ablativeholopleather | IC Contact/Inbox/HMD

[When she starts listening really hard, he can't help but glance around, as if he might spot whatever she's searching for. He looks back to her when she speaks up again.]

Drone?

Oh...uh, sure. I mean if it makes things easier to navigate I'd appreciate the help.

[she folds her hands under her chin, and there's a definite note of fondness in her voice when she speaks - not conscious, but there all the same.]

It is...not the best person to be greeting new people. Security is something of a pessimist even on the best of days, though it might call itself "realistic" instead. It's rather blunt, because it doesn't always see the need to be as careful with its words as you or I might. Certain things that seem obvious to us as...organic people, they aren't when viewed through Security's mind.

Calling things like making port "useless" - something to understand about it is that it is focused on the present as opposed to the future. It wants to keep people safe, and right now, the best way to do so is to focus on what's right here. Not thinking about what could be, but what is. Ideas for the future, like landing somewhere...a better way to say it would be that currently, it's not as important as surviving the current moment.

That doesn't mean it's without hope. Just that it's not Security's priority at the time to express it. What it wants for the future, what it dreams about...if those things have to get placed further down on the list, they will be. All of this is not to say it was correct to be so sour, though. Just that I'm not surprised to know it happened. Tell me, what happened when you checked on it when it was ill?

[which she's grateful for. she couldn't play nursemaid 24/7, and knowing he was checking in only makes her fonder of Wayne.]

[Wayne listens quietly, turning it all over in his mind as he finishes off the last of his ice cream, then dragging his thumb around the bowl of the spoon with half a thought given to the chill of it. The way that Helena talks, he knows she must care about Security very much, taking into account both the rough parts and the positives of it.]

It seemed to kinda dwell on the bad things that have happened, like there's nothing good to be found, but like...I guess it's just worried. [It makes sense, in these circumstances. He's heard a few horror stories as he's gotten to know people, but as she had said, most of them were by and large pretty careful about the way they talk about it, or at least how they approach others about it.

He cracks a soft smile at the question.]

I was going down the hall from my cabin asking if anyone needed anything, since I didn't come down with anything and didn't seem to be a carrier. It looked miserable but it let me in so I could kind of tidy up around the place, make sure it was hydrated, then got it some tea. It seemed confused that I'd do something like that, but like, why not? I have the ability to help and there's no reason not to.

It invited me to hang out and watch tv for a while 'til it went to sleep. I left it some more tea, since it seemed to feel better with it.

[it's time for her to smile back, a little more truly.]

Thank you for that. It was still kind of you to do. And I hope you realize, if it didn't like you at all, you wouldn't have been allowed past the door.

[even running at a lower performance reliability, it would have simply shut the door and remained away from Wayne. in fact, even more so, considering its state.]

Which show did you watch?

[it's relevant to the point she's building up to.]

I kinda worried that maybe it was just tolerating me because it was miserable and anything was better than curling up alone like that, that's all.

[That's all, as if it hadn't been weighing on his mind as he went around to check on others after the fact.]

Sanctuary Moon? There's more title than that but that was the big part of the title.

[her smile grows a bit more.]

That's one from its own world.

[and she hopes with that, Wayne might understand a little more. there's a world of difference between showing someone a nature documentary filmed on Earth and a serial from home - a small piece of itself, offered out as connection.]

[At least if he's reading it right, he can assume that it means the same thing that it means when he himself takes the chance to talk to people about his world, or to play music for them when they have the time to sit and listen.]

Maybe if it doesn't mind, I could watch more. I'd like to see how it shakes out. Should I ask about that or like...wait for an invitation? What would be more polite?

[He doesn't like the idea of walking on eggshells but it feels like it might be necessary until he and Security are better able to meet in the middle.]

Ask, whenever you like. It would appreciate that.

[because waiting for Security to offer another invitation might be waiting an age. and showing a decisive interest in that, in its world, is a very fast way into its better books. she knows that confidently by now.

that Sanctuary Moon is a particular favorite, she keeps to herself. let Wayne discover that on his own time.]

Hopefully you don't need me to sing its praises before you get around to doing so. It's been over the flu for a while now.

A lot's been happening, that's all. I don't want to go to it at a bad time when it's occupied with something important. I'll send a message and set something up.

[Half to appease Helena, and half because he actually does want to sit and watch more of the serial and, as far as he knows, Security has the only copies.]

Give it some faith. That frankness I spoke of means that if it is occupied, it will tell you without mincing words.

[and even if it is, she has a suspicion it'll figure out how to set aside time.]

