TNDG

[keybroad]

[It is about one in the morning, shortly after the vote allocations were announced. Lotus wanders out of the shower, wearing a teal bathrobe, hair elaborately coiled in a towel. She is making a bedline for a bed in the sci-fi set.

However, her eyes happen across Gorix who is struggling with existence in general.]

Do you need any help?

Comments

[keybroad]

[Aw... his little ear things are drooping, that's so sad.]

Hey. I've got two, so. I'll ask my friends for permission to vote for you if Zelda hasn't fixed everything in the morning. Is that okay?

[guardthis]

Wait- really? Are you sure? Um, I already agreed to give my vote away, so I couldn't give it back to you right away... Do you want me to vote for you next round, then...?

[keybroad]

I'm gonna try to make one of the people I knew from before vote for me. I've got a little bit of leverage. So, don't worry about me. Maybe next vote, I'd be really happy.

Just don't tell anyone before I can make a public announcement, okay?

[guardthis]

Of course. Thank you so much again. [He smiles meekly.] I'll do my best to repay you in any way I can.

[keybroad]

[Wow, his little alien mouth can do the smiling thing. That's so cute. Lotus can feel her heart melting.]

You have any ideas how?

[guardthis]

Hm... Well, is there anything you need? I'll definitely give you my vote next round, but if there's anything else you need help with, I'll be glad to, so please tell me if you need anything.

[He looks down at the bed he probably should have been able to climb on his own but was too tired to, still a bit embarrased.] I also owe you for helping me get up here...

[keybroad]

Oh, I was expecting you'd say things you're already good at and ask if I needed them, like, you make pottery or something.

[She looks down at him and actually appraises this offer. She probably shouldn't make him into a literal servant or anything, but the prospect of having him help her is nice.]

Would you want to... carry things for me?

[guardthis]

Oh. I'm actually trained in espionage, combat and military strategy, so... if someone threatens or attacks you, I could help. [he's just going to do his best to pretend he wasn't caught having trouble climbing to a bed. HE'S HAD BETTER DAYS.] But let's hope that won't be necessary.

I can't say I'd be too excited to carry things, but if you want me to, then sure. I seriously owe you big time.

[keybroad]

[She blinks, and then she leans over the bed to address him in a lower voice. It's not like the microphone can't pick it up, but at least a camera might not capture the movement of her lips.]

Do you think you can try to scope out where they're hiding the system that's broadcasting our data? Anything like that - I'm helpless finding hardware, but if you can actually get that to me, then the software...

[guardthis]

[Now that's something he can do.]

Well, obviously I can't make any promises. If they knew who they were bringing here, they can't have made it too easy. [And he can't assume the organizers didn't need to account for what other contestants might do either- who knows what they might have prepared for.]

That said, you can count on me to get you whatever I can.

[keybroad]

[Lotus smiles.] They're a formidable foe, that much I know. I will count on you.

[With a movement of her arm reminiscent of Marge Simpson, she extends her fist for him to bump.]

[guardthis]

[He reaches to bump her fist.

Nice!]

I think that's going to wait until tomorrow, though. [He's pretty tired and this has been a Long Day for Many Reasons.]

[keybroad]

I won't argue with that.

[She begins to walk away. At the threshold to another section of the set, over her shoulder:] Good night, Gorix.