Chapter 5: Entry Log Ten - 00:23:06

"... Zavala threw a fit today, said I was 'misusing the intercom system'. What can I say? I panicked when my sparrow wasn't in its normal place. Either way I did find it again so…" He trails off and the camera pans forward showing that Cayde is outside. They're in the back of the tower where Iron Banner's colors reign, with the massive flaming medallion throwing its shadow on the ground. He appears to be talking with someone through the Ghost system coms as a chuckle rings through the speakers, loud because of how close it is.

"You are such a moron," the male voice claims and Cayde scowls half heartedly at the feed, huffing.

"You should show some respect to your boss you know Shiro," he comments flatly, well aware that the scout is normally polite to everyone - except him sometimes. Shiro huffed a laugh.

"You know I respect you, but I also think it's best that someone tell you the truth once in a while. Tevis certainly would," he points out and Cayde grumbles lowly in agreement, about to go on in someway or another before pausing, not just in speech, but movement as well. Near the back, by the rails the camera spies Skylar perched upon the highest rung, legs dangling as she watches the ships as they glide by, either leaving or entering the dock.

"Man her hair is bright. Good thing we wear helmets," Cayde's voice grumbles off hand, still seeming to be surprised by the color despite the weeks that have passed.

"What?" Shiro asks, confused, for he is elsewhere in the universe. Cayde eyes the screen before sighing and shaking his head.

"Nothing, just someone you should meet next time both of you are around. Anyway, I've got to go. Be sure to check in next time so I don't have to track you down." Annoyance rings clear in his vocals at that and a nervous laugh sounds through the coms.

"Right. Sorry about that. I'll catch you later Cayde," he finishes, not saying anything about the mysterious person he's surely curious about. Maybe Cayde's scolding more of a concern and the vanguard leader rolls his eyes and gestures to Sundance to cut the call, which she does with a small click of static on the feed. Then the camera is moving after that, following Cayde as he walks closer to the young woman. She looks over her shoulder as he nears her, and raises an eyebrow as her blue Ghost hovers on one shoulder, the light of the sun making the shell shimmer in waves of sky blue to royal.

"Cayde?" she questions, not his name but his appearance done by way of inflection.

"Hey there, hunter." The edge of the Exo's cloak is seen, the red blocky colors on it, as he turns to lean on the railing next to her, elbows resting on the top rung. The camera pans again, showing them both as his Ghost floats higher. "What are you up to?"

"You seem tired," Skylar mutters, deflecting his comment for a moment and turns back to look at the ship cutting close to them and below them, circling around the tower. Indeed the Exo's normally chipper voice is edged in fatigue from a very long shift, the lights on his body slightly dimmer. Attention to detail, something hunters are often prone to. The Exo doesn't seem to know how to quite respond to that, but she doesn't really wait for an answer either, moving to go back to his own question. "I'm just watching the ships…"

"Yeah, I can see that." Cayde looks over his shoulder to look where she is, her eyes following a stray bird. Not a falcon like the bird nest she'd first woken up to, but just some random city bird, fluttering its wings windly to stay upon the wind. "You do it a lot, why?" His only answer right away is a lift of her shoulders, her cloak shifting and blowing to the side with the wind. The robotic hum is paired with the brightening glow from beneath the metal, seeping through the seams as he waits. She takes her time with replying, thoughtful as always.

"I like the idea of flying," she finally says, a hand pointing out at the sky. "Ever since I first opened my eyes and saw that falcon soaring over me. It seems... freeing, as if anything is possible if one can fly." Her explanation is short and Cayde raises a brow his head turning back around, looking at something behind the camera.

"Sounds like you might have been put under the wrong class. Warlocks are the ones more prone to that." His tone is teasing but there is an underlying truth to his words. Skylar turns, shifting her hip to look at him with a frown, a hand gripping the railing to steady herself.

"No, I'm not in the wrong class, I said I wanted to fly, not floof about like they do," she grumbles with a smirk, repeating one of his oh so common teases to Ikora. Cayde whips his head to her, his eyes widening, and maybe it's not from her words at all, for they aren't that much to gleam about. Maybe it's her tone, so at home with where she is and the playfulness of it keeping it from being rigid. For a long moment they stare at each other, the human becoming more bewildered by the moment as artificial blue clash against solar colored irises. Then, quietly, Cayde hums again and speaks.

"You know what, how would you like some real training Hunter?" It's seemingly out of nowhere, the offer, and anyone who knew Cayde probably knows it's a spur of the moment decision, yet, something about the firmness in his words deflects that. The huntress blinks twice, surprise breaking out over her face as she ponders his words.

"Will you call me by my name?" she bargains with a sudden smirk and Cayde laughs slightly, shaking his head. True enough, he'd barely used it and he should seeing as it's her real name, not something thought up. A gift not to be squandered.

"Sure thing Skylar," he relents and holds out a hand. "Never had a rookie to myself before, this should be fun. Don't worry I'm an awesome teacher." It's another side admission that neither of them really comment on, the fact that he sees something in her worth breaking that trend.

"You're contradicting yourself," Sterling, Skylar's Ghost speaks up from its spot by her shoulder, the parts spinning and color changing with the motion. The female hunter laughs slightly snatching her partner away and grasping Cayde's forearm without a second thought.

"Why not, I could use some pointers."


N/A: I have to admit, that line over the intercom in the Tower makes me smile every time.