Summary:Fresh out of surgery and cyber upgrades, Posse gets a visitor and a meal delivery. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
Related LogsTheme SongNone |
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Warm steam wafts out of Ava's bathroom as the cyborg swings open the door and daylight filters in through the curtains of her bedroom. In entirely a-typical fashion, the tawny woman has slept in. But why not? It was a long surgery.
Looking down at herself as she works around with her towel, the vet yawns while rubbing dry the carbon shell of her new arm, watching how its glazed fibrous weave plays with the sunlight. "Dang Roni, you do nice work…"
*
It comes without any warning.
Well..it MIGHT have a LITTLE warning given how well the chief of security is wired into the campus system but there's only one way to know for certain.
The moment that the newly assembled cyborg steps out of the bathroom there's going to be something lobbed right at her center mass.
It's a plushie hand grenade.
"Frag out" Neena teases well after the fact with a stupid grin all over her face. And hey, beside her is a tray full of food! It's all colorful with various fruit offerings, and is that..?
Yeah. Totally a PB&J sandwich. Whitey had taken notes.
*
On any other day, the chief of security might see it coming, but freshly reunited with her cybernetics, her larger connections into the RESCUE campus are still offline. Seeing out a new eye is enough to adjust to already.
As Ava exits the room with a towel hanging in her arms, the grenade impacts dead-center on towel and only a moment later the bionic woman /jumps/ to her left as one of her metal feet flick the plushie like a hacky sack back the way it came. Arcing through the air with perhaps a little too much spring, the still-naked vet tumbles across the top of her bed and disappears behind it.
Three, two, one…
Still no kaboom.
Poking her shaved head around the foot of the bed, Ava looks over to find Neena standing at the edge of her living room. "What the heck, Spot?" she blurts in surprise.
*
Aaah… Whoops. Neena's not grinning for long at the very real reaction triggered in Ava, the plushie returned with enough vigor that the albino brings up her hands and twists as it flies over her shoulder and bounces against the wall.
"Shit, Av, my bad —" she starts in before the soft toy bounces neatly into one an open palm, much to her surprise!
A quick fumble leads to it being set aside as Dom steps forward. "Okay, that was -way- more serious than it had played out in my head. You alright? Passed the reflex check…"
*
Ava's head disappears back behind the bed at first once she's taken stock of the situation. "No… no you're cool," she insists, though it's a few seconds before she pokes back into view, standing up with her towel in hand and wiping herself off. "You just startled me a bit… I'm used to two things gettin' thrown at me." Here the cyborg pauses a moment, then adds, "Three countin' insults."
Relaxing as the surprise subsides, she dons a smile for Neena and looks at the little green toy in her hand. "So how'd I do? Clear of frags and caught the op-for with their own ordinance, or did you cook that one off?"
*
There's some relief that no real harm came from the moment but it isn't until Ava's head comes back into sight that Neena slinks back to her former sentry point and reaches for the plushie again. "That is some grade-a response time there, girl. And I've dodged live fire."
When the cyborg smiles it's quickly copied by the albino, lightly flicking the toy from one hand to the next. "If I ever throw a grenade at you expect to have a few seconds on the clock. And..really. Now that I know you're good for a quick redirect, though I'll try to give you some warning if it comes to that."
This time she gives an expression which asks 'ready?' before lightly tossing the plush frag back over to Posse. "I came here looking to lend a hand rather than look for combat dodges but damn if that wasn't a lovely half-second sight."
*
This time with a chance to prepare, Ava watches the plushie in flight and raises a ready hand, snatching it comfortably and inspecting the plush caricature. "Cute," she chuckles, and not without noticing its similarity to the tattoo a few inches down her forearm. Looking to Neena again, the grenade is casually flicked back where it came. "Blame pissing contests with testosterone monkeys. I've had more than a couple fakes thrown at me. Keeps ya real keen on where's cover and points of entry."
Walking around the bed, the cyborg flips her towel across her shoulders. While still not quite her old self in motion, the overly self-conscious and cautious gait is gone; Ava's back to something that looks healthy, even if it lacks the preternatural smoothness of her armored suit. "And believe me that was a weird half-second. I'm still getting used to the new feelings," she admits with a glance back at herself.
*
"I bet," Neena mutters with a somewhat darkened tone. "There's no shortage of dick moves in the sausage squad." Pausing to think, "Been a long time since anyone's played that one on me. As I recall the last one who tried wound up tripping and knocking himself out on the edge of the table when we were moving onto inert practice. Good times."
