it all seemed harmless

the squareroot of 912.04 is 30.2 [ indie mass effect rp blog. ]

[gunslotsofguns]

“Guns are loud,” David muttered, swiping through his data. “Need a way to make them less loud.” He turned, slightly, to look at his companion. “I work better on plyons. But guns are needed, so I’ll help them with guns.” He paused. “Used to?” He tried to spin the conversation in another way.

[tavianalvia]

“It’s not a good business,” was all he offered up for way of explanation.  “I don’t sell them anymore.”  His mandibles fluttered. “Now I run packages.  Way safer, less shooting.”

[gunslotsofguns]

David nodded in thought. “Makes sense,” he admitted, still not making eye contact. “What kind of packages do you run?” He inquired. Part of him hoped he didn’t sound like he was prying, but part of him was genuinely curious about the nature of his sitting companion’s job.

[gunslotsofguns]

“No,” David said plainly. He swiped through more data to show the System’s Alliance Grissom Academy insignia. “Work.” The boy repeated, before setting his datapad down on his lap. “Only a student. Only a builder. I like guns, I don’t like using guns.

[tavianalvia]

He smiled faintly.  “For what it’s worth… I don’t actually like using guns either, heh.”  Might as well get that out before he was asked anything specific.  “I used to sell them though.  Know a little more about them because of that.”

[gunslotsofguns]

“Guns are loud,” David muttered, swiping through his data. “Need a way to make them less loud.” He turned, slightly, to look at his companion. “I work better on plyons. But guns are needed, so I’ll help them with guns.” He paused. “Used to?” He tried to spin the conversation in another way.

[gunslotsofguns]

David’s eyes glanced to the Turian once more. “Look,” he invited the other, moving the datapad towards the other. It hung in the air between them. “Special omni-blade attachment for N7 standard weapons. Standard. Fits on any gun. Even snipers.”

[tavianalvia]

Tavi leaned in, looking the blade over.  “Think that if I ever got that close to use something like that I’d be screwed but… it’d be good for someone else, someone with actual combat skills.  You use shit like this?”

[gunslotsofguns]

“No,” David said plainly. He swiped through more data to show the System’s Alliance Grissom Academy insignia. “Work.” The boy repeated, before setting his datapad down on his lap. “Only a student. Only a builder. I like guns, I don’t like using guns.

[bigbadspectre-blog]

gunslotsofguns

“Robots helping Quarians?” David repeated, trying to wrap his mind around the concept. He couldn’t picture it for a while— peace wasn’t a concept taught to him during his time at Cerberus, only WAR with other races. He perked a brow and traced a finger over the corner of his lips— residual scarring from his time as a VI.

He was snapped out of contemplation by a name that was unfamiliar to him. “Crucible?” Things began to click in his head. “Secret Alliance project? Miss Sanders and Jack would talk about something. What’s it do?”    

                              HIS SHOULDERS BUMBLE together, back arched up like the steepled spine of a rangy CAT.

❛  Don’t know.  ❜

                             It’s a SNAG to say it, a painful cough seared down the soft lining of his throat, & it comes out lackluster. Right now the Crucible is no more than a giant heap of METAL & GLUE held up by the shaking knees of billions & billions’ last hopes.

❛  It’s Prothean. We think it’s a WEAPON ———– a PERMANENT SOLUTION to the Reapers.  ❜

[gunslotsofguns]

“Oh,” was a rather immediate response. Technology was his niche. Weapons, shields, AIs, VIs, all came naturally to him. Mathematics, numbers, names, dates. He could remember quantitative data. Yet the data on the Protheans was just not there. He couldn’t  help with this. He didn’t know what to say. And that bothered him. He’d do anything to help the commander, help the man who rescued him. Saved his life. 

“Weapon for the Reapers?” He pondered that for a moment. “Protheans never finished it. It may not be a weapon. Not as we know. Not a giant space gun. Not...” he bent down and dug through his data pads once more, throwing them haphazardly when the one he picked up didn’t match what he was thinking of.

[gunslotsofguns]

David’s eyes perked up at the Turian, brightening slightly when he mentioned his work. It was probably common courtesy, but someone who may be interested in engineering was always a welcomed conversational partner. He held the datapad away from his chest slightly, nodding. “Work.” He repeated. “Weapon modifications.”

