artificial | for @undirected.

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for @undirected.

[ it was a risk. they all knew that going in. there was a reason time travelers weren't supposed to cross over with events they were already a part of. but there was no other choice. not really. it was lucky that they all survived the time storm, never mind what came after. it was a little suspicious that nothing other than that seemed to have happened because of the legends' action. the phrase 'waiting for the other shoe to drop' came to mind as gideon monitored the return of leonard snart and damien darhk to their original time periods.

the background process she had categorizing the damage to the waverider from the proximity to the time storm and the use of the spear of destiny completed with a ping as the ship returned to the temporal zone. the results were--incomprehensible. which shouldn't be possible. the lights on the ship flickered. ]

Captain. [ the screens on the bridge turned to static for a moment. ] I seem to be encountering a problem in my core processors.

[ a sensation that fit all the descriptors of vertigo crashed over her. and wasn't that odd? actually feeling things instead of the facsimile of perception that gideon had while in her captain's mind. darkness--something she had always understood but never experienced before--enveloped her. she inhaled. exhaled. felt cool, and hard, and metallic, and skin, and air against her. she inhaled again, shorter and faster this time. part of her that was still embedded in the medbay of the ship and not in the hold told her that she was on the verge of hyperventilation. ]

Captain-- [ her voice wavered and broke for the first time, and gideon heard it echo throughout the speakers on the waverider. ] Rip. [ she was overwhelmed. over-sensitized. stunned. confused. bewildered. scared. she understood now why novelists wrote of feeling a tightening in the throat, a rushing sensation in the veins.

gideon curled up into herself a little more, cupping her hands--she had hands now!--over her ears. ] Cargo bay. [ she bit out, squeezing her eyes shut a little tighter as she focused on nothing but the sensation of breathing. air entering her lungs, her rib cage expanding, two, three, four. the slight whistle of sound as she exhaled, two, three, four, five, six. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's on the bridge with the rest of the team when--whatever it is hits. There's still so much of this he does not, cannot know, because in best it had only been theory before the Legends took their return trip back to 1916 and violated the first fundamental law of time travel.

"A little suspicious" would have been putting it mildly in Rip's mind; he's spent the whole time waiting for the universe itself to fracture in the aftermath--and now, in a way, it seems to have done just that.

Not that he's aware of the full extent of what's happened yet. All he knows, all any of them know is that Gideon detected a problem of some sort as the monitors filled with static, flickering madly as whatever is happening courses through the ship. Yet the too calm report of an issue in her core processors is followed by something much more concerning, a set of words that has a sense of dread coiling in Rip's gut when he hears them.

Captain, first. And then his name. Rip.

He hadn't even felt panic like that when he realized what the Legends of the future, now erased, must have done.

As soon as she gives him a location Rip is running through the corridors of the ship. Never mind that he doesn't know why she would call him to a specific place; the need in her voice is too evident, and Rip's heart pounds with something far worse than the break-neck pace at which he races.

He's crossed the whole length of the ship in under two minutes. Only when he comes to the cargo bay does he slow, looking up first because that's what he does, what he always does when he speaks to her.]

I'm here-- [And then he hears it. The deliberate sound of someone breathing, curled up in a corner of the room as if she might hide from everything assaulting her among the boxes of technological bits and trinkets. There in case of any emergency, any eventuality they might run into--and yet he doesn't know where to begin when he sees the woman, the very human woman he can't help but recognize immediately.

How could he not, when in the prison of his mind forged by Eobard Thawne, she'd been his only sanctuary?]

Gideon? [He steps closer, but carefully. There's no rational explanation for it, no cause easily defined that could have created this impossible effect. But even as logic would have him deny it, the truth is there before his eyes. She is, and everything from her desperately measured breathing to the protective curl of her body screams that she is afraid.]

[ she's trembling. that is the strangest thing about this; something involuntary is happening and she can't stop it. at least, not immediately. as she continues taking deep, deliberate breaths, the sensations of being alive fade into the background noise they must be for normal humans. she's aware of them, but they don't consume her every thought. ]

Yes, Captain, [ she says automatically in response to her name. only this time, it doesn't emanate from the ship. it comes solely from her new vocal cords.

gideon slowly lowers her hands from her ears until she can press her palms against the cool floor. her forehead is still touching her bare knees, but it only takes another moment of steady breathing before she can raise her head and open her eyes. seeing like this is--different. everything has more form and presence than it did when it was simply video feeds and digital photographs. she takes a moment to look at the crates and the walls, to look at herself because gideon is still the ship. she can still feel a connection to all of the waverider's inner workings. there's just... more now.

finally, she looks up at captain hunter--at rip, and her breath hitches. (involuntary reactions are quite annoying.) her lips curl upwards in a shaky smile as she drinks in the sight of him. ] It seems we have an unexpected development, Captain Hunter.

[ understatement of the century, that. ]

--Indeed; it would seem so.

[He's stood there in silence this whole time, granting Gideon those passing seconds to slowly unfurl from the protective bundle she'd gathered herself into upon--well. The discovery of this new form is all he can call it, he supposes. It also gives him opportunity to wave off Jax and Ray, who have poked their heads into the door but no further when Rip gestured for them to go.

He appreciates their concern, but it's clear that Gideon is only just now getting her bearings. Having a greater number filling the room likely won't help with that endeavor.

Not to mention another rather notable detail. However she has suddenly come to have human form, Gideon was granted body alone. Not clothing, and when she looks up at him, Rip is quick to tug off his signature duster. Once he's close enough to her, Rip drops down to a knee in front of her.]

Are you alright, Gideon? [He drapes the long jacket over her shoulders, allowing Gideon the opportunity to pull it around herself when she's ready. For his part, he's very deliberate with his gaze. Eyes on hers, not taking in anything more than the sight of her face, her expressive eyes, her soft hair--

Well. It's all quite noteworthy even while he plays the part of a gentleman.]

Do you know what's happened to you? [The end result may be obvious enough, but the question of how still hangs unanswered in the air. His concern is clear; without knowing the cause, there's no way to be certain that this transformation won't be dangerous to Gideon. She has been many things over the years, and certainly proven herself quite capable and trustworthy--

But she has never been human before. Not like this.]

