3377/...Ice Cream Time...

...Ice Cream Time...
Date of Scene:	12 November 2015
Location:	Njorun Station - Medical
Synopsis:	Evangeline stops by medical to visit Toph after her run in with HK-47, and Jayale stops by to get some answers as well.
Cast of Characters:	20, Neuroi Girl, 892

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Neuroi Girl has posed:
     There is a soft knock on Toph's door. So soft that most people might not even hear it. But, Toph would likely have no problem. Shortly after the knock, the door opens just enough for the featureless face of Evangeline to peek in. "...Toph...I brought the ice cream..." she says, then pushes the door open carefully and floats inside, a large tub of ice cream hugged against her chest.

     She floats over to the bed, then stops by its side. "...it is Rocky Road..." she says, then slowly loosens her grip and holds out the tub, her head lowered slightly. "...I thought you might like it..."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    At the sound of knocking, Toph immediately pushes herself up into a sitting position in bed. After all, her ears are more perceptive than most. "Come on in!" Indeed, Evangeline enters, it's easy to recognize her voice.

    It's harder to keep track of where she is at times, but when Evangeline stops next to her bed and speaks Toph reaches a hand out to carefully punch her in the arm, a friendly greeting. And when she says the name of the flavour? Toph's eyes seem to glimmer with satisfaction.

    "Like it? It's my favourite one," Toph says with a weak grin, then coughs slightly. At least it will be easier to eat the ice cream since she no longer has an oxygen mask on, instead the young earthbender is wearing a nasal cannula. "Pepper buys it for me all the time, really." Oh yeah, ice cream is bound to cheer her up some.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline is happy to hear that it is Toph's favorite and that her guess wasn't completely wrong. Of course, she can't really show it. Instead, she just floats there, holding the tub out. After a moment of holding it out, she carefully sets it down in Toph's lap. "...here..." she says, then holds out a rather large metal spoon. The kind usually used to serve rather than to eat. "...it is alright if we eat from the tub...right..?" she asks as she floats up, then carefully floats down to land on the bed in a seated position beside Toph.

     Once seated, Evangeline gets quiet again. Conversation is still not her strong suit.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    When told to take the ice cream tub Toph reaches out and takes it, and she takes the spoon as well, grinning when she notices the size of it. Oh yeah, now we're talking. "Sure it's okay, I don't think I have any really bad germs." And hey, the earthbender isn't a germophobe by far.

    She even makes room for Evangeline to float down into the bed next to her, scooting over. It's easy to note she's gone quiet again though, and Toph begins digging the spoon into the rocky road ice cream as she decides to prod the other girl for information. "So what's going on with you nowadays? Been a while since we met." All the talking does aggravate her throat though, and Toph is forced to restrain a cough as she clears her throat. At least she's doing better.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline has another spoon for herself, and so once the tub is opened she scoops out a generous amount. She is raising it toward her face when Toph asks her question. Evangeline pauses, then lowers her ice cream a bit. "...defending the cities on Strike Earth...is becoming more difficult..." she says, then raises her scoop back toward her face. An opening appears approximately where a mouth should be, and she slides the entire scoop into her mouth before closing it. She starts pulling the spoon out, but...the end of the spoon is gone.

     Evangeline pauses as she looks at the now spoonless spoon, then she tilts her head slightly. "...ah...my spoon..." Unsure what to do after that, she just sits there, looking at the handle of the spoon.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Why's it becoming difficult?" Toph asks with concern. It's been a while since she was at that world, and there are so many worlds with problems. "Anything you need the help of the Union for there?" It doesn't hurt to offer! And Evangeline is somebody Toph considers a friend.

    When Evangeline breaks her spoon however, Toph seems to notice that something is wrong. So she reaches a hand out. "Allow me." Her own spoon is a bit on the large size, so it's no problem with making it smaller. Unless Evangeline protests Toph will take it, then she places the handle against her own spoon. In response the metal shifts slightly, and part of the metal from Toph's spoon connects with Evangeline's broken spoon, forming a new head while the handle turns slightly shorter. "I reinforced it, but be careful!" the blind girl grins as she hands the spoon back.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline does not try to stop Toph, and watches silently as Toph fixes the spoon with part of hers. Evangeline carefully takes the spoon back, then looks over at Toph. "...thank you..." she says, then she startes in on the ice cream again. "...the enemy Neuroi are becoming more determined...I think they are tired of the fight...but they still will not consider a treaty...they think the humans deserve annihilation..." she says as she brings another scoop toward her 'mouth'.

