‣ yoRHa type a no.2 | a2. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
abandonware) wrote2018-07-07 11:21 am
abandonware) wrote2018-07-07 11:21 am
Entry tags:
i n [B] o x . // acata.
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art 西
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text | audio | video
art 西
[ recognizing her isn't particularly difficult. finding her is another matter entirely.
it's a notably quiet hour. his blade is on him, as per usual, but the way his shoulders lower seems to indicate that he's far from a threat right now. ]
A2.
[ it is subdued and small, but a smile no less. ]
I'm glad that you're safe. This city — have you been able to adjust?
it's a notably quiet hour. his blade is on him, as per usual, but the way his shoulders lower seems to indicate that he's far from a threat right now. ]
A2.
[ it is subdued and small, but a smile no less. ]
I'm glad that you're safe. This city — have you been able to adjust?
[There is something A2 will admit to no one, not these strangers, not Pod, not even to herself: she is overwhelmed. It's too much at once to adjust to, life again where there had been nothing but death, and these creatures that call themselves androids but exist on the same wavelength, a network, like deplorable machines.
And 9S...A2 has been asking, periodically, for updates on his location from Pod. She does not fear death, and has not for some time, but she is aware of the delicate situation that this is. This world was a smaller place than Earth. Easier to have run-ins when run-ins should be avoided.
A2 has been avoiding the groups, the other "Circle" members, and the weird androids. She didn't like them, doesn't trust them. So how Nier finds her is a mystery to her.
There's nowhere convenient to escape to, no high wall to vault or ledge to jump over, so she instead creates a wall that is more implied than visible: her shoulders straighten, her eyes narrow. Her gaze flicks briefly to the sword on his back, expression coolly assessing. Preparing for a fight even when there was none to be found.]
You again. [A million potentially rude statements flit through her head, but perhaps it is some lingering sense of deference that keeps her from saying these things. She settles with a gruff:] I'm fine. Why do you care?
And 9S...A2 has been asking, periodically, for updates on his location from Pod. She does not fear death, and has not for some time, but she is aware of the delicate situation that this is. This world was a smaller place than Earth. Easier to have run-ins when run-ins should be avoided.
A2 has been avoiding the groups, the other "Circle" members, and the weird androids. She didn't like them, doesn't trust them. So how Nier finds her is a mystery to her.
There's nowhere convenient to escape to, no high wall to vault or ledge to jump over, so she instead creates a wall that is more implied than visible: her shoulders straighten, her eyes narrow. Her gaze flicks briefly to the sword on his back, expression coolly assessing. Preparing for a fight even when there was none to be found.]
You again. [A million potentially rude statements flit through her head, but perhaps it is some lingering sense of deference that keeps her from saying these things. She settles with a gruff:] I'm fine. Why do you care?
[ you can find anything if you look hard enough, he's learned.
her abrasion doesn't at all faze him. he folds his arms, head canted. ] Because I can.
You seemed worried that you would have to fight someone or something...so I'm glad to see that you're alright.
[ there's a beat. ]
Are you afraid? Is that why you're here...? I told you I'd protect you if you were in danger.
her abrasion doesn't at all faze him. he folds his arms, head canted. ] Because I can.
You seemed worried that you would have to fight someone or something...so I'm glad to see that you're alright.
[ there's a beat. ]
Are you afraid? Is that why you're here...? I told you I'd protect you if you were in danger.
And I told you, I don't need your protection. I'm not afraid of anything. [She bristles just at the implication, even though he's right. This entire place is so far removed from her day to day life, if it could even be called that, that she doesn't know what to feel but frightened.]
Don't you have someone else to piss off somewhere?
Don't you have someone else to piss off somewhere?
[ her response earns her nothing but a shrug. ]
Maybe. I'm talking to you because I want to.
[ and then there's a cant of the head. ]
Do you need help adjusting? We could do a sweep of the city together. I'm still trying to figure it out myself...I've never seen technology this advanced before.
[ and then a beat. ]
It's a little like how they described the Old World...
Maybe. I'm talking to you because I want to.