I am... unsure. [ both to the question of whether she's alright and of how this happened. physically, she seems fine. a bit chilled, but the duster is helping to take care of that, even as she slips her arms through its sleeves. emotionally is something altogether different. gideon has felt fear before. worry, confusion, joy, love. these are not new concepts. but they've never elicited physical reactions before unless she willed it.

it's going to take some getting used to. ]

If I had to hypothesize-- [ she reaches out, body responding to her half-thoughts the way her holograms do, and pushes herself into a standing position. ] I would suggest that perhaps the residual energy of the time storm and the ship's proximity to an artifact as powerful as the Spear of Destiny had unintended side effects.

[ gideon takes a step forward and wobbles. instinctively, she throws her arms out, one palm smacking against a wall as she steadies herself. pain, sharp and brief, pokes at her hand and she gives it a somewhat betrayed look. and then she tries again, hand still kept on the wall this time.

she looks rather like a newborn foal for a moment as she adjusts to having legs. but it doesn't take long for her to find her feet and turn to rip with a triumphant smile. ]

This is an unprecedented situation, Captain. I confess, I am not sure where to begin looking for a solution, if there is one to be found. I can still access all my data banks but... I have no record of an AI gaining an organic body.

[He listens and he watches, silent as Gideon offers up her explanation of what could be the root cause of this development. At the same time, he rises to his feet with her; it's far easier for him to do so, having a great deal more practice at it than her after all.

And all the while he seems transfixed; though he sees her clearly, it's still rather impossible to believe that somehow, now, she's--well. He cannot say real. For Rip Gideon has always been that, real and alive and even human in a sense.

Just moreso now.

She stumbles with that first step, and like Gideon Rip is quick to reach out. Of all the things to remind him of, it's a little like Jonas when the boy had been learning to walk so many years ago. And like with his son, Rip knows that he cannot merely provide a brace to Gideon, even when she gives her hand that sharp-eyed look. It takes him a second to realize that the smack likely had hurt.

Still. His hands remain outstretched, just in case. Just in case.]

I, ah, would rather imagine it is, Gideon. [Unprecedented, and it's so very odd to hear that familiar tone and familiar vocabulary coming from a human mouth. She really does look just like she had in Rip's mental construct--well.

Less clothed now. But he's trying not to think about that too much. The same way he can't let himself focus on the brilliance of her smile when she does manage to walk with a bit more ease.]

We should get you to the medbay all the same. Just to be sure. [It's close enough to where they are now, and Rip wants as much data on what's happened as they can get. While there may not be any preexisting incidents, he won't have Gideon harmed just because they've managed to twist reality in this seemingly impossible way.] You'll need a full set of scans which--I suppose--you'll be doing yourself?

[If, like the databanks, Gideon remains connected to those parts of the ship.]

Indeed.

[ gideon takes one step towards the medbay. carefully takes her hand away from the wall and takes another. having found her sea-legs, she takes a moment to button rip's jacket shut before moving towards that part of the ship.

she moves slowly, and it's only partially because she's not used to walking. with every new object they pass, gideon takes a moment to look at it, to brush her fingertips across it. she takes note of the variance in textures, mind immediately filling in why things are the way they are. when she turns her head to the side, she pauses and breathes in the scent of rip's cologne, still clinging to the duster. a slight furrow appears between her brows, though she doesn't say why.

in fact, she doesn't say much of anything until they get to the medbay, whereupon she gives the chairs a somewhat daunted look. it takes little more than a thought to have one moving into such a position that she can more easily sit in it, though it seems to take her another moment to figure out how exactly those movements are supposed to go.

on the screen behind her, the body's vitals tick across the screen. gideon tilts her head to the side, eyes unfocused. ] That's odd.

[Perhaps the going is slow, but it grants Rip the opportunity to quietly observe and wonder--not unlike the way Gideon herself seems to, when some new texture or sensation can be found under her fingertips. If he knows why she stops long enough to take in that deeper breath, he does not say; the truth is, Rip won't quite let himself believe that that is what she's doing, taking in the traces of his scent left in the often-worn leather.

After all, the duster itself has it's own feel and fragrance. Not just aspects intermingled with him.

He's silent so long as she is, save for what's necessary. Jax and Ray are still nearby, joined by Martin. The youngest among them recognizes the woman just as Rip had, whispers his astonishment to the other two. Of course it only sparks more questions, but now is not the time for them. They make it to the medbay, and while Gideon deals with the chair, Rip pauses at the door, telling the crew in no uncertain terms that whatever they want to know can wait, they'll have their chance to ask, but for now the medbay is off limits.

He gets the doors shut eventually. Just in time for Gideon to make her curious declaration.

Odd, unfortunately, doesn't really reveal anything new in these circumstances, however.]

Odd how, exactly? [He moves not to join her, though the temptation is there. Instead Rip heads to the display of vitals, knowing enough to be able to pick out the anomaly whenever he finds it.]

This body is perfectly healthy. [ save, perhaps, for the fact that it is hungry. ] But everything is new, as if the cells that make it up were only just created.

[ on the plus side of things, it means she's probably not borrowing some poor woman's body. but it's rather perplexing to look at a functioning human being that seems to have, for all intents and purposes, just been 3D printed.

across the room, the usual hologram of gideon appears for a moment, then disappears. ] My connection to the Waverider seems unchanged. I can still access all of my systems and programming, though it is somewhat difficult to focus on my physical surroundings while performing various digital tasks. [ read as: gideon has not yet mastered multitasking. though she's definitely going to make that a priority.

she turns to rip, confusion evident in her expression. ] I am... unsure how to proceed from here. I can search various historical records, but I believe any similar instances that may exist will be well-hidden and take time to unearth.

[ her heartbeat ticks up a notch. unconsciously, gideon starts to fiddle with the hems of the duster's sleeves. she's concerned, which is not a new experience. but the feeling of being lost is one she is unfamiliar with. even when rip was gone, gideon had a objective in looking after the remaining crew. while her core directive as the waverider's artificial intelligence is still something she can and will do, she is suddenly more. and it leaves her feeling... unmoored. adrift. unanchored. ]

Well...I suppose that's because they only just were.

