warintheextreme | [For Takatora]

[For Takatora]

This is turning out to be much more interesting than I ever anticipated.

As I have made quite clear to everyone involved in the project- I am an intellectual. A scientist. Non-violent by nature. And anyway, the main reason I signed on to head the technology sector of this project was to provide a measure of protection to the citizens of the city.

I mean it when I say I don't want to see any innocents hurt, never mind killed.

Takatora has asked me, more than once now, to increase the pace on the secondary Driver project, the follow-up to the prototype Sengoku Driver.

I smirk to myself, as ever feeling maybe just a tad bit egocentric and flush with potentially unwarrantaed self-importance...

Then again, I did design the device entirely on my own, and build all seven of them, from scratch, by hand.

There is a technology department at Yggdrasill. I'm a part of it, a ranking member even. But this project is sensitive enough that I jumped at the position, knowing full well that I wouldn't have to work with any of my scientific peers.

It's my project. My work.

This new Driver will be no different.

Though I am still unsure, as the blueprints are finished and I've begun building the first model, if I trust it enough to let Takatora be the first to use one.

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As project director it is my job to check up on the progress of the new driver model, regardless of my personal feelings. It matters little that I also have personal feelings wrapped up in the advancement of the Armored Rider project, in unraveling the secrets of Helheim.

I enter Ryouma's lab without knocking, such a formality is not only beneath me in such a case, but it is unneeded between us. We have known, and worked with, one another too long.

"What is the status of the new driver?"

I'm not surprised, not when he walks in, nor when his first response is a fierce demand about my progress.

We have this sort of relationship, now, we know the steps to this dance.

"I'm doing the best I can, Takatora." I say idly, not even bothering to look over my shoulder or otherwise acknowledge his arrival. "I'm only one man."

I sigh, almost rolling my eyes at him, though I managed to keep some sort of professional control over my expression.

"That is your own fault. I've seen how many requests for involvement by other scientists you have denied."

I cross my arms over my chest, and move to lean against the work table behind Ryouma, staring at the back of his head. "Don't you think this project is important enough to accept assistance?"

I smirk, knowing full well he can't see it, and keep most of my focus on the prototype I'm working on. The actual building is actually one of the less delicate parts of the whole process, but it wouldn't do for Takatora to know that.

His words, and especially their implication, finally catch my interest, and I set the prototype down and turn my head to glance over my shoulder at him.

"Don't you think this project is too important to involve a ton of people and thereby reduce the security clearance qualifications?"

I can't see his smirk, but I still know it's there. He is somewhat predictable, after all, even if only for me.

"You were the one that mentioned how you were only one man, I was merely illustrating how that fact is the product of your own design. Perhaps even your own form of personal sabotage?"

I meet his gaze steadily, staring. "I'm not suggesting you bring in the entire science department, but one or two of the more skilled scientists or engineers might be beneficial to advancing the project. Not everyone that works at Yggdrasill is incompetent."

I give up at that, completely turning my chair around to face him, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Sabotage? Me?" I roll my eyes. "Takatora, you can't be serious." I turn away from him again. "Takatora, if I wanted to see this project sabotaged, the initial prototype Driver would have detonated the moment you Initialized it."

I pick up the prototype again. I need to think of a name for it, I can't exactly name this one after myself as well. "I'm not saying they're incompetent, I'm saying I don't trust them. This project is too delicate, Takatora. It's troublesome enough that we had to reach outside the company to get worthwhile data on the prototype Drivers."

I allow myself a small, private smile when he turns around again, pleased that my comment drew the reaction I expected from him. We have a push and pull relationship, and it's not always Ryouma that's doing the pushing.

"I'm very grateful that you seemed to value my life enough that you didn't set it to explode the moment I activated it." I comment, my tone dry, almost sardonic. "Still, I do wonder if you are intentionally delaying the progress of this new driver model."

I give a thoughtful hum. "Again, I probably don't have to remind you that that decision was yours, not mine."

I've seen that smile more than anyone else, excepting his family, of course. I like it. He should smile more often, it's very flattering. I don't bother telling him so, as he would just accuse me of derailing the conversation.

