lusi | [Catch-All] Rain and Robots (And More)

● WHO: Melfina, Presumably You
● WHAT: June Events / Catch-All
● WHEN: June
● WHERE: Wherever we need to be.
● WARNINGS: Unlikely.

A. Rains, Showers, and Clear Skies
[It pours. For so long that for some time, the only sound Melfina thinks of is the pitter-patter of droplets. Off of masonry. Off of metal. Off of glass. And for the most part, it doesn't stop her from looking around. From trying to find anything that might be of some kind of practicality to her. To Aisha. To Starwind and Hawking Enterprises, which is only just beginning to find its proverbial legs.

She moves from building to building, one shelter after another, eyes glued to the sky between cracks of lightning that line the sky above them. Will it ever end?

Perhaps it's that she sees you in passing. Perhaps you've had enough of the rain yourself. She's inviting you to join her with a hand. She's wet, so maybe she hasn't been here long herself.]

There's enough room for us both. You can stay with me.

B. Unable to Send; Try Again?
[Melfina taps at her Augur. Tips it to the side. Shakes it back and forth. And for as technologically knowledgeable as she can be (when it comes to ships, anyway), she finds herself both perplexed and agitated that she can't seem to solve the issue.

This is the second instance so far where the devices have not functioned as they more properly should.

She suspects the renegade robots may have something to do with it. Or whatever network is more properly controlling the grid of communication the Augurs share. That in itself is conjecture. There may not be such a network. Although she hasn't yet figured out what the alternative would be.]

It still won't work.

[She's been moving locations as carefully as she can to avoid attracting the robots exterminating residents. Even though she is a construct and not technically human, she still looks human. That's probably all they need. She obviously means to contact someone she knows.

But you're the one she stops with a gentle touch to the forearm. Or perhaps the shoulder. Either way, she's picked you.]

Uhm. Could you help me with this? Mine isn't working.

C. Wildcard
[Do you want to ~~build a snowman~~ hash something out different? I'm very much open and happy to write closed starters for anyone who may need it. Some ideas include if you want to play hero (as Melfina isn't a combatant), this is a good opportunity to do so. Melfina is good at taking care of people, so if you're in need of some nurturing comfort, she can be good at this.

Feel free to either send me a PM or contact me at ofthesky.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I wouldn't leave ya! I won't make promises I can't keep but... no, I can! There's nothing a Ctarl can't do!"

They were crew and partners in this new life. That was more than enough to make her want to want to make sure things were okay. Taking a beat before letting go, she looked down at herself and man, that was more laundry to do.

But maybe she could help with something, even if that thing was probably not washing.

"Aisha's sorry for scaring you, though. Are we okay on food? Anything need patching up?"

What can I do for you, Mel?

Melfina found herself eyeing the Ctarl-Ctarl with no shortage of awe, a similar expression she'd held for many of them as they found strength in their pursuits (and not always the literal kind). The features in her face relaxed, knowing very well she had no want to become a burden to her dear friend.

Yes. They were friends, weren't they? She hadn't really used the word before, but it seemed fitting. Unless Aisha thought of herself only as a protector of sorts. Melfina... didn't want to think that was the case, however. Just the mere notion of it being so professional between her and anyone on the Outlaw Star made her heart threaten to contract.

"I got us some food," she answered with a short little nod. "At least, anything I thought seemed familiar enough to us." That was the upside to travelling space, after all. They all seemed to have open minds. "It might be a little bare, though. I hope that's okay. We still don't have much in the way of money and there isn't... exactly a grocery store we can visit."

Melfina looking at her that way pleased her. Was satisfying, in the same way a fist against an enemies's jaw was.

Of course they were friends. She'd never had a friend before, as she'd never considered anyone as her equal before she'd run into the crew. Everyone was either a superior, way below her, or an obstacle to the way to her goals. Gene was still very much her lesser, but it didn't mean the red-headed bastard didn't matter to her.

Unfortunately, they was a question that his absence left wide-open.

"It's fine! And I'd like you to show me how to cook a bit when we get the chance, but I think we should talk about what they want us to do here."

And because subtlety wasn't her strong suit:

"Has anyone asked you to help with the card stuff?"

She nodded at first and had a thought to encourage Aisha's cooking (though Melfina knew that Ctarl-Ctarl meals could be difficult for some to handle). Her attention became quickly diverted, however when Aisha made mention of the card.

Melfina knew she had one. Knew how to read the contents. Didn't truly understand what it was all about. It had hardly ever seemed the time to research it either. Too many things going on.

For several moments, Melfina considered her various run-ins with some of the others who had also been brought and after a beat or two, she shook her head. "No. Not that I can think of. Were they supposed to? I didn't know I was supposed to be looking at any of that. Things have been... a little all over the place." Never a dull moment, really.

It was definitely for the best that people had left Mel alone about their tasks. Would have been fun beating some sense into anyone that would put her into an uncomfortable situation, but...

"They weren't."

In reality, Aisha didn't want to have to bring up the subject either. It would be best for Mel to learn at her own pace, but this place was unpredictable.

"If there's anything you're curious about, Aisha can answer! I was surrounded by pigs way before I met Gene, and I wouldn't want anyone to surprise ya in a weird way."

Gwen Khan had been bad enough, and she was pretty sure he wasn't even getting off on it in a way that didn't involve data.

"Or take advantage of ya."

She hopped on the nearest surface, sitting cross-legged.

"I know you can handle yourself! I'm not trying to baby you..."

But she worried, sometimes. The world wasn't always a kind place, even when not being hunted down by half of space.

Curious. It was a strange word to use to describe it, but it wasn't really wrong either. Melfina, who still often questioned the line between humanity and construct had sometimes wondered about the nature of relationships between beings that weren't created. Given that she didn't always know if her feelings were actually her own or if those too, were a construct, it was often hard to figure out where her place was.

The card concepts had not helped. Transparently, Melfina didn't know exactly how to have such a conversation. Awkwardly she shifted before she beckoned Aisha to follow her in from the rain. No sense in either of them catching cold or getting sick. Besides, she could get her closest companion a bowl of soup. It wasn't anything fancy, but it would do for the time being.

"No. I understand," Melfina replied, obvious in how thought weighed her down. "I don't... think I'd be comfortable letting just anyone be so close to me." She wasn't even sure if she was comfortable trying to think of Gene in such a light. Were machines even allowed to think like that? She had oft thought she wanted to, but...

It was all so complicated.

"Pretty much every feeling you could feel about this kinda stuff is normal."

Melfina led, she followed. Soup would be great, but somehow this was more important than getting what would no doubt be a delicious meal. She shook herself off, looking more puppy-like than feline, in an attempt to rid herself of the uncomfortable feeling of wet ears.

Speaking of which, this topic was a little bit uncomfortable too. Aisha wasn't capable of shame, but it was just kind of a bummer that this would involve some pressure on Mel no matter what she did.

"Aisha's got an idea! If it doesn't work out that's fine, but would you mind holding hands with me real quick?"

Slowly, she held both out palms to her friend and smiled. Man, was she brilliant or what?

"Hold hands?"

Melfina raised her eyebrows, realising that the truth was that no one had ever really asked her that before. Well, Gene. Once when they had first met. Anytime after that, it had simply happened. No questions asked.

"Oh. Are your hands cold?" Because it was a little chilly outside. Soup could wait.

Melfina turned to face her a bit more properly, taking Aisha's hands into her own carefully. "I'm sorry. I had you out for too long. I'll be more careful in the future."

[Catch-All] Rain and Robots (And More)

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