     This time, she is careful to pull the spoon out before she closes her mouth, but...this has the unforseen side-effect of bringing the ice cream with it. Evangeline pauses again, staring at the spoon with the scoop on it, as if contemplating deeply how to solve this problem.

     Finally, she comes up with a solution. She tries again, but closes her mouth almost completely before pulling the spoon back. There is a slight metallic scraping as it passes her lips, where the ice cream is scraped off. Then, eureka! She has ice cream without sacrificing her spoon! "...we are holding them off for now..but I am unsure how long we can withstand them...Neuroi hives are hard to destroy...and as long as there is a hive...there will be more and more attacks..."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    As always Toph loves showing off her metalbending. "You're welcome!" And it's a good thing that Evangeline isn't scared of her either. Then again, Toph has made a point to tell her allies about how she doesn't want to use her bending on her allies without their permission. Heck, she even promised Tony not to bend his suits.

    "So there's no way to negotiate with them, huh?" she muses, stuffing her own mouth full of ice cream. The moment Evangeline makes that scraping noise though? Toph winces, gritting her teeth. "Don't close your mouth /that/ tight." she suggests. Hey, she's sensitive to sounds after all! But she does focus on what the other girl is talking about. "What are those hives made of? I wouldn't mind helping, and I'm sure the other Union members would want to help too."

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline pauses after the advice about the spoon. "...but...it was stuck..." she says, likely meaning the ice cream. She tries again, this time trying to form her mouth carefully to closely match the spoon. It works, but it doesn't quite get all the ice cream in the scoop. Good thing Neuroi don't have drool.

     "...some hives..like mine..wish for peace...but the master hives...those that command the lower hives...are intent on destruction of the humans and the reclaimation of Strike Earth..." She is quiet a moment as she gets another scoop. "...the hives are composed of the toughest materials...the only weapon I know of that can penetrate the outer shell is the master hive cannon...which the master hives are not afraid to use to destroy hives showing leniency to humans..."

     She actually talks while eating the scoop this time. "...the only way for us to destroy a hive is to fight through the ranks of the Neuroi which guard it and fly into it, then destroy the core...but the number of Neuroi that guard a hive is in the hundreds..."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It sounds like a big task indeed. Toph shoves more ice cream into her mouth, enjoying the soothing feeling it gives as it slides down her sore throat. Ice cream really wasn't a bad idea, especially when she can catch up on events with Evangeline.

    It's troubling to hear about the situation on her Earth however, especially with how the conflict is still raging on. Her eyes narrow slightly, and she makes a pensive sound. "So we basically have to take over a master hive, huh?" That sounds like a challenge. "How strong are the neuroi individually? Compared to one Union Elite, you think?" It doesn't hurt to ask!

    "Maybe we can come up with a plan in order to do this, you know? It's not something you and your world has to do alone, which is why you joined up with the Union, right?"

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline holds the spoon in her mouth as she considers the questions. "...most Neuroi are at the least a challenge for an Elite...there is an entire squadron of what would be considered elites that defends the mainland...including me...and every Neuroi we face is a challenge..." she says before pulling the spoon free.

     "...it was my hope that we would not have to destroy the master hives...so many Neuroi will be lost if that happens..." the little Neuroi says, lowering her head a bit. "...but...we may have no choice...if I cannot convince them that their war is self-destructive...the humans would not threaten them if the Neuroi did not attack..."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "So it would be really goddamn hard, is what you're saying..." Toph sighs, closing her eyes where she sits. "And yeah, I can understand not wanting to kill your own kind. I don't like killing people myself..." Killing is something you only do if you have no other choice, right? "Do they hate humans, or are they scared of humans?" It would help to know why they attacked, really. If the neuroi love fighting and killing, then they have a problem.

    Toph halts in eating ice cream, then she reaches out with her left hand to punch Evangeline in the arm again. "I'm glad you're not like that."

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline's body is rocked gently by the punch, to which she tilts her head in curiousity. "...as am I...then we could not be friends..." she says before eating another scoop. "...the Neuroi leaders hate humans...I have never fully understood why...but rumor has it that humans once held all Neuroi captive...perhaps in that time the humans were cruel to the Neuroi..." She lowers her head again, and even without a face it is obvious that something dark is passing through her thoughts. She is quiet a long moment. "...it would not be hard to believe..." she says after that long moment.

