dear_mun | on being reserved at Abax, and voice-test ahoy!

[Ohh boy. Hoooo boy. Well. This'll be... fun.]

How about those old, familiar faces? Hm?

[Oh User. Fun indeed.]

Oh, Zuse. Hi.

[It's not exactly a cold response. It's more... saddened, than anything. You kind of betrayed her and some very important people she cared about.]

I heard you were over in this place, too.

[He knows. He know, he knows. Slightly sorry about that.]

I've been there for a while, making lovely friends and enemies.

[Only slightly? Zuse...]

You were always good at that [and who those lovely friends and enemies were seemed to shift and change at whim when it came to Zuse. She had trusted you].

I know. It's in my code. All the way through.

[Quiet smile.]

I suppose you're getting into all sorts of trouble there too?

[suddenly, a voice from nowhere! Actually, just a floating mask behind you. nbd nbd]

Ooohh! Another person interested in the User city! [and now there's a rather creepy person behind the mask] Tell me, little sprite, are you going to the City of Darkness~?

[And in her surprise, the ISO turns and slips a comfortable distance away. What in the Grid is that.]

'The City of Darkness'? [Eyebrows furrow some] Is that what it's called?

[THAT is a rather nasty Virus. Though not like the kind you're used to] Well, the User says it's actually called "Abax", but the City of Darkness is much more descriptive! Albeit longer... Hmm, I just don't know what name I like better! [she hovers above the ground, lags crossed, and wearing a mask with a perplexed look]

[A virus is a virus. She's had some pretty nasty experiences with them in the past :c]

This User mentioned that this new place was in 'perpetual darkness', so I can see where the other name would fit. Reminds me a little bit of home [including the very sad absence of sun and sunlight].

In that way, at least.

[sadface!] Your system is unlit? How very dank. Dark! [a wave of her hand and her mask is intrigued. And she's quite up in Quorra's personal space] I like it. Tell me about your system. Now!

[Anddddd Quorra is totally trying to maintain that personal space by stealthily edging back. You freak her out a little bit, Hex, ngl.

The sharp demand to elaborate makes her blink, makes her wary. But she can respect curiosity.

Even if that odd mask is unnerving.] It isn't completely unlit -- all the structures are self-illuminated by circuit strips and lights, and the programs have circuits themselves.

There's no sun, no sunlight like the User world has [only the fleeting light of the Portal -- and even that hadn't been around for the last thousand cycles or so].

Oh I see. Lit with circuits like these~? [She traces her claw along one of Quorra's many beautiful glowing lines] Sounds like eyestrain waiting to happen! Hahaha! [she gestures to the sky with her hand] The sky in Mainframe is usually lit, except when there's a Game in town or a Firewall in place.

Yeah! It's not really all that ba-- [Oh User. Oh User. Quorra flinches back away from that touch immediately; wherever Hex's claw contacts her white circuits, the color flares a soft purple and a short burst of pleasant sensation crawls through her body.]

I'd rather you not -- [all the embarassment rn, she's shaking her head vigorously] -- It's best that you don't touch my circuits. Please.

[She pauses, pulls in a short breath. Then:] What... sort of Games?

[Hex is positively tickled by that reaction! They change COLORS! How fascinating!]

Why, dear? That seemed like a positive reaction to me.

[but, back to the topic at hand;] All sorts of games. Whatever the User feels like playing, it seems. Racing games, roleplaying games, platforming games... But the only one I played... the User was a treasure hunter or something, trying to raid a pyramid's loot. [she flaps a hand] Mainframe's User isn't particularly good at games, it seems.

[Hear that rumble? It might sound... familiar.

Rinzler thinks you might want to reconsider that last statement. You know, ISO. The one about handling yourself?]

[She does recognize it, and it puts her on the defensive immediately. Even if she'd heard Flynn's recognition of Tron in those last moments, a thousand cycles of Rinzler's ruthless reputation--whispered through the streets and displayed for all to see in the Arena death matches--has immediately colored her reaction.

