[Video | Junk Pile, yet again]

[imnotyours]

[Lyra had much more important things to do rather than go visit some temple where she was apparently supposed to live now. She had an alethiometer to find and wasn't about to leave the junk pile until she did. The end result was the little girl setting up a junk-made lean to for herself and Pan, camping out at night and searching through the day.

It had to be somewhere.

Settling down with some food she'd managed to get while Pan continued searching, Lyra turned on her comm unit, figurin she might as well see what was going on. And ask if anyone else had found it.]

Got a question for all you. I'm looking for something real important. It kinda looks like a compass but with pictures on it. I know I had it when I jumped trough the window after my father so if one of you has it you best give it back.

[She glares a bit to make her point before glancing off screen to check on Pan.]

Anything?

Nothing yet. At least not what we're lookin for. There's so much weird stuff here, Lyra!

[The little girl grinned, her daemon's excitement and curiosity infectious.]

Oh. Right. So...can anyone tell me what this thing means? Which temple or whotever.

[She pushes the sleeve of her shirt up some to show off Liege's glyph.]

Still not sure where it's supposed to take me.

Comments

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Put that down kid you'll probably injure yourself or eat it or something.]

Machine? Mrs. Coulter?

You ain't makin' sense yourself, kid.

[He tosses a little trinket her way, almost playfully.]

[imnotyours]

[She dodges the thrown trinket, sticking her tongue out at him yet again.]

There was this machine that they put little kids into. 'Cause I guess it's easier to use on kids or something. And it--it separates you from your daemon.

[She shudders and Pan's immediately at her side, melting into the form of a cat to rub against her ankles. Lyra immediately kneels and scoops him up, hugging him close.]

We got put in it..I almost lost Pan.

[Kissing the cat's head, Lyra peered over at Wheeljack again.]

And Mrs. Coulter... [Her expression darkens a bit.] She's evil. An evil horrible woman that tried to hurt us.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[The tongue stuck out just earns a smirk from him, imitating her. Not really having a tongue in his robot form, this is pretty new to him. It was fun.

But serious talk times now.]

This guy...[He gestures to Pan.] It separated you two? How? You're not...really attached are you?

[He seems to peer around, as if looking for some kind of...leash.]

...Well, whatever it is, doin' that to a kid's all kinds of wrong.

[imnotyours]

He's my soul.

[Come on, Wheeljack, keep up.]

Pan is me and I'm him. There ain't a difference between us. If he dies, I die. If I die, he dies. And they wanted to separated us--take my soul away from me.

[Lyra outright shivers again but her gaze stays on Wheeljack, hoping he understands.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

...Your soul.

[Wheeljack wasn't really one for the supernatural, but...he knows what a soul is. It's like your spark. Who you are. and...]

You think it's such a good idea to keep your soul exposed like that?

[He takes a look at Pan, holding a hand up.]

No offense. Just would keep you safer. Both of ya.

[imnotyours]

That's how it's always been. Everyone back home has a daemon. You're born with one, dummy.

[Even with the minor insult, she's beginning to realize that pretty much everyone here is from a world without daemons.

And it's...odd to her. She can't imagine not having Pan.]

It's just how things work. But I understand what you mean.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

...Huh. Crazy stuff. I guess we have somethin' similar. Little symbiotes. But it's only a select few who get that. Split sparks too, I guess.

[He sticks his hand down into the junk pile, pulling out a plate and tossing it like a frisbee.]

Humans always seem to be full of surprises.

[imnotyours]

[Pan immediately perks at the sight of the frisbee, unable to help himself as he darts after it to retrieve it.

It's been way too long since either of them got the chance to just play and be young.

Lyra can't help but grin because of her daemon's actions, shrugging as she brushes some hair out of her face.]

That's a good thing though right? Keeps you lot guessing.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Wheeljack scoots out of the way slightly as Pan takes off, giving a slight chuckle. That guy could run pretty fast, he had to admit.

But his attention diverts to the girl, tilting her head.]

