Mun keeps switching their names by accident and ARGH.<3

[namesram]

Hey, I don't mind; it's my User's name, why should I? And it's completely legit to call him Ram, either by accident or on purpose. Who's going to argue with Flynn, right? So, I know it can be a little confusing, but try not to worry about it. Besides, you think it's funny too.~

And he feels the same, by the way. I should know, he's in here with me and we're going to figure out something fun to do as soon as our tags are caught up. So there's something else to plan for.<3

[Cue Roy waving cheerfully from the back corner. These two. These two.<333]

Also, thanks for keeping me away from... you know. There's still plenty of time to decide whether I was on shift when his pattern spiked the stats or not. And they took all the precautions, right? I don't like leaving Tron and Flynn alone, but... that's the whole point. They're not.

Comments

[creator_man]

It's not like I didn't call him Ram plenty enough.

You're not leaving anybody alone. It's good. For now.

[ja307020]

[Oh, hi Ram.

Tron is just... staring at you. From under the helmet, but, you know, it's pretty obvious anyway. Because weren't you supposed to be dead?

He might need a soft reboot.]

[namesram]

Yeah, you did. Kind of a sneaky way to pay your respects. [and he's all awwwww about it.~ ^________^]

I'm glad. Stay safe, Flynn, huh? Look, it's complicated, but if you need me there I can...?

[namesram]

[oh hi, Tron.

white circuits -- YESSS. having met a number of other helmeted versions of you, he finds that an extremely good sign, so he'll just. be running over to you with a great big hopeful smile.]

Tron?

[creator_man]

Well, I used to like the idea of being sneaky.

I'm trying. Caused enough damage already, trying for the other option. I know. And thank you. But I think we can handle this just fine. Take care of Yori.

[namesram]

Hey. [comforting hand on shoulder] There is a time and a place. [and he kind of likes the idea of being remembered via his User; it's... right, somehow.~]

Mun says you're doing really well so far. And Roy says [lots of stuff. but mainly] good luck. ..Yeah. We'll be... you know where to reach us.

[ja307020]

[Tron's head tilts and he rumbles a confused little growl before stopping with a wince. Words. Right. He remembers those.]

Ram?

[namesram]

[has heard much worse.~ doesn't bat an eye, but nods readily, knowing it has to be a shock after all these cycles.]

..Yeah.

You're looking good.

[ja307020]

[There's still a lot of tension in Tron's stance, though he relaxes marginally since Ram isn't running screaming into the night at the reminder of Rinzler. Being social makes him a little twitchy, these days. Hence why he is very tempted to stab his mun in the face. Still, he lets the helmet de-rezz and tries a smile. He maybe succeeds.]

You're not looking so bad yourself.

[Understatement.]

[namesram]

[Ram's good at noticing (comes with being so user-friendly), and with Tron, seeing some of the tension ebb away is as good as a broad grin.... and so is That Confounded Helmet^(tm) finally come off. they're still working on that with some of the Rinzler duplicates on the Grid where Ram's running. long, frequently tragic story. and since Ram has no poker face, he just beams back. like a sunbeam. hi, old friend... it's probably been way too long.~]

Thanks. It's really good to be back.

So what are you up to these days?

[creator_man]

True. *Flynn's face softens slightly.* Thank you. I'm sometimes prone to forgetting that going overboard with something doesn't make it a bad thing in all cases. *and he's glad that Ram likes it. A lot*

Thanks. I...

... you all realize the story of that other version of Clu just makes me want to get him better all the more, right?

[ja307020]

[Tron's a little tempted to reach out, just to see if Ram's real. He hasn't changed a bit.]

Adjusting.

[It's.. hard to put into words, even if he had been more eloquent in recent cycles.]

Go be social, the mun said.

[namesram]

[well, he did get the Flynn's-Grid upgrade, but yeah, underneath the new surface render he's the same. and has no difficulty taking the first step -- reaches out to grip Tron's arm in welcome and understanding.]

I know a good place for that, if you need one. People rerezzing from all over.... There's still some things to take care of, but it's a free Grid.

[Flynn's there. And Alan-One, sometimes. And Yori, and Anon, and and and...~]


[[Think we could enable you to grid_lined? Maybe? */collects ALL the Trons* ^____^]]

[tronja307020]

[Yesssss, Enable. Enaaaableeeee Join us. Join us. Join us.

One of us. One of us. One of us.]

Stop that, Mun. [Tron frowns, but not at the Ram or Other!Tron]

[Not until he's on the Free Grid with you!]

[Sighs and facepalms]

[namesram]

[chuckles] I dunno, Tron. Maybe they've got a point this time.

[gotta love peer pressure. and Ram has a sneaking suspicion that you two have a lot in common, huh? :D:D:D and mun is in total agreement. jooooin uuuus!~~]

[ja307020]

[Tron shivers a little at the touch, unable to completely suppress it. It had been a long time. After a moment, though, he relaxes a little more and the smile gets a little more genuine.]

All over? [A little frown.] Security must be a nightmare.

((I think despite his protests I could talk Tron over there to go be Batman keep an eye on things.))