     Then, she looks up again. "...but...humans seem...less barbaric now...for the most part...I think it is mainly fear that drives both sides...the humans fear they will be wiped out...and the Neuroi fear they will be prisoners again..."

Jayale (892) has posed:
    It may come as a bit of a surprise, at least to those present, but someone they both happened to know - to a varying degree - steps into the room. Jayale herself who had been fairly injured after her encounter with the Imperial Inquisitor Starkiller who was supposedly in hiding and a bunch of other stuff that hardly mattered since the end result was the same! Injured old woman. Thankfully with Union technology she is fairly close to being back to full strength, which isn't terribly much, though she wasn't wearing a hospital gown at the moment. Instead she was wearing something that looked more like what she normally wore, silken dress and cloak with her forearms wrapped in healing casts of some kind that allowed her to move them but still kept them in the proper position to heal further.
    "Toph, are you free to speak? I can return later if you like, but I had hoped to speak with you about what happened."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    The blind girl nods. "Yeah... we would be enemies, most likely." It's a sad reality, really. And well, fear of somebody because they used to be cruel to you isn't unreasonable. It makes a lot of sense if they're afraid to be hurt when they have been hurt in the past. "... that would make a lot of sense."

    She's right though, humans have hopefully changed for the better. "There are some dunderheads around, but... not everybody is like that. And that's what the Union is fighting for," Toph points out. "Fighting against fear and other crud."

    When the door opens and another person joins them however, Toph turns her head slightly, curious about who's arriving. Is it one of the nurses? One of the healers? Or Tony or Pepper? When the visitor speaks up though, Toph recognizes Jayale easily, and she nods her head a bit reluctantly. "Yeah, sure. Evangeline and I were just eating ice cream..." She gestures to the strange humanoid sitting next to her in bed. "Evangeline, Jayale aka Flowers. She's a Jedi, so very hush hush about her real name. Jayale, Evangeline." There, you have been introduced.

    "I assume you heard my report then?" Toph says, then considers something. "You want some ice cream too?"

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline nods gently at Toph's conclusions. "...the Neuroi feel the humans cannot be trusted...so they will not even consider a treaty until there is some hard evidence that the humans have changed..." She shakes her head lightly. "...the warlock incident did not help matters...many Neuroi felt they had been proven right...and many others which had doubts about the war had their resolve restored..."

     Evangeline turns her head as Jayale enters. Her featureless face regards the older woman stoically. "...you may use my spoon..." she says, then holds it out toward Jayale. "...I mostly brought the ice cream to share with others..." she says, then she tilts her head. "...you did not bring your little droid friend..?"

Jayale (892) has posed:
    The offer of ice cream had Jayale shake her head a bit. "I shall refrain from eating anything, thank you. And no, my droid does not go everywhere with me. At the time I simply had it accompanying me within Union areas as a method of storing data for me to access later."

    That might come off a /bit/ cold, but it was true. She didn't quite think of the droid as a friend. In fact, she didn't think of any droids that way. They were machines, droids, and though they could develop 'personalities' when not properly maintained, it was in effect simply a fault of the AI. At least as far as most within her Universe were concerned. "Toph, you spoke in the report of a place called Kuat. And you also said something about a droid, by the sounds of it, setting traps to kill others and having other droids with him. Couold you describe for me Kuat, as well as tell me a bit more about the droid you encountered? Try to describe what you saw as best you can."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    The whole conflict with the neuroi is something that needs to be resolved. But how? It's tough to know without knowing more about that world and testing whether there are any options other than killing.

    Well, if Jayale doesn't want ice cream, then there's more for herself and Evangeline, Toph concludes. But she doesn't seem that eager to continue eating once Jayale asks her questions about the latest mission that nearly went really wrong. Evangeline might sense the girl tensing up next to her, though when she responds she's strangely calm.

    "Kuat is a very rocky planet, with lots of mesas and mines. We didn't really explore it much, as we thought the distress signal was genuine. Well, it partially was as there were people there who needed help. Just... not the one signalling. That was HK-47." As for the droid himself...? Toph licks off her spoon, then she uses her hands to bend it into a small figurine, one resembling the assassin droid. "This is what he looks like," she offers as she holds out the figurine for Jayale to take if she needs to. "He's been fighting us before. Seems he's pissed off at me after I helped Juno and Galen out. He poisoned me before, but it wasn't as..." The girl pauses, clearing her throat as her voice is slightly weaker. "It was worse this time. He was really trying to kill me. I'm just lucky he was more focused on enjoying the moment than getting it done." Just... ugh. To think that a machine can enjoy the thought of brutally killing somebody. It's especially unsettling when they want to kill /you/.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline slowly lowers the spoon when Jayale turns it down. If the strange black metal creature thinks Jayale cold, she gives no indication. "...I do not know how anyone can enjoy killing in that way..." she says as she returns to eating the ice cream, using the same method that both Jayale and Toph have seen now. Creating an opening in her face and putting the ice cream inside. Except this time it involves some scraping because..well..Evangeline doesn't really have lips.

