[Video] Oooooops.

[knight_light]

[The feed fizzles on, something big in the way for a moment. It soon becomes apparent that it’s a giant metal foot. The Link is turned slightly on its side, and angled so it’s looking up at Drift and Wing. It was apparently Drift’s foot in the way.]

[The two are facing each other, moving in slow, deliberate movements. It’s almost like a dance, but not, and way too slow to really be...anything. What are these hippies up to?! Whatever it is, it’s clear that Wing is the one slowly guiding Drift through these odd, slow moves.]

[And Drift has clearly had enough of this. He stops, not hiding his frustration very well at all.]

...Seriously, though. we've been doing this for weeks. I think I get it by now. Would it really hurt to pick up the pace a little or-- or do something else for a change?

You are improving, Drift, but perfection takes time.

[Wing looks thoughtful, studying his student for a moment.]

Would it help to see the results of what all of the slow control will result in?


[Drift huffs slightly and straightens up, planting his hands on his hips and giving Wing a shrug.]

Couldn't hurt. As things stand now, it feels like I'm getting nowhere.

All right.

[Wing takes a fighting stance.]

You will do the first kata I taught you. Nothing more, nothing less. You'll go from start to finish as quickly as you can, understood?

[Drift nodded, mimicking Wing's stance.]

Quick as I can, got it. Say when.

Now.

[Wing says it even as he lunges at Drift. What follows is an impressive flurry movement. Wing strikes at Drift fast and hard, and Drift moves as though in response to block and dodge, despite the clear shock on his face. It’s a fight, it’s a dance, and for a moment it seems this may end with Wing not landing a blow on Drift at all.]

[Those experienced in combat may be the only ones to realize that from one movement to the next Drift’s footing ends up off, and so leaves the mech wide open to attack. Wing doesn’t hesitate to strike with a kick to Drift’s side. BAM!! Drift stumbles. He's able to regain his footing pretty quickly, but it's already too late. He knows what's coming next.]

Wait wait wait--

[This is lesson time, Drift. With a grab, a sweep of his leg, and not much more than a tug, all of which Drift should have been able to block had he managed to finish the kata, Wing will toss Drift aside, sending him tumbling across the ground.]

And that is why these kata need to be second nature. You lost your stance at the end, else you'd still be on your feet in front of me.

[Drift just stares up from the ground, clearly grumpy but not outright complaining. Yeaaah this was kind of his own fault. He waggled a hand in the air dismissively]

Okay, okay. I'll take my time with it.

[Wing smiles and steps up, offering Drift a hand to pull him back to his feet....and then gets a shocked look on his face, gaze going to the Link just beyond Drift's head...]

Oh...

What? Is something broken?

[Drift totally doesn't get it and starts prodding at his face with his free hand, y'know making sure nothing's actually broken.]

Wing?

[Wing covers his smile with one hand, making a soft buzzing sound.]

No, no, nothing's broken. But it seems we just put on a show for the residents of Haven.

[Drift gives him a confused look and glances around, finally spotting what Wing had been talking about. And then he looks absolutely mortified because wow. Wow.]

Oh hell.

Comments

[thxforthememories]

... In a way, you are.

But I still can't believe there's anything admirable about me.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

See, that right there? I've felt the same way about myself for a long time.

[thxforthememories]

... But you're not a prototype. And you have a soul.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Being a prototype doesn't make you less of a person, and I honestly believe that anyone who has the capacity to care for others and experience emotion has a soul. Do you believe that your feelings are artificial? Because they don't seem that way to me.

Even so, having a soul or a spark or whatever you want to call it doesn't automatically mean someone is admirable. I used to be a terrible person, and I still had a spark.

[thxforthememories]

I... I don't know. We're programmed to feel emotion. To be capable of it... so I don't know if what I feel is just because of my AI chip, or ... if it's real. There's no way for me to know.

But it does mean they're alive. Doesn't it?

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Maybe your AI chip set the basics, but you're capable of love, just like we are. You're capable of anger, and happiness and sadness. You have your own personality, and you're always learning and developing. Everything we have, you also have. That sounds like a soul to me, and everyone's soul is unique. Maybe yours is different from mine, just like mine is different from a human's.

It does, but do you think that sort of thing matters if that person is a murderer?

