Faction R.O.U.S. - SJO at Silver Rest

[Ripple]

Ripple was waddling his happy little self through the Silver Rest hallways, the inbuilt system due for routine maintenance as the Tynnan scurried along the floors on all fours. A droid was behind him, pulling a small toolbox and variable-height folding ladder. The tool belt clinked and jangled on Ripple as he scooted along, pausing at the base of an access panel before he pointed to the spot below it and squeaked to the droid. The droid stopped, setting the lock wheels on the portable toolbox and opening the ladder before placing it parallel to the access panel. A set of squeaks and chirps were had as Ripple ascended the ladder, stopping as small webbed fingers felt along the panel for the access button.

A soft ping had the panel sliding open, small black nose sniffing for the warning of any burnt circuitry or other warning signs. None were had, and the Tynnan was merrily going about his other checkup as it squeaked once more to the droid. A tiny set of goggles were handed over, small paws grabbing and donning the prescription goggles before setting about to work. His tail waggled back and forth as he checked the power conduit, ensuring a healthy flow of energy before examining the resistors and coolant system.

In a singsong fashion, chirps and squeaks filled the hall as Ripple carefully leaned into the access panel, reaching to check that everything inside the junction was functioning, and not threatening to have a catastrophic failure and injure anyone. The droid silently watched, hands waiting to move through the parked toolbox for the appropriate tool.

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani trudged her way down the halls of Silver Rest, a droid of her own following close behind. She had recently been permitted to officially leave the healing halls, provided EmTee remained her care assistant and she returned for regular check-ups. For now, the padawan was just letting herself enjoy some space out of the confines of a medical room, intent on taking a stroll across the temple’s lawn for some much needed fresh air.

As per usual, Amani had zoned out as EmTee gave a long-winded list of her schedule for the day in his relentlessly cheerful tone. She gave a tired groan, running her hand over her face while she rounded the corner, along the way spotting what appeared to be… a small, furry little creature sticking its head into an access panel, its squeaky tune echoing out into the hall. Cuuute! “What is that?” Amani asked quietly, gingerly stepping forward without waiting for an answer. EmTee paused and watched her quizzically, “Excuse me, Miss Serys, what are you doing?”

The padawan quietly got next to Ripple, reaching out her hand as if to pet him, apparently entirely unrecognizing of the fact that he was a fully intelligent and sentient creature in his own right. She asked in a cutesy, baby-talk voice, “Hey little buddy, are you lost?”

 

[Ripple]

A couple of squeaks had the droid next to him pulling a drawer open and handing him a flat head screw driver, only the screwdriver was about the length of a regular persons pointer finger. It was large in Ripple's hands, paws gingerly touching the tool before taking it in his webbed paws before leaning back into access panel. So focused was he that he did not hear the droid or Mirialan approaching, or their talking, his squeaking continuing until Amani actually touched him.

The both excited and alarmed shriek from Ripple had him throwing the tool, arms going up in surprise and paws open wide. Little legs pumped to try and scurry away, goggles distorting the larger being in his view as he tried to focus on her face. The droid attempted to catch Ripple as he continued to squeakily shriek, more so now that a stubby leg had missed the ladder rung and he began to fall from said ladder. He wriggled in the air, trying to get his paws beneath him.

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani jumped back as the Tynnan shrieked in surprise, responding with a shriek of her own, ending it with an upward inflection as if she was confused as to what she was yelping about. Instinctively she reached out, trying to catch him with her one arm, leading to an awkward half-success where he landed more so on her face, the Mirialan holding him in place with her hand before maneuvering the both of them into a more comfortable position. "Sorry! Sorry!"

She gingerly set him on the ground, placing her hand on her knee and bending down to get a closer look at him. He had his own tiny set of goggles and tools? And a big droid friend to help him with tall things?! This was too perfect! Even with the awkwardness of the moment, she couldn't help but blush with an overload of cuteness as she squeaked, "Oh my gosh... You are... sooooo adorable!"

EmTee spoke up, trying to clarify the circumstances to the padawan, "Excuse me, Miss Serys. I do believe this man is one of our mechanics."

