(no subject)

[electrostatics]

Who: Elecman
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva, living space
When: 11th, afternoon

[ There's a few glitches here and there throughout the morning, audio-only; Elecman's voice can be heard in snatches, nothing coherent. He seems to be struggling with something; it sounds like it's hurting him.

Eventually, there's a video broadcast, though it seems more like he just didn't care what format the broadcast was made in. He's looking away from the camera. He seems troubled - and, to be honest, mentally exhausted. There's none of his usual attitude.

When he speaks, his voice is tired. ]

...Will this stop soon?

I don't like it.

[ He means the glitching. Being able to just remember that there was something he forgot and not actually remembering it. That...is something he doesn't like.

After a moment, he switches off the broadcast, but not before there's a brief glimpse of his shoulders just hunching over as he grips momentarily at his helmet, hiding his face.

He seems almost embarrassed. ]

Comments

[deshabille]

[She doesn't bother with the network. No time for that, no reason. She just searches him out, listening for the telltale murmur of his internal electronics, and when she finds him, knocks his shoulder with hers.]

What's "this"?

[electrostatics]

[ He'd object to the contact if it was anyone else, but Mal is...comforting, in a way that he'd rather die again than admit. He doesn't flinch, but he doesn't react either. ]

...There's some glitch going on. I know there's something I'm forgetting...but I don't retain the information.

So I figured...I was getting my memory edited. [ His voice is a little rueful, but that's all the personality he can summon up. ] I tried to get that augment out of me, but...Didn't really work.

[ There's electrical damage spreading in an oddly pretty web of cracks and burns at the base of his helmet, at the back, where the little nub of the augment pokes out. There's not much, but it's a testament to his efforts. ]

[deshabille]

[He really does seem so tired. If he didn't, she'd be yelling at him now. As it is . . .]

[She just sighs and shakes her head, leaning back slightly to inspect the damage.]

I'd knock you about if you hadn't already done it to yourself. That was damn stupid, you know.

[It comes out fond all the same, because she really does understand.]

[electrostatics]

I know. [ His shoulders shake in what's probably supposed to be a laugh. It doesn't sound like one. It's just...noise, something harsh sounding like it's rattling loose. ] It was stupid.

But if my systems get compromised - well, I guess I shouldn't worry about that. They probably already are. [ Another little shake. It looks like he couldn't get more slumped, but he sort of is, all the same. ] Maybe I'll just try to not worry about it.

[ That's a stupid thing to say, too. He can't just forget. ]

[deshabille]

They probably already are. But knowing that doesn't make it any better.

[Looking sideways at him, she considers her options. Probably the smart, captainly thing to do would be to tell him not to do it again, to keep a close eye on him. But that doesn't feel like the right thing to do.]

If you exhaust all of your options, you'll still worry about it, but at least you'll know you did everything you could. Right?

[electrostatics]

If I start spouting garbage, you'll know Atroma's put some kind of spambot program in there, I guess. [ It's a weak joke, but at least he's capable of making jokes.

He shrugs. ]

I feel like messing with my own augment too much is going to bring some bigger consequences than what I just got.

...Maybe later.

[deshabille]

[She cracks a smile anyway, weak as it is. He deserves appreciation for the effort.]

Maybe later. Call me if you change your mind.

[And in the meantime--]

You ought to tell me some stories. Things about home.

[Things to ground him.]

We can trade if you like.

video

[multiglyphs]

[ ah. since he'd done her the favor or informing her about her previous accidental broadcasts before (though inadvertently), she figures she can return the favor now. because she assumes that's what this is, given how little information it actually provides.

...not that she's concerned or anything. ]

Hello, yes, you might like to know you'd accidentally sent a broadcast to the entire fleet just now.

video

[electrostatics]

[ He's slow to respond. When he finally switches on his device again, he's lacking any of his usual personality. He just seems rather tired. ]

It wasn't accidental.

[ Well, he just needed to vent, mostly. Airing his frustrations and all that. ]

It's not like the audience won't see it, so I guess I shouldn't care about broadcasting it to other people.

video

[multiglyphs]

Well — I suppose. [ there is some logic to that, yes, but. but!! ]

You should certainly still care! Otherwise it'd just be letting them win, wouldn't it?

[electrostatics]

[ He just shrugs. He is, after all, a creature of logic, as many irrational decisions as he makes. ]

...Don't really care about winning right now. [ He's kind of mentally rattled at the moment, call back later.

He just rubs the back of his neck, after a moment. He appears to be feeling something that's there, at the base of his skull. He just frowns. ]

[multiglyphs]

Well with that attitude, you'll obviously have no chance at it.

[ she huffs, but the tinge of disapproval in her tone is matched by the concern that coats the edge of her words.

after a moment, she asks emphatically: ] Are you alright? Do you — need anything?

[ oil? troubleshooting? restarting?? AI STUFF????? ]

[electrostatics]

Wow, so sorry. I've got other things to worry about right now. [ SNAPPY....Elecman, please chill. ]

...I don't need anything except for this ship to stop messing with my memory data. I'm just going to sit here and reflect on my stupid mistakes, so I don't make them again next time. [ His voice is pretty sour. ]

[multiglyphs]

[ she huffs, put off by his brusqueness. she was only trying to help, gosh. ]

Well if you think it will help.

[electrostatics]

[ HE APPRECIATES IT...KINDA. ]

...There's nothing much I can do, right?

...You haven't been having the same memory problems, have you? [ Boy, he hopes not. ]

[multiglyphs]

Well... I suppose there are a few moments I can't quite remember fully, now that I think about it...

[ but she just assumed it was due to her overworking herself the past few days..................... ]

[electrostatics]

...Great. So it affects humans, too. What's with these things, anyway...?

[ Weiss........shouldn't you be like. not overworking yourself......

What does he mean by 'these things'? It is a mystery. ]

[multiglyphs]

[ don't tell her what to do! so what if her coping mechanisms may not be completely healthy...! ]

I assume more "calibrations" at work.

video

[frigidaire]

Er, not sure exactly what is going on. So not sure when it will stop, but are you okay?

[ he shrugs a little. ] Not sure what I can do to help, but I mean, if there's anything...

permavid

[electrostatics]

[ He just shrugs. ] It's normal for humans to have trouble remembering things, so I don't expect you to be bothered by it at all.

...It's fine. I'll be fine. [ He phrases a fact in the rudest possible way, as usual. ]

[frigidaire]

I don't have to be bothered by it. Was just being friendly, but I know that can be kind of hard for some people.

[ ... pointed. look. ]

You don't sound like you're fine.

[electrostatics]

[ That gets him to...kind of crack a smile in return. Elecman, nooo.... ] Maybe when I have less of a feeling like my head's being contaminated from the inside out, I'll break out the fruit baskets to make you feel better about me being all snappy to you.

[ Noooo... ]

I'll be fine. [ He shrugs. ] I'll have to get over it eventually, anyway.

[frigidaire]

Contaminated? That's a pretty weird word to use. Like with a virus or something? And fruit baskets, seriously? If you have real food then yeah you need to go ahead and cough it up. This gel stuff is disgusting.

[ Isaac Lahey, still worried about food. his priorities are definitely set straight. ]

[electrostatics]

Yeah, like with a virus. Dunno about you, but an implant I can't remove that's directly plugged into my core data is really worrying me. [ Understatement of the year. ]

There's real food in the kitchens here. I think someone even found meat. [ He makes a note to stockpile anything that's not edible gel that can keep for a long time; it'll probably make a good bargaining tool. ] Why don't you try there, while we're still on the ship?