Two in two days. Huh.It should have been concerning. More agents incoming typically meant more refugees too, more worlds lost to the Corruption. But Krepta couldn't help the relief that trickled in instead. Another new agent to mentor meant more help fighting the Corruption, higher chances that someday, some way they'd all finally get to go home.
Well. Maybe not her, but the Omphalos was home enough for now, and Krepta would be glad for the day where she wouldn't have to look at newcomers straggling in from ruined homes and whisper, "I'm sorry, in her head.
That would be then, though. Today, she had a... bug, it looked like, to hunt down. Zhaarkzekke Yzaarch Kaarzziek, world #4LS4F. His green, goggle eyed face stared at her from the info card displayed on her Gauntlet's screen. She'd have watch herself around this one. One 'young grasshopper' crack and Raz was likely to drag her by the ear to sensitivity training.
Hi.
Krepta's fingers hovered over the tiny keyboard of the Gauntlet, hesitating. What should she say? She was rusty where social stuff was concerned. A few months of quiet and she had slipped back into old patterns, lone missions, walks at dawn or late in the night when most creatures were either asleep or naturally antisocial... It was probably why she had been assigned these two trainees, come to think of it.
She took a deep breath and tried again.
Hi, Zhaarkzekke. I'm Krepta Eve Walker. Your orientation message should have introduced me as your mentor for your first week as an agent here. I'd like us to meet up. If you're not busy today, maybe soon? I'll be in the Mess Hall at the corner table by the window for a couple of hours if you decide you're free.
Krepta eyed the message critically. It was a bit stilted, but it would do. She hit send, then turned down the hallway that would lead her to the Omphalos's mess hall.
It was loud around this time of day, as usual. Meal times usually were. But her favored spot in the back corner, wedged in between some tall planters and the window out into the outside gardens was usually a little more sheltered from the din. She grabbed herself a bowl of noodle soup and a bottle of Rocket Fizz, and settled down to wait over the fragrant steam of the bowl.
Food, in Krepta's opinion, always eased any social situation. And anyway, it would give her a window to teach Zhaarkzekke how to use his Key Gauntlet to get meals if he hadn't figured it out already. That was pretty important, right? Yeah. She could do this.
The sudden buzz against his forearm startled him awake, throwing him into a mild frenzy before he remembered, oh- yes, right. I have a thing strapped to my arm now.
Apparently it can send messages..... And unfortunately, receive them.
Blearily reading out the message to himself- aloud- it took him a moment for his mind to wake up and register that this was a summons. Well, an invitation.
Was this optional? Perhaps it's optional. Perhaps not. How SEVERELY mandatory does one think this could be?
--The past few days had been, in a word.... stressful. Would it be the word HE would've used, should someone ask? Of course not!! HE does not get STRESSED! Why should he? Just because an interdimensional threat ate his world and entire team, he should be STRESSED? BAH! Weaker men may be stressed, maybe. Well, and anyways, there's no real confirmation the team is eaten. The faulty dimensional gate he had built had been..... not... stress-tested, so, it's POSSIBLE they're SOMEWHERE in the multiverse. Yes. He would keep thinking that.
For some of them, anyways. Frankly he could not care less for half of them. Mara? Maybe a little bit of caring. She was certainly the most tolerable of them all. ....Eleanor......
He considered just going back to sleep as his thoughts began ruminating. He had, quite frankly, been doing much sleeping to avoid such ruminations. But that screen stared back at him...
...Wait, Mess Hall?
THIS PLACE HAD A MESS HALL!?
Well NOW he was angry enough to go find this location. Oh yes yes sure, give me a MAP but make it a MAP map and don't make it, I don't know, like... google earth or something...!!! Why would they give him something as insulting as a PAPER. MAP!!
As an aside, he hadn't quite figured out the databook yet.
Through a string of demands-- er, polite conversations, he did eventually locate this area.
And in his food-motivated mind he immediately went over trying to figure out how to get FOOD and completely had forgotten that the person inviting him here had stated where they'd be located in this room. Or, really, that he'd been invited here at all. ....At least he wasn't very hard to miss even in a multiversal crowd. Especially when he starts yelling.
"What do you mean I must use this-- WHY is this thing so important!? It is not so great! I have made FAR sleeker things in my time and I DO NOT LIKE HOW IT RUBS AGAINST MY DERMAL SPINES!!! What- Yes, I understand that it is important or what have you. That is not my concern right now. MY concern is as to WHY one would make such a thing as procuring meals so-- I AM IN LINE SIR!!! YOU CANNOT BREACH LINE PROTOCOLS!!! THAT IS RUDE!!!
You could probably see he was by the counter fiddling with his Key Gauntlet and arguing with another agent who seemed like they were trying to be very patient right now. Apparently whoever he'd just snapped at was shrinking away slooowly back into 'their spot' in line.
Apparently it can send messages..... And unfortunately, receive them.
Blearily reading out the message to himself- aloud- it took him a moment for his mind to wake up and register that this was a summons. Well, an invitation.
Was this optional? Perhaps it's optional. Perhaps not. How SEVERELY mandatory does one think this could be?
--The past few days had been, in a word.... stressful. Would it be the word HE would've used, should someone ask? Of course not!! HE does not get STRESSED! Why should he? Just because an interdimensional threat ate his world and entire team, he should be STRESSED? BAH! Weaker men may be stressed, maybe. Well, and anyways, there's no real confirmation the team is eaten. The faulty dimensional gate he had built had been..... not... stress-tested, so, it's POSSIBLE they're SOMEWHERE in the multiverse. Yes. He would keep thinking that.
For some of them, anyways. Frankly he could not care less for half of them. Mara? Maybe a little bit of caring. She was certainly the most tolerable of them all. ....Eleanor......
He considered just going back to sleep as his thoughts began ruminating. He had, quite frankly, been doing much sleeping to avoid such ruminations. But that screen stared back at him...
...Wait, Mess Hall?
THIS PLACE HAD A MESS HALL!?
Well NOW he was angry enough to go find this location. Oh yes yes sure, give me a MAP but make it a MAP map and don't make it, I don't know, like... google earth or something...!!! Why would they give him something as insulting as a PAPER. MAP!!
As an aside, he hadn't quite figured out the databook yet.
Through a string of demands-- er, polite conversations, he did eventually locate this area.
And in his food-motivated mind he immediately went over trying to figure out how to get FOOD and completely had forgotten that the person inviting him here had stated where they'd be located in this room. Or, really, that he'd been invited here at all. ....At least he wasn't very hard to miss even in a multiversal crowd. Especially when he starts yelling.
"What do you mean I must use this-- WHY is this thing so important!? It is not so great! I have made FAR sleeker things in my time and I DO NOT LIKE HOW IT RUBS AGAINST MY DERMAL SPINES!!! What- Yes, I understand that it is important or what have you. That is not my concern right now. MY concern is as to WHY one would make such a thing as procuring meals so-- I AM IN LINE SIR!!! YOU CANNOT BREACH LINE PROTOCOLS!!! THAT IS RUDE!!!
You could probably see he was by the counter fiddling with his Key Gauntlet and arguing with another agent who seemed like they were trying to be very patient right now. Apparently whoever he'd just snapped at was shrinking away slooowly back into 'their spot' in line.
She really should have been surprised when the commotion by the tray line started up, but she really wasn't. Instead, Krepta sighed, set aside her bowl of noodles, and stood, marching over to the epicenter of the fracas with a less than amused look.
Green. Goggles.
Oh good, her trainee. And this one was a handful too. She was really going to lay into whoever had made the arrangements this go around.
