(no subject)

[imaginemeandyuu]

Who: Anyone
When: Day 49, Late afternoon/early evening
Where: Anywhere
What: Mingling

[This is a mingle! GO WILD.]

Comments

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

There was a Game, once.

The joints are sealed soft, to be watertight and still turn. There were those who caught on to that. A man drove his pike through the wrist.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

... Rather ruthless, going for something that won't be healed upon revival.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

...nor would any gods be paid to do so.

[ the tiniest quirk of his lips, a bitter smile. ]

Some knew I was adamant on that point.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

How did you lose the arm, if you don't mind my asking?

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

...



[ closes his eyes. ]

An oversight.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

Such things usually are. At least, I would hope.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

...this one was, at least. A moment's lapse in concentration.

It was the day the Core collapsed. Part of a metal platform fell from above, and I failed to move in time.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

[If there's any recognition at that, it's... vague, and clearly not from personal memory]

I see.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

...



After that Game, we did what repairs we could. ...though none of us had any substantial memory of expertise, then, and tools were hard to come by. But we managed to restore function, even reseal the gaps. And there was Slate, who could bend metal... he could restore the original shape of what was for individual parts, at the least.

[ studying the worn soles of his boots. ]

...but the damage to the failsafe mechanisms... those we weren't aware of.

We only discovered it when my grip broke someone's arm.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

[Glancing at it, giving the individual parts a more thorough examination]

... Does it still carry all of those damages?

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

[ the smooth metal surfaces are burnished with wear, lined with scratches short and long. Brown and black stains mar the edges where they meet the joints, particularly those of the digits, and here and there dents interrupt the otherwise smooth ovals they would have once circumscribed the soft waterproof lining of each joint. The linings themselves are unevenly discolored, whether by time or exposure, and where fingers are bent enough the faint gleam of underlying metal pokes through cuts in one or two places. ]

Some. It gained a few others, as well.

...

Even as it is, it would not have been beyond it to crush her wrist entirely, had I willed it so.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

[It desperately needs the love of a genuine mechanic... that much is clear, even to the untrained eye]

It would have been within your rights to defend yourself.

... Thank you, for not doing so...

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

..."within my rights".


Would she have thought the same...

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

No.

That's not even a question.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

....




Hah....

[ slumps back against the wall, eyes on the ceiling... his hands sliding to the floor, a familiar wooden box clutched loosely in the left. Shoulders shaking once, twice, then again and again, with wavering, choking laughter, gravity pulling tears down the lines of face and jaw. ]

Hahah...hahahah....

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

[His eyes linger on the box for a moment before he looks away. He does nothing, says nothing, other than raise his hand and renew the strength on the barrier over the door.]

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

[ doesn't quite stop, even when those scraps of voice fade to quieter sounds, still caught somewhere between laughter and sobbing.

the mechanical hand lifts and hovers inches above his own face, fingers moving in slow, twitching jerks as he watches. ]

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

[I know those feelings. How many times have I had those very same feelings.

Despite realizing there is legitimately nothing that will be a comfort here, he just stands and walks over to him, resting a hand on his head]

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

[ there's no reaction to the touch... but the metal wrist eventually lowers to rest over his eyes. ]

...Spirea...

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

['He' never did find out what became of her... After a while he lets his hand drop, though he doesn't move away]

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

[ ...


stills and falls quiet, after a while. ]

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

[Eventually he sits again, closer now, back no longer against the far wall. Quietly, at great length;]

Everyone... every soul... we set them free, before we ended everything.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

...



From--

[ --swallows, throat dry. ]

...from the stone itself?

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[overclocking]

Yes.

I was there when it happened. I saw it with my own eyes.

Re: [Even later evening!!!]

[devotedtothecore]

...

Good.


...good.