After a quick round of hot potato Domino sets the plush aside again, giving Ava another moment to gather the towel before venturing closer. "Already you're way more up to speed, though. That's impressive."
In the next moment pale hands in fingerless gloves seek out Ava's newest arm. It's the same gentle and thoughtful dance which she's done with every one of the 'borg's various types of artificial limbs any time they've been replaced. It's as if merely seeing what's there isn't enough for her.
"You still look good" she offers before seeking out eye contact again. "Though this is an improvement."
Motioning back to the cafeteria tray, "I kept it to what I knew. Not planning on throwing a fruit cup your way," she teases.
*
"Hey," Ava interjects smartly. "Those games were fun. If /that/ torques ya you wouldn't have lasted long in my unit. It's all part a learning ta not take life too seriously and just fuckin go with it."
The cyborg quiets and her demeanor softens as Neena approaches. Guessing her intent as the fingerless gloves come up, she raises her new arm and offers it for the albino's inspection. The proportions are unchanged from before their mission to Ukraine, but the addition of a hard sleeve gives the cyborg a slick and glossy shell, like a well-polished carapace. The formerly exposed joints of her elbow, hand, and shoulder now are all covered by a pliant mesh in the same texture, like a taut black glove. Ever so very slightly the sleeve sinks in beneath the albino's grasp, but it's far less than the reaction from any natural flesh and blood.
"I'll take it," Ava replies, a pair of green eyes meeting vibrant blue from close range, close enough the lingering perfumed steam and bath heat can be felt rolling off the tawny vet's body. "You know I can feel that too. It's still kind of pins-and-needles, but I'm adjusting quickly."
*
"It's not that," Neena counters before switching gears with a "Nevermind."
There's more important matters at hand, or IN hand, as the case may be. Smirking and holding up one of her own glossy black arms leads to the announcement "We kinda match." Though it -doesn't- feel quite like skin, it's a curious in-between of the familiar elasticity and unbending polymer.
Hearing that Ava can still feel the contact has the mercenary looking a little reassured. "Oh yeah? I'll have to get Roni a thank you brownie. Do some training, run some spars, it should help you remap quickly enough."
It takes her a while longer to map out some connections of her own. For all of the time that she's spent with the cyborg, something's different here and it isn't the color of the limbs…
Dom runs a fingertip along that shower-wet black 'sleeve' until it makes a little sound in passing. "You're water-resistant" she states with a smile. "Did she give you a depth rating on this rig? I haven't dived in years."
*
"Water-proof for ten meters at least," Ava answers with a proud smile, puffing up even as her eyes narrow warmly at the comparison between them. "Gimme a dry suit and I'll be fine. I never took you for a diver - you do that for work or fun?" she asks back, regarding the albino curiously even as her new arm drapes lazily over one black-sheathed shoulder.
*
"Both" Neena answers with a smile while reaching up to lightly catch the arm now hanging off of her shoulder. "More emphasis on fun. Sometimes I find some interesting stuff down there, too. There's a fair bit of gold around Madripoor's harbors if you know where to look. Once warmer weather comes around you might mistake me for being part fish."
*
"You *would* find sunken treasure while going on a swim. Remind me to take you hunting sometime for a good luck charm," the naked cyborg teases playfully. "I'd love to have a twelve-point drop into my lap." Stealing a peek past Neena, Ava licks her lips as she eyes her continental breakfast then leans aside and lets her glossy arm slide off the smooth shell of the albino's suit, slipping around her. "Now excuse~ me while I refuel. Have you eaten yet?"
*
"That treasure paid for a fair share of my overseas gear" Domino confirms with an impish grin. "Maybe not a buck but it did toss a rare black-furred albino at ya."
She knows where that glance is heading though she still takes the opportunity to drop a light kiss on the 'borg's cheek. "Slow down there, soldier. One of those sandwiches has my name on it. Everything else is fair game. Go make it dead."
*
"Tracking," Ava smiles back as wraps her towel around herself and moves the tray to her dining table then ducks into the kitchen to grab an extra plate. Glancing back at Neena, the cyborg makes a show of looking her over from top to bottom with her newly restored eye. "Well~, she wouldn't look as nice mounted on my wall, but she'll do," she concludes in mock critique before taking a seat and gesturing Neena to do the same. "Now c'mon, let's sit and eat."
*
The one word in response gets a dark grin from the mercenary as she stands clear and lets Ava get set up as she pleases.
"I don't know if 'mount' is the most comfortable of words, but..c'mon" Neena argues while leaning back against the wall and striking something of a two-dimensional pose. "I look nice anywhere."
