"Hey! You've reached Cayde, but either I'm busy or I'm busy. Either way, go ahead and leave a message...or don't. Obviously I won't get back to you if it's the latter."
Understatement. That's like saying a toddler can fend for themselves because they retain a lot of information. From what I've seen of their "applications," and how they treat any corrections of them, they wouldn't last a season.
True. I wouldn't go giving them any knives any time soon. But you can't completely write them off as hopeless. Clearly they've had a civilization of some kind here, before. Unfortunately this generation has had everything provided for them on a ship and might only learn things from TV shows so can you blame them for being clueless about practical things?
I'm saying that it would be negligent to leave them alone here, even if we do something about the storms. Maybe they would let us go back, but...all of the work we did here for them would be pointless. They need oversight. At least until they've had a generation or two to figure out how to live on their own again, planet-side.
[Cayde offers a smile. It's pretty amazing, the range of expressions the Exo can manage when only so many of his face plates move. This smile goes from teasing to something softer as he nods then.]
You're probably right. But for now, that's not something we can do anything about until we can actually get the Agrii on the ground. But who knows, they might surprise us. And they've gotten by somehow on a ship for this long so that has to account for something.
If they need some help getting their landlegs, then I'm sure some of us won't mind sticking around a little longer to give them pointers and watch out for them.
[Cayde had been half-joking, but he's not entirely surprised when Dustin actually admits that he's willing to stick around and help in that. Standoffish as the teen's been, he obviously cares about things. He's a good kid.]
Won't be the only one at least. And hey, maybe the ships won't be on lockdown once the main mission's over.
[Dustin rolls his eyes to try and recover from his rather embarrassing show of compassion, although his contemptuous gaze ends up settling on Colonel rather than Cayde.]
If the ships were provided by the Atroma? Doubtful. Unless they put them on autopilot to wherever their next set is, anyway.
[That being said, Dustin does sound noticeably less disappointed by this outcome than he probably should be. Mandated travel to other planets is marginally better than being forced to live an anonymous life bound to Earth, at least from his perspective.]
[The chicken jerks her head in Dustin's direction then, her eyes swiveling towards him almost in challenge.
Cayde's either oblivious to this or doing very well to pretend that he is.]
Maybe they'll let us kitbash something. Or they've got more parts lying around on the big ship. I'll make a Dawning wishlist and maybe they'll give me my Jumpship and Sparrow next time.
[Dustin unconsciously flinches away from Colonel's critical chicken stare. He can't help it - she's just so intense. Her challenge goes unmet, as the boy's gaze flicks sheepishly back to Cayde.]
Your...? [No, not going to fixate on those, they're probably just names for ship models or something. Dustin shakes his head to clear it.] --Maybe. Given enough time and resources, I could probably cobble something together.
[Not a trivial thing to assume, building a spaceship, but they have templates and access to tech well beyond what Dustin could have dreamed of back home, even just in the ruins. He's still trying to figure out what his limits are, given this new influx of material to work with.]
[She's going to rule the universe one day, just watch.
Cayde looks ready to reply and reluctant to let it drop, but he does as Dustin goes on. He grins a bit.]
A Sparrow'd be more doable. Kind of a hoverbike, basically. We actually managed to pull something together but the test-run went all wrong. Might've spooked Stark to try again.
A jumpship though? Guess the real challenge would be getting the jump-part to work...and everything it's connected to. Hm.
[The opportunity to talk shop, though - that holds the boy's attention fast, once Cayde starts going into details. The fact that he already attempted to build one (with Tony's help no less) says that his interest in the vehicles might not just be surface-level or aesthetic, as Dustin had initially assumed.]
Looked pretty good! Hell, ran pretty good too. Tony encouraged me to stress-test, and I've seen his builds. This thing shouldn't have crashed and burned like it did. I was racing Tommy for our test ride. Forge to the hangar. Straight shot but uneven terrain and ruins in between, plenty of opportunity for improvision.
[Cayde shakes his head, scowling a bit.]
I'm not really sure what happened, it was all of a sudden. For everything I was putting 'er through, there hadn't been any problems up until we were approaching the hangar. Then Sundance noticed something was off and in the next moment the thing just decided to do its own thing.
Brakes weren't responding and in the end Tommy hauled me off before I could be part of the smoldering fireball it ended up becoming once it hit the hangar.
