networkinthenight | [text] @carrotcupcake [open]

[text] @carrotcupcake [open]

Hello! Please disregard my username — connecting my device to your system retained my old username, and I cannot change it.

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned me to the town at large, but chances are pretty good you've seen the submarine if you've been by the harbor, so I might as well introduce myself. My name is Weaver, and I am a ... member of the Night Market. The only member, I guess. I know all of you are too new to have met me during a visit, I haven't been to the surface in years, but I'm glad to have a chance to meet you now. If you'd like to meet me in person, I will be staying docked in the harbor for the time being.

Mostly, I just want to say thank you for the help. What happened at the station was... terrible, but, without you all I would have been gone too.

I'm told that Dr. Solis is no longer present and that your portal is currently not functioning properly. As a sign of my gratitude, I would be happy to look into helping repair it, if you all would let me. It would make me feel better to do something in return for all you have done for me.

If you need help with other technological repair, I might be able to help. However, I will request your assistance with restoration of the Helix Station in return. If you are uninterested or unwilling to help me, then perhaps you can retrieve things for me that I need relating to that interest. If you don't want to do even that, well... well, I guess I can't help you.

Other than that... if you have questions, I can try to answer. I am grateful for you all, and hope we can work together to keep moving forward.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's not hard to make a little extra every "day" when making the group lunch, so afterwards, Soldat brings Weaver not only a rabbit-safe lunch but something that will keep for dinner, too, if she doesn't show up for said group lunch to pick it up herself. They rap politely on the door of the sub, a towel-covered plate in hand.

The metal hand. Because they does think it might be a good idea to have an actual technician look at it. The last time anyone but Soldat did any maintenance on it was... right after the ferry crash. It's been a while.]

( she will show up, sometimes. often times, though, Weaver gets distracted by things and tends to forget it is mealtime. she appreciates Soldat's determination to keep her fed, though.

it takes a minute for the door to slide open, by all appearances on its own. still, a little voice calls from the depths of the sub, ) Come on in!

( inside Soldat will find Weaver sitting on a makeshift bed, far too big for her as it's a sleeping bag meant for a human. it just means she can fold it in two for twice the cushion!! she's got the most adorable pair of tiny glasses on, as she seems to be working on something. what is hard to tell just looking at it. ) You know you don't have to bring me anything, I have some carrots ...

( she indicates toward the bay of the sub, before realizing there's nothing over there. ) Well, somewhere around here. ( she'll have to find where she squirreled them away later... )

And you'll forget to eat them. Probably.

[Soldat is familiar, now, with people who overwork. She's clearly one of those people.]

Besides. This is a little more varied than just carrots. That's probably healthier for you.

[They set the current offering, a plate with another veggie sandwich and some orange slices, on the floor beside her bed. The plate is the smallest he could find, so it should hopefully be easy enough for her to lift.]

And I wanted to ask. If you wanted to maybe look at this.

[The plates in said metal hand shift and the fingers wave with a noisy buzz, intentionally drawing attention to them.]

I'm the only one who's done any tune-ups on it in almost a year, now.

I'd eat them eventually. ( she's an overworker, to be sure, though not to the point of self detriment. you know, usually. girl's been in a vent for weeks, she's got some calories to recover over here...

she is in the middle of putting away her work to properly mind her company when he mentions his arm. her ears lift, straight up, in obvious alert interest. )

Really? Nobody here has been able to help you with it? ( that is sad! maintenance is vital to the health of anything mechanical! ) I can take a look, sure. Does it remove? Or is it easier to have me look at it as-is?

A demon once did magic on it when it shorted out. But that was back in October.

[And that's not really "maintenance".]

There have been a couple people here with engineering skill who maybe I could have asked but. None of them ever felt safe enough. And now most of them are gone, anyway.

[Weaver isn't human, so she doesn't set off Soldat's ingrained fears nearly as much as anyone else would. No small, furry people ever operated on the Asset. They drop into a crouch, and then to sit cross-legged, in front of her makeshift bed so she can get a better look.]

It doesn't come off. It's anchored onto my spine.

Anchored to the spine. That seems very unusual for a robotic prosthetic. Well, at least in my world.

( not judging, just commenting. she pads along her workspace for an adorably small pair of glasses, clearly to help her see finer detail. it balances on the tip of her nose that seems to wiggle just slightly, possibly in her excitement. with little hands she will admire and peruse each joint, from finger to elbow, watching with obvious care. )

You don't seem in terrible order. Are the joints stiff? They might do with oiling. I can check the wiring, though that might require some disassembly.

In mine. It's the only one I know of, of its kind. Nothing else is this advanced. It's too heavy to not be anchored. Or for anyone in my world but me to wear it.

[He moves his fingers, flexes the plates, lets her see how it moves-- almost exactly like a real, flesh and blood arm, just with slightly more range of motion and with lots of mechanical noises as gears spin and buzz.]

