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]

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?

[gipsy_danger]

A few clicks and whirs externally as she processes this. Her tone is cautious, creeping.

I have your word?

[striker_eureka]

I promise.

And then, because she's in his head and he can't lie to her, he adds, And even if my feelings are hurt, I won't hold it against you. I promise that too.

[gipsy_danger]

How can I turn that offer down?

She can't, not really. He'll figure it out anyway.

I say pushy but it's not necessarily a bad thing. You strive for excellence, and for good. You...push to help when it is needed, even if it isn't necessarily wanted.

Like with Gipsy. She knows now that it was for the better.

I don't have much to go on.

[striker_eureka]

He's pleased. He does try to help. He feels bad when others feel bad, and so he does his best to rectify that. Perhaps he's a little gruffer in the way he goes about it than others, but that doesn't negate his caring.

That Gipsy can see that already is important.

I guess we just need to hang out some more then, eh?

[gipsy_danger]

Yes.

That answer is immediate and up front. Gipsy wants him around, and that's starting to bleed into what she's holding back.

Tomorrow, or the next day. You require rest. She doesn't require it -- not in the same way he does. Especially after what I did. Tendo will have a fit.

[striker_eureka]

It's nice to feel wanted, even if Gipsy technically isn't his Jaeger. It helps that he actually likes her, likes hanging around in her cockpit. She's an interesting girl.

Tendo is a mother hen. But she's got a point. He's already feeling the effects of the Drift, his vision getting a little hazy around the edges. Her slip up at the beginning affected him more than he'd like to admit. I'm fine.

[gipsy_danger]

She gives him a mental nudge.

Go, or I won't sync with you tomorrow.

It's an idle threat, but one she intends on fulfilling.

Rest. Tomorrow, we can walk. She knows the schedule -- the rest of today and tonight, maintenance. Apprehensive and excited both, Gipsy looks forward to being able to move without being held still.

[striker_eureka]

Bossy, aren't you?

If she were a real girl, he'd probably throw in a wink and some kind of stupid comment about how he likes that in a woman, but thankfully he manages to restrain himself, because that would be really rather weird.

I don't know if we can walk alone, though. I'm an old man, Gipsy, solo runs are beyond me now.

[gipsy_danger]

When it comes to your safety, yes. So matter of fact. She's fairly smug about it, honestly.

Almost as smug as she is when she says her next statement.

I will show you how. Don't worry, Hercules Hansen. You are always safe with Gipsy Danger.

[striker_eureka]

Well, I suppose I can't be mad at you for that, can I?

He's a little touched, honestly. It's oddly humbling to have a two hundred fifty-odd foot robot be concerned for your safety and well-being. Not in a general sense, but yours personally.

He chuckles quietly.

Alright, I'll take your word for it. Don't let me get in trouble, alright? I don't think I could survive Tendo's nagging if I fuck this up.

[gipsy_danger]

I certainly hope not. Gipsy would be surprised if he was.

And really -- he's human, so it's in her programming to protect, but this goes a little above the generic 'protect human life' coding she has. It's a bit deeper than that, deeper than Gipsy fully understands.

I would never. You will be fine. Tomorrow. She nudges him again, the lights dimming in the pod around them as a warning.

[striker_eureka]

He laughs properly, and starts the shut down sequence.

Alright, alright, I know when I'm not wanted. He's a little sad to see her go, though. He was enjoying this. Goodnight, Gipsy.

[gipsy_danger]

Don't even.

He gets a little twinge at that; an amused little mental 'pinch' that will stay with him as he powers down.

Goodnight, Hercules.

[striker_eureka]

He's still chuckling as he steps out of the conn-pod, still smiling and shaking his head a little as he clambers out onto her shoulder so he can climb down, still feeling good (pretty tired, and he's got a headache again, but otherwise good), as he goes off to have a chat with engineering.

After that extremely confusing chat, he lumbers off to go have another nap, but not before patting the closet part of her hull he can reach.

There. He promised he'd talk to them about it, and Hercules Hansen always fulfills his promises.

[gipsy_danger]

Gipsy knows that he's fulfilled his promise because when they come to work on her, it's gentler. More care is taken. It's nice that they make the gesture, though Gipsy knows its more out of respect and fear of Hercules than it is worry they might hurt the 25 story robot they're working on.

She waits for him to return, because she owes him a thank you.

For now, it will only be words. She is working on something else, though -- something for later. Much later, because this is going to take a substantial amount of sneaking and evolving on her part.

In the meantime, she is there awaiting her pilot.

[striker_eureka]

Whatever the reason, Herc is just glad (or will be glad later when he finds out) that his request was honored. The Jaegers do so much to protect them, the least they could do is have a little care when handling them.

Like he promised, he returns the next day, suited up and mentally prepared to try something incredibly foolish.

Jaegers aren't build for solo pilots. They haven't been since Mark I.

Still, Gipsy had promised not to hurt him, and he believes her. Which is why he steps into the conn-pod without hesitation, leans back against the support with a little smile on his face as the countdown begins.

Good morning, Gipsy.

[gipsy_danger]

She welcomes him in eagerly, mental switches flipping this fuse and that while he gets settled in. She knows that what they're going to do is dangerous and she's trying to make it as safe as possible. That means some internal maintenance that she's thankfully capable of taking care of herself.

Good morning, Hercules. Are you rested?

[striker_eureka]

As rested as I can be, considering.

The cots in the bunks around here aren't the best, and Herc is old enough now that sleeping on a hard thin mattress isn't a negligible thing any more. He wakes up with more aches and pains than he'd like to admit to, most days. But that's what morning exercise is good for, at least.

How are you, love? Are you feeling better?

[gipsy_danger]

I’m sorry. She automatically assumes the ‘considering’ remark is referring to what happened yesterday, and she mentally cringes, just a bit. She’s guilty and sheepish with her next statement.

Yes. Much better, thank you. Your engineers listened to you.

[striker_eureka]

It's not your fault, Gipsy. I just have a shitty bed.

He can feel her sheepishness and it makes him smile a little. She's a sweet girl, for a giant monster-fighting robot. Hopefully she can feel how fine he is, make her feel a little better.

Good, I'm glad. They need to know to respect a pretty girl like you.

[gipsy_danger]

You need something better than that rubbish. She's adament about it, poking a little into his head to find out what it is that he sleeps on, what it is that causes him these aches and pains that she can feel. That he's older than Yancy and Raleigh doesn't register -- not really.

Oh, stop. You're going to make me blush.

[striker_eureka]

He's going to have to sit her down and explain that Raleigh — not so much Yancy, but maybe — is almost young enough to be his son. That after a certain point in time, the human body starts to slow down. And considering the damage he's put his through, it's no real surprise that he's starting to get tired. It's standard issue, not much I can do about it now. Not while there's no funding for them.

He chuckles, reaching up and patting the side of his control panel fondly. That'd be the day.