     When Toph makes that little figurine, Evangeline looks at it closely. Perhaps a bit too closely. She leans forward until her face is almost touching it, looks at it a few moments, tilts her head slightly, then leans back again. "...I am glad he did not get you..." Evangeline says, then reaches out a hand carefully and takes Toph's free hand before giving it a little squeeze.

Jayale (892) has posed:
    "...do not worry about such young one. That droid you encountered has no feelings, no personality. It is simply the way it was programmed. It may be hard to understand if such does not come from your world... but you should learn to think of droids as computers that have advanced Artificial Intelligences in them. However, with that stated... the 'personality' that some droids seem to manifest is simply an accumulation of data interacting awkwardly, generally it only happens when droids are not routinely maintained. Some prefer to let droids develop such, enjoying the banter. But for those such as this one..."

    Jayale reached out to float the figurine towards herself, holding it in one hand before floating it back to Toph. "It was more likely it was programmed to be that way. As rare as the notion is, there are those who would use Droids to get things done efficiently. And the personality of it, the idea of enjoying such - it is either how it was programmed, for the amusement of the maker, or a quirk of not being properly wiped." she paused and added, "I will see about taking care of it, though. I am going to need to discuss a fair bit of stuff with those who are capable of assisting me, but this HK droid cannot be left to its own devices. I encountered it not long back as well."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "It certainly seems like it had feelings and personality..." Toph shudders, unable to conceal her being unnerved by the memory of the droid. When Jayale mentions that she should think of droids as unliving things though, she arches an eyebrow. "Some of the mechanical people and AIs in the Union act and think more like humans than some." Like Dragon, for instance. If they can be afraid, if they can feel feelings, then aren't they really alive? Toph likes to think so.

    Taking the figurine back is easy enough as she senses the metal approaching, and Toph immediately bends it back into the shape of a spoon. It's reassuring that others are creeped out by it as well, and Toph doesn't protest when Evangeline takes her hand. She even attempts a weak smile, squeezing the hand back. "Yeah..." If the others hadn't been there, if she had been alone...

    That train of thought is quickly pushed aside as she chooses to focus on Jayale words next. "I'm sure others will want to stop it too since it seems to be targeting several Union members." So Jayale met it as well? "Did it try to kill you too..?" she asks, coughing slightly at the end.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline sits quietly as the other two talk, but after Jayale is finished talking about droids, Evangeline looks over. "...many people mistake me for a droid...but I am alive..." she says, then looks at the spoon Toph is no holding. "...how can you be so sure it is not alive...or does not have an actual personality...I have heard humans say...'If it walks like a duck...quacks like a duck...then it is a duck...'."

     She then goes quiet again and resumes eating ice cream.

Jayale (892) has posed:
    "Different existences. Droids from my existence are as I described. I am quite old, and I have worked with droids for most of my entire life. I have modified them, helped to create them, and even personally worked to alter their AI now and then for various purposes. My Astromech droid, for instance - still has the AI flaw where if left unmaintained long enough will develop signs of a personality, but it is not such. It is simply a flaw in the AI that is used that has... been around far longer than is necessary. Droids have been a part of our Universe since time immemorial, but it has always been the same or similar AI designs that have been used. Regardless, I can assure you that this HK-series droid is not a person, nor does it truly have feelings or a personality. It is acting on its core programming and the 'personality' you see is simply an aspect of that, or not being maintained. That is a truth from my Universe and... that droid is most certainly from my Universe. Even if... it seems to be from the far past."

    Jayale smiles and steps forward, reaching out to pat Toph gently on the shoulder. "It is up to you what you wish to think or feel in the end, but that is my suggestion. It is nice to meet you again Eve, and Toph... do be safe. I will probably get in touch with you later, but I need to take care of things related to this." And with that she turned to leave, about as soon as she came.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Evangeline has a point, doesn't she? Toph nods her head in agreement where she sits. Sure, Jayale might know what it's like in her world, but still...