Krepta resisted the urge to reach out, scruff the whiny little cockroach, and give him a good rattling. People were often disoriented their first few days of being in the Omphalos, and the stress of so much culture shock combined with the potential loss of home could make people, well... pretty wiggy. Anyway, he was a bug. Or looked like a bug. Close enough, and she had never met a bug that wasn't always hungry. Krepta was willing to bet that until she got some food into him, that he was going to continue be less than agreeable.
She pursed her lips, watching the Zhaarkzekke continue to screech from behind as he struggled with his Gauntlet. She studied him, allowing him to rant for a moment longer. He had mandibles, kind of-- if they were real. Krepta supposed the whole getup could be a costume. Batman wasn't actually a bat after all... She was pretty sure, at least. But those antenna looked real. It was hard to gauge what kind of food he might eat from his features alone, but... bugs that big... they were usually pretty opportunistic.
Taking a deep breath, Krepta puffed up her cheeks and pushed out a long suffering sigh. Then, in one smooth movement, she reached out to try and snag her rogue duckling by the back of the cape, while simultaneously shoving an apple into his hands. She had snagged the fruit from a nearby food display on the way over.
"Stop," Krepta said firmly. She made an effort to lean around and catch his eyes-- or, whatever it was that he had under those goggles. "That's not how we talk to each other around here. If you have questions, you can ask them calmly. Now what's the problem?"
Green. Goggles.
Oh good, her trainee. And this one was a handful too. She was really going to lay into whoever had made the arrangements this go around.
Krepta resisted the urge to reach out, scruff the whiny little cockroach, and give him a good rattling. People were often disoriented their first few days of being in the Omphalos, and the stress of so much culture shock combined with the potential loss of home could make people, well... pretty wiggy. Anyway, he was a bug. Or looked like a bug. Close enough, and she had never met a bug that wasn't always hungry. Krepta was willing to bet that until she got some food into him, that he was going to continue be less than agreeable.
She pursed her lips, watching the Zhaarkzekke continue to screech from behind as he struggled with his Gauntlet. She studied him, allowing him to rant for a moment longer. He had mandibles, kind of-- if they were real. Krepta supposed the whole getup could be a costume. Batman wasn't actually a bat after all... She was pretty sure, at least. But those antenna looked real. It was hard to gauge what kind of food he might eat from his features alone, but... bugs that big... they were usually pretty opportunistic.
Taking a deep breath, Krepta puffed up her cheeks and pushed out a long suffering sigh. Then, in one smooth movement, she reached out to try and snag her rogue duckling by the back of the cape, while simultaneously shoving an apple into his hands. She had snagged the fruit from a nearby food display on the way over.
"Stop," Krepta said firmly. She made an effort to lean around and catch his eyes-- or, whatever it was that he had under those goggles. "That's not how we talk to each other around here. If you have questions, you can ask them calmly. Now what's the problem?"
"As FLAWED as Steele Security was, this ramshackle production is seriously making me consider THAT PLACE somewhat PROFESSIONAL!!"
His standards here were definitely flawed considering the mess hall he was accustomed to was ran by, and attended to, by HUMANS, but at least you can YELL at a person and they will eventually give you food! No amount of complaining will get this machine to work any faster.
There was a sudden tug on his wings, prompting him to swiftly turn around and- as he did so, someone shoved something into his hands. He only had a second to evaluate it... an apple... or so it appeared. Perhaps it was an apple shaped bomb. Hmmm- Anyways, yes, only a mere second to evaluate if this was a threat or not, when someone was practically shoving their face into his!! Or at least trying to match his eyeline. It did work, he did pause to look her in the eyes. He was told ''Stop'', so, he stopped.
He looked like he was buffering for a hot second as her words managed to reach him, before his antennae pinned back and he decidedly looked offended. But he also still seemed to be buffering between looking at the apple in his hands and addressing her, so it was a few seconds of glancing between the two before he finally responded with almost a hiss.
"The PROBLEM-" he began, about to start yelling again but... well perhaps her glare stopped him. "Hhhh- I am experiencing technical difficulties and the beings around here evidently do not know how to QUEUE!!! I am FRUSTRATED. I-"
He took a few breaths, remembering how he handled this back at Steele BEFORE everyone learned RESPECT (Or rather, knew his specific difficulties....) and tried this again. Still gripping the apple in one hand, he held the arm with the Key Gauntlet on it out to her and (still in a rather short tone) explained "....I am adjusting to this new technology. I do not like things designed by other people because they usually are laid out in a way that is not intuitive and so I am getting frustrated with this device. And this entire place. But mostly the device."
He then muttered something about 'paper maps' and went back to studying the apple. Very inconspicuous if it IS a bomb. Digging one's claws into it revealed the flesh to be very apple-like. ....Probably just a normal apple. Hmm. But can one trust an apple from a strange woman.... Isn't that some sort of human folktale?
His expression seemed to relax or... maybe 'void-out' is the correct term as his mind went from his current frustrations to just, pondering an apple. His antennae relaxed as well and pivoted forward to touch the apple.
His standards here were definitely flawed considering the mess hall he was accustomed to was ran by, and attended to, by HUMANS, but at least you can YELL at a person and they will eventually give you food! No amount of complaining will get this machine to work any faster.
There was a sudden tug on his wings, prompting him to swiftly turn around and- as he did so, someone shoved something into his hands. He only had a second to evaluate it... an apple... or so it appeared. Perhaps it was an apple shaped bomb. Hmmm- Anyways, yes, only a mere second to evaluate if this was a threat or not, when someone was practically shoving their face into his!! Or at least trying to match his eyeline. It did work, he did pause to look her in the eyes. He was told ''Stop'', so, he stopped.
He looked like he was buffering for a hot second as her words managed to reach him, before his antennae pinned back and he decidedly looked offended. But he also still seemed to be buffering between looking at the apple in his hands and addressing her, so it was a few seconds of glancing between the two before he finally responded with almost a hiss.
"The PROBLEM-" he began, about to start yelling again but... well perhaps her glare stopped him. "Hhhh- I am experiencing technical difficulties and the beings around here evidently do not know how to QUEUE!!! I am FRUSTRATED. I-"
He took a few breaths, remembering how he handled this back at Steele BEFORE everyone learned RESPECT (Or rather, knew his specific difficulties....) and tried this again. Still gripping the apple in one hand, he held the arm with the Key Gauntlet on it out to her and (still in a rather short tone) explained "....I am adjusting to this new technology. I do not like things designed by other people because they usually are laid out in a way that is not intuitive and so I am getting frustrated with this device. And this entire place. But mostly the device."
He then muttered something about 'paper maps' and went back to studying the apple. Very inconspicuous if it IS a bomb. Digging one's claws into it revealed the flesh to be very apple-like. ....Probably just a normal apple. Hmm. But can one trust an apple from a strange woman.... Isn't that some sort of human folktale?
His expression seemed to relax or... maybe 'void-out' is the correct term as his mind went from his current frustrations to just, pondering an apple. His antennae relaxed as well and pivoted forward to touch the apple.
Krepta huffed a quiet little laugh under her breath. Well, the apple was working, at least. She wasn't entirely hapless at this job.
"I get it," she said, making an effort to steer him gently towards the sign-in line. Krepta wasn't sure just how long he'd remain distracted, after all. "I make a lot of my own clothes. Feels weird sometimes when I buy 'em now. The Key Gauntlet you have is standard issue, but they can be modified up in the Technology Hangar-- if you ask them nicely. I had the inside of mine changed. Didn't like how the material sat against my skin. You could probably ask for bigger buttons too so they're easier to find, or maybe move 'em around a bit. Here--"
She reached for his gauntlet, tapping the screen to wake it up, then gestured to the scanner sitting at the entrance to the tray line. "You just give it a nudge, then let that thing over there scan it. We gotta use the scanners 'cause the AotM lets visitors that aren't agents come and use the facilities. They can get free food if they can prove they need it-- or just buy it, but agents always eat free. All this guy does is tell that machine that you're an agent. Well-- not all it does, but that's the most important thing right now."
