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Metal pegs crunched the snow beneath V, the surface under constant battering to the harsh climate of Copper-9. While disassembly drones like herself were much more acclimated to dealing with the conditions the weather brought on this planet, she still preferred not being pelted by snow for hours on end, and the dark storm that brewed outside meant hunting would be even more fruitless this evening. If she didn't favour being out in these storms, there's no way the worker drones that infest the planet would either.
The crunching of her steps echoed as she took refuge within the corpse spire, the hollow expanse creaking against the winds that battered outside. She still hadn't switched out her hands, still remaining as her trademark claws, her preferred choice of weapon. While they could (And did) leave a mess of her targets, they got the job done. She idly made her way further into the tower, bringing up a claw to try and chip at the stray pieces of metal caught between her teeth, blades still stained with what little hunting she was able to get on with tonight.
"Ahem."
A throat being cleared some paces behind and above her stirred V out of her aimless wandering, and she lazily turned her head to locate the source, even if her additional eyes had already spotted who it was.
"J."
"V."
J fluttered down from her perch just above the entrance, taking no hesitation to casually stroll her way over to her associate.
"You've clocked out of your shift early." J raised a digital eyebrow, pace slowing as she reached just a few paces in front of V, arms crossed. V couldn't resist rolling her eyes; a habit.
"Have you seen what it's like out there? Any toasters dumb enough to be out in that would be frozen before I got to them."
J raised an arm to her chin, giving it a few thoughtful taps.
"I suppose so."
V's gaze flicked to the drone in front of her, mildly surprised. It was very unlike J to agree with V's excuses, and even more so to avoid her patented lectures about their mission.
As soon as V's gaze met J's, J seemed much more interested in focusing on some random spot in the corner of her eyesight.
"The conditions out there mean we wouldn't be getting a return investment on how much oil we're getting through just to navigate around and find any targets. Between that and the lack of supply for demand, its a surefire plan for lost profits."
V raised an eyebrow. "You don't mind?"
J returned her gaze to V; the arm propping her chin up moved to swat at the air.
"Nonsense! It was a skillful decision. You've met and surpassed target goals enough to not work overtime for one night."
V seemed taken aback by J's reply; though she dare not show her confusion. This all seemed...off. Wrong. J was clearly much less uptight than her usual self, words laced with less coolness than usual- maybe she'd gotten caught out in the storm herself and fried a few circuits.
After a few seconds of not receiving a reply from heer squadmate (Who had just sort of been staring at J), J clasped her hands together.
"Actually, I WAS hoping we could review your performance."
There it was.
V mentally prepared herself for the usual lectures that nagged her audial sensors, beginning to idly chew on one of her fingerblades.
"I was hoping we would be able to...collaborate on a hunt tomorrow night, V."
V's chewing stilled, eyes focusing on J, who promptly decided that absolutely anything else was of more interest to look at than V.
"What I mean is- considering the upheavals of our performance today- merging forces may benefit for making up for lost profits-"
When J hadn't hear a reply, her gaze fell back on V, horizontal blush lines dotting the edge of her visor.
"NOT that your performance isn't outstanding! I just meant that-"
As it clicked in her CPU, V let out a small snicker, a smirk settling on her face, J's proposal coming to a halt.
"Is this you trying to ask me out on a date, J?"
The blush lines doubled as J whipped her gaze to a random point in her vision.
"I was simply proposing a partnership we would mutually benefit from."
V couldn't help but roll her eyes again, though this time out of amusement, small dashed lines flicking on the cheeks of her visor.
"It sounds like a deal, then."
J's gaze fell back to V, and she seemed almost...surprised? After letting her CPU process V's reaction for a few seconds, she seemed unable to hide the smile that tugged at her mouth, though it quickly settled into a more masked, professional smile fitting of the drone. J reached a hand toward her companion, which was casually met with a familiar clawed hand. J attempted to shake hands with it in a way that wouldnt leave her hand in shreds.
"Deal?"
"Deal."
"And please do go and clean your claws, V."
V snickered, rolling her eyes as she turned to wander deeper into the depths of the spire.
Courtesy of her extra eyes, she didn't need to turn back around to know J was watching as she left, face plastered in a grin.