[ja307020]

[.... :| Oh User there is not enough facepalm.]

...why is the mun cackling?

[namesram]

[knows how it is. not letting go, if it's up to him. he doesn't want to dredge up bad memories, either of the old system or the Grid, but most of the Trons he knows went through some pretty awful stuff and anything that helps that smile come back is probably a good thing.]

Tell me about it. [wry smirk] I mean, it's a positive change, really. So many people who were derezzed are just... coming back, and some are just total strangers from different Grids or even from different systems. Users, too.... So yeah, it does tend to get a little chaotic. We've got some good programs on security, but could always use more help as people rezz in. [hinthint?~]


[[YAAAAY!~~ The Grid always needs moar Batman keeping an eye on and I am literally bouncing up and down going */GLEEE* over here!~]]

[ja307020]

[He's taking it slowly, leaning a little more into Ram's personal space and trying not to loom out of sheer habit. And hey, Ram was official holder of the record for longest conversation with Tron that wasn't one-sided in the last thousand cycles.]

[Nods.] It wouldn't be. Clu was starting to gut processes at the end with his rectifications. [Not that he'd ever put it that way, but Rinzler wasn't an idiot and could read between the lines in Clu's self-congratulatory gloating. About Ram's offer, though...]

I.. don't know.

I'm not what I used to be.

[That was.. somewhat accurate, at least.]

((\o/))

[creator_man]

None of us are, old friend.

[coadminclu]

That's the more rational part of why Yori's so furious to have me showing up in the shared mindspace here. [He sighs.]

And of course if it were possible, I--but it's asking too much of your Grid, Flynn, after everything he did. You saw how early the differences had to be.

Yori's right, it's such a risk even to try...just be careful, okay? If it helps, think of your other kids.

[creator_man]

I can't not try. I owe it to everyone. Including to try and stay as safe as I can.

*small smile* We can work on it, my friend. I'd rather not give up just yet. I gave up once and that made many feel betrayed.

[ja307020]

[Oh. Hi, Flynn. Have a very carefully blank look. The effort is a little ruined by a low, involuntary growl.]

Flynn.

((Yay User issues? Also, this is awesome.))

[creator_man]

*quiet sigh, yes, he understands that. Not unmerited at all, either*

Greetings, Tron.


ooc: Adding to the call of come over to our playground...

[ja307020]

[Tron tilts his head in acknowledgement. He's careful to keep aloof from Flynn and keep his personal space intact.]

((I'll probably hop over in a few hours. ♥))

[creator_man]

I'm not going to hurt you, old friend.

*though he knows better than to push closer. Just. Sad.*


ooc: ♥ and then you get some sample of the people there on sws...

[ja307020]

[Eyeroll. Flynn, you never mean to anything. That's the problem.]

[Also, the sadface thing needs to stop. Because your puppy eyes are making it hard to stay totally mad at you.]

[creator_man]

*eyebrows up, just a little* I am trying to do better now, you know. Nobody deserves to suffer for my mistakes, and so very many have.

*He rarely has not-sad eyes, anymore. Human beings aren't meant to live this long - the perky arrogant bouncy young man is very, very long gone*

[ja307020]

So do something about it.

[He pauses, looking for the words.]

The only way is forward.

[creator_man]

Indeed it is. Now that motion seems an option at all.

*no much use saying that he's trying. But...*

One of the things I am doing is listening to suggestions. Better than I used to.

[ja307020]

Good.

[Yeah, that thing? And that other thing? Could have been prevented if he'd done that earlier. So the word is heartfelt.]

[creator_man]

*quiet, rumbling chuckle, not quite reaching his eyes. Not the laughter, at least; they do soften.* You wouldn't believe how many people are having that reaction.

[ja307020]

The User learns. [It's a little sarcastic, but now Tron's expression is edging into a small smile.]

[creator_man]

Miracles never cease, right? *oh, that is better. Little as he believes he deserves their friendship, Flynn's trust in his friends is such that seeing them shutting him off is... upsetting.*

[namesram]

[heh, looming is fine. it's just part of Tron's natural charm, right? anyway, if Ram was put off that easily, they would have had a much harder time getting acquainted back in the old days. Tron had let him talk, or trusted him to listen -- either had been rare and precious where they were.]

I know. I was there. [suppresses an involuntary shiver of his own.] Imported from a backup a couple hundred millicycles before Clu took over, but I didn't have access to any of my previous batch of memories until... [mouth tightens as he looks down] Way too late.

[continues softly, looking back up, eyes full of trust despite the understanding of what Tron must be referring to]

I bet you're still the best.

[ja307020]

[The admission gets Ram dragged, though not forcefully, in for a one-armed hug. It's not Ram's fault, not by a long shot.]

Think about it.

[That's a promise, Ram.]

((...in fact, he is now on ur Griz, gettin' confused. ♥))

[namesram]

[and that... is very okay. it's not as if Ram hasn't been holding himself back from doing the same right from the beginning, he just knows how you're a srs straightforward program and need your space and didn't want to spook you. ^^; he leans in and hugs back hard, for all the lost time and just... everything.]