[text] - backdated to January 2nd

[bashfulshifter]

I don't mean to be a nuisance, but...is anyone good with electronics, or repairing them? I could use some help fixing something I got from home.

[Okay, so maybe adding the finishing touches on a suit of fusion-powered armor is a bit beyond the typical electronics hobbyist, but in Rick's mind anyone that can successfully fiddle with a circuit board is intelligent enough to build a jetpack. Right? Isn't that how these things work?]

Comments

[text]

[irreverence]

Yeah sure. I'll head up in a little bit, I guess. See you there.

[action]

[bashfulshifter]

[The blonde man will be there, after a trip down the elevator, but the suit is already set up on one of the tables. It isn't exactly recognizable; the parts are intact but separated into individual plates of brushed steel-like metal, thick with what must be many layers of internal wiring. There's further evidence of this from the backplate, which is the only part with an open maintenance hatch--almost as if the mass of electronics spewing out the top was ever meant to be contained within it. That alone should be evidence enough that Rick is in way over his head.]

[He probably shows up after Asagi, winded and a bit nervous.] S--S-Sorry, I--I'm n-not late, a-am I?

[action]

[irreverence]

Not really.

[Asagi doesn't look up from the component she's currently inspecting though, eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she looks it over.]

This thing is kind of complicated, but... I think I can figure it out.

[Because at the very least, it's not a difficult to follow setup they had for this. Not difficult for her, at least.]

These are all the parts? And it still needs a power source, right?

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick nods with relief and rests against the table. Depending on how many others respond to his request for help, he might need to just use the library terminals instead of the dorm ones so he doesn't have to run so much.]

...H-He s-said...s-s-something about, ah...f-fusion?

[Which, if Asagi has been poking around that mass of wires on the backplate, probably takes place there. It doesn't make sense for all of that to fit inside the piece, after all, so there must be a mold that they're missing, or that hasn't been built yet.]

[irreverence]

Nuclear?

[She raises an eyebrow at that, obviously displeased.]

Would we even be able to find the materials for that in this place? I mean, unless you're going to try asking for some from whoever's in charge this month.

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick's face is completely blank. Materials...he hadn't even thought of that. Like...uranium? No, Dustin never said he needed uranium for things he built. It seemed like he didn't need any materials...]

I...ah...I c-can d-d-do that.

[irreverence]

...I was kidding. Mostly.

[Because she wouldn't trust the admins with anything like that. But she's also not going to stop him, if he really wants to do it.]

Though asking for the schematics to this thing might be a better idea.

[bashfulshifter]

[He nods again--obviously this is a great idea and will not backfire at all. Especially since Ruana will be the one answering.]

...Th--Thank y-you.

[irreverence]

No problem.

[This is clearly the best idea. Clearly. But Asagi nods and shrugs her shoulders, turning her attention to the next piece of hardware.]

In any case, schematics or no, I can put most of this together. It's just the power that's the issue.

[bashfulshifter]

[Asagi might notice at this point that Rick has made a slight miscalculation--there appear to be several armplates missing. In fact, the entire lower left arm is gone.]

...I-Is there...a-a-another w-way...? T-To p-power it, I-I mean.

[irreverence]

You're asking me?

[She rolls her eyes, and then shrugs.]

Maybe? I mean honestly, I'm not in the habit of making power suits in my spare time.

[A pause, and then she looks at him over her shoulder again.]

Missing an arm, by the way.

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick blinks, obviously taken by surprise.]

It--o-oh. I'm s-sorry, I d-didn't... [His worry slips into distracted thinking.] ...w-well he did h-have the, ah...

[The blonde man makes several strange gestures at his left forearm while he searches for the right word.]

...a-arm...um...I m-mean...a f-fake one.

[irreverence]

Prosthetic or cybernetic?

[A pause, and then-]

Wait, is this thing programmed by itself or would it need the arm as a kind of key? Maybe even a command console?

[bashfulshifter]

[...That blank look on Rick's face should speak volumes about how much of that just went right over his head. If not--]

...I...I-I d-don't...know...?