[Although like Gideon, Rip finds much to be thankful for in the assessment. His first thought isn't towards some hypothetical human now deprived of their physical existence, but rather towards the perfect health Gideon declares herself to be in. The stats on the display confirm the diagnosis; it would seem that, at present, some sudden physical affliction isn't one concern they need to fret over.

--Aside from the sudden physical affliction that has seen Gideon turned human, of course.

The flicker of movement caused by the appearance and disappearance of Gideon's more typical "form" draws Rip's gaze, though only briefly. So she is indeed still connected to the Waverider, even as she now exists separately from it. He can practically hear Martin's fascinating in his mind, although the poor Professor would have to wait awhile longer for his chance to examine the data.

Especially when Gideon looks at him and seems so utterly lost.]

In that case, I suppose the best course of action would be to ensure you're taken care of as you are now. [Human bodies have needs that AIs most certainly don't. Now Rip walks the short distance to the chair, this time offering out his hand to help Gideon rise.]

You've no doubt got a significant amount of new--data to process, as it were. [All those assorted sensations she felt each time she touched something new. Of course, that's not the full extent of Rip's concern, but he'll leave the phrasing as such for now. Better that, he thinks, than to unload greater worries upon her.] We should get you some clothes first. Then we can address any other immediate needs you might have.

[Thirst, hunger--or perhaps merely a need for some place quiet should she be overwhelmed. Given that Rip can only expect to keep the more concerned and curious members of the crew at bay for so long, the latter is definitely a risk worth considering.]

There are clothes waiting in the fabrication room, Captain, [ she says as she takes his hand and stands.

gideon doesn't move towards it immediately, like she did with the medbay. instead, the takes a moment and looks at their joined hands. runs her thumb gently over rip's skin as she studies the way they look. she's aware, of course, that this isn't normal human behavior. but gideon is not human and she isn't sure when all of this is going to end. it would be foolish not to take advantage while she can.

when she finally does move towards the doors, she doesn't let go of rip's hand. instead, she holds onto it tightly as they walk, her captain's presence at her side steadying her and seeming to keep her grounded. luckily for him, depending on how one looks at it, it's a short walk to the fabrication room and gideon lets go so she can change without rip having to worry about turning around or staring at the ceiling.

the clothes she's fabricated for herself are a replica of what she wore while in rip's mind. they're comfortable enough. soft cotton that feels so very different from the worn leather of rip's coat. gideon seems pleased with them. until she puts on her shoes. ]

I don't believe I enjoy having my feet confined. [ she says as she exits the room.

the duster is held in her hands and she looks down at it for a moment, frowning, holding it close to herself instead of offering it to rip. ] May I ask you something?

[For a moment, even after she's once more found her footing, the pair of them simply stand there--and Gideon is not the only one finding herself dealing with a new sensation. Of course Rip hasn't forgotten what they shared in his mind: the desperate way he'd grabbed her, pulled her close, kissed her even as that construct of a ship fell apart all around them.

But this is different. In that place--so much as it might be called as such--Rip had felt what he imagined things to feel like. The warmth of her skin and the taste of her lips were all, equally, figments of his own imagination.

Holding her hand now is real. She brushes her thumb over his skin, and then it's his heartbeat that goes a touch faster as he mimics the gesture.

Something so small, and yet so profound.

Silently, he's rather glad that Gideon doesn't let go of his hand as they make their second trip. It's short again, ended with Rip lingering in the hall while Gideon changes beyond closed doors. Perhaps Sara has stepped in to wrangle the others; they don't seem to be peering around any corners, and Rip quietly is glad for it.

There's some selfish part of him that isn't quite ready to share this Gideon with the team. Not just yet.

Though he's been leaning against the wall while he waits, Rip pushes off of it once the doors open. She's chosen--well. Exactly what Rip had pictured her in. He can't think it coincidence, but he doesn't have much chance to ask. Not before Gideon complains about her shoes.]

Ah; well... [Which in turn leads Rip to glance down at her feet. Naturally.] There are other styles of shoes you could fabricate. Sandals are very--non-confining.

[He looks back up at her, only to see the frown. Once more he worries, and in turn, Rip stands quick to answer her question.

It's rather easy, in the end.]

Of course, Gideon. Ask me whatever you like.

[ it takes her a moment to find her words. ]

When we were in your mind, there was an echo of sensation. I experienced things I otherwise could not because you had the memory of such things. [ that distance made it seem unreal. and it was, in a way, even as it was real in another. ] Now that I can... experience things on my own, I find I cannot properly catalog them.

[ gideon looks up from the coat to meet rip's eyes. the frown from before--from when she smelled the leather, and cologne, and whatever else of rip was left on the jacket--returns. ]

Should this experience prove to be temporary, I would like to remember how things felt. How they smelled. [ but she has no way to properly record that. she can search any dictionary ever printed, but she can't find a way to document her experiences in her own programming language. ] How do you hold onto such things?

[He nods as she describes it; in the end, it all rather makes sense. Rip did have memories of everything he'd shared with Gideon, although when those recollections were formed, they'd been with another woman. Miranda, and realizing that now has him looking down briefly--just a momentary touch of guilt, but he pushes it aside. It's hardly Gideon's fault that they'd gotten rather caught up in something quite complicated.

Just, as it seems, they have been now.

It's a unique problem to be sure. The transfer of information into memories is complicated even in the human brain. Rip takes in a breath, his eyes falling now to the duster. Scent in particular, and it's nearly impossible to not think of the implications of that request.]

--It's something of an automatic process in humans. Our brains form new connections between neurons. [He lifts a hand, gestures briefly at his own temple. It's not Rip's area of expertise, per se, but he does have an idea of what they might try. He might not have come up with it so readily, except they're both thinking of that time spent within his mind--

Within the construct of memory Eobard Thawne had inflicted upon him.]

There may be a way to modify a mnemonic archive. [That clever device specifically made for storing human memories in something closer to a computerized form.] It could record your memories as you are easily enough. Then it would just be a matter of finding a way to properly interface them with your programming.

