text; backdated to end of Worm-ageddon

[sassymaru]

You know, it would have been very nice to have a warning regarding the worms' tunnels before some of us ventured heroically into them.

They looked perfectly stable...

Surely! Someone could have put the message out sooner! And saved us a good deal of hassle!



[Yeah, someone launched himself into an Orthworm hole in Olivine. It went about as well as expected.]

Comments

Prosing it up in here!

[singlespacedad]

"That sounds like a design flaw to me." As soon as he says it, Mando realises how it sounds, and clarifies. "Why would you have one unit that was constantly exposed? Why not maximise all your weapons as much as you can?"

He's not saying Shadowmaru is a flawed design. Far from it; whoever designed him did him dirty, especially if another unit was modified to combine with the others.

"We have a saying back home: Mandalorians are stronger together." He squeezes Shadowmaru's shoulders. "I imagine police officers are too. And if you weren't designed to combine with someone, that's not your fault. And it's not your destiny either."

Mando thought his destiny would involve dying in some stupid gun fight on a barren back world. He never thought he'd end up with the kid, and all the other Mandalorians he's met over the years.

"You can change your design, Shadowmaru. You can choose to combine."

[sassymaru]

A design flaw. He doesn't know what to say to that - not out of anger. He isn't angry to hear it. Maybe... it's the truth. It wouldn't have been the first time their creators had made errors. Losing Kagerou was proof enough of that.

"I don't know," he admits, at length. "I... don't know why they made that choice. Or if there were plans for more... or..."

Or if the potential for it was lost too.

Without realizing, he'd pulled his good knee to his chest. The other doesn't get to move yet. He'll just wrap his arms around that instead. Destiny, choices. That's fine and good for human beings. But for an AI?

Is he even still an AI?

"This is... a great deal more existential than I meant to get into," he mutters, mostly into his knee. "I don't even know what to call myself. Or if... destiny, choices, have any room for whatever it is I've become."

He wants to believe it. Believe what Mando is saying. And he doesn't doubt Mando believes. It's - complicated. Too complicated.

[singlespacedad]

"It's okay." Mando doesn't try to prevent Shadowmaru from curling in on himself. Instead, he shifts so he can reach his back, and starts loosely braiding his hair. Look at him! He's been watching StarryTube videos and taught himself how to braid!

"We can figure it out. There's no hurry."

[sassymaru]

He wants to ask is it really? but there are hands in his hair, and the question dies. It's nice. It doesn't matter how well done the braid is, this just feels nice.

"You mean that." He doesn't ask it. It's not a question. "However long it takes?"

[singlespacedad]

It’s not a very good braid. Mando is still learning. But it IS a braid, and Mando is pleased with himself when he’s done.

“However long it takes.” Mando gently bonks the back if Shadowmaru’s head. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a bunch of other pressing engagements these days.”

[sassymaru]

Finally, he leans back against Mando again. It doesn't feel totally settled, this weird in-between state and the confusion of being a part of something. But it helps.

"No, not many," he says. But it doesn't sound like a bad thing, finally. "Just contests. And the breeding society."

[singlespacedad]

Mando carefully arranges the braid on Shadowmaru's shoulder before putting both arms around him again.

"You decided to join the breeding society?" Mando didn't know that! He knows Shadowmaru is supposed to be a breeder, not a trainer. He also knows Shadowmaru's Pokemon have, to the best of his knowledge, never been bred.

"If you ever want to borrow any of my Shinies, just let me know."

[sassymaru]

"I'm considering it..."

He hasn't made it official yet. Hasn't made the big decision. Mostly, because it feels a little like forcing something on his pokemon. He leans once more into those arms, into the feel of armor.

"If they would want to, then I'm more than happy to do so." If his pokemon want to breed, he'll join. "Yours included."

[singlespacedad]

"I think we forget how smart Pokemon are sometimes. I know if I tried to get mine to do anything they didn't want to do, I'd regret it."

Say you're talking about Spicy without saying you're talking about Spicy.

"Maybe you should ask them."

[sassymaru]

"I'm sure... But that intelligence means using them for a purpose like that also feels wrong."

Maybe this hits a little more close to home than he realizes. Being used for some specific purpose without regard to your thoughts, your self.

"Well, I know Whirlipede won't want any of it. He refuses to do anything that isn't combat-related."

[singlespacedad]

"I like Whirlipede. He's a good Pokemon."

Big, armoured, is all about combat? What could Mando possibly see in that particular Pokemon? Who can say?

"You respect them enough to follow their wishes if they say no, right?" Mando lightly head bonks the side of Shadowmaru's head. "You're not giving them orders, you're giving them options. Some might take you up on it, some might not. But you wouldn't feel any differently about them no matter what they chose."

[sassymaru]

"I'm not surprised. He seems like your type."

Just wait until he's a Scolipede. When Shadowmaru will be riding a Bug Horse around the world. He'll be unstoppable.

His head leans into where Mando bonked him. Not wanting to break the contact. "Of course I'll respect it," he says, almost immediately. "They're under my care. I couldn't fault them for their choices."

Wait.

"So long as they don't choose to emulate Spicy, that is."

[singlespacedad]

"Oh gods no!"

Mando starts laughing.

"No one should want to emulate Spicy! One of her is bad enough!"

[sassymaru]

"See! That's the only reason I would judge their choices!"

Because that's a horrible life choice. Just the absolute worst.