    The tone in that robotic voice, speaking of his horrific intentions, the feeling of helplessness, being unable to see what was going on around her, feeling herself growing weaker and weaker by the second, the fear of dying... it's the worst feeling ever, and she recalls it only all too vividly. And that droid is still out there, and it can try this again. Not only against her, but against others as well.

    Even as Jayale reaches out to pat her on the shoulder, the blind girl is tense where she sits. It's easier said than done to decide how to feel about such things, isn't it? "I'll be careful," she responds. "Goldie and Pepper are still creeped out too." Most likely they will want her to be extra careful, and well... she can't blame them. "My radio's on if you need to talk, and... if you need my metalbending to help stop him, let me know." Even if she's scared of him, the knowledge that he needs to be stopped is greater.

    Her spoon pokes at the ice cream again before she scoops up some of it, a bit hesitantly.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline simply listens to Jayale. Perhaps Jayale is right, and perhaps not. It is too hard to know for sure. But, she isn't going to pester someone about their beliefs. She simply eats some more ice cream and continues holding Toph's hand, since Toph seems pretty tense right now. "...Evangeline..." the Neuroi corrects gently. "...or Eva..." she adds after a moment. "...I believe there is another Eve, so...to avoid confusion..." she says before nodding lightly to Jayale. "...you stay safe as well, Jaya-...Flowers..." She pauses a moment. "...was there not someone else nicknamed Flowers..?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Maybe what they all have the wrong idea? It's hard to know. But Toph looks a bit perplexed that Evangeline is still holding her hand when she becomes aware of that fact. Still... she lets her continue holding her hand.

    "Eva is fine. And yeah, captain Haruno is called Flowers too. Which is why I'm having a problem so far coming up with a decent nickname for Jayale..." Because let's face it, everybody needs a nickname.

    With that Toph returns her focus to the ice cream, stuffing her mouth full.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline probably doesn't realize she is supposed to stop before the handholding gets awkward. Or really when she is supposed to stop. So, she just keeps holding Toph's hand almost happily. The ice cream tub is getting low by now, no doubt, so Evangeline stops eating so Toph can have more. Toph is the one who is sick, after all.

     "...I am not good at giving nicknames..." she says after a moment, then sits quietly and watches Toph. "...did the ice cream help..?" she asks after another quiet moment.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    There are no other people here, and well... it's a bit reassuring to know that the people who care for her outnumber people those who want to outright kill her.

    "Giving nicknames is an art," Toph shrugs. "Either you can do it or you don't. It's easier to come up with rude ones, really." As for whether the ice cream helped...? Toph smiles slightly, nodding her head. "Yeah... thanks." She squeezes Evangeline's hand again, then stuffs her mouth full again.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline nods lightly at Toph's words, then lowers her head slightly at the squeeze to her hand. One could easily picture a happy smile. "...so...um..." She tries to think of other things to talk about. "...how are your reading lessons going..?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Oh, reading lessons. Toph lets out a sigh, then scrapes out the final part of the ice cream in the tub. "They are going fine, I guess. I had to take a break recently though, my reading glove was stolen by a dunderhead," Toph mutters. It's better to talk about something rather than evil droids. "I had one hell of a time getting it back, but... I did it." Toph coughs some more, the talking aggravating her throat some still it seems. "I can read a bit quicker, though Jarvis expects me to read a lot more and more so I can do it faster, it seems. Which leaves even less time for bending..."

    It's a damn shame. With all of her lessons she has rather busy days.

Neuroi Girl has posed:
     Evangeline tilts her head slightly. "...why did someone want your reading glove..?" she asks, then finally releases Toph's hand as she seems to perk, as if hearing something. "...I am getting a call...the Neuroi are launching an attack...it is nothing we should not be able to handle..." She leans forward slowly, getting rather close to Toph's face, then...hugs her firmly. "...I am glad you are alright...goodbye for now..."

     Evangeline floats out the door, waves one more time once she is in the hallway, then is gone.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "They grabbed it when they took something else, it was in my bag at the time," Toph explains, then sighs. "Man, I miss that bag..."

    Her hand is let go of, and Toph blinks when she feels Evangeline shift next to her. Though when she's hugged she doesn't protest, and she reaches a hand up to pat the other girl on the back. "Thanks for stopping by, and take care. Catch you later." She waves as she floats out of the room, then she sets the empty tub and the spoons aside before leaning back in bed to relax.