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Artificial

Choking on my binary halo.

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Nemesism (Rock)

Nemesism; frustration expressed as aggression turned inward against the self.

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onism rock or vi

onism; the frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time, which is like standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die—and all because, as the arrow on the map helpfully points out, you are here.

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Torn at the seams

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@ziel-soundwave​ (making a small attempt to fix the trim on this old thread RIP) ….Aaaugh. It feels like a waste to end their conversation the way they had, or maybe that was Ziel’s guilt talking. It’s hard to not feel at least a little bit bad at the way he’d soured the Light-bot’s mood. It’s a bit his fault, and maybe he shouldn’t have talked as much as he had, but…

He’s too nice not to say goodbye. “See you later, Rock.” Because I have a feeling I will. The android must be nuts to want to even try, but hey, he’s the same person who was willing to date the most dangerous machine in his own City.

Ziel falls into step easily after Rock’s Twin, shuffling his coat on quickly over his arms, but he still feels reluctant to step outside. It’s leather, yes, and his… equipment should be fine in the rain, it’s just the Leader himself that was a little more water soluble. Kinda. Sure felt like it sometimes, really. “Um… Okay.” 

His gloomy mood has near nothing to do with Rock behind them and all to do with the rush of water falling from the sky. It’s not going to kill him, but it sure would suck to be in it; he’d slog himself down with water weight alone. With some debate, the blond concludes to use his guitar case as a make-do umbrella. It’s an awkward angle but better than nothing.

“…So, uh.” He does his best to step over the biggest puddle in their path, and succeeds somewhat. “Obviously you’re the guy here to rescue me, much appreciated.” That puddle though is a little harder to deal with, and water splashes over his legs. It’s impossible to not make a face that time. “I’m Ziel–”

--

Hard not to feel sympathetic as the unusually tall visitor uses his belongings for improvised cover. Well, that and the near mauling they’d just narrowly avoided at Rock’s hands. You’re a lot luckier than you realize, stranger. 

Cale’s smile is soft as he glances over, and he tries not to laugh at the pathetic misfortune of it all. Of the odds of meeting Wily’s General, getting rained on, and even now, how the blond misstepped just so. There’s something about the ridiculousness of it that tickles him, and he can’t help the small chuckle at his poor companion’s expense. 

It just ain’t your night, is it?  

“With how things are goin’, rescue is the least of my services ya need. Here,” the distinct click-snap of his umbrella reopening can be heard under the downpour, water now bouncing off its portable canopy. “Hoodie is plenty fine for me, I don’t mind the rain all that much,“ the handle is offered to the blond. 

There’s a pause, as the Light-bot considers glossing over the exchange of names. Does the risk outweigh the small kindness of normal conversation, of making the foreigner not feel like a suspect on a new list? Will ignoring it sow seeds of mistrust before he can be escorted to safety?   

....Odds are good once you go home, it won’t matter if you know who I am.

Just this once, it’s probably fine.

“Nice t’ meet ya Ziel, you can call me Cale.”

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ziel-soundwave​:

“…Um. Anyone catch whatever airlines nearly hit me last night?”

“...no but you could prob’ly ask the birds.” 

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ziel-soundwave​:

…Oh jeez. 

Always a bad liar, and the General catches on without a hitch. Normally Ziel never slipped up, but… Well, maybe it’s because of who the man across from him reminded him of. Never liked keeping secrets from Vox, and now that he didn’t have to…

Going to have to reign that in again.

Even as Rock is leaning in, the blond is equally backing in the opposite direction. “W-Well. Protocols are protocols, b-but I would really like to know how those go for offworlders, cause I’m b-being honest when I say I’ve never been here before–” Gods it’s been a WHILE since he’s been looked at like that.

Before he can be grilled further though, someone in colors a little brighter than the surrounding population scurries in. Nice purple. The Leader can’t see the individual’s face yet, but it’s clear that this is the contact Rock had been speaking about before, especially because said person waltzes over quite quickly once they see the raven-haired one.

…Two raven-haired people. Even with the hood, there is no mistaking that face. He glances hesitantly between the two androids, the difference between them small and yet completely vast. Even as the violet one is slowly pulling him away, he seems reluctant, but that is because of the monsoon outside.