[He offers her a small grin. God, he hates seeing that frown on her face.] Considering that you were able to interface with a centuries-old medallion steeped in mystical energy, certainly there's a way to manage it with a bit of tech.

[ his grin is echoed on her own face. while there is, of course, the possibility of memories being tampered with in that situation, gideon knows that, should the recording work, she will guard that data jealously like she does few other things.

(the memory of their kiss, the words they shared just before it, the quiet moments they've had together over the years, the easy smiles between rip and his wife when she was aboard, the strange and wonderful camaraderie she had with miranda, the pride in rip's expression when he spoke of his son.

the way he grieved when he lost them. both times.)

her hands clutch the duster a little tighter. ] I would like that very much. [ gideon looks down, then holds the coat out to rip. ] Thank you for the use of this.

[ she visibly hesitates then, shoulders curling in a little, weight shifting to her other foot. ] If it's not too much to ask... May I touch you?

[Should the recording work, she won't be alone in guarding it. Rip would sooner die than have Gideon's memories altered as his had been; it's a hell he would wish on few, and certainly not the one being alive that arguably means the most to him.

She has always been there for him. The least she deserves is for Rip to offer the same.

Regardless, her smile suits her so much better than the frown; Rip is glad she approves of the idea, and briefly, he nods his head, his eyes once more lowered to the harmless floor. Only for a moment, however; she hands back the duster a moment later, and Rip accepts it--

Although he's somewhat tempted to say she might still use it, should she be cold.

Instead he shrugs it back on with practiced ease, just in time to catch her moment of reluctance. Only a moment, and Rip lets her work through her discomfort as she gathers the will to ask what she would of him.

In the end, it's not at all a difficult request to fulfill.]

If you'd like. [The smile he offers for her then is soft, as is the look in his eyes. Although by necessity their kiss had been a one time thing, the thoughts behind it, the feelings that drove it--

Those have remained long after.]

I very much would.

[ gideon has loved rip for over a decade. she slipped into it so easily that it might as well have been written into her code. it was something she never thought to classify before. he was married. she was an ai with no real way to differentiate between romance and other types of love. there was never a need to.

she's still not sure if or how she should do that. all she knows is hat she loves this man in front of her and for the first (possibly only) time, she can reach out to him the way another human being would. and she is very grateful.

slowly, she steps into his space. cups his jaw in her palms and runs her thumbs gently along his cheekbones. the hint of stubble tickles her hands and she smiles as her fingers move to brush the goatee, the bridge of his nose, the arch of an eyebrow, the curve of his cupid's bow. she lets her hands drift down the sides of his neck to rest on his chest. the gentle th-thump of his heartbeat makes her feel what she assumes is "the warm fuzzies."

after a moment, she slips her arms around his waist and presses herself close to him in a hug. in his mind, when he first freed himself from the brig, it seemed only natural to embrace him when he reached for her. it was a gesture that gideon knew, intellectually, to be comforting. now, she understands why. ]

[Perhaps there had been a time when Rip thought of Gideon as merely an AI--but the truth is he cannot remember it. From his earliest missions so many years ago, Rip can recall quiet banter and gentle comfort, sharing his joys and his sorrows with her, and so many of his secrets. She has guided him home more times than he can count in his life.

And now, standing here, he's reminded that she is so much of what makes up home for him.

He's quiet while she steps closer to begin her exploration. The warmth of her palms on his skin is a rather nice distraction from the fact that, well--Rip feels a little silly having a woman take measure of his face. But it makes her happy; he can see it in her eyes as she explores his features. It makes her happy, and in the end, Rip enjoys her touch very much.

But it's a dangerous line. For Gideon all of this is so entirely new. Their shared history is indeed punctuated by a single kiss and the admission after that they had both rather enjoyed it--but stronger than that is Rip's desire to protect Gideon now. It's a need that only grows when her palms press against his chest, and her arms find their way around their waist.

He's stood by, carefully still until then. When Gideon hugs him, however, Rip finds it natural and right to return that embrace. His eyes close as he slips his arms around her back, his palms pressing against her shoulder blades.

He turns his head just so, breathes in the scent of her hair--and in turn, huffs out an amused breath. Turns out that it's rather nothing like what he'd imagined in his mind.]

[ gideon lets her eyes drift closed and--oh. the adrenaline that's been coursing through her veins fades, along with a tension in her shoulders she hadn't realized she was carrying. here, in this moment, with her face pressed into the soft cotton of rip's shirt, she can press pause. all her involuntary functions are still running--both the human ones and the ship ones--but her mind is quiet. it's a novel and wonderful feeling.

above and around them, the lights change. they fade from bright fluorescence to something warmer in temperature. it's not something consciously done on gideon's end, much like the soft, pleased hum that comes along with it. ]

Thank you, Captain, [ she murmurs. but, no, that doesn't seem quite right for this situation. gideon pulls back just enough to smile up at him and amend, ] Rip.

[ it's not just the indulgence she's thanking him for. it's the way he's so clearly worried about her and trying to take care of her. the way he's a steady presence at her side the way she has always tried to be for him. ]

[He cannot say in any honesty that he lingers merely for her sake. or that there isn't a sense of calm to be found for Rip as well when he holds her. Of course, he's fairly certain the lights dimming is all her--a phenomenon that has him glancing briefly upward with the fading brightness in the hall.

How incredible, to see such a display of what he hopes is peace manifest.

She thanks him, and the corner of Rip's mouth tugs upward in a grin. Really, nothing he's done seems anything beyond what he should do, and certainly it's all what Gideon deserves. His concern and his care are things she's shown him in greater measure in the past; they are how she has saved him, time and again, when he felt utterly lost and without shelter save for her.]

Always, Gideon. [Rip, she calls him, and he finds he rather does like to hear her say it.

Yet even as sweet as this moment is (and Rip hugs her still, his hands on her back stretching just enough to play with the ends of her hair), he knows they cannot spend all day embracing in the hall. He meets her gaze a moment longer, then turns his eyes towards the hall leading to the bridge where he expects the others are waiting impatiently for some brand of news.]

