[OPEN]

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

WHO Scott, OPEN
WHAT Attraction event shenanigans
WHEN All this week, pick a day any day
WHERE Hell House, CGM, Dr. Rush’s lab, the odd bar here and there, anywhere in between
NOTES Tag into subthreads for various locations or add your own if none suit you
WARNINGS This week, Scott doesn’t know the meaning of the words “personal space”. And it’s

Comments

Friday, whenever he'd be around.

[fallsoutofbox]

The Doctor rarely left the lab these days. He had been constantly alternating between tinkering with the computers and working on the Huon project - either with others or alone.

Pretty much the only time he left anymore was to go care for his dragon, who had been staying at the animal shelter ever since he'd found her again. He was just getting back from such an outing when he discovered Scott working.

He went right up behind the man, leaning over his shoulder to study the diagram. "Ah." ...And then he remembered how Scott tended to get prickly about personal space. It was something the Doctor noticed rather easily, since he tended to get in people's personal space.

He backed off a bit. "Interesting. It's getting there, I think."

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

Laphroaig, lounging indolently on the desk as Scott worked, yawned when the Doctor approached, but otherwise made no move to do anything; it was early and he'd just eaten and was in no mood to be snappish. Scott, who'd come down to the lab for a bit of work before he headed off to Hellsing, turned to grab the Doctor's sleeve when the other man backed off, and pulled him back in close to the desk. "Gettin' there," he agreed, not realizing that he'd neglected to let go. "If we can get the materials."

[fallsoutofbox]

His eyes widened as Scott pulled him back. It was unexpected, that was all.

But, choosing not to question it for the moment, he settled back into his previous position. He gave the diagram another once-over.

"Worry about materials later. Anything too expensive or rare can be substituted with a bit of creative dumpster-diving. ...Or a trawl through the pawn shops, if you prefer the less smelly option." He tilted his head and pointed at a particular spot on the drawing - not with perfect accuracy, since Scott was still hanging onto his arm. "I'm more concerned about the width of this intake valve. Too small a space, the activated particles could start forming clumps. Too big a clump, could blow the whole thing apart when they combust."

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

"There's a material we use back home," Scott said. "For the matter/antimatter mix column in the warp core." He was still hanging onto the Doctor's arm, and still quite unaware of the fact, or at least, aware and unconcerned with the fact. "Dilithium. It's a crystal, used t'regulate the reactions in the mix column - an' I think, if we had a bit here..." But that was the problem, wasn't it? Where in this city were they going to find dilithium?

[fallsoutofbox]

"Sounds useful." He shrugged. "I found an ancient, near-extinct energy source thriving within the walls of this city. Anything's possible. Or --" He held up a revelatory finger - on the same arm that Scott was holding. His eyes looked down at the hand. Still not going to say anything. Sort of curious how long Scott was going to keep holding on.

"-- bit more likely, potentially easier. Once the borders open up again, we might be able to get some imported. People used to be coming and going from Bete Noire every day."

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

"Imported." He glanced up at the Doctor, his hand tightening on the man's arm. "D'you really think that's possible? D'you really think..." If he could get dilithium imported, who knew what else he could get in? Enough pieces and parts to build a working transporter, maybe. And if he could get a working transporter built, if he could do that and use this Huon particle project to open a pathway to his universe... Then he might just be able to lock on to the Enterprise and get himself home.

[fallsoutofbox]

"I don't see why not." The Doctor crouched closer to the floor so that he was eye-level with Scott, his free arm going around the back of the chair. "Not saying it'd be all that simple; first we have to find someone making a sojourn to your reality, assuming that's even possible. And it's not going to be cheap." The Doctor was used to being able to call in favours at times like these. Lots of people in the old universe he'd helped out at one point or another. But that wasn't likely to be possible here.

"Still, I wouldn't rule it out as an option. Not until we know a bit more."

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

"Money's no' an issue." He didn't pay to stay in the mansion or the Hell House, after all, and bought whatever food was cheapest, for himself. And while feeding Laphroaig was beginning to get expensive (although less so now, with Sirius there to make more should he start to run low), he was planning on training the dragon to hunt, which would cut out that expense. His frugal lifestyle, combined with the amount of money he made at Hellsing, had added up. "If it's possible, I'd say that's our best option."

[fallsoutofbox]

"Good, 'cause I don't think the city's government is likely to give us a research grant." He frowned down at the diagram. "Nicki must have found something at the borders..."

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

"Any ideas yet, on what's made 'em close down?" Scott asked, glancing at the Doctor. And, yes, his hand was still on the Doctor's arm, and he still didn't show any signs of having noticed or of planning on moving it.

[fallsoutofbox]

"She said it had something to do with electromagnetism, which, okay, but what?" He'd been focusing mainly on the computers and the Huon. Figured the sentient city would have some way of healing itself. But that didn't seem to be happening anytime soon.

"The borders are like this ridiculous soup of particles and waves and energy. It's a wonder they'd be vulnerable to anything at all."

He looked down at Scott's hand. It was starting to get weird.

"...Is everything okay?"

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

"Fine. Why?" he asked, marking a few extra notes in the margins of his blueprints. Ought to start working up blueprints for a transporter too, he thought, just in case they could get in the materials for it.

[fallsoutofbox]

"You've sort of..." Already he was starting feeling weird for mentioning it. But Scott had never acted this way before. Surely the Doctor couldn't be the weird one in this scenario. "...been hanging on my arm. I thought you didn't like... closeness."

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

He blinked, and glanced down. "Oh." How long had he had his hand there, then? He let go, somewhat reluctantly. "I. I don't, I..." He paused, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I mean. Nothin' wrong with... No."

[fallsoutofbox]

"...Okay. I mean. I don't mind." He furrowed his brow. "Are you sure you're alright? I know how this place can get in your head."

Cautiously, he put a hand on Scott's shoulder.

[lt_cmmdr_scott]

He didn't shrug away from the touch like he normally would, but leaned into it a little instead. "I'm fine. Really."