thefolder | My Monster and Me...

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..

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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."

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

"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."

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

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

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?"

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."

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."

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."

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

"What do you mean?"

His posture relaxes, so that's progress.

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

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."

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

Sorry Kagerou, he's just working through this.

"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."

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."

"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?

"I was not told my purpose...when I was born...when I was changed..."

He blinks a few times, and, at length, settles down on the ground, sitting with his legs drawn up to his chest.

"What do you mean... changed?"

"I was not born this way," gosh Kagerou, you're sure getting him to open up, "I was...changed...into this."

He scoots a little closer, his visible optic intent, expression more curious than anything.

"Born. You weren't... always in this form?"

Believe it or not, he wasn't. The alligator continued, "I was much smaller...I was made this way...it is difficult to talk about."

Do you the scar on his chest, Kagerou? That should be a good signifier of the kind of things that changed him.

He does note the scar. His visible optic flicks over it, before leaving the matter alone, for now.

"You don't have to, if it's difficult."

The last thing he wants to do is make someone who's always been kind to him uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, really.

"Thank you..." he nods his head. You are a true bro, Kagerou, "But that is why...I am not sure...of my purpose."

He settles his hands on his knees, looking down at them. It sounds familiar. At least the part about not knowing where you fit. Or what to make of yourself.

His head bows.

"I understand. I... don't know what my purpose is, any longer, either."

Suddenly he looks at Kagerou, thoughtfully appraising him. He feels the same at times, but...at least he has people by his side. People who love him and...it might be the help he needs.

"It shall come to you...one day."

Edited 2014-02-03 06:19 (UTC)

"You believe so?"

He didn't lift his head. Didn't meet Leatherhead's gaze. Maybe a living thing stood a chance of finding a new purpose, but for an AI like himself...? Was that even possible?

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bigsoftie - 2014-02-03 20:39 (UTC) - Expand

fuckinstoplights - 2014-02-03 22:08 (UTC) - Expand