[Dustin leans forward, listening with increasingly intense curiosity. The point of his visit, pressing though it was at first, is pushed aside; he's probably gotten all of the useful information out of Cayde about it anyway. An actual, working hovercraft - one that could put Tommy through his paces? That was something much more tangible, and therefore, interesting.]
No parts left of the original, I'm guessing? [Because that would be too convenient if there was.]
[Cayde had been pulling out all the stops to get ahead of Tommy, taking full advantage of the rough terrain and the convenient way that some fallen walls just presented ideal ramps.]
Unfortunately no. [He shakes his head with the mimicked heave of a sigh.]
Tony barely managed to move one of the shuttles out of the way before it could become a casualty.
[Dustin's brow crinkles in a slight wince. That would have been...inconvenient. Although, knowing if sufficient explosive force could destroy one of those ships on the ground would be important data to add to the vanishingly small set he has without the Engineering or Piloting expertise.]
...If Tony isn't willing to build another one, I could try.
Heh. No one's stopping anyone either way. I think a lot of it is distractions. I know I haven't exactly been pushing for a version 2.0 recently but the thought's always kicking around in my mind.
If you wanna give it a shot though, kid, be my guest.
[Dustin glances up at the ceiling. It's not really a priority, and he's certainly got plenty of other things he could be making instead, but considering the fact that Celty and her motorcycle have disappeared, building another rapid ground vehicle would definitely be worth his time.]
I'll put it on my list. [He shrugs, then looks back at Cayde.] Blueprints? Schematics?
His Ghost compiles above it in a shimmer of light, shaking out her vertices before she dips a nod at Dustin and turns aside to project the schematics of a slim looking hover bike.]
Sundance can probably transfer it to your tablet or something if you let her.
[Dustin, in a surprising show of politeness, dips a nod back at Sundance before leaning in to study her projection. His eyes flicker over it for several quiet seconds.]
Not needed. [He sits back, blinking as his gaze refocuses on Cayde.] I've got it. Probably gonna have to replicate the anti-grav mechanisms to ensure they function correctly - I could scavenge the components, but they probably wouldn't last under the same operational loads as the rest of it.
[There's a beat, then Dustin's head tilts to the side and his eyes start to flicker again. Recording information is quick, but actually processing it takes a little more time; his realization that he's just learned how to build an actual hoverbike is, therefore, slightly delayed.]
...Fascinating. Not sure I would've thought to design it like that, myself, but--well it works, obviously. Huh.
[The 'not needed' gets an arch of a brow from the Exo. He exchanges a glance with Sundance once she ceases projecting the schematics.]
No kiddin'? You got that all with one look?
[He whistles, impressed. Some kind of photographic memory? But remembering the what's isn't the same as figuring the how's to make the what's work. And he knows the kid's not just blowing hot air.]
Well, there's lots of Sparrow models, this one's just my personal one. Lot more classic form than some of the ones I've seen Guardians riding these days, but everyone's got their preferences.
[Normally Dustin would shy away from such blatant appreciation of his abilities, but he's only half paying attention to what Cayde is saying at the moment, too interested in his analysis of the schematics to care about much else. All he does is nod, absently, then lets his chin rest on one hand while he pensively scratches at the patchy fuzz growing on his cheek.]
No, I mean--the cosmetics are mostly arbitrary, given its propulsion methods. It's the mechanics of it that...fuck, man. [Dustin glances back up at Cayde, his eyes glittering.] You don't understand. We don't have shit like this where I'm from, and it's not like it's locked behind a transuniveral material or energy requirement, this is--this is replicable. I could change everything!
Oh, well... Yeah. I mean, it's Earth technology. Though it did take a while and a bunch of weird hoops to get there, I guess, but yeah. Completely doable.
[He's still grinning as he watches Dustin. Oh, he knows the look, although not normally applied to the potential of building a Sparrow.]
[Dustin shakes his head, but the wide grin starting to split his face says that he's hardly disappointed.]
Doesn't even have to be Earth. I could--here, even. Not even for transportation! Fuck!
[A hand slaps down on the counter for emphasis. Normally Dustin screaming obscenities and hitting things would be a bad sign, but he also doesn't normally encounter such a pivotal piece of tech that it fundamentally changes how he approaches problems, even if he never returns to his version of Earth to share that information. His brain is doing so many somersaults trying to optimize his internal blueprints, it's almost impossible to focus on anything else. He's got to get out of here - too much processing to be done.
