forum ENCOM OS-12 | OxO | Closed unless you're a fellow Program/User/ISO | Stalkers get a free Light Runner

Started March 25, 2021 by @murphysgirl

tune

Nora nodded. "Bit would hate that too."

Cor chuckled and nodded at that. “That… I almost what to see that now.” he teased.

No. Bit zoomed around Cor's head. No, no, no, no, no.
"Bit doesn't like the rain," Nora explained. "Water can mess with its code."

Cor laughed at Bit’s reaction and shook his head. “Hey, I said almost.” he pointed out, playfully batting at the flashing code. “Don’t worry. I’m not actually going to ask either of you to do something where you might get hurt.” he assured, smiling at Nora.

Nora smiled as she watched Bit and Cor. "Good."
Yes, Bit concurred, zooming around Cor's head one more time.

Cor chuckled softly, smiling softly back at her. He had been sincere, of course, with his statement. Especially after her lightcycle accident… he may have felt a little more protective of her. But honestly, he wouldn't even put Aroura in a situation he didn't think she could handle.

"Speaking of getting hurt," Nora said, "when do you think we could see Hermes? I really do need to get my helmet fixed."

“Umm… I guess we could go today, if you’d like.” he offered, a little nervous. “I can't say for sure if he’ll be there or not but he won't mind if we show up when he's gone.” he assured her.

"So we would just… wait for him?" Her brows furrowed.

“We don't have to. Unless he changed his organization system, I should be able to find what we need.” Cor shrugged. “He really won't mind.” he added sincerely.

"That sounds like… stealing," Nora said bluntly, unsure of how this was going to turn out. She didn't want to turn into Zuse.

“Oh trust me, it's not.” he answered, torn between laughing and being surprised at her logic. “I’ve known Hermes for a long time. He doesn't mind if I borrow… anything, really.” Cor assured her.

Nora's eyebrows raised ever so slightly. "Really?" she asked, her tone more curious than cynical. She had never had a bond like that with anyone - apart from Kaira, she supposed, but she had never needed to borrow any of Kaira's things.

He nodded. “Yeah. He really doesn't care. Probably because of where he got it.” he shrugged, thoughtfully. Cor wasn't personally attached to… much of the stuff in that Recognizer. Though some of it was useful to have but he really didn't mind if Nora borrowed, or even kept, some of the stuff.

"Where he got it?" The crease between Nora's eyebrows deepened a tiny bit. "Do you mean he stole it?"

“Well… I mean, technically?” he shrugged awkwardly. “I did tell you about how he got the Recognizer, and it wasn't exactly empty at the time.” he tried to remind her. Cor could have sworn that he mentioned last night about how “Hermes” took stuff from Clu’s soldiers and gave some supplies to the ISO’s… as well as a few strays and others who needed help or were hiding from Clu.

Nora nodded. She remembered now. "How far out is it, in the Outlands?"

“You know… I never really kept track.” he admitted. “But I've been out there enough to know where to go.” he quickly assured her.

Nora nodded. "I was wondering - if you don't have that many… jobs to do - do you think we could go today?" She really needed to get that helmet fixed, and as soon as possible - it wouldn't do her any good to have programs knowing she was Aurora.

“Sure.” he shrugged with a calm smile. “I actually haven't been getting a lot of searches right now. And, if I need to, I can always take the day off. I don't do that as often as I should.” Cor added, chuckling.

Nora smiled a little. She knew, a little too well, the effects of not taking time off.
"When do you usually get a search?" she asked, wondering if this - outing, she guessed she would call it, it definitely wasn't a mission - would cut into opening time at End of Line. Though, she realised, nobody would really realise her absence anyway. They might realise that Bit wasn't there, but that was it.

“There’s not really a specific time frame. But I do tend to get more anytime from the morning till… a couple of cycles before End of Line usually opens.” he chuckled at the irony of that fact. “Must be pretty lucky for that to work out.”

Nora nodded, somewhat relieved.

Cor smiled back before draining the rest of his drink. “Well, just let me know when you're ready and I can take you. I’m sure getting your helmet fixed won't take long once we get the tools.” he said, thinking how… limiting it would be if his helmet, or mask, had been broken like hers was.

"I'm ready… whenever, to be perfectly honest," Nora said, picking up his empty glass and her half-full one before standing up and heading over to the sink. Bit floated after her. "End of Line can open without me, besides."

“Alright.” Cor nodded and stood up. “Don't worry. I’ll try to get you back in time. End of Line may be able to open but I don't think it needs to. Not with how important you are to it.” he smiled at her.

Nora nodded and washed the glasses, setting them out to dry. "When will we leave?"

“If you're ready, we can leave now.” he offered, not trying to pressure her in any way.

"Good," Nora said with a smile, heading for the elevator.

Cor smiled back and followed her out. “Eager to get it fixed?” he teased lightly.