estimate, 9S shows up in a little over ten minutes. When he slows from a darting pace that actually causes motion blurs, he shakes some stray leaves out of the pink t-shirt 2B gave him before he approaches Jude]

Weather's not too bad today, actually...

[He glances up at the sky]

[talim]

[ jude just sort of stares at him, looking rather perplexed. ]

I've never seen you in that before.

[ is pink really 9s' color... ? huh. meanwhile, jude's lab coat is missing, but he's wearing 9s' jacket instead. ]

[deem]

Probably because it's usually under my coat.

[Now free of leaves and a twig or two, 9S smooths a hand over the baby-pink material]

2B bought it for me.

[He's legitimately proud of this shirt okay Jude...]

[talim]

[ okay, so whether pink is 9s' color or not, that's still adorable. jude can't help but smile, lips quirking upward. ]

Well, that was... thoughtful. I wouldn't have expected that, but it's. Unique.

[ he looks so... cute. jude is sort of glad he's borrowing his jacket just because elize would be proud that 9s is a true pinkist. he wishes he could meet her. ]

So, we'd better get going.

[deem]

Back where we're from, we talked about something we'd like to do after the war, and...that's what we decided. Buying shirts, I mean.

[Or at least, 9S had wanted to buy her a shirt]

I got her a blue one, but I haven't seen her wear it yet.

[There's no masking a small measure of disappointment, but he smooths it away and moves right along]

So I know you were worried about it, but...it'd still be faster if I carried you. Plus with the boars in the area, the closer you are, the safer you are.

[talim]

[ jude's job is reassuring people; it's just what he does. 9s, of course, is no exception. ]

I'm sure she's just saving it for a special occasion. I know 2B would treasure anything that came from you.

[ in response to 9s' proposal, jude makes a thoughtful sound, staring up at the sky and considering it. sure, it's a little embarrassing, but it is true that they'd get there at least twice as fast, maybe more. ]

You don't have to worry about my safety. But...

[ jude colors light pink, wringing his wrist with his hand in a nervous tic. ]

On your back this time?

[deem]

It'd be a bit tough to wear over her uniform, I think.

[So 9S has told himself. But wow Jude, bridal style is pretty much an android standard.

But for this, 9S glances over his shoulder, not that it does him much good]

My back...?

[Pardon a fellow for never having heard of piggyback before]

[talim]

Like this. I'll show you. Just stand still and I'll hop on.

[ jude forces down his nerves— he's given milla a piggyback before, it's no big deal— and steps behind 9s to slowly drape his arms over his shoulders before jumping up and wrapping his legs around his waist. he wouldn't dare if he wasn't confident that 9s could handle his weight without an issue. ]

See? Not so bad.

[ not so bad... jude isn't too sure about that, but at least 9s can't see his expression like this. ]

[deem]

[The weight's no issue for 9S of course. He'd be hard-pressed to lift 2B, much less get very far, but Jude weighs less than half of what he does. So he'd have to agree it's not bad, though it's a little weird...]

Won't you get tired holding on like that?

[With a most pointed glance toward those legs around his middle. He's seen Jude fight, so he knows he's strong, but he imagines it wouldn't be comfortable holding onto him this way]

[talim]

I'll be fine. I've carried Milla like this before. I doubt being on the opposite end is much more difficult.

Besides, you can still race there, can't you? Ten minutes is nothing.

[ as soon as the words are out of his mouth, jude realizes that 9s can run so fast jude very well might end up all but soaring in the wind.

oh well. he can handle it. he just tightens his arms around 9s' shoulders, hanging on tight. ]

Trust me. I'm stronger than I look.

[ and even if it is uncomfortable, he'd rather endure it than suffer the embarrassment of being carried like a princess. again. 9s probably wouldn't understand just why he's so flustered by it, and he'd prefer to keep it that way. ]