re_alignment | [Video]

[Thanks to Soundwave, Kay had returned back to her usual, bubbly self. The police force could take care of Overlord, she was sure of it. So it's better to try and UP those spirits instead of keeping everyone down. Just like Soundwave had done. And always wanting to make him proud, she started searching for any way to do so. And lo and behold, Gunmax's recent post just made Kay realize something important. Not that the police force was losing a member, oh no. But that Christmas was coming up!

And then she wondered...do robots celebrate Christmas? Maybe they were more fans of Hanukkah. She wasn't picky. Something festive was just the thing Cybertron needed. With lights of any kind. Lots of lights. And a party.]

Hey everyone!

[And there she is in Kagerou's nest, sitting with the notebook Trion's acolyte brought her, tapping her pen on her mouth.]

Christmas is coming up, isn't it? We should really do something. Something BIG! We could hang lights, make decorations...bake cookies...the works! But I'm wondering, do you guys even know what Christmas is? What do you robots celebrate? Do you guys have any holidays? Even the humans, because we're from different worlds, right?

So basically, for all you bots who might NOT be in the know, Christmas is a time of year where you get together and spend time with people you love! There's gift giving, decorations, lots of food, and snuggling up by warm fires and punching whoever takes your blanket! Oh and soup. Lots and lots of soup. Do you guys have any holidays that are like that? Because I'm thinking we could like...mesh them all together into one big party! I'll take notes on everything. I've already got a few Earth holidays that are around that time we could use...

So I'll provide the notebook, you provide me with the--

[She swings her arm]

--information!

So what do you think? It...it would be something Ms. Vandal could come home to.

[Okay, so maybe the Christmas thing wasn't the ONLY part she took from Gunmax's broadcast.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The way he spoke was completely different than his usual deadpan speaking...or the warm tone he took when he smiled. This was...

This was fear.]

Kagerou...

[She just stomps her foot in aggravation, sinking down to her knees.]

I just want to be strong and brave like you!

[If he could hold her tightly without crushing her horribly, he would. Instead, he just curls his fingers up close to her.]

Please. Stay here. Don't go near him --

If anything happened to you...

[He can't finish that thought.]

[Too many people close to him have been hurt recently. And one of them, he was the one responsible for it.]

[It takes a lot to keep from crying, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. It wasn't fair...everyone could help Vandal but her.]

But I can't do anything here!...

[She leans against that hand, pressing her face into it.]

[He's sunk down to his knees by that point, holding her, and... partially resenting the fact he can't put his arms around her.]

Yes, you can.

You can... give her something worth coming back to. Something to show her life isn't always ugly.

[Because for all the crap he's been through, there are some precious, precious memories. When life was worth living. He ducks his head a little.]

I told her I would try to help her remember that. Would... you help me do it?

[Her breath is resorted to hiccups as she holds onto one of his fingers, looking away.]

O-Okay.

[She wanted to protect like he did...like her father did.

But somethings just...are beyond reach.]

I can do that...

[The sounds she's making... if he believed he had a heart, they would make it twist.]

[He holds her nearer to his chest again. It's not a hug, but it's as close as he can physically get.]

When we find her... I'll tell her everything you did.

Everything. I promise.

[No, the chest isn't good enough. Once he brings her close to it, she leaps onto that emblem, scrambling up to his neck and curling up in that mesh around it. Her hands dig into it, clinging on it for dear life as she nods.]

Okay.

Make sure you come back...

[... she can probably hear all kinds of mechanical noises up there. Like sitting next to an oversized computer tower. And he has to tilt his head to one side, so as not to pin her under the edge of his helmet...]

[But doesn't stop her. Just lifts his hand to curl it around her back.]

I will.

I will. I have to... for your holiday. Right?

[There's something to be said about constant whirrings of fans and mechanical noises. They provide a sort of constant sound that's easy to fall asleep to. And it's no different with Kagerou. She snuggles into that mesh even more, making a little makeshift nest herself.

Her eyes start to get slightly heavy, drooping and opening again until they shut completely, but still slightly awake.]

That's right...

Cause I love you. And I want you to be there.

[Is she falling asleep? The tone of her voice, the way she's shifting... that makes it seem like it. How is he supposed to just... leave... if she's curled up on his neck like this?]

[He's sure to hold very still though, hand hovering protectively around her.]

I...

[He doesn't know what to say. How to say it. They keep telling him it's all right. You can care for more than one person. And ... he does care for her. There's absolutely no denying that.]

[Even so, when he speaks again, it's soft, reserved. Just like always.]

... feel the same.

I'll be there. For you.

[She's definitely drifting off, but not before a smile comes across her face, her speech now slurred. Don't worry Kagerou, once she's out you can just plop her on that beanbag chair. It's all good.]

We'll dance...

At the party...

[He'll do that. Gently. Once he's sure she's asleep. But for now, he'll sit perfectly still with her.]

[He can be patient.]

If you want to, then yes, we will.

[Her voice gets softer, obviously satisfied with the answers, so she doesn't have to fight it.]

And Ms. Vandal will too...

And no...

nothing...bad...

[And she's out.]

[He stays a while longer, though, as if to make sure she's really asleep.]

[Very gently, he eases her off his neck, and sets her back down. But he tugs one of the other beanbags onto her, like a blanket.]

[There. That should do, until he can come back.]

[Video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject