old oc fic i found i totally forgot about!! i need to bring these ocs back fr
VOSPEN stands for Vehicle Operation Specialist and Perimeter/Environment Navigator if youre curious
With each step, V.O.S.P.E.N.’s uniform flats sent a tiny echo of a clack down the hall, steady and rhythmic, walking with clear intention.
From their inside breast pocket they pull a piece of paper and unfold it: formal, Times New Roman, and full of jargon the only staff here really understand a lick of. As they walk, they reread it a few times absentmindedly. Their tailcoat trails behind them with each of their long strides. V.O.S.P.E.N. tended to tower over their fellow staff and other members within the mothership, so being alone in this high-ceilinged hall made them feel more normally sized, and allowed them to walk at full speed and without a hunch, not limited to the other members’ physical abilities or stature.
It would be easy to loose track of time out here in open space, if it weren't for the clocks plastered on damn near every wall, including the halls. This floor of the ship was usually quiet at this point in the evening, the only sounds being the hum of the engine that traveled through the walls being intermittently interrupted by the sharp tap of their shoes on the tile.
They approached an archway with a blue, hologram-like film that filled it in like a window, just like any other major entryway on the ship. They are unimpeeded, passing through it, where the room opens up to a large, circular area, dimmer than it would be during the day. One quarter of this room was a huge shelving unit, a mechanical elevator-type structure affixed to a ladder to allow access to every carefully labeled part and piece.
The quarter to the left included high power saws, drills, and other heavy machinery, all positioned over a long conveyor belt. A few forklifts sit parked in various positions, drivers done for the day, likely in the cafeteria.
As their eyes scan the room, they fall upon a more quaint area of the establishment, the place they were looking for. To the right of the shelving unit, a few tables surrounded a couple other much smaller pieces of machinery, tools scattered about. A door on the wall between two wall-mounted tools sits slightly ajar.
Acute Repair, one of the few places with the lights still on at this hour, and the only work-related place V.O.S.P.E.N. tolerated being at when unneeded by the captain.
They clicked the pager at their hip as they approached, hand rising from muscle memory before the translucent screen even apeared, filling the text field with only a waving emoji and sending it to the friend they're about to visit, Avilles. They hear the other’s pager’s “bing!”.
It's only a moment before the slightly ajar door is pushed open, Avilles standing in the doorway.
“There ya are. Here for that upgrade of yours?” They stand aside and motion for them to enter. V.O.S.P.E.N. almost has to remind themselves to subtly hunch to get through this smaller door.
“Of course, it’s quite important. My ability to track targets and learn mathematical data concerning their speed and trajectory via observation is.. subpar, in my eyes.” V.O.S.P.E.N. hands them the paper they’d been holding the whole walk here.
“My request for aesthetic changes was accepted this morning.”
Avilles barely looks at the paper, pulling out a file cabinet drawer and tossing it into the appropriate file, turning back to them with an assuring smile.
“Don't you worry your beautiful, high-waisted britches, I've been excited to get this upgrade tested out for weeks. There's going to be some minor changes in the wiring by the nape of your neck, but I think I've boiled it down to be as little change as possible.” V.O.S.P.E.N. glances down at their pants, but doesn't say anything.
“Love to hear it.” They return a polite smile.
Avilles spends the next ten to fifteen minutes explaining the procedure, tapping at the blueprints hung on the wall with a meter stick and showing the other the decorative monocle-like flair that was requested. They weren't kidding, the passion in their eyes when discussing this project is easily visible.
“And then I'll close you back up and we should be downstairs in time for dinner!”
“You never fail me, Avilles.” V.O.S.P.E.N. responds with a chuckle, having found a seat on the “operation table”.
“One day..” Avilles says wistfully, cheeky smile as they glance over their shoulder at V.O.S.P.E.N, preparing the tools they'll need. “Ready to get started, then?”
V.O.S.P.E.N. nods, and by Avilles’s direction, removes their high-collared top and sits, legs crossed.
“Could use more buttons, no?” Aville jokes as V.O.S.P.E.N. fumbles with the last few, folding and discarding their shirt to the side.
