#FreedomFalls – April 13, 2015

Shyva'Nahl peers outside the door for the Respite and takes a deep breath. She still doesn't like going outside alone, but its just outside the establishment. She could manage, right?

Pip pulls up outside the Respite in an old, dinged flatbed truck. It looks like it has seen better days. Pip winds the window down and leans out of it, banging the outside of the truck with a smile. "Wanna' lift?"

Shyva'Nahl returns the smile and nods. "ERm... n-nice ride..." Could do with a damn good clean, that's for sure. She makes sure she has her emergency beacon with her, juuuust in case, then climbs into the truck. "M-Mech time?"

Pip chuckles. "Mech time," she agrees and pulls the truck away as she starts driving the vehicle towards the outskirts of the town. "Excited?"

Shyva'Nahl nods after buckling herself in tight. "E-Extremely." she says. "Mechs are a-awesome. Been something I've always wanted to see since I s-saw them in comics."

Pip taps the steering wheel in a lighthearted rhythm as she drives. "I'm surprised," she admits. "I would've thought you'd at least see the occasional one. Not even a LOKI?"

Shyva'Nahl shakes her head. "Nope." she says. "We d-don't even want to touch anything like that on the fleet, an-and this is the only planet I've ever been. N-Not many people can afford mechs down here."

Pip hums in thought. "So what made you come to Aite?" She asks.

Shyva'Nahl sits back and watches the traffic wizz by. One particularly close car makes her jump with a squeak. She hadn't expected traffic to be so close and so fast! "M-My pilgrimage." she replies after a few seconds. "S-Someone I know t-told me to come here, c-cheaper than the citadel."

Pip laughs, turning off the main road and towards the edge of town. "Everythin's cheaper than the Citadel," she says as she starts to slow.

Shyva'Nahl "Y-You pay for safety, mostly." Shyva says as she notes the road name. Her GPS is working, as well as everything else. So far so good! "W-What about you? Here for work?"

Pip casts a quick look to Shyva, then turns her attention back to the road. "You can say that," she says finally.

Shyva'Nahl "T-Then I will." she says, not clocking the look. "Might a-as well. I mean, th-there's a ton of stuff t-to do around here on a colony. M-Mostly manual labour."

Pip "Oh, there is," she says as she starts to slow the truck to halt. "If you know where to look." The house they have pulled up to is a small, detached house tucked neatly out the way with a garage sat next to it. "Well, here we are."

Shyva'Nahl smiles at Pip then looks towards the house. "Neat." she says. "Gotta l-look under every rock if you h-have to. Th-There are jobs out there. I'm just happy t-the inn needed me when they did. Very g-good timing."

Pip smiles at Shyva and hops out the truck, slamming the door closed. "Well, he's in the garage," she says, gesturing towards it. "C'mon."

Shyva'Nahl eeps and jumps at the slam then takes a deep breath. She slides out of the truck and rubs her upper arm, looking up at the sky. Been a while since she was out in the sun, even if it didn't mean anything. Suits hardly let you get any vitamin D. "Okay, l-lets go check this mech out." she says, shuffling off after Pip.

Pip approaches the garage door and slams her fist against it twice. "You decent?" She calls out jokingly as she unlocks it. She gives Shyva a wide smile and opens it with as much flair as she can muster.

Watty is sat at the end of the garage next to a workshop table and a few tools. The YMIR raises its head and tilts it in a quizzing manner at the quarian. "Hi," it says.

Shyva'Nahl blinks at Pip with a head-tilt as she asks whoevers behind it if they're decent. She takes a step back, visibly shaking with nervousness and excitement. She then blinks again and freezes before raising a hand. "H-h-hi..." she replies. "AI?" she asks Pip.

Pip shakes her head as she steps inside. On the table is the lower half of a YMIR's arm and four old avenger models. "No, though he is damned close," she admits.

Watty waves back with a large hand, resting it against his leg as he watches the quarian curiously.

Shyva'Nahl steps behind Pip out of nervousness and nods a little. "Y-You sure?" she asks. Her people don't have a good history when it comes to AI. "J-Just VI?"

Pip turns and places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He doesn't have a blue box," she explains. "So he can not become an AI. He's just a very damned advanced VI."

Shyva'Nahl nods a small nod and steps out from behind Pip. She looks the mech up and down before giving another wave. "H-Hello. I'm S-Shyva'Nahl."

Watty extends his large hand towards her in an attempt at a handshake. "I am Watty," he says, voice surprisingly quiet. "Charmed."

Shyva'Nahl raises her own hand delicately and places it in Watty's, unsure about how to shake it because of the size differences. "Awesome~" she squeaks, barely audible. "Ahem. I mean. L-Likewise."

Watty gently closes his hand and shakes her hand. He releases the grip and leans back against the wall as Pip giggles at Shyva.

Shyva'Nahl takes her hand back, thanful that the mech doesn't have a death grip. Or at least, knows when not to use it. "G-Good, I like him too." she says, now smiling behind her mask. Its evident in her glowing eyes. "N-Never seen a m-mech before, let alone t-this close." she explains to Watty.

Shyva'Nahl chuckles and looks at Pip, or more looks her over. "Mm. Confident w-woman, isn't she?" she asks Watty, then giggles at Pip's reaction. "W-Well, she has great reason to, h-having a mech for herself."

Pip blushes slightly and coughs, turning to the workshop bench.

Shyva'Nahl giggles once again. "S-Seems you two g-go well together." she says with a light chuckle. "Watty k-keeps your head from growing too big, and y-you keep his from falling off."

Pip chuckles, turning back around. "It's a fair enough trade," she agrees. "He's probably saved my life dozens of times by now."

