Now's as good a time as any for this

[prismphantom]

[Another ugly skirmish with the BETA... plus kijin stuff piled on just for good measure afterwards. And the people weighing on Selena's mind the most? Well, the Zhar Battalion of course.]

Lt. Colonel Latrova... fighting the BETA on a constant basis is dangerous enough. I just hope that the enemies you face within the Russian bureaucracy don't decide to further retaliate against you. Whoever planned that operation the way they did might not be happy with how things played out, and considering what the Zhars have to deal with already...

For you and your men, I hope they don't decide to take out their frustration on the battalion. It was bad enough seeing the Glory Stars go through... what they did. And the size of the battalion doesn't mean any one life in it's less valuable.

[She looks over at a tupperware box she recently got in the mail. It's from Captain Symphonia... with 'Feliz Cumpleaños' written on the top, with a large amount of seemingly basic looking cookies inside. It's a few weeks past her birthday, but considering the circumstances of the rest of Team Jelba's current mission she doesn't hold it against the Captain. Thus she still opens the box and helps herself to one, immediately humming softly as she closes her eyes, leans back against the wall, and savors the taste. Well, not before...]

Elma?



Yes Selena?



Take some of the Captain's handiwork and see if anyone would like to try it. In spite of what happened out there, it was still an improvement over everything last month so... not to sound like a certain insensitive someone but maybe a small celebration's in order.



Are you sure you're not just saying that to try to wean yourself off of these?  Their nutritional value isn't all that great and since you've been transferred to the Unity Group you've gained 2.3- ohnono aaaahahhhh S-Selena-

[Oh dear.  Poor Elma's comment got derailed as Selena picks him up by his head.]



Of all the things I'm grateful you can do for me, being a weight scale ISN'T ONE OF THEM!

[And with that poor Elma's going to be punted down a hall.  Not that it's going to get in the way of him delivering those cookies to anyone interested later on though... just he's also going to have a big dent in his head once more.]

Comments

[star_of_sad]

Is Elma trying to say those cookies are bad for you?

[prismphantom]

Elma's just being a little too over-analytical in all the wrong ways. The Captain made a number of these for me... they're Spanish-style icebox cookies. My birthday was about three weeks ago and he always tries to send at least something to anyone who's away from the team when that happens.

You're free to try some. They're not necessarily great for the body, but they're good for the soul.

[star_of_sad]

Thank you. I'm definitely trying those.

[Setsuko approaches the box of cookies. There is no hope of survival.]

I didn't know you had a birthday recently.

Neither did Steam until he checked Alpha 3's birthday chart for Touma

[prismphantom]

Birthdays sometimes have a habit of creeping up on Team Jelba. Between work and needing to keep up appearances if we're on an intelligence-gathering mission, we celebrate them when it's safe to remember we actually have them.

And mine's on the 21st. Right after... what happened to Yancy, and on the same day that Kanade left us.

[Selena's silent for a short but noticeable period of time, in memory of those Unity Group members no longer around before she just lets off a weak, sort of forced chuckle.]

There I go again, I'm spoiling the mood.

[star_of_sad]

... Oh.

Well. That's in the past now. Please, don't blame yourself.

It happened, we can't do anything about it now.

[prismphantom]

... You're right.

There's still things we need to worry about, and getting worried about that all defeats the purpose of all of this.

Go ahead, let's see if you like the cookies.

[star_of_sad]

[Way ahead of you Selena, Setsuko is already chomping away.]

[prismphantom]

[Selena just laughs. The poor girl's been through a lot recently, so seeing her enjoy the cookies so enthusiastically eases Selena's worries about her.]

Always wonderful to see a new fan of the Captain's cooking. I'll have to make sure he know too.

[star_of_sad]

What can I say, it's... very good.

[prismphantom]

That's the Captain for you... the only person I've met who can cook my favorite foods better than Elma can. He always felt it was like a duty of his; to make sure his cookin was the absolute best for his team, his family.

I hope you get to meet them some time, Setsuko. They really are amazing people.

[star_of_sad]

Sometimes I forget that Team Jelba has more members than just you and Albhard.

The sentiment is shared, I hope to meet the rest one day too.

[a_louse]

Quite a rude little robot, isn't he?

[Roger says as he's eating one of the cookies.]

[prismphantom]

Sometimes he forgets that there are just some things a woman should not be told, even by close friends.

Thoughts on the cookies, Negotiator?

[a_louse]

Refreshingly normal, after some of the outside world specials I got to taste.

So you two are close friends?

[prismphantom]

We're more than close friends... we're partners. Elma helps pilot the Gesterben and handle all sorts of technical details I don't always have the time to bother with.

And in spite of his... occasional unintentional offense, I wouldn't be able to get far without him. I haven't even done my own laundry in months, let alone made a bed after sleeping in it.

[a_louse]

So he's a convenient servant as well? I see you're getting a lot of use out of the little guy.

