Pulp 013 Sandy and Forrester

May 21, 2021

[10:58 PM] Sandy: heads towards the garage to go over her bike schematics again.

[10:59 PM] Xho: The garage is pretty much as she left it, although when she steps in, the door on the far side, looking away from the mansion, is partially open, and someone is smoking just inside the door (safely away from any oil and combustibles in the garage).

[11:00 PM] Sandy: "...who's there?"

[11:02 PM] Xho: The person turns a bit toward Sandy, puts the cigarette out carefully in a snowbank, then turns back inside, pausing to close the door so that no snow gets in. "Forrester. Is that you, Miss Swann?"

[11:03 PM] Sandy: "Ah.  ...Yeah, it's me.  Odd place to take a smoke break."

[11:03 PM] Sandy: goes to her table and begins sifting through plans.

[11:03 PM] Xho: Forrester limps over and carefully sits on one of the stools.

[11:04 PM] Xho: Forrester: I was checking for materials for bombs.

[11:04 PM] Sandy: "Planning a night on the town?"

[11:05 PM] Sandy: will take one of the plans and crumple it into a ball and throw it over her shoulder.

[11:06 PM] Xho: Forrester: No. I'm not much good to the defense effort on my own. ... but if you brought back the Fang, I don't need to be, I suppose.

[11:07 PM] Sandy: "Guess you don't, then.  We brought the Fang and its own defense system, too.  Still waiting on the ticker tape parade."

[11:08 PM] Xho: Forrester: I can clap, if you like.

[11:09 PM] Xho: He takes his hat off, and his winter gloves; he's got what look like black work gloves on underneath them.

[11:10 PM] Sandy: "...doesn't matter.  ...I heard about Nemo.  Joseph's out of commission and Inara's...well, we'll see."

[11:10 PM] Sandy: "...how well do you know Alan?"

[11:12 PM] Xho: Forrester: Pretty well, I'd say. As well as you can know anyone like that.

[11:13 PM] Sandy: "...Yeah.  ...I don't know why I'm here."

[11:14 PM] Xho: Forrester: I thought you lived here?

[11:15 PM] Sandy: "I live in an apartment downtown with August.  I work as a waitress while trying to get a body shop up.  ...or I did.  Now I'm back here calling myself a leader as I just do...whatever Alan tells me to...again."

[11:15 PM] Sandy: "As we deal with magic shit I don't know the first thing about."

[11:16 PM] Xho: Forrester: Ah. I understand that feeling.

[11:16 PM] Sandy: "Oh?"

[11:17 PM] Xho: Forrester: I'm not magic either. In some ways I have more in common with that bike you're working on than with anyone here.

[11:18 PM] Sandy: "...you're made of metal and run on diesel?"

[11:18 PM] Sandy: smiles

[11:20 PM] Xho: Forrester: ... well, I don't run on diesel. Coffee, mainly. Turkish if I can get it.

[11:22 PM] Sandy: "Ugh, Turkish?  Spoken like a man who has never had a proper Italian moka."

[11:23 PM] Xho: Forrester: Oh, I have. And I wouldn't turn it down.

[11:24 PM] Xho: Forrester: "Made of metal," though... it isn't wrong.

[11:25 PM] Sandy: "...I'm sorry.  I didn't realize."

[11:28 PM] Xho: Forrester: I've gotten better at moving over the years, but a lot of me is prosthetics. The metal holds up a bit better, makes it easier to get around, and it's just as easy to cover it up. I do miss the lost fingers more than anything.

[11:28 PM] Sandy: "...may I take a look?"

[11:31 PM] Xho: Forrester: ... this is your garage, and from what I've heard you do wonders with mechanical things of all kinds. Why not.

[11:33 PM] Xho: He tugs his coat off, awkwardly, unbuttons the shirt (yes, he is wearing an undershirt and is thoroughly covered) and then unlatches something under his arm; the entire arm comes off at the shoulder and he sets it on the table.

[11:34 PM] Sandy: takes it in her hands and begins turning it over, to observe the gears.

[11:34 PM] Xho: Forrester: ... you're going to have to turn around for me to get the leg off properly, I'm afraid.

