for striker_eureka

[gipsy_danger]

((starting here))

True to her word, Gipsy waits.

Of course, she can't do much other than that -- she's fairly constrained by previous injuries, and though her arm has been reattached and repaired she still can't quite walk on her own. This, Gipsy makes abundantly clear in beeps and grumbles, but it's mostly ignored because there's nothing they can do about it quite yet. Progress is being made, but it's not nearly fast enough for her satisfaction.

It's why she's grumpy as hell when he comes the next day; beeps decidedly irritated and far too loud for someone that had been drifting solo with a jaeger the previous day.

(( other conclusions Here. ))

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[striker_eureka]

He barks out a surprised laugh, shaking his head a little. Well. Thank you, I think. He knows that this would be far too dangerous if she let him fully control her on his own. Even just doing this is risky. If Stacker were here, he'd be getting a right dressing down by now.

He's about to answer her when she lets him feel a little more of what it's like to be a Jaeger, and he's left reeling. But in a good way, this time. He's not ashamed to admit he gasps, his eyes wide as his poor human brain tries to process what it's like to be that large, that powerful.

It's incredible.

Oh, Gipsy.

[gipsy_danger]

Your human mind cannot handle what it is like to be fully Jaeger, she says gently, waiting a few moments until she is fully disengaged from the locks that held her still. She takes a tentative step outwards, then another, careful in her pace. The area is clear – it had been all morning though if it wasn’t before, Gipsy’s movement ensured that it is now. A jaeger moving is no small thing – literally or figuratively.

But that is a taste. I am sorry I cannot show you more. Because truly, it is magnificent. She truly regrets that they have to hold back on some things – because she would like him to experience it.

She finds the Drift to be a strange and fickle thing; allowing freedom in thoughts and emotion and sensation – from human to human and human to machine and vice versa. She feels what they feel – everything is shared and so little holds barred.

Save…this. And pain. Pain and anguish – she shields her pilots from that as much as she can, otherwise, they will be overwhelmed and can end up chasing rabbits while Gipsy is left scrambling to try and force them to regain control. Otherwise, severe damage is probable.

[striker_eureka]

Back in the beginning, Jaegers were just machines and so no real thought was given to whether or not they felt the damage that was being done to them. And then they were fitted with AIs to help them maneuver, and then those AIs started developing personalities of their own, but Herc is pretty sure people still don't think about how they survive the damage done to them. Just thinking about it makes him ache in sympathy.

Me too, love. He would like to be able to experience what it's like fully, to see life through her "eyes" but he knows he would never be able to handle it. Sadly.

So instead he focuses on this right now, on helping her steer her way around the 'dome as she stretches her legs after five long years in stasis.

How are you doing? Everything okay still?

[gipsy_danger]

Yes. Very well.

She's enjoying herself despite it all; walking around the Shatterdome gives her a sense of freedom that she hasn't felt in several very long years.

And you? Is this too much?

[striker_eureka]

Naw, I'm alright.

He says that all the time, though, claims to be fine when he isn't. But she can feel the truth in his words now, which is why he doesn't bother elaborating past that, just lets her do her thing as he helps her steer and monitors her from the inside.

[gipsy_danger]

Suspicion hovers, but then the truth in what he’s saying seeps through the Drift and she’s satisfied with that, and presses the issue no further.

Instead, she takes her time on their ‘walk’, and allows him to revel in her joy at being able to move around again and regain her functionality and maneuverability. It’s been a long time since she’s been able to achieve this moderation of freedom, so now she’s reveling in it, and taking her sweet time at reacquainting herself with her own body.

It’s a challenge, though; holding back to protect him, protocols chirping at her when she goes to far from her ‘allowed’ space, and the occasional human darting between her legs – it’s exhausting.

[striker_eureka]

While Gipsy is the one doing most of the work, Herc is still walking inside her, moving his limbs in tandem with hers; he's not sure if it's helping her at all or if it's just annoying, but it's become such a deeply-ingrained habit that he can't help himself. He'll just keep on keeping on, as it were, until she tells him to stop.

He's reluctant to stop, actually, since Gipsy is enjoying herself so much, but eventually he knows he has to call it off.

Gipsy, love, I think it's time we head back. He can sense how tired she is now, how difficult it is for her to hold so much back and do most of the work herself, especially since she's not fully recovered yet. He doesn't want her to push herself too far and end up doing irreversible damage to her internal systems.

