sciencelizard | « [IC Inbox- Hadriel]

Right, yes. That's on our island, here.

[ Easy enough! ]

You're not there now, are you?

Uhm, I am, a-actually! I stay here sometimes, since my house is, uh, not on the same island...

[She probably should've picked up a temporary apartment here, but that just feels wrong, and also the Lab has a couch so?? Profit??]

Feel free to come over anytime!

That must be challenging. [ She knows that it is: she's had Guard duties off her home island before. ]

All right, then. I'll make my way now. [ beat ] Thank you for this. I know that it's short notice.

It's okay! Really, I'm uh, not usually doing that much anyway. All my projects aren't time sensitive anyway. I'll s-see you soon?

You will.

[ And, true to her word, the Inquisitor arrives not long after, lurking briefly in the doorway before rapping against the wall. ]

Hello?

[Alphys is, as always, at her desk in the center. She's never actually seen Cecily, but seeing as a woman messaged her talking about meeting up, she can only assume. She waves from behind her setup, giving a little smile.]

Hey! Uh, h-hello, welcome to the Lab. Are you Cecily?

Hi, yes. That's me.

[ She waves her one hand, trying not to look grim as she smiles. ]

Thanks again for your time. I'm sure you've got loads else to do around here.

[Oh, huh. Yeah, she can start guessing what the issue is. Her eyes flick between the waving hand and missing arm before readdressing her.]

Oh, n-no, it's-- it's really no problem, there's not as much to do around here as you'd think!

[The problem with your own research- sometimes it works, sometimes you spend two weeks staring at theory papers and screaming. It's fine! That's just how science works!]

So, uh, can I help you?

Really? I do think there's a lot to do, considering how much actually happens in Hadriel. [ And how much of it involves the Null, which she assumes are of interest to the Lab people. ]

Er - Well, maybe. I'm not sure it's something that can be helped. [ She raises the half of her left arm and shrugs. ] Someone took the rest of this with magic, and...to be honest, it makes it difficult to do Guard duties, or...anything else without it. Someone mentioned that you might be capable of building a replacement of some kind. Or, at least something that be used as a weapon.

[ She feels very sheepish making this request of a stranger, but that's the general Hadriel experience a lot of the time. ]

Well, I mean, s-sometimes.

[Sadly for research's sake, the Door only opens once a month and the Null haven't been by in quite a while. Their supply of parts is running dim, and there's only so long Alphys can futz with a processor before she risks turning it back on. But in the meantime, Cecily's presented a question, and she listens and nods.]

Well, uh-- g-good news, I have basically done something like this before. Or well, I've replaced limbs on robots. I can absolutely, uh, b-build something, it'll be getting you to be able to control it that's harder. Do you, uh, k-know any magic...?

[That would be a good place to start, to make sure things don't interface badly.]

I don't, really. [ Magic! Blighted magic. She sighs. ] ...But, I've spoken with Taako a bit about his teaching me. I'm not sure how much it would help you to have a beginner.

[ She supposes it depends on what Alphys needs magic for... ]

Would I need to know, ah...any school in particular?

Oh, uh-- n-no, it's nothing like that. Don't worry, I can uhm, I can work with it. I just wasn't sure. The last time I did this the, uhm, the person had telekinesis, so they could move it without extra circuitry. It just had to bend in all the right p-places.

[She's sort of looking over where her arm should be and the other one, attempting to get a read on how big it would need to be.]

It's okay! In some respects it, uh, makes it easier, since I don't need to worry about interfacing badly with your magic or anything.

Telekinesis? [ ... ] Wait, the - "the last time you did this?" You've done this before?

[ Damn, girl. You must be good. ]

All right, well...anything I can do to help. I hardly expect it to be an easy process.

Well, m-mostly hands. And I build a whole robot so it can't be so much different.

[The hands are the hardest part!!! And Oscar seemed to like them so she's calling it a win.]

The uh, the point is, I'd be happy to help, uhm-- do you want it to look like your other one? Maybe I can build in a sword...

[SWORD HAND or well really she's thinking more like Edward Elric's bayonet because she's that anime nerd, okay.]

I'd love for it to look like - er, a hand, if that's all right. I know it's boring, but I'm afraid I have to opt for practicality here.

[ A sword arm would be cool, but she's trying to be realistic about the increased threat of impalement. ]

[She nods along with Cecily's request, because that's perfectly reasonable really. Just agree with her that it would be rad, ok. Just think about it.]

No that's, that's t-totally understandable-- you do, uh, need that.

[A slight pause.]

If I could fit a hidden knife in there though, would that be, uh, like a thing? You like?

I would never argue with a hidden knife. [ She confirms with a wink. ] I think that's actually part of my whole roguish charm.

[ She's been using a knife since she lost her other arm anyway, so that would make it even more convenient. ]

[Well that's gonna get a hell of a grin.]

Okay!! I'll g-get to work.

[She scribbles something down and scoots over to Cecily's other side with a beat up looking tape measure that she uses to start taking measurements.]

I can probably have the uhm, design drawn up by the end of the week? If uh, if that's okay.

Of course it is. Maker, I'm the one imposing on you.

[ So many denizens of Hadriel are overly-helpful. It's...more than a little humbling, considering how little they all owe each other. ]

Is there anything I can do in return? Really, I'll be uncomfortable to be in your debt.

Oh, it's-- really, it's no p-problem, I don't really uh, have as much to do as you'd think around here...

[It was pretty busy after [name] was brought in, and... not a ton since!]

If I need uh, a part or something, I might ask you to uh... provide it? If that's fair, uhm, f-from the gods? If that's ok?

[Meanwhile, Alphys is uncomfortable asking for things in exchange for services.]

I'm surprised, actually. I assume that those with any measure of intelligence in Hadriel always have a lot to manage, and you've got quite a lot of it, so. [ She should be busy all the time, right?

Apparently not, but that doesn't mean she wants to impose on this incredibly helpful person. ]

Oh, absolutely. Anything I can do to make the process easier. [ Alphys is the one doing her a favor, after all. ] Do you know of anything like that that you might need now?

[Well, she's only busy when she has a project, or something is technologically blowing up. She could work on the Door, but... it hasn't been relevant in a long time, now that there's better control and the Null are around. She wants to finish what they started here, even if it's selfish.]

Uh, not right now, I'll have to see what I have first. I mean, uh, I guess we could ask them for the whole arm, but that sort of uh, d-defeats the point, right?

[She laughs a bit at her own joke, if it can be called that.]

If they just gave me an arm again, I would feel very, very silly for having consulted so many other people about getting an arm replacement.

[ But it does seem like something Hope could do, which she's fully aware of. Sharon had originally suggested that she do that exact thing... ]

Beyond that, though, do let me know if you think of anything.

I think they could, uhm, p-probably, but since this is a procedure for you it's better you figure out what you really want out of it!

[Man, she feels very doctor-y. It's kind of validating, after having to explain she wasn't that kind of doctor for so long. It's sort of like what she told [name]- she's a robot doctor. And she guesses even for only part robots.]

But I'll let you know! Take care of yourself, okay? S-Stay safe.

« [IC Inbox- Hadriel]

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