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]

Herc spends more time than he should sleeping. Despite what some people — mostly Chuck, that little ingrate — might say, it's not because of his age, but because he wants to be fully rested in order to go back and spend time with Gipsy. She had felt so lonely the day before, so bereft and sad, that Herc knew he had to come back and say hello, just to let her know she hasn't been forgotten.

When he finally makes it to the hangar bay, Tendo seems surprised to see him there despite Herc having told him he would be back. He mutters a little to himself under his breath as he suits up, casting aspersions on locents who don't believe their pilots, but he gives up on that quickly enough.

It's time to go visit this big ol' girl.

[gipsy_danger]

Gipsy is still waiting for him, though her patience is a little on edge. Some of her feistiness is returning, though Gipsy is obviously still irritated by the time Herc arrives -- her beeps and clicks and whirrs are still loud and obnoxious..

She's in a mood, Herc. Tread carefully.

[striker_eureka]

He can tell immediately that she's not happy today. People scoff at the idea of Jaegers being able to communicate with pilots outside of the Drift since they don't have any kind of vocal processor, but they've clearly never spent any time around Jaegers like Gipsy who let their displeasure be known loudly and insistently.

He rubs his hand along the edge of her helmet as he climbs up to the entrance.

"What's the matter, Gipsy, are you having a bad day?"

[gipsy_danger]

There's a distinctly loud grinding of metal that is reminiscent of teeth grinding.

Not only is she having a bad day, but she's especially achey today -- they'd been working those arm joints this morning with their damn buzzsaws and wire cutters and jumbo sized pliers, and they either forget or don't realize that the jaegers can feel that sort of thing, at least to extent.

[striker_eureka]

He clucks his tongue sympathetically as he climbs inside the cockpit.

"I'm sorry, love. You can tell me all about it in a minute, just let me get strapped in."

He's pretty sure most people still assume pilots talking to their Jaegers out loud is kind of like how a mechanic will talk to a car, coax it along as he works on it, but it's different. Jaegers are more or less sentient (more, in Herc's mind), and they like to be spoken to like anyone else.

He settles the helmet on and steps into the foot clips, waiting for the countown to initiate the neural handshake.

[gipsy_danger]

Gipsy can hear the countdown just as well as he can; she's anticipating it.

Neural handshake in 3...2...1....

Gipsy slams into him -- it's instant, automatic and she's not thinking. For a very brief moment in time, everything Gipsy is feeling crashes into him. Panic, confusion, pain and anger, frustration and rage and loneliness and a feistiness she'd forgotten she'd had.

Immediately she realizes what she's done and she jerks herself back, dragging her consciousness away from him and locking down 90% of all of her emotions.

I am so sorry.

[striker_eureka]

Maybe Herc was letting himself get complacent, but he sure wasn't prepared for that mental onslaught Gipsy released on him as soon as the Drift was established. She realizes her mistake quickly, for which he's grateful, but he's still left reeling, gasping for air and feeling like his head's going to implode.

It's okay... He just needs a moment to get back on his feet, as it were. The mental load made him physically stumble, and he has to struggle a little to get back upright, but eventually he manages, shaking his head a little to clear out the cobwebs as he coughs quietly.

You poor girl, I'm sorry you're hurting so much. Typical Hercules, focus on the giant machine instead of yourself.

[gipsy_danger]

She floods him with softness; gentle colors and more pleasant things while fretting just behind the scenes, frustrated that she cannot help him back up more than that.

We should try again tomorrow. That was too much.

[striker_eureka]

No, it's okay, I'm okay.

He wishes he weren't wearing the helmet so he could rub at his eyes and check for a nosebleed, but he settles for blinking rapidly and sniffing, and that will have to do.

Is it just the repairs that's leaving you so sore?

[gipsy_danger]

I don't really believe you, Hercules.

Gipsy is really holding back now, and is releasing about zero functionality and control to him. She's angry with herself for it, and it's obvious through their link.

Yes. They forget I can feel it. Cabling and metal plates and little...bundles of soldered wires...I feel it. Part of the problem is that Gipsy's self repair systems are offline -- and they're having a hell of a time getting them back online.

[striker_eureka]

He can feel her distress and that it's for him now, and that prompts him to push a fond kind of incredulity through the drift.

Really, Gipsy, I'm okay.

He's not all that bothered by her not giving him any functionality, this visit is mainly social in nature. He knows how lonely she feels, and he can relate a little. Poor girl.

I'll have a word with them. I don't know if there's anything they can do to lessen the pain, but they need to know it's upsetting you.

[gipsy_danger]

She's not really supposed to be able to withhold control like that; it's probably some error in her programming that needs a tweak or two. Things happen when you're offline and in the rebuilding stages for the last five years. Still -- it's no excuse to bombard him like that. Guilt edges the emotion, something that she tries to keep out of the link. She's hit him enough with her 'feelings'.

If you insist.

She hums quietly, engines whirring despite being stationary.

They are going to think you are crazy. Only pilots understand.

[striker_eureka]

If she were a real girl and he wasn't one twentieth her size, he'd be rubbing her shoulders right now to let her know it was okay. Everyone loses control once or twice. He doesn't blame her for it.

He huffs out a little laugh through his nose.

I've been a pilot since the Jaeger program was in its infancy, love, they already think I'm crazy.

[gipsy_danger]

The only thing Gipsy can do to make up for it is blanket the poor pilot in as many soothing feelings as she can.

Truly? Do they think all pilots insane?

She's curious about this.

[striker_eureka]

Some. Some are jealous. Most are in awe of us, but that's mainly because of you and the other Jaegers.

He appreciates her efforts, and leans back in the conn-pod with a little smile on his face.

What do you think of us?

[gipsy_danger]

She puffs a little in pride. Self confidence is something Gipsy does not lack.

Of pilots, or of humans?

[striker_eureka]

Both.

He's admittedly curious. Striker isn't nearly as chatty as Gipsy is, and he's not used to being able to get their opinion on anything. He wants to make this count.

[gipsy_danger]

We are programmed to protect humanity.

She ponders a little before elaborating further.

But programming can evolve and change. It's just how it works. Humanity is still the primary function. You are all so...small, yet so worthy. She chortles, just a little.

But many of your pilots are arrogant and too cocky. You, not so much. You are different.

[striker_eureka]

He can't help mentally flashing back to his son when she accuses humanity of being cocky and arrogant. He can't help it, Chuck fits that mold perfectly.

Oh? That makes him grin a little.

And what do you think of me, then?

[gipsy_danger]

When the mental image of Chuck surfaces, Gipsy pulls that front and center.

Exactly.

Him? She pauses again.

Respectful. Honorable. Pushy.

[striker_eureka]

He feels quite pleased that she seems so complimentary of him, but that last one makes him pause.

Pushy? He pretends to be affronted, but she can probably tell his huffing and puffing is just a tease. How so?

[gipsy_danger]

She can tell.

Does that offend you, Hercules? She teases him back, not answering right away.

[striker_eureka]

Oh, this Jaeger.

It might, depending on how you answer my question.

[gipsy_danger]

Gipsy is all innocence in tone.

That's hardly fair.

[striker_eureka]

Gipsy isn't fooling anyone. It's getting hard for Herc not to smile.

What if I promise not to be offended? Then will you tell me?