N-not really! I can get flour any time but - [Huffing once, he reaches out and ruffles Gnosis' hair. He's helping, really, by trying to get the stray powder out. Instead he looks more gray and washed out than usual. Oops.]
Arm - right. Yeah, I'm good with that? I think? [He inhales, mentally putting his big boy pants on.] Yeah, I'm good with that. Just... don't sneak up on me next time?
[.............thanks. Now his hair is even more of a mess.
There's a somewhat-passive swat of Vash's arm out of the way. Thank you, that was nice, let's move on.]
My apologies. I didn't realise I was moving stealthily. [good lord man] It shouldn't be that invasive of a procedure, all things considered. If you could simply sit still for a few hours...
[He's started walking. Leave the flour mess for someone else to clean up we got an arm to fix.]
Sitting still for a few hours? [Processing. Processing...] Oh yeah, that should be easy enough!
[To Vash's credit, he does try to clean up. Mostly by wiping any stray flour on the counters back onto the floor. It's not a good job at all but... hey. He tried.]
Right behind ya. Just lead the way to, uh... Wherever we're going!
To the lab. The facilities there will function fine.
[And when they need to do some basic recalibration... he doesn't think he'll need the clinic for it, but he and Add share that whole section of the Grove anyway, so they can move if needed. It's like a twenty foot walk, if that.
Anyway, that's where Gnosis leads them, no surprises there. Inside is more junk than usual; there are six pieces of various sheet metals stacked against one workbench, a hammer, and a blowtorch and gas canister. Someone has been asking Ydalir for Stuff.]
Take a seat at the bench. You can remove the arm if possible and if you want to, but I can work either way.
[It's not too hard to figure out what all the new gear in the lab is for. At least, he assumes it's new gear meant for him. It's not like he spends much time here, though.]
Jeez, are you gonna fix me or torture me, buddy? [He'd probably deserve the torture for how often he's ground on Gnosis's last nerve. He won't say that out loud though. Better to not give him ideas.]
[With the handle of a small melting spoon and a handsaw blade between his lips:]
'm try'n fix you.
[His hands are a bit occupied with grabbing the actual saw part. The saw is not meant for Vash's arm, as he'll inform when he sits back down. It's to cut the metal, which he'll then melt down and very delicately pour into the cracks on Vash's arm using that spoon. The accompanying steel wool and rag is meant to catch the extra metal so it's seamless as can be.]
It's a hairline crack, [and, like a dweeb, that means Gnosis has to pull a jeweller's eyeglass over his glasses, so now he looks 6x nerdier than usual,] so it'll require some delicate work. The metal I'll be using is austenitic stainless steel, [what] which is corrosion-resistant and often used in home appliances due to how difficult it is to damage.
[Anyway, without a single regard for safety at all, Gnosis takes that sheet of stainless steel and begins cutting into it. Five minutes later, with a sufficient chunk cut off, he lights the blowtorch. The madman is Not wearing goggles. Lord help you both.]
[Well, there's no arguing with a man that has a handsaw in his mouth. And not just because his mouth is otherwise occupied! Vash is just going to sit here like a good Plant. He's at least used to all the weird tools Brad had to use that he doesn't quite think twice about Gnosis coming at him with a saw.
To his credit, he nods rather agreeably to everything. He doesn't understand everything, namely the specific name for the metal being used, but the rest he can get behind.]
Should we do a scratch test first? Make sure this metal is gonna place nice with the other stuff? Hate to see all your hard work get squished the second I move my hand.
[It's not that he doesn't trust Gnosis. The problem is that they're both largely unfamiliar with each other's technology. There's no assuming it will all work — better to actively test things, right?]
It's a good call. I'll admit to getting overzealous.
[He will... put the blowtorch and what's currently somewhat-melted aside for now. Reluctantly. Because apparently he really wanted to play with that blowtorch like a freak. The kind of freak who might have bombed a railroad bridge in the past—
Anyway.]
Do you know the relative hardness of your arm? [please don't ask a man this] Let me get the sclerometer.