"And I do, at that." I say seriously, but smirking. "If I am delaying the progress of the new Driver, it is merely to make sure it is as safe as possible, especially since you've already claimed first rights to the initial build." I tilt my head to one side and shrug the opposite shoulder. "I really would rather not see you split in two, Takatora, project or no project."

I chuckle and shake my head. "Of course it was my decision. It's my device! Anyway, if you'd had your way, I would have only built one and you'd have jealously kept it to yourself." I sigh, leaning back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. "We needed the data, Takatora. I might not like it, but it's a necessary evil."

Uncrossing my arms finally, I slide my hands into my pockets, my posture becoming more casual. I tuck my head down, bangs falling a bit to shield part of my face.

"I'm grateful for that as well. However, we can not delay much longer. And I must remind you that it is your invention, but it is Yggdrasil's device."

I still think Ryouma should have only made one, that Cid should have kept the Lock Vehicles out of the other Riders' hands. I don't like that clueless civilians are needlessly risking their lives in Helheim.

I glance up at him again, noting the slight sag to his shoulders as he leans back, the extra deep circles around his eyes when he close them.

My voice soft. "When was the last time you slept?"

"I'm aware of that, Takatora." I sigh wearily, lifting one hand, thumb to my temple and the rest of my fingers across my forehead, rubbing idly. "I am doing the best I can. Give me a week, I will have it done before the week is out."

I grumble a bit at his distinction between my invention, and the actual physical device belonging to the company. It's not worth pointing out that technically, the device has now been disseminated throughout the city, and not only that, but that we required the data provided by the Beat Riders, and even that patissier.

His voice drops an octave and I open one eye to squint at him. "Hm?"

Oh, that. He's always nagging me, as though he gets any more rest than I do. "Ahh, I dunno, Takatora, I think you'll have to show better credentials to gain access to such personal information."

"I see." I give him a firm nod, moving away from the work table and toward the door again. I see myself out without a backwards glance.

I return five, maybe ten minutes later, depending how how long the lift took, and see myself into his lab again, this time with two paper cups of black coffee.

I set one down on the desk near Ryouma's hand, then lean back against his desk, one hand in my pocket as I sip at my own coffee.

Its' not exactly going to be an early night for me either.

I can't say I'm glad that he just leaves without another word. Partly because I know he'll be back. If I'm lucky, he's just left for food or coffee, if I'm unlucky he'll return with a blanket and pillow, or if I'm really unlucky, he'll come back with his Driver on around his waist and three or four security officers and try to forcibly remove me from my work. Which has only happened once, so statistically speaking it's the least probable outcome.

Well, no, I suppose the least probable outcome is that he left and just stays gone; gone home or back to his own office or into Helheim, which ever is most necessary at this moment. I'm not entirely clear on that, because my clock is on the other side of the lab and I'm busy. I'm not entirely sure what time it is, and honestly don't care.

I return to my work. I meant it when I told him I'd be done within the week. The Driver is coming along nicely, I've had the blueprints done for days, it's just a matter of building the thing now, and of course making sure it actually has even the potential to work.

Takatora comes back shortly with coffee, and I make a mental note to add this event to my future probabilities. Coffee is becoming the most likely outcome in vast strides.

"Thank you, Takatora." I glance at the cup, then up at him, offering him a small smile, then turn back to my work.

Edited 2013-12-26 09:58 (UTC)

I give him a pointed look when he merely glances at the coffee. I will allow him to get away with that for the moment. But just for the moment.

I toy with the lock seed in my pocket for a moment, taking another few sips of my coffee, letting the quiet ease between us.

"Ryouma," I nudge the coffee closer to him, bumping his hand with it. "There's no sense in you becoming needlessly worn out and making a mistake at some critical point in the new driver's construction."

I mostly ignore him, because I know full well he's not about to leave any time soon, and I don't mind having him here. It's not just that I allow him free access to my lab, though that is one area in which he is very special if not entirely unique, it's that I am comfortable with him watching me work.

Still, eventually he nudges the coffee closer to my hand, and I look up at him, smiling a bit as I realize how much he has relaxed, where Takatora is concerned anyway.

"I don't make mistakes, Takatora." I say softly, but I do sit back and pick up the coffee with one hand, taking a sip just to placate him.

