#eiffel wanting to show physical affection to someone who doesn't have a physical body just. lives in my head

[commsroom]

two things about doug eiffel: 1) he's a very physical person; he's always moving and needs to keep his hands occupied, and that extends to physical affection, something he's largely denied on the hephaestus; 2) he is an absolute space heater of a man.

which is to say, if hera had a body, i would hope for her sake that it'd be more biological than mechanical, because that guy is going to cause something to overheat.

... but, also. because, the way eiffel interacts with hera, he's always attempting to establish some physical connection - i think he makes eye contact with her cameras, touches the walls, etc. and he knows she's "always there" but he still doesn't really get it. he keeps asking. i think the same thing applies to her presence in the station - he never fully gets that she's always everywhere. sometimes when he gets up to leave a room, he'll ask her to go with him - just force of habit.

and sometimes, when he can't sleep properly - which is often; he's a restless sleeper, overcaffeinated, and his thoughts keep him awake - he'll curl up next to hera's servers. and it's hot in there - and he's already a sweaty guy - or it's too cold, if the AC is actually working properly - and it's loud, but it's enough to quiet his thoughts. and at first hera reminds him that she's equally there in his quarters (which would be set up enough for a suggestive retort, if he were any less tired), but he looks so tired, and it seems to help. and she's not sure why, but it does kind of make her feel closer to him, too.