reverielogs | Sew much fabric

» WHO? Jennifer & You
» WHEN? makes vague hand motions.
» WHERE? Observation area
» WHAT? Jennifer doing some sewing, offering to teach people who might be interested.
» WARNINGS? None yet, will change as needed.

[Even when she was a child, Jennifer hadn't minded chores. The tasks were often her only respite from the other children at the orphanage, and the repetitive tasks often helped her focus. She could let her mind wander a little, think about what needs to be done, what she could do more.

Everyone on this ship was just trying to survive. She didn't have any special powers, or strength to help with fighting, or any skills she could think of that would be particularly helpful with exploring the planet below or anything like that.

So, she sewed. She had torn clothes she'd found to practice on, to keep at least those skills, er, sharp (no pun intended), and repeatedly repairs, re-sews buttons, etc. She evens starts making some cloth dolls out of the scraps.

The first and only time, so far, she sticks herself with the needle, her startled reaction sends the needle flying, forcing Jennifer to carefully crawl about on hands and knees attempting to find it, patting carefully along the ground. Should anyone else come in, Jennifer is quick to look up, eyes wide]

Please watch where you step! I lost a needle, so... um... I'm sorry.

[Please don't get stabbed in the foot or something by accident plEASE]

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[Jennifer wrings her hands together anxiously, mindful of the needle, before lowering her gaze to the floor and holding it out for him]

...I'm sorry... I'm just-- I'm really not used to people treating me so kindly, even after little mistakes...

Really? [It's earnest confusion. 9S really wasn't really going out of his way to be nice right now, this much just came naturally. More concerning than that--just how mean were people being to her?

She was pretty skittish, but he'd chalked that up to personality.]

All you did was drop a needle...

[Jennifer is quiet for a moment. Normally she doesn't openly offer information about herself--she figures most people don't want to be bothered with sob stories, and she knows there are people who had it much worse than herself.

But maybe if she explains a little bit, it'll help him understand]

Once, a girl at the orphanage named Meg wrote a letter to another girl, Diana. Diana ripped the letter up behind Meg's back, and I discovered the pieces. All I did was pick them up, but Meg saw and assumed I'd done it. I tried to explain I hadn't, but she didn't listen.

She had the other children shove me into a sack outside. They shoved bugs or rotten food inside and left me there overnight.

If it had been me losing a needle and someone stepping on it... [Who knows how bad the 'punishment' would've been then.]

[As Jennifer's story goes on, the look of wide-eyed shock on 9S' face only grows. By the time she's finished he doesn't know what to say. His lips twist as he tries to compartmentalize his feelings.

It's anger again...anger at a human. But it's disappointment too, and it's a familiar feeling. Humans could be wicked, just as much as they could be kind and caring. They could do that to each other, so it was only inevitable that they could do the same to their creations. Crow had said something like that, and now more than ever 9S thinks he understands.]

That's awful... [He finally manages, his words heavy.]

If anyone tries to hurt you here... I'll stop them. I promise.

[Jennifer shrugs lightly, her smile not quite genuine as she at first tries to reassure him. She's about to say something like, 'oh well, we were just kids, you know?' or something like that, but then he keeps going and it's like her brain stalls.

She stares at him, expression frozen in a sort of puzzled smile]

You'll... stop them? [She echoes, and then frowns, looking even more confused. After a moment she simply blurts out:] But why?

I-I mean... Not that I wouldn't be incredibly grateful, but I... I'm really not worth that. Especially not if you might be targeted instead or something...

I'm not afraid of that. [9S says, shaking his head.]

It's my job to-- [He starts, but thinks better of his phrasing and begins again.] I want to protect humans like you.

[She doesn't say anything to that for a moment, brow furrowed in concentration as she thinks it through.]

...Alright. [he finally says at length, accepting the explanation if a bit reluctantly. She looks down at the ground again, fidgeting lightly, before she nods and sighs]

I'm sorry. For being difficult, I suppose... [And quietly she holds the needle out for him again to fix if he wants]

Hey, it's okay. I like to complain too.

[9S takes the needle, giving it a once over before he just, you know, straightens it out with his bare hands. It's not perfect, there being a small bump remaining where it was originally bent, but it can do the job.

He presents the needle back to her, an accomplished smile to accompany it.] How's that? Pretty good, huh?

[She looks it voer a second and then smiles, bright and warm]

Yes, thank you. [She moves to take her seat again with the cloth and string] I can keep practicing a while longer with this... I'll have to look into where to get more needles again soon though, I think...

[She pauses and thinks back to what he'd just said before speaking up quietly] I don't like to complain, though. There are many people who I'm sure have worse lives or worse things to complain about. My worries would just be a bother to those with real problems.

I can help you look, if you want. [9S offers as he follows her over to her seat, though he doesn't sit himself.]

Just because someone else has it worse doesn't mean you can't complain about stuff? I mean, if it still bothers you...why not?

[He shrugs.] I get told to stop complaining a lot, actually, but that doesn't stop me.

Edited 2018-08-06 02:34 (UTC)

[Jennifer giggles and then immediately covers her mouth to hide her amused smile.]

I don't think you complain a lot. [You know, if that helps at all.] But... I just feel bad, being any sort of burden on anyone...

--Ah, well, you did say you wanted to help me and all... [She shakes her head and looks sheepish.] I'm sorry. I'm not used to this sort of thing, so I just don't know how to act.

You're not a burden, though?

[He's happy to help her, just like anyone else, and despite his own complaining.]

Just act natural! You know... Do what feels right?

[Giving advice like this really isn't his forte, so all he can do is state the facts.]

That's a little harder, I think... [But she smiles anyhow, looking more thankful for his comments rather than annoyed or frustrated.]

I'm still learning what that means for me. But you've been so patient with me--Thank you. You really are quite a sweet guy, 9S.

[9S flushes, his shoulders bunching up at the compliment.]

Oh...thank you! I'm just here to provide support, really!

Sew much fabric

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