[Clu does kind of wish the floor would stop creaking, and the wind would stop moaning, and the whatever glitching thing that is would stop dripping blackly somewhere in the distant stonework, but whatever.
It's not like he isn't used to the dark. Or thunderstorms. If everything weren't covered in dust and in shameful repair, it wouldn't be half bad. Sort of cozy.
[Well, when he put it that way...Not that Clu believed him for a second. Not having the permissions for rectification didn't rule out Tron holding it hostage, or simply dropping it, at this awkward angle. It would go right through this rotten floor.
Still, it was a logical argument with a sound conclusion.]
Oh, right. Because we're tied together in such a way that it would be impossible without your cooperation and even THEN-- [he took a deep breath, steadied his processor in the time it took to perform the otherwise pointless task] --we'd still be stuck together.
Would you like to try another tactic, CLU? This one is already beginning to grow old.
[He wouldn't put it past CLU to try for another distraction but that most certainly had not been produced by the administrator. It was too undignified.
That left... what? Tron hadn't the faintest idea.]
[Tron glanced over his shoulder at Tron with a frown.]
Wonderful idea. What are you doing?
[Because it seriously wasn't helping from this angle. But with a sigh, Tron attempted to make up for it with his own efforts... though standing wasn't really his first choice in getting something useful done.]
...we should really do this after getting the chains off, CLU.
[Analysis was his area. Tron would be able to touch his disc from sitting, maybe make a grab for it, but with the way they were anchored, the risk that it would slip to the side and fall out of either program's reach was still too high.]
Look, if I stand and you sit, [which was not comfortable, not by any stretch] it'll put my disc and your hand close enough together that you can do your thing.
[Do you want him to say it? He'll say it. Because that unknown quantity is headed their way.]
[Tron processed over this for a second before scowling.]
CLU, I am not a null unit. Why don't you sit and I'll stand.
[Tron, concerned about the strange noise getting closer? Didn't seem like it. He struggled against the bounds just to make things difficult for CLU while the other processed over the offer.]
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It's not like he isn't used to the dark. Or thunderstorms. If everything weren't covered in dust and in shameful repair, it wouldn't be half bad. Sort of cozy.
Except for. Y'know. Being chained to a chair.
With. Tron.]
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He was stuck in a chair. With CLU at his back.
It wasn't just humiliating, it was downright sadistic. Of all the people...
With a sigh, Tron forces himself to focus on what matters the most right now: getting out of these chains.]
If we work together, lift the chains just right, I think I can reach your disc and then--
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He smirked, warmed his voice slick and friendly to cover the spike of alarm through his processors.]
My disc? Why?
...Something wrong with yours?
[Flexing his wrists did nothing but rattle metal.]
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Because I can't reach my disc from this angle. And let's face it, there is absolutely nothing--nothing--that I can do to your disc.
Now do you want to get out of this mess or not?
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Still, it was a logical argument with a sound conclusion.]
Have you tried standing, yet?
[When in doubt, stall.]
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[huff]
Oh, right. Because we're tied together in such a way that it would be impossible without your cooperation and even THEN-- [he took a deep breath, steadied his processor in the time it took to perform the otherwise pointless task] --we'd still be stuck together.
Would you like to try another tactic, CLU? This one is already beginning to grow old.
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Only. It was cut short by a low, wet, gargling moan that Clu was positive had no human source.]
...Seriously?
Cut that out. It's not funny.
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Why would I--? [...] What is that?
[He wouldn't put it past CLU to try for another distraction but that most certainly had not been produced by the administrator. It was too undignified.
That left... what? Tron hadn't the faintest idea.]
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[Right?
Maybe not. Those were either heavy footsteps, or a pitch-accurate audio file the of same.]
Honestly? No idea.
[He slid his feet back under him and eased to tiptoe, starting to lean his chair.]
So. What say we get out of here?
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Wonderful idea. What are you doing?
[Because it seriously wasn't helping from this angle. But with a sigh, Tron attempted to make up for it with his own efforts... though standing wasn't really his first choice in getting something useful done.]
...we should really do this after getting the chains off, CLU.
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Look, if I stand and you sit, [which was not comfortable, not by any stretch] it'll put my disc and your hand close enough together that you can do your thing.
[Do you want him to say it? He'll say it. Because that unknown quantity is headed their way.]
Please.
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CLU, I am not a null unit. Why don't you sit and I'll stand.
[Tron, concerned about the strange noise getting closer? Didn't seem like it. He struggled against the bounds just to make things difficult for CLU while the other processed over the offer.]
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Hey, I never said you were. You brought that up, yourself.
[Tron was always, always cool and collected until he sprang. At other times, it had been an asset, but right now it was...irritating.
In the extreme.]
We could both stand. At the same time.
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