[gipsy_danger]

It's helping; not in so much that he's assisting with moving, but it helps to know that he's there as a sort of support network - -that even if it's habit, it's also done because he does want to help.

But her own exhaustion starts to bleed over, and she knows he's right, even if she's reluctant to stop.

Alright.

She turns, and she starts back towards her designated docking bay, though she's practically dragging her feet -- mostly with reluctance.

[striker_eureka]

Her reluctance makes him smile a little, and he pats her control panel again.

We'll try this again tomorrow, alright? He's just as reluctant to end this as she is, really, and the prospect of walking with her again is exciting.

[gipsy_danger]

You should take a day off, you know.

As much as that excites her, she's actually scolding him, just a little.

This is not good for you, doing this alone.

[striker_eureka]

He chuckles softly, a wry smile on his face.

Aw, but then I'd miss you, darling. There's not much for me to do in this joint when we're not battling Kaijus.

[gipsy_danger]

Oh, this little human. She rather likes him.

It's because I'm pretty, isn't it.

[striker_eureka]

Prettiest girl in this 'dome.

Hercules Hansen, you incorrigible flirt.

[gipsy_danger]

Flatterer. It's said with a sort of choked laugh as she settles back into her bay, leaning against the wall as the supports take over and hold her steady.

It isn't getting you out of trouble, though. Take a day. You shouldn't be doing this, let alone doing it so frequently.

[striker_eureka]

He sighs, like she's being totally unreasonable.

Alright, alright. If you insist, I guess I can wait another day before coming to visit you.

Like it's a huge imposition, really. Honestly, Herc, what are you doing with yourself.

[gipsy_danger]

Your attempts to guilt trip me have failed. Though you can still visit.

She just won't let him Drift with her.

[striker_eureka]

Yeah, I was never really good at that.

He smiles a lot when he's in Gipsy. He'll look back at that later and realize it's significant, but right now he just enjoys it.

I'll try not to drop crumbs on you when I eat lunch on your shoulder.

[gipsy_danger]

She enjoys feeling that smile, even if she can't 'see' it. Oh, what it would be like to look entirely through his eyes.

I would appreciate that effort. They itch.

It's impossible to tell if she's joking or not.

[striker_eureka]

Well, we can't have that, can we?

He's already thinking of what he can do with her tomorrow, even if she won't let him drift. Maybe he can bring some music, give her something else to focus on that isn't her repairs.

[gipsy_danger]

Not at all. Goodbye, Hercules Hansen.

She's gently nudging him out of the drift herself -- pushy thing. Wonder where she gets it from.

[striker_eureka]

Okay, okay. Bye, Gipsy.

He lets her end the neural handshake, even if he's a little disappointed to see her go.

Unhooking himself takes a little time, but pretty soon he's climbing out of her helmet. "I'll see you tomorrow, love," he says as he emerges from the cockpit, patting her helmet fondly before heading off to the gangway above her.

[gipsy_danger]

He can't possibly be nearly as disappointed as her -- though she supposed it was possible.

Hardly likely.

She waits for him the next day chirping quietly at his approach. She won't let him link with her, but his presence is a comfort.

[striker_eureka]

Well, he enjoyed her company, was that so wrong? He wanted to keep spending time with her.

Which is exactly why he convinces the cooks in the mess to make him a sandwich lunch the next day, and why she'll find him climbing up to settle precariously on her shoulder, leaning against the gentle curve of her helmet.

"I'd offer you some of my lunch" he says in response to her chirping, charmed despite himself. "But I don't think you'd like it."

[gipsy_danger]

Sensors tell her there is weight on her shoulder, but it's so light that he might as well be a feather to her.

A low groan will confirm that he's right -- no, there is nothing about that lunch that seems appealing to Gipsy. Not really, anyway. There's curiosity at the concept of consuming anything except fuel, but not enough to make any queries about it.

Instead she hums softly, engines purring quietly in the interim.

[striker_eureka]

Sometimes Herc wonders what Gipsy sees in humans. Sure, he knows that her programing is to protect them, and she's shown him a little of what it's like to be on her side of the equation, but still. She's a giant behemoth and he's barely considered tall by human standards. It must be very odd to be her.

He chuckles when she seems not to be interested in his lunch, and so happily tucks in himself — oh man, bread is so good — nattering away to her in between bites.

He doesn't really expect this visit to reveal very much, but it's nice to spend a little time together anyway.