It doesn't disassemble. But it does do this.

[He flares the plates on the forearm up, to stand on their ends, making the arm look a little like a pinecone. It more clearly shows the workings underneath.]

Fascinating.

( she peers quizzically into the internal workings, violet eyes wide in wonder. )

I've never seen anything like it. And I've seen a lot of robotics! ( she fishes around in her tools, setting a tray next to her. ) I'll check that everything is fastened properly, that nothing requires replacement or repair, and make sure everything is oiled properly. Shouldn't take long.

( she will wait for his approval to get started, though. sort of like a mechanic delivering a quote. )

Thank you.

[The plates on their bicep flare as well, to give her full access, and Soldat settles in. Having someone work on the arm is nerve-wracking, but she's a very small bunny-person. It's easier than it could be, by a lot.]

If there is anything I can do. I know you want things in trade.

Hmm.

( she doesn't answer right away, getting to work with a small army of tools and focused on her work. Weaver works quickly and delicately. her little hands make it easier, by the looks of things... though she does have a tiny vacuum, just in case her fur gets somewhere it shouldn't... alas, it is part of being a bunny. )

I could definitely use help at the station. Getting her back in order will be a big project, even if I get a lot of help.

[Soldat doesn't flinch. Not exactly. But they do tense up some, and some of the internal structures on the arm that she's working on shift under her tools.]

For how long. I can't. Sleep down there.

( how long? well, it depends on the motive of the trip, she supposes. Weaver is quiet as she considers. )

No more than 24 hours or so, for a short excursion. Why is it you feel unable to sleep there? Besides ... besides the state it's in right now.

( because yeah, she can sort of understand not feeling particularly comfortable in the station at the moment. )

[Soldat has learned by now that people react badly to a lot of their history. So they're a little hesitant, but after a beat, sounding kind of apologetic more than anything else, they still tell the truth:]

Before I died. Before I came here. The people who owned me would freeze me between missions. The artificial pressure and temperature control down there. It feels a lot like the start of cryofreeze.

[They don't shrug, so as not to disrupt her work, but they do tilt their head in the suggestion of it.]

It's fine if I don't have to sleep. Twenty-four or forty-eight hour trips I could manage.

[It's not fine but, well, it's bearable.]

( well... the story in and of itself is disruptive. she pulls her paws back, one pressed toward her mouth with wide violet eyes. )

Oh no — how terrible. I'm so sorry. ( she's ... truthfully a bit sheltered. her world was full of overpopulation and economic problems, but little in the way of torture and abuse of bunny rights. no matter how long she's been in Beacon and how many horribly sad stories she's heard, she still has it in her to be hurt by new ones. )

I understand. I don't think forays would need to be that long, especially while things are still so unsafe down there.

[Oops. Well, they tried. They bring out their standard phrase for when they have to share this sort of thing:]

It's okay. I'm getting better.

[Then, more pertinently,]

What needs doing? I am stronger than a standard human. I speak the spirit language. I have some understanding of engineering, though nothing complex, and extensive battle training.

I suppose the first thing would be recon. Figuring out exactly what needs to be done, and how many people and supplies we need to do it.

( which is a bit of a non answer, she supposes, so as she gets back to work on his arm, she will be a little more specific. )

I'm sure there are plenty of repairs that need to be done. Removal of spirits that are trapped down there... and clean up. Not necessarily in that order.

The little shape-shifting spirits. They don't respond to words, so we would have to kill them.

[They sound a bit regretful, but it is how it is.]

If there are any green-eyes left, those, too. I can try to talk again to the one we. Interacted with. Maybe they will relocate up above, or work with you instead of against you.

[They know Weaver was upset about the whole... bodies thing. But it's been even longer now. Maybe the spirit can be convinced to give the bodies up now?]

( upset is a really gentle word for it, but, Weaver isn't exactly a violent bunny by nature. as long as the spirit could be reasoned with, to release the bodies it was holding onto so she could give them a proper sendoff... then she didn't require it dead. just her friends at peace. )

I hope so. If we can avoid any more blood being spilled... ( she trails off, but the insinuation is obvious. enough death and destruction already befell the Helix Station. she doesn't need any more.

after a few more scuffs and twists, a quick wire repair, and of course a very meticulous minivac session, Weaver nods with a small smile. ) There. I hope that feels better!

[They close up the plates and give the arm a few flexes. She's too close for them to give it a reboot swing, but they can still already feel the stronger connections and lack of tiny grinding bits from the dirt their own brushes and sponges couldn't quite reach.

Weaver gets a small but pleased smile.]

It does. Thank you. I'm going to be jealous of that tiny vacuum, I think.

Hehe. My dustbunny buster.

( she does realize the pun in that, apparently. she pats his arm, the metal one, gently. )

If we can get things running down at the station, I should be able to fix up our portal. Get specialty items again.