"Well of course he is! Look at him with his cute wittle goggles." She tried to pinch at the Tynnan's cheek, still talking in a high-pitched pet voice, seemingly assuming that EmTee's assessment was, at least to some degree, part of a joke.

Ripple

 

[Ripple]

The wriggling mess of a Tynnan was spared from flopping on the ground. Granted the silky smooth stomach fur was briefly on her face as she lowered them to safety. His squeaking shrieks quieted after realizing he was on the way to the relative safety of the ground, and he wriggled a moment to right himself before standing upright, bending over and pulling the goggles off. Blinking beady eyes looked her over, able to see that she was green skinned, near human, and clearly bending down to his level.

Adjusting the belt around himself, he mustered up the best indignant look that he could while opening his mouth to speak. Which wasn't really indignant in any way. He always gave the near humans a free pass, but only one. And here she was speaking as though he were a child before pinching his cheek. The nerve of some of them. The females of the species tended to be the ones to do it no less. They were not harmful by any means, perhaps some kind of instinct on their part or something, and for that he could not fault them.

At least not entirely.

"Your droid is correct, actually Miss Serys. I am a maintenance worker, and a mechanic. My name is Ripple. Likely you haven't seen me...I am, quite small after all." He tried to chide her, but that was hard to do when you sounded halfway between a whistle, and a squeak.

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani tilted her head to the side, the look on her face one of bewilderment as Ripple got up and began speaking. The Mirialan pursed her lips to try and hide a still growing smile. Even when he talked sternly it was adorable! Still, as his explanation got through to her and she actually processed the situation, her demeanor turned more to one of embarrassment, her face flushing more deeply as she stood up straighter and tugged at her hair, "O-Oh. Sorry about that Mister, uh, Ripple. Sir. I didn't mean to be so.... rude. It's just that, uh..."

How does one explain to another person that they looked like a cute, fuzzy little baby animal in need of cuddles without sounding totally patronizing? Unable to find an appropriate way to end her train of thought, Amani stood in awkward silence, rocking back and forth on her feet and making vague hand gestures at the situation before her. "I-It won't happen again. My bad. I'm Amani, it's nice to meet you." She gingerly reached out her hand to him. Even if she couldn't pet him like she originally intended, she waited with bated breath at the opportunity to shake his tiny little paw!

Ripple

 

[Ripple]

She tilted her face a little, what he guessed was surprise covering her features? Confusion maybe now filling her as she stood and expression changed to that of embarrassment. He already knew why she was doing what she was doing. His little mouth set in a frown as he huffed. "It's alright. I don't take offense to it." Pretty common thing really. His eyes looked up to her when she spoke her second bit, extending a hand his way, he put both webbed paws on her hand, testing the best grip a few times before cheerfully shaking the offered hand.

"Ripple. And don't worry about it. It happens. I do appreciate your apology and accept it. I usually let everyone have a free touch that wants it. Helps get it out of their system. Or at least, figure out who gives the best scratches." The Tynnan laughed, still shaking her hand as he made a few squeaks to the droid behind him. It moved, picking up the screwdriver that he had thrown earlier.

"Oh! That's a recuperation droid! You-" He paused, hands still on hers as he spied the missing arm. Mirialan's were near human, and had a pair of arms. Meaning the likelihood of a recent traumatic event was fairly high. "Have been stuck in bed huh? Have you had something to eat yet?"

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Ripple

Amani relaxed some as Ripple assured her it wasn't a big deal, relishing in the handshake, which was everything she imagined it would be. When he mentioned figuring out who gives the best scratches, she couldn't help but hope that he was being 100% serious, "...That was a joke, right?"

Seeing Ripple notice her missing arm, Amani shifted in place uncomfortably, and the droid naturally finding an excuse to drop into the conversation at his mention, "Hello, Mister Ripple! I am EmTee! Miss Serys's personal caretaker droid!"

"Y-yeah, what he said." She seemed a little defeated by EmTee's forthcoming attitude, though was eased somewhat when Ripple chose to not mention her arm directly. "Um, yeah, something like that. I'm not really that hungry, though." Her stomach grumbled audibly, rudely disproving Amani's claim. "...Maybe a little."