Do you think you're ready for, ah, introductions, lets say? [The Legends could be a force on an ordinary day, and Rip would certainly understand if Gideon found the prospect of dealing with them as she is now overwhelming. Of course all of them--or most of them--would mean well enough. They simply could be a bit much.

As Gideon is well aware, Rip reminds himself silently.]

[ her hands slide their way back up his chest so she can fiddle with and straighten out his various collars. it's both an excuse to keep touching him (which gideon is finding she quite enjoys) and something of an echo. it's a gesture she's seen in films and other works of fiction. it is, perhaps, something she had seen miranda do once or twice. it's a casual bit of intimacy that pleases her greatly.

but there are other things they should be doing right now. her monitoring of the bridge tells gideon that the natives are indeed restless and full of questions. she takes a step back and smiles. it's a little lopsided and positively brimming with mischief. ]

I believe I am. [ she tucks a hand around rip's elbow, internally bracing herself for another onslaught of new stimuli. ] Shall we?

[Perhaps he's not quite so well versed in films (though certainly more than he had once been, thanks to his tenure as a student of them), but Rip certainly does remember when Miranda would smooth out the fabric of his shirt, or ensure the lapels of his jacket laid just so. Even when Rip insisted he was perfectly fine to step outside and be in public, she could usually find something to pick at--

And it seems Gideon has already learned the same. Funny thing; Rip really hasn't minded it with either woman. Not too much.

Yet there is always something else, it would seem. Rip knows well the team would be worried (or curious, or some mix of the two), and they shouldn't go neglected too long lest they cause mischief of their own--not unlike the kind hinted at in Gideon's smile, and already Rip has to wonder how chaotic this little engagement will be.

Those concerns don't exactly ease when she takes hold of his arm, but--it's rather nice to escort Gideon this way. He nods in quiet reply, then leads Gideon down the corridors of the ship, to the bridge where the entirety of the team is waiting.

As predicted, it is quite an onslaught indeed.

Rip stays close by as the individual members of the team ask about this new development, though he's by and large silent. He takes up a perch near the central console, watching the goings-on, the exchange of questions and theories and banter between the bunch. It grants him a bit of time to think, separated from it all like this. In truth before Gideon had suddenly found herself in a human body, Rip had been on the verge of a major decision.

One that would change everything, for all of them.

He's still turning the thoughts over in the back of his mind when Gideon excuses herself to the kitchen. Somewhere amid the rambling, it was discovered Gideon was hungry--and that she didn't need the team to accompany her in the quest for food, thank you, she was perfectly capable of operating the food fabricators still. For a moment Rip wonders if all the noise has been too much, and if she'd simply prefer the silence of solitude for awhile.

The look she gives him when their eyes meet serves as answer, he thinks. So quietly, Rip follows after.]

You know, you're only going to be able to stave off Martin for so long. [He only speaks up again when they're in the mess, with Gideon preparing whatever she's decided to try.] He's going to want to run his tests--and it might not be a terrible idea to let him.

[The more information they had, the better prepared they could potentially be if something else was altered; Gideon's human form is entirely new, perhaps in all of history. There's no way for them to know how long it might last, or what effects could play out over time. Martin may well be able to figure out some answers that none of the others would, particularly with his background in transfiguration.

Of course, helping Gideon hadn't been the only reason for volunteering; recalling the man's eagerness, Rip is quick to continue.]

Within reason, of course.

[ the team is wonderful. gideon is very fond of her crew. but they are not, by any stretch of the imagination, quiet or tactful. she was expecting this when they walked onto the bridge, but it's still a little overwhelming. there are moments when she finds herself gripping the arm of a chair or the edge of a console tight enough that it bites into her palms. she manages to keep a small smile on throughout the encounter, but it takes some doing.

rip is partially right in his assumption that she would prefer silence to the chaos of the initial explanation and brainstorming session. she very much does want to be away from all that. but at the same time, she's not sure she wants to be alone yet, either. being alone save for her captain is a happy medium.

she gets a salad topped with chicken from the fabricators and sit across from rip. it takes her a moment of fiddling to figure out how the fork feels best in her hand. ]

Of course, [ she echoes him as she stabs at the lettuce. she takes a bite and--pauses. she suddenly understands why mr. rory doesn't like vegetables. but human bodies need them to survive healthily, so she continues eating, though she does crinkle her nose in distaste briefly. ]

If this is to last more than a day, we should speak with Captain Lance about crew quarters as well. [ gideon is going to need a place to sleep, after all. ] Unless I am mistaken, all of the Waverider's bunks are currently occupied, though Ms. Jiwe and Dr. Heywood often spend the night in each other's.

[He's careful to keep a very neutral face when Gideon opts for a salad, of all things. Though it is most certainly her choice, and an admirably healthy one, Rip knows quite well that she's seen a bevy of far more interesting fares requested during her time. And yet, off all the things she could have opted for for her first meal--

Well. She's often quite practical about things, which Gideon herself proves a beat later. The mention of crew quarters does leave them with something of a quandary. Rip frowns as he considers it, though he already knows Gideon is correct.]

True though that may be, it would be a bit presumptuous to ask either of them to give up their private space on what could be a permanent basis. [From what Rip's been able to gather, they haven't been together for very long--certainly nowhere near the cohabitation stage of a relationship.

Which leaves them somewhat stuck. Rip leans an elbow on the table, shifting forward to rest his chin on his closed hand.] I suppose I could sleep in the parlor for the time being. It might not be the most convenient thing, but it shouldn't take too long to modify one of the storage rooms.

[And Rip, who is a rather private person, still would prefer to offer up his own space to Gideon to ensure she has a bed. Sara might not immediately agree, but Rip feels reasonably sure she can be talked into it. And it's not as if Rip hasn't slept in the office before--though typically not by design, but rather when he'd pushed himself too hard and exhaustion overtook him.

Come to think of it, Gideon's given him a few snide comments about that before. Usually when Rip complains about being sore the next day from sleeping rather awkwardly.]

