(no subject)

[dolorous_sensei]

In Alhambra base, you can see a man in military uniform standing in front of some sort of coffee machine.

"They installed an automatic coffee dispenser..."

He turns toward you and cries out dramatically.

"I'm in despair! The way human easily substituted the art of coffee making for automated, mechanized coffee-making device has left me in despair!"

Comments

[kinaesthete]

Whoa!

[The woman you turn to raises her arms to fend you off. Or possibly to show that she's not a sellout barista?]

Um, I think you can get ground coffee in the other mess? That's on the other side of the base, though.

[dolorous_sensei]

It's not the machine itself, but the principle. What's next? Are they going to replace us pilots with automatic devices too?

[kinaesthete]

Would that be so bad? If fighting's necessary, better it be handled by non-sentient machines rather than anything that can think and feel, right?

I wouldn't worry about it, though. Human or machine, the best piloting needs heart, not just reflexes.

You're pretty dramatic, huh.

[dolorous_sensei]

You're making sense. This base's coffee's still awful, though.

I see that you're new here? That would explain why you haven't started calling me names.

[kinaesthete]

Awful coffee's kind of a military tradition, though, isn't it?

I'm visiting from the Star Rose. If you want better food, you should come up there some time. Tourist trap prices, though.

You've been here for a while, then? Or you acquired a reputation quickly?

[dolorous_sensei]

I don't know, maybe both? It's just my team has been calling me names, and it seems that it's spreading.

At least I have names. I know a man with no name once. Poor guy. He always got his restaurant reservations mixed up.

[kinaesthete]

You knew a guy with no name.

[She pretty clearly doesn't find that 100% plausible.]

Well, if you want, I can promise to call you by your actual name. You have one, right?

Mine's Cathy.

[dolorous_sensei]

*Walt gives a military salute.*

Lieutenant Junior Grade Walt Schmertz. Leader of Unity Group's 8th Genoace Team. Please call me Walt, or Lieutenant Schmertz, but not my full name, please.

[kinaesthete]

[Cathy returns it.]

Catherine Baker, J.G. with the Erewhon CDF, with Unity to test the LZ-251 Rose prototype MS. Same here with the names. Full names just sound like I'm due a scolding.

Team leader, huh? Seen much action?

[dolorous_sensei]

That, and people keep punning my full name and calling me Lieutenant Weltschmerz.

And yeah, I've been piloting for a while... somehow... Before you know it, you've spent half your life as a soldier...

[kinaesthete]

Okay, I can see how that would get old.

I guess you worked your way up the ranks the hard way, huh? I feel pretty green by comparison.

[dolorous_sensei]

Damnit, I just jinxed us both.

[kinaesthete]

Huh? It's not like you said you're three days to retirement or anything.

And hey, don't drag me into this! You didn't say anything to jinx me!

[dolorous_sensei]

We just said out loud about how experienced I am and how green you are. Those both are Grade A irony bait right there.

[kinaesthete]

Maybe, but that just means you'll screw up with your obsolete, hidebound ways and I'll save the day with my new-fangled tomfoolery.

I'm okay with that.