[11:35 PM] Xho: It's a pretty sophisticated object, really, though it doesn't seem to be fully useable. Sandy can recognize it as something Alan put together, though it was probably a long time ago.

[11:35 PM] Sandy: blushes and turns.

[11:36 PM] Xho: There's a lot of rustling, a couple of whumps, and finally Forrester says, "You can turn around now. Just don't ask me to walk anywhere."

[11:36 PM] Xho: There's almost a whole fake leg on the table, plus another foot.

[11:37 PM] Sandy: "...there are several places this could be upgraded if you like.  Depending on what remains of the muscle tissue, I see a lot of ways to improve dexterity, an additional pulley here...have you considered working with a small motor?  Could improve the hand strength well beyond normal levels."

[11:37 PM] Sandy: will gently return Forrester's leg to him.

[11:38 PM] Sandy: will give a similar look over to the legs.

[11:39 PM] Xho: Forrester: Wouldn't that be noisy? I'm down two fingers on the other hand as well, but there's not much can be done about that.

[11:39 PM] Xho: Forrester: I'm honestly grateful to still have a thumb. You can do without fingers but it's really difficult to manage things without a thumb.

[11:41 PM] Sandy: "It would be, but you could turn it on and off at your leisure if I added it right.  Give you options.  ...these copper bits should really be replaced with aluminum.  I get the fear, likely Alan was worried that the joint wouldn't support the whole body, but you can reinforce it easier with a sturdier rod and give the joint more flexibility.  Otherwise...I'd be hesitant to add too many upgrades.  It's simpler than a hand, but also has to hold up more weight.  ...the foot's fine."

[11:44 PM] Xho: Forrester: That might be convenient. ... and I've lost weight since I got them. Weight's probably less of a concern now.

[11:44 PM] Sandy: "Distinctly possible.  I am right, aren't I?  These are Alan's designs?"

[11:47 PM] Xho: Forrester: Yes. ... he saved my life. The inactivity was killing me.

[11:47 PM] Sandy: nods.

[11:49 PM] Xho: Forrester: This isn't ideal--I miss depth perception, among other things--but at least I can do things again.

[11:50 PM] Sandy: "Well, if I can help make it closer to ideal...let me know."

[11:51 PM] Xho: Forrester: Go ahead. I'll need the foot back to get back into the house, mind you.

[11:52 PM] Sandy: "Not yet.  Take it all back, for now.  I'd need to work up some designs."

[11:52 PM] Xho: Forrester nods, and reattaches the arm and the foot.

[11:52 PM] Xho: Forrester: You haven't asked what happened.

[11:55 PM] Sandy: "Wasn't going to.  Thought it'd be rude.  But if you're willing to tell me..."

[11:59 PM] Xho: Forrester: When I was younger... probably about your age, maybe a bit older... I was, shall we say, an agent of the clandestine type. I'm English, but my father was... not. In many places anyone who looks like me is discounted, ignored. I could and did take advantage of that. I like to think I helped. Anyway, at one point they had set charges around a bridge to blow it up, and I set myself to defusing the bomb. And ... that did not go as well as I had hoped.

May 22, 2021

[12:00 AM] Sandy: nods.

[12:00 AM] Sandy: "This was the Great War?  Or further back?"

[12:01 AM] Xho: Forrester: It was the Great War.

[12:04 AM] Sandy: "And this is how you met Alan?"

[12:05 AM] Xho: Forrester nods. "He helped me out of a jam a time or two. ... and back into one a time or two as well, as I recall, but it was always worth it."

[12:06 AM] Sandy: "Hm.  I see."

[12:06 AM] Sandy: "...I think I should do some work.  Thank you, Mr. Forrester."

[12:07 AM] Xho: He nods. "You can call me Holly if you like. ... and thank you, Miss Swann."

[12:08 AM] Sandy: "You can call me Sandy, in that case."

[12:10 AM] Xho: He smiles. "Sandy it is, then." He nods, picks up his leg in one arm and limps out.

[12:10 AM] Sandy: will go to work.

[12:10 AM] Sandy: ((And we can end here, if that's ok. Thanks. ))

[12:11 AM] Xho: ((Sounds good!))