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[littletonoidea]

"This is the audio log of Communications Officer Doug Eiffel of the-- previously of the U.S.S Hephaestus, leave a message and I'll see if I can bear to drag myself away from whatever utterly engaging task I must be doing to not notice my comms--"

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[littletonoidea]

[Eiffel glances back at Roman as his friend lets loose - literally and metaphorically, apparently, he's let go of his anchor as well - and then keeps watching him as he floats, and talks, and...

Maybe. Maybe he's onto something.

But.]

I started hearing voices when I was out there.

[Which. Isn't what he meant to say, and he looks away quickly, startled by his own admission. But- well, he's here now.]

Not like- going full cuckoo clock, just. I work best when I talk to people, I guess. So, when I don't have any other people, I just. Talk to myself. You should hear some of my logs, it's hours of stupid arguments with commanding officers me, myself and I.

[He lifts his free hand and scratches his stubble awkwardly.]

So, uh. Yeah. When I started panicking, I heard the Commander, she always has a cool head so she sorta helped me do inventory, see what I had that I could use, what wouldn't kill me to ignore, make the most outta what I did have. The captain talked me down from the ledge, showed me... the kind of crap you know you have to do, even if it really fucking sucks, to survive, you gotta do it. So off I went to Popsicle Town, population yours truly.

[He takes a breath, and sighs it out through his nose.]

[betacuck]

And Hera?

[ Roman figures it's a decent question to ask in addition to sating his incredible curiousity.

This is weird. It's weird, but it's not exactly unpleasant. It's just... weird. Roman's not only giving a shit about someone that isn't a family member, but he's actively listening. Asking questions. It's not a business deal, there's absolutely nothing to gain from it, he doesn't need blackmail, it's just.... This. Listening to someone's problems and caring.

But shit, maybe he does care and cares a little too much, because the thought of anyone going full Kubrickian is terrifying, but the fact that Eiffel's gone through it, and picturing him that desperate and alone? That's a different level. He shivers, but keeps his eyes trained on the messy haired communications officer. ]

[littletonoidea]

[Eiffel's silence on that is damning.

His lips just press a bit as he turns his face away, and takes a long, quiet breath.

Eventually, he turns back to Roman, and the soft smile has managed to resurrect on his face.]

Come on. I still want you to meet her. We're just gonna have to do it the old fashioned way - horrible invasions of privacy and tape recordings!

[He pushes off the window, grabbing the ceiling instead.]

Follow me! And- try not to overthink the whole anti-gravity centipede dilemma, just pretend it's a horrible swim where kicking doesn't work.

[betacuck]

[ Roman desperately wants to pick at it. Eiffel doesn't answer, and even if he wasn't trained to be a shark in the water he probably could have sensed it: weakness. The potential for anything from blackmail to leverage to just plain ridicule, the urge to verbally bite at the other almost immediately is hot on the forefront of Roman's mind.

It takes a lot of mental power to shove the initial, knee-jerk reaction aside. He has to cover his mouth with his hand to do it, to hide the triumphant smile that ticked up immediately. Once his face settles he follows the other. ]

Thinking in general isn't exactly something I do. [ It's an assurance at his own expense, doing his best to follow Eiffel. His movement is a lot less smooth and practiced, but he's a semi-quick learner. ]

I'm a gut-reaction guy. You know? Something needs to get done, you gotta attack it head on. Now lets go invade your privacy like it's watergate.