Before going to the table she makes a detour to the fridge in search of a beer because she can still get away with having the hard stuff in the middle of the day and she's been REALLY stressing out. Go ahead and try to stop her. Then it's to the table she goes to get settled in, transplanting her usual 'not sure if actual meat but delicious' sandwich onto the awaiting plate.
"While you've been going through so much tech prep I found a lead to follow up on. Take your time to catch your breath. I'll keep a tracker on me," she catches the orange ID badge between two fingers for a second "and will call for backup if I get a hit. That new girl Hisako could use some more field practice."
*
Ava's eyes twinkle as she catches the albino's impromptu pose. Why yes, that was the correct answer. Neena's earned herself a beer.
In the time it takes her to reach the table and settle in, the cyborg is already a few bites into her own sandwich and she looks up still chewing before pausing to reply. "Hm? What are you thinking?" she questions curiously.
*
"Keeping it light to start" Dom suggests before taking a drink. "I'm not sure what I might scrap together from this lead but Hisako's practically bullet-proof, right? The girl's a walking -tank.- If a door needs opened or some low level mook needs some pants-browning then she's more than qualified."
Shrugging slightly while switching to the sandwich, she offers "I could always tap Hank on the big furry shoulder too if she needs some extra looking after. I mean it's not like we're going to be blowing a new crater into New York City here."
*
"True but anything doing is worth overdoing," Ava cautions. "Sync by radio as you're underway so QRF knows what to load for if things go sideways."
*
Neena glances to the side but bobs her head a little. "You're right. Alright, Chief. We'll play it safe. I'll see about getting Hank onboard, too. He could stand to get out of the labs more."
*
The coffee-tone cyborg looks across the table with a light smile - equal parts amused and chastising. Half of her sandwich is already missing from her plate. "I'm not saying to go out with a beeper and a safety vest on, just don't take stupid risks. You've got a team who'll back you up if you need it; no reason not to use 'em."
*
Dom laughs softly but holds an empty palm away from her sandwich. "I'm still adjusting to these whole 'team' and 'backup' concepts. I don't like putting other people at risk when I'm on the job. But you're the boss and Roni's left a standing threat to kick my sorry ass if I don't follow your orders so consider it done."
*
"And you know she'll do it too. Your pasty cheeks'll have tire marks when she's done," Ava teases as she moves to her fruit, eating it a little less voraciously. "Love us or hate us we do everything by team. There's no lone wolf solo sierra here. We…" Here the cyborg stops, pursing her lips contritely and averting her eyes to her food as she takes a hard swallow.
"S-sorry, musta' got apple stuck in my throat," she excuses, thumping her chest with a fist and takes a deep breath before forcing another swallow.
*
"And you know she'll do it too. Your pasty cheeks'll have tire marks when she's done," Ava teases as she moves to her fruit, eating it a little less voraciously. "Love us or hate us we do everything by team. There's no lone wolf solo sierra here. We…" Here the cyborg stops, pursing her lips contritely and averting her eyes to her food as she takes a hard swallow.
"S-sorry, musta' got apple stuck in my throat," she excuses, thumping her chest with a fist and taking a deep breath before forcing another swallow.
*
Any thoughts from the pale lady are held while Posse voices her thoughts. As it turns out this happens to be a good strategy for Domino as it gives her a perfect opportunity to notice the change in the cyborg's speech.
"That" Neena bluntly calls out while pointing to Ava around the remaining chunk of sandwich. "Right there. What was that. Calling serious Bravo Sierra, Av. I've known you long enough, you don't shake easy and I can't recall having ever heard a word of apology before. Is it about Roni? There's a lot more going on there which you two haven't been talking about."
*
Ava shakes her head defiantly under Neena's scrutiny but doesn't yet lift her gaze. "No, no just…" She pauses, inhales a slow breath, and holds onto it longingly before letting it escape. The augmented vet's eyes lift back up, heavy and bittersweet. "Just remembering my old team. I used to give a speech like that to new indocs. It was kind of our tradition and well…" Here she stops again and the twitch of her lips betrays that the cyborg's body might not be completely up to the task before it.
Ava shrugs and tips her head to the side, not trying to hide the light flush that risen to her cheeks. "Just hits me at odd times."
*
Hmm. Domino may be slightly off the mark up front, enough that part of her feels bad for having pressed hard enough to make it her own business. "Times change but traditions don't" she gently offers with sympathy.
She's just about to reach across the table to Ava when she gets an updated read on the chief of security's face. The albino hesitates, slowly arches a brow, then smirks juuust a little. "Yeah. Things happen" she suggests as a blanket response to -both- matters which happened to come into question.
