out of touch

C A I A twenty nine years old M E C H A N I C new colombia citizen

[daredevildaily]

[777777777y-deactivated20190701]

[caiic]

& LYNX

Lynx, finally able to stuff the paper into his jacket pocket, instead reached out to grab the girl’s hand once more, just as she leaned back against the table. He accompanied it with a warm smile, chocolate hues locked on his friend. “ I’ll be okay. “ His broken voice was a little less broken, a phrase he often said. He hoped she believed him, the last thing he needed was someone else worrying about him out there, it only sent one’s mind into a frenzy. Letting go of her hand, he let her explain. 

Tallnecks, Lancehorns, Lynx made a mental note of the machines, eyes focused on her. His eyes narrowed as she continued, trying to find some sort of plan to make it out, damage free. 

“ Machine needs no damage ? “ He questioned, his voice mellowing out as he used it further. Now this was important, and Lynx wasn’t about to mess this up without all the facts. If the machine had to be operational and undamaged to successfully remove the part, he wondered if there was a way to disable the machine itself without damaging the body. 

The gentle tug on her hand as he took it once more made her look up, her features becoming softer for a moment, flashing relief before it disappeared again. As much as she appreciated his words, it was the warmth of his hand that had her convinced. Caia used her words to communicate - he used the world around him and thus, his own language had more weight in this. Nodding once, she squeezed his hand gently and offered a small smile. “I know.” Her hand dropped to her side as soon as he let it go.

“Well, that’s kind of the dream but rather unrealistic. Just as little damage as possible in this scenario.” The most vital machine parts were almost always damaged in some way, it’s a thing she got used to and worked around. But sometimes it meant they’d lose some features, given all the textbooks couldn’t tell them things they hadn’t discovered yet. Sighing, her eyes darted up to look at Lynx. She wanted to get good news, get the part, make a step forward. But hope was a treacherous thing and she didn’t want to bask in it. “I’ll gladly take what I can get here. I appreciate the effort as is.” Caia stated, not wanting to repeat the sentiment and ask him to be careful.

[macherierps]

[caiic]

↝ Have you ever had your heart broken? What are the details?

“Other than the usual teenager affairs that went down in a blaze of glory? Only once. In the most unexpected way. And that was when my brother died. You never think your first heartbreak would be this - drastic. But here we are.”

[caiic]

➳

➳ Without saying who it is about, what is something that you want to say to them that you normally wouldn’t say to their face?

“I would tell her that I don’t blame her. Not anymore. It won’t be like it used to be, it never could but she’s not the villain in my book. I know this eats away at her and I wish it would stop, for her own sake and because I know my brother wouldn’t want that. And down the line, I’m glad she came out of it alive and I didn’t have to mourn two people I care about.”

[caiic]

✠ What is something that you hate? Why?

“Being stuck in a defined space that allows the violation of people’s privacy under the excuse that it’s for their own safety while in reality, it’s just a measure to keep them in check because the second people could have enough freedom to think outside of the lines drawn for them, it would become a shitshow where the ones at the top lose their power over those under them. And peas. Very bland. Hate those.”

[caiic]

⋈ What was the last thing you lied about? Why did you lie?

“It was work-related. The science lab wanted to move a project forward that wasn’t quite finished yet - well, not finished to the degree I wanted it to be - so I told a little white lie to delay the process. But it’ll pay off in the long run so I don’t feel as bad about it. I definitely feel worse for telling Moss he didn’t have an oil stain on his nose last time he asked me.”

[unscriptedsage]

Inner Secrets Ask Meme

✧ How do you want people to see you?

❅ When was the last time you cried, and why?

♚ What is a habit that you don’t want people to know you have?

♤ If you could change one thing about your personality, what would it be?

♡ If you could change one thing about your physical appearance, what would it be?

☾ Do you believe in fate and love at first sight? Why or why not?

↝ Have you ever had your heart broken? What are the details?

✠ What is something that you hate? Why?

❖ Where do you go/What do you do when you are angry?

❧ Would your younger self be pleased with who you are right now?

⋈ What was the last thing you lied about? Why did you lie?

◈ What is your ideal relationship like?

⊙ If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

➳ Without saying who it is about, what is something that you want to say to them that you normally wouldn’t say to their face?

[caiic]

& MOSS

well.  he has to eat it now.  because she’s being a little shit.  and there’s no way he can back down from a – ‘possible potato’.  at least, not without having to live it down through taunts and jibes for the next week… maybe a month.  there’d be potatoes in his toolbox.  potatoes in his water filter.  if anyone could find a way to draw out his tragedy of a meal… it would be caia.

