Son of the Thalatte

[Reeves]

Log : 4

Having just been rotated and given the opportunity to go rest, I decided to at least check on how Inge was doing after being discharged. I raised a hand to my helmet after I keyed in her individual frequency on my PDA.
There was a moment of silence as the communication link waits for her to accept it on the receiving end. I've never had this problem before, but while the tone of the comm's remained idle, I found it hard to think of what I should say first, or how to even say hello. No matter what combination I tried mentally it didn't sound good enough.
"Hello?" she asked, seemingly a little unsure about why me of all people were reaching out to her.
"Kea- Mi- Inge...sorry for calling unannounced. I know you got discharged recently and just wanted to check if you were feeling better." My tone although nervous at first managed to return to normal.
"Erhm... I'm doing alright I guess, although I won't be flying any time soon still." She replied quietly.
I knew for a fact she was staying on the Freeport and I feared that if I continued this conversation on the comm's it would be short lived. "Recovery is important." He had some basic idea of what to say but he's lost all those words now. "Would you mind if I came down to the Freeport to talk instead? I'm not used to having extended conversations over the comms."
"Ehm... no it's fine, I eh... I'll text you my room number I suppose?" She said slowly, slight hesitation in her voice which I could detect.
"Yeah, sure." I kept my arm raised so that I could check my PDA for updates. A small text with her room number and what deck I needed to be on showed up later. "You should have it, you might want to conceal you weapon and maybe get some normal clothes if at all possible, Freeports aren't that fond of military units coming in and being fully equipped.". Her instructions were quite useful.
"Right, I'll be there in...five minutes." I cut the communications link for now and paid my first visit to the room I was assigned on the Eidolon Wrath, I ignored everything about it and walked straight up to the wardrobe, pulling out a formal shirt and a pair of jeans, I changed quickly, laying my combat armor out onto the bed. Just before I could leave my room again I made sure I memorized her room and deck number, making the short trek down to the Freeport thereafter.

Once there, I simply followed the directions I had and came up to the room number she sent me, knocking on the door twice and somewhat firmly.
"Come in." I could hear from behind the door that was unlocked.
I calmly opened the door, taking two steps forward till I was safely in the room before closing it. "I hope I'm not bothering you or anything."
Inge herself was sitting on the bed, her legs straight and her back against a pillow. She just turned off the television and her PDA laying on her lap. "I also hope you ate something...properly this time. It isn't good to not eat for extended periods of time." My concern for her was obvious and I couldn't help but tell her that. I stood a little awkwardly in the middle of the room, my surroundings alien to me for now.
"I've eaten enough, don't worry. Medical environments just make me a bit eh... they make me lose my appetite." She said with a soft smile, looking over me observing what I was wearing.
There was just a simple bed in the middle of the room and a window giving a view of the system. There was also one door that led to the bathroom. She herself was dressed in a long sleeved shirt with a small turtleneck and some simple jeans.
"I agree, it's a little nicer having normal conversations in a more normal and less crowded place..." - "Glad to see you doing better.". I returned her smile after saying that, a small sense of relief and happiness building up for some reason.
"Still not optimal but we're getting there." She replied with a soft smile, her eyes still looking at more than just my face. I wasn't entirely sure why. "So... you are just checking up on me then?" She asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, I wanted to." It felt like she was looking right through me for some reason. Analysing me for lies, it feels weird being the one under analysis, I guess I was just getting a taste of my own medicine. I did this to people all the time.
"You wanted to?" She asked surprised, her facial features in that moment gave away the fact that she wasn't expecting my answer.
"Yes, I wanted to." I honestly meant that and hoped she wasn't doubting my intentions any further.
"Hm... alright, how come?" She asked in a genuine tone, I could feel her easing up on the suspicions she previously had, I was personally a little relieved.
"Honestly?" I asked.
"Of course." I saw her smirk a little.
"The small conversation we had yesterday was the best conversation I've had since I got my job. I just wanted to see how you were doing and talk to you some more.". I couldn't help but smile at her a little, noting the feeling being similar to one termed as happiness.
"So you don't really get out much then do you?" She asked curiously. There might have been some humor in the fact that I never really did get out much.
"No, not really. I just don't have the time for it." Having said that I immediately noticed a flaw with having phrased it like that, I was silently hoping she wouldn't pick at it.
"And now you do?" She smirked with some disbelief. Unfortunately she did pick at it.
"Well...". I cursed in my head because there was no way to disprove that or argue against it.
"Erh..." I mumbled a few more times after that. "You're enjoying countering my statements, aren't you?" I laughed softly while saying that.
"No, well maybe a little" She said softly. "What do you normally do when you're off duty?"
"I'm off duty right now and I'm spending it with you, that's...it for now, really..." - "I don't really do anything off duty otherwise." I didn't really do anything else and hadn't rehearsed lies for those questions, so I had to be honest or risk looking like a blatant fraud, I didn't want her to think of me like that.
"I meant, before coming here? What did you normally do?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Sleep...eat...?" It sounded pathetic but the truth was exactly that.
"Hm... alright, well the same sort of for me. I just work and sleep, although I do try to sometimes go and visit places." She said a little thoughtful about the subject herself.
"Where do you usually like to go?" I felt more relaxed now, and able to actually have a conversation without the need to contemplate my words over and over.
"Uh... it's been a while since I really went out but I've been to the Sigma's and such, spent time there with a friend." She said a little thoughtful still.
"Sounds nice." I was making an effort at participating in normal conversation. "You look nicer now too, out of the sickly medical bay." I repeated that in my head a few times and it sounded more like an attempt at flattery. It wasn't intentional but I had said it and there was no way to take it back without potentially causing offense, so instead I tried explaining it but just ended up mumbling and not saying anything of real clarity.
She blushed a little and kept a smirk. "Eh... thanks I suppose? There is this space city in the sigma's it's like a artificial planet in space with this massive biodome, probably one of my best times out." She tried to change the subject a little.
I was slightly glad she veered off topic so I didn't have to explain that or make things worse. "Space city? Sounds pretty exotic. Who owns it?" I decided to let the subject change happen and furthered this topic of conversation.
"The GMG does. It's really expensive to stay there though." She said with a small smirk.
We just kept talking after that and even went for a walk together on the observation deck of the Freeport, it was honestly nice and a welcome break to what was otherwise a dull schedule I had. Eventually I had to get back on duty and she needed to go back and rest, but I did want to see her again.

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Developments for personal reference:

I probably shouldn't document our whole conversation. It doesn't need to be, but I did enjoy my time with her. Hopefully we'll both be free again so I can see her.

Personal developments:

I experienced nervousness when I was with Inge and she was asking me a few questions, adding another emotion to the developing spectrum.

Hunt had to fix an error with my mental programming, there was some form of a looping error with two traits of my personality that was causing rather violent mental conflicts as my mind tried to tear itself into two personalities, each wanting control. I lashed out during that period, but it being put back into the tube and corrected seems to have fixed it.

Things I need to do or want to do:

Find some proper clothes for going to dinner with Inge on the Freeport, I've observed that people usually dress better than usual on such occasions, probably best if I follow.

I still need to thank Artemis, but I haven't seen her for a while after the small incident in the Medical Bay. I hope she's alright, in either case I should try talking to her and at least thank her.

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On indefinite hiatus because the current state of gameplay sucks - ping me over discord if replies are needed