Mun is impatient. Muse doesn't care.

[unrectified]

[No growling. No extra noise at all. And no visible face. But somehow, every line of the program's form, from the crossed arms to the sarcastic little tilt of the mask, manage to convey Rinzler's utter irritation.]

Stop. Pushing.

[The voice is harsh and synthetic, with only the faintest trace of similarity to his programmer. Nothing discernible at all, unless you're listening for it. A short burst of static comes out with a huff of breath and he shoves off the wall, paces a few steps before turning back.]

Not even done.

Comments

[namesram]

[[/things that don't look good: this]]

[unrectified]

[[Mirror!Rinzler disagrees with your assessment. Or. Well. Would.]]

[namesram]

[[............because he can't not wonder.

can't not ask.]]

So what happens now?

[red_shift]

That sounds like my life story.

[Eyeroll. Nobody lets him out to bother people anymore.]

Dare I ask?

[unrectified]

[Oh. Hey. Program. Blue program, which gets a second look, but... could just be function. Nah, what's really bothering Rinzler is the flicker of recognition from his archived memory. Because really, any match from those files? Doesn't tend to go well.

Still. No threat yet. The mask fixes on the other program before angling to the side in silent question. Clarify?]

[sysadmin]

[ Why are you talking you know that's not allowed. ]

[unrectified]

[Oh, hey Clu. Another faintly staticky grumble.]

Mun. [He's not calling it a user.] Obsessed.

[And... 'cause really, Clu, you're looking a lot more... repaired than usual...]

Status?

[unrectified]

[What are you even, Clu. Have a headtilt.

Though if you're noticing mismatches, you might find the absence of a certain rumbly noise interesting... or the fact that Rinzler's standing taller than you are.]

[red_shift]

Have you tried dangling shiny things in front of it? They can be pretty easy to distract.

[Well that's.. ok, it's only a moderately odd thing to say, and that's only because the last one of you guys he ran into here was a lot more panicky about talking.]

Nominal. Just a bit bored.

You?

[tanks4thememory]

[This is so weird, brogram, you have no idea.

He's been informed you probably won't get stabbity with him, but you'll have to excuse him for keeping his distance at first...]

[namesram]

[okay, wait, Ram knows you can talk, you were just doing it.]

Mun tells me you're just coming in for a visit. Anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable? [and reduce the chances of anyone getting derezzed, maybe?]

[unrectified]

[Alright, slightly less irritated with that mental image to process. And not entirely a bad idea, knowing his mun. Amused nod.]

Give it a Bit.

[...though. Yeah. Still side-eying.]

Fine.

[red_shift]

[Okay, that? That was funny. Because he can totally visualize a mun taking off after a Bit and it's been a long cycle.]

Yeah, that would work.

[snerk.]

OK, what is it?

[He's got a zillion cycles of experience with all the forms of the Tron-brand stink-eye and more than he'd care to admit of Alan-One's variant. He knows what you're up to.]

[unrectified]

[...okay. That face. Right color. Not his Clu.

Flynn's other creations haven't been so friendly. Rinzler will just be shifting to a slightly readier stance. And yep, not stepping any closer. Threat analysis comes first.]

Identify.

[unrectified]

[Of course he can talk. Now. Doesn't mean he'll waste the effort when he doesn't need to.]

Find an exit.

[He shifts unhappily, shakes his head in half-apology. No offense to you (though still unsure about that color), but he hasn't heard good things about this other system. Or his probable reception.]

[unrectified]

[Silence for a bit. Less stink-eye, more uncertainty right now. He's heard about alternates, but...

Rinzler shifts, arms uncrossing before he waves at Clu's facial render.]

Thought you couldn't fix it.

[tanks4thememory]

Clu-FA071081. Hacking program; created pre-Grid.

[He notices the shift in stance, and spreads his hands slightly, holding them up palms forward in a classic pacifying gesture.] I'm not looking for a fight. [The question "Are you?" remains unspoken, but is implied.]

[amirrorbrightly]

You're telling me. There's enough to do just getting the refugee lists compiled.

[ Shush, Clu. You need a break, anyway. ]

[red_shift]

[blinkblink]

I think we might have our dimensions crossed. I've never taken damage that wasn't fixable.

[Admittedly the less said about the stuxnet fiasco the better but even then Flynn managed to patch him up eventually.]

[tanks4thememory]

[Oh hey, slightly less face-twinny than usual brogram. Have a hacker who seems uncertain whether to be curious or suspicous about you. His expression seems to land somewhere in the middle.]

Well... this is gonna be interesting...

[unrectified]

[Hacking program. Not particularly system-friendly... but he's met worse. The reassurance is nice, but doesn't mean all that much. Still on edge.]

Flynn's?

[The relevant question. 8|; ]

[amirrorbrightly]

[ It's just a lens, man. But have an equal look of surprise. ]

Whoa. Blast from the past on your pattern, there...

[ And suddenly wary. ]

...Although if you're supposed to be my replacement, Flynn's falling down on the job.

[unrectified]

[Breaks are for other people. All the angry pacing.]

Doesn't listen.

[tanks4thememory]

[That question gets you a bit of a headtilt and a genuinely confused/surprised expression. You're not another blind-Tron, are you, man?]

You know, I think you're the first program who's ever had to ask that after getting a look at my face. Yeah, I am, though I have a feeling that means something alot different where you're from than it does for me.

[unrectified]

[...yep. Well. Disconcerting.]

Apparently.

[Slightly uneasy silence. If this Clu never took the damage, then...]

Yori?