❝ fiiiine. ❞

plucking the fork from the plate with the lump still skewered on the end.  he attempts to hold his breath while shoving the offending item into his mouth.  it’s… possibly worse than the time he accidentally ate one of the experimental fertiliser pellets his father had been testing when he was about ten.  mistaking the little ball of concentrated plant nutrient for something edible.

maybe the month of suffering would have been the better option after all.

❝ iht’s noht ah pohtatoah. ❞

the words come out around the mouthful.  he can’t actually bring himself to swallow, but other than spitting it back out onto the plate and possibly making everyone else in the bar nauseous, he doesn’t really have much option.  it takes some kind of herculean effort to choke the foul substance down, and he’s grabbing the drink that’s on the table - trying to stop himself from choking while washing away as much of the gross taste as possible.  it’s followed by a small wheeze… trying to catch his breath while shoving the plate as far away as possible.

❝ that… ❞

one finger points at the food accusingly –

❝ …should be illegal. ❞

nose wrinkles in a show of snark toward the other mechanic.

❝ fine - i’ll get you a drink.  but you’re emptying the oil dump in the morning. ❞

As soon as he agreed to actually try the meal he ordered, a huge grin popped onto her features, her frame leaning in closer to observe his reaction. She loved her job, she truly did but getting to work with Moss had quickly become one of her favorite parts of it all. It hadn’t always been this way, frankly, she had once considered him a giant pain in her existence but it was one of those occasions where she was grateful to have been proven wrong. Now she got to spend her days tormenting him and even better - tormenting anyone who tormented him. 

“Oh, it isn’t?” She asked with sarcasm lacing her words, batting her eyes like an innocent kid. “My bad." Her tone became shaky as she started to chuckle. Watching his reaction to the food almost made her feel bad for him. Almost. “It must’ve been a bad crop this week and they had to make do with whatever was left.” Caia mused, trying to find an explanation for the bad meal. Usually, the bar fed them well, sometimes even offered things you couldn’t easily get at the Food Outpost. But once in a while, well, it didn’t work out so well and obviously, Moss was a victim of bad timing. 

When he shoved his plate away, Caia took another glance at the portion before banishing the monstrosity into a corner of the table, her nose slightly wrinkling in disgust. 

Rolling her eyes at his condition, she nodded once. “Alright, fine. I can get behind that deal. But don’t you dare overfill it again. I’m not going to spend another day reeking of old oil. The smell is impossible to get out of hair.”

[caiic]

& LIARA

Hunting was absolutely Liara’s passion, but it also wasn’t the easiest job in the world. Occasionally, Liara was spotted, typically after she made some rookie error that she hoped would pay off (she had little care for her own wellbeing). This error lead to a nasty cut down her bicep and now that she was safely home, Liara was tending to the wound. Do would have been better at cleaning it out, but it wasn’t severe enough to warrant a nurse’s visit or her friends’ concern. If Asiya were still alive, Liara could only imagine the lecture she would be getting right now.

When the doorbell rang, Liara hastily finished wrapping the bandage around herself and jogged to the door. When she saw Caia, she immediately smiled, relieved that it was her best friend. She almost made New Colorado bearable. Liara liked to daydream about the day the two of them would cross over the wall, surviving on their mutual brilliance in different areas, albeit in different areas. Liara would keep them alive while Caia would make their world livable, building structures and a future.

“Two brownies?” Liara repeated, her eyes widening. “Have I ever told you that you’re my favourite person alive?” She asked, the excitement evident in her tone. “You know I’d go anywhere with you when you have brownies. I’m whipped, Caia,” Liara joked. “You wanna go to The Bar? Or I could sneak us out into the forest, up to you.” 

“Two brownies!” Caia echoed enthusiastically. There were only a few victories in New Colorado but a rare, delicious snack was definitely one of them. “I think you mentioned it before but feel free to occasionally remind me.” Joking around, she couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. She had ambition, a goal - a dream. And Liara eventually became one of the people who unknowingly to them kept Caia’s head in the right place. Sure, she took risks for the ‘greater good’, one might say but personally, it was people like Liara that she wanted to see happy. Free. Able to develop outside of guidelines forced upon them. Because she wanted her to be everything she couldn’t be under a watchful eye. Because she deserved all of it and even more than that. A better future was all Caia wanted, even if it wasn’t possible for her brother anymore, she wanted it for everyone else she cared about and loved. 

A disappointed hissing sound left her lips as Caia shook her head. “I can’t believe you just asked me that. Of course, we’re going to the f        ” And then her gaze landed on the bandage around Liara’s arm and her words were cut off as her eyes narrowed in worry. “What’s that? What happened?”

