18 ☀ Day; Video
[ When the feed opens, it might be strange to see Ichigo looking so...despondent. Even stranger? He's broadcasting from Lior's old Place of Solace. But just like any Place of Solace that remains after the owner is gone, there's something....off about it. Some vitality gone from the place. ]
...I think...I think Lioriley is gone.
[ He looks down, ( Read more... )
...I think...I think Lioriley is gone.
[ He looks down, ( Read more... )
Network signature not accessible.
[Encrypted]
[And since it's not as if Genero doesn't know already that he's been watching...]
No unusual activity (Unnatural) observed. [He saw your discussion with Nepeta.]
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He does shift slightly. Shakes his head. Disagreement, discomfort. Probably both.]
Doesn't [-matter] make a difference.
[He hasn't looked away since Ichigo told him not to. But the helmet raises slightly in a more direct stare, stance edged. Almost confrontational.]
Hurt people. Der- [He deletes.] Kill. [There's a pause.]
Enjoy it. [He does.]
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After the terrible day he's had, Ichigo is feeling reckless, and angry. So he just crosses his arms, eyes staring right back at that mask. It's impossible to really see through the opaque surface, but he's got a feeling he's probably looking Rinzler in the eye. ]
Then why didn't you kill me when you had the chance? Why save us?
Why didn't you kill every single person that came to your arena?
[ You're not gonna sell him on the idea you're a mindless killer, here, buddy. ]
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Rinzler stares back from behind the black mask. He doesn't flinch, doesn't move away, but his sound's rising now, jarring out loud. Irregular. A hand clenches slightly, red-orange glow bright. He'd meant to kill at the arena. Had enjoyed the chance for battle, the feel of disks in motion, cutting into his opponent. He had no way of knowing the wolf would heal.
And before, he-
He'd-
Rinzler didn't know.
His stare breaks, and the helmet lowers. Shakes from side to side.]
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You could have used plenty of chances to kill people, but you didn't. You never had to help anyone, ever, not even when the sky went dark, but you did. It's literally what Ichigo just said; he's not sure what to make of you anymore. ]
Then answer me this; would you attack people for no reason? Would you betray us all to get something you wanted for yourself?
[ Edging just a tiny bit closer. And yes, it's starting to get a little invasive of personal space, but Ichigo has learned that keeping Rinzler a little out of his comfort zone means he's more likely to give straight answers.
...He also had a feeling that after hearing the story out of Rukia, asking Rinzler to have a real focus might help the guy figure stuff out for himself a bit. ]
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Rinzler's gaze comes up behind the black helmet as the distance shortens. He's already tense, already edgy and unsteady and this doesn't help. The program doesn't back away, though. He doesn't run. Or lose. He just wishes he knew what kind of Game this was.
The first question gets a halfway shrug, a slight, if wary, shake of the head. He has reasons. He just doubts his reasons are anything this user would agree with-knows from experience they aren't. Function is a reason. Orders. Satisfaction.
The second... twists uneasily through his processing. Betrayal. Betrayed us. It doesn't-doesn't make sense. But the loop doesn't stop, words curling sharp and close in his core, and he can hear his noise quickening, shifting, harsh sounds like unsteady breaths, but he doesn't-he didn't-
Redirect-
Rinzler stills, rumble quieting to regularity. The question's still there. He's not sure how to answer it. He doesn't want anything for himself.
(...Lie.) ]
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[ The realization that this person ( program ) you're speaking to is seriously hurt, or in pain might inspire pity in some people. In others maybe just avoidance. Ichigo? He got angry. Really angry. Angry enough that he has to ball his hands into fists at his sides. ]
...Now I know better. And you still haven't answered me, not really. So here's what I'm going to do;
I'm going to ask you to apologize to my friends for hurting them. Think about it if you want, but this is pretty important.
The next thing? Find a way to help you. Because you shouldn't have to live like this. You shouldn't have to hurt when you try to make decisions on your own.
And last...
[ With a little bow at the waist ( habit ) Ichigo sticks his hand out in a more western fashion for a handshake. ]
...I call truce. As long as you're not hurting people, then I'll keep being your friend.
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Wrong. Functi [He deletes, replaces.] No Fine.
[He hesitates as Ichigo continues, but shakes his head again.]
Wouldn't apologize. Actions accept normal.
[He just stares at the next part. Rinzler's not-he shouldn't-this is malfunction. He's supposed to be-
He doesn't need help.