[ there have been more than a few snide comments. and one or two ridiculous attempts to wake him up and herd him off to bed. something that's going to be much easier to do now that gideon actually has a physical body.

it's also much easier to give him a very unimpressed look. while her hologram could certainly emote, it could never quite raise a disdainful eyebrow the way she does when he suggests sleeping in the parlor. ]

I wasn't suggesting they should. Or that you should give up your quarters, Captain. [ in truth, she hadn't gotten to the suggestions yet. ] I won't be putting any of the crew out of their beds. I can sleep in the medbay until we can find a better place for a fabricated mattress in a storage room or one of the crew's quarters, should they offer it.

[ she's not going to ask them to let her move in. but if one of them offers, she thinks she might like it better than living in what would essentially be a former closet. ]

[Funny how much she can say in a look; while Rip perhaps expects Gideon not to care for the idea, he doesn't expect the level of open disdain he can see in that arched eyebrow. And yet, as quick as she is to shoot down his suggestion, part of what she offers in return does leave Rip feeling the need to point out the obvious.]

You technically just had one of the crew offer up their quarters, Gideon. [And in turn, quickly shot the notion down. True she probably doesn't care for the bit about the parlor either, but Rip could take up temporary residence in the medbay just as easily as the woman across from him now. And there are other factors, though Rip sees it better to keep tight lipped about them now.]

Besides--I'm not the captain anymore. [There's another argument to be offered up instead.] By rights, I shouldn't still have that room anyway.

Yes, but you weren't going to be in them. [ which is a very important distinction to make. both because she's going to be adamant about not kicking anyone out of their rooms, and because she's also implying she wouldn't mind rooming with him.

that, however, is less important than the rest of what rip says. ] Does Captain Lance know you've officially resigned? [ because she gets the feeling sara might have something to say about that. not to mention everyone else. ]

Unless she does, you are still very much the captain of this ship, Captain. [ gideon pauses for a moment, deliberating. ] She compared herself to you while you were gone. Looked to you as her standard of captaincy. You shouldn't discount yourself, Rip. There's still more for you to do here.

--I assumed you would want a measure of privacy. [Never mind that he could have theoretically seen quite a great deal when he first found her, before Rip wrapped his duster around her shoulders. Living with someone else takes a bit of adjustment, and Gideon's got to get used to an entirely new body besides. It seems prudent that she have her own space where she might retreat to when things become too much--including one that's away from him.

Yet she doesn't seem to see it that way. Perhaps because for Rip, the Waverider had offered that brand of shelter--and within it, she had always been there for him.

If he parses the statement a bit more, he might realize fully that she doesn't mind the notion of sharing. But he too sees what follows as being of greater importance. He hadn't meant to imply anything, certainly in no way that she could so readily dissect--and yet it would seem that after more than a decade together, she does indeed know him too well.

Which means the guilty look that flits across his face as she chastises him likely won't go missed either.]

I had not discussed it in--concrete terms with Miss Lance. [He swallows, looking down at the table which suddenly seems so much easier to stare at.] And the team has gotten on quite well in my absence. Certainly far better than it ever did under my leadership.

[But now Gideon echoes Sara, claiming he still has a place among their number. Perhaps he does. It's just been rather difficult for Rip to see it.]

Though I may look it, I am not human, Rip. There is nothing I can or have kept private from you before. [ beyond that, he can shut her down and make her self-destruct with three words. 'privacy' is something they've never had. something she, truthfully, doesn't understand the need for. ] Should my opinions change, you will be the first to know.

[ but more important is the other half of the conversation they're having right now. there's an ache in her chest when she sees rip like this. it's concern, and grief, and perhaps a little bit of fear. being without him was--hard. it's something she's not spoken to anyone about, least of all rip. she understands why he made the choices he did, but gideon's not happy about them. and the thought that he may resign, may leave again because he thinks the team doesn't need him...

she's not sure how to deal with that. ]

The team still quite a ways to go. There were many times, much like when we were tracking down Vandal Savage, when things went spectacularly wrong. [ gideon pushes aside her plate for a moment so she can lean over the table and grip her captain's wrist. ] Beyond that, the Waverider is your ship, not Captain Lance's.

[ she pauses, grip tightening just a bit. ] I am yours. Not hers.

[ because gideon is the ship as much as she is anything else. that is how she will likely always see herself, human body or no. and she should get a say in all this. ]

[She's not wrong. Those protocols so carefully crafted into her code, keywords only he and she know, could have the ship explode right there where they sit. He nearly had her do that very thing, during the days when Eobard Thawne manipulated his mind, tore the core morality Rip abided by from his personality, until what remained was the cruelest and coldest version of himself.

And even then, he'd paused to consider the ship that he'd known for so long. The Waverider, and Gideon, forever part of it.

He could argue that simply because he can, theoretically, have her do anything he wishes with an override doesn't equate to having free reign over her. Moreso now, that she has a human body. But it's secondary still, swept aside in favor of her earnest rebuttal of the simple contentions he'd offered up, his justifications for what he'd planned to do after they were safely in the temporal zone again.

His bag isn't packed, but it's ready to be. In his mind, Rip has a list of things he means to take with him--or perhaps that he meant to.

Gideon points out that the team isn't perfect, and in spite of the serious nature of things he lets out a soft huff; that things would go spectacularly wrong is hardly a surprise, given the Legends track record. But enough has equally gone right for Rip to feel confident leaving the Waverider in Sara's hands. She's a strong person, and has proven herself a remarkable captain.

To Rip, at least. Perhaps to Gideon as well.

But it would seem she's hardly ready to let him go. Quite the opposite, in fact, as she grips his wrist with a strength he might not have suspected she possessed. Yet far more potent is her earnest confession: I am yours, and at first, Rip can only stare at her in stunned silence.

There are many things that might mean, especially between humans--and though Gideon herself has just reminded Rip that she is still the ship, he cannot help but consider them.]

...You should finish your salad. [In truth she's only gotten a few bites in, which is likely fair given how suddenly important this conversation has become. In spite of his own words, Rip carefully turns his hand over in Gideon's grip; gently, he mimics her hold, curling his fingers loosely around her wrist.]

I suppose it would hardly due to have me resigning under these circumstances besides. [At the very least, he should at least see Gideon sorted out. His reasons for leaving don't rest solely in the team's capability, though that much is far easier to admit. Still. There is time to address the rest. More pressing is what's happening to Gideon now, someone who has put so much faith in him over the years, who has given him absolutely everything from loyalty to support to protection to guidance.