[tavianalvia]

Tavi scooted forward a bit.  He didn’t know anything about engineering, but he could see that David clearly did.  And that was the first bit of interest in looking up the man had shown.  “What kinda mods?”

[gunslotsofguns]

David’s eyes glanced to the Turian once more. “Look,” he invited the other, moving the datapad towards the other. It hung in the air between them. “Special omni-blade attachment for N7 standard weapons. Standard. Fits on any gun. Even snipers.”

[bigbadspectre-blog]

gunslotsofguns

That awakened a rise in him. His eyes opened a bit wider and he wrung his hands together. “More lethal than a Cain. Big… big gun.” He said to himself, bending down to sort through his datapads. Reaper blackstar. “Have to get a Blackstar.” David confirmed with the Commander. He had nothing on that, but he did have intel on Geth pulse rifles.

“Commander—” he stopped himself short. “For the robots,” he extended his arm with the datapad holding all he knew on Geth guns. “They don’t mean harm. They are… friendly. Those are their guns.”

❛  I know. The Geth heretics are the MINORITY, and they’re all SCRAP METAL now.  ❜

                              WITH A SWIPE of his thumb he scrolls through the data, bringing a knuckle to drive a print into the gulch of his lip. A gentle nod wrings his neck as he skims, & he lifts a shoulder to pull up his omni-tool & copy the data.

❛  The rest of the Geth are helping the Quarians settle RANNOCH. I’ve even got some working on the CRUCIBLE. I bet you could help them.  ❜

[gunslotsofguns]

“Robots helping Quarians?” David repeated, trying to wrap his mind around the concept. He couldn’t picture it for a while— peace wasn’t a concept taught to him during his time at Cerberus, only WAR with other races. He perked a brow and traced a finger over the corner of his lips— residual scarring from his time as a VI.

He was snapped out of contemplation by a name that was unfamiliar to him. “Crucible?” Things began to click in his head. “Secret Alliance project? Miss Sanders and Jack would talk about something. What’s it do?”     

[bigbadspectre-blog]

gunslotsofguns

“Thank you, Commander.” His head tilted in question. “Blackstar?” His tone was curious, as he had never heard of that in the context of Reapers. His forearm raised as the barrier fell, and with a few clicks of his omni-tool the shield plyon turned off, the blue lights on it dimming until they were shut off. “Reaper gun.” He deducted. “The ones the turian creatures use? What the cannibals use?”

❛  The BLACKSTAR’S got a much BIGGER bite.  ❜ 

                              AN EASY TAP on his omni-tool pulls up a diagram. The Reaper Blackstar, with the smooth, diamond-cut PERFECTION of reaper technology, its design so sleek & svelte it’s hard to imagine one pull of the trigger leveling a BUILDING like a stack of old cards.

❛  More lethal than a CAIN ———– I’ve seen it chew through BRUTES. If your shield can withstand this bastard, it can withstand ANY reaper fire.  ❜

[gunslotsofguns]

That awakened a rise in him. His eyes opened a bit wider and he wrung his hands together. “More lethal than a Cain. Big... big gun.” He said to himself, bending down to sort through his datapads. Reaper blackstar. “Have to get a Blackstar.” David confirmed with the Commander. He had nothing on that, but he did have intel on Geth pulse rifles.

“Commander—” he stopped himself short. “For the robots,” he extended his arm with the datapad holding all he knew on Geth guns. “They don’t mean harm. They are... friendly. Those are their guns.”

[gunslotsofguns]

His fingers still typed away at his datapad, eyes scanning the surface. “Tavi. Nice to meet you.” Unconsciously to himself, he began to rock back and forth ever so slightly. “Um. Archer. David Archer. Nn… nice to meet you.”

[tavianalvia]

Tavi noted the odd behaviors but figured it was better he didn’t ask about them.  He had something like manners after all.  “So, bringing your work around with ya?” He gestured at the datapad. “You ain’t looked up from the thing.”

[gunslotsofguns]

David’s eyes perked up at the Turian, brightening slightly when he mentioned his work. It was probably common courtesy, but someone who may be interested in engineering was always a welcomed conversational partner. He held the datapad away from his chest slightly, nodding. “Work.” He repeated. “Weapon modifications.”

