one: this one's for you, rain. [video]

[oncearanger]

[There is a damp-looking teenager on the screen. One might expect him to be miserable from all that rain and cold, and he was for a while, but there's a look of triumph on his face. The reason for this intrudes into the frame a second later, held up by its inventor.]

Hey. I'm Billy, and I've just arrived. I'm a mechanic wondering how much I'll be able to assist here, so I thought I'd prepare for the local climate as a test project.

[The object of his admiration is an umbrella, pieced together from whatever happened to be in his bag and what parts he could buy or find. The fabric is a patched together blue and gray, obviously taken from different items. It's not going to win any Prettiest Umbrella awards. The folding mechanic works, though it looks a little lopsided due to the lack of perfect tools. He tugs on the runner, folding and unfolding it. It works smoothly enough to pass initial inspection and he places it aside.]

I know materials are in short supply, but I brought my own tools and most of this was mine. I'd be happy to work on things and start trading---electronics, vehicles if we have any, or home supplies. I could even build more umbrellas. Is there a market, or have I just reinvented something I could have bought?

[Not that he particularly cares. The way he's glancing to the side and admiring the ugly but functional umbrella, he probably would have done things himself anyway.]

Comments

video

[oncearanger]

[Billy shakes his head firmly. He'd thought about it vaguely, but...]

I wouldn't do that.

[He then leans forward]

Well I can't say I disagree. Would you mind a visit? I'll make it worth your while, of course.

video

[minded]

We'll meet you.

Does the Hold sound good?

video

[oncearanger]

The Hold's fine. I'm looking forward to it.

[Switch to action or new log?]

video

[minded]

I'll see you there, then.

[ Action is good with me! ]

action

[oncearanger]

Great!

[ The stage is set. Billy paces awkwardly in his place. He's grateful that he knows what they look like, thanks to the video, but he's so anxious to meet them. When he finally sees something, he grins. ]

Hey. It's good to meet you two.

PERMAACTION;

[minded]

[ Hopefully Billy will forgive an extra presence, Wolf always seems to trail Conner wherever he goes in this place. Now is no different as Conner makes out Billy through those lingering around the Hold and makes his way over to him, nodding in greeting. ]

You met Sphere over the network but this is Wolf. He's also from my world.

[ Sphere rotates her sensors in Billy's direction. She beeps her own greeting while Wolf sits next to where Conner stands. ]

[oncearanger]

[Billy is surprised, but he doesn't mind. He waves, though he's careful to give Wolf enough space.]

He looks great. I've been fond of wolves for a while. I imagine he's protective of you?

[minded]

He's protective of anyone on the Team.

[ Conner puts a hand to Wolf's head and scratches behind his ear ]

He doesn't bite, if that's what you're worried about.

[oncearanger]

So he wouldn't let you two come without him?

[Billy grins. He still knows better than to touch.]

Are you three usually a traveling pack?

[minded]

It wouldn't be fair to keep him cooped up in the apartment.

Four. There's... there's four of us.

[oncearanger]

"Ah. I definitely understand that feeling," Billy said to Wolf with a faint smile.

He lifted a finger to count them again, wondering. "Where's the fourth?"

[minded]

She's... back at the apartment. M'gann, her name's M'gann.

[oncearanger]

She's a close friend of yours?

[minded]

You could call her that, yeah.

[oncearanger]

Ah. Why isn't she here now?

[Billy wasn't sure if it was a sensitive topic. He was quite prepared to back off, though his worry might've been obvious to Sphere and Wolf.]

[minded]

She doesn't know that I'm here. M'gann was doing her own thing at the time, she probably still is.

[ Billy's worry is apparent to them but they remain silent and continue to watch him, until Sphere gives a quiet and sad sounding blurp. ]

[oncearanger]

Huh. Well, can you get into contact with her or is she not in Exsilium?

[Billy makes a funny sort of interested face at Sphere. Even the seriousness of the conversation can't fully distract him from his interest in her.]

[minded]

She's here. [ A shrug. ] It doesn't matter, we're not here to talk about her. You wanted to meet Sphere.

[oncearanger]

[Billy sees the signal to drop the line of questioning and does so, turning to Sphere.]

She looks fantastic. Wow. Hello!

[He waves to her.]

[minded]

[ Sphere beeps in reply and seems hesitant at first to approach him, which is kind of silly given her size. She pauses mid-way and then turns to look back at Conner who nods and offers her an encouraging smile. ]

He seems harmless enough. Don't worry, I'll be right here.

[ And with that Sphere turns back to the stranger and rolls forward the rest of the way until she's directly in front of him, chirruping again. ]

[oncearanger]

[Billy grins and takes note of the beeps.]

That's her language, right? You can translate it?

[He makes no move to touch her, instead observing from a safe few inches away. He circles around, curious if she'll track him.]

[minded]

[ Track Billy she does, spinning slowly in place to match his circling pace. Conner folds his arms over his chest and watches on. ]

That's her language. [ He nods and then shrugs a shoulder. ] I don't know it personally. I just go by her tones.

[oncearanger]

[Billy smiles and takes note of her movements. Fascinating.]

Wow. Perhaps we could learn it? It's just...it's great, that you understand each other so well. Can you generally read Wolf too?

[minded]

Sometimes she communicates through her sensor, but even the symbols aren't all that familiar. They can be hard to read.

[ Conner looks over at Wolf who looks back at him, tilting his head before his golden eyes slide over to settle on Billy again. ]

Sometimes.

[oncearanger]

That's really...wow. I guess it's hard to feel lonely when you've always got a family with you.