02-17-2026, 01:30 AM
Elliot examined the cyberware with a hunger that seemed to run deeper than mere intellectual curiosity. Enthusiasm burst from him like steam from a pressure valve. Before Cassidy had a chance to react, the engineer’s fingers were tracing the seams that ran along the smooth metal surface of his arm. The layer of embedded sensors sent a flurry of electrical impulses into his brain. If only he had a hyperspanner, he could turn down the sensitivity of the synthetic nerve endings. That might be enough for him partially recover his better judgment, but they’d still be breathing the same air — still floating in this dangerous place.
Elliot’s touch trailed up toward the shoulder joint at the edge of his sleeveless grey undershirt, where the device was attached. He was sitting close enough that Cassidy could watch the skin stretch over the soft ridges of his forehead as he admired the intricate details of the machine. Then, their eyes met. He could feel his ears, cheeks, and neck redden in response.
“Sorry,” Elliot breathed. His voice was so quiet that he might have been talking to himself.
Cassidy couldn’t speak. If he did, the moment would end. He’d already let this go too far. What if the captain walked in? He felt his rational mind wrestling for control; it kicked and bit and screamed like a thrashing targ, but even that desperate uproar was drowned out by thoughts of Elliot’s trembling lip.
He raised his organic arm and gently clasped the back of the engineer’s hand, holding it in place. He wasn’t pushing it away, only stopping it from going further.
“It's alright,” Cassidy trailed off, his voice an uncertain growl. He was reassuring himself as well as Elliot. He cleared his throat, mustering up as much strength as he could. “Maybe this isn’t the right place.”
== bark bark ==
Elliot’s touch trailed up toward the shoulder joint at the edge of his sleeveless grey undershirt, where the device was attached. He was sitting close enough that Cassidy could watch the skin stretch over the soft ridges of his forehead as he admired the intricate details of the machine. Then, their eyes met. He could feel his ears, cheeks, and neck redden in response.
“Sorry,” Elliot breathed. His voice was so quiet that he might have been talking to himself.
Cassidy couldn’t speak. If he did, the moment would end. He’d already let this go too far. What if the captain walked in? He felt his rational mind wrestling for control; it kicked and bit and screamed like a thrashing targ, but even that desperate uproar was drowned out by thoughts of Elliot’s trembling lip.
He raised his organic arm and gently clasped the back of the engineer’s hand, holding it in place. He wasn’t pushing it away, only stopping it from going further.
“It's alright,” Cassidy trailed off, his voice an uncertain growl. He was reassuring himself as well as Elliot. He cleared his throat, mustering up as much strength as he could. “Maybe this isn’t the right place.”
== bark bark ==