empathicfault | IC Inbox

Uhhh. I actually don't know. Laptops? Smart phones? Or the parts for either. I haven't heard of anyone ruining their communicator, but I'm sure it's happened before, right?

Your wife might be a better person to ask about that.

Yeah. But there's no real internet on the Barge; our stuff from home doesn't pick up crap.

Well, yeah...there's no network. Someone smarter than me might be able to build one, but- you don't need internet for a laptop to be useful.

I'm just saying, we've seen a lot of magic lately, maybe we should refocus from spell components to technology while we've got the chance. I know I'm more comfortable with it.

[ Will, you're literally a supernatural creature. ]

I never really thought about it, but-- yeah. Not a bad plan.

I also had another idea, if you're interested. You wanna try some crime-solving, Shaw-style?

Oh, yeah? I'd love to.

I mean, there's a lot of people down there, there's got to be some crime to solve. What's Shaw-style like?

Hard and fast, but with more thinking than it used to have, and no collateral damage.

We've test-driven disaster response plenty, but we haven't gotten to do any prevention beyond patrolling. Sounds like a good opportunity to work on Graham-style too, yeah?

That's...yeah. That's exactly what I was thinking. I'd like to test some of this out in a real world, even if it's not the one we're used to.

...I'm starting to think that no world is really like the one I'm used to, actually. It'll be interesting to see how this one operates.

From what I can tell, people are people no matter where they are.

You don't have the same up-close vantage point that I do, however.

Okay, I can buy the people here being pretty different because the Admiral seems to exclusively shop around for weirdos, but this is Earth. A hundred years into the future, but still Earth with humans.

A messy display of brilliant colors and ideas, from what I see. But different places seem to produce different themes. The Barge is, obviously, a mess. The last port we were in had everyone practicing memento mori. You and Root are more focused.

And my world? Everyone was too self-centered to notice anyone else's discomfort, much less pain. Here? I don't know yet, but I'm sure to have an idea after I've been down there a few hours.

Huh.

You'll tell me if it sucks too much, yeah? I wanna do this with you, but not if it ends up being a particularly crappy place.

I'll let you know if I need a break. Thanks.

[ He realizes he's actually starting to get used to Shaw's concern. And even if it's because that's part of the job, it is still nice, to expect it. ]

I might be all right, though. I actually have ways to deal with it now. I'm not constantly at the edge of my...capacity.

Meet you on deck?

I'll be waiting for you.

[And trying her best not to be too impatient about it. She wants off this hellboat.]

[ Will knows Shaw's itching to leave, so he doesn't take long. He just puts a couple of coins in his pocket- to fidget with, they won't be usable as currency- grabs a bottle of water and is half-done with it by the time he reaches the Deck.

He's not sure if Shaw's going to be bringing her dogs, but Will's leaving his until he has a good idea of the people in this new space. So he is unusually unburdened as he puts up his hand in a lazy wave at her. ]

Hey. Let's see what they've got, eh?

[Shaw, too, is dogless, though that's only because she'd briefly gone on ahead to secure a hotel room for the week. This will be her first proper exploration of the city, though, and itching to leave is an understatement. She'll give him a nod in greeting, but won't waste time chatting on deck; she'll wait until they've gotten off the ship and out of the airport before she asks:]

So what do you think? You wanna jump right into the thick of things, or do some shopping first?

You never know how long crime-solving is going to take.

[ He mentions this with a small smile. He's clearly glad for this field trip. ]

So let's get the shopping over with. Shouldn't take long, and I'm sure we'll find out what the 'bad part of town' is in the meantime.

A city this big? I bet it has more than one.

[And off they go: off the ship, out of the airport, and towards the city, empty shopping bag and full shopping list in tow. Once their feet hit proper city pavement, Shaw takes a moment to tilt her head back and exhale, looking up at the skyscrapers.]

It's good to breathe real air again.

[Possibly real. Probably real.]

[ Will's sigh is less one of relief. He settles into the feeling of a city -thousands and thousands of people zipping by, everyone within eyesight possibly adding a little bit more weight to him- and breathes the air deep. ]

Yeah. Set foot on the ground, look up at a sky...not that the one we have on the Barge isn't pretty, but. I do miss being on a planet sometimes.

[ And he knows why she likes it. This feels real and right to her. He wants Shaw to soak this up as much as possible- she's had to deal with far too much reality-bending lately. ]

So...I saw a sign for a market on the way out. Looks like it's to our right? Or we can try the tower, but I'm guessing you'd rather stay out here.

Mm, indoors is still on a planet. It's not any worse than being outside, and definitely nothing like a spaceship or space station.

[And a massive mile-high hotel does sound cool.]

So what do you think? You afraid of heights?

Haven't seen a cliff I wouldn't jump off of yet.

[ Har har. He smirks at Shaw, then adds slightly more seriously: ] No, no problem with heights. Let's head in, then.

[ The walk is longer than it looks, but the entrance they step into is full of elevators and shopping signs and (thankfully) air conditioning. There's also a directory front and center as well, although it's less like a map and more like a station for holographics. Some people stand at it, tilting and zooming their own unique maps with a few hand gestures.

Will walks towards it, but a woman passing by presses a hand to his shoulder and says the words, "Flat. 2439." It's clear and has no emotion attached to it, and the woman immediately continues her way out of the tower. Will just watches her leave, his brow knitted in confusion. ]

[... Huh.

Shaw doesn't even bother to ask if he knows what she's talking about: from his expression, it's clear that he hasn't got a clue, and how could he?]

I'm not sure I like her tone.

[Shaw deadpans, but then adds:]

So what do you say? Should we take her up on the random offer that might be a trap?

[ Will snorts in amusement when Shaw mentions her tone. And that question? It has an easy answer. ]

Well, I'm not going to be able to focus on shopping now. You think maybe that constitutes for an address in here?

Twenty-four thirty-nine-- in a building this tall, that could be a floor number.

[She turns to head towards the building map, but then stops, looking back over at Will.]

I should tell you up front - there's a chance this is Root having a little fun with us. It's her style.

Could be.

[ At the warning, he tilts his head and smirks. ]

Hey, if she wants to play host to us unraveling a mystery...who am I to stop her? Might be fun anyway.

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cactusy - 2024-07-04 17:08 (UTC) - Expand

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empathicfault - 2024-07-11 20:39 (UTC) - Expand

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