“…Right.” He had his things in his lap anyways. Ziel opens his mouth, then closes it, then again only to sigh. “We will… have to continue this conversation another time?” No you’re not interrupting Cale, in fact you are very appreciated.

Disgruntled though the enforcer may be, it seems his twin unit gets a pass for the time being. Rock does not rise to greet his brother, although his expression twists in dissatisfaction at his newest chew toy being snatched away from him so quickly. He would have loved to have an excuse to dig into Ziel, but it seems that opportunity is already slipping through his fingers.

Because he thought to be a little lenient in the few minutes his mood was less abysmal. 

Should have waited a few more fucking minutes.

Whatever. Rockwell's scowl persists, but he chooses not to stare at them any longer. Instead his attention turns to the rain outside, quietly simmering, but a sign he won’t be pursuing either of them. //Get going before I change my mind,// is pinged to the other Light-bot.  

Not so much as an outward goodbye. 

A slight sigh. Should have known Rock was going to be like this. Oh well! It’s less his loss, and more the stranger’s good fortune in this case. “Yup, another time then!” Cale pulls the newcomer with him a bit less forcefully, letting the blond get a handle on his belongings as they march towards the doors. 

Rain’s still looking nasty, but at least that means the streets will be relatively clear. 

“Sorry we have t’ meet like this, but I promise I’ll get ya taken care of an’ see ya home safely. Just, uh, stick close, yeah?“

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Rock in B1!!

[[The first one is more accurate to the prompt but I think the second really has his energy lol-- ANYWAY I have had this prompt tucked away in here for 1000 years so there we go <3]]

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runedwishes​:

It’s a moment that seems to stretch on for longer than what it really was–about half a minute or so. Yet as those seconds elongated for what seemed like ages, not once did Zora remove her hand from where she had placed it on him.

She knew immediately that this wasn’t Rock, even without the tell-tale seamlines and scars. Just a few years younger than what she had sensed for the General himself, though she never expected for her Epithet to come in handy in such a passive little way like this.

Well, this just got a whooooole lot more interesting.

“Whoops! Ha, ain’t this awkward…” And much like the sun breaking through a heavy shower of rain, her looming presence fades as she backs off…walking backwards so that she’s in FRONT of Cale instead. “Sorry ‘bout that, bud! Mistook ya fer someone else fer a tick there. Dead ringer, even!”

And what’s the story behind that, she wonders to herself. Surely there ain’t a dozen of like-faced robots on these neon streets, are there? That would be real problematic…

“Pfft, what, did Ah’ scare ya? C’mon, Ah’ wasn’t even tryin’ all that hard…”

(…wonder what makes YOU different?) (( @a-fading-light​ ))

Tension builds at the hand still resting on him. A small gesture, but enough to make it clear she’s already realized her mistake. Perhaps even a silent indication Zora wasn’t planning on letting him escape too easily.

Who are you?

Caleb can’t stop the nervous smile that plants itself on his face as the cowboy swerves in front of him.

Very few people would approach Wily’s General so brazenly, fewer would address him with... well. She’s casual on the surface, but there’s an undercurrent of something else there.

“Ah, well, y’see...” is he stalling? “...funny story ‘bout that...” he’s stalling. Despite having the ability to think several times faster than any human, someone here is having trouble overcoming how badly he’s been blindsided. If she gets to know too much about him, that info has a chance of making it back to the dictator up top. Would not addressing her create problems for Rock..?

It is, perhaps against his better judgement (is there even a good call in this situation..?) that Cale goes from 0 to 100 near immediately. He turns on his heel away from Zora and breaks into a mad sprint.

Surely she won’t be able to keep up for that long, right? 

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ziel-soundwave​:

Speaking of pickpockets… The blond pulls his guitar case and jacket closer, subtly patting his belongings down. Nothing missing… And the weight of his case was more than enough to tell him Ember Edge was still inside. His response is idle, if nothing else. 

“Yeah, I thought so.” ….Oh. Ah. His brief pause as he realized what he’d just said settles in is more than enough. He skips over it, choosing to leave the odd phrasing behind. “I– appreciate that, though. Thank you.”

Ziel’s fingers return to his cup, raising it to his lips for another sip. “Yeah. I don’t… prefer to be cooped up in a hotel, you know what I mean?” Even if the environment was bad, it was somehow worse when stuck in a single place. “I’ll make sure to thank your friend too.” Juuuust move on. Mhm. Darn his ears for being so overly emotive. 