[ and then there's a cant of the head. ]
Do you need help adjusting? We could do a sweep of the city together. I'm still trying to figure it out myself...I've never seen technology this advanced before.
[ and then a beat. ]
It's a little like how they described the Old World...
[woman with math gif]
...
[What? Are all humans this bizarre? She has no frame of reference on which to understand this inexplicable behavior. It was even unlike that machine, Pascal, who was not dangerous but who maintained some level of caution around her, and rightly so.
She's about to say no, again, but:]
Observation: Unit A2 is unfamiliar with this environment.
[Ah, that's Pod. A2 rounds on it right away, furious, but Pod continues, an unmoving stone amidst a sea of her misdirected rage, as always.]
Hypothesis: More intel will be gathered if she is accompanied.
You too? Goddammit — go follow him if you want "intel!"
Negative. This Pod is assigned to Unit A2.
...
[What? Are all humans this bizarre? She has no frame of reference on which to understand this inexplicable behavior. It was even unlike that machine, Pascal, who was not dangerous but who maintained some level of caution around her, and rightly so.
She's about to say no, again, but:]
Observation: Unit A2 is unfamiliar with this environment.
[Ah, that's Pod. A2 rounds on it right away, furious, but Pod continues, an unmoving stone amidst a sea of her misdirected rage, as always.]
Hypothesis: More intel will be gathered if she is accompanied.
You too? Goddammit — go follow him if you want "intel!"
Negative. This Pod is assigned to Unit A2.
[ oh. it's mister pod.
nier raises a brow, eyes trained on the pod...and then back towards A2. ]
If you'd like, I'll leave you alone after we finish.
[ and then a beat. ]
But it might help us both. I can tell that you're a skilled fighter.
[ subtly, he smiles. ]
And I want to learn more about you, too.
nier raises a brow, eyes trained on the pod...and then back towards A2. ]
If you'd like, I'll leave you alone after we finish.
[ and then a beat. ]
But it might help us both. I can tell that you're a skilled fighter.
[ subtly, he smiles. ]
And I want to learn more about you, too.
[She keeps her expression irritated and vaguely distant, so as not to give off how absolutely thrown off she is by this behavior.
Eventually, after an overlong and tense pause, she concedes.]
Fine. Whatever.
[She stalks off, as if she knows where she's going (she doesn't), with Pod floating close behind.]
Don't fall behind.
Eventually, after an overlong and tense pause, she concedes.]
Fine. Whatever.
[She stalks off, as if she knows where she's going (she doesn't), with Pod floating close behind.]
Don't fall behind.
[ there is something terribly familiar to this woman's words — in how she speaks to him.
softly, he smiles. ]
I wonder where we're headed...
[ a thoughtful pause. ]
Does the technology of this city not faze you?
softly, he smiles. ]
I wonder where we're headed...
[ a thoughtful pause. ]
Does the technology of this city not faze you?
[A2 is not especially forthcoming, but she isn't dishonest either, and so there is a moment where she debates her answer to Nier's question. Admitting her unease was way, way out of her comfort zone, but maybe she could end up with an answer somewhere in the middle.
Eventually, she speaks up.] I don't trust them.
[Which is as close as she's going to get to admitting she's fazed.]
Eventually, she speaks up.] I don't trust them.
[Which is as close as she's going to get to admitting she's fazed.]
[ nier leans his head back.
there's something of a silence. a light leaves his eyes, a weariness taking its place. ]
I don't either.
[ it's funny — he's realized there are so few things worth trusting in this universe... ]
If they turn against us, I won't hesitate to cut them down.
there's something of a silence. a light leaves his eyes, a weariness taking its place. ]
I don't either.
[ it's funny — he's realized there are so few things worth trusting in this universe... ]
If they turn against us, I won't hesitate to cut them down.
[A2 looks over her shoulder, taken off guard again. For a moment Nier gets an expression from her that isn't quietly bewildered or deeply annoyed: she looks taken aback. A2 was born in violence. It is all she knows, the only language she knows how to speak. But maybe she had thought, once upon a time, that humans were —
It's a stupid thought. Pointless. Her expression closes as tight as storm shutters again: she turns her gaze away.]
