Jason ignored the robot's clamoring for attention until Astrid bent down to tend to it. Anyone else might think to remark how odd it was that her robotic creatures enjoyed the physical contact of her praise rather than voice acknowledgement, but Jason certainly didn't mind it. Specifically, he didn't mind what it yielded to his own pleasure... by that it was how said physical gratification of her robot pet positioned her in relation to his happy body. He could kiss the little bugger if he weren't so captivated for the moment. He stared at the back of her head eyeing her hair - those lush locks - missing that rare, truly happy smile she graced the 'bot, but Jason was not the least bit bothered in his ignorance of it. Her slow return up and the way she turned her eyes up as if to watch his face as she straightened up, his eyes dropped from the back of her head to her eyes with a peripheral sight of what her stretched turtleneck highlighted and a slight, absolutely insanity-inducing curve of her lips, stirred something in Jason. He ignored it, shifting his weight to accommodate his discomfort and throwing his hands into his jumpsuit pockets.
Unlike Astrid, Jason wore the suits provided to him by one of the many select corporations that knew him and his role on the ship. As the communications officer, if he opted to transmit any video record along with his audio, he'd often, advertently, provide "air time" of said corporation's logo for reuse back where others might watch said recordings and cut to their specifications (because all information was on a particular need-to-know basis with only the highest levels garnering access to the actual information transmitted.) As a result, he often had only the most comfortable and high-tec of outfits. It was like wearing PJs and every corporation that had their thick fingers in the project strove to give everyone on the ship things to encourage their use of their objects. Even the walls were adorned with some slap-happy "graffiti." Here, Jason settled for a plain dark grey undershirt tucked into the darker jumpsuit which was unzipped to just above his pelvic bones. No skin was showing, of course, but it hardly mattered since everything was so form fitting. The arms of the jumpsuit were limply folded and tied in front of him, acting like an additional loincloth. The undershirt clung to his body comfortably, providing ample theater to what muscle mass Jason insisted on not losing. He took his physical appearance very seriously.
When Astrid stepped forward, he stood, unmoving. She wasn't yet close enough for his (human) comfort, but he let her come to him rather than closing the distance further.
Ooh, he's confident, isn't he? was the thought that crossed Astrid's mind. She would never say so out loud, and she didn't think Jason needed her to tell him what he most obviously exuded. Astrid had no interest in the man, to be sure. She was on this pleasure cruise for only one purpose: her research. The woman had long since passed her interest in human interaction, finding the social obligation others placed upon her to be insufferable. Inevitably, she had played along, but only after she realized that every new face she met would assume the same about her. She followed their whims at first to try and diffuse them, but inevitably, she shifted the purpose of her social interactions to using people. The more attracted to her beauty they were, the easier they were to manipulate. Astrid could hardly remember what her human interaction was like before she developed her flirtatious nature.
She halted her progress at one step when she realized that he wouldn't flinch or cringe out of nervousness.
"You know," he cleared his throat gently, it deepening a little as he continued, "We'd have the most beautiful babies." He waited a beat before continuing, enjoying the physical strain he felt on top of the mental temptation. He wanted to touch her, reach out and caress her angel face and maybe lower, but wouldn't give her the pleasure. After all, she'd not sought him out since they'd blasted through the gate and she hadn't opened the door for him moments before.
When he delivered his incredibly odd pick-up-line, she held back a full, out-loud laugh. She almost succeeded but had to cover her mouth with one hand, tilting her head downwards and making a soft chortle into her palm. She was a little surprised at the restraint he was showing, but then he seemed incredibly vain. Add that to his high-horse confidence ride and there was one guy that she would not be able to control without some serious investment, which she was more than happy to simply avoid. She would tease him nonetheless, though, knowing full well what her own charms were capable of doing. Then again, a pick-up line containing the idea of babies isn't exactly charming, is it?
He leaned in, just a scant inch closer to her, eyes half-lidded and murmured, "But I don't have time for that right now, dollface, I need to gather basic diagnostics for the coms report. So, if you'll excuse me-." He stepped around her, knowing that he was leaving her panting and wanting, and made his way to the door that would bring him to the output screens by the equipment running their ship. While they could pull this data up on the screens in her office, he enjoyed going down into the large, sterile engineering spaces. Mostly, he enjoyed knowing that she would likely follow him, if not physically, then he knew for a fact she'd have a camera on him to make sure he didn't mess with any of her automations down in the spaces.