He attempts to shake his awkwardness with a laugh. “Inconvenient? No, I… Um, I think me being here is inconvenient.” But no one could control those portals. “Hopefully a new gate opens soon enough…?” 

Taking stock? Probably a good call on Ziel’s part, although it’s slightly amusing when he feels for the weight of his guitar. 

Doubt anyone’s taking that without you noticing. 

He let’s his company ramble, taking another sip of his coffee.

“It ain’t a problem, really I’d do more if--” wait. Rock stops, eyes narrowing to a glare. “You thought so?” The Enforcer leans in, the knife of his gaze already dissecting the blond. “Funny, I just remembered the protocols involve some questions about--” the venom in his voice is cut off by the ding of the cafe’s front doors, as another figure enters, hood up and umbrella popping as it closes.

It takes less than a second for him to spot the pair, and he’s rolling up to their table with an almost hurried casualness. 

“Hey! I happened t’ be in the neighborhood so I got here pretty quick. Hope I ain’t interruptin’,” Cale’s voice is light, as if to offset his twin’s caustic expression.

Got here just in time from the looks of it.

“We should get goin’, no time t’ hang around, y’know?” With that he’s already looping an arm around Ziel’s to help the stranger up. “Storm’s not gettin’ any lighter!” 

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For all the pretty neon lights this city likes to dress itself up in, the only useful thing it does for Zora is cast the same long shadows she's well acquainted with, and more than experienced enough in moving through. Maybe that was her method of staying well hidden, riiiight up until the cowgirl makes her silent gait known to pop up beside Cale with a hearty pat on the back. "Left yer bootlickin' pajamas back in yer locker or somethin'?~" She's all smiles until--

Wait.

Squint.

It's a marvel really, that Cale hadn't heard her coming whatsoever. By this point he was rather adept at picking up being tailed, it comes with the territory and all, but Zora?

She might as well have been a phantom, manifesting from the shadows in an almost inhuman way. The Light-bot staggers slightly at the hand meeting his back, and the unfamiliar drawl that accompanies it.

Oh god is she looking for Rock? Do they work together? This could be really bad. Shit shit shit--

"...uh..." he almost contemplates trying to impersonate his twin, but anyone with a keen eye would notice the missing face scar and seam lines in a heartbeat.

Is it too late to run like a frightened rabbit?

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Absolution

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Opia

Opia

Until now their interactions had been a patchwork of intentional misses, of dead drop packages, and encoded messages.

To be standing here now was risky, but there was a part of Rock that needed to make this happen. A drive shared in each communication.

I want to know you.

To finally meet at last, the brother he'd waited so long for.

There had been a kinship even in those small exchanges, yet now as they stood face to face... a different feeling boiled in his chest.

I hate this.

It'd only been for a moment that they stared. The neon glow of their optics creating mirrored halos in the midnight air. It felt at once like the gaze of a stranger, and his own eyes looking back. A graveyard of buried sorrows in bright, unnatural, green.

Are they mine, or yours..?

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Wraith

WRAITH

a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death.

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silencedskyline​:

“Damn straight.” He grinned. “Sup, fucker?”

“Nothin’,” Rock replies. “Absolutely jack shit an’ I like it that way. It was so quiet I was startin’ t’ think you fuckin’ died. Guess some things are too good t’ be true.”

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silencedskyline​:

“I’m alive. Who wants it to be their problem?”

“You say that like you ain’t everyone’s problem.”

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what’s your role in a found family dynamic?

the silent sufferer

you love your friends, but the truth is, you go through most of the real things alone. it’s better that no one sees you like this. you’ll be fine, really, because you’re used to feeling this way. it’ll pass. it always does. that’s what you believe, anyway. you’re more likely to give someone advice on a lesson you’ve learned without telling them how you learned it. you’ve come to realize that, if they’re coming to you for advice, they’ll be too preoccupied to ask. it stings, but it’s… that’s just the way feelings work sometimes. when you’re around others, most of these problems seem to vanish, and you’re better able to love the person you are. only on the worst days do you continue to hear that insistent whisper that it’s, “all a lie because they don’t know what’s *really* going on.” it’s not a lie. you are loved. those moments together are real. there are times when you can afford not to be so strong.

tagged by: @dripblood​ tagging: STEAL IT.