|| Fifth ☄ ||

[guardiano_perduto]

--uh.

[Oh hey there Ratchet, where've you been? Stuff happened on the ship while you were gone.

...but something about the Lombax just doesn't look quite right. His fur's a bit bristled and it doesn't look like he's been sleeping very well at all. Scorch-marks cover some pretty broad sections of his armour, notably his hands. But he ignores all that and tries to address Cambot with as casual a demeanor as he can manage.

Which isn't that good.

Something's definately bugging him, other than their current predicament.]

I was gonna say something along the lines of how the heck I got tossed back and forth like this but, ah...

Could someone tell me why there's a talking dinosaur plastered all over the place?

Comments

[guardiano_perduto]

You said there was a missile involved - whatever happened to the guy?

[colorbymemory]

We don't know.

[Namine looks sad. She wanted to think Joel was okay somehow, but they had know way of knowing for sure unless he managed to contact them again.]

[guardiano_perduto]

...hey, come on. If he made it out all this way to try and rescue us, I'm sure he's okay.

Rememeber, we're in another dimension or something right now - he probably just can't find us again.

[colorbymemory]

[Her expression brightens at his reassurance--not quite happy, but more thoughtful than sad.]

Maybe he's looking for us. I wonder if there's a way to send him a signal.

[guardiano_perduto]

Good luck tryin' that from a completely different dimension. Unless you've got some kind of interdimensional wormhole device?

[colorbymemory]

Maybe we could ask Gypsy if there's one we can use.

[Satisfied with that, she moves on to another subject. She'd been distracted by his questions, but now she notices the scorch marks on his armor.]

You're hurt!

1/2

[guardiano_perduto]

Don't'cha think if there was one, it would've been used by no--

[guardiano_perduto]

[WOW THAT WAS SUDDEN. Forgive him if he jumps a little because jeez, Namine.]

What--no! I'm fine!

[colorbymemory]

Ah--I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you, but your hands...are you sure they're okay?

[Working with her hands a lot has made Nami sensitive to any potential injury to them.

[guardiano_perduto]

My... hands. Uh. Yeah...? As far as I know.

[colorbymemory]

But it looks like you got burned...

[guardiano_perduto]

Oh, what, those? Kid, I'm handling heavy weaponry every day - you're gonna get a little scuffed up in the process.

[colorbymemory]

Oh! I see.

[She looks a little sheepish now.]

I'm sorry, I thought...

[guardiano_perduto]

...I'm fine. So don't worry, alright?

[colorbymemory]

[Something about her expression hints that Namine can guess he's not telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth.]

I see. If you're sure...

We're here if you want to talk.

[guardiano_perduto]

I... ah...

Maybe. Sort of.

[colorbymemory]

I'm on the theatrical deck.

[guardiano_perduto]

You sure you're okay with it?

[colorbymemory]

I'm sure.

[guardiano_perduto]

Alright. I'm on my way, if you can hang tight for a bit.

[colorbymemory]

I'll be right here.

[Time to clean up a few things while she waits.]

[guardiano_perduto]

[It's not like you had to - Ratchet never minded a mess. If one could see the condition he'd left his garage in, they would certainly think otherwise.

But he's there before long, knocking on the door quietly and keeping an ear out.]

[colorbymemory]

[Whether or not she has to, it's polite and it will help her focus on the conversation if she doesn't have her supplies around. It doesn't take long and she's ready when he knocks.]

Come in--the door's unlocked.

[guardiano_perduto]

[He isn't sure why he's being so cautious about visiting a friend, because he knows they won't mind either way. It's just... the past few weeks have him on edge lately, and he can't quite seem to shake it off as quickly as he'd like.]

I don't think we have much of a reason to lock 'em anyway, unless those raptor-things find their way up here.

[colorbymemory]

[Even with friends, manners are appreciated. At least, that's what Namine interprets the knock as--just him being polite and not walking in without warning.]

Probably not, though you never really know what will happen.

[If they're going to talk for a while, they might as well be comfortable. She gestures to a seat as she sits.]