Guess so. Although, not such I liked finding out how eating worked.

[imnotyours]

[Lyra snorted, crossing her arms as Pan came darting back with the Frisbee, dropping it at Wheeljack's feet.]

What, you robots don't eat?

That's kind of weird...how do you keep living?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Wheeljack looks down at the frisbee and...reluctantly holds his hand out. Maybe Pan would let him pet him? If not, it'll just nonchalantly reach down for that frisbee.]

Not as often. We refuel once every couple of days. Even longer if we aren't injured or exhausting ourselves.

[imnotyours]

[It's nothing against you, Wheeljack, but Pan slinks back just a bit when the hand is held out, tail drooping just a bit.]

It's not allowed.

Touching other people's daemons he means. [Lyra inched closer and knelt down, rubbing Pan's ears.] It's an unspoken rule back home. Daemons can touch other daemons but people can't touch another person's daemons. It does funny things to people.

[Since you're essentially touching their soul and stuff.]

That's..weird though. That you don't eat like we do. Kinda cool though.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Wheeljack's hand freezes at that, pulling it away. He's not really offended, more like testing the waters. A surprisingly gentle move from him. You'd never think the guy could do that.]

Huh. So not even for transport? Things like that?

[He gives Pan a slightly apologetic smirk, not that he'd ever admit it, and goes for that frisbee, holding it up.]

Yeah, 'magine my surprise when you guys do it multiple times a day.

[imnotyours]

No. At least not by people. A lot of the times other daemons will carry a passed out daemon if they have to.

[She's glad he's not offended or anything, smiling as Pan lights up when the frisbee is held up.]

Guess that would be weird. Never really thought about wot it would be like to change into something else.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He moves the frisbee up and down a few times, watching Pan's eyes follow it before giving it a good toss.]

Really? It's a thing with me. Well...other than this human thing.

Y'see, I'm a giant uh..'robot', yannow? But I can turn into a vehicle. Changin's in our species.

[imnotyours]

[Pan's eyes are locked on the frisbee, the pup taking off after it the instant it's thrown.]

Is it now?

Wait--you turn into a vehicle?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He watches Pan chase it a moment, before his eyes lock onto hers.]

Yep.

Big enough to fit you in. Not sayin' much, though. You're on the small side.

[imnotyours]

[Lyra just stares for a moment before her eyes narrow a bit.]

You best prove it when you change back. I want to see it.

[It was about this time that Pan came running back, dropping the frisbee at Wheeljack's feet with a happy little yip.]

See what?

His car form.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

I see that.

[He points his finger at her, perking an eyebrow.]

That's a look of doubt right there, kid. You're sayin' I'm makin' this up?

[He turns his head down at the yip, picking it up and tossing it from hand to hand.]

Short stuff here doesn't believe me.

[imnotyours]

Well, I guess it is hard to believe since right now you're a person like her.

[Pan's tail was going a mile a minute as he watched the frisbee, tongue lolling out excitedly.]

And plus, you don't gotta get all upset! I didn't say you was making it up! Just that I want to see it, is all.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Good point. Now bein' a squishy? THAT'S the part that gets me.

[He won't keep Pan waiting. Off goes that frisbee, this time a little harder.]

Okay, okay! You got yourself a deal, kiddo. I'll change for ya. When I get back to my normal form.

[imnotyours]

[As Pan takes off after the frisbee, Lyra smirks happily, always glad to get her way.]

Good. That's what I like to hear.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Wheeljack realizes this, and his hand goes up to her hair, ruffling it playfully.]

You little sneak.

[imnotyours]

Hey! Watch it!

[She grabs his hand to stop the ruffling but she's grinning all the same now, sticking her tongue out at him as Pan trots up looking quite pleased with himself at the object he's got in his mouth.

Which isn't the frisbee.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He gives a smirk back, sticking his tongue out in return as Pan trots back up. His hand reaches out instinctively for the 'frisbee', not even looking at what he might possibly have.]