He cannot abandon her. Not like this.]

[ while in the context of this conversation she means it in terms of being his because she is the ship, she also means 'i am yours' in all those ways rip can't help but think of. and she's not unaware of the implications of what she said. it's because of those that she leaves her one hand gripping rip's wrist as she eats with the other. and it's likely because of those that she feels such a rush of relief when he says he won't resign. at least not yet.

gideon makes a note to herself that the time she's being given to sort out this body problem should also be used to convince the captain to stay. and to enlist help from the crew in this endeavor. and, perhaps, to erase all her old records of ship transfer forms. they're really more of a formality now that the time masters are gone, but it'll make her feel better to know that even if he leaves, the waverider will still be rip's. ]

I'm glad you think so, Captain. [ the form of address is deliberate there as much as it is familiar.

the matter having been settled (for now) gideon goes quiet as she finishes her salad. still holding onto rip's wrist all the while. the quiet makes it easier for her to gather her thoughts. about this whole leaving business. about her captain in general. about her new body and everything that comes along with it.

she slides her wrist out of rip's grasp, but only so she can run her fingers over the lines and callouses on his palm. ] Whatever it is that's caused this new development, I'm glad it's given me the opportunity to do this. [ to touch him. to relate to him on a level she never could have before. ]

[Little does he suspect how Gideon plots already to keep him there; perhaps once things have settled a bit more, when questions ranging from small (where will she sleep?) to large (is this in fact permanent? safe?) are better answered, he might realize just how far she's willing to go to keep him there.

Of course, by then it might be too late--and not only for reasons of greater numbers or deleted forms.

At the moment, however, Rip's concern remains the present. He's by and large quiet as Gideon returns to her meal, though it might not be too hard to tell what he's thinking. His eyes shift between hers and their shared touch, and as she eats, Rip stretches his fingers along her skin, feels the shape of veins and bones beneath. Feels her pulse when he presses his fingers just right, that sure sign of the steadily beating heart within her chest.

It really is a wonder to be sitting here with her like this.

One they share, it would seem. He keeps his hand open for her to explore, but far more occupying are her words--her gratitude for the soft moments of connection they've shared thus far, that beginning foray into physicality they would have never known otherwise.]

As am I, [He admits quietly. But after a beat, he glances down at her plate.] Although I do have to ask--salad, of all things?

[It's easily a safer topic than the feeling of her fingers moving over his palm to be sure.]

Edited 2017-06-29 03:01 (UTC)

It seemed the easiest and most nutritious option. [ and unlikely to hurt her still very new stomach. she's not sure that anything would, but just in case, it seemed best to go with something mild.

gideon reaches out with her other hand, now that it's not occupied with a form, and uses her fingers to trace the tendons and veins on the inside of rip's wrist while her other hand cradles his. after a moment, her fingers mimic his earlier motion and rest on his pulse, feeling the thrum of it beneath his skin.

it wasn't too long ago that she was unsure he was still alive. and after that, she wasn't sure they could get him back. having him here, alive and well in all senses of the word, is a great relief. being able to confirm it like this even more so.

she closes her eyes for a moment. concentrates. and then quietly chuckles. ] I had heard of negative emotions producing physical effects in humans, but I hadn't realized positive ones do that as well.

I see. [Though if the way his mouth tightens with an unformed grin, Rip has already begun thinking of other foods to introduce her to. Perhaps they'll be less nutritious and more complex, but if she is going to be human, then she should enjoy the experience of it so much as possible.

Yet even as he thinks that thought about meals, Rip finds himself faced with internal caution bells as Gideon continues her delicate exploration of his hand. Her touch is nothing but gentle, and yet each slow trailing of her fingers feels as if it leaves sparks in its wake. She takes his pulse, and she might well note it a touch faster than usual.

Things like that do tend to happen when one suddenly finds themselves in a room with a person they've come to care for quite deeply in the course of their time spent together.]

Oh, they very much do. [Funny then, how her comment falls so perfectly in line with what Rip is experiencing at that very moment. Of course it stands to reason that Gideon's remarking on her own state at least as much as his, if not solely. He looks up from where her hands still explore his, studying her face for how those positive emotions might play over her features: in the curve of her smile, or the brightness in her eyes. Maybe the flush of her cheeks, depending.

It's a dangerous line. He's well aware, and yet Rip finds himself tiptoeing along it anyway.]

[ there is indeed a slight flush on the tips of her ears and the apples of her cheeks. she's smiling softly at her captain. but that's not quite what she meant. there's an odd sort of ache behind her sternum, like her ribcage has been turned into some sort of container that has had warmth poured into it to the point of overflowing. that's what fascinates her.

it makes her wonder if this is how rip felt around miranda. if it's how he feels around her. between the kiss they shared in his mind scape and the way his heartbeat picks up as she touches him, gideon is certain that her feelings are reciprocated in some way. she's just not entirely sure if or how she should bring it up.

but, well-- ] If this is indeed a temporary situation, there is something I'd like to do before it ends. [ whenever that may be. ]

[For all his failings when it comes to dealing with others (something that having a team surrounding him has highlighted in many ways), Rip can be quite observant when he chooses to be. Take now, for instance. His eyes rather intently take in the details of where those hints of color show, from her ears to her cheeks. Of course she's beautiful already—and Rip quietly tries not to think of how he'd dreamed her that way—but those patches of pink only make her seem moreso.

They help her look all the more alive.

What he cannot see is that tightness in her chest, the dull and pleasant pain where it feels like there is simply too much to keep within, that one might burst if they cannot find a way to let it out. He cannot know that he has indeed felt it before, with Miranda, and in his own mindscape when he stood face to face with Gideon amid a crumbling mental construct.

It had been why he kissed her. He believed it his one and only chance to somehow tell her, in any form or fashion, just how important her place in his life is; how dear he holds her. Rip never expected Gideon, the true Gideon, to remember that heated and passionate kiss.

But she had. She rather enjoyed it, as she had confessed.

