[ from here ]
Justine found my shoes.
I've got her in her room now, but she's lost all memory. I have an idea what she got from them, so I'm staying with her until you arrive.
Justine found my shoes.
I've got her in her room now, but she's lost all memory. I have an idea what she got from them, so I'm staying with her until you arrive.
Fuck. I was someone pre-tech for a little bit. I'm on my way now.
Hey Jedao, just wondering if you have a minute?
Justine has a request, and I said I'd ask you about it.
Justine has a request, and I said I'd ask you about it.
Sure. Do you want to meet in person?
[about two weeks after Ciel's arrival:]
I am sorry to bother you, Instructor, but may I ask your input on a matter?
Mr Cho has given me an assignment, and I fear myself at something of a loss.
I am sorry to bother you, Instructor, but may I ask your input on a matter?
Mr Cho has given me an assignment, and I fear myself at something of a loss.
I suppose I can't call myself much of an Instructor if I don't offer any instruction when needed.
What's the trouble?
What's the trouble?
Of course. Would you prefer like this, or in person?
Ah, yes! Hello! So I'm calling you because hi, I'm new, I'm Vash, and I'm going to be working in the engine room too! So I wanted to see if you had any advice, or suggestions, or, um, warnings, for instance about buttons that I absolutely should not push no matter how pushable they appear? Oh, and if you had to choose between apple, lemon, and berry, what would be your preference? Thanks, and I hope you have a great day!
Hello, Vash. Welcome aboard. There's definitely some things we should check in about.
I'll meet you on level eight - don't try to go through the door without me.
I'll meet you on level eight - don't try to go through the door without me.
I've never had a cousin.
You were a good one. Thank you for that.
You were a good one. Thank you for that.
Hey boss. I, uh, I don't think I'm going to be able to make it to work. For awhile.
Hakkai waits until after dinner, with the dirty dishes all washed, when he's settled in on the couch beside Jedao with his knitting in hand and one foot curled up under him, before he leans a bit more heavily on Jedao's shoulder. The click of his needles doesn't pause.
"I'd like to invite Gojyo over," he says gently. "I thought -- poker, drinks. Maybe a chance for the two of you to talk. I know it's been a while."
And Gojyo's calmed down a little about Jedao, and he feels guilty. Maybe it'll be easier for them to talk.
Hakkai suspects that heroic amounts of alcohol will have to be part of the evening regardless, of course.
"I'd like to invite Gojyo over," he says gently. "I thought -- poker, drinks. Maybe a chance for the two of you to talk. I know it's been a while."
And Gojyo's calmed down a little about Jedao, and he feels guilty. Maybe it'll be easier for them to talk.
Hakkai suspects that heroic amounts of alcohol will have to be part of the evening regardless, of course.
Jedao does put his slate's game on pause, flicks over to a drawing module, picks up a half-finished sketch of the olm dragon he met in the cave port, doodling little curlicues in the fringe of its inside-out gill flanges.
"Of course he's always welcome," Jedao says mildly. "But you don't have to make him talk to me to have him over for a drink."
"Of course he's always welcome," Jedao says mildly. "But you don't have to make him talk to me to have him over for a drink."
[During this nonsense.
She sounds small and sad.]
Jedao...
I've done something awful. Please come find me.
She sounds small and sad.]
Jedao...
I've done something awful. Please come find me.
Edited 2025-06-24 19:22 (UTC)
[His voice is serious, soft and steady like a constant snowfall.]
I'm on my way. Do you know where you are, and are you hurt?
I'm on my way. Do you know where you are, and are you hurt?
If you already noticed Oscar went for a wander, you don't have to worry. He came right to my room, I'm gonna get John Doe healing him in two shakes.
[Jedao feels...riled, when he gets the message; he wants to snap, and he takes a moment to sit with the unexpected, irrational surge of annoyance. It's good that Oscar will be safe and healed; it's courteous of Sam to let him know. So...?
If you noticed. A Shuos saying that would be blatant provocation, all the worse because Jedao hadn't noticed, assuming the infirmary would handle it and he could focus on Justine. But Sam isn't taunting him with his failure of intelligence, displaying his own control of the situation. He's literally just letting Jedao know.]
thanks, man
why the heck did he wander off, he looked ready to keel over when I got him to the infirmary
If you noticed. A Shuos saying that would be blatant provocation, all the worse because Jedao hadn't noticed, assuming the infirmary would handle it and he could focus on Justine. But Sam isn't taunting him with his failure of intelligence, displaying his own control of the situation. He's literally just letting Jedao know.]
thanks, man
why the heck did he wander off, he looked ready to keel over when I got him to the infirmary
Do you have time for me today?
I need to walk and I'd like company.
I need to walk and I'd like company.
Hey, Jedao. Would I be able to borrow you for a little while? Nothing bad, just- John said he was a bit confused by how you reacted to the proposal, and I offered to try and help clear things up a little.
[There's no subterfuge here, no Andan quadruple bluff about trying to guilt Jedao into something. He hasn't got the patience for it and they both know it. He's just concerned for both his friends.]
[There's no subterfuge here, no Andan quadruple bluff about trying to guilt Jedao into something. He hasn't got the patience for it and they both know it. He's just concerned for both his friends.]
Ah, wolfshit.
He's blaming himself for me being a needy moron, I suppose.
He's blaming himself for me being a needy moron, I suppose.
I don't even know what it is yet!
[But he's laughing.]
Yes, my dear, of course. Are you ready for me to escort you now?
[But he's laughing.]
