Log

[plate_builder]

WHO: Reeve Tuesti, OTA
WHERE: Around Agrii Ship
WHAT: The Trip Home, Planning for Temba, and the Adventures of Mini-C (Early Sept Catch All)
WHEN: Journey back to Agra 10
WARNINGS: N/A I hope


A. Peanut Butter Jelly Time | Mess Hall | OTA

Reeve had a dirty little secret, one that had him returning to the Mess Hall with a strange regularity for a man who often forgot meal times. He was a man of expensive restaurants, Wutain and Mideelese takeout, and aged bourbons. He was a man who had once grown up on a farm, so most of his food was so fresh that it had been on the plant the day before. He was a man who stayed up late and lived by the liter of coffee.

Reeve Tuesti's dirty little secret?

He loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Judge him all you would, but while others might find the sandwiches jarringly discordant, looking like one thing and tasting like another, Reeve loved it. Currently he was seated at a mess table while Mini-C played with Agrii another table over, halfway through his second sandwich. The first one had looked like a grilled cheese. This one looked like and had the consistency of a chocobo salad sandwich. And damn if he doesn't look half blissed out as he takes another bite.

"I need to ask the Agrii to leave us a supply of whatever they make these sandwiches from," he mused aloud. Damn, now if only he could have a milk shake of this!


B. Engineering Marvels | Engine Room | OTA

The engine was beautiful. Reeve had been staring at it for an hour now, looking at the data that was darting over a number of screens, wishing he could read it. But mostly, he was marveling. If there was technology like this on his world, Mako never would have been a thing. If there was energy like this readily available in Temba, they could all live more comfortably. If there were engines like this on their ships, they could probably go a bit faster.

None of which mattered now, he supposed. What mattered was understanding it. And in the moment, he supposed he had to act. With a sigh he pushed off of the wall that he'd been watching the Agrii from, and almost immediately one of them approached him and offered over a belt with tools like they had. Of course they would do that.

The people were strangely considerate for beings that had kidnapped them and put them into a lot of trouble.

"Thank you," he said, knowing they would understand. He gestured for Mini to stay back, worried that the doll would get himself into trouble, before advancing on the engine core. Not the one they had before, from his understanding. Of course, his attention wasn't on the core itself just yet. Instead he opened a panel near it and lowered himself into the recessed space filled with all sorts of cables, wires, junction boxes, and the like.

"Cid would be so jealous of me right now. I wish I would remember the story to tell him," he laughed, shaking his head.

And then, of the room in general, he posed a question. "Anyone got a flash light? The backup light in the space that should come on when the panel is off seems busted. Guess we should start with replacing that."


C. Adventure Time | Halls near the Green Room | OTA

There is a downside to being a inanimate object given a soul by someone with weird magic. The downside was that humans had to sleep. Living beings had to sleep. Mini-C? Just a doll with a soul. He didn't have to sleep. So when his companion had fallen asleep in a corner of the green room with a bench, not even bothered by the Agrii that kept slipping in to look at him, well, Mini had to find something to do. Sure, it was nice sometimes to be there when Reeve needed him, snuggling in to keep his maker from being trapped in his nightmares, but that wasn't needed on naps.

Which was why Mini had toddled out of the Green room. The Agrii were of course interested in the doll, how could they not be? But they learned quick, Mini was learning. All he had to do was hop and point toward door controls and they would chatter happily amongst themselves before opening the door for him. It was really easy.

That, of course, was how Mini came to be wandering in the halls outside of the Green room, poking around and exploring. And, in this moment, trying to force open a panel. Which was hard, when his little paws had no leverage.

Comments

c

[beholding_archivist]

Reeve's doll isn't the only one that doesn't sleep. Though in Jon's case this is hardly caused by him being an inanimate object. And to say he doesn't sleep at all may be a little exaggerated at least. It still remains true that the Archivist is awake a lot more than any regular human being should be. And at times he blindly wanders the long hallways of the ship. Though, again, to call it blindly wouldn't be true. He has spent a lot of time looking at and memorizing the ship's map that by now Jon knows precisely where he is going.

Though his steps stop short at the sight of the cat-inspired doll and the Archivist gives a little grimace. He knows that doll, of course. And whom it belongs to. Who is yet a person Jon has to bring himself to talk to again. Yes, they all have to work with one another to some degree and it is the sensible thing to talk, but as of now Jon just can't say he trusts Reeve enough to feel comfortable speaking to or even working with him.

And so he doesn't move closer to the doll, instead watches for a short while and at a distance. Waiting for whether or not the doll's owner suddenly shows up...

