hold on; [ closed ]

[reuser]

Who: Jaune Arc ( beaconed ) and Pyrrha Nikos ( reuser )
When: IC: 12/15; OOC: April 4th
Where: Shopping district.
What: Cybuddies. CY. BUDDIES.
Rating/Warning: Rated J for Jaune.



[ Running errands through the shopping district - or, Shopping District.EXE, if you will - hadn’t been a quick, seamless thing so much as half a day’s excursion. Often devolving into a play-filled field trip, but Pyrrha (thankfully) doesn’t feel like a chaperone inasmuch as a hapless friend dragged along for the ride. It’s a role she’s very willing to fill, especially when Jaune is the one doing the dragging.

Not that it had ever stopped her from reminding him of their (his and hers, but there’s little difference) budget restraints. Half the time, he was resigned to staring longingly through store windows while Pyrrha questioned the necessity of some of their - his - potential purchases.

This time is a little different. As Jaune leans over a pile of robot puppies yapping excitedly at him, Pyrrha is... strangely helpless. Balancing their bag of sundries carefully on one arm, she joins him at his side. ]

We should go in.

Comments

[beaconed]

[ It's been a long day of "no" and "maybe next time", to the point where he didn't even bother asking this time. When he hears Pyrrha's suggestion, however, he almost yelps like one of the puppies he's been gaping at. Perking up and away from the window, he looks at her to see if she truly means it.

What is she to him nowadays, his mom?! ]

C-Can we really? At least just to hold them!

[reuser]

[ After a day of feeling rather like a mother, Pyrrha is more than happy to acquiesce. Holding them doesn’t cost a single credit, after all. Encouragingly, she nods. ]

Yeah, of course.

[ She’ll follow this up by slipping in through the door and heading toward the gathering of eager puppies - most of whom, if she’s being strictly honest, reminder her a fair bit of Jaune himself. They trot happily around her ankles, tugging at the hem of her trousers and nipping at her boot laces with their tiny, robot puppy teeth. One of them crawls across the insteps of her feet and falls fast asleep, audibly powering down into 50% mode.

Yeah. She’s stuck. She may live here now. ]

—Jaune?

[ Help her, partner! ]

[beaconed]

[ It's pretty incredible how these tiny metallic, artificial life forms can be so fondness inspiring — almost as much as Pyrrha's inability to handle this situation on her own. Jaune gingerly sets himself down on his knees, gently poking the puppy that's camped on her foot. It doesn't look at Jaune, however, instead it simply decides to burrow it's head further into Pyrrha, as if it doesn't want to be bothered.

Jaune laughs a little, looking up at his partner from below. ]

I think somebody likes you.

[reuser]

[ As Jaune kneels down to poke at one cybuddy, two more start clawing at his shoes. Somewhat literally, in this case; their metal robot feet more resemble (reasonably dull) talons than paws. Hearing the whirring snore the sleeping puppy gives, she’s hesitant to move. After a few moments more, she scoops it up into her hands. Its protest is whittled down into a sleepy yawn and, after burrowing its head into the heel of her hand, its on lights dim once more into power down mode. ]

I’ll keep holding it until it gets bored of sleeping.

[ At the moment, she has no plans of actually buying one of them, after all. ]

It is pretty cute. [ The cybuddy’s ears move back and forth while he’s sleeping... ]

[beaconed]

[ Still on the ground, he obliges by playing back with the cybuddies that are clamoring for his attention. He's very much content just to muck around with them for now, but hearing her admit that it's cute makes him wonder if it wouldn't be so bad to come home with one of these. ]

I'm guessing you didn't have much time for pets back in our world, huh?

[reuser]

[ Her thumb strokes circles across one of the cybuddy's affection sensors, encouraging it to emit a small, pleased sound while in power down mode— while sleeping. ]

I didn't want to adopt anything I couldn't give my full attention.

[ Although it always had been tempting. A large dog to run with, a friend to greet her every day, something unconditional. Rather than say that, Pyrrha adds, ]

Besides, the life of a huntress is not one with many guarantees.

[beaconed]

[ No guarantees... Jaune is quite aware of the harsh reality, but his perspective is somewhat different, perhaps almost childlike. ]

Isn't that all the more reason to do the things you'd like? I mean, if not now, then when?

[reuser]

[ ...

Her answer is quiet but firm. She can't bring herself to a bout of optimism in this particular issue. (Maybe she if survives to see retirement.) ]

It's a little different when there's a life dependent on you, Jaune. Someone waiting for you to come home. Even if I made arrangements, it would still feel cruel.

[ This thing, though. Its beeps are soft, almost happy. Pyrrha can't quite bring herself to put it down, nor she can really take her eyes off of it. ]

[beaconed]

[ His smile still persists despite the grim subject, although it's more subdued now, like he's doing it for himself rather than for her. ]

I don't know about that... I think they'd feel lucky to have known you for a certain amount of time, rather than not know you at all.

[ Are they still talking about pets here? ]

Our time may be precious, but who's to say that any life comes with guarantees? [ Her answer surprises him, admittedly. Does Pyrrha really worry about the possibility of not coming home? The only person who should be concerned with their mortality here is Jaune, but he easily masks his trepidation by tickling a kitty cybuddy by his side. It's purring! ]

[reuser]

[ Of course she does. She’s based off of Achilles, after all. ]

Maybe you’re right.

[ Regardless, it’s a morbid sort of topic. Pyrrha decides to try and ease them away from it. ]

Did you find a kitten?