[thxforthememories]

But... But how can you be sure? Human beings -- they always said I wasn't like them. I wasn't anything more than a machine. Wouldn't they know?

[He goes quiet.]

Was that what you were? When you say you weren't a 'good person'...

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Cybertronians aren't like human beings either. In my experience, not all of them really understand mechanical lifeforms. Physically, you and I are nothing like them, but as far as everything else goes, there are a lot of similarities.

[Drift pauses for a moment on his end.]

Are you familiar with our war at all? The Autobots and the Decepticons?

[thxforthememories]

Similarities. They never saw anything like that.

... No. When I asked, I was told not to. Because I was "too young" or "being a child".

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

They should have looked more closely.

I can understand why people don't want to talk about it, but if you're going to be living among us, then you deserve to know our history. Sadly, war plays a very big part in it. I'll give you the extremely condensed version for now. At least from my universe, I can't speak for the others.

This was about four million years ago, give or take. Cyberton's government was loaded with corruption. People were judged based on what they turned into, the back alleys littered with the sick and homeless while the wealthy politicians lived comfortably, and back then the Autobots were part of the problem. The oppressed took actions against it, and I don't know if you've heard much about him, but Megatron formed the Decepticons. Their goal was equality for all Cybertronians, but somewhere over the years, they lost their way and became ruthless, vicious killers. They were no better- no, they were worse than the Autobots had been at the beginning.

Thankfully, that war has come to an end, but it's left it's mark on billions of people.

[thxforthememories]

[He just hunkers down to listen to Drift sempai talk. He hadn't known most of this. Maybe a few things picked up here and there, but...]

[He probably could have asked Rewind, he realizes, but doesn't say it.]

I heard... the bad things about Megatron. Not the rest.

I didn't know it was over, either.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Like I said, I can only speak for what happened in my universe. I don't know about anyone else.

Megatron's original message wasn't a bad one. I still believe that to this day. Who doesn't want to live in a world where everyone is considered equal? He drew people in with talks of equality, promising a better future for the broken and abused. I was there, and I was one of them. But eventually, it all spiraled out of control, and at some point we all forgot just what it was we were fighting for.

[thxforthememories]

... Where everyone is equal...

[He looks down.]

I... understand wanting that. Wanting to be as important as anyone else.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

I wanted it more than anything. It's something I still want, it's something everyone deserves. It's something worth fighting for.

That said, the answer to your question is "yes". I used to fight for Megatron.

[thxforthememories]

Worth fighting...

[He trails off, still looking down at his hands.]

... Used to. But you stopped.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[Drift studies him for a moment, wondering if maybe he'd said something wrong or something.]

I did. I'd already done irreparable damage, but I was finally made to realize that I was making a terrible mistake. It was thanks to Wing, actually.

[thxforthememories]

...

And that's why you think you're not a good person? Because you... damaged things?

Is everyone who damaged things "bad"?

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

I don't... really mean that literally. I killed people. A lot of people. I ruined countless lives. That's the nature of war, yes, but I was fighting for the wrong side. Over time, Megatron's Decepticons became something terrible, and I realized it too late.

That's why I think I'm not a good person.

[thxforthememories]

[GOd dammit what would Kay Say. Or Rewind. Or literally anyone else.]

[Once again, he looks down to regard his hands. Like he has cheat notes written on them.]

Doesn't it matter that you know better, now?

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[Actually hang on Drift's doing pretty much the same thing. Funny how being millions of years old doesn't make stuff like this any easier.]

Um. I think it might? Depends on who you ask. It matters to Wing, and friends I had back home, but a lot of other people still felt like my actions were irredeemable. I know I was wrong, and I'm trying to be a better person. So, I mean, there's that.

[thxforthememories]

So... if your friends think it matters... if they think you aren't a bad person any longer.

Why do you?

[Why do I?]

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

I ask myself that a lot. I think it's because I haven't forgiven myself. I don't know if I deserve forgiveness.

Wow this... got really personal.

[thxforthememories]

... No, I...

I understand. Believing you don't deserve things.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

It's really not a pleasant feeling at all. No matter how many times someone says otherwise, I just can't shake it.

I'm sorry. I feel like I'm being selfish but... it's almost a comfort to not have to really explain it.

[thxforthememories]

Because... you've spent so long believing it. How can it be anything but true?

No, you don't have to. I understand.