She reached out with her own Key Gauntlet, and the machine gave a cheery little beep in turn.
"See? I'm Krepta by the way. I'm your mentor-- I sent you a message earlier." It was a good thing she had too. It was true that she did have a little bit of a temper, but it was nowhere near as bad as someone like Batman. If he had been the one to intervene... well, bug? Meet windshield. "I'm here to help you figure out this whole mess. Lots of people take a while to adjust. It's pretty crazy. But lets get food first, okay? Everyone's in a better mood when they've got a full belly."
"I get it," she said, making an effort to steer him gently towards the sign-in line. Krepta wasn't sure just how long he'd remain distracted, after all. "I make a lot of my own clothes. Feels weird sometimes when I buy 'em now. The Key Gauntlet you have is standard issue, but they can be modified up in the Technology Hangar-- if you ask them nicely. I had the inside of mine changed. Didn't like how the material sat against my skin. You could probably ask for bigger buttons too so they're easier to find, or maybe move 'em around a bit. Here--"
She reached for his gauntlet, tapping the screen to wake it up, then gestured to the scanner sitting at the entrance to the tray line. "You just give it a nudge, then let that thing over there scan it. We gotta use the scanners 'cause the AotM lets visitors that aren't agents come and use the facilities. They can get free food if they can prove they need it-- or just buy it, but agents always eat free. All this guy does is tell that machine that you're an agent. Well-- not all it does, but that's the most important thing right now."
She reached out with her own Key Gauntlet, and the machine gave a cheery little beep in turn.
"See? I'm Krepta by the way. I'm your mentor-- I sent you a message earlier." It was a good thing she had too. It was true that she did have a little bit of a temper, but it was nowhere near as bad as someone like Batman. If he had been the one to intervene... well, bug? Meet windshield. "I'm here to help you figure out this whole mess. Lots of people take a while to adjust. It's pretty crazy. But lets get food first, okay? Everyone's in a better mood when they've got a full belly."
Yes VERY apple-like but still possibly VERY poisonous. Well, that is to be expected, apples have cyanide in their seeds-- As if a little cyanide would kill him though! HAH!!!
Oh, she was talking again. He'd almost forgotten about her. He looked thoroughly uninterested in her little story about sewing her own clothes and kind of looked like he didn't know why she was talking about that, BUT- thankfully his full attention was regained by the time she was actually showing him the ropes or else things might've gone. Worse. After watching her give the machine a simple tap and it giving a grating beep in response, he stared for a hot second before mimicking the action-- slowly. Cautiously. But he did do it.
As soon as it accepted his Key Gauntlet, his antennae pinned back and he grumbled "Well how was I supposed to intuit THAT. I do not normally punch the things I am requesting FOOD from."
As he silently tried to figure out the rest of the process by himself, he gave a half-listen to- Krepta. Oh. Wait. That name sounded-- Ah, yes. "I would give you my full titles, but I assume you have recieved them already. My old team thought my name had 'too many syllables' and was 'too long' so, you may call me Zeke."
"I feel as though you should have contacted me sooner. I have been here a few days already. Not that I need guidance. It MAY be hard to adjust for others, but I am very capable of adjustment! Just when things.... aren't... being stupid-"
Thankfully he HAD been able to intuit the rest of the controls on his own and, gave a satisfied little "Hah!" as his order went through. He seemed in an immeasurably better mood afterward. "Now. Yes. What were you saying? Food, yes. I have only eaten small birds since being here, so this will be nice. I like a challenge but it is not so fun when people STARE. Plus the feathers get caught in my throat...."
He looked her up and down and, subtly tilted his antennae her way- not touching her, he knew better than that. But did ask "Are you human? I've found even the humans here smell different. And while they are not my favorite species, I am...... accustomed to them I suppose."
Evidently he was glancing over the bird thing entirely.
Oh, she was talking again. He'd almost forgotten about her. He looked thoroughly uninterested in her little story about sewing her own clothes and kind of looked like he didn't know why she was talking about that, BUT- thankfully his full attention was regained by the time she was actually showing him the ropes or else things might've gone. Worse. After watching her give the machine a simple tap and it giving a grating beep in response, he stared for a hot second before mimicking the action-- slowly. Cautiously. But he did do it.
As soon as it accepted his Key Gauntlet, his antennae pinned back and he grumbled "Well how was I supposed to intuit THAT. I do not normally punch the things I am requesting FOOD from."
As he silently tried to figure out the rest of the process by himself, he gave a half-listen to- Krepta. Oh. Wait. That name sounded-- Ah, yes. "I would give you my full titles, but I assume you have recieved them already. My old team thought my name had 'too many syllables' and was 'too long' so, you may call me Zeke."
"I feel as though you should have contacted me sooner. I have been here a few days already. Not that I need guidance. It MAY be hard to adjust for others, but I am very capable of adjustment! Just when things.... aren't... being stupid-"
Thankfully he HAD been able to intuit the rest of the controls on his own and, gave a satisfied little "Hah!" as his order went through. He seemed in an immeasurably better mood afterward. "Now. Yes. What were you saying? Food, yes. I have only eaten small birds since being here, so this will be nice. I like a challenge but it is not so fun when people STARE. Plus the feathers get caught in my throat...."
He looked her up and down and, subtly tilted his antennae her way- not touching her, he knew better than that. But did ask "Are you human? I've found even the humans here smell different. And while they are not my favorite species, I am...... accustomed to them I suppose."
Evidently he was glancing over the bird thing entirely.
The rebuke stung. Krepta was very good at pretending it didn't, normally. She had grown up in some very dark places, and letting someone know they rattled you in those places was a good way to make matters worse for yourself. But so soon on the heels of Fiyero, after he had startled her with his outburst, Zeke's complaint about her perceived tardiness dug deeper than she might have usually allowed it to.
"I--" she faltered for a moment, brief distress flashing over her scarred features. Embarrassment, confusion-- the insecurity of putting your best foot forward and being found lacking. "I only got the message this morning..." Krepta said haltingly. "Maybe there was a... delay... or something? I contacted you as soon as I..."
Her brow pinched, her eyes slid away, then hardened again.
Don't you show your throat to this spoiled little pest, she thought. She dug her heels in firmly against the threatening spiral. Don't you fucking dare.
Instead, Krepta's nostrils flared-- that subtle sign of defiance that was her signature-- and she lifted her chin, watching Zeke for a moment with an expression one might reserve for actual bugs-- specifically the ones you were about to direct a can of Raid at. "You're kind of little shit, aren't ya?"
She half turned after, angling back towards her hidden alcove-- her peaceful nook with its bowl of hot noodles waiting for her.
"Well, Mr. I've-Got-Everything-Figured-Out. You clearly don't need me, so I guess I'll take this as a free day off. Thanks. If you change your mind though, and decide you need some help after all, I'll be eating my lunch over here."
She jerked her chin in the direction of the corner. "You're welcome to join me. Or not. Seems you're doing just fine. Good luck!"
That chirpy departure, dripping with false cheer, hung ringing in the air as Krepta turned on her heels and strode away, back towards her seat.
"I--" she faltered for a moment, brief distress flashing over her scarred features. Embarrassment, confusion-- the insecurity of putting your best foot forward and being found lacking. "I only got the message this morning..." Krepta said haltingly. "Maybe there was a... delay... or something? I contacted you as soon as I..."
Her brow pinched, her eyes slid away, then hardened again.