The only other time she's seen Ava blush was during the World's Most Unannounced Kiss.
"I did try the whole 'team' thing once," she presses on with softly spoken words. "Not quite in the same manner, but…" her gaze wanders downward in turn.
"One of my bigger gigs across the globe. Had to protect an asset. Shit got real but we pulled through. It wasn't until we wound up falling for each other that everything else started to fall apart. We were only married for a couple of months. It's been real difficult letting anyone in since."
*
"Shit you /married/ a teammate?" the cyborg asks, not believing her ears. "If I'd done that my ass would have been on the curb so fast I'd get a speedin ticket." The shift of focus away from herself seems to help Ava's nerves and, though emotion is still lingering in her cheeks, she starts to regain control of her voice. Grabbing the drink from her tray, the tawny vet sips over a tender pause.
"So… what happened? How'd it start, and what when on?" she broaches. Turnabout's fair play.
*
Neena smiles a little but it's without humor. "There was no team. I married the asset" she corrects.
"Can't say he was a mutant but the guy was a prodigy. Could predict outcomes doing nothing more than crunching numbers. The job was for his protection, and that's what I did. Contract was completed, I got my pay, but after having spent some time together something had kinda changed. At that point he wasn't a mission asset anymore, no harm no foul right?" she suggests before taking another drink of beer.
"Unfortunately..he couldn't predict his own death. Not even my luck was enough to save him."
*
"Yeah…" Ava agrees with a sympathetic grimace, "Good luck charms don't normally work on the people around ya'. So no bullets or combat? You fell for a completely peaceful guy?" she presses, gently but hoping for more.
*
Dom chuckles softly and has another drink. "None whatsoever. Guy was as green as they come. Barely knew the business end from the ass end of a Kalashnikov."
"For a while I really wondered if I might be able to hack having something of a normal life, I mean you won't know if you don't try. Still not sure if my power had anything to do with ending him or not but I figure it'd be a lot easier going forward if I didn't get too attached. Even when I'm not in the scene things still get turned upside down."
*
"That's just life; shit happens, people die - powers or not." Ava opines with resigned bluntness before trying to nibble at her apple again, regaining some appetite. "You tried somethin I didn't then… What was it that hooked ya so much?" she asks with an air of mystery, incomprehension.
*
To the declaration Neena gently bobs her head in agreement.
Ava's next question gives her pause to think it over. "He made me laugh. Gave me hope that there was something more to the world. Also in a way he could keep up with me. At least he tried -really- hard to," she suggests with a soft laugh. "He could determine probabilities while I ran ahead and fucked up the whole spread. We messed with each other a lot but also managed to compliment one other."
Looking back to Ava with fingers wrapped around the centrally located beer, she explains "It's..risky..losing yourself to someone else. You never get over that kind of loss. All you can do is try to move on. Find something else to take its place. Maybe something you think they might've approved of. It doesn't always work that way, but… Sometimes it's worth a try."
*
"Yeah…" the bionic woman affirms with a gaze that's at once attentive to Neena and distant, seeing something else as she sets her apple back on the tray and spins it under her finger like a half-eaten dreidel. She smiles bittersweet, at the albino and a memory. "'Cept nothing ever takes that place. You just fill a new spot with someone else."
"Call me selfish but I didn't think you'd get that, with your whole 'lone wolf' routine keepin clammed up in yourself," Ava admits, almost looking sheepish but not quite.
*
"I have gotten to be quite good at shutting everyone else out" Neena offers with another smile which favors her left side. Once more a hand breaks free, quietly reaching across the table to seek out the one of Ava's which is spinning that apple around. "But I still know what it's like on the other side."
A deep breath is claimed then released before a small amount of amusement slips into her expression. "And that's how I discussed my former marriage with a naked cyborg."
*
Ava stills at the contact and her smile warms as she makes fresh eye contact with the albino across from her. "Hey, I'm half-naked. There's a towel," she gripes, with a relaxed tranquility she can't help but show. Her other hand stops in its spinning and moves to overlap Neena's, forming a little Oreo sandwich in the middle of the table.
"I'd call you over-dressed, but I don't think I've got a round in me right now," she confesses, apologizing in her own way.
*
"Don't worry about it, Av" Neena reassures the 'borg. "We can verify all of the connections are properly seated later. For now let's just enjoy being a bit more whole again."
*
The bionic vet nods back while holding eye contact and Neena's hand gets a tender squeeze. "Roger that."
*