Quorra lifts her chin, her gaze fixed steady on him.]

What do you want.

[Recognition might come a bit easier without the helmet. Or then again, it might not. Tron's been dead for a thousand cycles. But if the red-orange glow, the flat glare, or low, ticking growl mean anything? Faceless mask or no, Clu's enforcer is very much alive.

What does he want? There's a skip to the sound, almost amused as his hunched stance shifts slightly (coils), head tilting with a derisive quirk of expression. The same thing he always wanted.

Finish the Game.

You're the last, after all.]

[It isn't Tron, that much she can already tell. And his posture, his expression, all read threat.

Her eyes don't stray from him, every muscle taut, tense, ready. She lifts one boot, and the toe of it scrapes softly against the ground as she takes a step back. A step away.

She'd heard so much about Tron from Flynn--about his heroism, what he'd done in the ENCOM system. And he'd been a protector of the Grid, the program that everyone had admired, the Grid game Champion, back when losing hadn't ended in terror and shattered voxels and death.

This isn't Tron.

This program is some twisted creature that Clu created. And Quorra is well aware of how dangerous he is.]

[She steps back. He steps forward. Slow, soundless—or at the least, inaudible beneath the constant, pervasive growl of mismatched code. But the ready tension doesn't change, or the close-hunched stance. The only real sign of movement, in the end? Is that despite the ISO's efforts, the gap hasn't grown.

Gotten smaller, maybe.

This program is some kind of creature, that's for sure. Twisted or broken, Clu's or not—at this point, it doesn't make much difference. He is a danger—is a threat. And it's really just your luck you rate as target.]

[Quorra takes another slow step back, aware of his proximity, aware that the distance between them had not increased by any measure. She won't reach back for her disc (not yet), because she won't be the one to escalate this encounter that far. But the hostile tension between them is nearly crackling in the air at this point.

Instead, her eyes will flit a couple times to the side, over her shoulder. To any possible exit route. Then solidly back to Rinzler.

Her expression is all hard resolve and mustered-up bravado, and her circuits burn a harsh white. She'd like to think you don't scare her, Rinzler, whether or not that reads on her face.]

This new place. It won't be like what any of us are used to. I'm sure you already know that.

It's not the Grid, the rules there are different. It's not Clu's domain anymore, it's not his game. So stay away.

[Think what you want, ISO. He's hunted your kind since long before you crawled back from the Outlands. Or before you showed yourself, at the least. You spent a thousand cycles hiding, a thousand cycles running, and now you want to claim you're not afraid?

You should be.

Step forward. No gain in distance. Maybe it closed, just slightly. Or maybe not. Still hard to tell. There is a change, though, at the words. In sound, not stance, pattern, not tone. Rinzler's noise skips—skips again. Harsh, regular... amused.

The enforcer's laughing at you.]

...my Game.

[Harsh, low, forced out through a wash of static growl. The rules are definitely different, there, and Rinzler's had long enough to learn, to take advantage. To change, even. A little. Voice isn't permitted, but that doesn't make the difference it used to.]

[Her face flickers briefly at the noise -- at the laughter, his words -- then is restored back to its previous, hardened expression. He's too close and she's outmatched, no question. There's no back-up, no help this time. Not here. She can only rely on herself for this.

Quorra slides her foot a third time back, takes another futile step away. The space hasn't widened since this encounter started, and she's certain it won't. Not unless she acts.

Or unless he does.

His Game.

For a span of a few seconds, she tries to calculate the time it would take to reach down and detach the baton from her boot, to turn and then split it and rezz a cycle. Maybe too long.

But there's only one way to find out, and it's worth a try. She's extremely short on options at this point.

In an instant Quorra drops down to one knee and draws the baton from her boot, then shoves herself to the side -- away from him -- and attempts to lunge to her feet, to start into an all out sprint. It's all done in one graceful, swift motion, but whether or not it actually works as she hopes it will is to be seen.]

