[Viva La] - Inbox

[purplexing]

[[Text || Audio || Visual]]

Comments

[text]

[upupatomway]

Hey Donnie, it's Atom! I was just assigned a place to stay at The Vault! What area are you located in? I've got a bunk near the armor workshop. I guess it was easier to run a power cord to my quarters that way.

[purplexing]

Hey Atom. My place is closer to the library side. It's not that much quieter but it still makes a difference.

Did you need something? There's got to be a better option for you than putting a cable between the armory and your place.

[upupatomway]

I don't mind the sound. I can force sleep mode when needed.

I'm more concerned about the charging process. Do you know if there is any information in the library about ether's relationship to electricity?

[purplexing]

Convenient. I can't really do that.

I can't say I've looked that up specifically. It's a little hard for me to get through material still, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were something. There are a LOT of books in the library, it's amazing.

Does it have to be electricity specifically? Ether can light a lamp just the same as a generator, the energy is what's powering it, not the method.

[upupatomway]

I can only guess what exact cause is- I'd need to learn more about ether itself- but the process of charging my power and my system's use of power is less efficient than normal. Not enough that I'm in danger of powering down, but seeing as every minute counts in this revolution, I don't want to be stuck attached to a power cable for longer than necessary.

I thought at first it was the bare bones way I've been charging, but after running diagnostics on my system and noticing the energy efficiency drop, I'm wondering if it's an energy compatibility problem.

[purplexing]

That you're still running after everything must mean you have an impressive power reserve in general!

I think in order to make the most efficient conversion of energy we'd need to understand how your system works. Or at least what level of electricity output is best suited for you, and then to see if there are stones that can match that.

The only problem I can see is that it might require putting together a completely different charger for you to plug into, and how complicated that would be will only be better determined with numbers.

[upupatomway]

I could tell you the electricity output I'm best suited for, but I don't know how the units from my world compare to yours. Do you have access to a measuring device for electricity that I could hook up to? I could run a few currents at numbers I know, and we can compare to your world's scale.

[purplexing]

That is an excellent point.

I do have a meter to test output, so that is something we can definitely do.

[upupatomway]

Let me know what a good time is to meet up for that. I don't want to interrupt your responsibilities around here.

I should be asking- what do you normally work on at the Vault?

[purplexing]

You're not interrupting things. I've been taking a break from my workload for a little. Too hard to concentrate with explosions going off above, you know?

[And explosions still fresh in his memory. Maybe he should just go for a swim.]

Mechanical repair and development. I usually help out in the armory.

[upupatomway]

[ Were the explosions above louder or more frequent than normal? He wonders but he doesn't ask. ]

Do you work on the armors then? If that's the case, you might be the closest thing to a robotics expert in this world.

[purplexing]

Yeah, I've worked on them. I've helped repair the ones we got from Hesaeth during the initial fight. One day I want to try piloting one myself.

[upupatomway]

[ It seems they have landed on a subject Donnie is passionate about. ]

Have you ever flown one for practice?

[singlemilletgrain]

[Sometime after the January mission, Donnie's astute ninja skills may inform him that he is being watched. Whether he is at home or out and about, he can't escape that undeniable prickling sensation. Naturally, the moment he turns around, he will meet Shu's glowering red-pupilled eyes. They have never looked quite so draconian.

If he is in his dormitory, they are watching him from atop a hovering cow seated at his window.]

Donatello.

[purplexing]

[He hasn't gone back into the Armory since before the mission. Honestly he's probably been napping more than he's ever napped since joining the Corsairs. But it's unsettling feeling like you're being watched, and ninja senses or not, it probably takes depressingly long before he actually really figures out what that sensation is and why it bothers him.

But he's been up and about more lately, and it's on his way to the library that he finally catches sight of Shu, steps slowing before he slowly turns his head to look over his shoulder. He jumps a bit at that look on her face, fumbling and failing to save the small load of books he has in his arms, which go tumbling to the ground.]

Shu-! H-heeeey. Um. What's...up?

[singlemilletgrain]

[Silently, she helps him pick up the books, which ends up with her holding a small stack channeling the essence of a scary librarian. She has assumed an expression of calm serenity, which does not quite vibe with the ominous air.]