[Abruptly, Dustin hops off of the barstool, shooting Cayde a manic, toothy grin.]
I--I'll pay you back for the intel. I promise. A hundred times over.
[Then, not waiting for potential protests, Dustin jogs towards the door.]
[Cayde's half expecting the teenager to explode. He rests his chin over a knuckle, amused. This is a complete 180 from the surly boy who had entered and demanded answers and explanations.
And then suddenly Dustin gets up to leave. Again the Hunter arches a brow, but he's grinning back, lifting his other hand to wave.
Really, who's he to object to someone wanting to pay him back?]
See ya later, Dustin! You make any progress on that bike, dibs on watching that test run!
[Who calls dibs on those kinds of things? Cayde, apparently.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deal_me_in
no subject
Date: 2023-04-12 06:13 pm (UTC)Understatement. That's like saying a toddler can fend for themselves because they retain a lot of information. From what I've seen of their "applications," and how they treat any corrections of them, they wouldn't last a season.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-12 06:30 pm (UTC)True. I wouldn't go giving them any knives any time soon. But you can't completely write them off as hopeless. Clearly they've had a civilization of some kind here, before. Unfortunately this generation has had everything provided for them on a ship and might only learn things from TV shows so can you blame them for being clueless about practical things?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-13 07:26 pm (UTC)[Dustin glances up, his brows raised.]
I'm saying that it would be negligent to leave them alone here, even if we do something about the storms. Maybe they would let us go back, but...all of the work we did here for them would be pointless. They need oversight. At least until they've had a generation or two to figure out how to live on their own again, planet-side.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-14 06:45 am (UTC)[Cayde offers a smile. It's pretty amazing, the range of expressions the Exo can manage when only so many of his face plates move. This smile goes from teasing to something softer as he nods then.]
You're probably right. But for now, that's not something we can do anything about until we can actually get the Agrii on the ground. But who knows, they might surprise us. And they've gotten by somehow on a ship for this long so that has to account for something.
If they need some help getting their landlegs, then I'm sure some of us won't mind sticking around a little longer to give them pointers and watch out for them.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-17 03:41 pm (UTC)I...guess I'm on that list. I can't let all the work I've put in go to waste like that.
[There's a couple of dull thumps as Dustin agitatedly kicks his feet under the counter.]
Besides, what the fuck else am I gonna do? Go home? [ scoff ] Not a chance in hell.
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Date: 2023-04-17 06:40 pm (UTC)Won't be the only one at least. And hey, maybe the ships won't be on lockdown once the main mission's over.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-20 12:45 am (UTC)If the ships were provided by the Atroma? Doubtful. Unless they put them on autopilot to wherever their next set is, anyway.
[That being said, Dustin does sound noticeably less disappointed by this outcome than he probably should be. Mandated travel to other planets is marginally better than being forced to live an anonymous life bound to Earth, at least from his perspective.]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-20 02:32 am (UTC)Cayde's either oblivious to this or doing very well to pretend that he is.]
Maybe they'll let us kitbash something. Or they've got more parts lying around on the big ship. I'll make a Dawning wishlist and maybe they'll give me my Jumpship and Sparrow next time.
[He doubts it but hey, he can dream.]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-20 06:33 pm (UTC)Your...? [No, not going to fixate on those, they're probably just names for ship models or something. Dustin shakes his head to clear it.] --Maybe. Given enough time and resources, I could probably cobble something together.
[Not a trivial thing to assume, building a spaceship, but they have templates and access to tech well beyond what Dustin could have dreamed of back home, even just in the ruins. He's still trying to figure out what his limits are, given this new influx of material to work with.]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-21 03:31 am (UTC)Cayde looks ready to reply and reluctant to let it drop, but he does as Dustin goes on. He grins a bit.]
A Sparrow'd be more doable. Kind of a hoverbike, basically. We actually managed to pull something together but the test-run went all wrong. Might've spooked Stark to try again.
A jumpship though? Guess the real challenge would be getting the jump-part to work...and everything it's connected to. Hm.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-23 09:34 pm (UTC)Yeah, no kidding.
