pathstone mingle!!

[dawnwillcome]

Who: The Pathstone + anyone!
Broadcast: nah
Action: yah!
When: lets not go asking questions okay

[Do you know what's weird and probably a sign of things to come for the entire fleet?

The Pathstone isn't the most useless ship anymore. It's actually good at stuff. It's got upgrades! It's got a pilot and two people to shoot guns at things. And two captains.

It's not just Captain Tek. There's two.

It's still a pretty big mess who are we even kidding. Come see for yourself!!]

Comments

[heresyandlace]

[well... if Robin has learned anything during his years spent with various iterations of the dragon, it's how to appease him most efficiently. he demonstrates just a little bit of effort, and it turns out to be the perfect amount.

Robin can pretty much watch as Tek suddenly stops looking at him like a problem. he disengages, sits back in his chair, and allows himself to look tired. he doesn't even pick on his pronunciation this time.]

My head hurts.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[he's not exactly being actively manipulative, but there are a few shortcuts that he's got pretty well-ingrained by this point... and here, where something is just a little bit wrong, he's also got the awareness to use them.

Robin frowns a little, confused. Tek doesn't get headaches, he only gives them.]

Can I take it?

[which is really supposed to be 'May I', but... garbage-disposal, as they've discussed.

still, he holds his hand up near Tek's head and waits for an invitation; hopefully the gesture explains what he means.]

[heresyandlace]

[at least he's still feeling well enough to muster up plenty of suspicion behind his glance, eyeing Robin's hand as if there's a chance it might strike him instead.]

I don't know. Can you?

[because, again, Robin didn't ask quite the right question. that, and Tek has an educated guess that this pain isn't of the normal sort. he's not wrong, of course. if it was something normal, it wouldn't be happening to him.

the discomfort might be spread out all over his skull, but the roots of it are coming from one very particular place--it's all because of that little piece of artificial something lodged in the space behind one ear.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[that's a fair reaction. and a fair question. he cants his head, lips quirking back up into a little smile.]

Let's see!

[though his fingers slide right into Tek's hair, along his scalp. right towards the back of his head, behind his ears, very affectionate. he'd much rather try when Tek's not on-guard and prickly about the whole thing.]

[heresyandlace]

[it's exactly what he needed.

he's still on the fence about the whole thing right up until Robin does that. he even looks like he might say something--maybe argue or pick on Robin's response somehow, just so he doesn't seem too cooperative--but his eyelids droop instead.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[there we go. he'll make everything better. he pulls up the hurt while he runs his fingers over the sore spots and jumpy skin. he'd like to tug it right out of the source, if he can, to see if it's finite.

if he can stop the problem, that'll be a little victory in itself.]

[heresyandlace]

[like everything with Atroma's fingerprint on it, the augment itself and what its sunk into is kind of a blind spot, so he can't get at the very source of the roots. but he can take everything else. the pain will probably come back, but the dragon can finally find some relief in the meantime.

and judging by the way his eyes are already closed, head lolling a little in the direction of Robin's hand, he's quick to appreciate the effort.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[well, that gets an odd little chuckle out of him; they've done this before, but it's always been during a pressing time. this? this is precious.

maybe he'll stay and pet his hair a little longer, then. wherever he wants.]

[heresyandlace]

[and really, Tek seems more than happy to just sit there and be doted on at the kitchen table, but one little thing is all it takes to make him too aware of his surroundings. his head just gets a little too heavy, leans into Robin's fingers a little too much... and he's peeling his eyes open and starting to sit up properly again.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[then Robin has to work quickly to get the happy look off his face. it's replaced by self-congratulatory smirk as he takes his hand back.]

Wonderful. If that's settled, I've got something for you.

[it doesn't matter if Tek is actually "settled" or willing to take it; Robin twists to pull a flat, white box out of the bag and hold it out to him.]

[heresyandlace]

Oh, do you?

[he says it lightly enough, but of course there is suspicion in there. especially as he's still coming down off of having his hair played with.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Well, I've had something for you.

[no, no, don't worry. he looks away, almost rolling his eyes--but it's entirely at his own expense. he can side-eye the wall, this way. he continues to hold out the box.]

I was going to use this to look resourceful and thoughtful, but now I don't mind saying it's been at the bottom of my closet for the last... [he presses his tongue to the inside of his cheek, thoughtful fidgeting.] Since those casinos, way back. I cleaned yesterday.

[heresyandlace]

[his eyebrows raise in surprise, and he really does a very good job of not seeming amused. but it's still in there somewhere.

he is reassured. nothing has changed; Robin is just a mess. it's almost charming.]

I don't want to imagine what your room must be like... [as he opens the box.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

I like to think of it as an extension of a busy mind...

[smiling again, now that his present is being welcomed. there's a little room to be jabbed at, there, and he knows it--but the thing inside of the box is an expensive, well-made, well-sized white dress. the lacing is black, as are the embellishments--abstract, probably, though Robin liked how the fancy stitching looks like bramble thorns and not so much like flowers.

he definitely didn't pick it up anywhere on this moon, so his story probably holds up. it... does smell a little like closet. he watches for a reaction, of course.]

[heresyandlace]

[he knows the subtle things to look for. Tek's eyes linger on the details, counting all the things that fit and match with him, looking for things to dislike. judging by the half of a smile that pulls on his mouth, he isn't finding much to pick at.]

Well... what's all this for?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

I wanted to take you dancing, at the time. [which may not quite answer his question, but.] I can't actually remember why I set it down for so long... That planet, maybe. [he wiggles his hand.] Things got busy.

[he crosses his arms, but the way he's postured, how he tips his head towards him--he's almost inviting.] This moon isn't exactly thrilling, but I think we could still have fun...

[heresyandlace]

[delicately, he lifts the upper half of the dress from the box, picks his fingers along the decorating edging.]

We would make quite a scene, you know...

[birdsbirdsbirds]

Oh yes.

[his smirk only grows wider...]

Maybe we'd even attract a crowd. Wouldn't be surprised if a few unsavory characters tried to follow us...

[heresyandlace]

Sounds dangerous.

[he is delighted.]

I should try it on.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[a short little laugh, and he waves his hand to hurry him towards the hallway.]

Please do. I'm not a hundred percent sure I remembered your measurements, so...