victory_road | it's been so long between the words we spoke {OPEN}

[Mando isn't going to push the drink any further. It looks like the Pokemon puppy has things under control. This is also the first time he's seen how many dogs Shadowmaru has, and if the situation weren't so serious, he'd find it cute.]

Was he your brother?

[Whoever he was, he was clearly important, based on how Shadowmaru refuses to look away from him.]

My prototype.

[It's the most he's spoken of Kagerou since... the incident. Even then, there hadn't been much he'd wanted to share with the Brave Police. It wasn't theirs to know. But now... he feels as if he should speak.]

He and I were created in secret. For a long time, he was all I knew. And I was all he knew. There were engineers, certainly, but we were the only AI we knew.

[Their first friends. Their dearest friends. Only each other.]

Ah.

[So definitely family, but more than brothers, then. Two sides of the same coin. And then Shadowmaru lost him, somehow, or he wouldn't be here as a ghost.]

[Mando nods his head to the ghost.]

It's nice to meet you, Kagerou. You're... impressive. I didn't realise you and Shadowmaru were so big.

[He feels a little silly talking to a ghost--an AI ghost at that--but it has made other people feel better in these very strange days, so Mando keeps it up.]

You're a lot taller than the dro--AIs where I come from.

[Kagerou's visible eye narrows, in reaction to Mando's words. His glance flicks over the human, then back to Shadowmaru, before relaxing. Shadowmaru hums, apologetically.]

He is... was - never terribly fond of human beings. Even those who created us, earned his suspicion more than his friendship. He was very much aware of his status as a prototype.

[As someone expendable, in Kagerou's mind. Then, eventually, in Shadowmaru's. Once he'd understood...]

The other Brave Police units aren't so tall as we - barely by a meter or so, but still.

That's fair. Humans... don't usually treat AIs very well.

[He includes himself among that list!]

That's a mistake, though. It shouldn't be that way.

No. No, they do not. Even those who made us.

[He would argue, despite Kagerou's feelings, that Toudou had never done anything consciously malicious towards them. The entire situation was one born of ignorance. Of neither party voicing their thoughts to one another.]

[Until it was too late.]

The situation improved, eventually. Though... Kagerou did not get to witness it for himself.

Edited 2022-06-11 05:56 (UTC)

I'm sorry.

[And that's all Mando will say. If Shadowmaru wants to talk more, he's here to listen, but he won't force the issue. Mandalorians aren't exactly known for talking it out, but he's willing to try.]

I'm glad it got better for you, though.

I suppose... that's something to be grateful for.

[But he wishes, deeply, that it had come sooner.]

... Have you heard how long these visitors will remain with us?

I don't know.

[Mando glances over his shoulder at his own ghosts, who are lingering on the edges of the beach.]

If you like, I'll stay with you until he's gone.

You've nowhere better to be?

[It's not a denial. Not a 'go away'. But if Mando wants an out, Shadowmaru is giving him one.]

[He can't imagine he'll be good company in any way.]

No. This beach is fine.

[His own ghosts aren't leaving, so he might as well hang out here with Shadowmaru.]

Why don't you tell me more about him?

[Shadowmaru merely nods. He's not sure what else to say here. If Mando is comfortable, then that's fine.]

[What is there to say? How do you even start? This is more than he's ever spoken about Kagerou since he arrived here. No - since the day it happened.]

He... and I. Were all one another knew. For a long while. I believe... he was happy, that way.

What happened when you found out about the other... Brave Police?

[See, he remembers the name of the group!]

Seems like you enjoy being around other people.

Mm. We always knew they existed, but were kept apart. I was... to be introduced to them when my training was complete. [Which sort of happened. Kind of. Just not in the way anyone intended.] Kagerou... broke out of our facility on that night.

Because. He was to have his memories erased. His AI and frame repurposed. And he objected.

[Understandably! Though, at the time Shadowmaru couldn't fathom it. None of them could.]

I am adaptable by design. Socializing is part of that.

They'd just erase him like that?

[Mando glances back at the ghost. No wonder he doesn't like humans!]

Yes.

[Another pause, before he goes on.]