[caiic]

& SAFIYA

The moment Safiya’s eyes landed on the only person that had replied to her, her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach. As Caia came into view, Safi could swear that everything around her had slowed down, the mechanic included. All she could see when she looked at Caia, even after a year, was Daron —- and the two of them together, the laughter and the jokes the siblings had exchanged and that would no longer be part of Caia’s life because of her. Safiya’s free curled into a tight fist, her nails threatening to pierce through her skin. “Caia,” Safiya breathed out, clearing her throat and trying not to show just how uncomfortable she felt. Yet, she deserved to feel like that —- didn’t she? 

A sigh escaped her before she shook her head and told herself to get herself together. Walking over to the working station, Safi put the bag on top of the desk. “Not the best,” the hunter replied, her gaze landing on Caia for a few heartbeats before her guilt tore it away again. Safi began taking out the parts she had gotten, an excuse not to look at Caia. “I got some good parts but most of the stuff I took out was damaged.” And not in the usual way… it looked rotten ( for the lack of a better word ) somehow. It was safe to say she didn’t bring any of those parts back. “Anything new?”

She didn’t want to feel her heart drop every time she saw Safiya. When she saw her walking through the crowded streets of New Colorado, she wished she could walk up to her and talk to her like they used to. Make plans for the evening, exchange stories, laugh at terrible jokes. But the feeling of comfort Safi once radiated died with Daron. And ever since then it wasn’t easy to be around the Hunter. Her feelings were confusing, she didn’t hate her, didn’t even blame her anymore. But all she could associate with her was the feeling of losing her brother and it still hurt so badly, it sometimes took her breath away.

“Hmmm.” She silently acknowledged her valuation of the loot, picking up a few pieces she took out of her bag to quickly scan them over and then put them away again, her brain barely having the capacity to register what she held with Safi in the room. She wished she could just snap out of it, get her friend back, share the trauma. If only it were this easy. “Yeah, we hear that a lot lately. There are a lot more damaged parts coming in than those in good condition. If they come in at all. Some are damaged to the point they aren’t even worth bringing in.” Caia remarked truthfully on the situation which had been on her mind for a few days now. “Nothing special. Just working on improving some gear for the farmers. Help them with the crops. We want to be prepared for winter earlier this year so we’re testing out some new ideas.” There was a second of silence before Caia sighed and then turned to look at her with a heavy heart. “What about you?” She drew in another deep breath before more words followed, this time lower and softer as if she was stepping onto thin ice. “And I don’t mean the hunting. How are you?”

[caiic]

& DOTON

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Doton agreed. It never had gotten easier. Maybe a little easier to get passed, but every time it still struck her with the same gut-punch. If there was only one thing Doton could do, at least, it was ensure that everyone had someone to mourn for them. Even if it was only her. Even if it was only for a few minutes, sitting on a bench. And Caia was right – she had done everything she could. They all had. It was just a shame that it still hadn’t been enough.

Sighing a little, Doton ran her hands down her thighs and cast a tight smile to the other girl. “Thanks, Caia.” Even if she hadn’t known it, the mechanic’s words helped. “No, I’m okay. Maybe just keep something cool aside for me?” If there was one think Doton could count on Caia for, it was that. Saving an interesting but of machinery to show her, explain how it worked, what it might be for, how it could help them all. “I’ll probably swing by after my shift if that’s all right.” She didn’t necessarily want to go home, be alone.

“Don’t mention it.” Caia stated, if there was one thing she didn’t need to hear a thank you for, it was a kind word. Especially not from Doton. She did so much good, helped so many people and saved lives, all Caia could do was lift her spirits - like a little drop in her big ocean. Returning her smile, she nodded in agreement. “You got it. We have a new load in, I’ll put aside as much as I can.” Frankly, she was more than excited to hear about the pit stop at the lab. Tinkering with Doton had already opened a few doors for her and she was certain there were plenty more to come. It was nice to see things from a different perspective or just simply go through the basics from time to time. Some solutions were in plain sight and Doton was one of the key parts of some of Caia’s discoveries. “I’ll just freshen up at home, make sure Moss isn’t hogging the workplace during after hours and then the place is ours.”

[caiic]

& LYNX

Lynx normally stopped by the mechanic’s section before each hunt, knowing either Caia would have something for him to find, or he’d find a part that could use replacing. Either way, it’d give himself something else to look for out there— he brought in a fair enough game, so the spare time was suffocating without a part to find or a game to chase. 