...
[Her pace slows. She crosses her arms.]
If you want to go so much, you lead. I don't know where the hell we're supposed to be going.
It's a stupid thought. Pointless. Her expression closes as tight as storm shutters again: she turns her gaze away.]
...
[Her pace slows. She crosses her arms.]
If you want to go so much, you lead. I don't know where the hell we're supposed to be going.
[ he follows orders well enough — she asks him to lead, so he leaps forward to position himself a few steps ahead of her and continues onward.
jrpg mechanics.
the expression she wore moments ago lingers in his mind. not that it's uncharacteristic, he doesn't know her after all; and if she's truly anything like kainé, she's more moral than he is, he can assume that much.
so he speaks his mind. ]
It seems like you didn't like what I said.
Do you fight because you want to, or because you have to?
[ nier doesn't look at her, doesn't think to even turn the slightest bit as he asks that. ]
If you don't want to fight them when the time comes, I can do it for you.
jrpg mechanics.
the expression she wore moments ago lingers in his mind. not that it's uncharacteristic, he doesn't know her after all; and if she's truly anything like kainé, she's more moral than he is, he can assume that much.
so he speaks his mind. ]
It seems like you didn't like what I said.
Do you fight because you want to, or because you have to?
[ nier doesn't look at her, doesn't think to even turn the slightest bit as he asks that. ]
If you don't want to fight them when the time comes, I can do it for you.
[She focuses her stare — intense and hard — at the back of his neck. Silence, for a little while. Then, finally, she speaks up, sharp and vicious.]
Stop asking stupid questions.
[When you were created to do something terrible, your wants were irrelevant. Painful to think about, and so forgotten. Lost somewhere, thrown away. A2 does not have the words to express this. She doesn't have the insight to say, I thought humans would be better than what I am, and so she lashes out, instead.]
Stop asking stupid questions.
[When you were created to do something terrible, your wants were irrelevant. Painful to think about, and so forgotten. Lost somewhere, thrown away. A2 does not have the words to express this. She doesn't have the insight to say, I thought humans would be better than what I am, and so she lashes out, instead.]
[ there's a heavy silence. it lingers — his posture stiffens. something in him freezes over, frigid and icy, telling of his true nature. if only he knew what she was thinking, so he could tell her that it wasn't all humans.
he broke long ago, is all.
for all of his idiocy, however, he registers upset...and the many, colorful ways in which it manifests when he hears it. ]
I'm sorry. [ he turns around to look at her as he says that, features hard. ] I shouldn't have said that.
[ ... ]
You remind me of someone I care for deeply.
[ there is nothing to lose — he isn't dead. he is nonexistent. his life is the void it was always destined to be.
so he tells her the truth. ]
The person I died for...she has a good heart.
I think that just like her...you do too. That's what I feel. That's why I want to help you.
he broke long ago, is all.
for all of his idiocy, however, he registers upset...and the many, colorful ways in which it manifests when he hears it. ]
I'm sorry. [ he turns around to look at her as he says that, features hard. ] I shouldn't have said that.
[ ... ]
You remind me of someone I care for deeply.
[ there is nothing to lose — he isn't dead. he is nonexistent. his life is the void it was always destined to be.
so he tells her the truth. ]
The person I died for...she has a good heart.
I think that just like her...you do too. That's what I feel. That's why I want to help you.
Edited 2018-07-26 04:03 (UTC)
[She doesn't want to hear this. She hates to hear this.
It hurts to listen to. It brings back a memory, one in awful, high definition, so bright and clear that she thinks it must be burned into her eyelids for her to recall it so well, like it was yesterday.
Number Four.
A2's eyes shutter closed. Her fists clench at her side; her jaw goes tight. She relaxes with great effort, waiting for the memory to billow out of her like smoke. When she speaks her voice is stripped of anything resembling emotion. Cold.]
