Eli Freeman, ca. 2042 (Half-Life futureverse OC) - somewhere Milliways-ish

[vance_freeman]

"'The common headcrab, Xenogenus calvacaris, was widely thought to be a parasitic lifeform, but further study revealed...'"

The young man who just walked in has dusky skin, a mop of curly red hair, and vivid green eyes, the latter of which are focused entirely on the clipboard full of papers that he's reading as he walks.

"'...is actually a mating instinct mistakenly inflicted upon a human target. By an unfortunate coincidence...'"

The white rat on his shoulder is trying to get his attention. "Eli?"

"'...closely resembles that of a female headcrab in heat. As a result--'"

"Eli."

"Hm?"

"Look up."

He does, and blinks a couple of times at his surroundings. "Oh. How long ago did we walk in here?"

"Eighty-six words ago. You really need to stop pacing around while you're editing."

"C'mon, you know I think better when I'm on my feet..."

"Not well enough to pay attention to where you're going, apparently."

Comments

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon nods slowly, looking from his son to the young man's daemon and then back again.

"... I'm going to guess you wound up going into science," he says, if only because it seems entirely reasonable when confronted with a white rat to assume that the person accompanying it wants to investigate and experiment.

Either that or they have a deep and abiding love of finding their way through mazes.

[vance_freeman]

Eli nods. "Biology, specifically. With some medical and veterinary practice on the side. We can't really afford to have people completely specialize, yet."

[acts_of_gord]

Of course not. Twenty years isn't anywhere near enough time to establish a complete academic base. Everyone has to be redundant until there's more people to work with.

"You always did like playing with animals," he says, and smiles a little. "How's the studying coming along?"

[vance_freeman]

"I'm working on writing my own book," says Eli. "The definitive guide to Xen lifeforms on Earth. I mean, a lot of it's just taking Dr. Kleiner's old notes and turning them into something intelligible, but..."

[acts_of_gord]

"Original research always starts from someone else's work," Gordon says. "Good for you. That's going to be useful stuff."

[vance_freeman]

Eli ducks his head a little. "Yeah, well... here's hoping."

[acts_of_gord]

"You'll do fine," Gordon says firmly. "I know you will."

After a moment's thought, he adds, "What've you got so far?"

[vance_freeman]

"I'm doing the first set of revisions now," says Eli, nodding to the clipboard he's still got clutched in his hand. "I...could show them to you...?"

His daemon shakes his head firmly. "Uh-huh. Forget it, Eli. We're taking enough chances with the space-time continuum as it is."

[acts_of_gord]

"It's all right," Gordon says. "I can wait."

He's seen space torn up plenty. He doesn't need to see it happen to time as well.

"I'm just glad you found something that makes you happy."

[vance_freeman]

That prompts a small smile from Eli.

"Thank you."

[acts_of_gord]

There's other things he'd love to ask, but-

Well. Time.

Blasted Milliways.

"Can I get you something to drink?" he finally says. That, at least, is a safe question.

[vance_freeman]

"You can get him something to eat," says his daemon. "He hasn't had a bite since eight o'clock this morning."

"Śarda--!"

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon just chuckles quietly; he knows the feeling. "Carbohydrates, then," he says. "Rösti okay?"

[vance_freeman]

"Uh, sure, if you're offering..." Eli shrugs.

Śarda rolls her eyes. "I swear, he'd forget all his basic bodily functions if not for me."

[acts_of_gord]

"He comes by it honestly," observes Sati. "Although his father at least has the decency to be able to eat at any hour of the day or night, once he remembers."

Gordon rolls his eyes, but it's hard to argue with the truth. At least the rats bring the stuff quickly; Gordon pushes one of the plates across the table towards his son. "I know they're not much, but they remind me of where I did some of my studies before Black Mesa," he says. "Always was fond of this kind of thing."

[vance_freeman]

"Y'know, Dad, I have heard this story before," says Eli gently.

[acts_of_gord]

"Not in my time you haven't," says Gordon, although he's got a bit of a smile to his expression. "When I left the Greenbrier, you were trying to take apart your sister's teething ring because you didn't feel like standing up any more."

[vance_freeman]

"...and I'll bet she was just thrilled about that."

[acts_of_gord]

"She doesn't know yet," Gordon says. "Six months old and you already know the value of discretion. That's kind of impressive."

[vance_freeman]

"What, she didn't have Kintaro spying on me?"

Like he did all the damn time when they were growing up? (Not that Eli can claim the moral high ground, of course.)

[acts_of_gord]

"He's a raven right now." Gordon shrugs. "There were shiny things."

It happens.

"I'm sure he'll find out soon enough. You're both six months old. If either of you could scheme much better than that, I'd be worried."

[vance_freeman]

Eli stares at his father for a moment.

Then bursts into a full-throated evil laugh.

Oh, Gordon, you have no idea what's in store for you over the next two decades.

[acts_of_gord]

■__O




(It would be o___O for someone else.)

[vance_freeman]

"...I'd like to say he's just messing with you," says Śarda. "But, yeah, you're pretty much screwed."

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon sighs, reaching up for a moment to touch the test tube around his neck. "Well, at least I'll have an idea of what's coming," he says resignedly. "It's not going to help, though, is it."

[vance_freeman]

"Prrrrobably not," says Śarda. "Sorry."

[acts_of_gord]

And there are two of them.

The next waitrat who passes is getting an order for beer.