It is good to see you well.

[...]

I heard the report of the mission in Bluvink.

[......]

The Corsair who described it quite gleefully concluded, "They all almost died."

[purplexing]

[He backs up, juuust a little. Shu's indeed scary right now.

He winces at her findings regarding the Bluvink mission, pulling his arms around himself.]

...it was really close, I think. [He looks up.] -but it wasn't because of the factory explosion! And for the record I wasn't anywhere near there, I helped with the broadcast.

[singlemilletgrain]

Yes, I heard.

[Are these pregnant pauses for effect or simply because Shu is thinking of what to say next?]

I heard you very bravely threw yourself in hand to hand combat with the magician who incinerated several ships with a single spell in our last confrontation.

[Despite the high compliment, it does not appear that this is a good thing.]

[purplexing]

.....

O-oh. Iiii was not aware of the scope of her ability.

[He was already aware that the magician in question was extremely powerful after trying to deflect a fire spell aimed at the broadcasting building, was that the same she'd used against ships? He shivers.]

[singlemilletgrain]

[There is the soft sound of Shu intaking a deep breath.]

You are...

An incredible foolish melon.

[.......................ok if Donnie is kind, he will tell her after this that mild Yanese curses do not translate well into Esthere.]

Why would you do such a thing?! Do you have any idea how worried I was? When Deedee announced that 'three of you would definitely be dead'? I was looking up patients in the intensive burn units, wondering perhaps if it would be hard to recognize you if your face had melted off!

[She exhales and if Donnie does not skirt backwards, he will be the victim of a hug.]

Thank Heaven you are all alive. Face unmelted.

[purplexing]

[Her tone is definitely at odds with her choice of words. But his initial confusion is quickly cowed by the words to follow. Donnie's head sinks lower an lower between his shoulders. If he were able to like his little brother, he'd retract completely into his shell.

He feels bad enough to have worried her, he knows how bad it was, and how much worse it could have been. It's easy for her to hug him, though hard to shell if he's shaking from the scolding or from knowing what a close call it had been.]

...I'm sorry.

[singlemilletgrain]

[She simply exhales again heavily and doesn't speak for a time. Her hand pats... the back of his shell after a bit, though she's not entirely sure if Petrams have sensation there.]

...Please. You must promise not to be foolhardy.

Battle is... not a game.

[In her mind flashes a line of trees, each one tied with dozens and dozens of ribbons in remembrance.]

[purplexing]

[For a moment he hesitates before reaching around to hug her back. Usually he's anxious about people touching his shell but he trusts Shu. He also might have been needing a hug, not that he'd ever admit it.]

I...I know it isn't. But she was being controlled. Used by the Empire against her will. She...she was crying when she cast spells to attack us.

I thought it'd be better fighting her in close quarters, but the fire spell she used on us even burned herself. Deedee healed me a little after that, but everything was happening so fast.

[No time to pause, no time to have second thoughts. He still had some bandages, mostly around his hands where his metal staff had seared his palms.]

[singlemilletgrain]

[This is, as far as she can remember, the first time Donnie has returned a gesture of affection. She will not comment on it, but she will take note of it in that attentive, deliberate manner of hers.

He doesn't need more scolding.

Shu sighs again and stops squeezing Donnie so hard, allowing him to take the lead in seeking comfort.]

You are very brave. And compassionate.

But a silly goose nonetheless. There is valor in knowing to retreat if things go awry. Next time, I will have you study the writings of Yan's finest general, Sun Shih-Tsu.

I heard you succeeded in freeing that woman, in the end.

[purplexing]

[He's not used to being scolded, that was ...not fun. He's also not used to people being worried about him enough to yell at him.

It's okay Shu, he's used to bone-crushing hugs from his big brother so this isn't too bad. Just going to cling for a bit because he'd be a big fat liar if he said he hadn't been scared during that fight.]

Mm. Captain Harlock did. [He just likes calling him captain after finding out he's a captain.] I was...kind of busy getting caught in another spell.

[Which was somehow even worse than getting fried! At least his being a target gave Harlock a chance to rip that stupid slave crown off of that girl's head.]