Don't you show your throat to this spoiled little pest, she thought. She dug her heels in firmly against the threatening spiral. Don't you fucking dare.
Instead, Krepta's nostrils flared-- that subtle sign of defiance that was her signature-- and she lifted her chin, watching Zeke for a moment with an expression one might reserve for actual bugs-- specifically the ones you were about to direct a can of Raid at. "You're kind of little shit, aren't ya?"
She half turned after, angling back towards her hidden alcove-- her peaceful nook with its bowl of hot noodles waiting for her.
"Well, Mr. I've-Got-Everything-Figured-Out. You clearly don't need me, so I guess I'll take this as a free day off. Thanks. If you change your mind though, and decide you need some help after all, I'll be eating my lunch over here."
She jerked her chin in the direction of the corner. "You're welcome to join me. Or not. Seems you're doing just fine. Good luck!"
That chirpy departure, dripping with false cheer, hung ringing in the air as Krepta turned on her heels and strode away, back towards her seat.
Zeke was only half paying attention as her demeanor faltered- more focused on his order going through. He DID find the responses odd, however. Why was she saying it like that? Sounded like the agency was at fault here taking so very LONG to decide who to assign him to. It is also possible his perception of time was skewed. He was pretty sure it'd been a few days?
Hmm. Whatever.
He had been very pleased with himself and how this was going riiiight up until she called him a little shit. THAT got him to pause in every aspect of the word, his antennae usually waving a little bit but freezing at a half-pinned back expression after that one as his face scrunched into an inscrutable look of 'HUH??'
"Excuse you??" he flabbergasted-- and normally one means that in a very rude way but he was just getting the expression wrong in this instance. "That is NOT--"
The woman continued, stating he CLEARLY had this handled and, while, yes he did, he worried the agency would not accept the fact that HIS mentor told him HE was free to go and now this would be a big problem for HIM.
He had missed the part where this person was clearly offended, and rightfully so.
Before he could get a word in edgewise, Krepta walked away-- leaving him stuck in a processing loop over what the hell just happened. A minute goes by, his food is ready- he is gently reminded to go grab it. He does, but....
Now he looks around this room full of strange creatures and strange people and he felt as if they ALL were staring at him. And the only one he knew in this room was MAD at him for SOME REASON.
He stood there staring at her from across the room for yet another solid minute.... Until finally he decided, well, yes... he does need help. Help to keep the higher-ups from getting MAD at him for NOT DOING THE THINGS, but.... help.
So, eventually, Krepta was re-joined by this insufferable insect. "Hey-"
He slid his tray onto the table before getting sat down--- apparently that was an ordeal for him because... Wings. One does not like to sit on their own wings. So he took a hot second getting settled and the end result somehow looked LESS COMFORTABLE than if he'd just sat down normally, wings or not.
Staring across the table at her for a moment, he eventually sighed and said "...You are forgiven."
He then appeared to think that settled things and took a bite of his burger. He had gotten the burger and fries but also had that same apple on his plate, too. Anyways. Yes he did not seem like he was making a joke or anything. He truly thought he'd done something with that one.
"Now, I assume you have things you are obligated to tell me about, so go ahead-"
Hmm. Whatever.
He had been very pleased with himself and how this was going riiiight up until she called him a little shit. THAT got him to pause in every aspect of the word, his antennae usually waving a little bit but freezing at a half-pinned back expression after that one as his face scrunched into an inscrutable look of 'HUH??'
"Excuse you??" he flabbergasted-- and normally one means that in a very rude way but he was just getting the expression wrong in this instance. "That is NOT--"
The woman continued, stating he CLEARLY had this handled and, while, yes he did, he worried the agency would not accept the fact that HIS mentor told him HE was free to go and now this would be a big problem for HIM.
He had missed the part where this person was clearly offended, and rightfully so.
Before he could get a word in edgewise, Krepta walked away-- leaving him stuck in a processing loop over what the hell just happened. A minute goes by, his food is ready- he is gently reminded to go grab it. He does, but....
Now he looks around this room full of strange creatures and strange people and he felt as if they ALL were staring at him. And the only one he knew in this room was MAD at him for SOME REASON.
He stood there staring at her from across the room for yet another solid minute.... Until finally he decided, well, yes... he does need help. Help to keep the higher-ups from getting MAD at him for NOT DOING THE THINGS, but.... help.
So, eventually, Krepta was re-joined by this insufferable insect. "Hey-"
He slid his tray onto the table before getting sat down--- apparently that was an ordeal for him because... Wings. One does not like to sit on their own wings. So he took a hot second getting settled and the end result somehow looked LESS COMFORTABLE than if he'd just sat down normally, wings or not.
Staring across the table at her for a moment, he eventually sighed and said "...You are forgiven."
He then appeared to think that settled things and took a bite of his burger. He had gotten the burger and fries but also had that same apple on his plate, too. Anyways. Yes he did not seem like he was making a joke or anything. He truly thought he'd done something with that one.
"Now, I assume you have things you are obligated to tell me about, so go ahead-"
Krepta's eyes flicked up. A shadow of irritation passed over her features. On some level she had hoped that she was done with the little bastard, and that he would walk off in a huff and she could wash her hands of him-- someone else's problem. But then he sat down at her little oasis of peace, soundly dismissing any such hopes.
For the briefest, most fleeting of moments, Krepta thought he might change his nasty little attitude though. He seemed to be thinking, maybe even a little confused. Then he opened his mouth.
"...You are forgiven."
Krepta hooded her eyes at him. Her nostrils flared again. Several of the agents at a table adjacent to them looked over, exchanged glances, then got up and quickly moved themselves to a further table, somewhere out of the splash zone.
"No," she said flatly. She took a bite of her soup, taking her time chewing her mouthful of noodles. Krepta swallowed slowly. She mopped her mouth with the paper napkin next to her, and only then did she finish. "I'm not obligated to do anything, actually. It's a volunteer position, on both ends. I had to be talked into it. And, honestly, sounds to me like you just un-volunteered yourself back there, so I won't waste your time."
The smile she offered him held no warmth.
"Unless you've got something else you'd like to say to me? I could see myself changing my mind. Maybe. I dunno. This soup's good. Might just stay here. Keep to myself. Y'know."
For the briefest, most fleeting of moments, Krepta thought he might change his nasty little attitude though. He seemed to be thinking, maybe even a little confused. Then he opened his mouth.
"...You are forgiven."
Krepta hooded her eyes at him. Her nostrils flared again. Several of the agents at a table adjacent to them looked over, exchanged glances, then got up and quickly moved themselves to a further table, somewhere out of the splash zone.
"No," she said flatly. She took a bite of her soup, taking her time chewing her mouthful of noodles. Krepta swallowed slowly. She mopped her mouth with the paper napkin next to her, and only then did she finish. "I'm not obligated to do anything, actually. It's a volunteer position, on both ends. I had to be talked into it. And, honestly, sounds to me like you just un-volunteered yourself back there, so I won't waste your time."
The smile she offered him held no warmth.
"Unless you've got something else you'd like to say to me? I could see myself changing my mind. Maybe. I dunno. This soup's good. Might just stay here. Keep to myself. Y'know."
"No?" he repeated, confused. Then was slightly annoyed that she took a bite of soup afterward- that is rude to keep someone hanging like that!
Un-volunteered.... what, was she implying he was fired? Could she do that?
He sat there staring back at her as she finished her ultimatum, thoroughly confused. Was she.... expecting him to beg for his job back? Was that allowed?? WHAT was going on!?!