 

[Ripple]

"No actually. I don't know or speak for the rest of my people, but given my size...and your natural reaction to seeing me, do you believe that you have been the only one to have surprised me?" Ripple admitted, still holding onto her hand. "Some may call it demeaning, but I have short arm, and people can only turn their arm around so far before needing an added tool to scratch their back. Am I wrong?" He was attempting be nice, and while it was irritating at times for the females of the near humans to surprise him, it also gave him plenty of attention. And there truly was the matter of being unable to reach his back.

"A pleasure Emtee! It seems you have been doing your job given the exasperation Miss Serys is showing. There still remains some things a living being can do a droid cannot in my opinion, but regardless, thank you both for your respective services." It was a compliment sandwich for the droid. Good, bad, and good as the Tynnan spoke before listening to her mention that she was not that hungry. "Ah, well-" He began before her stomach decided to voice a separate opinion.

"Tis treason then." He muttered at her stomach giving her away. "Have you not been able to keep food down? Or just not interested?

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

A hint of a smile crept back on Amani's face when Ripple explained his back-scratching problem. "Yeah, I guess you're right." As happy as she would be to pet him, she didn't press it further about it.

"Likewise! And thank you for the compliment! I do my best to make sure Miss Serys is properly attended to at all times!" EmTee chirped, apparently entirely oblivious to the criticism slipped in by Ripple. His digital face replicated a smile, and he gave the Tynnan a stiff wave.

Amani squirmed as her stomach betrayed her, laughing awkwardly and shrugging at the question. "At first, yeah, it was hard. Now I just... I dunno. I don't really think about it much. I forget to eat, or I ignore it." She tugged at her left sleeve idly, apparently unsure and having not done much introspection on the matter until just now.

 

[Ripple]

There was genuine, if toothy smile at her words, before the smile turned to exasperated as the small tynnan stared up at the droid. "Oh, I am sure that you are the most helpful thing on this planet. Even when not asked." Ripple had attended to a number of recuperation droids, most suffering from external damage, albeit light given the source of damage tended to be infirm patients attempting to alleviate their stress or irritation.

"Well, if it would help. I am also quite hungry. And I have been ignoring my own eating schedule in lieu of making sure the power junctions are functioning properly, filters in the life support systems are changed, and the rest of the systems are in order given the influx of occupants lately. Would you mind if I finished this up and had you escort me to the cafeteria. Or dining hall. What ever it is called here?" He was still holding her hand, albeit his little paws kept shifting as he spoke, always touching her hand and his whiskers twitching this way and that. "Why are there so many names for a place of sustenance? It boggles my mind truly."

 

[Amani Serys]

Ripple

Amani stifled a giggle at Ripple's jab towards EmTee, clenching her ribs as even laughing a little too harshly sent a small jolt of pain into her chest. The droid looked over to her concernedly, and she made an effort to quickly compose herself and hand waved her initial reaction dismissively. She gave Ripple a relieved smile at the offer of getting some food, "Sure. That sounds nice."

She laughed again at his other comment, "Who knows why. I just call it the cafeteria. And really, as long as I can still get food there, they can call it whatever they want." Amani continued to rest her hand in his, amusedly watching his whiskers flick about, only pulling away as her stomach grumbled once more, a cue to not delay further. "Alright, I'll let you finish up here and we can get going. Wouldn't want our hunger to get in the way of keeping the temple from... blowing up or something." That's what mechanics do, right? Stop stuff from blowing up? She didn't really understand the nuances of Ripple's job. Whatever he was working on, it was probably important.

 

[Ripple]

Amani Serys

His cheeks puffed with a smile as she spoke, nodding as she mentioned the name of the cafeteria before her stomach grumbled again. He slipped the goggles on once more when she pulled her hands away. "Ah, not a problem. Merely have to check the wiring beneath the heat sink plate in order to ensure that the housing is still diverting heat rather than accumulating. If not, then a cooling unit of some variety will have to be installed given the recent addition to it's workload." He rambled as he worked, a screwdriver being used to remove the plate before the area beneath was sniffed, thermal camera tested, and plate replaced as Ripple told his droid to return to their shop.

