console; video

[peacefullywreathed]

[The audio comes on first, accompanied by a quiet curse. Then the video appears on Solomon leaning over his console. He's in his apartment, but he's wrapped in his coat and his breath is misting, and he's very pale, as if he's been in the cold for hours on end without having been properly attired. His eyes don't fix on anything, and the observant will notice old scars around them.]

I know there's a number of mechanically-inclined in the city. Our heating's just broken down.

[He hesitates.]

Earlier this morning, actually.

[It's mid-afternoon.]

I don't care if you're Foreigner or kedan, but I'll give you extra if you come now to fix it, and do so before Raine gets home.

[And don't mention the part where his fingers are dangerously blue. Or so he assumes they are, given that they're numb, hence the trouble finding the 'on' switch. She absolutely won't see this before work ends, right? Right?]

Comments

[peacefullywreathed]

God forbid.

[Dryly, as Solomon steps aside to give him room to enter, motioning ahead of him and toward the hall.]

It's in the laundry, I believe. Electrical, if it's the same as the rest of our utilities.

[sadisticmoose]

Electric, I might be able to do something.

[Vincent grunts as he squeezes past Solomon to make his way down the hall in the direction indicated.]

Or at least find out what's wrong.

[peacefullywreathed]

[When Moor steps closer, the sound of his footsteps awkward, Solomon belatedly makes room; the action of a man not quite used to having to do so.]

I thought you might. On the right.

[He closes the door and follows at a matching ace, head tilted at the sound of the man's uneven steps.]

Sounds like I'm not the only one who should be out in the cold.

[sadisticmoose]

Mm? [The man stops for a moment, before continuing when he realises what Solomon means.] Oh. It's nothing. Had worse.

[Whilst it's true that he's had worse, it's hardly nothing, having your leg broken by the first sentient AI.]

Right... Let's have a look, then. [He stops beside the heating unit, looking it over, feeling around it to get a sense of what's there.]

[peacefullywreathed]

[Solomon snorts disbelievingly, but he's not the type to pry, except when he is; he's certainly not the type to worry about strangers. He does follow, not too quick himself.]

I've never been much for maintenance, I'm afraid, even when I could see. If anything needs replacing, I'll need you to go-between for me.

[It's not a highly modern appliance, but it works and it's sturdy; the kedan in Earth Sector don't do things halfway. The issue shouldn't take overnight to fix, at least.]

[sadisticmoose]

That's fine, mate. [Vincent grunts, bending over to get a look in.] You gotta torch or something? Looks like the pilot light's went out. Something without a naked flame.

[peacefullywreathed]

[Solomon hesitates. And then a little bit more.]

I ... actually haven't the faintest. I don't need them. Raine might; let me go and have a rifle.

[But he can't be sure, because he's seen her use her magic as illumination before. Solomon leaves Vincent where he is and goes into the living-room. Raine does most of her work in there, so either the living-room or the kitchen are his best chances.

[It takes quite a while before he comes back with a torch in hand, probably more than long enough for Vincent to have a proper look at the rest of the mechanics. Assuming he could, without a torch.]

Here.

[sadisticmoose]

Ah-! Thanks.

[He takes the torch, shining it in, looking around.

Yep...]

Pilot light's out. Uh... Any matches, or a lighter, or anything?

[He thinks the answer may be the same as the torch.]

[peacefullywreathed]

[The hesitation is the same, anyway. Again, the kitchen amenities are electrical, and Solomon himself has gone through days of blackouts without noticing until dinner-time.]

I think I felt some in a drawer in the kitchen. Just a moment.

[He goes off again, but at least this time it's a shorter period before he comes back with two packs: one of bamboo sticks used in cooking and one of the long tapers the kedan use as matches.]

Are either of these it? I can't actually tell between them.