"I--" he started, glanced at her, then out the window, then off to the side, then back at her- repeat. "I--"
Eventually he leaned in, setting his hands on the table and asking "....Are you mad at me? I am not good at telling. My intuition tells me you are MAD at me but I do not know why! And if you are NOT actually mad at me you are giving very mixed signals!! WHAT is going on!? Am I fired!? Can you do that?? I do not know what you want!!"
His antennae pinned back in clear frustration, but maybe a little distress was mixing in here too as he repeated "I do not know what you want!!"
Well. He was at least confused.
Un-volunteered.... what, was she implying he was fired? Could she do that?
He sat there staring back at her as she finished her ultimatum, thoroughly confused. Was she.... expecting him to beg for his job back? Was that allowed?? WHAT was going on!?!
"I--" he started, glanced at her, then out the window, then off to the side, then back at her- repeat. "I--"
Eventually he leaned in, setting his hands on the table and asking "....Are you mad at me? I am not good at telling. My intuition tells me you are MAD at me but I do not know why! And if you are NOT actually mad at me you are giving very mixed signals!! WHAT is going on!? Am I fired!? Can you do that?? I do not know what you want!!"
His antennae pinned back in clear frustration, but maybe a little distress was mixing in here too as he repeated "I do not know what you want!!"
Well. He was at least confused.
Krepta stared him down for a few moments longer. Partially because she was angry-- and yes, though she'd never admit it to herself, still a little hurt. But also because she was reassessing. The guy was a twerp, yeah that much was clear, but there was also genuine distress and confusion there over why she might be mad at him to begin with, and what he ought to do about it if she was. That was... unusual.
Different cultures, Krepta reminded herself, different brains, different ways of being. There are all sorts here. God damn it. Can't anything just be... easy?
Not that being different was an excuse. If Zeke was going to stay here and work with others, then he was going to have to learn to adapt and stop acting in ways that upset the local social ecosystem. They had all had to adapt in their own ways. He wasn't special in that regard.
Krepta decided to try an olive branch, just to see what he'd do with it.
"You were very rude," she said. She inclined her head to watch him. Some of the molten anger building behind Krepta eyes had cooled, though. She paused to think about how he had been rude. It was hard to explain social conventions that were ingrained to someone who found them, apparently, alien. Raz was better at this. Krepta wasn't Raz though, so they'd have to make do.
"First, you were raising your voice to people who were only trying to help you," she told him. "And who didn't have to. That's not their job. You should have at least spoken to them in a reasonable tone, if not outright thanked them, because they were correct, and you were not. You were making assumptions out of pride. That won't fly here. People won't want to help you if you make them feel bad or unappreciated."
She considered his other behaviors. Pointing out that he felt he should have contacted her earlier in and of itself hadn't been rude. It had been the timing and the way he had said it.
"You're treating the people around you like they're obligated--" Krepta paused. No, that wasn't quite it. "No, privileged to do things for you. They aren't, and socializing is a barter system. If you want people to interact with you, or help you, then you can't just take more than you give. You have to give them something in return, even if it's just a thank you. Otherwise it's unequal and unfair, and people will find someone else who's better at it instead, and you'll be left alone and high and dry. So try harder."
Different cultures, Krepta reminded herself, different brains, different ways of being. There are all sorts here. God damn it. Can't anything just be... easy?
Not that being different was an excuse. If Zeke was going to stay here and work with others, then he was going to have to learn to adapt and stop acting in ways that upset the local social ecosystem. They had all had to adapt in their own ways. He wasn't special in that regard.
Krepta decided to try an olive branch, just to see what he'd do with it.
"You were very rude," she said. She inclined her head to watch him. Some of the molten anger building behind Krepta eyes had cooled, though. She paused to think about how he had been rude. It was hard to explain social conventions that were ingrained to someone who found them, apparently, alien. Raz was better at this. Krepta wasn't Raz though, so they'd have to make do.
"First, you were raising your voice to people who were only trying to help you," she told him. "And who didn't have to. That's not their job. You should have at least spoken to them in a reasonable tone, if not outright thanked them, because they were correct, and you were not. You were making assumptions out of pride. That won't fly here. People won't want to help you if you make them feel bad or unappreciated."
She considered his other behaviors. Pointing out that he felt he should have contacted her earlier in and of itself hadn't been rude. It had been the timing and the way he had said it.
"You're treating the people around you like they're obligated--" Krepta paused. No, that wasn't quite it. "No, privileged to do things for you. They aren't, and socializing is a barter system. If you want people to interact with you, or help you, then you can't just take more than you give. You have to give them something in return, even if it's just a thank you. Otherwise it's unequal and unfair, and people will find someone else who's better at it instead, and you'll be left alone and high and dry. So try harder."
He DID seem to be genuinely paying attention this time- perhaps for the first time throughout this entire conversation.
What she was telling him wasn't exactly news to him- he had gotten this talk before. But he was the type that needed it repeated a few times for it to stick, and, well- perhaps in some way he thought he didn't have to apply those same conventions HERE as opposed to back at Steele Security. Evidently he was wrong about that.
In truth... It was very difficult seeing things from other people's perspectives and that was frustrating in its own right. To him, they'd suddenly get mad and he wouldn't remember what he said well enough to tackle which had been the problem topic. So the way Krepta laid this out was actually very helpful.
...would he admit that? ...Mmmmmmm...
He stared at her for a good moment after she had finished, his expression unclear- though he did seem to be thinking. Slowly, eventually, he shuffled his hands, rubbing his thumbs in his palms, glanced out the window- back at her, at the ceiling - repeat.
"I am.... Sorry."
"I am not good with words. Especially.... When I am frustrated. I did not mean to disrespect the hierarchy here. I am sorry."
He looked Uncomfortable, though that could just be the way he was precariously perched atop his chair. ....No this was definitely from having to say sorry.
"I did..... Not have an easy time with my last team, either. ....of course SOME of that was from one of them being genuinely HORRIBLE but.... I will concede the fact that I am not good with words."
What she was telling him wasn't exactly news to him- he had gotten this talk before. But he was the type that needed it repeated a few times for it to stick, and, well- perhaps in some way he thought he didn't have to apply those same conventions HERE as opposed to back at Steele Security. Evidently he was wrong about that.
In truth... It was very difficult seeing things from other people's perspectives and that was frustrating in its own right. To him, they'd suddenly get mad and he wouldn't remember what he said well enough to tackle which had been the problem topic. So the way Krepta laid this out was actually very helpful.
...would he admit that? ...Mmmmmmm...
He stared at her for a good moment after she had finished, his expression unclear- though he did seem to be thinking. Slowly, eventually, he shuffled his hands, rubbing his thumbs in his palms, glanced out the window- back at her, at the ceiling - repeat.
"I am.... Sorry."
"I am not good with words. Especially.... When I am frustrated. I did not mean to disrespect the hierarchy here. I am sorry."
He looked Uncomfortable, though that could just be the way he was precariously perched atop his chair. ....No this was definitely from having to say sorry.
"I did..... Not have an easy time with my last team, either. ....of course SOME of that was from one of them being genuinely HORRIBLE but.... I will concede the fact that I am not good with words."
Krepta pushed out a long breath, and the anger went out of her with it. She didn't relax, of course-- Krepta sensed that this one was going to need a firm hand, or he'd run wild all over everyone, and very possibly get himself punched out in the process. But she couldn't bring herself to be wholly pissed off at him anymore either.
"I get it," Krepta sighed. "Y'know, I struggle with social stuff too. I spent most of my life on my own. It doesn't come easy when you don't see it modeled for you, but--" She shrugged. "Hey. It's just a skill. You can learn it like any other. You seem pretty smart. Kind of a dick, but pretty smart. You just gotta figure out the system that works for you, and then work on improving it."
Her eyes traveled over Zeke, taking in the way he fidgeted in his seat.
