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

[deem]

[9S does leave the room to let Jude rest, having a list of projects to work on as he does now. But eventually he returns simply to jack in and make sure everything is okay. He knows, of course, that it ought to be. There's really no need for any concern, but still.

The hour is late patter of rain on the roof drowns out his footfalls when he returns, careful not to make much noise. Just as expected, it seems that Jude is sleeping peacefully. He takes a moment to tug blankets back into place and decides to sit beside the bed, deciding he's fine with sleeping right there.

He's got his own room, so there's really no good reason...but here he is anyway, back to the bed as he settles in to sleep right there]

[talim]

[ jude is too... well, asleep... to protest 9s sleeping on the floor of his own place— or anywhere at all, really— until a low clap of thunder causes him to stir and awaken.

he's about to slip back into slumber before, vision blurry, he notices a shock of pale hair and a back to him.

of course, this is not something jude can allow. after a long, catlike stretch, jude rolls over closer to the side of the bed to tap 9s on the shoulder. ]

Hey, what do you think you're doing down there?

[ his voice is little more than a murmur, thick with sleep. ]

C'mon. Up here.

[deem]

[9S of course can sleep anywhere. He might complain if it's not his idea, but he doesn't mind this. There's no reaction to the thunder, much less when Jude stirs, because even on an unconscious level he knows he's in a secure location. Enemies aren't going to come crashing down at any given moment, like they might where he comes from.

But he does stir when Jude speaks to him, lifting his head and turning to look up at him. It seems to him the other boy is still pretty tired, though at this hour, 9S can't really say he's any different in that regard]

You sure?

[He doesn't know why he asks. Maybe it's the quiet concern that him crowding too close is affecting Jude in a way he doesn't yet understand, and thus can't be sure isn't a bad thing, or maybe there's some other hesitation he hasn't gotten his mind around.

Who's to say?]

[talim]

[ in lieu of a verbal response, jude simply extends a hand down for 9s to pull himself up with. there's his answer. ]

[deem]

[The gesture's cause for a faint smile, and 9S accepts the hand...although he doesn't use it as leverage to get up. He's very aware of the difference in weight between a human and an android like himself

Once he's up, he lets go of Jude's hand in favor of taking his boots off. Normally he wouldn't much care about sleeping in his uniform, but he suspects that he shouldn't in this case]

I'll go on the other side then.

[Good thing Jude's pretty much dead to the world, because the shorts are going too. He's got a t-shirt and his boxer-briefs, this is fine. Jude has seen his legs anyway]

[talim]

[ well. they're nice legs.

with the size of the bed, it's not at all difficult to make some room for him. dead to the world or not, there is one thing he points right out. it's, for some reason, impossible to just ignore, and jude has never been the type to avoid asking questions, sleepy or not. ]

You even sleep with your goggles on?

[deem]

It's pretty rare for us not to wear them.

[Extremely so, in point of fact. There's a reason he doesn't just leave them off, aside their utility. It's as much a natural part of who and what he is as anything else, to the extent that it's reflexive to put them back on if they've been removed.

He circles around the bed, taking a seat on the far side of it]

Actually, I usually sleep in my full uniform, but... I don't think humans do that.

[And he doesn't imagine that Jude wants to share a bed with boots, for starters]

[talim]

[ jude nods once— no, we don't— before, eyes hooded, he makes a gesture with a delicate flick of his hand. ]

Come a little closer.

[deem]

[And so 9S will scoot just a little closer. It's a cautious, small change, but he's trying not to crowd him]

Is that okay?

[talim]

[ he hums in affirmation.

and with that, jude reaches behind 9s' head to untie 9s' goggles. his hands are a bit clumsy in this state, but it's not a difficult thing to do. as soon as the tie loosens, jude carefully sets them aside without a word. ]

[deem]

[9S remains entirely still while Jude fumbles with the tie that holds his goggles in place. And when they're removed he does nothing better than watch him for a long moment in heavy silence.

A silence he interrupts shortly thereafter with a huff of breath in place of a laugh]

Should've expected that, huh?

[talim]

[ jude should be nervous. the last thing he expected to end up doing today was share a bed with 9s, after all, but there's something about the combination of the sound of rain against the window and the cool way 9s is looking at him that keeps him feeling loose-limbed and safe and warm. ]

I just thought you might be a little more comfortable.

[ it's not a lie, but of course, there's a purely selfish reason behind it as well.

up close, jude searches 9s' eyes, but he doesn't know what he's looking for. he could practically count the lashes dusting the fair skin of his cheeks if he wanted to.

his eyes flicker down to his lips for a split second, then back up to meet his gaze again. it happens so fast jude himself doesn't even notice. ]

... Better than the floor, right?

[deem]

[Though he has an answer to that, it gets caught in his throat, because Jude's just. Staring at him.

It's a probing sort of look that 9S isn't accustomed to being on the receiving end of, and he meets that attention, but he can't do very much else. He's stock still, unsure what it is that Jude is looking for. It's a curious sort of focus, one that makes him forget to breathe, at least until that look wavers.

And then he remembers that, yes, androids need air as much as anybody else. It's a brief reprieve, but the words that follow are a welcome distraction from wondering what he's being watched for]

A decent bed's always better than the floor or the ground...but I'm used to that too.

[talim]

Then I hope you get more used to sleeping somewhere nicer. There are better places to take a nap than on the ground.

