hadriel_logs | catch-all

Entry tags:

catch-all

Who: Ephemera and open.
What: Catch-all for November.
Where: Shops, guard post, ect.
When: various
Warnings: tbd

Shops

The downside to Ephemera's particular set of hobbies, if it can be called a downside, is that he needs a fair amount of supplies. Paints run out, brushes need to be washed and that takes soap, and so on. He's not particular about food - will eat anything so long as it's even remotely edible - but Ephemera likes his paints a certain way.

One of these days, he'll probably need to make a deal with the gods to get some nice ones.

In the meantime, there's a tall man in full power armor rummaging around the shops for paint. Do what you will.

Guard Post - paperwork

Urg. Paperwork.

Ephemera actually likes being on the Guard, most of the time. He does not, however, like writing out reports. Unfortunately, the commander is very particular and, Ephemera has discovered, more than willing to track him down and dress him down with the furor a drill sergeant would envy until he meets her standards.

Repeatedly. And in public.

So he's struggling through his most recent report, trying to make it as blunt and professional as he possibly can.

It's giving him a headache.

Speakeasy

It's important to practice hand-eye coordination. Especially when you're like Ephemera and struggle a bit with depth-perception. Getting one of your eyes knocked out will do that. But he's learned to compensate even without his HUD, and most of the time no one can even tell.

Unless he has his helmet off, that is.

He's working his way through a mug of very sweet coffee, and throwing knives at a stationary target on the wall. One after another. Thunk.

He probably won't hit anyone on purpose.

Wildcard

Dealer's choice.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Lup's been just the slightest touch absent on her social circuit since Barry's arrival six days earlier, but can anyone blame a girl for wanting to spend some quality time with her boyfriend after nearly twelve years apart? And okay, maybe she should've sent out a mass text to let her closest pals know about her happy reunion, but she's been distracted. Give her a break!

Either way, Barry's still healing from his accidental burns and since he can't keep borrowing Magnus' shirts forever, Lup's out getting a little air and hunting in his place, riffling through the various shops and seeing what she can find in his size. Which means the few shirts she's found so far are way too big for Lup herself, all in vibrant colors that she knows he'll make a face at.

She's already collected quite a few by the time she lays eyes on Ephemera peeking through supplies, and because Lup sometimes makes bad choices, she tiptoes her way silently behind him, before throwing in her own casual commentary,]

Hmm, I dunno. Not sure if that shade is gonna bring out the color of his eyes.

[Though a combination of mild self control and a lot of luck, Ephemera doesn't go straight for his gun when Lup sneaks up on him. Instead he drops the paint, twists into a low fighting stance, and then--

Stares at her like an idiot.]

Goddamn it, woman.

[He has motion sensors in his helmet. Why do people keep sneaking up on him?]

You're going to get stabbed one of these days.

[She doesn't look too upset over it, honestly.]

You do that and I'll just come back to haunt your ass, lich style. Perks of being an undead horror.

[But see, she cares so Lup drops to the ground to pick up his paint, handing it back his way once she rises back to her full height. The last time he'd seen her, she'd still been a little out of it in terms of dealing with her body. And there's still a lot to get used to, but at least she's looking more put together, long hair twisted into a long braid that's draped over her shoulder, outfit a lot more coordinated. She's getting there.]

Yeah, yeah. How's the dental plan?

[He tugs his helmet off, blinking at her as he takes the paint back.]

You're looking good, Lup. Not crashing into shit.

A little bare bones. [Sorry. She had to go there.

But then comes the compliment and she laughs, cheeks going just the slightest touch pink at her delight.] Yeah well, I've been putting in the hours, keeping on my grind. The ush. Gotta say, it's nice to not fall down the stairs every friggin' time I want to leave the house. It's... [She complained before, but it's still kind of wonderful. Lup's missed this. All of this.]

It's pretty nice being back.

--Anyway, you busy? Or can a gal crash this party and hang?

[Ephemera snorts.] You're awful. Never stop.

[Apparently he thinks puns are funny, now. Weird.

He blinks at her.]

Sure, if you want. I wanted to ask you something, anyway.

[Something a bit more serious.]

[It's not that much of a surprise. Everything Lup says is golden. Even shitty skeleton puns.]

Oh shit, did I just step into a trap? [She hadn't quite expected that in response, but the elf grins anyway. Lay it on her, my man. Lup can take it.]

Hit me.

Nah. [He's not that subtle.] But you're here, so.

[Might as well, right? Ephemera regards her for a moment.]

These Null assholes, they're machines. They hack stuff.

I'm thinking they might be able to hack my implants. People back home could do it.

[Well, it's not at all what she expected. And honestly, Lup's probably not the one to be speaking to him about this, there's an entire city full of people with a better grasp on technology than her. But Lup definitely has an investment in him, so she'll listen and help as much as she can.]

