trans_9 | Distractions [Open]

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Distractions [Open]

After helping Kaylee while her arm was hurt, Jamie was curious as to exactly what it would take to try and learn enough about simple repair to try and do the same with the Engineering department. The work in the city wouldn't take forever, after all, and while there were other things he agreed to do, he didn't think they would take a lot of his time. He could volunteer for security, but he wasn't sure if that was something he really wanted to do. And since there wasn't really a 'creeping along corridors' department, maybe this would be some other way he could help.

He had managed to get the information onto one of the data pads and settled down for a good read. Some time later, however, he found himself staring at the screen in dismay. There was a lot more to it than he had expected. Sure, he could push buttons and throw levers when directed - and he had helped fix that one frayed wire. But everything else...

"Och," he muttered, pushing the pad aside in frustration. Maybe later, he'd look at it again. Right now, he needed to do something, anything other than just sit there and stare at a wee little screen and try and figure out what it all meant. Maybe a walk was in order. After some aimless wandering, Jamie found himself in the vehicle bay. It was as good a place as any, he supposed. He'd just have a quick peek around, then get back to work.

It was when he was nosing about that he heard the sound. He was being very careful not to actually touch anything - you never knew when someone would show up and get all upset over some imagined scrape and blame you for it. That meant it wasn't anything he had done...so it was likely someone else was there with him.

Raising his voice so it would carry a bit, he called out, "Hey, anyone there?"

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It's beautiful indeed. Though his eyes don't quite catch the same rubble Jamie stares at, Billy notes his friend's tone and turns to face him solemnly.

"Of course, anything. What is it?"

There's a few questions that Jamie could ask here, and he hesitates for a moment before deciding on one.

"How did ye get interested in this mechanical stuff ye do? Inventions and fixing things and such?"

Ah, an interesting question and one he's not asked very often. Billy smiles nostalgically, drawing on some of his earliest memories.

"I suppose it started when I was very young. From an early age I was motivated to read, learn everything I can, and ask questions. Now...I don't intend to put myself on a pretentious pedestal, but my parents found that I was qualified for genius programs, where my curiosity was rewarded further. For a time, it was all wonderful. I absorbed information for the pure joy of doing it. I saw mysterious objects and wanted to understand them. I took things apart to learn how they worked, and pieced them together again. From there, I learned how to build more and more complex devices, and it was thrilling to truly accomplish something. My obsessive interest eventually made me an outcast from the other children, so I retreated into my work. The world scared me, and I thought I would be able to master it if I could only take it apart to study it." He pauses reflectively. He'd never said that in so many words before, and it was an unsettling epiphany.

"My sour experiences with people led me to study hard facts---numbers, physics, mechanics. Items that had a clear answer, unlike the people I knew. It was an escape from loneliness to tinker with machines, and it gave me strength to know that I could solve a problem if I wanted to. But I never gave up on people entirely. Every now and then, I met someone who wasn't intimidated by my studies. And I eventually became friends with all sorts of people, once we learned that our judgments had been hasty and based on faulty information, but even then I still invented. It was my way of contributing to the world. I proved myself in that lab."

Billy's facial expression might be strange---haunted with remembered pain but hopeful. "So...overall, I'd say my interest was partially curiosity and partially a desire to be helpful. I've never thought about how or why it happened before."

Jamie doesn't understand everything that Billy says - he looks awfully confused, for instance, when Billy mentions 'genius programs'. But there are some aspects to it that he does get all too well, and there's a moment when he is looking at Billy with a very thoughtful expression.

"That's what it is." There's something about Billy that's reminded him of something, but he hasn't been able to put his finger on it until now. It's that curiosity, that urge to learn things...and that ability to create. "Ye remind me a wee bit of the Doctor."

There's large differences between the two, and Jamie's not under any delusions that there's not. Still - he means it to be a good thing. He thinks rather highly of the Doctor, after all.

Seeing that haunted expression, though, he adds, "I hope ye don't mind my thinking so." He's not sure if it would bother Billy or not.

The sudden scrutiny makes him squirm self-consciously for a moment. The statement that follows completely baffles him.

"I partially resemble the Doctor? The person who constantly brought you into contact with perilous situations?" Well, that was the last thing that had come up about the Doctor. But he quickly smiles to assure Jamie that he doesn't really think Jamie would think that lowly of him.

He thinks a moment longer, considering everything else Jamie had ever said. "He was also clever and eccentric, right? Is that what you're getting at?" Jamie talks about the annoying aspects of life on the TARDIS, sure, but something tells him that Jamie doesn't intend it as an insult.

"I don't mind, as long as it doesn't mean I annoy you."

"Well, aye, but not in that way. I mean...ye are both clever, and smart. And he's verra good at building things, too."

Jamie does like to complain about life on the TARDIS, true, but that doesn't mean he didn't enjoy the time there. It's just...Jamie being Jamie. And Jamie's a bit puzzled by Billy's reaction, until he realizes that that's probably why his friend would think he was annoyed.

"Ye never annoy me. I meant it as...och." He sighs for a moment. "I meant I think that's part of why I like ye. Ye are a clever wee chappy, like he is."

Ah, now he understands. Is that a surprised smile on Billy's face? "Oh, I understand now. I'm...I'm honored." He truly is, and Billy thinks now more than ever that he'd like to meet the Doctor someday.

After a happy moment, he sets one hand on the wheel and meets Jamie's gaze again. "Did you have more questions?"

Jamie thinks Billy and the Doctor would get along quite well, even if Jamie himself would probably get lost during some of their conversations.

There's a chuckle from him then. "Aye, but when do I not have questions?" He is aware he asks rather a lot of them - including that last one.

