(no subject)

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

[ever since the Realignment Room, this Otacon's been hiding away in his room. He has a project he's working on, but it's obvious that's more an excuse than a reason. Idly tapping on a keyboard with one hand, the other is holding up his head while a small piece of hardware is hooked into his computer. Every once and a while, a sample voice clip comes from the little box by his elbow. But it makes him frown, trying to tweak the clip to sound more realistic. Unconsciously, he adds a bit of coding that shifts the tone and cadence to something more feminine. He shifts his hand so his fingers fall across his lips, not even noticing their state as he nibbles a little further on his index finger, reopening the wounds he had made and absently lapping at them]

Comments

[dominantviper.livejournal.com]

What did I tell you about biting your own blasted hand, Hal?

[Sighs] I didn't realize I needed to watch you constantly.

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

[there's a slight shift in his posture that says he's subconsciously aware of Liquid, but he's too wrapped up in his work at the moment. He frowns as the clip plays again, the voice still too mechanical and unrealistic for him]

[dominantviper.livejournal.com]

[Was he being ignored? Liquid couldn't have that--he leaned over and spoke quietly into Otacon's ear.]

You're not listening, Hal.

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

[THAT got a response! One that included flailing, a loud yelp, and a thud on the floor] James!

[dominantviper.livejournal.com]

Stop being so easy to sneak up on and maybe I'll stop doing it.

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

[grumbles to himself, pulling himself off the floor and back onto the chair]

What's up?

[dominantviper.livejournal.com]

You tell me. You seem to be eating your hand again.

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

I must have forgotten to eat.

[dominantviper.livejournal.com]

. . .

I told you not to eat your hand, imbecile.

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

I didn't even notice I was doing it. But look! I got the voicebox to work.

[dominantviper.livejournal.com]

Voicebox?

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

There's this girl- female shaped robot- and she doesn't have a human voice to speak with. I promised Nyu I'd make her one.

[dominantviper.livejournal.com]

Wait a moment.

There's a what.

[sonofstorms.livejournal.com]

[He's finally left the other Hal's office, having decided that leaving a note and a bento there for him would be fine for now. Maybe he'll check up on a Hal who already knows him.]

Hal? I don't think that what they mean by finger food. Do I need to bring food to you as well?

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

[still sucking on the wounds. He absently knows he's hungry, and he absently knows someone's there, but Nyu's voicebox is more important at the moment to him]

[sonofstorms.livejournal.com]

[Whelp, this calls for more extreme measures.

John licks one of his own fingers, making sure he gets it nice and slobbery, and sticks it in Otacon's ear.]

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

ACK! [flail, spazz, thud on floor]

[sonofstorms.livejournal.com]

Whoa! Are you okay man?

[John leans down to help Hal back up.]

In my defense, I actually called out to you before trying that.

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

[carefully gets back up, dusting off his coat, then wipes the spit off his ear] Sorry, got caught up in- ugh, that's gross- in my project.

[sonofstorms.livejournal.com]

I noticed, you've managed to chew up your finger. [He pats the older man's back.] I was asking, do you want food? A band-aid?

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

Huh? [looks at his hand] ... didn't even notice. Yeah, food.

[sonofstorms.livejournal.com]

[John chuckles and nods.] Anything specific? If the kitchen I normally go to is still there, I've got a few things I can make.

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

That's not- actually, I should go check up on J- Liquid.

[sonofstorms.livejournal.com]

[His eyes widen.] Did Liquid tell you about the whole thing with Emma already?

[ltrstono-one.livejournal.com]

What thing with Emma? Is she okay?