Robots and humans are different, but that doesn't mean we can't get along well with each other. I happen to have a few robot acquitances as well.

[prismphantom]

... Are... you for real?

[a_louse]

Pardon?

[prismphantom]

Sorry, I just...

Saying something like that is just... extremely old-fashioned.

[In all the wrong ways but let's be polite.]

I didn't think anyone would still say it.

[a_louse]

Paradigm has been separated from the rest of the world for at least 40 years. The cultural difference shows.

My apologies, I didn't mean any offense about your friend. He's a good robot.

[caressthedarkness]

[Bringing cookies to a confused Kijin is a good way to empty your stock, at least with the way she's going. Omnomnomnom.

This is just her way of de-stressing.]

[prismphantom]

Oh no...! Please don't tell me you haven't been getting enough food from the cafeterias, Miss Seta! If you're that hungry I could make something more filling for you if you'd like!

[caressthedarkness]

Ah...

[Sudden realization.]

...It...is alright. Please forgive me...consuming something...is a habit when I have a lot on my mind...

[prismphantom]

Ah. Considering what happened in Russia, it's only naturally to be stressed and find ways of coping with it.

If you would like, I could even get some milk for you as well!

...

... Is milk a preferred beverage for kijin when they're eating cookies as it is with humans?

[caressthedarkness]

...I have never actually considered that before.

But...these are already good on their own...

[prismphantom]

Well, fortunately you wouldn't have to risk all of them to try and experiment with one, if you'd be up for it.

I could even run and get you the milk myself!

[caressthedarkness]

...You would not mind doing that for me...?

[prismphantom]

Of course not! Compared to some of the things I do for Selena, it's nothing at all!

[The little subot zips away, returning shortly with a glass of milk being carried in its manipulator arm.]

There we are. Like I said, not a problem whatsoever.

[caressthedarkness]

T-thank you...

[Congratulations, you are now left with a Seta holding a cookie in one hand and a glass of milk in the other.

She just stares at both, one after the other, looking unsure...]

[armowrpiercing]

Silly robot, that's not how you're supposed to treat a lady.

[prismphantom]

[Gah. Another talking animal...! Wait, and it's a cat! Does that mean...]

Oh no... you're one of the Cybuster pilot's familiars, aren't you? Are you anything like that stupid bird that accompanied Shu?

[armowrpiercing]

I'm sad to say that I know nothing about Cybuster or any stupid bird. That's superfluous though, because all birds are stupid.

[prismphantom]

I know! And this one's the worst!

How someone like Shu Shirakawa could even put up with her is a mystery I'll never understand!

[majestic_keiki]

Thanks. [Offering sweets to Kei had the predictable effect of having her sample them. She does give the newly dented robot a small look.]

Who programmed it?

Time for an IC explanation because I have no OOC knowledge regarding this!

[prismphantom]

That...

[Selena and Elma actually exchange glances before Selena continues on.]

... Is actually classified information. If knowledge of how Elma was constructed somehow leaked out, it could be problematic considering everything he's capable of.

Sorry... being a member of the ESUN intelligence division comes with perks, but also costs.

Re: Time for an IC explanation because I have no OOC knowledge regarding this!

[majestic_keiki]

I just meant that it doesn't seem like a very good idea for a robot to try to embarrass its owner like that.

[prismphantom]

But Selena doesn't own me!



He's correct. He's more a partner than a sentient tool I own.



And I'm also a lot more useful and capable than that dumb bird who called me a scarecrow!

[Even if they're in separate worlds, Elma's rivalry with Chika is still as strong as ever.]

[majestic_keiki]

I see...I'm sorry about the misunderstanding.

But don't intentionally embarrass people in public like that.

[prismphantom]

It's okay. I know robots of Elma's caliber are few and far between, so misconceptions happen.

[majestic_keiki]

How exactly was that a misconception? He was just being rude.

[prismphantom]

I think Selena was meaning it's not that she owns me, but rather we work together.



You are right though about not bringing certain things up... though I'd add they have no place even in a private conversation between a man and a woman.

[majestic_keiki]

There might be reasons to mention it...If you're a doctor, for example. But you shouldn't do it in public.

And I'm sorry, Elma. I didn't realize what your relationship was like. [Or even that that good robots were a common thing.]

[tiger_ken]

[Well, Ken at least might be able to catch Elma with his foot.]

...Dare I ask?

[prismphantom]

Oh sure. Ask away... just not about my weight or age. I don't think I'd get away with doing that to someone not in Team Jelba.

[tiger_ken]

[...]

I k-know better than to ask that of a lady anyway.

Though, what are those...?

[He says, walking up to the room, and catching sight of the Tupperware.]

[prismphantom]

Well, those happen to be called "Spanish Bread". Misleading name, I know, and not all that visually spectacular... but they make up for it with flavor.

Care for one?

[tiger_ken]

...I guess. Did you make these? Wouldn't have pegged this sort of thing as one of your skills.

[Ken extends a hand.]