It was seen as the best course of action. Reassigning him without deactivating him. At the time, no one - not even the rest of the Brave Police - understood the implications. That erasing one's memories was death all the same.

[Kagerou had shown them as much.]

That...

[Mando pauses, then glances over his shoulder. His own droid ghost is still there, and he's drifted closer to them.]

I knew a droid--an AI--where something like that happened. He'd been programmed as an assassin droid, and was with me when we found the kid.

He wanted to kill him. The bounty never said we had to bring the kid back alive. I... I shot him, before he could.

[Mando is looking at Kagerou again, but he just knows his own droid ghost is right behind them.]

I never thought I'd see him again, but then someone, a friend of mine, found him and reprogrammed him. He was a protector now. He saved me. He saved all of us.

[Why is he even telling this story?]

Reprogrammed?

[His own head whips around. There's something in his expression. It's not accusation, exactly. Hurt? Confusion? Reprogramming is as good as - It's death all the same! - Kagerou's voice echoing forever in his memories. Shooting was one thing. Who among the Brave Police hadn't been shot?]

[He sees the other ghost. And almost rises. But stays put. Both of them looking at their own ghosts. He can see Kagerou bristling out of the corner of his eye, responding to Mando's admission.]

Is such a thing... common for AI in your world...?

It happens. It happens a lot.

But my friend, the one who reprogrammed him... he left the droid his memories. He recognised me, and the kid. But instead of wanting to kill us, he protected us.

[Mando shrugs. He can see Kagerou getting pissy about this, and honestly? He doesn't blame him. Meeting Shadowmaru has meant a subtle, deep sea change to Mando's view of droids and AI.]

I never thought about it before. But it wasn't his fault, was it? He didn't have a choice when he was programmed to kill the kid. He seemed... happier, afterwards. Like he was making his own choices, instead of just doing what someone else told him to do.

Then your friend is a finer programmer than any in our world. Doing such a thing would wipe out the core of who we are.

[Shadowmaru still stares at the droid. Preservation of memories - if it were so simple, then there would have been nothing for Kagerou to rebel against. Maybe he could have survived...]

Choice... it's a precious thing to have. It was all he wanted.

[... Okay that's weird. Is it raining? His face feels wet.]

Your programmers need to improve, then.

[Mando's voice is flat; he's not great with droids, admittedly, but it never sounded like it was too hard to leave them with their memories. Behind them, the Ugnaut ghost on a blurgg nods, then dissolves into mist.]

[He notices the catch in Shadowmaru's voice, and Mando glances over at him. Those... yeah, it seems to be raining exclusively on Shadowmaru's face, because Mando's visor is still clear and unblemished. After a moment's hesitation, Mando lifts a hand and rests it gently on Shadowmaru's shoulder.]

I'm glad you have choices here, then. And wish that he could join us and experience it too.

I suppose.

[His voice is equally flat. Muted. There's none of his usual flair, or extreme emoting. It's just quiet.]

[He jumps, slightly, at the touch. Frankly, he's a bit confused by it. Usually, it's Shadowmaru initiating contact with anyone. But here's Mando. Offering a hand. Agreeing with how unfair it all is. He sort of sags where he sits, bowing his head until his hair covers his face.]

I... wish that more than anything.

[Mando almost takes his hand back when Shadowmaru jumps, but leaves it where it is. When Maru's head falls forward, Mando gives his shoulder a little squeeze.]

It could happen. We don't know the future.

[He just nods. It's all he can do without actually cracking. It's very hard not to. He's not sure what this feeling is. Only that it's overwhelming.]

[It's at that point, Oberon starts shuffling over from the house. And flops down nearby in a shower of glitter. Nearby to both of them, actually. See? All the pokemon are here for you!]

[Good boy, Oberon, sitting close enough for Mando to reach out with his free hand and scritch your ear. He gets glitter all over his hand, but that's just the price one pays for petting the dog.]

[Beyond that, he'll just... stay right here. Until Shadowmaru is ready to talk more or leave, or until the ghosts go away. Whatever comes first.]

it's been so long between the words we spoke {OPEN}

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)