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

[gipsy_danger]

Very short.

Very vehemently spoken. Are you that fond of me?

She moves a piece in response.

Check.

[striker_eureka]

I'm here every day, aren't I?

He looks down at the board in surprise and scowls.

Aw Christ. Dammit, Gipsy, you're just smarter than me, it seems.

[gipsy_danger]

You are. It surprises me. You have other duties, yet you still set aside time to entertain me.

She chuckles, the sound echoing around him.

You can still win. Think, Hercules. This is a strategy game.

[striker_eureka]

I just want to make sure you're okay. And I like you. That helps a lot.

He keeps scowling, feeling put out about losing to a giant robot, but then he remembers that they're sharing a consciousness right now, and that makes it a little easier. He moves a piece on the board.

You give me far too much credit, love. I'm just a pilot.

[gipsy_danger]

She gives a nudge to his consciousness, berating him a little for that mentality. She takes another piece in retaliation.

You are far more than just a pilot, Hercules. You are a jaeger pilot - you must be on your feet at all times and think outside the box. Do so now. You can beat me.

[striker_eureka]

Battling a Kaiju is far different from battling you, Gipsy.

Still, he does his best. It takes him a little longer to make his next move, but make it he does, snagging one of her pieces and putting it "off the board" where it promptly dissolves into nothingness.

[gipsy_danger]

My point stands.

She approves of that move and looks down at the board, pondering before making another move.

You are a smart man, Hercules.

[striker_eureka]

I think the jury's still out on that one, love.

It takes him longer and longer to make his moves now, thinking over what would and wouldn't be a sound strategy.

[gipsy_danger]

Gipsy is losing more and more pieces in the task, and she seems pleased that she's losing.

Are you truly going to argue with a jaeger?

[striker_eureka]

I argue with everyone. It's the only way I've gotten this far in life.

He can sense her pleasure, and it makes him feel pretty incredulous, but whatever. If that's what she wants...

[gipsy_danger]

I suppose I should thank you for being equal opportunity.

She considers the board.

I do not have any moves, Hercules. I believe you have checkmate.

[striker_eureka]

I'm not going to go easy on you just 'cause you're a pretty girl, love.

He stares at the board suspiciously for a moment before visibly brightening.

Well, would you look at that. Checkmate.

[gipsy_danger]

She laughs again.

Congratulations. You have just beat a jaeger in a game of chess. Are you proud of yourself?

[striker_eureka]

I'm right tickled, as a matter of fact.

He grins at her, or the vague idea of her that is hovering around the edge of his consciousness.

[gipsy_danger]

She floods him with her pride, enveloping him in it.

Good. Now, you should go. Rest, and come back in two days. I will have a surprise for you, Hercules Hansen.

[striker_eureka]

Two days? He huffs, playing up his distress at being banished even though it feels surprisingly good to have a robot be proud of him.

Gipsy, darling, you're breaking my heart.

[gipsy_danger]

Two days will be torture, but-- it'll be worth it, she thinks.

I know, Sweetheart. You'll survive. I promise.

[striker_eureka]

You know, it's very cruel to send me away and then tell me you have a surprise for me. I'm not very good with surprises.

He's trying not to laugh, though. Apparently his bad habit of slipping into flirting with women is rubbing off on this Jaeger. By the time Raleigh comes back, she'll be incorrigible.

[gipsy_danger]

I have no doubt that you will be able to handle it.

Raleigh is going to either be pleased or very confused.

Go on then.

[striker_eureka]

This time he lets himself laugh.

Alright, fine. I can see you want time away from this old man.

Being Drifted means he doesn't stand up or pack away the chessboard, it just disappears.

I'll see you later then, Gipsy. And, because he knows when to follow orders, he starts the disconnect sequence.

[gipsy_danger]

Instead of getting indignant, Gipsy just laughs.

Two days, Hercules. Goodbye.

[striker_eureka]

Herc clambers out of Gipsy's cockpit with a smile on his face, one that lingers all the way until he reaches the control room.

Looking more than a little incredulous, Tendo asks him what's put him in such a good mood, and all Herc can do is shrug and spread his hands a little.

"Chess," he says, his smirk widening at the confused look this elicits.

Whatever, he's got things to do that don't involve discussing what he and a 25-story monster-fighting robot get into in their downtime.

[gipsy_danger]

Unfortunately, their 'date night' is going to get ruined by a goddamn kaiju the size of freakin' Everest. Gipsy is sent two pilots - not rookies by any means, but ones that have never drifted with her before and are unfamiliar with how she functions. She doesn't fight the drift or the pilots -- not in a time of need, never - and the team downs the kaiju well enough (with some assistance), but the fight is fierce and it leaves Gipsy nearly incapacitated, and benched for the near future.

Raleigh is nowhere in sight yet, and Gipsy is offline until 'date night' arrives. Tendo tells Herc that she's lucky to be powering up at all, and to make it damn quick so she can 'rest' while repairs are done.

[striker_eureka]

Herc would have wanted to pilot Gipsy, but he's still technically assigned to Striker Eureka, no matter how much time he spends with another robot, which is why she goes out with two rookie pilots and he goes out with Chuck.

It's only one Kaiju, but it's a category four, so he's glad there are two Jaegers out there to fight. Unfortunately, the bigger they are, the smarter they seem to get, because this Kaiju focuses all its strength on poor Gipsy, nearly ripping her apart before Striker can slice it to ribbons.

He knows, were this any other time, Chuck would be mocking him for how guilty he feels over this other robot's near destruction, but even his son is rattled by how bad she look and how shaken her pilots are. Thankfully, he remains silent, and even his thoughts are respectful. Herc's glad; the last thing he wants is to have to chew out his son right now.

He waves aside Tendo's nagging as he climbs into Gipsy's cockpit, and clips himself in for the neural handshake.

[gipsy_danger]

It's a pretty feeble link, but it's there. Gipsy has a lot of restraint right now, because a lot of her hurts. Everything aches and flares of pain shoot through her body whenever the engineers hit a sensitive place. They've been working on her day and night since the attack, trying to get her functionality back up to par. It's a slow process, and very painful.

Hello, Hercules.

It's the best she can manage -- pleasant enough, but there is obvious strain in her voice.