He wonders now if that might be the memory she turns over in her mind, and what prompts her to say that there is yet another thing she wants to experience and know. For all the parts of him that think it might not be wise to let her have this indulgence, the stronger part of him—the part that has his heart feel like it's pounding in his chest—can't help but hope it might be so.]

And what is that, Gideon? [He asks quietly, reverently. Before, he kissed her believing her to be a manifestation of his dearest friend, his constant companion, his sure shelter in any storm. Now, she is all those things still, but unquestionably and entirely herself besides. The woman sitting across from him may have the appearance of his imagination's figment, but she's anything but.

She's Gideon. Breathing and real, and Rip feels as if he can hardly breathe as he waits for her answer.]

[ that is indeed the memory she's mulling on. the one that's inspiring this turn in conversation. it makes her heart beat just that little bit harder in her chest as she looks at rip and says, just as quietly, ] I'd like to know what it's like to kiss you in reality.

[ she wants to know what it really feels like to have his mouth against hers. would his facial hair tickle? would it make her heart race like these quiet moments, or give her that quiet feeling of peace and safety like his embrace earlier had? what would he taste like? gideon has so many questions, none of which are answered by the memory of their first kiss in rip's mind.

and more than that, she wants to do this. to touch him and hold him however she may while she's capable. it's a desire she never had before. not really. how could it have been when she didn't have a body, and any android chassis she may be uploaded into wouldn't have quite the same experiences? but now that she has the opportunity, the desire to do something that wasn't even an impossible dream before sings inside of her. ]

That is, of course, [ she continues, a slight smirk on her face, ] if you're amenable.

[ oh, she's fairly certain he's attracted to her. he's got all the hallmarks of it--rapid pulse, a slight dilation in his pupils, the quiet raspiness of his voice--but gideon would also quite like to hear him say it. ]

[In the end she asks exactly what he expects she will, and yet Rip cannot help but feel caught off guard by it regardless. Some mix, perhaps, of that confirmation that Gideon does indeed desire this, or how glad he is to know that she does.

Because he also does, truly. She's read his hallmarks correctly, from the look in his eyes to the pulse she can feel thrumming away in his wrist. There's no part of Rip's heart that does not want to feel her lips against his, to know what it might be like to be truly kissed by her, rather than have some aspect of his own fantasy at play.

But it's a dangerous road, his mind thinks. Perhaps too much too soon; after all, their first kiss had been spawned by Rip giving in to wild abandon, thinking that there would be no opportunity for such an embrace again, and that in the end, only he would carry the burden of such a memory as his secret. He cannot say that if he had known Gideon herself resided in that construct, not just his vision of her but her actual thoughts, her mind, that he would have allowed himself the same indulgence.

So what does it mean if he grants them both it now?

It's a dangerous slope, he thinks. Gideon had barely been able to find her feet to walk a handful of hours ago. While she has long been real and alive in Rip's perception, she has not been human in the sense she is now. There is still so much they don't know about her condition at present, and he suspects, so much she cannot know about what she is now. This eagerness to discover, to experience, to feel can be a beautiful thing--

Or it could cause her agony, should she push too far and too quickly.

He hesitates for these reasons, his eyes lowered to their hands all the while. He watches and feels the path of her fingers. Before he looks up again, he hears the smirk in her words--just as Rip has so often.

Whatever she is, she remains Gideon.]

One kiss. [He meets her gaze again, the barest hint of a smile playing on his lips. God, he already knows it won't be enough--but it has to be. Rip must draw the line somewhere, at least until he is sure that she won't be harmed by pressing it further--that he won't harm her somehow. He's already failed his wife, his son, and not because he didn't love them enough but rather too much. So much, that the Time Masters were able to use his devotion as their tool. He won't see it happen again.

So. One kiss, and only one. For now, it must be enough.]

[ while gideon would agree that overwhelming her would be a bad idea--best to let her get as accustomed to sensations as she can get--she objects to limiting themselves to just one kiss. and if she knew what rip was thinking about failing her, about possibly harming her, she would scowl at him and tell him off. because that is no way to be thinking.

but, since she doesn't know, she just smiles at him and stands. slowly, she walks around the table until she's leaning against it, just to rip's side. she lifts a hand to rest against his cheek and leans in until there's a scant bit of space between them. the last move is rip's to make. both because he's the one with more experience with this whole kissing thing between the two of them, and because gideon is a bit of a tease. ]

[Well then. Good thing for him that she can't tell what he's thinking, isn't it?

Because she won't be able to change her mind. Scowl or scold, Rip has already lost too much in his life. Gideon is the one person he has left, not only from the past few months but from years gone by, from the days when Rip had been so happy to be a Time Master flying through the temporal zone from one era to the next, to go home after to his loving with and brilliantly happy son.

To return each time to this same ship, to the AI who had been so much more almost from the start. She's been there through nearly all of it: his first missions as a captain, his nervous pacing as he thought of asking Miranda to marry him. His utter joy when he learned he would be a father.

The grief that nearly broke him when his family had been slaughtered.

And countless other times, in countless other ways. She has always been there; she's promised always to be. Rip will not endanger that for a bit of foolishness, no matter how tempting the allure.

She stands and walks around the table; likewise, Rip also moves to his feet. His eyes remain on Gideon the entire time, seconds stretched out impossibly long, and all the while it feels like he can't breathe. When she touches his cheek he presses his face against her palm, covers her hand with his own. And when she leans in, his smile broadens a touch. For all his necessary caution and worry, there is something undeniably wonderful about this chance.

He thought he'd never have it twice—and now here they are.

Here they are.

She doesn't quite close the distance completely, and with a huffed out breath Rip understands what she means for him to do. A tease indeed, but it's a game they can both play at. Rip doesn't pull her close with all the desperation of a man who has too little time to express far too many things. Instead he takes his time, careful when he presses his lips against hers. If they are only going to have the one, this time Rip means to make it last; to etch in his memory every sensation from the heat of her mouth to the way she lets him coax the kiss into something deeper, to how she feels pressed against him when his hands drop to her waist to tug her near.

Gideon isn't the only one who wants to examine each new sensation when it comes to this. Far, far from it.]

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