[bigbadspectre-blog]

╳┊Ever wrestle a VARREN                                     for money?

[gunslotsofguns]

David kept his eyes on his data pad. “No, no, not nervous. I’m fine.” He shifted awkwardly in his seat, not knowing if he should move towards his conversational partner in the new room he now had or to stay in place. “But… thank you.”

[tavianalvia]

“No need to thank me.”  He hummed, tilting his head to watch David.  “Name’s Tavi.  Who’re you?”

[gunslotsofguns]

His fingers still typed away at his datapad, eyes scanning the surface. “Tavi. Nice to meet you.” Unconsciously to himself, he began to rock back and forth ever so slightly. “Um. Archer. David Archer. Nn... nice to meet you.”

[bigbadspectre-blog]

gunslotsofguns

“Good question.” David nodded, picking up a data pad and tapping about it, typing in more data about his newest build. He smiled as he flicked it on, the blue energy enveloping them both. He raised his arm as his omni-tool flicked to life. “It stands up against most guns that are standard N7 issue. No chance to test it against Reaper weapons. It stands up against all of Jack’s biotics. Even shockwaves. Warp is… harder to hold up against.”

❛  Jack’s biotics? That’s IMPRESSIVE.  ❜

                                 A SURPRISED WRENCH picks at his expression. The blue mask hardens him, makes him dark & vicious, hides away the pinch, so he pops his hands up on his hips & nods.

❛  Next time I get my hands on one of those reaper BLACKSTARS, I’ll bring it by. Then we’ll REALLY test it.  ❜

[gunslotsofguns]

“Thank you, Commander.” His head tilted in question. “Blackstar?” His tone was curious, as he had never heard of that in the context of Reapers. His forearm raised as the barrier fell, and with a few clicks of his omni-tool the shield plyon turned off, the blue lights on it dimming until they were shut off. “Reaper gun.” He deducted. “The ones the turian creatures use? What the cannibals use?”

[tavianalvia]

Tavi scooted his chair over to give the other more space to sit. “You look nervous as shit.  You okay?”

[gunslotsofguns]

David kept his eyes on his data pad. “No, no, not nervous. I’m fine.” He shifted awkwardly in his seat, not knowing if he should move towards his conversational partner in the new room he now had or to stay in place. “But... thank you.”

[bigbadspectre-blog]

gunslotsofguns

√ @bigbadspectre

“Commander Shepard.” David’s usual expression was broken by a small smile. For a moment, a long moment, he didn’t know quite what to say. He cracked his knuckles in the silence, and glanced around. After a moment of playing with his fingers, he put one hand on the shield plyon he had built. “I built this. For the war effort.”

                              SHEPARD WALKS AROUND the pylon once, then again. He shifts; his shoulders disrupt the armor banked there as he folds his arms. His brows have a half-puzzlement, a bend at the tip, & he slogs off a SHRUG.

❛  Looks like a regular old SHIELD PYLON to me. Does it do any TRICKS?  ❜

[gunslotsofguns]

“Good question.” David nodded, picking up a data pad and tapping about it, typing in more data about his newest build. He smiled as he flicked it on, the blue energy enveloping them both. He raised his arm as his omni-tool flicked to life. “It stands up against most guns that are standard N7 issue. No chance to test it against Reaper weapons. It stands up against all of Jack’s biotics. Even shockwaves. Warp is... harder to hold up against.” 

[tavianalvia]

“I can’t actually stop you from sittin’ here.”  He chuckled.  “You’re fine though.  Siddown.”

[gunslotsofguns]

“Oh.” David nodded while sitting, holding his data pad close to his chest. “Thank you.” He said, thinking of what to say next.

[gunslotsofguns]

√ @tavianalvia

“Mm... May I sit here?”

[gunslotsofguns]

√ @bigbadspectre

“Commander Shepard.” David’s usual expression was broken by a small smile.  For a moment, a long moment, he didn’t know quite what to say. He cracked his knuckles in the silence, and glanced around. After a moment of playing with his fingers, he put one hand on the shield plyon he had built. “I built this. For the war effort.”

[gunslotsofguns]

like for a starter?