[And he's getting up again... don't answer that question Vash we're about to figure out how hard your arm is. Or do. It'll be a minute until he comes back with it; there's a loud rummaging through another drawer and some sort of string of curses before he manages to find what he's looking for and sits back down.
I am not writing out a scratch test, I read the wikipedia article and didn't understand shit, let's just say it's all cashmoney—]
[Well, with all things being good and gucci, Vash finally relaxes. Gnosis is a professional, at least as far as the Plant is concerned. He'll let the man do his work, watching with no small amount of fascination as the liquid metal pours into each hairline crack. The effect is almost beautiful, a level of elegance that Vash isn't so certain that he deserves.
Especially when he's just as liable to break it again.]
You done this before? Could have fooled me, if you hadn't -
[It's a very precise hand he's using to get the metal into that thin crack. Slow going. A drip, then wiping off the extra before it hardens. Dripping, cleaning off, rinse and repeat.]
I've had to repair hairline cracks in equipment before. In general, a metal chassis should be replaced if it's on something important — a robot, an Arts Unit, the works — but sometimes a complete replacement is impossible, and a quick fix will have better results. It would take me a number of weeks to completely replace your arm, and I'd need Add's assistance with recalibrating. This should be a sturdy enough fix.
[And there seems to be sentiment here, from what Gnosis has parsed, so he wouldn't dare say "hey a single crack means we gotta just rebuild the whole thing sorry". It still functioned with it. It's sturdier than he thinks it is.]
Granted, I've never fixed a prosthetic arm before, but the principles apply. Technology is something I understand.
You think it's worth looking into starting the replacement process?
[Make no mistake, it's not something he's eager for. But Vash has a tendency to break things, and it's only a matter of time before something goes awry and his arm gets worse. It would be better if the steps were in place to replace it as quickly as possible. He can function without it, certainly, but he'd rather not if given the option.]
It's important to me, I'm sure you've figured that out. [He winks at Gnosis. The man doesn't seem like the surface-level reading type. Doubtless, Mr. Edelweiss has read Vash for filth at this point.] So if I can swap it out and save it from being completely destroyed down the road, maybe that's for the best.
Though it might be a little weird, hanging the old one above the mantle afterward.
It wasn't difficult to. The way you talk about something as simple as an arm says that much, not to mention the way you spoke of the one person who might know how to fix it without this cobbled-together method I'm using currently.
Plus, you're the sentimental type. [wow.] I'll admit to not understanding many social cues, but that was easy enough to parse. That said, considering the importance, it may be worth looking into a total swap. Without that person here to perform complete repairs, you might not want to risk it. The decision is yours regardless.
[He's not going to take Vash's arm and run. He's simply here to fix things.]
...and I do think you should hang an arm above the mantle. It adds something a little unhinged to the decor.
I'll think about it. If it was something I was interested in, though, would you be the guy to go to? Or someone else?
[He wouldn't know where to begin, if it would be as simple as talking to Heimr for a favor, or if they'd have to put the pieces together themselves. If someone else had a better idea, though, he'd be all ears.
Cough cough, Gnosis...]
I'll keep the suggestion in mind. Hopefully Nick won't care too much. Might even match the cross.
I can build the arm, but you might want to see Add for more accurate calibrations. My medical knowledge is available, but it isn't quite as extensive as his. That said, he's adept with robotics, so I'm sure he could build you one as well.
[They're almost done now. Gnosis is on the last stretch of those cracks, steadily dripping that melted metal into it. Once they're at the end, he sits back and sets the utensils he's holding aside, only to grab Vash's arm and give it a good, thorough once-over just to make sure he didn't miss anything. The silver mixed in with that blue looks almost pretty to him, even though it certainly isn't hiding the damage that occurred.]
There. It's more of an art piece now, but it should be reinforced for the time being.
[Vash is just about to retract his arm when it's snatched up. He lets out a yelp, then a dissenting little huff. Otherwise, he lets Gnosis do the examining, mostly without complaint.
Mostly.]
Careful! I'm delicate!