[ jude is starting to droop again, and he's unconsciously seeking out 9s' warmth. 9s' bare knees brush against his. ]

[deem]

I had 2B around, so it was okay... Although I'd rather not have bugs on me.

[9S doesn't appreciate that any more than sand in his boots.

But that's not an issue right now. He takes a moment, once again, to make sure Jude's adequately covered by the blankets]

...Are you cold?

[No ignoring that bump to the knee]

[talim]

I feel you on that one. I'm not exactly a fan of bugs...

[ jude glances between 9s and the blankets snug up to his shoulders before shaking his head with an impossibly soft smile. ]

Not at all.

[ he couldn't be warmer, and it's starting to show on his cheeks. it's a content sort of glow, though. ]

Why? Are you?

[deem]

[Jude really does look happy. Maybe it's not a matter of personal space then. 9S isn't sure when he'll figure out what's changed or why, but tomorrow is another day. At least for now, he's pretty sure that nothing's amiss.

And that, in itself, is a tremendous relief]

I'm okay. [He settles in more comfortably then] Just wanted to make sure you were.

[And Julius had said it was better to be frank, so he's trying]

[talim]

[ his smile remains as he responds in a low murmur. there's a certain fondness in his voice that is wholly unique, reserved for 9s and 9s alone. ]

Thank you. For always looking out for me. Even the little things like this...

[ jude ducks his head, ears pink, and rests his head against 9s' chest. his heart is loud in his ears, but he doesn't look any less content than he did a moment ago, although his expression is sort of hidden. the only true giveaway is the rose color of his skin. ]

Good night.

[ jude doesn't look or sound like he's planning on moving. as long as 9s is okay with him being a little selfish again... he'd like to stay just like this for at least a little while.]

[deem]

[That tone is distinctive, and 9S can't quite say why that is — only that, as with so many things about Jude, it's wholeheartedly warm. And he finds that comforting, just as he always was, even if he can't define it properly. Maybe someday he'll have a better grasp on it but for now he isn't going to concern himself.

And maybe that's for the best, since Jude pressing close to him effectively dashes his train of thought anyway. Though he'd been asked to join him, he didn't expect this. He's slept near 2B before, as they were together whether awake or resting while deployed, but this is different.

It takes him a while simply to process the fact, to turn it about and debate what he ought to do. But after a while, he settles on putting his arm around Jude and closing his eyes.

This is different, but this is fine]

we are unstoppable

[talim]

[ aaand the next morning:

the first thought jude has is warm. not too warm, but warm in such a pleasant way it spreads throughout his entire body. so warm he doesn't want to move, doesn't even want to open his eyes. he can't remember the last time he felt this well rested.

the second thought he has is the realization that there's a comfortable weight pressed against him, holding him close, but he can't place what it is.

the third thought he has, as he blearily blinks his eyes open, is that this is not his room, and he's tucked into 9s' arm.

oh. okay. okay. this is Fine. he's fine. everything is fine. ]

... 9S?

[ he's still dreaming, right? right. that must be it. ]

9S.

[ jude is whispering, mild panic in his hushed voice. had he been that exhausted? had he dragged 9s into bed with him? is that what happened?

and then yet another thought: 9s looks so peaceful when he sleeps, lips parted as he breathes steady, even breaths. it almost makes jude's heart settle. almost. ]

[deem]

[At first 9S isn't quite sure that he's actually being spoken to. Distantly he recognizes the sound of Jude's voice, and as androids can dream just as well as anyone else, he thinks perhaps it's simply this. He spends enough time around the other boy that it's no surprise he'd be one fixture in 9S' nocturnal theatre from time to time. But the sound of his name comes again, a tether that grounds him in a far more tangible reality, and he stirs to a minute degree.

It's little more than a slight shift like his body is remembering itself, one frost-blue eye cracking halfway open, still clouded with sleep. That's definitely Jude right there next to him, as warm and as real as ever]

...Jude? [The name's more of a muted yawn than anything else. Still, even in this foggy state, he has the presence of mind to ask—] Something wrong?

[There aren't snakes or bugs menacing him are there?]

[talim]

N-No— yes— no.

[ he takes a deep, steadying breath, looking vaguely guilty. that's his honest answer. no. nothing is wrong. he could stay like this and sleep the day away and nothing would be wrong. jude indulges in good sleep so rarely.

however, jude is too honest a person to disregard the possibility that he (somehow) put 9s in an awkward position. ]

... Did I fall asleep on you?

[deem]

[9S eases his other eye open and glances down at himself, or rather at the blankets still bundled over them both. He moves incredibly little in his sleep, if at all, and with Jude beside him, there wasn't really room for him to move besides. Despite the simplicity of this reality he still watches the blankets in ponderous silence before reaching a conclusion.

After which his half-lidded gaze is right back on Jude. He didn't turn in quite as early as a certain someone did, and it hangs over him]

You're next to me, not on me.

[It's scarcely more than a murmur, followed by a slow blink, heavy with the promise of more sleep]

Besides... you're not heavy.

[talim]

[ jude looks, and sounds, slightly baffled. ]

Oh.

[ he blinks once and tilts his head, still against 9s' side. he's propping himself up by the elbows, not exactly in a hurry to detach himself if 9s isn't. and it doesn't seem like he is. ]

So you... don't mind?

[deem]

[He stifles a yawn behind his hand]

Should I mind?

[The sun's not even up yet, please don't interview him, Doctor Mathis. The bafflement is effectively lost on him. If Jude's comfortable this way, why should it bother him?]