Not like this.]
Don't.
[The program stills at the gestures. The bow is much more familiar than the hand, to him-but neither should be directed at him like this. The black helmet tips up to the user. Rinzler doesn't pull away, but he doesn't reach out either.]
Going to hurt people.
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[ That hand is staying right where it is, too. If you really don't want it, he won't push it, but Ichigo is a few seconds away from grabbing Rinzler's wrist, and showing him how to brofist. ]
I think you're better than you're giving yourself credit for. Or maybe that you forgot something important, and need to be reminded. I'm not really sure yet.
But your actions aren't normal, Rinzler. Your actions hurt, and cause pain - and not just to other people, but you too. Whether you know it or not.
You can't live like that. You're not a machine, damnitt, and you're nobody's slave.
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His hands tense at his sides. He remembers what he's meant to. More than he's meant to, especially here, especially now. It's wrong. It is malfunction, error, and he can feel the gaps straining protocol, definition. Whether the user-whether Ichigo can see it or not. Rinzler shouldn't be like this.
The tension turns to clenched fists, circuits burning bright red-orange as his mask bows, jerks back up.]
Not a user.
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You're a person. You always have been. Whether you're an alien life form, a giant robot, a corrupted soul, witch, or sentient tapioca freaking pudding, I don't care.
You're you. A person. And that's all that matters.
[ Seeing the internal struggle, Ichigo sighed, shoulders slumping a bit with exasperation. He's stubborn though. Stubborn enough that hastily he backed off. Several steps actually. And after putting a little bit of distance between himself, and Rinzler, reached for the red bolo securing his sword to his back.
With a practiced twist of his wrist, he brought the wrapped ( as close to sheathed as Zangetsu ever got ) around, and gently laid the huge blade down on the smooth floor of the arena.
There. Now he's unarmed. Willingly. And when he starts to move again, his hands are held out at his sides, empty. Hi, Rinzler, be doing something that feels incredibly rude even to him, and crowding your space. ]Then if you like hurting people so much? Hurt me. Do it. I'm unarmed, and I won ( ... )
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Does it?
There's a twist in his processing, something unclenching as Ichigo steps back. Release. Uncertainty. Then he twitches in alarm-response, reaction (relief) as the other's hand goes back towards the weapon. Rinzler's own motion is quick, response immediate as his stance loosens to a crouch, hand flashing towards his disks-
...what is he doing?
The program stops, stares at the abandoned weapon, at Ichigo, moving, closing. Unarmed. Noise stutters out in irregular skips, reach faltering. The other's a threat, a combatant (enemy?), but he's-he's not fighting. Rinzler freezes, confusion tangling with error, protocol misaligning, shifting-his head jerks sideways. This is... (wrong) not a fight, not-this isn't what he wanted. He doesn't-
He steps back.]
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[ Ha! Ichigo has the sense to keep it off his expression ( in favor of a scowl ) but he couldn't help feeling a sense of smug vindication. Letting Rinzler do as he liked, Ichigo raised an eyebrow, and kept his hands open at his sides. ]
Maybe you shouldn't just accept that because something has always been one way, that it can't eventually change.
You have a choice. A choice to attack me, right here, right now, or to not. You proved you're strong enough to make choices on your own. You're strong enough to do a lot of things.
Are you strong enough to choose to stop hurting people?
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...Rinzler's not supposed to change.
Threat. Target? He doesn't know what Ichigo is, what the user's trying to be. This isn't normal, isn't right, doesn't match-and if there's an uneasy shift of response, action through his protocol, it's hardly clear enough to compel. There's no reason to attack like this.
(He doesn't want to.)
That's not the choice. The program stares up from his crouch, sound ticking out ragged and resentful. The hand lowers from his disks-and flashes out. Quick, aggressive-but open, a shove to push the user back. Away.]
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[ I see what you did there, and the shove, though aggressive only results in Ichigo catching hold of one of Rinzler's wrists. He doesn't need his sword to have his speed, and stamina. ]
You don't want to hear this, but it's the fucking truth! You could kill me right here, and right now, and we both know it. But you know what? I saw the way you acted before.
I choose to trust you.
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He doesn't want to-not here, like this-no. But that doesn't-doesn't mean enough, not now, not ever. Rinzler's not what the user seems to think. And he will destroy others. Here. No matter who tries to stop him.
The helmet lowers, fists curling with rigid force. 'choose to trust...'
He shouldn't.]
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