♤ Network - [Video]

[deal_me_in]

[It's around dusk, the faint glow of a lantern casting a wavering light about that reveals the Exo so he's more than just glowing eyes. He seems to give a dry look at the communicator before turning his head and then the feed itself outward towards the city and its few lit up buildings. ]

So. That direction would be where the tower is. Just trust me on this since there's no blinking light.

But if we look out this way-

[The feed shifts again, passing over sparse furnishings and old, rusted gears of the clock tower before looking out another gaping hole where there's fewer buildings grouped and lit, but the most noticeable thing is a light winking on and off in the darkened distance.]

I think someone's funnin' with us.

Comments

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, I hate it. A lot. But when spring comes, I'm gonna take a break from the bullshit and go to the island and chillax. Maybe make a boat for people.

[Tommy chuckles at the promise as the air rushes again.]

I'll be half an hour.

[deal_me_in]

I think everyone needs a break. A boat would be useful. I'm not much for swimming, obviously.

All right kid. See you then.

[doubled_speed]

[And sure enough, about half an hour later, there was Tommy walking in, looking very tired.]

Fuck. There is not enough calories for me to do that a lot.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde doesn't say a thing as he picks up the pot and pours a mug, setting it down on the counter.]

Nice timing.

Need a grocery run done or something? A bowl of food goo?

[doubled_speed]

[Timing? He told Cayde exactly when he expected to return. And his legs were shaking a little.]

I've got a roast on back in the diner. Moving nice and slow. I'll have some food later. But yeah, I'll probably have to goo.

[Temba can barely support his dietary needs.]

[deal_me_in]

Mm, sounds tasty. Definitely beats food goo. Now sit down before I have to scrape you off the floor.

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, sitting.

[Tommy flops down and takes the coffee.]

Any sugar? I can live without, but figured I'd ask.

[deal_me_in]

That'd be a negative. I'm beginning to think I imagined having sugar at all. Maybe I'll have to consult the replicator.

[doubled_speed]

Damn.

[Oh well, Tommy lets the coffee sit in front of him. It needs to cool if he's going to throw it back.]

[deal_me_in]

I admit, I am not all that well-stocked in condiments and additives. I do have a lot of dishware though. ...probably more than I know what to do with.

[doubled_speed]

[Wait, he has a lot of dishware? Tommy grins.]

I can try and get you condiments and additives. But I need dishware for the diner.

[deal_me_in]

Oh pff, how are you running a diner without dishware? [He grins.]

I got a couple crates of stuff I've been scavenging. At some point I stop thinking of what I need and just pick up things that look neat. I'll bring 'em out and you can root through 'em.

[doubled_speed]

[Tommy rolls his eyes and blows on the coffee some. Yeah yeah, get your laughs out.]

I have some, but not enough. And between watching out for my family, hanging with Tony to try and learn more science, being one of only two people currently working the greenhouse regularly, running the diner, and having to hunt out wild foods like catching lobsters and fish and all of that, I don't have a lot of time for getting new things for the diner, like more dishware or furniture. Okay?

[Tommy kept himself busy so many damn hours of hte day.]

[deal_me_in]

Kid, if you need someone to bring in some meat all you gotta do is ask. I did that some for that Vanto guy. Then everything started happening one after the other and it kind of got knocked off the list.

[Which made up for a different kind of busy, and then the times in between were taken advantage of in case something else was thrown their way. The Exo turns towards the doorway of the backroom behind the counter, coming back out with a crate stacked to the brim with an assortment of cups and plates and bowls. He sets it on the counter on the other side of Tommy so as not to crowd him.]

[doubled_speed]

[Not like Tommy hasn't asked before on the Network if people would be willing to help. But he's matured enough not to point that out. He just nods and takes the implication there.]

We could use it. I'm almost run through what I bartered with one of the alien worlds for on our way back from the Agrii. I don't wanna start killing Glownies either. But we need meat.

[The coffee has cooled enough by the time Cayde returns that Tommy just throws the whole cup back. Yeah, this works. Then he moves to the thing and starts sorting through it.]

No rest for the wicked.

[deal_me_in]

Oh, the wicked's too busy watching and seeing what we do, plotting out more ways to make life interesting for us.

[He grabs the coffee pot and puts it there for Tommy to help himself to refills, nodding at the crate.]

Just let me know when you're through with that one and I'll bring out the other.

[doubled_speed]

[Tommy groans. He doesn't want life more interesting. Unless it means more family, or... Nope. Not thinking it.]

The other? Man, you collecting this stuff? Am I breaking up a collection?

[deal_me_in]

Nah! I mean...I'm collecting stuff but not like, collecting collecting, you know? Just random things that caught my eye that I figure maybe can be put to use but probably won't. And I did say I had a couple crates full, didn't I?

[doubled_speed]

[Ah, interesting. Tommy nods and starts setting things aside. Maybe they can shuffle enough out of each crate that he can take one for himself.]

Man, Cayde, you come up with some good stuff, don't you?

[deal_me_in]

[The Exo flashes a lopsided smile.]

I like to think I have exquisite taste. Usually I'm scrounging for supplies and weapons though.

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, it's not bad taste at all.

[Weapons. Man, if only that was a thing. Tommy puts selected dishes aside, thoughtful. Mostly he was going for durable looking, not matching.]

[deal_me_in]

[That was all well and good considering that there's hardly any matching sets. There's a lot of color and strange shapes and materials, but at least most of them still appear to actually be serviceable.]

There might be some utensils in there too although some of them are just plain strange- like... I think it could be a fork? But it's got all these extra thingys sticking out of it? Stuff like that.

[doubled_speed]

Might have to ask Tony to forge me more utensils.

[He considers things and sets them aside, a growing pile.]

You wonder how Agrii eat? Four arms. Do they eat two things at once?

[deal_me_in]

You know...that is a good question. I didn't really try watching them eat while we were all on the ship. They gotta be pretty good at multitasking! Maybe they have things in each hand and then alternate like some intricate dance. Or maybe they just make a mess of themselves because things try mashing into their mouth at the same time.

[doubled_speed]

IT's a nicer thing to think about than the fact that they really haven't given us much to work with here.

[So very, very little.]