Excerpt 003: Ship’s Cradle

[rekindledtitan]

TYPE: Personal log

LOCATION: Orbit, Earth

PARTIES: Three [3]. One [1] Ghost-type, [1] Guardian-type, designate Blaze-37, Class Titan [rekindledtitan], One [1] Unconfirmed, designate Hughes, Maes [bestdadinamestris]


ASSOCIATIONS: Multiversal Nexus; Maes Hughes; Earth; Multiversal Phenomena; Blaze-37; Amestris; Dr. Hill; Deep Stone Crypt; [REDACTED]




Blaze should have figured the warning signs for what they were. When the senses slow and the body insists on sinking into the nearest furniture, it ought to be a clue. But she has no memory of fatigue, no sense of whether her body is just complaining or injured or seriously needs to rest. So it’s not until their meeting at the Harp sees her stuffed with food and forced to actually sit down for a while that the torpor kicks in.

She’d like to shake it off, but the more level (and more inorganic) heads around her are able to point out that that’s not how human biology works.

She’s yawning uncontrollably when they materialize aboard her one-room jumpship. It wakes up for them with a soft hum, lights revealing a cabin just big enough for both she and Hughes to move around. Every inch of the clean metal plating looks like it’s part of some compartment or pull-out section, and that includes the floor. To sharp Exo senses it might look a bit patchwork, too: different panels have subtly different finishes; signs of repair are everywhere. There’s little sign of home comforts: just one cushy pilot’s chair, Blaze’s helmet clipped alongside it.

“I’m… going to power up the life-support systems,” the Ghost says, swooping over to the controls.

Blaze tries to talk through her next yawn. “Oh… yyyeah. Good thinking. Uh.” She looks up at Hughes and waves a hand toward the star-speckled view up front. “Welcome to Earth orbit.”

Comments

[bestdadinamestris]

"These... memories - they're what you dream about?" It's a logical assumption to make, given the way Blaze is trying to avoid the subject. He pauses for a moment, thinking through everything they've talked about. "Is there a way to try to piece them together?"

[rekindledtitan]

"Basically." A short nod. A lie. Not wholly a lie, though, and better than leaving him wondering. What she's told him is just uncomfortable; the rest is knowledge that shouldn't be shared. She starts dicing up the scone, although that doesn't work as well as for the less crumbly food items.

"If there was, someone else would've figured it out. Other Exos have spent years on this stuff, Hughes. Centuries, trying to figure out how we work and what's in our heads. The things they've tried- I don't want to waste my time the same way. Got too much to do."

[bestdadinamestris]

"So you're saying we should find a way to get back to our own bodies now that you've mostly finished breakfast, right?" The light teasing is his attempt at relieving some of the tension in the air and getting them focused on the real reason for coming back to the Nexus. He's eager to get back to his own body, to give Dr. Hill a piece of his mind, and then go home. He hopes he can swing a sick day to spend some extra time with his family after all of this is over...

[rekindledtitan]

"Shoulda found it at the start," is her opinion. Gruffly delivered as it is, at least she's happy to take the offered opening to get back to the important matter here. She gets back to plowing through the food with a will, ensuring that they won't be delayed for much longer.

"So," she says between mouthfuls, "which tactic are we going with? Finding Hill or... this empathy thing?"

"We haven't had a response from our Warlocks. I'm afraid they may be out on a field mission."

[bestdadinamestris]

"So... empathy, huh?" Hughes sits back in his chair and sighs. "The hell is that supposed to mean anyway? I'm pretty sure you and I have understood each other pretty well from the start."

Unless it's about more than simple understanding. In which case he has no clue what to do. They've certainly walked more than a few miles in each other's literal shoes... what more does the doctor want from them?

[rekindledtitan]

"Seems like we've seen more of each other already than we ever would otherwise." Would Blaze normally let anyone bar her Ghost see half the things Hughes has (knowingly or not)? She'd rather not have to see them herself, honestly.

"Tried out everything I can, right?" She's thinking out loud while she munches the scone. "Eating, sleeping, getting hurt, getting cold, getting emotional. Don't know how you focus with all that going on in here, but that's a whole other matter."