"I forgive you," Krepta said. Her words echoed his previous statement, but with far more gentleness. "And I appreciate you recognizing a mistake and trying to learn from it. That shows smarts and integrity, and you oughta be proud of that, even if you flubbed the first round. So I'm gunna give you some advice here in exchange. That's my half of the bargain. See how that works? But it's yours once I give it to you. What you do with it is entirely on you."
She sat back in her chair, leaning over a little to look at his wings. The corner of her mouth quirked up wryly.
"One, there's chairs around that corner without backs. We've got all sorts of configurations here. You can grab one of those and drag it over here. You won't be sitting on your wings that way. Two-- avoid raising your voice unless someone is being aggressive with you first." She held up her fingers, ticking the points off, "Three, try to assume that most folks are genuinely trying to be helpful, even when they're not very good at it. The product might be flawed, but that doesn't mean its not useful. Say thank you so they want to do business with you in the future, so to speak. Thank you isn't expensive, and you don't have to use what they give you. Just don't... throw it away in front of them. Does that make sense?"
She canted her head, brows furrowing with something that might have been sympathy, then gave a little shrug.
"Four? If you're not sure why someone's mad at you, or why someone's reacting the way they are-- Ask. I can't always promise they'll tell the truth, or that things will always get clearer-- people are tricky with their emotions, and it's not always entirely about you. But it stands a better chance of clearing things up than having no information at all."
Krepta put her bowl of noodles carefully to the side and folded her arms on the table in front of her, giving Zeke her full attention for the time being, just to prove to him that a good faith effort would be rewarded.
"We're on your side, Zeke. We're all in this shit show together. But you gotta be on our side too, okay?"
"I get it," Krepta sighed. "Y'know, I struggle with social stuff too. I spent most of my life on my own. It doesn't come easy when you don't see it modeled for you, but--" She shrugged. "Hey. It's just a skill. You can learn it like any other. You seem pretty smart. Kind of a dick, but pretty smart. You just gotta figure out the system that works for you, and then work on improving it."
Her eyes traveled over Zeke, taking in the way he fidgeted in his seat.
"I forgive you," Krepta said. Her words echoed his previous statement, but with far more gentleness. "And I appreciate you recognizing a mistake and trying to learn from it. That shows smarts and integrity, and you oughta be proud of that, even if you flubbed the first round. So I'm gunna give you some advice here in exchange. That's my half of the bargain. See how that works? But it's yours once I give it to you. What you do with it is entirely on you."
She sat back in her chair, leaning over a little to look at his wings. The corner of her mouth quirked up wryly.
"One, there's chairs around that corner without backs. We've got all sorts of configurations here. You can grab one of those and drag it over here. You won't be sitting on your wings that way. Two-- avoid raising your voice unless someone is being aggressive with you first." She held up her fingers, ticking the points off, "Three, try to assume that most folks are genuinely trying to be helpful, even when they're not very good at it. The product might be flawed, but that doesn't mean its not useful. Say thank you so they want to do business with you in the future, so to speak. Thank you isn't expensive, and you don't have to use what they give you. Just don't... throw it away in front of them. Does that make sense?"
She canted her head, brows furrowing with something that might have been sympathy, then gave a little shrug.
"Four? If you're not sure why someone's mad at you, or why someone's reacting the way they are-- Ask. I can't always promise they'll tell the truth, or that things will always get clearer-- people are tricky with their emotions, and it's not always entirely about you. But it stands a better chance of clearing things up than having no information at all."
Krepta put her bowl of noodles carefully to the side and folded her arms on the table in front of her, giving Zeke her full attention for the time being, just to prove to him that a good faith effort would be rewarded.
"We're on your side, Zeke. We're all in this shit show together. But you gotta be on our side too, okay?"
Zeke considered her words and, genuinely needed a moment to try and see if she was being sarcastic. because that does happen to him. But... No it SEEMED genuine. And perhaps the added light insult made it seem more genuine than not. Dick. Why are humans obsessed with-…..
He very much almost left her mid sentence to go get the backless chair and very much DID stand up abruptly- though he saw she was still talking and lingered, waiting for her to finish properly.
And for the most part he DID seem receptive. The man was far more at ease and far less irritable looking as well.
"I AM on your side. I promise. I will try to show this better in the future. But if I forget the things you said I will ask you for a refresher because I didn't have anything to write it down on right now."
And then he took off to get the replacement chair.
After a few minutes.... Um... Maybe it took longer than it should have . But he did find one and hauled it over and just sort of knocked the original chair over and shoved it in a corner. Kind of spitefully really.
After sitting back down he stated "Hey. You said you were not raised socially. That is unusual for humans, is it not? MY people do not parent their offspring so I personally think the typical human way of doing it is bizarre. They support the weak ones even though they are liabilities. I would argue this causes more problems for them than anything else, but....."
He took another bite of his burger. "I do not know. Mara would have been considered small and weak in my society. But she was very good at arcane magics, which we did not have in my time. So I guess it balances out."
He very much almost left her mid sentence to go get the backless chair and very much DID stand up abruptly- though he saw she was still talking and lingered, waiting for her to finish properly.
And for the most part he DID seem receptive. The man was far more at ease and far less irritable looking as well.
"I AM on your side. I promise. I will try to show this better in the future. But if I forget the things you said I will ask you for a refresher because I didn't have anything to write it down on right now."
And then he took off to get the replacement chair.
After a few minutes.... Um... Maybe it took longer than it should have . But he did find one and hauled it over and just sort of knocked the original chair over and shoved it in a corner. Kind of spitefully really.
After sitting back down he stated "Hey. You said you were not raised socially. That is unusual for humans, is it not? MY people do not parent their offspring so I personally think the typical human way of doing it is bizarre. They support the weak ones even though they are liabilities. I would argue this causes more problems for them than anything else, but....."
He took another bite of his burger. "I do not know. Mara would have been considered small and weak in my society. But she was very good at arcane magics, which we did not have in my time. So I guess it balances out."
Krepta, with all her power, withheld rolling her eyes as Zeke knocked the chair over to shove his replacement in place. Someone would have to right that later. Probably her. Ah well, baby steps.
She nodded along to his request. That seemed reasonable enough. Krepta didn't tolerate disrespect, to her or to others-- where it wasn't well deserved anyway-- but she always honored people who tried. If he asked her for a refresher later, she'd happily give one, and she'd be patient with him for as long as he proved worthy of being patient with.
But his question made her pause, lips pursed thoughtfully as she considered how much to divulge. In part because her past was... well, difficult to talk about sometimes, but also because it could be weaponized by the wrong sorts. But... Zeke, for his rough edges, was no longer striking her as actively malicious, and he certainly hadn't come across as conniving, even when he had been being rude. Just... honest-- in the way a loaded gun was honest, but still.
"Well," she said slowly. "We evolved as social animals. Taking care of each other is how our species survived. Some animals have teeth, or claws, or wings--" she gestured to him. "I'm sure you've noticed ours our pretty puny. Not much in the way of armor either. So we've got our brains instead, and... we've got each other. Like your um-- Mara. You never know what someone might offer the whole, and you certainly won't know if they're dead. Clearly it worked out for us, genes wise, so something must be working."
She smiled wryly.
"As for me..." Krepta sighed through her nose, shifting in her seat slightly. "No, my upbringing wasn't normal. My parents didn't abandon me, though. They... died. In a really bad way. Some friends of the family and my uncle tried to take me in, but um..." There was a lump in her throat suddenly, and she swallowed around it with irritation. Not now. "Y'know. Human teenagers are willful. And my powers were more than they could handle. I got into trouble. There was--- a lot more complicated stuff in between-- but the long and short of it is that I ran away. And once I did, I couldn't get back."