( another incentive to helping her clean up the station. and, well, he might have been right about her forgetting to eat, as she has definitely forgotten about that plate he brought her until just now. that's the problem with letting her mind run away with her... )

I guess I better eat this, huh? Thanks again. And when you're ready to head below, let me know. I'll fire up the ol' sub.

[The pun does make him smile. He's not above the occasional arm pun, himself, though usually safely in the privacy of his own head rather than out loud.]

I will. It might take a little while. I'm. Going to start lessons in the spirit language, I want to make sure there's at least someone up here who can speak to them while I'm gone. But I promise I will come to down to help you.

I appreciate that. It's worth the work, though I know it wouldn't be easy.

( there's a lot the station has to offer, but she knows it's not a project she can tackle on her lonesome. she'll just have to wait until she can put a team together of surface siders. she can be patient, even if she feels wistful about leaving the Helix Station in the state it's in. )

I'll see you around, Soldat. Let me know if you need anything else for your arm.

[They pick themselves up, ready to let her eat in peace.]

I will. Thank you.

[They'll be back tomorrow with more, probably. And to collect that plate.]

Why the hell would you want to restore the Helix Station?
Are you planning to go live down there by yourself and wait for the next vengeful spirit to come torture you to death? That is, if you don't lose your mind first.
We're much better off looting it for anything useful and letting it rot, and you're much better off up here.

That said, I might be able to assist with changing your username, though it wouldn't be for free.

The station is my home, I don't want to abandon it and I don't intend to. Besides, our portal is far superior than yours, it would be foolish to leave it and I'm sure you know that moving a portal is no easy feat.

Please note my refusal to change my username is personal, and not a lack of capacity.

( her dead friends pranked her into this one and now they're all dead and she is too emotionally compromised to change it... 🥺 )

I can't argue the merits of having two portals to work with, but are you really planning to live down there?
By yourself?
You really think that's a good idea?

And why did you say that you can't change it if you really just don't want to?
What's the problem with it, anyway?

[This man has never seen a carrot cake in his life, but whatever it is, live your truth Weaver.]

It doesn't have to be by myself, necessarily... though that's something to consider once I've cleaned the place up, and not before.

I can't change it because I can't. Even if it's silly, I feel obligated to keep it, now.
It was an office joke, to constantly change my username. I can't say who came up with this one, as cliche as it is, but it feels wrong to change it somehow.

Are you doing okay?

Edited 2020-07-27 17:19 (UTC)

( wow... she wasn't expecting that...... her tiny bunny emotions... )

I won't lie to you and say I'm doing amazing, but, I'm certainly doing better than I was.

And I like to be productive! So if I can help you all, I'd really like to.

Edited 2020-07-29 23:45 (UTC)

I'll bet lost of people will appreciate your help.

And I'll help out with restoring the Station, if I can. I mean, you helped us out with that awful monster and all... It's the least I can do.

I'm Link.

[Did he introduce himself during all the chaos and confusion? He can't remember.]

You would? Oh, thank you! You seem pretty strong, do you think you'd be comfortable helping with spirit removal? Or is there a more technical task you'd be interested in? Repairs, perhaps?

It's nice to meet you, Link! Well. Meet you properly. Life and death situations weren't great for small talk.

I could help with spirit removal, I think. I don't really know much about repairing anything that's not my bow.

Er...when you say "removal" you mean fighting them, right?

I'll have to make sure the station is safe before I can properly canvas for what repairs are needed, anyway. Don't worry.

I leave it up to you how you want to resolve it. But it can't stay in the power wing, and it can't keep the bodies of all the people that died in the attack.

( she seems...very vehement about that. )

Huh? It's just one?

I won't rule out that there's other spirits at the station, but there's one in particular that I think will be more trouble to deal with than the rest.

But, now that you ring it up... it might be a good idea to canvas the station. You know, reconnaissance style. See how many potential threats there are, and come up with a plan from there.

I think I can handle that.

Oh! Uh, I'm Link, by the way.

Nice to meet you!

I could provide you with a drone or a camera to help with your canvas, if you'd like. And of course, let me know when you'd like to go to the station. I understand if you want to bring a friend or two, just remember only six of us to a sub.

I don't really know anything about drones or cameras. But I can head down any time, miss uhm....

[There's a faint rustling as he tries to bring up her original post.]

Sorry, uh, what was your name again?

Oh! I'm sorry. I'm Weaver. I suppose that can get lost in so many words!

Any time works for me. I'm staying at the harbor, you can find me there.

Weaver....

Weaver.

I feel like I'm probably gonna ask you again, sorry.

[He sighs.]

I've been feeling kinda light headed since the fight. Probably just need a few good nights of sleep or something.

Oh no... Are you sure you should be taking on a task like this if you're hurt?

Maybe let's give it a try after those few good nights, okay?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[text] @carrotcupcake [open]

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