As he leaned in, she made sure to tilt her head forward ever-so-slightly, as if to receive whatever it was he thought he could serve. When he moved around her instead of carrying on the conversation, her shoulders drooped, her face took on a slight pout, even if it was only a conditioned response to a denial of sorts.
She kept her position still, waiting until the door whooshed closed behind him. She sighed softly before allowing her face to go blank of any emotion. She crossed her arms, pivoted her weight from hip to hip, took a sip from her drink, which she only then realized was missing a gulp or two, and rolled her eyes. Astrid set the beverage back on the table which extended from the wall and moved back to her console, her work loading automatically before her as she got closer.
A.L.I.C.E. phased back into the display once again. "Would you like to keep an eye on Jason Itztli?"
Astrid waved a hand dismissively. "Just stop him from touching anything he shouldn't be griming up."
"Very well."
***
"Just a bit of biological programming," Jason murmured as he jogged down the ladder wells, congratulating himself. He knew he'd had an effect on her. He pushed his hands onto the last set of railing and let himself slide down, his feet catching himself at the base of the ladder well with practiced ease. Jason made a show of looking all about him, his adoring public and took a bow. And then he took off on a slow jog through the machinery, fingers gently trailing over the large structural heat sinks. The air down here was hotter and soon enough he was perspiring, though it felt good to exert himself.
After a short while he came to the data screen he needed to access. He wiped his palm against his chest, struggling not to stare up at the camera that was likely following his every move, and pressed it against the reader.
....And found that access wasn't granted. Astrid certainly was making his life difficult today.
"Alice?" Jason chirped cheerfully, though there was an undertone of annoyance.
"Yes?" A holographic image of Alice's face appeared on the screen before him.
"I need access to this data."
"Access is not authorized," she intoned unhelpfully.
"Yes, I see. Grant me access? It's not a secret why I'm here," he continued on impatiently.
"One moment please..."
Jason waited. It lasted for all of two seconds before he spoke up at the camera. "C'mon Astrid. Don't toy with me. I want to get in and get out... if you know what I mean." He couldn't help the last comment and grinned nervously up at the camera, knowing that this plaintiff tone wasn't sexy, but unable to do much more without her access.
When Alice returned, Jason smile more broadly, certain that he was going to be finished with this sooner rather than later. "Access is not authorized to the data streams. Recommend spectral amalgamation of data optically."
Jason's mouth dropped and he sputtered, "You- you've got to be kidding me. That'll take me-"
"Three hours, thirteen minutes, twenty-eight seconds, four mi-"
"No, Alice. I'm not going to read every gauge. Dial in Astrid. I'll speak to her direct," he curled his hands into fists, channeling his irritation into that rather than taking it out on the data service center where he was evidently not going to be granted access.
"The chief engineer is currently busy and cannot take your message. If you leave a message with me, I will notify her as soon as her schedule is-"
"No! No. You know... screw this."
"I am unable to comp-" Alice began.
"Just stop," Jason fumed, knowing that she was purposefully mistaking his colloquialism as something slightly more literal.
The hologram disappeared and Jason was left to his own rage. She couldn't be busy; she was likely watching him stew in his own sweat and anger right now. Sparing only one glancing glare at one of the cameras, he stormed back up into Astrid's office. Once there he hadn't a chance to even see if she was still at her desk; he was ushered out, rather forcefully, by several security lines.
Huffing, Jason straightened up just outside of the engineering office, glowering at the door. If looks could burn, the metal alloy would've been a puddle seeping its way rapidly to the skin of the ship. He'd half an impulsive thought to kick the door to make a point, but abruptly had another thought impede on that one. One, that it'd likely hurt his foot. Two, that he knew someone on the ship that he could console himself in. Twisting around, he took off for Skokie's domain.
Unlike Astrid's he found nothing barring his entrance into her area. However, even in entering, he wasn't quite certain which of her vast spaces she might be in. "Hello? Skoke-baby? You didn't become plant feed in my absence, have you?" He joked, already feeling his irritation ease off after his jog through the corridors to this side of the ship.
[OOC: This is a collaborative post between myself and our fearless gamer master, Jorj.]