[plate_builder]

Still Mini keeps tugging, not bothering to look at whoever was walking by. After a while the doll sighs and kicks at the panel. Rude thing not opening up.

Only then does he turn around and see Jon. His face isn't expressive enough to show his distrust of the man there. His lack of comfort. He can't even really comment. Just looks up at Jon for a long moment.

[beholding_archivist]

Well, the distrust is mutual. Inanimate objects coming to life and wandering about, that's still the Stranger's domain after all. Even if in this case the inanimate object is a cat-shaped animatronic and therefore a robot potentially equipped with an AI.

Which still leaves Jon questioning why this thing is wandering about by itself. It probably isn't. It's master must be nearby, keeping a semblance of control over it.

Muttering a small curse, Jon casts a quick look around, not the least bit inclined to interact with a machine like he would with a living creature. So he steps forward, intending to simply move past it and leave it to whatever task it has been given.

[plate_builder]

It's hardly animatronic. Yet.

Still, Jon is something that isn't an Agrii, and Mini can't get into where he's going so... When Jon moves, the doll follows.

Is it weird that a doll has fears? Because this one does. Perhaps Jon can feel them, when he's moving away. A fear of being alone. How could a doll fear that?

[beholding_archivist]

It looks enough like an animatronic to Jon to be mildly unsettled by it. The fact that it is not an animatronic? Doesn't exactly make it any better as far as he is concerned.

Especially not now that it is following him? Which Jon tries to ignore at first.

And then tries to ignore it harder.

Then focuses on ignoring that odd fear he senses coming off of it. A clear strain of the Lonely, but of course that's ridiculous. Robots, dolls, plush animals, they don't. Feel. Unless they're possessed, but that would much rather result in a certain glee drawn from the terror of their victims. That's what the scientifically inclined part of Jon's mind points out hard to Jon. But his actual experience has ridiculed science repeatedly for several years now so what all this is resulting in is basically just Jon's mind turning in circles and clinging to explanations and excuses.

Until he has enough and stops abruptly, turning around harshly to glare at the doll. "What?!"

[plate_builder]

The glare offered makes Mini jump back a step. It raises an arm before itself, as to ward Jon's ire off. Then it drops it's arm and tilts it's head at Jon for a bit.

Mini wraps his arms around himself to mime a hug. Please?

[beholding_archivist]

The gesture gets a scowl in return and the Archivist crosses his arms. There's no way he is going to willingly hug that thing.

"You have an owner." Jon points out sharply. "Go bother him." Considering they both seem to be needy for physical contact, Jon can't help but deem these two fitting for one another. Then again, the doll is Reeve's creation. So that may just show itself in a way that only leaves Jon with more questions.

[plate_builder]

Well that won't work at all. Mini folds his paws under his head and tilts himself to the side a bit to mime sleeping. Which of course upsets the balance of the toy and it falls over. Poor thing.

[beholding_archivist]

It's the falling over rather than the sleeping gesture that has Jon raise an eyebrow at the doll before letting out a resigning exhale, muttering to himself. "...Jesus Christ."

Uncrossing his arms, he takes a reluctant step closer, yet doesn't reach to pick his pursuer back up.

"Is he controlling you in his sleep? Is that how this works?" And he frowns as another possibility pops into his mind. "Reeve? Are you following me with this thing?"

[plate_builder]

Oh geez. Mini shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest. No, he's not that.

Again he mimes sleeping. Then points back toward the door of the Green room. Look, he's even showing the guy where Reeve was.

[beholding_archivist]

"..." Glancing up and in the direction the toy points at, Jon maintains his frown, lips pressed shut tightly. He will not go in there to check if what the doll tries to tell him is true.

Instead, he simply shakes his head and sighs. "I still fail to see why you're following me."

[plate_builder]

Because he was lonely. But clearly Jon didn't care. Or didn't want company. Or was mean. Rude. The doll crosses its arms once again because wow, this guy is rude. Its tail even lashes a little like an annoyed cat.

[beholding_archivist]

Jon is, indeed, rude. He's deliberately rude in a defensive way because he doesn't want to be tricked into trusting Reeve again - Or anything the man does.

He pauses at the swishing tail and tips his head to the side. "Oh, come on. Don't give me that!" Jon points for a moment, then squats down before the doll. "Look. I don't want to have anything to do with him at the moment." And he points in the general direction of the Green Room. "And you-" He points at Mini. "-you are his creation. Through engineering or magic or-" A shrug. "Iunno. Christ, you could be some sort of spying device for all I know!"