Shyva'Nahl smiles up at Watty. "G-Good! Just long e-enough for me to meet her!" she says with a small chuckle. "E-Even if first impressions weren't e-exactly magical." she glances at Pip with a smirk.

Pip blushes as Watty turns to look at her. If he had facial features, it would most certainly be a disapproving look.

Shyva'Nahl shakes her head. "N-Nothing." she says. "J-Just a b-bit of a tantrum a-about mercs, b-but nothing serious." she says, then looks over at Pip. "N-Not enough to d-drive me away completely, thankfully. She's turned out t-to be rather interesting."

Pip opens and closes her mouth, unsure what to say. Her face burns hotly as she turns back to the mech arm, mumbling something about calibrations and work.

Watty chuckles. "Embarrassed?"

Shyva'Nahl giggles at pit and walks up behind her to place a hand on her shoulder. "H-Hey, its n-no big deal." she says with a smile.

Pip turns back and chuckles awkwardly. "Uh, yeah, sure. No big, ahem, deal," she mumbles.

Shyva'Nahl smirks and opens her arms. "W-Want a hug?" she asks. "Looks like y-you could use one."

Pip scratches her chin and takes a step forwards, silently accepting.

Shyva'Nahl wraps her arms around Pip and holds her close, patting her back. "Better?" she asks after a minute.

Pip eventually does hug back, mumbling an affirmative.

Watty sits quietly, watching the garage entrance carefully.

Shyva'Nahl pats her back for a little longer before resting her chin on her shoulder. "T-There you go."

Pip releases the hug and slips out of the hug, backpedaling into the bench with an audible bump. "Ow!" Watty turns back to look at the pair, shaking his head slightly.

Shyva'Nahl releases Pip but can't help but snicker when she hits the bench. "Y-you okay?"

Pip sighs. "Yeah," she says. "I'm sorry, I, um... Would you like a drink? Something to eat?"

Shyva'Nahl hums for a second. "W-Wouldn't have any n-nutrient paste, would you?" she asks, a little sheepishly. She seriously doubts it, of course.

Pip shakes her head sadly. "Sorry, no," she says. "Oh crap, I didn't think this through." She sighs and leans against the bench, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Shyva'Nahl reaches out and pats her other hand with a chuckle. "ITs o-okay, I ate before I l-left anyway." she says. "I'm j-just happy to be s-seeing a mech in t-the company of someone cool."

Pip drops her hand and peers up at the mask, smiling faintly. "Glad you could come," she says eventually. "You're fun company."

Shyva'Nahl peers out of her mask with a smile. "I'm g-glad too." she says, then sways a little bashfully. "I s-should hope I am. B-Been trying t-to be more... outgowing s-since I got here."

Pip tilts her head slightly, keeping her eyes focused on the mask. "Yeah? Have you tried, I dunno, goin' to a club?" She asks.

Shyva'Nahl blinks and shakes her head. "Um... n-no. Never been f-fond of crowds, a-and I haven't f-found anyone t-to go with since... well, since I split with my ex."

Shyva'Nahl shrugs. "T-There's not much t-to talk about, really." she says. "S-She was a Quarian doctor. I l-liked her a lot, she w-was kind, t-thoughtful, saved my life when I was about to get mugged..." she shudders at the reminder. How she was pulled into an alley and how her pistol slid out of her hands when she tried to take it out, then Zaan threatening to shoot their kneecaps. That

Pip places her hand atop Shyva's, giving her a small reassuring smile. "I'm sorry to hear that. She sounds wonderful, saving lives and helping others."

Shyva'Nahl smiles and nods. "S-She really is wonderful." she says, then sighs. "But its over now. I've m-moved forward as I'm sure she has."

Pip looks to the side for a moment, then focuses her attention back to Shyva. "Do you still talk?'

Shyva'Nahl shakes her head. "No, w-we decided it was wise not to f-for a while. Heal, y'know?" she says. "Now that I h-have... well, she's w-working a lot. I might s-shoot her a message sometime, but she w-would have said something by now if she wa-wanted to talk again." she says with a nod. "Maybe she's not over me."

Pip nods slowly, giving Shyva's hand a small squeeze. "It takes time," she says.

Shyva'Nahl nods and squeezes back. "I'll g-give her her space. M-Me on t-the other hand, I'm r-ready to get back out there." she says with a confident nod.

Pip smiles, raising an eyebrow at her. "Yeah?"

Shyva'Nahl nods at Pip. "Mhm." she says. "Zaan and I w-weren't together v-very long. W-We had a total of... three dates and a few cuddles. W-wasn't easy at first, but at least we d-decided now instead of six months f-from now."

Shyva'Nahl chuckles and nods. "Heh, yeah. P-Probably worse, to b-be honest."

Pip bites her lip for a moment before finally speaking. "Well, uh, if you're not busy maybe... You would like to grab lunch with me? My treat?" She asks hesitantly.

Watty turns and tilts his head curiously at Pip, though he remains silent.

Shyva'Nahl blinks and tilts her head like Watty. "L-Lunch huh? Like a date?" she asks.

Pip stumbles over her words, scratching the back of her neck. "Well, no... Uh, well I guess... Unless you- yes? Unless the correct answer is no?"

Shyva'Nahl snickers and facepalms. "Yes." she says with a chuckle. "I'd love t-to have lunch w-with you in a d-date scenario." she gives Pip a confident nod. "W-What took you so long?"

Pip rubs her arm. "Uh... Reasons," she says. "But, great, good, yes! Uh... Wow, didn't think I'd get this far."

Shyva'Nahl can't help but laugh. "H-Hey, I'M supposed t-to be the insecure c-confidence-deficient one." she says.