[Open Video]

[plate_builder]

[The video starts awkwardly, as if whoever is starting it isn't used to using the communicator device. Perhaps for some that might have a very clear reason behind if if they recognize a few details. First of these was that the room the video was being shot in was clearly the Restoration Committee building, also known as the large room for organization that one Reeve Tuesti had set up for rebuilding and improvement plans. Second of these was the fact that there was clearly one Mister Reeve Tuesti sitting on a less than comfortable looking stool facing a table with a surface tilted some thirty to forty degrees up from horizontal, hands moving with a ruler and pencil as his voice mumbled indistinctly to himself and he drew lines on it. And, thirdly, there was the fact that the video was clearly shot from only a few feet above the floor, as opposed to a height that would make sense for anyone that lived here save perhaps the droids and the actual culprit: Mini-C.

The video of Reeve continues for a moment before turning away to face the feline's face as he turns and walks away, a door soon closing behind him and leaving him standing with the communicator camera pointed at himself, still recording, while he sat just inside Reeve's room.]

D'ye ken wha tha was? One ah tha most pathetic sad sack sights me wee eyehs hae evah seen.

[The cat shakes his head and then takes a deep breath. He talks more slowly from then on, clearly struggling to suppress his accent to talk more like his creator's more 'refined' tones. Really, the point is to sound more easily recognizable, he gets that these humans don't always get him]

That's been the sight ah've had of him for two days now. All mah efforts ain't managed to get him to eat regular or sleep enough. Most days it's a mite hard to get him ta take care o'imself. It's a good thin' he made me, cause I take care of him. But ya see, he ain't been all right since a thing happened.

[How weird, that it would be a little robot cat to announce this sort of thing.]

Poe. He be gone. Gone gone this time, ain't no listing on the ships or comms. When Reeve found out, well, ah could not keep him from tryin' ta distract himself. Which meant more work. And less sleep. And less food.

Ah need help. Used ta be ah was a good influence on gettin' him to be careful and healthy and all them wee things that make the big thing that is living as a person. Cept he ain't listening to me no more. What do ah do? Ah need help getting him ta sleep and eat.

Annae advice? Or perhaps can some ah'ya lads and lasses help me haul him inta being himself agin? Or at least gettin' him ta take serious the whole 'food and sleep make humans run' thing?

Comments

[plate_builder]

[Excuse you, Soldier, it is polite to respond in kind. Mini's been told a lot lately that he needs to stop being so rude. Maybe Mini should ask Tony or someone to make a Speech-to-Text for him to go with the Text-to-Speech Tony made before.]

No. Jus cofee

[sinistral]

[Do we not have that already? I literally can't keep track lol.

Really though if Mini needs not-rude role models, the Soldier is not a good example.]

I will see what I can carry.

[plate_builder]

[Sadly no, it was not yet a thing included in the devices. Poor Mini.]

Thanks. Je mAy be stubbborn.

[sinistral]

[Yet. Not on the devices yet.]

That includes carrying him away from his work if necessary.

[plate_builder]

Id apppreceitate it mighty

[sinistral]

I will return on the next train.

[plate_builder]

I weill wairt. Do nort knoick.

[sinistral]

I can contact you when it arrives back in Temba, so you'll know when I'm close. Do you have suggestions for foods he would readily eat?

[plate_builder]

Soup. OPr bread.

[sinistral]

That can be arranged.

[plate_builder]

Thank yoou

[sinistral]

The train has arrived. I will head to the center with the replicator to obtain something resembling a meal for him. Do you require anything else?

[plate_builder]

AA hammdre to whack hi m aslkeep with?

[sinistral]

I hope I will not have to knock him out. But I can do so without a hammer.

[plate_builder]

Good. Nah get herr

[sinistral]

I will be there soon.

[plate_builder]

Thank you.

[sinistral]

[Half an hour or so later—]

I am just outside.

[And true to earlier instruction, he didn't knock. The message had been to alert Mini more than anything else, a courtesy to Reeve's keeper.]

[plate_builder]

[Mini just sends a thumbs up emoji. He's had time to figure that one out.

AS for Reeve, he's shocked when the door opens, and there's Soldier. He definitely looks speechless for a moment.]

Is everything okay?

[Something must be wrong ot have the other man come to Temba.]

[sinistral]

I believe that is my question. And that the answer is before me.

[He closes the door behind him and approaches to set a cloth-wrapped package on the table. From inside comes the smell of chicken soup and fresh bread — as fresh as the replicator can make, anyway.]

[plate_builder]

[Huh? Reeve looked confused for a moment, but then there was the food. He looked... tired then. Resigned. And moved to the food. He had already learned not to fuck with the Soldier.]

I thank you for the spirit in which this is given. Are you here to lecture me? Mini has been trying to.

[sinistral]

[The Soldier recognizes that look all too well. He's worn it himself, or at least has felt its emotion more than expressed it outwardly.]

No. [The reply is as gentle as he can make it.] Even I can see that's hardly what you need right now.

[plate_builder]

[He was just too tired for emotions right now. To far in grieving, and then feeling guilty for it.]

And what do you think I need?

[Other and soup and bread of course. He should get to that.]

[sinistral]

[Hesitantly:] A friend. Of which I am poor substitute, but I am here nonetheless.

[And he does understand what it is to lose someone, even if the exact nature of what Reeve had with Poe is foreign to him.]

[plate_builder]

You're not a substitute, and even if you were, you wouldn't be a poor one. I... thank you."