She gave a little shrug.
"By... the time that changed, I guess, it was kind of too late. But... here I am. Not hale, maybe, but still kickin'. What about you? Where'd you come from?"
She nodded along to his request. That seemed reasonable enough. Krepta didn't tolerate disrespect, to her or to others-- where it wasn't well deserved anyway-- but she always honored people who tried. If he asked her for a refresher later, she'd happily give one, and she'd be patient with him for as long as he proved worthy of being patient with.
But his question made her pause, lips pursed thoughtfully as she considered how much to divulge. In part because her past was... well, difficult to talk about sometimes, but also because it could be weaponized by the wrong sorts. But... Zeke, for his rough edges, was no longer striking her as actively malicious, and he certainly hadn't come across as conniving, even when he had been being rude. Just... honest-- in the way a loaded gun was honest, but still.
"Well," she said slowly. "We evolved as social animals. Taking care of each other is how our species survived. Some animals have teeth, or claws, or wings--" she gestured to him. "I'm sure you've noticed ours our pretty puny. Not much in the way of armor either. So we've got our brains instead, and... we've got each other. Like your um-- Mara. You never know what someone might offer the whole, and you certainly won't know if they're dead. Clearly it worked out for us, genes wise, so something must be working."
She smiled wryly.
"As for me..." Krepta sighed through her nose, shifting in her seat slightly. "No, my upbringing wasn't normal. My parents didn't abandon me, though. They... died. In a really bad way. Some friends of the family and my uncle tried to take me in, but um..." There was a lump in her throat suddenly, and she swallowed around it with irritation. Not now. "Y'know. Human teenagers are willful. And my powers were more than they could handle. I got into trouble. There was--- a lot more complicated stuff in between-- but the long and short of it is that I ran away. And once I did, I couldn't get back."
She gave a little shrug.
"By... the time that changed, I guess, it was kind of too late. But... here I am. Not hale, maybe, but still kickin'. What about you? Where'd you come from?"
"Yes, humans are strangely virulent, it seems.." he muttered in agreement to the genes thing. He seemed to have gone back to his half-attentive attitude. It was hard to tell if that was from a lack of interest or if he was just... Usually so distractible.
His burger was gone too soon, very sad. At least there were fries too. And the apple. He would save That for Last.
He did perk an antenna at the mention of her powers- aha. So she WAS empowered. Good to note. He hadn't really been sure if she was a threat or not yet but.... Knowing she had something up her sleeve was. Well. Good to know.
Now he DID seem VERY interested in sharing about himself, hastily jumping in with a "MY people were around ages before humanity evolved, eventually taking residence under the Earth's crust after conditions became too severe for us to survive topside. We established the Citadel, and tackled the great beasts that lurked down there. That was MY job! Guardian of the 23rd circle, yes, one of the many walls within the citadel, and-"
This went on for a while. Krepta had unfortunately stepped on a landmine and the explosion was slow and arduous. She got to learn about their society (evidently a matriarchy), his species dimorphism (evidently the females were 15ft tall.), their technological advancements.... The fact that hatchling Insectoids tended to eat their siblings and were left to fend for themselves until they entered adulthood. Fun stuff.
"- After about 5,000 years- of course, I was not there for all 5,000- our society entered a hibernation while our machines worked to warm the planet back up to our needs. Something evidently went wrong somewhere and that is- ...was.. part of my duties as the only awake member of my species afterwards. Human scientists dug me up and woke me up prematurely, you see. But they did it wrong and my mind was not awake despite my body being so. Even still, in such an inhibited state, I was able to escape their lab and- well.... Actually I don't remember much of that era. Kind of a blur. ....And I do not like the in between either..."
He suddenly seemed a little uncomfortable. So he tried brushing past that. "Then Steele Security contracted me as one of their operatives, and that is what I did up until the world ended."
He stated it very matter-of-factly for someone who CLEARLY cared about their home and their heritage. But you could tell he was doing that on purpose. Acting like it didn't concern him. The question was, who was he trying to deceive here? Krepta, or himself?
His burger was gone too soon, very sad. At least there were fries too. And the apple. He would save That for Last.
He did perk an antenna at the mention of her powers- aha. So she WAS empowered. Good to note. He hadn't really been sure if she was a threat or not yet but.... Knowing she had something up her sleeve was. Well. Good to know.
Now he DID seem VERY interested in sharing about himself, hastily jumping in with a "MY people were around ages before humanity evolved, eventually taking residence under the Earth's crust after conditions became too severe for us to survive topside. We established the Citadel, and tackled the great beasts that lurked down there. That was MY job! Guardian of the 23rd circle, yes, one of the many walls within the citadel, and-"
This went on for a while. Krepta had unfortunately stepped on a landmine and the explosion was slow and arduous. She got to learn about their society (evidently a matriarchy), his species dimorphism (evidently the females were 15ft tall.), their technological advancements.... The fact that hatchling Insectoids tended to eat their siblings and were left to fend for themselves until they entered adulthood. Fun stuff.
"- After about 5,000 years- of course, I was not there for all 5,000- our society entered a hibernation while our machines worked to warm the planet back up to our needs. Something evidently went wrong somewhere and that is- ...was.. part of my duties as the only awake member of my species afterwards. Human scientists dug me up and woke me up prematurely, you see. But they did it wrong and my mind was not awake despite my body being so. Even still, in such an inhibited state, I was able to escape their lab and- well.... Actually I don't remember much of that era. Kind of a blur. ....And I do not like the in between either..."
He suddenly seemed a little uncomfortable. So he tried brushing past that. "Then Steele Security contracted me as one of their operatives, and that is what I did up until the world ended."
He stated it very matter-of-factly for someone who CLEARLY cared about their home and their heritage. But you could tell he was doing that on purpose. Acting like it didn't concern him. The question was, who was he trying to deceive here? Krepta, or himself?
Surprisingly, Krepta was fairly interested in his long winded explanation about his species and their history. She had traveled the multiverse for most of her life, but it was rare that she actually got to stop and learn about the beings she shared it with-- at least until fairly recently. She seemed interested in the fact that it was a matriarchal society, and faintly amused at the considerable size differences in their species-- though, she frowned a little at the treatment of their young.
The abrupt change in pacing didn't escape her, though. Krepta, despite all her scars and gruffness, was perceptive. But she also wasn't pushy. She had learned over her life that if you let people open up on their own and in their own time, they usually would, as long as you proved a safe person to do so with.
"I'm sorry. That must have been really overwhelming," she said, "Confusing as hell too." -- an acknowledgement that she had detected his discomfort without directly digging into it. "And now you're here, huh? No wonder you're snapping at shadows."
She sat back and gave a little bit of a stretch.
"You strike me as a little bit of a historian Zeke," she said, eying him thoughtfully. "Have you checked out the library yet? There's a lot of humans here, yeah, but we have all sorts of species and their worlds to read about. You should get the librarians to help you write down what you know about your species too, so they have a place where people can remember them here until we can get them back."
The abrupt change in pacing didn't escape her, though. Krepta, despite all her scars and gruffness, was perceptive. But she also wasn't pushy. She had learned over her life that if you let people open up on their own and in their own time, they usually would, as long as you proved a safe person to do so with.
"I'm sorry. That must have been really overwhelming," she said, "Confusing as hell too." -- an acknowledgement that she had detected his discomfort without directly digging into it. "And now you're here, huh? No wonder you're snapping at shadows."
She sat back and gave a little bit of a stretch.
"You strike me as a little bit of a historian Zeke," she said, eying him thoughtfully. "Have you checked out the library yet? There's a lot of humans here, yeah, but we have all sorts of species and their worlds to read about. You should get the librarians to help you write down what you know about your species too, so they have a place where people can remember them here until we can get them back."
