re_alignment | video || trion's temple

The Firstforged claim they're some kind of gods. What an exaggeration that is.

[Thank you, Kagerou. And don't you sound bitter today. Granted, he's been bitter about all this since Perceptor vanished... but recently, everything has sort of come to a head. He can't keep it down anymore.]

They want us to build. They want us to run their world, and behave like peaceable little children.

And what do we get in return?

Murdered. Lied to. Misdirected. Our work ruined. Criminals running amok. Empty promises.

[As he says the last words, his fingers clench around his arm, around the Glyph.]

They want us to trust them -- but these Firstforged are nothing like they say they are. They tell us they can't control who leaves and who stays, but, then they turn around and tell us we're safe with their markings! They don't care one bit, what happens to us! If they did...

[If they did, I would be able to do what I was promised I could...]

[His hand lifts, revealing the very elaborate, intricate Glyph -- his status is showing, and boy does he look unhappy about it.]

If their reward for our service is loss and death, I would rather not have their mark at all!

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[He doesn't so much as look up, until PJ is right there, crouched in front of him. Even then, he just blinks, looking dully down at the floor.]

Yes.

... I tried to find them, you know. Even Gunmax.

We all looked, Kagerou.

[He tries to tilt his head down more, to match Kagerou's gaze. His voice has an edge to it...like he's trying not to sound agitated, or even upset. It's...barely working.]

It's not your fault, okay? You got that?

I... know that.

[Both of them are having a hard time hiding their feelings right now. Kagerou isn't even trying to keep things under wraps.]

I know you looked. But... I was supposed to be able to do more.

He lied to you, okay? That's all that happened!

The FirstForged lied to you and we were all stupid enough to believe in it!

[He tries to calm himself, burrowing his head down so he can't look at Kagerou.]

And now they're gone. And there's nothing we can do about it.

If he lied to me, then it was for nothing! I've... I'm as good as trapped here, and it's for nothing!

[Power Joe might be trying to calm down, but the bird just seems to get more riled up.]

I'll never see him again, I can't keep my promise to Kay, I can't -- it was supposed to matter!

[I was supposed to matter...]

... there has to be something. There just has to be.

Kagerou!

[His hands go to the bot's shoulders, shaking him to jolt him back to reality. Down to Earth.]

We'll find a way out, with or without their help! And we'll keep all your promises. We'll find Gunmax, and you can stay close to your kid.

We'll do all of that on our own.

[He bristles, at first -- how dare he be touched, he didn't ask for that.]

[And, then, you can almost see the words start to register. He seems to deflate a little, staring at PJ.]

[He lowers his head.]

"We". [A very flat, almost bitter little noise.] Hm. You really did mean it...

[He looks up.]

As a ... team?

[He gives Kagerou a little punch to the cheek, not really having an impact, but to just brush against it.]

Of course I meant it, idiot!

[And now that Gunmax is gone, he wants to hold on to anyone from his world he can.]

As a team.

[He tilts his head away, at the "punch", not used to things like that. He's not Drill Boy, PJ.]

[His expression is nothing short of stunned. But he bows his head forward again, reaching out to grip one of PJ's shoulders with his hand.]

... I'm going to hold you to this. Do you understand?

[PJ looks at the hand on his shoulder for a moment, feeling rather awkward about this.

If only because he's not used to this. It's new.]

You got it. I never leave my team hanging.

[He nods again. Slowly. And yet, he doesn't uncurl from his corner. Nor does he let go of PJ's shoulder.]

[It's grounding, someone being here. He just never thought it would be one of the Brave Police offering comfort.]

... then. Will you stay?

Here. Just for a little while longer.

[He's shocked by that request, especially from Kagerou.]

Uh...sure.

If you...want.

[He leans back, next to Kagerou, although a bit awkwardly.]

[He just doesn't want to be alone right now, that's all.]

[PJ, you're the best he's got.]

... there's a tarp if you want to get comfortable.

["Thank you", in other words.]

I'll be fine.

[Because he's going to go about this the manly way. Because in a way...PJ needed Kagerou right now too. He just was better at hiding it.]

Just...power down, okay? You're not doing anything by overrunning your systems.

[That earns PJ another stare. But he nods, slowly, and huddles back against the wall again.]

[If someone is going to stay... maybe it's all right to shut down.]

... Just for a while. A little while.

video || trion's temple

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