His soft smile passed to the girl, his eyes never faltering as fingers wrapped gingerly around the paper, moving to tuck it in his pocket as she kept his gaze, but he was stopped. He gave a curt nod in response, a sort of got it with a scan of the area. He was going to keep a few other parts in mind as well, but her’s would be at the top of the list no doubt. 

He knew she worried for his safety out there, not from the machines but from himself, but she didn’t understand he was willing to risk it all for the answers of everyone’s questions, the answers their government was keeping from them. But he sent her a smile, some reassurance that he was sure wouldn’t help. 

Her gaze lingered for a moment, waiting for his sign of understanding. Caia was the last person who’d tell anyone how to do their job but she did become a bit sensitive towards the hunting business. And with a few people she cared about out there on the daily, worrying about them began to be a bit of habit. And sometimes, she let it show. Sighing, she nodded once, a hushed ‘okay’ slipping out of her lips before she took a step back and leaned her hip against her desk.

“The part is small. We usually get them out of Tallnecks or Lancehorns but whenever they hit our deck, they are damaged in one way or another. I need one in better condition than that. I’m after the sensor inside of it and the wiring connected to it.  When the Machine gets damaged, they are the first ones to blow out and in the process, the sensor isn’t on anymore and some data gets wiped. I want to see what it can do and carry without all the trauma to the parts.” She explained in a low tone, hoping it would make it a little bit easier for him to find the right thing. “I gave you a little draft on how it looks and how to disconnect it safely so you don’t have to carry all the scrap metal with you back here.”

[caiic]

& EMRAH

LOCATION: the bar

It was still painful to nurse the last glass of alcohol for the evening despite the familiarity of it. Always the same drink, the same chair and the same tired features. Her hazel eyes fell to the glass clasped in her hand and scoffed at the sight of the half empty drink. She loathed the fucking limit. She knocked what was left back without hesitation and sighed in content at the burn coursing down her throat.

“You should spend one of yours on me,” she greeted whoever it was that found themselves taking the seat next to hers. It worked most nights but only when she put effort into it, batting the lashes of her doe eyes and smiling until her cheeks hurt. She wasn’t in the mood. “Or at least share, sharing is caring and all that bullshit — and hey, I’m cooties free.”

It was yet another night Caia would spend at the bar so that she could avoid going to her parent’s place. She hated the conversations, hated how content they were with everything but Caia’s choices but mostly, she hated the absence of her brother. The visits were so much more bearable when he was still around. So she quickly gave them a call over the echo, made up an excuse and settled down at the bar.

“Huh?” Caia asked surprised as she turned to look at her. It took her a second to realize what this was about but once she did, there was just one quick shrug of her shoulders before she tapped the bar. “Yeah. Sure.” She rarely used up both her drinks as it was and she hadn’t even planned to order anything that night but with someone to drink with, she was more inclined to do so. Presenting her life watch to the bartender, she paid for both drinks immediately. “Just don’t make it a double. Two separate glasses, please.” Looking at her from the corner of her eye, a little grin crept onto Caia’s lips. “Never trust anyone when it comes down to cooties.”

[schmidtsburg]

[jadedupoint]

@caiic

[caiic]

& DAWSON

location: hospital time: any status: open

Sitting forward in her seat, Dawson offered a friendly smile to her patient, giving them the paper for the prescription she had signed off on. It was nothing, just a simple cut but in their lives, a simple cut could turn infectious and then off their their arm. To prevent any kind of infection from the wound, Dawson prescribed antibiotics. “Take this three times a day after each meal. And please, make sure you eat before taking this; the stomach pains from not doing so will be treacherous and you will be on the floor in the fetal position crying,” she warned, as she warned every patient she’d prescribe the medicine to. “Also, keep the wound bandaged for a few days; I’d say after three days let it breathe and it should heal up nicely. You’ll have a scar but, what’s another scar to add to the collection, right?”

In her field of work, injuries, especially those who tended to get infected, were common. One wrong move and scrap metal sliced through you like butter. Over time Caia learned to be careful, kept an eye on things that could become a problem but when Hunters brought in machinery she had to dig through, well, those were injuries in the making. And that’s exactly what happened. It wasn’t a big deal, just a cut on her arm but it was better to be safe than sorry and that’s why she took up some of the Doctors time. Nodding along to the instructions Dawson laid upon her, Caia looked at the bandage around the injury, wondering how the hell she’d keep it on and clean for three days as a Mechanic but that would be a problem for later. “Maybe this one will finally make me appear cooler.” Caia joked and shifted in her seat. “The others surely didn’t do the trick.” Chuckling, she was ready to leave and get back to work. “Anything I should keep an eye on? You know, I’d rather keep the arm. Prosthetics are neat but I need this one for work.”