Upon Vestia: Chapter Fourteen

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(Cause the old thread won't split.)

flying_purple_monkfish wrote:"aww poor little green mouse." Luka laughed. "That trap is ridiculous."

Ethan got the paper out of the printer and went to look at the drawer. "When you say my duplicate likes pens, do you mean he likes pens, or do you mean he has an unholy addiction to pens?" he asked

Mourn shrugged. "he got pen stockpile. Maybe he no want grumpy medic to be able write notes? Or maybe just like pens." Hey what'd he know. He picked one up and pocketed it. "mine now."

Ethan had something that sounded strangely similar to a fit of giggles. "I won't tell him you took it," he said. He held out the brain scan printout, "Want to have a look?"

"yes." Mourn clamboured over the desk instead of going around it and sat on the edge, feet dangling as he reached for the paper. "you know what looking at?" He asked.

"Not really. I was a servant, not a medic," Ethan said, shrugging. "But maybe if we stare at it long enough it'll make sense."

Mourn snorted. "Can print other one." He scurried back across the desk and did just that, printing out the earlier scan. "Now we compare." He nodded sagely, yep, that seemed all scientific. "You no have basic medical code?"

"Basic medical coding is how to bandage wounds and identify common sicknesses, not how to tell what brain damage looks like," Ethan said, amused. He looked at the two printouts side by side. Yes, this was very scientific.

Mourn looked over his shoulder from up on the desk and shrugged. "look different." He remarked unhelpfully. It was true though, the older one had dark spots on it, while the new one didn't

"Maybe that's brain damage," Ethan speculated. "In which case your brain is less damaged now, and maybe that's why you're scared of things now." He prodded the first one, "Or maybe whoever took this scan had no idea how to scan a brain. Could be that."

Mourn shrugged and reached out to take both. "What else we take?" He looked around for anything swipeable just because. Oo a paperweight, nah.. to heavy. Mmm... He helped himself to some more painkillers just in case, tucking those into his coveralls pocket. "Okay, we go now. Unless want pens too." He cackled.

Ethan twitched a bit when Mourn picked up the paperweight, and was relieved when he set it back down. "Nah, I'd rather not have two furious medics hunting me," he said with a snort, "You're alone in this." He had to ask Asher about the pens sometime. What in the world was wrong with that guy?

Mourn grinned. "you think counts them?" He opened that drawer again and took two more just because. The idea of Asher knowing exactly how many pens he had amused him greatly for some reason. "We go before medics come back and give angry looks." He nodded. "other you not so good at angry looks, you better."

Ethan nodded. "I'll bet he counts them. He seems like the type. Nothing like having too much time on your hands and near-perfect recall to make you do dumb shit like counting pens."
On a whim, he pocketed a pen. He really was picking up Asher's habits, darn it.

Mourn snickered and scurried on out merrily, looking back at Ethan. "I no tell, you no tell. Lovely ship no tell yes?" He glanced to Vestia's camera.

---Not a word--- Vestia's lights went an amused lavender color.

"That's such a weird way to talk," Ethan said. "Colors? Really?"

Mourn laughed. "color help when no have face."

Ethan considered that. "I guess so. This ship is so strange."

---Aww, he understands--- Vestia's lights went a warm orange hue.

Ethan snorted. "So," he said, looking away from the weird ship to speak to Mourn and Mourn only, "We've established in an entirely scientific manner that your fear is because your brain is fixed. So the obvious solution is to damage it." He was probably joking.

Mourn tilted his head. "How you intend do that? You no medic." Mourn took him totally seriously apparently.

Ethan's mouth twitched in a funny smile. "I was kidding. I like you too much to damage your brain for you. Bet the Guild could though."

Mourn shrugged. "No know. Maybe they just make worse. You smile funny." he told Ethan matter of factly.

"Yeah. Maybe you'll just have to try and figure out how to use a working brain," Ethan said, "Could be entertaining at least." He didn't seem bothered by Mourn's remark, "Not much practice," he said, "My face doesn't know how to do it right."

Mourn shrugged. "Maybe learn. " He looked glum. He brightened a bit. "Gonna go holodeck." He nodded. "Want come? No have keep me safe any more." He cackled.

Ethan blinked at Mourn's gloom. It was weird to see the guy experiencing actual emotions. He thought over Mourn's offer, then shrugged. "Sure, I'll come, if you promise to not stab me like you stab Luka."

Mourn laughed. "That not holodeck, that sword fighting. She need learn better defense." Yeah he didn't care if he hurt her, not at all. He lead the way to the holodeck.

Ethan snickered. "I'll be sure to avoid sword fighting then." He followed Mourn.

"Skin not cheap, better to no get cut." Mourn agreed. "Robot better with gun anyway. You know how shoot?"

"And getting cut hurts," Ethan said. He really did prefer to avoid pain when possible. "Of course. Combat programming came preinstalled, I have good aim."