[beaconed]

Yeah. [ He scoops the little thing up and finally stands again. ]

Though, I think they're a bit more high-maintenance than dogs. But are they cuter?

[ With one hand, he offers it for Pyrrha to hold while the other one tries to relieve her of puppy carrying duty. It seems to be asleep by now anyway. ]

[reuser]

They're a different kind of cute.

[ Pyrrha isn't about to hold one up against the other in a contest of cuteness. That's only kind to the winning animal and unfair to both. She's a bit reluctant to let go of the puppy, but relents after a noticeable moment. The kitten is immediately nudging her fingers when taken, its purring motor vibrating happily.

About the cat: ]

It looks a bit like Ren, actually.

[beaconed]

Exactly which part of Ren looks like a robot kitten?

[ And then he adds, rather humorously: ]

He is cute, though.

[reuser]

Perhaps it's more of a personality thing. They’re both less dour than they seem.

[ Okay, Pyrrha.

A few more seconds of letting the kitten rub against her fingers, purring away, and then - ]

Let’s take them home with us. [ Yeah, she caved pretty easy... ]

[beaconed]

[ He just laughs gently. You would expect Jaune to scream in excitement, but he pretty much decided they're gonna get one the moment they entered the store. After all, he hasn't told Pyrrha about his job and the very lucrative tips he's been getting, so money is not the issue. ]

Well, looks like there are some things even Pyrrha Nikos can't fight against!

But secretly? I knew you were a cat person all along.

[reuser]

[ By contrast, Pyrrha’s teaching salary is minimal, but she likes the job far too much to complain overly. ]

I can’t hide anything from you, can I, Jaune?

[ It’s said with a smile over her shoulder, wide and teasing, before she gently lifts up the kitten’s leg to examine its price sticker. ]

They don’t seem very expensive. We could probably get two and still be within our budget.

[beaconed]

T-Two..?

[ He didn't expect her to want two! It really must be Christmas. Nevertheless, Jaune yells out to the shopkeeper without hesitation. ] --Two, please!

[ As their new little friends are being packaged and processed, Jaune returns Pyrrha's teasing smile with his own. ]

Why don't we just adopt the whole store?

[reuser]

I don’t think that’s within our budget.

[ Even if it’s an honest answer, it’s also a teasing one - playing along as much as correcting him.

The kitten that had been occupying her hands for the last several minutes is deposited at the cashier counter - another one might be available, yes, but just because they’re identical robot pets doesn’t mean they’re interchangeable! Or something. The point is, this is the cat Pyrrha’s chosen. (It’s possible that she tends to get attached to the first friendly beings to happen upon her…)

Adding, after a beat, ]

You would have to get a second job.

[ Or tell her about the first one. ]

[beaconed]

[ Ahahaha....... ]

So, wait, the budget is the issue here? What happened to "no guarantees" and all that?

[reuser]

[ She noticed that oh-so subtle subject change, Arc.

Pyrrha simply shrugs, nonchalant and content all at once, waiting patiently as the transaction is finalised. Two cybuddy boxes are shuffled neatly into a shopping bag, which she holds out for Jaune to take. ]

[beaconed]

[ Aren't you the one avoiding his question, Nikos? He does take the shopping bag without question, however. Once it's in his hands, he takes a brief moment to stare at his partner beside him. Is it because they're robots that Pyrrha suddenly has room in her life for pets, or could he have said something to change her mind? ]

......You know I would, right? [ Buy the whole store that is, so be mindful of what you say around him! ]

[reuser]

Oh, I’m sure of that.

[ That’s why they’re leaving. ]

[beaconed]

[ Wow, she sure left rather fast! Jaune quickly catches up to her, though, matching her pace as he nudges her playfully. ]

So what are we naming them? It can't be Ren and Nora, I'm gonna pull rank if I have to! Besides, it should be something androgynous, right?

[reuser]

[ Pyrrha’s retort is almost immediate: ] Ren and Nora aren’t that gendered of names.

[ His playful nudge is answered with one of her own. The cybuddy shop falls away behind them, with the lights of the shopping district as bright at stars but dampened with neon cheapness. Reds, greens, yellows - it’s beautiful and fake all at once and, Pyrrha notices, leaving crowns of changing colour on Jaune’s hair.

She tries not to get too distracted by it. ]

What would you like to call them?

[ Note that she’s yet to give up on Ren the cat and Nora the puppy. ]

[beaconed]

I... admit I haven't given it much thought either...

[ Calling them Ren and Nora not only reminds him that they're gone, something he's been quietly internalizing, but it would go against the idea of individualism itself, wouldn't it? ]

Hey... you remember Professor Ozpin's speech on the day of the field trip, right? What if we named them based on colours as well? They may be just Cybuddies, but they should have a chance to be themselves, too... a-and it's a way of remembering our whole world as well!

[ He looks back at her, wondering if what he said sounds stupid, and what her reaction to it would be. He may have caught her staring at his hair, too, but he thinks nothing of it at this time. ]

[reuser]

[ It doesn’t sound stupid at all to Pyrrha. In fact, her smile grows, sun-tinged warmth practically igniting an otherwise unexciting moment of appreciation. ]

How about... Jade and Teal?

[beaconed]

Jade and Teal...

T-That's it, you did it! Those are their names! Jade and Teal!! Or Teal and Jade. Which one's which? --doesn't matter, we'll figure it out when we're home!

[ The names sound great and unique until they eventually meet a guy called Jade. Or maybe they never will. ]