[...oh. Oh, Quorra. The gap hadn't widened (wouldn't), the slow retreat every bit as much a call of weakness as the read of your signature (ISO). But if there was one way, just one, to flag yourself past target, into prey?

Running was it.

The low rumble rises with a surge of vicious satisfaction as Rinzler's own tension uncoils in pursuit. Hand flashes towards disks as she drops, crouch becomes leap as the [ISO]/[target]/[prey] tries to lunge up, away. The joined weapon flares in his grip, red-orange core and white, humming blade. The jump's aimed to intercept, strike, stop her before she can run, before she can rezz up her vehicle and flee.

Not that it really matters. Short chase or long, he'll catch her in the end.]

So many Users... it's going to be amazing, don't you think?

[A warm smile lights her face.]

It will be, yes. I can't imagine what it'll be like there, but I'm looking forward to it.

[Being around Flynn for so long had been it's own experience. But a city full of Users? That would take some getting used to.]

New things are fun! Except when then end up with you stuck at the bottom of a river. [pause] What's a User?

Users create programs, systems. One created the world I come from.

[Her head tilts a fraction in curiosity.] How'd that happen? Getting stuck at the bottom of a river?

Oh, OK! [pause] Am I a User?

I vaccumed up the microbots that were going to eat Detroit! But they glitched my systems and I fell in the river. [bit of a frown] I was stuck there for awhile; it wasn't much fun. The fish don't like to talk very much.

Well. [Quorra studies him; she's never seen a program--or User--with his sort of appearance before, and so she sounds uncertain:]

Users are humans. They look similar to how I do. But... [hmm] if you can create programs and systems like Users do, perhaps the term could possibly apply to you too.

[Then she lifts both eyebrows in sympathy.] Oh no, that doesn't sound fun. You couldn't get out?

A new world sounds like total drama. If you can handle yourself, you better make friends like right away. Otherwise you'll be a loser.

[~~How right she is about the incoming drama fdsajklg~~.]

I think a new world sounds fun. And from what I was told, I should already have a few friendly faces there.

[Have some delighted waving from a certain security program. ♥]

[Have some equally delighted -- and excited -- waving back as Quorra closes the distance between them. You wouldn't believe how happy she is to see you alive and well, Anon, except for the fact that she's trying to squeeze him into a hearty hug now.]

Anon! Hey!

[Anon's quite happy to hug back. And if Quorra gets lifted an inch or two off the ground in that bear hug he's sure she can deal.

The grin hopefully speaks for itself.

He's missed you.]

[She can definitely deal. A tiny, excited squeak gets caught in her throat, and after a few more moments she finally releases him. She's beaming.]

I'm so happy to see you Anon! This is great.

I heard you'll be there, too, right? The User said you were. [Such a hopeful look on her face. She's missed you too, brogram.]

[Anon nods vigorously before showing off his phone. He can actually sort of talk now~! Though, uh, since Quorra doesn't have one yet he flips it to the notes setting instead, tapping away before showing her the screen.]

The system is completely glitched, but I'm there. Yori's around too, and I hear a lot of friends are coming in. Enemies too I'm afraid.

Um. I found out what happened to Tron.

There's a truce right now, but. Yeah.

There are also a zillion Users. Most of them are pretty friendly. I'm sure they'll want to meet you.

[ Hay gurl, haaaay! Have one (1) Sam Flynn sidling up to you. ]

I'd say you can handle yourself just fine. But, if it makes you feel better; how about we watch each others backs, too?

[Quorra's mouth sweeps up in a warm smile, and she bumps her shoulder against his in a friendly gesture.]

Of course, Sam. It's a deal. What's that User phrase Flynn's said before? [Short pause] 'Two heads are always better than one'?

on being reserved at Abax, and voice-test ahoy!

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fjdskal

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Hallo fellow reservee!

Hallo thar o/

Wreck-Gar, bb, what are you even doing here? XD

:D

:3

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ehehe <3

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Gah! Sorry for double tag, I forget I don't have an "edit" button XD;

>:I how dare you. Just kidding XD <3 I sorely wish I had one myself, I love my edit button