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. ))

Comments

[striker_eureka]

"Are you going to let me drift with you this morning, or am I going to have to perch on your shoulder and talk at you again?"

He makes it sound like a bad thing, but really, Herc doesn't mind. He enjoyed their time together yesterday, and doing it again today would be plenty relaxing for him.

[gipsy_danger]

Gipsy gives him a disgruntled beep.

What did we decide yesterday about yes and no questions, Herc...

[striker_eureka]

"Oh, I'm sorry love. Here." He puts on his helmet and steps into place, feeling the conn-pod surge around him and the connections fire up.

3...2...1...

And he's being whipped backwards through his own mind, a dizzying array of memories and thoughts slipping past until he's cradled in a kind of limbo where there is no definite end to him and start to her.

Now we can talk properly.

[gipsy_danger]

Disjointed memories and disembodied voices filter through Gipsy's link as she's thrown into the Drift; his and hers intermingle until they are one, both left open, raw, and vulnerable to one another.

We need a better system of communication. You seem unable to ask me yes and no questions.

She doesn't sound mad, though. Just amused.

[striker_eureka]

It's a failing of mine, my apologies.

Likewise, he seems more amused than anything else. I'll try harder in the future.

[gipsy_danger]

Humans.

Laughter shudders around his consciousness.

How are you feeling today? Without really waiting for him to answer, she noses in a little, filtering through to find her answer.

[striker_eureka]

Much better, thank you.

Still, he lets her poke around in his head, taking a little step back as it were to allow her to discern the truth behind his words. How are you?

[gipsy_danger]

No aches?

She finds only honesty with him, nothing hidden. She appreciates that, and floods him with affection before reigning it back in.

No complaints. Other than missing him in the Drift yesterday, which is obvious.

[striker_eureka]

Nothing outside of the usual, no.

She's an affectionate girl, Gipsy is, and maybe that's part of the reason Herc likes spending time with her so much. She makes him feel appreciated.

I'm glad to hear it.

[gipsy_danger]

You are spending a lot of time with me.

She points this out, because it seems prudent to do so.

What of Striker?

[striker_eureka]

Striker likes to spend time with my son Chuck.

Herc doesn't mind, Striker is a Mark V Jaeger and Chuck is a young, cocksure pilot. They're kind of made for each other.

And I don't like the thought of you standing here all alone with nobody to talk to.

[gipsy_danger]

A quick 'look' inside his mind confirms what Gipsy already suspected -- as do his words.

You are very kind. A good man.

This point is pressed; because she doesn't think he hears it enough from the people that matter the most.

[striker_eureka]

He smiles.

Well thank you, love. I'm glad you've warmed up to me.

She's got a point, though. Herc doesn't often have people telling him what a good guy he is. Mostly because he spends all his time with military folk and his ungrateful son, both of them aren't big on compliments.

[gipsy_danger]

You made me.

Another tease, though there's truth in those words. She'd protested his being there -- he wasn't one of her pilots, he wasn't Raleigh or Yancy, and he hadn't exactly been welcome. It had not been hard to accept him though.

You are always welcome here.

That's a lot, coming from her.

[striker_eureka]

Well, I'd hoped...

If she had continued to protest his presence in her cockpit he would have left. There's no way he'd win an argument with a giant robot, not a chance.

Thank you, Gipsy. That means a lot to me.

[gipsy_danger]

You are one of my pilots, now.

She knows he's officially Striker's pilot, but he fits here, too. He has a 'home' here, as it were.

You are welcome, Hercules.

[striker_eureka]

He feels a surge of affection for her which he doesn't try to hold back.

Alright, alright, let's stop talking about all this emotional shit, you're going to make me cry.

[gipsy_danger]

The surge makes her trill quietly.

Consider it recompense for making me blush.

[striker_eureka]

Competitive little thing, aren't you?

It's laughable that he's calling Gipsy little, but there you have it.

[gipsy_danger]

A chuckle.

Perhaps. Are you any good at chess, Hercules Hansen?

[striker_eureka]

I'm alright.

He likes hearing her laugh. It's less of a hearing thing and more of a sensing thing; her laughter echoes all around him and makes him feel like his skin is vibrating.

Are you?

[gipsy_danger]

Oh, I'm alright, I suppose.

If she had eyes, they'd twinkle.

Shall we attempt?

[striker_eureka]

He narrows his at her, or at least, at the nebulous idea of her.

You're going to whup my arse, aren't you?

[gipsy_danger]

That is entirely probably.

Pleased, she situates them with a simulated chess board, and purrs.

By all means, start.

[striker_eureka]

He's still mentally narrowing his eyes suspiciously at her, but he does start with a fairly conservative opening gambit, not pointing out the futility of playing a game of wits when they can both read each others' thoughts.