[bestdadinamestris]

"Sounds like you could use a drink." It has been a stressful time for both of them. And if Hughes can drink in her body, Blaze can certainly have one in his. He orders a whiskey on the rocks for her from a passing waiter for her and another powerpack for him.

"Hope it's not too much for you," he adds in the most snarky voice he can manage.

[rekindledtitan]

"It's one little drink, Hughes." She snorts (that, at least, she has the hang of). Drinking has so far been easier than eating.

Watch her end up coughing when it arrives and she tries to knock it back in one go.

[bestdadinamestris]

"It's a little stronger than you might think." But he'll let her decide that for herself.

When the drinks arrive, Hughes raises his in a toast. "To getting back to normal." And then back it goes all in one shot to keep that nice buzz going.

[rekindledtitan]

"Getting back in the fight," Blaze adds, lifting her glass. A moment later, of course, she slams her glass down on the table and leans over it, coughing.

"I take it that really is strong," the Ghost observes helpfully, swooping in to check on her. She gives it a look, still clearing her throat.

"Yeah, well- that was new."

[bestdadinamestris]

It's a good thing Hughes can't choke on his drink or he would have. He should be more worried about the fact that she could've choked on the ice, but he can't stop laughing. That reaction was simply amazing.

"Care for another?" he asks when he's regained his composure. "I've still got half of my drink left." Only because he had to stop drinking when he started laughing.

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze grabs a napkin to wipe her mouth, shaking her head at his laughter. Oh, well. Must have looked pretty silly.

"Sure. I can handle it." From that look, she's taking it as a challenge. She'll defeat all your whiskeys in single combat! Before Right after breakfast!

"I hope your body can handle it, Hughes..."

[bestdadinamestris]

It does look silly. Whiskey is a sipping drink! ...well, good whiskey is, anyway. He can't vouch for what the Harp has.

"All right then..." Hughes orders another whiskey - neat, this time, since Blaze intends to slam it - before turning to Ghost. "With some water and the intention of not doing anything, it'll be fine. Hell, on top of that breakfast? I don't think it'll be an issue at all." Oh how much he'll regret saying that in a few hours when he has his body back...

After the ordered drink arrives, Hughes raises his in challenge. And then he'll throw the last of it back without a second thought. Yup, today will be a fun, buzz-fueled day.

[rekindledtitan]

"I... hope not."

"Relax, Ghost. Hughes knows this stuff." Blaze has probably heard of sipping, but it's safe to assume she thinks it's for other people. She's better prepared for the drink this time, and... at least doesn't wind up spluttering, even if she pulls a wince.

"See? Not so hard." She gives Hughes an actual grin before pulling a bit of a face at the taste. "That the worst you've got?"

"I really hope you know what you're doing..." the Ghost mutters.

One more drink leads to another, and the little bot's fears mightn't be so unfounded. Once Blaze starts to relax for the first time in this new body, trading jibes with Hughes... it's also not long before her head starts swimming in a whole different way. Her laughter slows down to a chuckle, and then a puzzled look at her glass while she tries to remember what they were laughing about. Right before the table seems to be coming closer...

The Ghost jumps, flicking its gaze between them as Hughes also slumps over the table. It zips around them, trying to rouse either. But it also refuses to let the staff disturb them, checking and rechecking its readings hopefully while it waits...

[bestdadinamestris]

The first thing Hughes notices when he comes to is how much everything hurts. His back, his arms, his head... He doesn't remember it hurting this badly a minute ago.

But... hang on a second. Why does everything hurt? In Blaze's body, he lacked a whole set of sensations that he was used to, but now they're all back. Which could mean only one thing.

His eyes shoot open and he sits upright in his chair, causing it to rock underneath him. After taking a moment to steady himself, he rests his hands on the table and tries to focus on, well, anything. Seems those drinks are catching up to him more than he expected. When he's able to focus on his hands, though, he laughs excitedly. They're his hands!

"Blaze." Ow, his throat is raw, too. Lack of sleep and drinking will do that, though. He tries again, pushing a little harder on his vocal cords. "Blaze. Wake up." She needs to enjoy this moment as much as he does, though he might suggest skipping the victory drinks.

[rekindledtitan]

"Hughes? That is you, isn't it?" The Ghost hovers down to scan him, then flits excitedly back to Blaze's sluggishly stirring form.

