My Monster and Me...

[bigsoftie]

Who: Leatherhead and Whomever
What: A gator's on the loose and no pizza place can hold him
Where: On the outskirts of the new town
When: Mid day

He didn't care for this new change. In fact, his first instinct was to hide. It had been so long since he went without this for and now...now it was back. And just like that all the old insecurities rose up. Would they accept him? Or did they only accept him on the merit of being human? And what's more, did this just mean they'd go back to casting him out or worse?

Well, don't worry. He'll reject himself you don't need to worry about that. The alligator had already abandoned Duke and Roadbuster. For a big guy he managed to give them the slip pretty well. Guess it was back to being on his own at least until this change went away.

The mutant liked it much better than in the city, really. A lot more grass, actually. And actual flowers. He liked those. The mutant could get used to this for awhile. Soon enough the mutant began wandering the area of the outskirts, enjoying the flowers of every hue and size. Yeah, if only Mikey could find him..

Comments

[fuckinstoplights]

After finding enough fuel to run on, he'd started wandering. Koro and the Nameless stayed behind, at his request. They would be safer. Not to mention, it was easier, this way. And, besides, he'd missed flying so much.

So much.

He didn't even realize he'd left the city behind until sensors indicated the grass below him.

Well. Those flowers were something he hadn't seen in a while. Not like this. He landed, still transformed, hopping curiously through them. He probably looked a little ridiculous, doing so, but no matter. No one else was out here.

Right?

[bigsoftie]

WRONG.

Don't be so quick to assume, Kagerou. Right at the giant robot began hopping through the flowers, it took Leatherhead a moment to realize the robot was heading for his path. Instantly the alligator darted out on all fours out of the robot's way.

So much for keeping it low profile.

[fuckinstoplights]

He wasn't expecting anything to happen. Or anything to move. There's a startled sound more like a bird than a machine, and Kagerou hops back several feet, wings raised, and ready to flee.

What was that?

"... Who's there?"

[bigsoftie]

Ok that's weird, bro. The rest of the robots at least turned into cars what's your deal.

Leatherhead mistakenly turns round only to stare at Kagerou. Just...stare.

[fuckinstoplights]

And the bird stares back. That's... an animal he's never seen before. Is it one of the digis? Or... someone else?

He doesn't move. It's awkward, the longer the stare goes on.

"Hello...?" he ventures again.

[bigsoftie]

Certainly not a digimon. And given the voice, Leatherhead cannot help but rumble, "Kagerou?"

[fuckinstoplights]

Wait, it knows his name? How does it --

And, like his friend, the voice clicks. He blinks. And cranes his neck toward where the creature is hunkered down.

"Leather... head?"

[bigsoftie]

Boy does he have so many questions...it feels so weird seeing him like this. The mutant rises to his hind legs.

"You are a mutant...like me?"

[fuckinstoplights]

"I... no."

He hops backward again, in order to gain more space. And then changes, form shifting upward from bird to robot. It feels good to be able to do it, again.

"I'm an AI."

[bigsoftie]

That makes Leatherhead's eyes flicker wide as Kagerou transforms. Bro, what the heck?

"...are you like Arcee?"

[fuckinstoplights]

Well, the more he speaks, the clearer it is that this is, in fact, his friend. He looks a lot different, but -- the speech. It's the same.

"No, I'm... I'm only an AI. Not alive, like her."

[bigsoftie]

Leatherhead has a hard time buying the not alive distinction, especially since he's not like those Kraangdroids, "But...you feel, do you not?"

[fuckinstoplights]

"Yes, but..." he hesitates. And takes this opportunity to step closer to his friend. Despite the conversation, he's curious. He'd like to see what the other was, exactly, when he wasn't human.

"We're programmed to."

[bigsoftie]

Leatherhead hesitates, taking a small bow as Kagerou moves closer. Somewhat defensive, but still.

"But...you still feel. That must mean you are alive."

[fuckinstoplights]

The defensive movement makes him halt where he stands. He crouches down a little, as if in an effort to make himself look smaller. Why was his friend reacting that way...? Their personalities hadn't changed, had they?

"Does it count? If your feelings are nothing more than data?"

[bigsoftie]

The alligator is wary...mostly out of fear of startling Kagerou and partly because holy hell Kagerou is huge.

"I do not know...I am not even sure if I have a soul myself."

[fuckinstoplights]

He sinks down to the ground, still crouched, and mostly unsure. His friend's wariness only serves to make him more discomforted. Makes him wonder all the more if he's done something wrong.

"Why wouldn't you? You're alive. A living thing."

[bigsoftie]

Give him time, Kagerou, he'll come out of his shell. Leatherhead points at his chest, "But I cannot feel it...not like Arcee...or the others."

[fuckinstoplights]

He mimics the gesture, briefly. He's always been more comfortable, trying to shadow someone, after all.

"What do you mean?"

[bigsoftie]

His posture relaxes, so that's progress.

"They can see their souls...feel it...I am not sure if it is there..."

[fuckinstoplights]

His hand lingers, fingers brushing the symbol on his chest. Almost absently. As if he's lost in thought as he touches it.

"I can't feel it, either. I'm only an AI. I don't... think we have them, either."

[bigsoftie]

"But you feel...I feel...how can we be sure?"

Sorry Kagerou, he's just working through this.

[fuckinstoplights]

"I'm programmed to feel."

He says it calmly enough. It isn't a truth he likes. Or even one he's very comfortable with. But there's no sense dragging the poor guy into it. It's not Leatherhead's fault, after all.

"It's different. For things who are alive."

[bigsoftie]

He feels bad for Kagerou, yet he kind of relates on a small level. He just replies, "Sometimes I feel like I do not know why I was changed...why I am alive."

[fuckinstoplights]

"What do you mean?"

He stares at him as if his friend has started speaking another language entirely. All living things knew their purpose... right?