Yes, my dear, of course. Are you ready for me to escort you now?
[ Between gathering most of the information and C-Wing actually opening, not long after this disaster of a conversation: ]
do you ever think you're going somewhere productive and then walk right into a pit of spikes
do you ever think you're going somewhere productive and then walk right into a pit of spikes
on occasion
although my expectations are typically lower than yours, I think
[Certainly he hadn't expected shit from his own conversation with Trevor.]
although my expectations are typically lower than yours, I think
[Certainly he hadn't expected shit from his own conversation with Trevor.]
Jedao, thanks for all of your hard work and help with...everything this week.
I really appreciate...well. All of it.
I really appreciate...well. All of it.
Good day, Jedao.
Aerith, Steve Rogers and I are going to meet shortly in the warden conference area to discuss an emergency action plan and shore up places of temporary vulnerability. Are you able to join us in person, or via remote?
Aerith, Steve Rogers and I are going to meet shortly in the warden conference area to discuss an emergency action plan and shore up places of temporary vulnerability. Are you able to join us in person, or via remote?
...thank you for including me.
I'll come. How shortly is shortly?
[For this, he'll let John tap in watching Sebastian.]
I'll come. How shortly is shortly?
[For this, he'll let John tap in watching Sebastian.]
[ He had a soda in one hand, taking a sip while waiting for an answer. ]
Yo, I know you're swamped, so I'll be quick.
One, can you tell me what happened to Sebastian? I know Vash got to him, but I wanna get that whole story between those two. I was lookin' for Hakkai to call too, but couldn't find the info.
Two, you're welcome to reach out next time so you don't get spread so thin. Valentine and me got the same training, I'm just allergic to paperwork.
Yo, I know you're swamped, so I'll be quick.
One, can you tell me what happened to Sebastian? I know Vash got to him, but I wanna get that whole story between those two. I was lookin' for Hakkai to call too, but couldn't find the info.
Two, you're welcome to reach out next time so you don't get spread so thin. Valentine and me got the same training, I'm just allergic to paperwork.
Vash came in, clearly - in the middle of an emotional reaction. I tried to talk him down but he shot Sebastian through the bars. He had the gun inside his arm and then the whole thing disappeared, which is how I knew he'd got demoted.
I knocked him out and got Sebastian medical attention. John took him to Tendi as he started to wake up.
And - thanks. I appreciate knowing who's a professional.
I knocked him out and got Sebastian medical attention. John took him to Tendi as he started to wake up.
And - thanks. I appreciate knowing who's a professional.
Mine are a lot more work for less guarantee than real magic. But they're...your own.
Hey, Jedao. I can drop by and get that key back from you any time.
... and? Seriously, thank you for grabbing it when you needed to.
... and? Seriously, thank you for grabbing it when you needed to.
I grabbed it when Nanaki disappeared. Without a back-up, it was an obvious target.
[You could shove a warden in and once they were locked, with no paired warden or arresting warden of their own, the key would be the only way to get them out.]
[You could shove a warden in and once they were locked, with no paired warden or arresting warden of their own, the key would be the only way to get them out.]
Are you too busy to help me with something?
This flood is...odd. And random. But if I put off this work any longer, I might die? I'm not certain.
This flood is...odd. And random. But if I put off this work any longer, I might die? I'm not certain.
[late-night text, some time after waking from his coma]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reformedsinner
2025-08-31 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Even this late, it does feel like there's something odd - off - about Hakkai reaching out to him by text. Whatever it is, Jedao suspects he's underselling how disoriented he is.]
Come home about it?
Or do you want me to come to you?
Come home about it?
Or do you want me to come to you?
[Amused:]
You can cease any meddling you've found yourself in on my behalf.
You can cease any meddling you've found yourself in on my behalf.
[A delighted gasp]
Out of my immense faith in you, I had not yet set my full plans into motion. Tell me everything!
Out of my immense faith in you, I had not yet set my full plans into motion. Tell me everything!
Hello, dear.
Gojyo and I are both getting an effect from this flood that, ah... reminds us a little too much of the Minus Wave.
We're down in Zero until it wears off or the flood ends. It wouldn't be very helpful for either of us to become a problem....
Ha ha, there's no need to worry, but do come visit if you're feeling well enough.
[And not disabled by some kind of flood effect himself.]
Gojyo and I are both getting an effect from this flood that, ah... reminds us a little too much of the Minus Wave.
We're down in Zero until it wears off or the flood ends. It wouldn't be very helpful for either of us to become a problem....
Ha ha, there's no need to worry, but do come visit if you're feeling well enough.
[And not disabled by some kind of flood effect himself.]
Let me know if I can bring anything? Snacks, games...I don't know, I could steal a kitten from the kennel, I don't know if Zero would be good for Jeep.
[Since he's magic.]
[Since he's magic.]
Ghost doesn't know how to use the Enclosure. But as it approaches the door, it feels its warden charm vibrate subtly in its notch, and the door is unlocked when it approaches, so mostly when Jedao meets it there it's standing and staring at the unfamiliar computer terminal, the keyboard sitting well over its head and out of its immediate line of sight.
When Jedao comes in it looks at him with an energy that can only be described as beseeching. Help pls.
When Jedao comes in it looks at him with an energy that can only be described as beseeching. Help pls.
I'm gonna float you up, okay?
That seems slightly more respectful than just picking him up; Ghost will feel itself feeling weightless, and then hovering up to the level of the keyboard.
That seems slightly more respectful than just picking him up; Ghost will feel itself feeling weightless, and then hovering up to the level of the keyboard.
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