I would 'barge' in here, even if he didn't 'allow' me access. This is as much my project as it is his, and I have every right to check up on its progress. I also worry about Ryouma, sometimes, almost as much as I worry about the project.

He sits back, and I almost smile, just the barest lift at the corner of my mouth.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Ryouma. Even you."

I take another sip of the coffee, then glance up at him, catching the slight smile. That's enough to prompt me to set the cup back down and scoot my chair closer to my desk once more, picking up the prototype with a little sigh.

"Perhaps, perhaps. But I don't let mine leave this room, Takatora."

My slight smile fades faster than it appeared, and I fix him with a heavy stare, almost a glare, my voice full of my authority, cautioning. "Ryouma."

I glance at my watch. "According to Yggdrasil records, the last time you took a break was nine hours ago, and I have strong suspicions that you did not actually take a break then."

I nudge the cup once more. "You can spare the time required to drink a cup of coffee with me."

Oh, he's turning on the I'm in charge voice, the Kureshima voice, the heir to the entire corporation if I wanted voice. I blink, set the prototype down, and look up, waiting for the inevitable dressing-down.

I can't help but laugh, though. "You're looked up my timesheet?" I shake my head, not surprised by the lengths to which he's gone. "For your information, I actually took two entire laps around the lab before I sat back down, nine hours ago." Still, it's really not worth arguing with him over this, so I even make a point of pushing my chair back away from my worktable, after picking up the cup of coffee that is.

"What, are you going to turn me in to reception and payroll?"

Of course I looked up his time sheets. Does he think I'm new to this position?

"Two laps around the lab do not count as a break, and even if they did, it has been nine hours since then." Even at my worst, at my most dedicated moments, I am not that ruthless about neglecting my body's needs.

I give a small nod when he pushes his chair back and picks up his coffee again, hiding my slight smile in a sip from my own cup.

"You forget that I have the authority to lock you out of this lab. Any lab within Yggdrasil, for that matter."

I smirk at that, shrugging one shoulder but refusing to acknowledge it. Counts as a break for me.

"You'll have to make up your mind, Takatora, either you can have the new Driver sooner, or I can take frequent and unproductive breaks. You can't have it both ways."

I think he's smiling. It's just an educated guess, but judging by the particular near-haste with which he raised his cup, it seems likely that he was trying to hide a grin.

Then he makes an off-handed half-threat and I lower my own mug and fix him with a piercing stare.

"Try it."

Ah, I'm not looking for a fight with that comment, or to challenge him. He doesn't need to fix me with so serious a stare.

"Oh I know you'd find a way back in, I'm not arguing that." I sip at my coffee, then lower the cup, meeting Ryouma's eyes. "But during the hypothetical time spent trying to get back in you might learn something."

Maybe not to test me so, when it comes to the welfare of those that work under me.

I smirk at him around my coffee cup, and pointedly drain the cup in two long draws before leaning back in my chair to place the empty cup on one of my spare tables before scooting slowly back towards the work table, and the prototype sitting on it.

I keep my eyes on Takatora for now, though.

"I think you wouldn't ever dare to do that, whether I'm sleeping or not."

I think you wouldn't trust me to be the top scientist in the research department, or indeed to be working for Yggdrasill at all, if I couldn't bypass a few locks.

I hum, as if I am considering the matter, and while I do I put one of my feet out and set my shoe down on one of the wheels of his chair, stopping him from sliding any closer to his desk.

I reach into my pocket, and draw a sandwich wrapped in plastic from it. I hold it out to him, meeting his eyes with an unwavering glare.

"Eat."

He actually puts a foot on my chair to stop me from moving, and I give him a slight pout, shaking my head.

He actually brought a sandwich. Where did he get that?

I take it from him, holding it up with a little shake of my head and a laugh.

"I ate when I took my not-break around the lab." I say, and it's true, actually, I had an entire apple.

"Yes, I'm sure you did." I sip at my coffee again, keeping my foot firmly stilling his chair.

"And again, that was nine hours ago." I fix him with a gaze, half one of authority, of command, and half one that's a great deal more open, more private. Almost caring.

"I'm not asking you to stop working, to call it a night and go home. I am merely insisting that you refuel before you work yourself unconscious."

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