You can tell when she heeds Hughes's voice: she shoves herself up from the table, head snapping left and right as she gets her bearings.

"What? Hughes? Ghost?" Wait that was his voice. And this is her voice- oh! "Thank Light!" She straightens up and looks down at herself, hands flexing, downright giddy. "It's about damn time!"

She feels so much stronger, so much easier already! Another second and she's out of her seat and hauling Hughes up for a victory dance. "Don't know how we did it, but I'm not gonna complain!"

[bestdadinamestris]

Oh that victory dance is a bad idea. Hughes puts his heels down and digs in to keep Blaze from spinning him around.

"Whoa, easy there. You may only be buzzed, but I'm most certainly not." Wait. That doesn't make sense. Hughes frowns before trying again. "I mean, I'm more than buzzed. I'm... drunk?"

Ugh, he should not have let her order more drinks his head is swimming and oh god what is Gracia going to think when he gets home like this? He pulls himself away from the Exo and flops back into his seat, almost falling over in the process.

"I... haven't been this drunk in a long time. Damn."

[rekindledtitan]

"Huh? What's wro- oh, right." Human intoxication. Not so good for moving around, apparently. Blaze reaches out to steady him automatically, but her demeanor is still lively and cheerful as she leans on the table. "But we're back! What's not to be happy about?"

She lifts a hand to touch her Ghost, sharing a moment before her partner swoops back to Hughes.

"Are you, um... feeling all right?"

[bestdadinamestris]

"Yeah, m'fine. Need water." Hughes rests his head in his hands for a moment before sitting up straight, taking a deep breath as he does so. Slow and steady is the way to do it.

"Need to sober up before I go home, though. My wife would kill me if I went home like this after disappearing for a couple of days."

[rekindledtitan]

"Got it." Blaze flags over one of the waiters eyeing them from a safe distance to request a couple jugs of water. She can't seem to stop pacing, though, only pausing to tilt her head down at her human friend.

"Don't think she'd need to try very hard. Really hit you bad, huh? Was I like that a couple minutes ago?"

"More-or-less. Hughes, maybe we should get you somewhere quieter."

[bestdadinamestris]

"It gets worse as it settles in," Hughes adds. He thanks the waiter when his water arrives and begins sipping it slowly. In the end, he'll be fine, but while the worst of the drunkenness is still coming? Well, best to get the water in while he's thinking about it.

"Quiet is good, but I can't exactly go home right now." But damn does he want to. If he could send Elicia off for the night he could spend all evening with Gracia and then--

The fantastic thought is cut off when he remembers he's in public. He coughs rather conspicuously and takes a long drink of the water in his hands. "Think I'll need a place to crash, too," he says after a minute. "Not your place, though. No offense, but I hurt like hell right now." Or, at least, he knows he should. The whiskey is making that less and less noticeable by the minute.

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze flexes her shoulders sympathetically. It's so good not to be stiff any more. Seems like pain was the only sense that didn't dull when she was a soft organic life-form.

"Yeah, better find somewhere that's set up for humans. You have any friends who live around the Nexus?"

[bestdadinamestris]

"Not in the Nexus." Not that he would choose to stay with, anyway. He takes another sip of water and then settles into a thoughtful look.

"If I had a phone, I could try Katsuya... Maybe he'd let me stay with him for a bit?" It might be a rather large inconvenience for his friend, but Hughes has been meaning to visit for some time now. He raises an eyebrow at Blaze. "You wouldn't happen to have one handy, would you?"

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze jerks a cheerful thumb at the Ghost, who answers, "If you know his number I can access the comms network and put you through to him. Or I can try to find it myself..."

Ghosts: master hackers, occasionally shaky on boundaries. Goodness knows how the City factions keep any secrets.

[bestdadinamestris]

Hughes thinks for a moment before checking his pockets for his wallet. Once he finds it, he fishes out a card with Katsuya's number on it and hands it to Blaze. "I can meet him at the portal to his world, but not sure how much further I'll get on my own."

That is not funny at all, so why is Hughes chuckling? And... grinning. He finishes off his first glass of water and sets it aside. The second can wait while they make the call to the officer.