re_alignment | AUDIO;

Entry tags:

brave police: j-decker | gunmax

AUDIO;

Oh, how it seemed so quickly that Christmas came and went. A darn shame, too! But, I can't complain. We had a White Christmas after all. How nice.

But look at where we are now! New Year's Eve is here already. Or at least that means something to us Earth folk; I have no idea how long a Cybertronian year is for you Autobots and Decepticons and whatever else. More importantly! New Year's! Celebration time.

This means fireworks again. I need 'em. Whoever has any, lemme know.

Later, baby!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Such as what you need to give.

[That said, he flicks something in the biker's direction. It's obviously hand-made. With paint instead of embroidery, and painted on a piece of metal.]

Here.

["Protection"]

Mm?

[Fortunately, he's able to catch it. Gunmax looks a bit surprised that he received anything from Kagerou, honestly.

They're... doing better, but they still bicker sometimes.]

Well well. This is a surprise.

[He shrugs slightly, his wings flicking and folding behind his back.]

It's only a charm. Not even a real one.

[Real ones are made by human beings. At shrines and stuff.]

I'm still in your debt. It may mean nothing, here. But... maybe it will do some good.

Doesn't matter. You made it, so it's sort of... important. Got it?

Listen to yourself...

You, saying something I made was important. It must be the New Years miracle.

Psh. Let me just put it this way.

Not a lot of people give me anything. Ever. I wasn't expecting it from you and it's... nice to have something to remember you by.

I wasn't expecting to feel indebted to you. You're... still very irritating. I still don't understand you.

But you are kind. In your way.

... Offering some protection for what you care for... if anyone here would appreciate something like that. I think it would be yourself.

I don't like being understood, I guess. Too bad Deckerd and McCrane are so good at it.

[Kind in his way. Not something he expected to hear.]

You think? Heh. Well. It's our nature.

Why not?

[It's not something he expected to say either.]

Our... nature? You and I? Or... all of us?

I like surprising people. Too much fun.

All of us. The Brave Police line. That includes you too.

Doesn't it make it more difficult to find friends?

Includes me. [He shakes his head slightly.] There are times I wonder if that's true.

I really don't feel like having too many. A close few will do.

What makes you disagree? Toudou designed you. Built you, if I remember right. And we can't really reject each other.

Edited 2013-01-03 01:18 (UTC)

If that's what you wish... you don't have to keep speaking with me.

[He shrugs.]

All of you. You all were given your places when you came online. Given each other. Allowed to live as you saw fit.

I never was. I was never even told the names of those who built me, never allowed to leave the facility, to... be what I wanted. If that doesn't set me apart from the rest of you... I don't know how else to explain it.

You seem to be getting the wrong impression here, Kagerou. Someone's lacking self esteem.

[He scoffs at that.] Allowed to live as I saw fit? You really don't know anything.

We all had hard ships when we were made, you know. All of us. You had yours, so did Shadowmaru. Even Duke had it hard. I'd say all of our hardships make us more alike than you're thinking of. Yes, I get it, you had it so hard. You were a special prototype and they didn't expect much out of you. They didn't expect much out of any of us.

But that's why you make something of yourself, and you have. That makes you more like the rest of us than your bird brain could imagine.

Self esteem. I think that's a myth.

[He just looks confused.]

Why would you...? You're all... [Alive, he wants to say. More alive than he is.] He did? How -- he wasn't supposed to have...

[He looks away.]

How could they not expect much of someone like him? Someone... like you?

[Congratulations, it's a compliment.]

And you think I've made something of myself?

I don't think so, because some people have it. Though some might call it an ego.

[Like Gunmax. D'oh ho ho.]

Because in the eyes of most humans on Earth, we're just robots. Expendable. Boss, Commissioner Saejima, and... Chief. [It hurts to bring him up, but he will.] They see or saw us as alive.

I think you're probably more alive now than you ever were, Kagerou. How many friends do you have now that you care about?

I know I don't have one of those.

[His mouth slipped. Shut up.]

They see you as alive. Then... why did they want to erase me? I can only think it means you have something I don't.

I... many more than I thought I ever would. And... Kay.

I could tell.

Boss never wanted that of you, far as I know. Commissioner and Chief? Didn't always see us as alive. Saw you as a tool at the time, I'm guessing. But I have a lot of things you don't -- not something that makes you any less alive than me.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

... "At the time". Are you trying to imply something changed?

You have confidence. That self-esteem. To me... I think it seems as if you are more alive. But -- as you say. I don't know anything.

You think having Kay makes me something more than I was?

Things are always changing, Kagebird. Something did for them. Dunno when, maybe it was sometime after working with us for so long.

Eh, just a difference in personality, I think. I guess you could say I was "raised" this way.

I think it does. Even though I try, we can't live alone. We just can't.

... Then that's good. It's better that way -- those who created and command you, command him, they know to treat you well. All of you.

Raised?

Is that why you came back here? Even though you told me you'd quit?

Too bad they aren't here, or they're dead. Life sure is a blast.

Grew. I developed that way. I wasn't built this way, you know. I jut kinda grew into who I am now.

...Yeah, pretty much. McCrane made me promise to come back when I was ready. I'm not ready now, but I know I can't live alone, try as I might.

I'm sorry. I... doubt it's what you want to hear. But I feel I have to say it. Say something, regardless.

You... changed? From what you were originally?

Mm. [And he looks away again.] If it's worth anything to you... I would rather you were here. Than elsewhere.

And no. I don't know why.

...Well. Whatever. [He doesn't sound annoyed. It's just an exhausting topic.]

Sure. I changed a lot.

Yeah? Even if I annoy you?

[He'll let it go, then. They're doing all right so far... no sense agitating things.]

... So did he.

Don't ask me to explain it. Maybe I've... gotten used to the irritation. Maybe it's become part of my life.

My memories.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

AUDIO;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;

ACTION;