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((Several. Here, I'll bring you to the communal kitchen. There's soup on.))
They walk him through the store toward the display kitchens. One has two pots (of differing sizes) on the stove, simmering merrily away with soup. The smaller one sort of smells awful, like a mix of things that Should Not Go Into Soup. The larger one is just a pot of...well, whatever ingredients Gil and Coda have felt like throwing into soup today, and the remains of yesterday's stone soup as well.
They walk him through the store toward the display kitchens. One has two pots (of differing sizes) on the stove, simmering merrily away with soup. The smaller one sort of smells awful, like a mix of things that Should Not Go Into Soup. The larger one is just a pot of...well, whatever ingredients Gil and Coda have felt like throwing into soup today, and the remains of yesterday's stone soup as well.
Several kitchens and not a single bath tub? What's wrong with this place? No matter, it isn't his place to talk. Astral flits over Coda's shoulder to set the pudding down on the counter.
((There should be enough for everyone.))
The Wrong Soup gets a scrunched up face from him for its unsavory smell. It makes everything less appetizing even if the other soup looks far more edible. Better to change the subject.
((A few weeks back, someone helped me repair a package that was damaged.)) As Coda was in the middle of moving, he didn't think of bringing it up then. ((He modified source code of the package.))
((There should be enough for everyone.))
The Wrong Soup gets a scrunched up face from him for its unsavory smell. It makes everything less appetizing even if the other soup looks far more edible. Better to change the subject.
((A few weeks back, someone helped me repair a package that was damaged.)) As Coda was in the middle of moving, he didn't think of bringing it up then. ((He modified source code of the package.))
They put it in the Wrong Soup? Perhaps it'll help it taste better, though it certainly doesn't smell any better.
((A mess...)) Astral knew Coda would know, they seem to know so much about Svelte. ((I memorized what he showed me, but it appeared only applicable to that package. I couldn't replicate it with anything else.))
((A mess...)) Astral knew Coda would know, they seem to know so much about Svelte. ((I memorized what he showed me, but it appeared only applicable to that package. I couldn't replicate it with anything else.))
((I can teach you, if you'd like.))
There's the tiniest hint of pride--they're glad people have come to them as an expert on the code. They do this sort of thing for a living back home, building game environments.
((Here, pull out your device, I'll give you some basic pointers.))
There's the tiniest hint of pride--they're glad people have come to them as an expert on the code. They do this sort of thing for a living back home, building game environments.
((Here, pull out your device, I'll give you some basic pointers.))
Pride is a much better feeling than that incomprehensible mess of darkness. (What is it? What is it?) Astral does as Coda asks, eagerly removing the device... from his hair... Where else would he put it? He doesn't wear clothes or keep a bag, and his hands were occupied on the way here with a pudding bowl.
Hovering is usually a bad habit in anyone's kitchen, but does it count when someone's a good 3 feet in the air? Can't step on toes this way.
((It'd be useful to know in the future.))
Hovering is usually a bad habit in anyone's kitchen, but does it count when someone's a good 3 feet in the air? Can't step on toes this way.
((It'd be useful to know in the future.))
Coda pulls out their own device and launches into something that's part lesson, part infodump. Look, this is Coda we're talking about. Emotion dies down somewhat as they concentrate on passing along the information as efficiently as possible. They've given these lessons before and have some idea of how to do this.
[ Bugsy had two bowls of stew in hand, whistling to himself as he stuck his head into the various rooms that Coda usually haunted. ]
Codaaaa- added some new shit to the everybody soup, want your opinion on it-
[ A very, very flimsy excuse to make sure they ate tonight. ]
Codaaaa- added some new shit to the everybody soup, want your opinion on it-
[ A very, very flimsy excuse to make sure they ate tonight. ]
[Coda's sprawled out on a bed--not their bed, but a bed--staring at the ceiling when Bugsy finds them. It's cold in this space, proper Winter cold, and they don't bother to sit up when they hear the bug calling.]
I'll grab some later, maybe. I just ate breakfast, I'm pretty sure.
[Either that or they're struggling with time, nbd.]
I'll grab some later, maybe. I just ate breakfast, I'm pretty sure.
[Either that or they're struggling with time, nbd.]
[ Bugsy shivered at the chilly atmosphere, gripping the warm bowls a little tighter, the buzzing of the lights overhead hissed a little louder in sympathy. Bugsy sat himself down next to Coda on the bed, resting one of the bowls on the bedside table and tucking into the other one. ]
This a usual level of not okay or should I be worried?
This a usual level of not okay or should I be worried?
'Back to work' makes me nervous. I'm not your boss.
[ He reached a hand down to stroke at Coda's head, gently. ]
'M not gonna not worry about you, buddy. You don't have to tell me what's up, but I'm gonna worry anyway.
[ He reached a hand down to stroke at Coda's head, gently. ]
'M not gonna not worry about you, buddy. You don't have to tell me what's up, but I'm gonna worry anyway.
I don't feel safe relaxing anymore. You might go away, or Gil, or Yakko. I can't rely on anyone, here. I can't trust in anyone to be here tomorrow when I wake up. It's not safe to make connections.
[They settle under his hand, though, looking for all the world like Ms. Mojo getting her daily adorations.]
[They settle under his hand, though, looking for all the world like Ms. Mojo getting her daily adorations.]