What's this, uh, implant thing? [She wiggles her fingers, in a silly, vague gesture.] What's that mean?

[Ephemera turns slightly, lifting his hair to show her the implant site. His is badly scratched, with scars spidering out.] It's a machine. Hooks into my brain, helps run my armor. Like, the human brain can't handle the strain. So, I got this shit installed to help. Works pretty well, most of the time.

Problem is, the right machine? Can get in there. Kinda...take my mind out of the equation.

[He meets her eyes, serious.]

If that happens, you're gonna need to electrocute my ass.

[Woah. Lup lifts a hand like she's going to touch it, but pauses before actually making contact. But she does tilt her head and stare a little longer than needed. It's cool looking, if not a little horrifying.]

Shit, [she murmurs softly, in slight awe. Lup's seen robots before, tried to save an entire world of them, but never something like this. His words wash over her. She's listening, but her attention is so much more focused on tracing her gaze over the line of scars, wondering just how something like that could be implanted into a human...

But then Ephemera goes more serious, her eyes flicking to meet his. Lup's response comes easily.] Sure, that's easy. Fire isn't all I'm capable of. You go under, I've got your back.

[And she always will. Someone a little softer may argue with Ephemera now or lose their courage to actually follow through if the time came up, but Lup won't. She understands. A little shock won't kill him. It may even save his life own the road.]

Edited 2017-11-17 04:17 (UTC)

[She gets it right away. Ephemera nods just once, dropping his hand. He doesn't like to think about his implants much, what would happen if they glitch or someone hacks them. Those crazy AI, like the one who fucked Washington right up. It happens. It could happen here. Have to be prepared.]

Good. You're fast, you can do it from a distance, yeah?

[Even if she doesn't quite get the tech, she can still deal with it.]

I'll probably seize out, but it won't kill me.

Natch, [Her response is as casual as can be. She’s got good reflexes, her spells can be cast from a distance. She’s got this.]

You’ll be fine. Won’t be pleasant, but def won’t kill you.

[She can’t say the same for the Null if they even try it. Those fucks are going down no matter what, but going after Ephemera like that would be a good way to draw Lup’s wrath straight to them.]

Has is given you problems before?

[Ephemera gives her a little smile. Lup gets it.]

Good.

[He hesitates at the question.]

Sometimes. Nothing that drastic.

[‘Sometimes’ isn’t exactly the most comforting thing to hear.]

Think it would hurt to get it checked out by a pro?

[Ephemera just shrugs.]

Sure. You know any?

[They've got healers, sure, but implants are a whole other thing.]

Alphys is good with shit like that. [more than Lup even knows really]

Tech, I mean. Way beyond me, but that stuff comes naturally to her. She might not be awful. [it doesn’t sound like a stellar review but really, Lup trusts her]

[Ephemera considers that. If Lup trusts her, that's reason enough to give it a try.]

Sure. I'll talk to her. Be nice if she could straighten some of the wires out.

[So to speak.]

If you need an in, I’ll set it up. Girl gets a little nervous, so just be chill around her. Don’t freak her out or anything.

[Lup and Ephemera have pretty matching intensity levels, so she knows.

But then Lup grins, all sly and devious, her tone casual considering the name drop that comes next.]

Or, y’know, give my boyfriend like a week or two to catch up with the tech in this place and he can probs look it over.

[Smooooooth]

I'll try.

[That hasn't always gone well in the past, but he means it.

The last part give him pause. Ephemera fixes Lup with a Look.]

Boyfriend, huh. I'm just hearing about this now?

[It’s why he got the warning. A little heads up before everything went to Hell.]

Oops. Did I forget to mention him? [By her grin, she is all too aware she has. But it’s been difficult to talk about her missing hubby without getting pitying looks or making people feel sorry for her. Just been easier to keep that close to her heart.]

He finally decided to drop in so... [she shrugs, still smiling] Late as usual.

Better late than never.

[She's never mentioned him before. Ephemera doesn't ask why. These things hurt.

He tips his head to the side.]

What's his name?

[And maybe Lup’s expression softens just the slightest touch.]

Barry. [Lup shifts a little where she stands, hands clasping behind her back.] You should call him Barold when you meet him, though. It’ll be hilarious. [Because of course she wants him to meet her boy.]

[It's obvious Barry's important. Ephemera nods, a faint smile on his face. He tucks the paint can into his carry-sack and leans back.] I'll remember that. What's he like?

[Lup's usual retort to being asked her what other people are like is to tell them to find out for themselves--like in the case of Kyna asking about Ephemera himself--but it's Barry, so she pauses and gives it a moment's thought before answering.

It's hard to sum up a literal century of knowing the man in just a few sentences, but she'll try.]

He's the planar system's biggest nerd. [not an insult. just a fact.] There's a lot of gooey adjectives I could throw around, but he's mostly just a good guy. Def as bomb a wizard as I am.

shops;

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