[plate_builder]

Mini stops a foot in annoyance. He hates not being able to talk. He is him, and when Reeve is sleeping, Mini is only Mini.

The doll isn't very happy. He just wanted to not be alone. How rude.

[beholding_archivist]

In Jon's defense, he doesn't know a lot about Mini. And he has a boss that can literally see through every eye in existence, regardless whether it's a real eye or not. A decent part of his paranoia stems from reasons. Valid reasons as far as Jon is concerned.

Still not sure however about what the stuffed toy wants, Jon sighs and turns to continue down the hallway. He would simply try to ignore the toy.

[plate_builder]

Yeah, Mini's still following the man, thoughtful and considering. Be paranoid all you want. Mini just wants something to do. And at the moment that means following. Don't let it bother you, Jon. Not too much.

[beholding_archivist]

He's trying really hard not to let it bother him.

And yet here he is, trying not to look over his shoulder. With a strong emphasis on trying. Because he's well aware of his fuzzy follower. It's near the mess hall that Jon stops again and turns halfway to the stubborn feline, simply looking at it for a couple of moments without fully turning towards it.

Mini can't speak. It can't tell him what it wants or why it's following him. It does however seems to understand him. Even react to it in its own way. And Jon on his end has no idea what to make of it. He still expects Reeve to suddenly pop up from around a nearby corner, drawn to this... Thing...

Is that it? Is the plush cat a tracking device?

"...he can find you, can't he?"

[plate_builder]

Why does Jon keep asking the wrong questions? Mini wants him to ask 'is Reeve with you now' or 'are you your own person' or 'do you want a hug?'

He's made from a doll. His nature is always to want a hug.

But no, Jon has to ask that, and Mini isn't going to lie. The doll sags a little, clearly not happy with the question. Who knew cotton and cloth could manage to so much with so little.

And he nods.

[beholding_archivist]

Asking the wrong questions is his job. Well... Sort of. At least it's what he's good at. Quite unlike hugging. That's just something he hardly ever does.

The response gets a brief sigh. And a frown. "...can't say I'm surprised. Do you know when he's coming?"

[plate_builder]

Oh, that's an easier one. Mini nods vigorously. He does. Then the doll turns back toward the green room and mimes as if he was pulling at a rope.

There's a tie, he's trying to say. It pulls at them. So they know. That, hopefully, conveyed he turns back to Jon and tilts his head. More questions? He feels less lonely with the questions.

[beholding_archivist]

Jon makes a little face, but nods. "...right. No freedom for the puppet, I suppose." He doesn't appear too surprised, but then his frown deepens. "Is that what's happening here? Are you trying to break free? Gain your freedom?"

Not that he would want to get tangled up in something like that.

[plate_builder]

A stomped foot. He has freedom. Don't assume not. But the idea of breaking free. He shakes his head. How does he convey the idea? How does he explain the loneliness that comes when Reeve is asleep and no one is there to play with him?

He's a child, and his master's keeper, and the only time he's truly alone is when Reeve isn't there. Not like he can talk yet. Not like he's been given dexterous enough hands yet to write. The chance of it even seems less likely with Reeve giving Tony space.

So the doll just scuffs a foot against the floor. He can't explain.

[beholding_archivist]

"Okay..." The frown remains. Maybe Jon should be a little more unnerved by this puppet understanding him so well. It's certainly more unnerving than its inability to express itself in a different form than pantomime.

"Maybe that's something you should consider." Jon remarks aloud. "It's not the worst goal to pursue."

[plate_builder]

Really? Mini-C shakes his head. Enjoy the new game of charades. Two words. Second word. Mini gestures back toward the green room, then strokes his face as if admiring a beard.

Reeve.

Then the first word. Mini's paws come up to frame his head, pressing against it as it doubled over as if in pain.

Hurts.

Distance meant hurting Reeve. The magic was broken here. And highly limited.

[beholding_archivist]

Jon follows the gesturing with his eyes. That one is easy enough to make out. It's always about Reeve. Turning his head away, Jon exhales through his nose and shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but if you want me to feel bad for him, that's not going to happen. He created a semi-sentient being through some sort of magic and keeps it bound to him. And I can only assume he did what he did knowing that it might hurt him. That was his choice. He could have created a mere puppet instead. A tool of sorts, if that's what he needed. Instead, he forces loyalty on a being that might well have its own free will rather than leaving the choice to his creation."

His eyes fall back on the doll as he speaks. "He's a selfish man and only the victim of his own actions with remarkably little regard for those around or near him. I... I think I'm sorry you can't get rid of him." But he hasn't quite decided yet.