legionworld | [ OPEN ] Just like that Highschool Class about childcare.

Entry tags:

[ OPEN ] Just like that Highschool Class about childcare.

Who| York, Delta, and YOU! (special guest star: egg)
What| Knocking around Legion World, carting about a mysterious egg.
Where| Observation Deck, Mess, Training Rooms
When| After THATH/OM/GOU
Warnings/Notes| N/A

(A) - Observation Deck

All this calm quiet is oppressive on occasion- too familiar to the absolute nothing that he can distantly recall with a chill down his spine when things are too still. Too dark. But after long days full of people and noise and life? When he's almost overworked and overstimulated, all but vibrating out of his skin? It's soothing. As long as he doesn't stare too much. Today between monitor duty and Flight Ring training and his own programs running around in the back of his mind he needs that quiet space. His most recent meeting with Dr. Ry'kerr's left him with a lot to think about and a small package he's been told to keep warm.

So.

Sitting in the middle of all this quiet with a handheld heater wrapped in a green scarf as he contemplates both the stars and the strange football sized egg now in his care. Delta perches on his shoulder, running through a few encryption puzzles.

(B) - Mess Hall

Vague countdowns with indefinite deadlines are the worst. Not knowing when or how this thing'll hatch is killing York- but not so much that he'll obsess with research too much. He carries both the wrapped egg and Delta to grab lunch, minding it with one hand while poking through a catalog of cybernetic eyes. Medical tech being what it is he could just get a new one grown or...something? He's not familiar enough and the idea gives him an odd sense of vertigo he thinks about it too hard. Something that'll let him see without trying to be his? That's easier to hold onto. D offers his two cents here and there between dissecting a platter of fruit for York's perusal, nudging his hand away from the things that are probably some kind of caustic.

(C) - Training Room

Delta's in charge of keeping the temperature even around the egg, sitting next to it, not on it, despite York's promising that the egg can probably take it and that it'd be damn cute. York focuses on range time. It's not entirely unlike the leaderboard drills for speed and accuracy at close, mid, and long range. He alternates between his charged, thrown marbles, handguns, shotguns, and a stun variant of a battle rifle that has the right weight and kick to it. Running these numbers against Delta's on board backups of his scores when he had both eyes and just comparing the two.

Gathering data, more or less. Trying to make up his mind.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Do you know what sort of creature resides inside?"

At the gesture, Locus's brow creases faintly, but he takes a seat alongside him with a nod towards Delta. It's good to see the little AI as well, and more importantly it's good to see the two of them together.

Even with the risk of York seeing Delta as a hallucination.

"The species is colloquially known as 'Monala'. They are somewhat mammalian for all that they are laid in eggs." Finding actual photos of these things, though, is uncommon due to sheer diversity in breed and specificity for which they're recommended. Or some kind of social taboo.

York's not all that sure.

"Small, fuzzy, and somewhat empathic? They're supposed to be able to pick up on mood and act accordingly. Kinda like Luna does for you." As soon as Locus is settled York shifts enough to lean. It's chilly in here, Locus is warm.

And Locus is out of armor as a usual habit again. Not that he wants to, but he's been advised on numerous occassions that despite how it feels, it's probably not the best thing in the world.

And without it, he has this. A quiet moment with a friend, amiable contact, and a subtle contentment.

"When is it supposed to hatch?"

"Anywhere from three days to a month. Depends." On incubation and breed and a number of other details that have him cradling this wrapped package against his chest like a kid. Letting it hear his heartbeat is supposed to help or. Something.

There's a lot of 'or somethings' involved here, but he worries less with this grounding contact. "So I gotta keep an eye on it, keep it warm. Delta's helping cuz he's helpful like that."

An eyebrow crooks at York for a moment.

"Was this done because you wanted a pet, or that they thought one might be good for you?"

Because it's definitely more the latter than the former for him. Not that he regrets it at all. Luna is a balm and a treasured presence, and he no longer feels quite so isolated, even when 'alone'.

"I've been toying with the idea, the most recent meeting with the Doc kinda. Ended with this egg being put in my hands. If left up to me I'd just get a dog." A man and his dog, it's kind of a thing where he's from. But this?

This is...new. Past his ability to imagine. Kinda like Locus in that regard and it works just as well for it. "But I look forward to meeting them."

Locus's gaze falls to the egg. Perhaps it's unreasonable to expect things of a creature not yet born, yet he cannot help but think directly at it.

You had better take good care of him. As much as he will undoubtedly care for you.

"What do you think of this?" His eyes lift not to York, but to Delta, where he sits perched.

"That it will be to our benefit. There are moments, fewer than before, that I am unable to help Taylor out of one of his fugues. Having a creature that is not from his past to assist would be useful. Statistically these creatures are also quite affectionate and that will help his mood when he is feeling poorly." Much like Locus does now.