"I suppose, though, ye might have been wondering why I asked about that in the first place."

"My teammates said that about me. There goes Billy again with his questions," he grins. "So perhaps we're more alike than we appear."

That statement rings true, though, so he again focuses on Jamie curiously. "I did wonder about that, actually."

There's a rather wry expression on Jamie's face. He thought as much. So, by way of explanation, he gestures out at the city.

"I was trying to think on what I can do, once this is cleared up. It's not like the ship needs a piper, aye?"

"You're looking for a role on the ship," Billy realizes, suddenly appearing thoughtful. "That data you were considering when you found me---were you thinking about helping in a science department? There are training programs available for that. I teach the engineers in training sometimes. But there are other programs you can help with too. I think there are several people training some of the others for combat, and people training in medical as well."

He pauses, than flashes a smile. "But your piping is excellent."

"Aye, well," Jamie says with a shrug. "If the Doctor was awake, it'd be easy. He needs me to look out for him." But he's not, and Jamie's beginning to think he may never be. So that leaves...what?

"When Kaylee's arm was hurt, I helped her with some repair work. I thought maybe I could do something like that. It's not like I've not helped the Doctor before, but..."
As Billy said, it was a bit overwhelming.

"Medical training?" He almost adds an 'Are ye daft?' to the words, but holds back. Instead, he shakes his head. "I'm not sure that's not more complicated than learning to repair things." Although there are some similar principles. But combat training, on the other hand...that has possibilities. He'll have to think about it.

In the meantime, he smiles, pleased by the compliment on his piping. "Thank ye. I'm glad at least someone likes it."

Billy smiles and nods. That makes sense. "We could always use repair hands, and I trust you more than most of the crew. You're definitely welcome to learn and join us---perhaps we could start with one common repair task, and build from there?"

With that suggestion made, he makes a noise of affirmation. "You're the one who suggested I may have Scottish blood somewhere down the line."

That could work - if he can go at his own pace, and pick up things in the way he's used to doing, it might not be so bad. And if he's not always needed, maybe he can still help with combat training.

"That might be all right," he says thoughtfully. "What do ye think would be a good place to start?" He's not entirely sure what would be considered a common repair. After all, his idea of repairs pretty much focus on fixing his bagpipes - which ties back in with the other part of the discussion.

"And aye, I did mention that." He chuckles, struck by a sudden thought. "Ye know...I need to introduce ye to haggis sometime."

Billy considers this carefully. They could put Jamie's skills to use somewhere, surely. He considered suggesting the piping, but...that would be a terrible pun to make.

Instead, he decides on "Wiring might work. Our wires often fray at the worst times, and it's not too difficult to splice them together. They're usually color coded to prevent mismatches as well."

Haggis? "I've never had the opportunity. The ingredient list usually disturbs most people from my hometown, but I'd be willing to try at least once."

It might have taken a moment or two to get there, but Jamie would have likely appreciated it - After all, a good pun is its own reword.

However, what is suggested is actually the one thing he's actually had some practice on recently, and he perks up when it's mentioned. "Aye - I can do that!" Without frying himself alive, even, so he's of the opinion that's a fine suggestion. "Kaylee showed me," he adds, although he's fairly certain Billy would have believed him without the mention. He's also pretty certain Billy wouldn't be upset with Kaylee for demonstrating, especially since she needed the help at the time.

"It's not just people from your home that are bothered by it, aye?" Jamie says in an aside. He has no idea why that's the case, since it's never bothered him. "But we'll figure out some time to try it." Although it'll likely be in the Sensoriums. Even if he could get the ingredients to make it for real, he doesn't think most of the crew would appreciate the effort.

"Excellent," he cheered. "I'll have to thank Kaylee later. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you around more frequently." Is that why Jamie's joining up? Hmmmm.

"Right! I'll definitely be there. Haggis doesn't exactly have a glowing reputation in my culture, although it's all relative---we're offended when other cultures eat monkey brains, but when my people touch cows we're violating a sacred animal in much of the world." That's how he considers it, anyway. It's all a matter of preference.

He drums on the wheel, pondering. "Well...should we look for a place to park?"

"Well, it could always go the other way. Ye could all get verra sick of seeing me around," Jamie comments dryly. Is it? It could be, in part. But there's more than one person he knows there, so it's likely not the only reason.

There's a nod then - that part about violating cows sounds familiar, although he's not sure if they had discussed it before. It's possible. Sometimes similar conversations happen. It might be good to try and keep that in mind when he's faced with eating something strange and different he doesn't really want to, he thinks.

For now, though, there's the matter of finding someplace to put the Radbug. "That's probably a good idea," he admits. He doesn't know how long the car can hover for, and doesn't want to find out the hard way. He points to a cluster of buildings that look like they haven't been too badly damaged. "Why don't we try over there?"

"I doubt that," he grins.

Then he sees the spot Jamie points out. "That will work!" Waiting a moment to make sure they're ready, he begins the descent. It requires some careful maneuvering around fallen items, but eventually they park in a safe location.

Billy climbs out. "It's not a far walk back, luckily."

"Aye, we'll see," Jamie says, sounding almost doleful. However, after a few seconds, he turns a lopsided grin towards Billy - obviously he thinks he's being funny.

He clambers out of the car and joins Billy on the other side. "I suppose it's not so bad to have to walk back when we got to fly here." He does turn back for a moment to look at the Radbug thoughtfully. "Are ye sure you're comfortable leaving the car here?" Knowing Billy was worried earlier, he wants to be utterly positive his friend is okay with it before they head back.

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Distractions [Open]

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