[The opportunity to talk shop, though - that holds the boy's attention fast, once Cayde starts going into details. The fact that he already attempted to build one (with Tony's help no less) says that his interest in the vehicles might not just be surface-level or aesthetic, as Dustin had initially assumed.]
How did it go wrong? With the Sparrow.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-23 10:03 pm (UTC)[Cayde shakes his head, scowling a bit.]
I'm not really sure what happened, it was all of a sudden. For everything I was putting 'er through, there hadn't been any problems up until we were approaching the hangar. Then Sundance noticed something was off and in the next moment the thing just decided to do its own thing.
Brakes weren't responding and in the end Tommy hauled me off before I could be part of the smoldering fireball it ended up becoming once it hit the hangar.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 05:40 pm (UTC)No parts left of the original, I'm guessing? [Because that would be too convenient if there was.]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 05:54 pm (UTC)Unfortunately no. [He shakes his head with the mimicked heave of a sigh.]
Tony barely managed to move one of the shuttles out of the way before it could become a casualty.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-25 03:16 pm (UTC)...If Tony isn't willing to build another one, I could try.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-25 06:14 pm (UTC)If you wanna give it a shot though, kid, be my guest.
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Date: 2023-04-27 03:03 pm (UTC)I'll put it on my list. [He shrugs, then looks back at Cayde.] Blueprints? Schematics?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-27 05:10 pm (UTC)His Ghost compiles above it in a shimmer of light, shaking out her vertices before she dips a nod at Dustin and turns aside to project the schematics of a slim looking hover bike.]
Sundance can probably transfer it to your tablet or something if you let her.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-27 08:36 pm (UTC)Not needed. [He sits back, blinking as his gaze refocuses on Cayde.] I've got it. Probably gonna have to replicate the anti-grav mechanisms to ensure they function correctly - I could scavenge the components, but they probably wouldn't last under the same operational loads as the rest of it.
[There's a beat, then Dustin's head tilts to the side and his eyes start to flicker again. Recording information is quick, but actually processing it takes a little more time; his realization that he's just learned how to build an actual hoverbike is, therefore, slightly delayed.]
...Fascinating. Not sure I would've thought to design it like that, myself, but--well it works, obviously. Huh.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-28 04:26 am (UTC)No kiddin'? You got that all with one look?
[He whistles, impressed. Some kind of photographic memory? But remembering the what's isn't the same as figuring the how's to make the what's work. And he knows the kid's not just blowing hot air.]
Well, there's lots of Sparrow models, this one's just my personal one. Lot more classic form than some of the ones I've seen Guardians riding these days, but everyone's got their preferences.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-28 02:50 pm (UTC)No, I mean--the cosmetics are mostly arbitrary, given its propulsion methods. It's the mechanics of it that...fuck, man. [Dustin glances back up at Cayde, his eyes glittering.] You don't understand. We don't have shit like this where I'm from, and it's not like it's locked behind a transuniveral material or energy requirement, this is--this is replicable. I could change everything!
no subject
Date: 2023-04-28 04:54 pm (UTC)[He's still grinning as he watches Dustin. Oh, he knows the look, although not normally applied to the potential of building a Sparrow.]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-30 01:23 am (UTC)Doesn't even have to be Earth. I could--here, even. Not even for transportation! Fuck!
[A hand slaps down on the counter for emphasis. Normally Dustin screaming obscenities and hitting things would be a bad sign, but he also doesn't normally encounter such a pivotal piece of tech that it fundamentally changes how he approaches problems, even if he never returns to his version of Earth to share that information. His brain is doing so many somersaults trying to optimize his internal blueprints, it's almost impossible to focus on anything else. He's got to get out of here - too much processing to be done.
[Abruptly, Dustin hops off of the barstool, shooting Cayde a manic, toothy grin.]
I--I'll pay you back for the intel. I promise. A hundred times over.
[Then, not waiting for potential protests, Dustin jogs towards the door.]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-30 04:57 am (UTC)And then suddenly Dustin gets up to leave. Again the Hunter arches a brow, but he's grinning back, lifting his other hand to wave.
Really, who's he to object to someone wanting to pay him back?]
See ya later, Dustin! You make any progress on that bike, dibs on watching that test run!
[Who calls dibs on those kinds of things? Cayde, apparently.]