The procedure begins smoothly, Avilles attaching the double-lensed monocle to V.O.S.P.E.N.’s face. With a scope-like aim design on the biggest of two blue lenses, it looks quite dashing. Both lenses are able to flip upwards and out of the way independently, and after testing the movement and placement out a few times, Avilles backs up, putting their hands on their hips with accomplishment.
“Step one done! Now the more invasive part. This may be slightly uncomfortable. Let me know at any point if I need to stop.”
“I've been through this many times, Avilles, do not worry. I know what to expect.” V.O.S.P.E.N. assures them, hands folded in their lap.
Avilles drags a stool up behind them, it's legs screeching against the tile.
“Alright, but my point still stands.” Avilles adds, beginning to unscrew the back plates to their neck and upper back, setting them gingerly to the side. “Let's see here…” They mumble, beginning to inspect the wiring.
V.O.S.P.E.N. is lost in thought, debating their dinner choice and what enrichment activities they may engage in over the weekend until an unfamiliar sensation takes them by surprise. Like a small shock, but not electric. Tingly, something they've never felt before. Their shoulders twitch upwards unintentionally. Their posture would straighten if it wasn't already pristine.
“Oop, we alright?” Aville asks, noticing the movement and pausing.
“Hm. I think so, I just had an odd sensation.” They admit, perplexed. “A tingling of sorts. My body wanted to jump away. Unworrying but… alien.”
“Ohhh… Huh! You're ticklish. I've never met someone mechanical with ticklishness. It's a sort of weird reflex thing from human evolution to keep the important parts of our body safe. But effectively harmless. Makes you jumpy and giddy.”
“How peculiar. In that case, proceed.” V.O.S.P.E.N. said, with many questions they would be researching later.
Avilles continues for a few moments before there it is again! V.O.S.P.E.N. attempts to not react to the touch, stiffening, but they only last a few moments before a chuckle escapes them and they twitch away from Avilles’s hands again. They pause once more.
“Sensitive, huh? We can stop if you want to. ”
“It.. appears so.” V.O.S.P.E.N. says, a twinge of shyness from the lack of professionalism this is causing them. “I will try to keep still, this upgrade is very important to my function. Please proceed.”
Avilles giggles. “Okay, bud. Let me know if I should stop.”
They begin work again, repositioning existing wires to be connected to new ones. The gentleness and care they uphold as they work may be the culprit as V.O.S.P.E.N.’s shoulders twitch upwards again, a huff of a quiet laugh coming from their robotic friend.
They begin to squirm a little every few seconds, bringing a hand to cover their mouth, now a very unprofessional grin.
A giggle gives away that they're not really handling it with the ease they suggested.
“Y’sure you're alright over there? I swear I'm nearly done.”
V.O.S.P.E.N. hesitates slightly to answer, unsure if they can without a giggle interrupting them.
“Just fine.” They manage, followed by snickering smothered in their hands. In disbelief at the loss of control of something so silly, they squeak out an “I apologihize.”
“You're doing great, just a few more connections to go. This is quite cute, actually.”
At least it's somewhat entertaining, V.O.S.P.E.N. thinks, one of their shoulders nearly meeting their ear. They have many, many questions, most of which they do not have the confidence to ask about. I must consult Google about this strange reaction.
The tingling soon stops and Avilles concludes the internal work.
“Alright, bud, you made it.” They pat V.O.S.P.E.N.’s shoulder a few times with a chuckle. ‘Let’s get you closed up.”
V.O.S.P.E.N. visibly relaxes, attempting to quickly regain composure. When they open their eyes again, the mathematical data is displayed on the monocle. They must have missed the initial connection in their mirth.
“Thank you, Avilles. I apologize again for my.. incompetence.”
“Incompetence is a strong word for that.” Avilles snorts, making quick work of reattaching the plates. “I've done more complicated things on things that are moving much more than that, don't you worry.”
V.O.S.P.E.N. begins putting their shirt back on, and with the final button done, they stand.
“Thank you again for your patience.”
“Mmmmmhm! Care to go down to dinner with me? I'm done here for the evening.”
V.O.S.P.E.N. nods. “I’d love to.” They look sheepishly back at the tools Avilles left on the table. “And… if this could stay between us, that would be greatly appreciated.”
“You got it, bud. I don't think I've ever seen you so smiley before, it was quite nice. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