[ That... was a doozy. Bugsy stopped eating entirely, setting the bowl aside, and took a deep breath to gather his thoughts. ]
It's never been safe to care about people. Anyone. Shit- you know how many punks I used to know that would just turn up dead one day? Froze to death, or overdosed. Murdered, 'cus nobody gives a fuck about the street rats, and one more of us gone is just one less fucker panhandling in public.
[ He adjusted himself to pet Coda more carefully, smoothing his fingers lightly over their cheek and glowing freckles. He felt cold, and the buzzing only got louder. ]
But the reason we get told to prepare our goodbyes is so we can care about people. We could lose anyone at any point, we love 'em anyway. That's just Winter. Even if everyone we loved had full and happy lives, they'd die one day, and then so will we. You just... have to enjoy what you have while it's still here. The connections you have, having a full stomach and a warm bed. None of it stays. All of it is worth caring about, even if we don't show that side to the world.
It's never been safe to care about people. Anyone. Shit- you know how many punks I used to know that would just turn up dead one day? Froze to death, or overdosed. Murdered, 'cus nobody gives a fuck about the street rats, and one more of us gone is just one less fucker panhandling in public.
[ He adjusted himself to pet Coda more carefully, smoothing his fingers lightly over their cheek and glowing freckles. He felt cold, and the buzzing only got louder. ]
But the reason we get told to prepare our goodbyes is so we can care about people. We could lose anyone at any point, we love 'em anyway. That's just Winter. Even if everyone we loved had full and happy lives, they'd die one day, and then so will we. You just... have to enjoy what you have while it's still here. The connections you have, having a full stomach and a warm bed. None of it stays. All of it is worth caring about, even if we don't show that side to the world.
You sound like Orpheus.
[Grumpy as that comes out, it is a compliment, and a pause so Coda can digest that thought.]
I never told Artemis, you know. Not really all of how...you know. I'm not good at telling people. I wonder if he went back and thought...or if he'd think of me at all.
[Grumpy as that comes out, it is a compliment, and a pause so Coda can digest that thought.]
I never told Artemis, you know. Not really all of how...you know. I'm not good at telling people. I wonder if he went back and thought...or if he'd think of me at all.
Been compared to worse people than some happy sunshine fucker who starts soup kitchens unprompted.
[ Really, he'd take that compliment. Bugsy leaned down to kiss Coda gently on the head, letting them sit quietly for a bit. Bugsy shrugged at their eventual question, stating- ]
Flowers while they're here, buddy. 'S all you can do. Make sure they know how you feel while they're around. But... it'd be hard not to think about you, after getting to know you.
[ Bugsy was, of course, the best at taking his own advice. ]
[ Really, he'd take that compliment. Bugsy leaned down to kiss Coda gently on the head, letting them sit quietly for a bit. Bugsy shrugged at their eventual question, stating- ]
Flowers while they're here, buddy. 'S all you can do. Make sure they know how you feel while they're around. But... it'd be hard not to think about you, after getting to know you.
[ Bugsy was, of course, the best at taking his own advice. ]
[ Bugsy leaned down to follow the tug, big red eyes curious and concerned. ]
What's up, buddy?
What's up, buddy?
[ There was a surprised buzzing noise, and the back of Bugsy's shirt jostled from his wings flapping. His hand went to his cheek automatically, and as much as Coda was watching him, he was also watching them, maybe a little puzzled.
They were so ethereal, and lovely, and what was he? A human fly, altogether too bodily and flawed and fleshy. But he laughed a little, weakly. Here he was, breaker of hearts, stilled by one kiss to his cheek. His voice wavered as he asked- ]
Really? You're sure?
They were so ethereal, and lovely, and what was he? A human fly, altogether too bodily and flawed and fleshy. But he laughed a little, weakly. Here he was, breaker of hearts, stilled by one kiss to his cheek. His voice wavered as he asked- ]
Really? You're sure?
Something like that. 'S funny how much smarter it sounds coming from your mouth.
[ Bugsy reached down carefully to take Coda's hand and place it on his cheek. His skin was firm and carapace-like, with bristly hairs from his scraggly beard and fly-like darker hairs. And then he closed his eyes, exhaling, putting his trust in them for whatever came next. ]
[ Bugsy reached down carefully to take Coda's hand and place it on his cheek. His skin was firm and carapace-like, with bristly hairs from his scraggly beard and fly-like darker hairs. And then he closed his eyes, exhaling, putting his trust in them for whatever came next. ]
Shit is already so fucking weird.
[ Bugsy's wings buzzed again at the feel of Coda's hand smoothing down his hairs. ]
I'm... involved with Gil already, but he's chill with me being involved with other people too. And I- I have needs, but 'm not expecting you to be the one that meets 'em. Y'know?
[ Bugsy's wings buzzed again at the feel of Coda's hand smoothing down his hairs. ]
I'm... involved with Gil already, but he's chill with me being involved with other people too. And I- I have needs, but 'm not expecting you to be the one that meets 'em. Y'know?
I feel like you're talking in all sorts of euphemisms. 'Involved', 'needs'.
...I don't know what I'm doing, Bugsy. Any of this. I'm sorry.
[But it's on the heels of their apology that they lift their face to meet his, their lips grazing his. Maybe, just maybe, they're apologizing for not knowing how to kiss?]
...I don't know what I'm doing, Bugsy. Any of this. I'm sorry.
[But it's on the heels of their apology that they lift their face to meet his, their lips grazing his. Maybe, just maybe, they're apologizing for not knowing how to kiss?]
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