canon is 7th dragon iii

[dragonamalgam]

Mundane, there is absolutely zero reason for you to be upset. While I agree that the idea is a little upsetting, I can assure you I have no bar code tattooed at the back of my neck.

[Sigh.]

I may have been artificially created, but I was raised as a human.

[...] Yes, I know Commander Akutsu treated me as though I were an item rather than a person, but I assure you he was in the minority, even within ISDF.

[Another sigh.]

Yes, I know the other ISDF soldiers shot at me after the specimens for Haze and Hypnos were installed in me. And that they saw me as a monster. But honestly, I am a draconic humanoid abomination, so what were you expecting? Humans judge by what they see most of the time. I'm sure I must've appeared frightening to them, and I had just struck their Commander down.

I don't blame them and you shouldn't either.

But, back to the topic at hand- The only items I have on me as an identifier are my dog tags and my military issued ID. No bar code. I promise.

Comments

[warriorscribe]

I say the image is plenty of reason to be upset. Even if there is none, it's symbolic.

[dragonamalgam]

ISDF never owned me. I was part of it of my own free will.

[That's what he believes, anyway.]

So I fail to see how it's symbolic.

[warriorscribe]

It sounds as if you were born into it and knew little else, from our earlier conversations. It's symbolic because you'll say things such as "I wasn't a person". They called you a Yuma "unit" - it may not be a symbol of ownership, but I've never seen one of those things [he means barcodes] on a person.

[dragonamalgam]

I was grown in a laboratory, not born. [Yeah, he feels the need to correct him on that.] Even if I wasn't a person though, I could've left ISDF at any time. They would simply have created another one of me.

[Akutsu probably wouldn't have let him... But Yuma has no way of knowing that for sure.]

Though... I wouldn't wish my fate on anyone else. Being obsessed with power and little else is a very solitary existence.

... As for the bar code thing... Well, I don't have one, so it doesn't matter. They're handy for registering items, but to date, only one complete Yuma model has been created. No need to categorize if I'm the only one.

[warriorscribe]

You seem to be...misunderstanding the point.

You may be the only one at the moment, but you were told there can be others if so needed. It is-...an upsetting idea. That you have one isn't the message the art is trying to convey. That is. That you are one of many, and will be disposed of if found faulty - like an item to be registered.

It isn't normal, and it isn't right, [his voice is breaking] and the art in question seeks to portray that.

[dragonamalgam]

I see... But if I'm not-

... Enoch?

[Yeah, he noticed the breaking voice and he is worried.]

Are you alright?

[warriorscribe]

[He's just upset, Yuma. Like any human being with a functioning sense of empathy, let alone his own hyperactive one.]

The way you were treated, it wasn't right...

[dragonamalgam]

There are people who are treated way worse than I was in the world, so I don't feel like I have much right to complain.

[...]

I'm sorry you're upset. Is there anything I can do, dad?

[....... Wait. What on earth just came out of his mouth. Yuma is frozen for a moment, before blushing. What the hell, Enoch is not his dad... Though he certainly reminds Yuma of one.]

... I... I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that.

[warriorscribe]

[The moment of shock doesn't last long before it's replaced with a warm smile. Yuma's been denied a real father, and he's been denied watching any child of his grow to apprenticing age. There's nothing about this telling little slip of the tongue that isn't heartwarming.]

Don't apologize. I'm flattered.

[He pauses a moment, trying to come up with something else to say.]

Don't apologize. You didn't ask for any of this. You aren't truly the cause.

[gathersnomoss]

... You seem cheerful.

[Well, more like 'if Zelgadis had a word for Stockholm Syndrome he would be thinking it, even if he didn't say it']

I suspect I agree with your mun. Most people might judge what they see, but that doesn't mean you can't be angry about it.

[dragonamalgam]

I'm not angry about it. I have no reason to be.

My actions probably spoke louder than my appearance- Killing Commander Akutsu was a monstrous act, and the soldiers that served him responded in kind. And you know- if it looks like a monster, talks like a monster, and acts like a monster- then it probably is a monster.

[gathersnomoss]

Killing someone who treated you like a slave was monstrous?

[Zelgadis is highly skeptical.]

[dragonamalgam]

He did not treat me like a slave. He simply didn't care for me as though I was a living, breathing being, and made sure to make me understand that I was replaceable- [When he puts it like that it sounds kind of horrible.

Yuma looks sheepish for the shortest moment, before clearing his throat.]

Anyway- I was there of my own free will, so I was hardly a slave. And killing another person for no other reason than them getting on my nerves is monstrous, yes.

[Admittedly it... Probably had been building a little. And being part dragon makes you view the world differently.]

[gathersnomoss]

You realize that a lot of people -- including most humans -- may well have acted first. Hence the reaction.

I would have left. But I'm not a people person.

[slightly a lie; Zelgadis didn't trust most people any more, but he could work fine in groups]

[dragonamalgam]

I don't think a human would have acted the way I did. I let the dragons inside me control me and I will never forgive myself for that.

[Yuma fixes his eye on his claw-like hands as he thinks.]

I'm not really a people person either. But remaining within ISDF... It was my choice and felt like my place in the world.

[gathersnomoss]

Do you have that much experience with humans?

[dragonamalgam]

Looking to the reactions of my creator and my mentor, I'd say my response was definitely an overreaction.

[...]

Other than that I have little reference point as to how humans act. I've only observed from a distance, for the most part.

[gathersnomoss]

A friend of mine would cast fire spells when people insulted her. Then have to pay off the property damage her temper caused. Totally human.

[dragonamalgam]

Did her temper kill anyone though?

[gathersnomoss]

Hang on...

[no, he doesn't know the answer off the top of his head]

Not to my knowledge. Definitely some serious injuries, and most of the time we didn't stick around to see the full damage when it was a large spell.

[Man, if Lina was around, there would be a direct answer to 'can Lina kill someone in a temper'.]

[dragonamalgam]

If no one died, then no comparison can be made. Besides, I'm sure her mind was completely her own.