[Well, at least they've managed to talk it back around to where he feels a little better about the situation at large. Though when he reminds himself why they started discussing Security in the first place, he can't help but smile.]

Maybe it'll be able to tell you when you've gotten really small.

[He's teasing; a little lightness would do them some good, after everything.]

If I start shrinking, I'm going to say you cursed me, and then force you to find a solution.

[do not. she's portable as is. but the outrage is feigned, going to their lighthearted banter.]

It's not my fault half this ship is comprised of giants.

People would probably believe you if you said that too. People only really know I can heal or break things for sure.

[And that's kind of the extent of his abilities if he's honest, but he's sure there's a Gesture out there for shrinking an opponent too, and even if there's not, they don't know that.]

I'm not even that large. You just make me look bigger by association.

You've got a tall head. It contributes somewhat. Anyway, I can still jump, and that's good enough. I've got better control over it now.

[with a lot of practice, and startling people in high places.]

I'm never gonna get the hang of that. At least my pneumataphores still work.

[He thinks. He hasn't actually tested them much.]

Can you bounce other people with you? Like picking them up and taking them when you jump like that? Imagine putting someone up high and letting them stay there for a while...

I haven't tried. It's possible, I'd think...unless I have to pick them up. We could definitely try it, if you wanted.

[being able to bring a friend with her to the high places? that would turn it into the best magic she'd touched so far.]

If we do manage to go up that high I can get us back down again so that works too. You wanna test it out like before?

[He likes being up high, and he can safely get down via a gentle drift, so they could almost certainly aid one another in this endeavor and be all the happier for it.]

Yes! But not until you finish your ice cream - it'd be a shame to waste it.

[and if for some reason this doesn't work, she has a secondary idea as well.]

[He huffs a small laugh and does as she says, though all that's really left is a couple of spoonfuls of soupy stuff in the bottom of the bowl. He'll take both of their dishes to return them, then wherever she decided to go, Wayne would follow.]

[the upper deck is still the best place for this, with the openness - she's not used to jumping with a passenger after all, and after a moment of debate she goes to rest her cane against the wall so it won't roll somewhere.]

Okay. I think the best way to test would be....I should probably hug you, and then jump.

Okay, yeah. [Nevermind that he is quite a bit heavier than her. He'd hate to hurt her by falling on her if they lost their footing though. At that point he could try to glide himself away just in case perhaps? He'll just, reach over and make sure that the cane doesn't go anywhere.] If it works I can see if I have enough lift to carry you forward.

Yes, please!

[she's very excited about this. wrapping her arms around Wayne, she nods.]

Okay, one, two, three.

[see the thing is

Helena's not that strong. not strong enough to carry a full size Wayne. so what happens is the tiniest lift for them, with all her strength - more a hop than anything, and then going back down. one more time.

nope. they're going to need to rethink the strategy.]

[Anticlimactic, but this is basically a science experiment. They're learning!]

Okay...What if we try at the same time?

[He makes that suggestion, and bends a bit at the knees to make sure he's getting some height, then counts down-]

One, two, three-

[And they only really get about as much height as he can manage when jumping alone.

Hm.]

[Helena gains a deeply thoughtful look, and then lets go to sit down on the deck. shoes off, and then carefully, she's removing the laces from them, before holding them out to Wayne.]

These are what caused the shoes to turn magic, so...perhaps if you tie them onto your shoes, the magic will work?

[they have more science to do, such as seeing if the effect is halved if they each have one or not, but this they can start with.]

[Wayne steps back to give her the space to do that, then crouches to look at the laces now off of her shoes. He knows that Garb takes other forms for other people, but this is the first he's heard of shoelaces qualifying. He takes them to examine, then unlaces his boots far enough down that he can re-tie them near the ankles, then lace hers up his shins. He feels a little bit lighter when it's done, but he doesn't know whether it'll actually work for him.]

Okay so I just...jump, and then jump again?

[He stands up as he says it. That's sort of how he goes about it when he has to activate the pneumataphores, so maybe it's like that and he'll be able to get more distance, or more height that way.

Stepping back and away, Wayne nearly runs and hops right away, before thinking better of it and putting his phone down, just in case. Then he runs a few steps forward, jumps, then jumps again to get even more height. He tumbles unsteadily through the air for a moment, then glides back down to the deck rather than risking jetting off over the side. Success!]

Cool! Okay that was rad.

[He runs back and stops in front of Helena, bending a little bit to wrap an arm around her back so that she could maybe have a hold over his shoulders to allow them to try and do that with both of them.]

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