Delta slips down from York's shoulder and makes his way to Locus' knee, peering up at him. "Luna has assisted you in this way, correct?"

"She has, yes. Even simply having her in the room seems to have an effect." Why that is he can't rightly express, though he frowns in his effort to try.

"Having that presence there, something not there to judge or order, but to inhabit space and be glad for your presence is surprisingly effective."

"That's the reason a lot of veterans do well with them." And what are they if not veterans? Fucked up ones, sure, but. Point stands.

"How is the Lovely Lady, by the way?"

"Growing quickly. It won't be long before she no longer fits in my pocket." The corner of his lip curls upwards slightly. She'll be a kitten a while longer, but not forever. Nothing lasts forever.

"You'll just have to wear shirts with bigger pockets." Obviously. A kitten might grow up, but adorable habits? Don't really need to end. Especially when it suits them both so damn well.

"Are you suggesting a shopping excursion?"

He rumbles quietly for a moment, thinking it over, before giving a mild shrug. He's got an assortment of 'civilian' clothes by now, but a few adjustments to keep Luna happy are well within his budget. He doesn't exactly do a lot of big spending.

"If I'm gonna take you out later tonight, yeah. You'll need something new." Is that an offhand way of asking him out a la the Azucar friend date? It is. "I probably will too."

Nothing as...intense as dinner and dancing but- something that'd they both enjoyed. Low key.

That catches him slightly off-guard, brow knitting. "Tonight?" This is news to him, of course, but it slowly dawns on him that no, he hasn't forgotten something, this is a new proposition being offered up.

After that settles in, he looks a little lost, glancing down quizzically at Delta before looking to York once more. "And where precisely were we going?"

"Or tomorrow night if you'd rather." Sooner would be better than later, he feels bad for waiting this long to have his 'bro night' with Locus after the weird curt whatever it'd been when he'd taken out Azucar. Delta remains silent for the moment.

"It's a surprise." A beat. "I promise nowhere you'll be uncomfortable. Dinner and pool, no dancing."

Some part of him seems to relax at that. There is definitely implication to be taken with dancing, nevermind that he's rubbish at it. Pool and food seems a much safer bet.

"No. I had no plans. Tonight will suffice."

"Good, cuz I found an honest to god little taqueria earthside and they think I'm adorable there for not entirely mangling Spanish when I order." Comfort food. Hole in the wall, nothing fancy, but not a place for dark colors and spartan attire.

"There's a laid back bar just down the street that serves buckets of cheap beer and has a well worn pool table." He'll lose a lot, but he won't really mind it.

It sounds...well, it sounds like a perfect evening. The beer excluded, he's never been a fan, but comfort food and pool? Of course York would just casually rattle off the bullet points of everything Locus could have asked for, like it took no effort at all.

A faint smile tugs at the edge of his mouth, though it's quickly tempered back down into place. "I see. Then it sounds as if you have it all planned out."

"They also-" Because beer is not really Locus' bag. "Have a house made cider."

Which may or may not be against regs but hey, a treat's a treat. He tips his head up to grin at Locus, infinitely pleased that, well, he's pleased. He knows his audience, after all. "You'll probably need something warm, it's cold down there this time of year."

"Hm. Then I will prepare accordingly. I have clothing that will suffice."

He pauses after that, just looking at York, at that grin, and his brow earns a faint little wrinkle. Nothing comes out, however. He just stares, a little awkwardly but maybe not as intense or as intimidating as his usual stare.

Maybe, a little softer. Maybe.

"Guess I'm shopping alone, then, cuz I got nothing." Not for that level of laid back chill. He'll figure something out, easy. For a moment he's content to sit and lean and not think about the implications of sitting and leaning. He's tactile, Locus doesn't mind.

There's that softness around his eyes that rings a very distant bell- but it's distant. "How'd your last op go? Mine was- a ride."

Odd, pretending to be married.

"Preventing an assassination is nothing new. It went well enough."

One eyebrow raises, however.

"Yours required...more subterfuge than I generally like."

Lying about being married to anyone was not his preference. And if it was to someone he actually had feelings for? The problem would have only compounded itself. No. Better to avoid that entirely, stick to what he knew.

"Apparently I play 'bumbling but well meaning spouse' pretty well. Reminds me why I quit dating." Keeping up with the girls had been exhausting. Parker can lie easy as breathing and Marjara? He'd been out of his depth in more ways than one.

"It was kinda fun, though. Pretending to be in a relationship. All the fun, none of the anxiety." And it is an anxious thing, being with someone, trying to keep them happy.

"I will take your word for it."

Locus immediately frowns, glancing back to the egg as though he suddenly found it intensely fascinating. Absolutely for the best he'd had nothing to do with that entire mess then.

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