Things in this space aren't as linear as you'd think. Heck, I've heard you could get so out of whack twenty years'll go by in a second! Some of us are ahead of y'all, some are way behind. Myself included. Alllllso... *a strider particle canon with the safety on pops into being, leaned against the table* here ya go. No clue how to turn it on, but that'd be better than it being stuck in the "firing" mode. Hope it helps. You need gloves, fresh fruit, uh, I've got - *the message fizzles into static*
Alyx seems to subtly tense at the twenty years remark, gripping the table beneath her for only a moment before she resumes listening, nodding in the background. Her shoulders relax by the end of the message, a smile creeping across her face.
“Hah, you guys oughtta work with the supply drop crew…” Says Alyx.
“Ya’ll are being very generous, I’ll give you that!” Barney rubs the back of his neck as he replies, chuckling. “Oh, there’s a-“
Barney is abruptly cut off by a burst of light and twisting ribbons of what appears to be a rubbery, metallic substance coiling around a pink and black checkerboard, loudly popping into existence beside the two.
Soon enough, what appears to be a pulse cannon clatters to the ground, capturing the full attention of both Barney and an enraptured Alyx.
“The hell..? Hold on, stand back- let me…”
Barney cautiously approaches the pulse cannon, keeping the end facing towards the ground and away from him as he checks it out.
“Definitely not in working condition… Though I’m kind of afraid to have Doc take a look at it, ‘f I’m being honest, here…”
Alyx’s hand shoots up into the air, practically leaping at the opportunity to see the teleported object up close.
Barney, on the other hand, sharply inhales.
“No, we don’t know if this thing’s safe yet…”
“Come on! I’m an adult, I know how to handle these kinds of weapons, Barney-“
“No, you don’t. You know how to handle a pistol and a shotgun, not a combine cannon.”
Barney seems taken aback by her frustrated tone and posture, blinking. Eventually, he sighs and sets the weapon down, rubbing at the shadows under his eyes.
“I don’t, but at least I have more experience with it than you. We haven’t a clue in the world what these people are capable of sending, Alyx. Let alone if they’ll work as expected—”
“Then let me bring it to him and check!”
“I don’t want you alone with this stuff unless we know it’s safe-“
“I can at least carry it-“
“It’s a pulse cannon, you’d be obliterated if something went wrong-“
“Don’t you dare.” She growls.
The two seem to remember that they’ve been on camera the entire time, and immediately step away from each other, Alyx fidgeting with her jacket strings, and Barney with a hand on the back of his neck.
After a moment or two of awkward silence, Alyx clears her throat.
“How… About we just put it somewhere safe for now..? I mean, he’s asleep anyway…”
“Yeah, yeah- good idea-“ Barney is quick to nod, swiping the dimensional weapon and hauling it towards one of the unused vents, barring it shut and screwing the cover back in place for good measure.
“There, I reckon nobody’ll look for it there…”
Alyx makes a series of vague motions towards the computer, struggling to find her words.
“Thank you, sorry- um. You guys are great! I think all of this new stuff is hard to keep up with, though.”
“One step at a time,” Barney adds, “Wouldn’t it be better if ya’ll sent smaller stuff first? I mean, we have no idea where to start.”
They both grin and nod, and the tension begins to dissipate from the room.
“Hell, maybe things would be easier if we got some rest first… Heh. Next shifts soon, so I’d better get some shut-eye while I can.”
Whatever the two were arguing about doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore, at least for the time being. Judging by their reactions to each other, though; it’s certainly not been completely resolved.
Seems this isn’t the first time this has happened—barring the items.
Whatever. This isn’t a sitcom.