He might've gotten a little defensive over the 'snapping at shadows' comment had it, well, not been proving her point exactly if he did. That and he was still being mindful about his volume, as per her instruction.
Instead of focusing on that, he did perk up at her suggestion about the library. It hadn't occurred to him to get a written history of his species made-- mostly because, he did not CARE for human critique on his culture. But... Considering recent events...
"Hmm. That actually is not so bad of an idea. Yes. Unfortunately the map I was given is entirely illegible. You will have to show me there. ....At your convenience. Please. Thank you."
A little stiff, a little robotic. But he was getting there when it came to pleasantries. At this rate they won't be an afterthought by .... Next week? Maybe?
"I would like to learn more about these facilities in general. Would you be willing to show me around?"
He then glanced at the bowl of noodles she'd set aside.... Glanced back at her, then at the bowl... "Are you going to eat that? And if not may I have it?"
Instead of focusing on that, he did perk up at her suggestion about the library. It hadn't occurred to him to get a written history of his species made-- mostly because, he did not CARE for human critique on his culture. But... Considering recent events...
"Hmm. That actually is not so bad of an idea. Yes. Unfortunately the map I was given is entirely illegible. You will have to show me there. ....At your convenience. Please. Thank you."
A little stiff, a little robotic. But he was getting there when it came to pleasantries. At this rate they won't be an afterthought by .... Next week? Maybe?
"I would like to learn more about these facilities in general. Would you be willing to show me around?"
He then glanced at the bowl of noodles she'd set aside.... Glanced back at her, then at the bowl... "Are you going to eat that? And if not may I have it?"
Krepta gave an approving smile. A little stilted, yes? But a massive improvement in her mind.
"I'd be happy to show you around," she said. "But it might help us both if you'd tell me why the map is illegible to you. There'll be other maps that you'll need to read, and there won't always be a prickly shapeshifter to show you the way. It's better if we tackle that before it's a problem, so you can get you maps you can read, or a way to translate existing ones. You probably just have different needs than the people who made it."
She followed his gaze to the soup, then chuckled, pulling the bowl back towards her with one hand-- perhaps a little possessively.
"Yes, I'm going to eat this," Krepta laughed. "And I'll bite your fingers if you touch it--" Though, quickly, she headed off any potential misinterpretation at the pass, "-- a joke." She winked. "Mostly. But you don't gotta eat mine, Zeke. You can have as much as you'd like. Hell, I need to eat about 10,000 calories a day on a bad day or I get pretty cranky, and no one's kicked me out yet."
She glanced down at her bowl.
"Tell you what-- why don't you grab us both a few walking snacks and come back? I'll have finished my soup by then and we can walk up to the library. I can show you a few things on the way there. We can't eat in the library, but I think we should be finished before we get there. Or we can hork what's left just outside and scandalize everyone." Krepta flashed him a crooked grin, entirely willing to do just that.
"I'd be happy to show you around," she said. "But it might help us both if you'd tell me why the map is illegible to you. There'll be other maps that you'll need to read, and there won't always be a prickly shapeshifter to show you the way. It's better if we tackle that before it's a problem, so you can get you maps you can read, or a way to translate existing ones. You probably just have different needs than the people who made it."
She followed his gaze to the soup, then chuckled, pulling the bowl back towards her with one hand-- perhaps a little possessively.
"Yes, I'm going to eat this," Krepta laughed. "And I'll bite your fingers if you touch it--" Though, quickly, she headed off any potential misinterpretation at the pass, "-- a joke." She winked. "Mostly. But you don't gotta eat mine, Zeke. You can have as much as you'd like. Hell, I need to eat about 10,000 calories a day on a bad day or I get pretty cranky, and no one's kicked me out yet."
She glanced down at her bowl.
"Tell you what-- why don't you grab us both a few walking snacks and come back? I'll have finished my soup by then and we can walk up to the library. I can show you a few things on the way there. We can't eat in the library, but I think we should be finished before we get there. Or we can hork what's left just outside and scandalize everyone." Krepta flashed him a crooked grin, entirely willing to do just that.
"THERE ARE NO LIMITS ON THE CAFETERIA SERVICES!?!" Zeke enthusiastically exclaimed, his excitement getting the better of him. "There was a 'two helpings per person' rule at Steele Security!!" and now he seemed a lot more okay with this place than he had been earlier.
"Yes, yes! I will get snacks and we can talk as we walk..." annnd as he scrambled to get going, he took the chair down with him and, well, his wing reflexes kicked in and sort of. Whacked the poor people at the adjacent table. This all happened in one chaotic motion as he left and only gave a brief "Sorry." to those he'd whacked as he scrambled off. Now there were TWO chairs on the floor...
This was at least going nicely, he thought. Things had gone FAR WORSE for him in past encounters. Even with the rocky start this one had, he considered this a fairly successful 'get-to-know-you'.
It did beat getting captured in a net and treated like an animal, at least. Yes. Very scary when that happened. He decided he did NOT want a repeat of that. And for the most part these people had been fairly.... respectful. He wondered if that was simply by the very nature of having a much more diverse cast of lifeforms abundant. Hmm..
It only occurred to him he did not know what Krepta wanted once he got there, so.... he grabbed a variety of things. Travel size chip bags, an orange, bottled water (only one...), FOUR and a half cookies (the half of which he found on the ground, and ate immediately upon finding it.)
He returned with a triumphant haul, looking very pleased with himself. "I did consider another burger... but by then my hands were full." he admitted, then pivoted the conversation back around to what she'd said earlier and started ranting "Oh. By the way. To answer the question about the map. It's PAPER. THAT is the problem! There is no live positional updating! No exact coordinates WITH a counter to measure YOUR coordinates with! It is just a PICTURE! How am I to know where North is IN A BUILDING?! ....I will admit I am being critical right now. I just do not see why it would not be on that tablet thing they also gave me."
He bit into the orange after finishing his rant. He had not peeled it . He seemed unbothered by this, though.
"Yes, yes! I will get snacks and we can talk as we walk..." annnd as he scrambled to get going, he took the chair down with him and, well, his wing reflexes kicked in and sort of. Whacked the poor people at the adjacent table. This all happened in one chaotic motion as he left and only gave a brief "Sorry." to those he'd whacked as he scrambled off. Now there were TWO chairs on the floor...
This was at least going nicely, he thought. Things had gone FAR WORSE for him in past encounters. Even with the rocky start this one had, he considered this a fairly successful 'get-to-know-you'.
It did beat getting captured in a net and treated like an animal, at least. Yes. Very scary when that happened. He decided he did NOT want a repeat of that. And for the most part these people had been fairly.... respectful. He wondered if that was simply by the very nature of having a much more diverse cast of lifeforms abundant. Hmm..
It only occurred to him he did not know what Krepta wanted once he got there, so.... he grabbed a variety of things. Travel size chip bags, an orange, bottled water (only one...), FOUR and a half cookies (the half of which he found on the ground, and ate immediately upon finding it.)
He returned with a triumphant haul, looking very pleased with himself. "I did consider another burger... but by then my hands were full." he admitted, then pivoted the conversation back around to what she'd said earlier and started ranting "Oh. By the way. To answer the question about the map. It's PAPER. THAT is the problem! There is no live positional updating! No exact coordinates WITH a counter to measure YOUR coordinates with! It is just a PICTURE! How am I to know where North is IN A BUILDING?! ....I will admit I am being critical right now. I just do not see why it would not be on that tablet thing they also gave me."
He bit into the orange after finishing his rant. He had not peeled it . He seemed unbothered by this, though.
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