lostrealm | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Characters: Signless, Disciple, Dolorosa, Helmsman and Psii [CLOSED]
Date: Any time from Dolorosa's arrival to the present
Format: Whichever!
Content Warnings: None for now
Summary: Life in the holy bros hive

It's not the easiest of arrangements, each of them having different rooms to stay in scattered about, but they've made it work somehow. Helmsman tucked in comfortably in a bed and Di and Signless bedding down on the floor next to him along with frequent visits to Psii to make sure that he's okay. And then Dolorosa arrived and took charge of mothercluckbeasting all of them, and with the amount of time they all spend trying to be close to each other...well. They're going to need to step up their efforts at getting their own place.

But in the meantime they're together, and that makes just about anything bearable.

((ooc: go ahead and post individual threads, just mark the where and when and whether they're open to the whole family or meant for someone in particular!))

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[Well it wasn't hard to read. No numbers even, he almost wants to suggest a stronger password.]

Thythtem? Thythtem preferentheth? [What is even.] Thythtem dithplayth thettingth according to which uther ith uthing Thythtem.

[She was going to add her usual '33' quirk to bees, but Psii always used to complain so much when she did that...

Also she really needs to learn how to phrase things in Helmsman-ese.]

Not settings, I just mean...do you like bees? And cats? I can make your drawing of them, if you wanted.

[He's not programmed to want. Pester users for software he may need, yes, but WANT? At a loss, he goes for the first thing that pops in his bifurcated head.]

Yeth.

[She smiles, already planning out the drawing in her head.]

Okay! I'll make sure it's done by the time we move to a new hive.

[Doing things outside helmsman protocol is awkward, but he feels he must say something. He tries the standard user response:]

Thank... you...

[He thought the words would be strange, but his lips know this movement somehow. It feels right to say, to her at least.]

You're very welcome, Psii.

[She's just going to reach out, slowly, so as not to startle him, hoping to give his shoulder a gently encouraging squeeze.]

[Oh no, it's her weird affection thing. She always does this. He tries his very best not to panic as he watches her hand slowly move toward him.

[When her hand touches his shoulder, he slams shut his eyes. His nerves expect to feel pain and even try to tell him so. But does it actually hurt? No. Today he will not flinch away. Today he...

[...completely shrinks and floats a few feet away. It is hard to speak. His throat malfunctions and tightens too much.]

Thythtem apologitheth.

No...no, hush, it's okay, I'm the one who's sorry. I should have asked first. It's all right.

[She offers him an apologetic smile and lets her hand drop, feeling her heart sinking along with it. She feels like she doesn't know what to do for either of her boys any more.]

[Even if she had asked, he doubts it would have made a difference. Once, he wouldn't have cared what was done to him. That was when he was part of a ship, a mere piece of equipment under the Condesce's protection. Not even all there.]

Thythtem... inadequate... too many errorth...

[Give him a moment to rewind.]

...Uther Di may complete image at uther'th convenienthe.

[He pulls up his mirror, ready to get lost in coding again, the backup project forgotten.]

[She wants to insist that he's far from in adequate, but she bites her tongue, knowing she'll probably do more harm than good going down that road just now.]

Actually...would you like to watching me drawing it for you?

[Half of him is inclined to hole up in the respiteblock again. The other half has no idea what he's doing. After several moments of speechlessness and false starts, he manages a hoarse mumble:]

...If uther wisheth.

[Why does she even want him around? And he has to float close to her again to see the drawing, aughhh.]

I wish it if you do too. It would make me very happy to spend some more time with you.

[She picks up a bit of charcoal, fingers already stained from it from her previous drawings, and starts roughly sketching what looks like nothing more than nonsense shapes at first.]

[He floats as close as is polite and watches her obediently, if reluctantly. He's finding it hard to calm down completely, so he tries concentrating on the smooth strokes she's making upon the paper. He tries to connect the dots, figure out which is what, but the only visual experience he remembers is with star charts.

This activity though, watching her draw, feels too familiar. He tries to grasp at why, and thus doesn't notice his toes lowering to skim the pile of cushions.]

[She draws something that she thinks will appeal to him, a bed of wildflowers growing beneath a tree. And a fat, happy-looking bumblebee tumbling its way out of one of those flowers.

She sees Psii hovering closer but says nothing, just keeps on drawing, the hint of a smile about her lips.]

[Other than the dialogue of updating navigational information on the ship, he can't remember being used to actual conversation not involving orders. So he remains silent so as not to disturb an activity she clearly enjoys.

Unconsciously his psionics lower him closer to the ground. When he feels his feet butt against the cushions, he comes to his senses and quickly lifts himself up again. Relaxation is for users. Really, he's only just gotten used to the novel ideas of lying down in bed and sitting on chairs.]

The cushions are there to be used, you know, [she teases him with a smile, not looking up from her work. The tumbling bumblebee seems to be about to land squarely on the back of a fluffy-looking kitten sleeping in the sun.]

[If he could awkwardly curl his toes, he would. For now, his biowires twitch and shrink closer to him.]

Uther Di enjoyth uthing floor bedding?

[Clearly he doesn't remember the habits of cats or cat-like friends. Floor cushions is a new concept he's considering. Like chairs. He loosens one biowire and pokes curiously at the cushion farthest from her, as if to test its springiness.]

It's very soft and comfortable.

[And the cushion should indeed feel just as she describes when he pokes it. Only the best cushions for their hive.]

[Right, weird experimentation time. Awkwardly, he lowers himself onto it, not quite sure where to put his long legs. He settles for sticking them out in front of himself as he sits upright. He still needs his psionics to hold himself up, as the strain on his back would be too much. His arms rest uselessly at his sides.]

Yeth, it ith very thoft.

[Not as comfortable, but only because he's still trying to regain the flesh on his wasted body. It's more comfortable than a hard chair, at least.]

May Thythtem uthe cushionth when thitting in chairth?

Oh...Oh, Psii, yes, of course you can! I'll get you some especially for you, okay? They'll be all yours and you won't need to ask to use them.

[Having possessions of his own is not a concept he's ready for. Even his mirror he considers on loan from the city.]

Thythtem will not bother uther Di if Thythtem requireth uthe of cushionth.

It's not a bother! I just don't want you to feel that you have to ask, or that you have to wait to use them if I happen to be out or anything like that.

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