[Once he's done, though... The arm is held aloft, Vash twisting his hand this way and that to catch the light. It's evident by his approving smile that the craftsmanship is well to his liking. It isn't the arm he grew up with, but that's what makes it all the better. It's a reflection of his journey so far.]
I like it. 'n' I'll keep your suggestion in mind. About you and Add, I mean.
I'm glad you don't find it unsightly. My artistic capacity is somewhat-limited, after all. [There is a very small smile on his lips.] You're free to go, then. Try not to get yourself into any trouble, alright?
Not unsightly at all. If anything, it's a new story to tell! Imagine all the new folks that come through, and I get to tell 'em about all of your work.
[He laughs for just a second, but seems to trail off just as quick. His face falls, as if an unpleasant thought had crossed his mind.]
Not that I want to see new people show up. You know what I mean though.
[Anyway, he's gathering himself up and pulling his jacket back on.]
Do I owe ya anything? Some shells? A snack? A drink?
Just getting to mess around with the technology is reward enough, really. I don't have need for shells or more liquor. Enciodes thinks I should stop for a while.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Arm - right. Yeah, I'm good with that? I think? [He inhales, mentally putting his big boy pants on.] Yeah, I'm good with that. Just... don't sneak up on me next time?
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There's a somewhat-passive swat of Vash's arm out of the way. Thank you, that was nice, let's move on.]
My apologies. I didn't realise I was moving stealthily. [good lord man] It shouldn't be that invasive of a procedure, all things considered. If you could simply sit still for a few hours...
[He's started walking. Leave the flour mess for someone else to clean up we got an arm to fix.]
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[To Vash's credit, he does try to clean up. Mostly by wiping any stray flour on the counters back onto the floor. It's not a good job at all but... hey. He tried.]
Right behind ya. Just lead the way to, uh... Wherever we're going!
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[And when they need to do some basic recalibration... he doesn't think he'll need the clinic for it, but he and Add share that whole section of the Grove anyway, so they can move if needed. It's like a twenty foot walk, if that.
Anyway, that's where Gnosis leads them, no surprises there. Inside is more junk than usual; there are six pieces of various sheet metals stacked against one workbench, a hammer, and a blowtorch and gas canister. Someone has been asking Ydalir for Stuff.]
Take a seat at the bench. You can remove the arm if possible and if you want to, but I can work either way.
[Rummages... for more things.]
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Jeez, are you gonna fix me or torture me, buddy? [He'd probably deserve the torture for how often he's ground on Gnosis's last nerve. He won't say that out loud though. Better to not give him ideas.]
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'm try'n fix you.
[His hands are a bit occupied with grabbing the actual saw part. The saw is not meant for Vash's arm, as he'll inform when he sits back down. It's to cut the metal, which he'll then melt down and very delicately pour into the cracks on Vash's arm using that spoon. The accompanying steel wool and rag is meant to catch the extra metal so it's seamless as can be.]
It's a hairline crack, [and, like a dweeb, that means Gnosis has to pull a jeweller's eyeglass over his glasses, so now he looks 6x nerdier than usual,] so it'll require some delicate work. The metal I'll be using is austenitic stainless steel, [what] which is corrosion-resistant and often used in home appliances due to how difficult it is to damage.
[Anyway, without a single regard for safety at all, Gnosis takes that sheet of stainless steel and begins cutting into it. Five minutes later, with a sufficient chunk cut off, he lights the blowtorch. The madman is Not wearing goggles. Lord help you both.]
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To his credit, he nods rather agreeably to everything. He doesn't understand everything, namely the specific name for the metal being used, but the rest he can get behind.]
Should we do a scratch test first? Make sure this metal is gonna place nice with the other stuff? Hate to see all your hard work get squished the second I move my hand.
[It's not that he doesn't trust Gnosis. The problem is that they're both largely unfamiliar with each other's technology. There's no assuming it will all work — better to actively test things, right?]
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[He will... put the blowtorch and what's currently somewhat-melted aside for now. Reluctantly. Because apparently he really wanted to play with that blowtorch like a freak. The kind of freak who might have bombed a railroad bridge in the past—
Anyway.]
