001 -- Audio

[heavyweaponsbot]

[The voice that suddenly booms over the journals should be familiar to some.  And, if not, it's certainly loud and attention-getting.  Someone is clearly unhappy.]

This... is a lie. It must be. It cannot be possible -- not again!

[A pause.  There's some mechanical shifting while the party in question tries to remain calm.  There is also a sound

Comments

[audio]

[stillseecracks]

[Xanth has done this before, too: heard a familiar voice belonging to someone he loved. Every other time it happened, they hadn't recognized him, and it hurt.

But this time, there are differences. Ironhide talks of his worlds being gone again. Ironhide talks of a frog.

Then again, Ironhide might have had such things before the Elegante. This could be a different Ironhide entirely.

But Xanth has to try.]

I-- I--

I-Iron...hide?

[commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Ironhide... doesn't know what else to say. Or do. What's the point in trying to break out of here... if there's no where else to go? No one else to return to?]

[... No Ratchet?]

[He lets his arm fall back down, looping it somewhat awkwardly around Xanth. He wishes he had some idea of what to do -- some direction to point himself in. Without it... all he can do is sit and remind the boy he's here.]

[commentlog]

[stillseecracks]

[There really isn't anything to say. The facts are thus: both Ironhide and Xanth have been ripped away from their loved ones; said loved ones are possibly dead; and there is nothing they, or anyone, can do.

But they have each other, at the very least.

Leaning against Ironhide again, Xanth is silent. For a short while, he remains still...

...but then he begins working a piece of seaweed out of Ironhide's frame. Even if he can't do anything significant to help Ironhide, he can at least do this.]

[commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[And each other will have to be enough. Not that he resents Xanth being here. He's glad. If everyone had been lost...]

[He feels that, and glances down.]

... Guess I picked up a passenger.

[commentlog]

[stillseecracks]

U-Uh, a-- a couple, I-I think.

[Silly seaweed, you should not be in robots. Especially not robots in castles! Still, it's easily loosened, and Xanth starts picking another piece out of another joint.]

[commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

Guess it was from going overboard...

[He sits very still. Although... while Xanth works... it sort of seems to settle him down.]

[This, after all, is a familiar ritual.]

[commentlog]

[stillseecracks]

Y-Yeah.

[It's calming for Xanth, too. This is two things: a task with a clear purpose and a way to help. His thoughts don't wander so much as they fade into the background, which is a relief Xanth won't notice until it's gone.

He just keeps working, even shifting around some, until every twig and strip of seaweed has been removed.]

[commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Always, after a battle, or a long march, there were things that needed tending to. Repairs, maintenance... The fight with the End and the flight to the Shore had been both. And, for the moment, Ironhide's content to let the familiarity take his mind off things.]

[He keeps still, more for Xanth's sake than anything. When it's over, he nods, slightly. In thanks.]

[commentlog]

[stillseecracks]

[Xanth nods back, a small but sincere smile on his face. After a moment, he looks down, and his smile takes on a sadder air.]

I-I'm... glad y-you're here.

[commentlog]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[Ironhide does nothing for several long seconds, before resting a tentative hand on Xanth's shoulder. Lightly.]

Yeah. You too.