[Borderlands] Risk it All [1-on-1 RP]

Well, Jack was certainly being rather straight forward with her about this. It was a little surprising and yet rather refreshing too. Naira didn't bother to comment on all of that however, partly worried he might go back to being rather vague--or vaguer, really. It was frustrating when he did that, after all.

"My, sounds important," she commented. Curious she might be but she was wary as well. What was it that caused Jack to become the man she'd known him to be before...? This could all be leading up to that moment and Naira wouldn't have a clue about it until it was too late. "Wonder why you came to me for it though..."

Well, at least there wasn't any needed graphics work. She needed such a break to let her creativity be anywhere at the level she wanted it to be at. One could only do so much at a rapidfire pacing after all.

"I don't see the harm in helping; count me in," Naira answered at his prompting. "Bonus points to you if it means getting away from this current poster project right now, too."

There was only so much longer she could reliably look at the faces of these three men she had to make posters of before she utterly lost it. It always seemed like they were trying too hard to keep a particular image with those photos and specifications they spent. Then again maybe that was just her thought on the matter.


It did not take her long before she'd begun to argue her case. Zer0 was a little glad she felt comfortable enough in his presence to speak her mind though he still wasn't sure why she'd attempt something with no solid plan in mind. He shook his head, sitting back again. Now that he knew what she had in mind he wasn't too worried about much of it besides the waste of time it might be in their traveling and searching.

"Yet you know nothing / You've only tinkered with these / What good will this do?"

Naeva had no schematics and was only playing with these machines right now. If she'd had a solid plan than perhaps Zer0 might be able to help but that did not seem to be the case. She'd only end up wasting time and potentially resources they might need later. While he could see her point he could not see the benefits being about soon enough, nor the reliable high rate of success in sight at the moment.

The fact that she did not like his stance on the matter was clear. Zer0 would honestly not be surprised if she continued to play about with this plan of hers anyways. He shook his head at that.

"But do as you will / I cannot stop you on this / Just do not waste time," he advised. That, honestly, was his biggest concern at the moment.

She hadn't quite been aware of how anxious he'd been to her answer before he visibly released the breath he'd been holding and quickly flashed her that too familiar grin afterwards. Was her help really that necessary for this? Naira didn't get much time to think that before she was being ushered up out of her seat to follow him out the door. Naira shook her head, a little amused at this sudden change of pace, before she rose from her seat to do so.

"All right, all right, I'm coming," she said.

It wasn't like she knew where he wanted her to set up shop for this little project of his though so she fell in step at side, letting him take the lead again. Just when had this started to become feeling normal? It was weird to realize that. Nonetheless it had within the few weeks she'd already been here under Hyperion's payroll, however false that had first started out as.

Wisely perhaps, she chose not to ask more about the little job being tasked to her while they walked out in these halls. There was no telling who might be around to overhear the details and with how antsy Jack was just asking her about it back in her little office she didn't think she'd get much more than a hushed reply to wait. As such she'd just do that now and find out when he'd indulge her.

Instead, Naira asked teasingly "So, do I get a pay raise for this, big boss?"


It was a curious thing to see, after so many weeks of her meekly following at his side in search of her friend and for answers, that now she was standing before him and staring him down. Or, trying to, really. He stood quite a bit taller than her and even as he watched her gaze was unsteady, her posture not entirely that of confidence. Nonetheless it was admirable.

"So I shall, in time." He gestured to her work then, prompting her back to it. She was obviously dead set on it and they weren't moving just yet anyways.

Whether it would be a bust or not, well, the waiting would let them both find out. Zer0 wasn't sure that just toying around with it all was even going to work but then he wasn't into the mechanics like this. If it was built already then he would mess with it, if not then it was of no use to him. That was, unless someone wanted the scrap in exchange for money or equipment.

He settled back where he had been previously to watch, arms folded. If nothing else it might give him more insight into the woman and her recent show of stubbornness.

His pace was quick, his stride longer than hers and so Naira worked to keep up with him. Well, wary as she might be about what Jack had in mind she still had to admit that curiosity and his charm drove her forward. He was so damn easy to get along with... it was dangerous, she knew it but it compelled her all the same... Naira hoped that if Naeva was in this predicament that she wouldn't look down too much on Naira if she found out.

For now she pushed those thoughts aside. Naira cocked her head to one side, peering at Jack as they walked. Running Helios...? Her mind whirled at that--he would become CEO as Handsome Jack one day, was this the start to that horrible path? She didn't know and that scared her, if she was honest.

Nonetheless she hid it well enough, perhaps due to Jack's current personality and upbeat nature. "Aha, I'd settle for just living comfortably without worry for money!" she admitted. "Maybe even just to find time to focus on art again."

He was ambitious, that was for sure, and if she stuck by him then she might rise up as well but at what cost? Naira wasn't sure how well-adjusted Jack was now. For all that charm and pomp he might well be willing to throw aside those he allied with to get higher up.


She'd turned back to the scraps of heap after he'd sat back down, perhaps unaware of his gaze on her. Perhaps she was lost in thought as she worked, or she was that focused on her attempts. With no schematics in hand, nor any experience with mechanics as it was she'd be hard pressed to do anything with it, not when they were to be on the move. Perhaps if they'd settle in a base and she had time to do research or dabble in the rare helpful optimist he'd be more inclined to believe it would work.

Zer0 shook his head. Naeva was stubborn, that was for sure. If nothing else, that would serve her well if things turned south. He still was not sure what had brought her here as she claimed but it was that mystery that kept him curious of her in a whole.

Occasionally Zer0 could hear the sounds of live wires being connected yet more often than not it was met with silence soon after. A better method was needed but he had no need to know of any. If Naeva was so set on this idea then she might yet figure something out. In truth, Zer0 would withhold any ideas on the matter to see if she really could in the end.

As she worked, he eventually turned to his firearms, moving to clean them up. If she required anything, or if she merely wished to talk he trusted she would speak up.