[video] [Locked to Brave Police and Kagerou]

[sword_redemption]

[Drift can't imagine the mechs he saw give their all to help fight the sharkticons as dangerous or threatening. They were good mechs, sparks in the right place, brave and honorable. Gunmax had nearly died, fighting to protect a world that wasn't even his. ]

[But at the same time, he doesn't disbelieve Kagerou. He can recognize that tone of borderline fear and desperation. And if what Kagerou is saying is true...?]

[This is all a mistake. A misunderstanding. It needs to be straightened out one way or the other. If he needs to protect Kagerou, he will.]

[He pings the Brave Police, then Kagerou. The new arrival can listen in, even if he doesn't say anything, so he can hear for himself.]

Brave Police.  There's something I need to talk to you about.

[Ouch. Rough start. He sighs, thinks, starts again.]

Whatever was on your world, your Japan, it's not here. Old grudges, old missions. They don't apply here.

[He frowns.]  You're honorable mechs; can I have your word on that? 

[There's clearly something behind why he's asking.]

Comments

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

I gave my word. I want you to trust me, Kagerou. Give me a chance. Give yourself a chance.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

[He's really only trusted one other living being in his entire life. Then again... there really wasn't anyone else to trust.]

I'm making the attempt. It... isn't all that simple.

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

I know. It's not simple. Nothing about life ever is.

[He thinks about Wing and how hard it was to trust him, trust himself.]

But that's what makes it worth it.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

It was simple.

[When it was just the two of them. Alone. And the world could catch fire and they'd never...]

[He sighs.]

I miss... simplicity. But I like... I like living.

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

I know. Even in the gutters, things were simpler. Survive. That's all we cared about.

But trust me.

It's worth it.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

... Look after one another. Train him. Make... certain he was something worth living for. That was all we cared about.

All right.

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

_{You're very kind, to have done that.} [Kinder than Drift had been. To focus every day entirely on the other mech, his worth, his happiness...? Even now, he didn't think he could do it.]

I hope he appreciated what you gave him.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

I don't know if it's like that. [A long hesitation. Does he even want to say this?] We... were all each other had. I couldn't abandon him. Wouldn't.

[He was his reason for existing, after all.]

I would like to think he did. He let me go, in the end, when no one else would.

[Okay, to be fair, that's not entirely true, but he has no way of knowing that.]

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

That makes you a good mech. Loyalty, trust, honor. These are all good things.

Not things to be erased, reformatted.

[He nods. What could he say to that?] I'm glad.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

'Good mech'? Does that... mean the heart is good?

[He's still a little shocked someone understands like this. Someone he didn't spend his entire life around.]

Thank -- Thank you.

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

[He's surprised at the hesitant question.]

Of course. Yes. [He gives a wry smile.] Better than I am, at any rate.

Kagerou: what...what could possibly be better than caring so much about another?

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

[He tilts his head.]

Better? I don't think so.

[Another pause.]

I wouldn't know. It's all I've ever known.

Re: [Video]

[sword_redemption]

I've never been able to put aside everything I am or want...for someone else.

I only know one other person who has.

[Wing, who was s close to perfect as Drift could imagine.]

Well, then...here's your chance.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

I don't know if I put anything aside... I wanted to live for him. To make him worth living for.

... My chance?

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

And trust me. That's rare in the world I know.

Your chance to be free. To do...anything you want.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

I'm sorry.

[He doesn't know if that's the right thing to say, but it... he isn't sure what else to say.]

And what if... I have no idea what it is I want?

[He smiles very slightly, a little sadly.]

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

Th-there's nothing to apologize for.

[He smiles.] Then you get to find out. Try new things, make your own path.

It's actually exciting.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

[He nods.]

Try new things...

What is it -- what is it that you do?

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

Me?

[Drift pauses.] I fought in a war for many, many years. Now I just try to protect others.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

Military. You're like what the Defense Forces use... but alive.

[It's the closest comparison he can make, really.]

You do this... even here?

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

...Probably, yes. I was in an army. Both armies, actually.

[Looong story.]

Yes. Especially here. There are dangerous things and people need to be protected, kept safe.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

[He tilts his head, expectantly.]

I will keep that in mind. I was created... I was a prototype stealth model. I can fight. Sensors can't detect me.

But, I'm not sure if there's a place for someone like that, if defense forces are what's needed.

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

You never know what will be useful. We could have used you in the recent attack.

We may need you again.

And until then, you need to make friends, find a place to stay.

[Video]

[thxforthememories]

I...

I see.

[Because it's stupid to apologize for not being somewhere. Right?]

One of the Brave Police showed me where they stay. I've... kept to their roof.

[Out of sight.]

[Video]

[sword_redemption]

And you can find other things you're good at. It takes time, but...you have time.

[At least hear you do. He's been talking to McCrane and...yeah. Suddenly this got a lot more poignant.]

You can stay with them. McCrane says he wants to meet you.