Do you know the relative hardness of your arm? [please don't ask a man this] Let me get the sclerometer.
[And he's getting up again... don't answer that question Vash we're about to figure out how hard your arm is. Or do. It'll be a minute until he comes back with it; there's a loud rummaging through another drawer and some sort of string of curses before he manages to find what he's looking for and sits back down.
I am not writing out a scratch test, I read the wikipedia article and didn't understand shit, let's just say it's all cashmoney—]
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Especially when he's just as liable to break it again.]
You done this before? Could have fooled me, if you hadn't -
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I've had to repair hairline cracks in equipment before. In general, a metal chassis should be replaced if it's on something important — a robot, an Arts Unit, the works — but sometimes a complete replacement is impossible, and a quick fix will have better results. It would take me a number of weeks to completely replace your arm, and I'd need Add's assistance with recalibrating. This should be a sturdy enough fix.
[And there seems to be sentiment here, from what Gnosis has parsed, so he wouldn't dare say "hey a single crack means we gotta just rebuild the whole thing sorry". It still functioned with it. It's sturdier than he thinks it is.]
Granted, I've never fixed a prosthetic arm before, but the principles apply. Technology is something I understand.
[Unlike people.]
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[Make no mistake, it's not something he's eager for. But Vash has a tendency to break things, and it's only a matter of time before something goes awry and his arm gets worse. It would be better if the steps were in place to replace it as quickly as possible. He can function without it, certainly, but he'd rather not if given the option.]
It's important to me, I'm sure you've figured that out. [He winks at Gnosis. The man doesn't seem like the surface-level reading type. Doubtless, Mr. Edelweiss has read Vash for filth at this point.] So if I can swap it out and save it from being completely destroyed down the road, maybe that's for the best.
Though it might be a little weird, hanging the old one above the mantle afterward.
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Plus, you're the sentimental type. [wow.] I'll admit to not understanding many social cues, but that was easy enough to parse. That said, considering the importance, it may be worth looking into a total swap. Without that person here to perform complete repairs, you might not want to risk it. The decision is yours regardless.
[He's not going to take Vash's arm and run. He's simply here to fix things.]
...and I do think you should hang an arm above the mantle. It adds something a little unhinged to the decor.
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[He wouldn't know where to begin, if it would be as simple as talking to Heimr for a favor, or if they'd have to put the pieces together themselves. If someone else had a better idea, though, he'd be all ears.
Cough cough, Gnosis...]
I'll keep the suggestion in mind. Hopefully Nick won't care too much. Might even match the cross.
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[They're almost done now. Gnosis is on the last stretch of those cracks, steadily dripping that melted metal into it. Once they're at the end, he sits back and sets the utensils he's holding aside, only to grab Vash's arm and give it a good, thorough once-over just to make sure he didn't miss anything. The silver mixed in with that blue looks almost pretty to him, even though it certainly isn't hiding the damage that occurred.]
There. It's more of an art piece now, but it should be reinforced for the time being.
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Mostly.]
Careful! I'm delicate!
[Once he's done, though... The arm is held aloft, Vash twisting his hand this way and that to catch the light. It's evident by his approving smile that the craftsmanship is well to his liking. It isn't the arm he grew up with, but that's what makes it all the better. It's a reflection of his journey so far.]
I like it. 'n' I'll keep your suggestion in mind. About you and Add, I mean.
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[Why doesn't he believe you.]
I'm glad you don't find it unsightly. My artistic capacity is somewhat-limited, after all. [There is a very small smile on his lips.] You're free to go, then. Try not to get yourself into any trouble, alright?
[looks to the future. haha..... ha]
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[He laughs for just a second, but seems to trail off just as quick. His face falls, as if an unpleasant thought had crossed his mind.]
Not that I want to see new people show up. You know what I mean though.
[Anyway, he's gathering himself up and pulling his jacket back on.]
Do I owe ya anything? Some shells? A snack? A drink?
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[YOU SPENT ALL MONTH DRUNK!!!]
Don't do anything on my behalf.