...I'm not your friend. You aren't mine. [...The desire to both put a hand between his shoulder blades and shove him forward, and the revulsion at the idea of causing a human harm, are fighting one another in her head. She settles with inaction.] So just walk. This is a waste of time.
It hurts to listen to. It brings back a memory, one in awful, high definition, so bright and clear that she thinks it must be burned into her eyelids for her to recall it so well, like it was yesterday.
Number Four.
A2's eyes shutter closed. Her fists clench at her side; her jaw goes tight. She relaxes with great effort, waiting for the memory to billow out of her like smoke. When she speaks her voice is stripped of anything resembling emotion. Cold.]
...I'm not your friend. You aren't mine. [...The desire to both put a hand between his shoulder blades and shove him forward, and the revulsion at the idea of causing a human harm, are fighting one another in her head. She settles with inaction.] So just walk. This is a waste of time.
[when everything is said and done, when the storm is gone and the BGs are gathering up injured Circle members and passing out equipment for Group 3 to use in restoring the shut down natives of Struxta. . .]
[A2 gets a message]
Nice day for a walk outside, isn't it? Now that the apocalypse by lighting isn't looming ahead of us.
[A2 gets a message]
Nice day for a walk outside, isn't it? Now that the apocalypse by lighting isn't looming ahead of us.
[She's been in a fight, been nearly struck by lightning, and has had to outrun a storm. Human exhaustion is a new feeling, but it's here now, weighing her down, and she's currently waving off Pod's pestering for her to shut down for maintenance when her weird... bracelet vibrates. Okay. She looks down at it, puzzled. 9S' human friend, the one with the weird "food."]
You're that human. [Hadn't she told him to stay away from her? Why didn't humans listen to anything?] Why would I go on a walk?
You're that human. [Hadn't she told him to stay away from her? Why didn't humans listen to anything?] Why would I go on a walk?
[humans never listen to anything. especially not this one]
To clear your head. It usually helps me.
[granted, he doesn't know if she's feeling as exhausted as he is, but. . . it doesn't hurt to throw it out there. besides, if she goes for a walk, maybe he can meet up with her? and then they could talk in person]
To clear your head. It usually helps me.
[granted, he doesn't know if she's feeling as exhausted as he is, but. . . it doesn't hurt to throw it out there. besides, if she goes for a walk, maybe he can meet up with her? and then they could talk in person]
[A2 doesn't understand conversations: a novel, a history.]
So you go on one.
[How long will it take her to realize that this is an invitation? Time will tell.]
So you go on one.
[How long will it take her to realize that this is an invitation? Time will tell.]
[. . . .]
[okay. well. time to be blunt]
Sure. Want to come with me?
[okay. well. time to be blunt]
Sure. Want to come with me?
[She stares at the message for a while, frowning. In her limited experience, whenever she told a human to leave her alone, they found her anyway, somehow, and refused to leave her alone. She can already hear Pod, even though it gratefully has stayed quiet this time, advising her to build a positive relationship.
...]
Fine.
...]
Fine.
[victory!!]
Cool. Meet me near the first aid tent in ten minutes?
[why is he aggressively trying to friendship A2?? 100% because she told him not to, to be honest]
Cool. Meet me near the first aid tent in ten minutes?
[why is he aggressively trying to friendship A2?? 100% because she told him not to, to be honest]
[There's no response to that, because A2 is a jerk and knows...what he's up to. Humans.
...But ten minutes later or so, she does arrive by the tent, Pod following behind her, as always.]
...But ten minutes later or so, she does arrive by the tent, Pod following behind her, as always.]
[HUMANS!!]
[Akira is waiting for her when she arrives, wrapped in a couple of bandages but otherwise looking happy and healthy and whole! one hand rests in his pocket, while he lifts the other to wave at her. android friend! or soon-to-be friend, if he has it his way]
Do you take that thing with you wherever you go?
[Akira is waiting for her when she arrives, wrapped in a couple of bandages but otherwise looking happy and healthy and whole! one hand rests in his pocket, while he lifts the other to wave at her. android friend! or soon-to-be friend, if he has it his way]
Do you take that thing with you wherever you go?
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