Excitable

Lots of people with hearts out of 'rest' mode. 
Date/Timing: May 2025
Setting: Carnegie-Mellon DriftSci Lab
A knock on the doorframe. 
"Is this a good time?" asks a British person. 
Every webcam in the room focuses on the door.
Jackson rolls from his desk—
Correction, British person, sorta new sleeping baby, and a suitcase—
"Can I—" Holy shite—nearly gets whiplash looking back at Chuck. 
"Do you have an appointment?" asks Chuck, getting to her feet and planting them shoulder-width apart.
The person also does a double-take, says carefully, "Would it be a problem if I just dropped in?"
"The two of you could be sis—siblings," Jackson blurts. "Uh, if you were young—closer—"
"Would you like to have a seat?" interrupts Chuck. "I'll let Doctor Lightcap know you're here. Can I get you anything?"
"Water, please," says the person, gratefully sinking into a chair.
"It'll just be a moment," replies Chuck, looking pointedly at Jackson.
He glances at her. "What?"
"Water?"
"Oh. Right."
Chuck rolls her eyes—
Jackson hops to his feet—
—and saunters deeper into the office.
—but only finds his balance on old leg and teeters there like a scarecrow until he remembers what to do with new leg. 
"Below your knee or above?" asks the person.
"Below," replies Jackson, testing his weight. "Seems more trouble than it's worth some days."
The person snorts. "You say that now." They tap their knee. 
It sounds plastic-y. 
"A photo shoot, a twenty-five-thousand dollar undergarment, and a rock slide. I made it; my leg and the bra did not."
Jackson cringes, wobbles from the work area—
Chuck comes back. "Doctor Lightcap will return shortly."
"Thank you," smiles the person.
Chuck bobs her head. "If you'll excuse me." And disappears again.
"They didn't try to make you pay for it, ay?" asks Jackson.
"That they did, however I had public opinion on my side and the matter was dropped."
A bright green Roomba with a cup of water whirls out of the kitchenette—
"Oh no you don't!" Jackson snatches the cup.
—and careens into a wall.
The person raises an eyebrow.
Jackson rubs his neck. "They get excited." Offers the cup.
"Thank you."
"Vanessa!" cries Lightcap, skidding through the door. "You're here!"
The person beams and stands, "Air traffic finally cooperated," and catches Lightcap in a hug.
"It's so good to see you!" Lightcap smooches the baby's head. "And you brought your sprout!"
"Wouldn't dream of leaving Hong Kong by myself," laughs Vanessa, easing the baby from the snuggy.
"Jackson, Chuck—" Lightcap glances around, accepting the baby with a smile. "Where's Chuck?" 
"Yea?" There's Chuck.
"This is Vanessa Novoa-Tamahori, a longtime PPDC buddy."
The baby wrinkles their face.
Lightcap eases the baby against her shoulder. "Vanessa, dahling, these are two of my lab monkeys, Jackson and Chuck."
"It's nice to meet you," says Novoa-Tamahori. "She-her-hers, please."
"Likewi—it's nice to meet you too," replies Jackson. "He-him-his."
""She-her-hers,"" calls Chuck.
"When's your flight?" asks Lightcap.
"Eighteen hours."
"Then you are /so sticking with me until then," declares Lightcap.
"My thoughts exactly. Have you had lunch?"
"I have not—Chuck!"
""What?"" 
"You're on baby duty."
Chuck reappears. "Again?"
"You were great the last time."
"The last time I didn't have any usable brain matter."
"Now you do so you'll be fine." Lightcap rests the baby in Chuck's arms. 
"You know I don't have my babysitting license or first aid certification, ay?"
"If the pattern holds, you'll have a sleeper on your hands for another couple hours, at least," offers Novoa-Tamahori.
"Have fun," Jackson grins weakly.
Novoa-Tamahori smiles to him and offers Lightcap her arm. "Shall we?"
"We shall." Lightcap links their elbows as they stroll from the office. "How's the hubby?"
""Trying to coordinate unevacuating New Zealand.""
""Oh, what fun. Thought of a name for Sprout yet?""
""We're learning towards my mother's name, [mother's name]. What do you think?"" 
Jackson turns to Chuck. "Not your first rodeo—you OK?" 
"'s my mum's name." She shakes her head, frowns at Sprout. "What is it with Lightcap, her friends, and sticking me with their babies?"
.
"You, uh, want me to take 'em?"
Chuck cradles Sprout protectively.
"Unlike /you, I /did have a babysitting license and /do have first aid certification."
"You. You babysat."
"Who d'you think watched Derek when he was a bean?" Rubs the back of his neck. "'sides, I—when I was younger—wanted a family of my own." Chuckles weakly. "A wife, kids, picket fence, and all that."
Chuck sniffs.
"I'll, uh, put on a movie, how's that?"
"On mute?" 
Jackson lights up. "I know just the one!"
Cue: "The Artist"
Category:Ficlet
Category:Sprout
Category:Sprout (ficlet)
Category:Caitlin
Category:Caitlin (ficlet)
Category:Chuck D
Category:Chuck D (ficlet)
Category:Chuck D is a Driftern
Category:Heavy Metal Kids play with technology
Category:Vanessa
Category:Vanessa (ficlet)
Category:Carnegie Mellon (setting)
Category:Jackson
Category:Jackson (ficlet)
Category:Jackson is a Drifttern