"Let's go!" All of about two scurrying hops in, Ripple paused, looking back at her. "Question actually. Would you, perhaps mind...if I had you carry me in there?"

 

[Amani Serys]

Ripple

The Tynnan rambled on about his work while he finished, and Amani listened intently to every word, even if she didn't understand half of it. Ripple's passion for his own work was enough to keep her interested. Once he had completed his job, she straightened up and nodded, "Let's!" The padawan had taken a single wide step before she paused completely in her tracks at his next question.

What?

Did she hear that right? He wanted her to carry him there? It almost seemed to good of an opportunity to be true. Waltzing into the cafeteria carrying a cute fuzzy creature with her, like she owned the place? Amani's very soul did a proverbial happy dance, and she whipped around and lowered herself closer to his level once more. "Um... Yeah! Yes! Of course!" She held out her arm, and did the very best she could to stop from breaking out into the stupidest grin her face could muster. Once he had climbed on, she would begin making her way to the cafeteria, with EmTee in tow.

 

[Ripple]

There was a jubilant smile. For today at least, he did not have to fear about constantly touching people around him in order to keep his little toes safe from the big feet. Today, he was safe on the shoulders of what was quickly becoming a friend. Hopefully she wouldn't mind the way he ate. Carefully, as to not claw her and cause the droid to go on the fritz as they were want to do, he maneuvered himself, coiling around her shoulders and holding himself up.

"Very much appreciated!" His voice was softer now, proximity to the natural hearing faculties quickly in his mind, face was back and forth, enjoying the new view from up here, whiskers tickling and poking as he looked back and forth. "Goodness this is a height! How splendid this is! So, what do you enjoy eating? A crustacean from my home-world is truly a delicious delicacy, but they have these delightful cocoa based, air puffed grain nutrient that I find has a highly satisfying crunch to it." He filled the air as they went, paws still careful to not claw her, though he was hanging onto her clothes with a surprisingly firm grip.

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Ripple

Amani watched with giddiness as the Tynnan scrambled up and positioned himself onto her shoulder. She stood up proudly and made sure he was sitting comfortably before beginning the walk to cafeteria. Ripple's eagerness amused her greatly, as did the idea of anyone ever being astonished by her height. She giggled, "I try to get a little bit of everything I'm supposed to. I'd be a bit hypocritical if I didn't eat as healthy as I told others to." Amani shrugged, trying to think a more interesting answer, "Well, there was this old, traditional dish from Mirial that my mother would make us from time to time, I always loved that. I... never did learn the recipe, though."

Her voice trailed off some as she became lost in thought for a moment, though she shook it off and returned to reality just as quickly as she'd left. "Not sure what they're serving today, but we'll find something worth eating." Arriving in the hall, they were a bit late to the rush, but it meant there was little to no line to worry about. There was a small assortment of different foodstuffs to choose from, the mirialan studying each of them intently. "Meh, might just go for a salad or something." She peeked up at her new shoulder buddy, "Anything pique your interest?"

 

[Ripple]

She spoke as they walked, getting a respectful nod of his head as she informed him of her typical attempt to get the required dietary needs. Was a common thing among the more conscious bi-pedal near humans and humans alike. A strict series of detailed dietary needs to fulfill their systems required intake of essential vitamins.

"Always a good thing to watch out for others and lead by example. Though I am sure that not everyone see's it that way. I respect both the attempt and the drive to do so. To often do I see such things fall to the wayside of a being's thoughts." He gave her shoulder a delicate squeeze. "Keep it up. Small things always make the largest ripples." There was a small chattering laugh from the otter as they, well she, walked.

"Even if you were not able to learn the recipe, you could find the base for it, and then experiment. Always worth a shot to keep what you remember alive. And it could be an excellent learning experience. Cooking, I find, is quite relaxing at times when done for ones self." They made their way into the hall, and thankfully there was little to no rush. Given the time of day, it was plainly a bit late for such an occurrence. Balancing himself on her shoulders, he looked over the food stuff before looking back to the droid.

"Emtee, if you would please pick up some suuri salad for me along with a large carafe of water. Will go well with a nice vinaigrette. Your mentioning salad got it in my brain." He chirped happily.

Amani Serys