The shakiest voice that was ever tested

[awearysoul]

[The corners of Flynn's eyes crinkle with amusement. He shakes his head.]

Do we really have to do this?

Deadlines piling up. Writing on the backburner. Trust me, man. I've been there. You've got enough on your plate without adding an old man to the waiting line. Besides, you really think we mesh?

Take things slow. [A flash of grief, and his tone goes quiet.]

And don't make promises you aren't equipped to keep.

Comments

[sysadmin]

[ What this about keeping promises? Clu didn't quite catch that. He does, however, look more than a little pissed. ]

That's a first.

[awearysoul]

Clu.

[Brief surprise. Then tired expectation. Flynn knows better than to hope too much has changed.]

What is?

[sysadmin]

[ Clu sneers. He already knows how everything ends, and he doesn't have it in himself not to be bitter about it. ]

You, bothering to acknowledge deadlines and promises.

[nexus_creator]

You don't look like any Silhouette or Mirage I have seen.

What are you? A human?

[the_gamesmaster]

Old man? Who are you calling old, man? We're not done yet.

[clu2_perfection]

You've always been a stickler for deadlines, Flynn.

[awearysoul]

[Hands fold in front, thumb tapping the opposite hand once. Twice. Oh, there are arguments, but he knows Clu's anger well enough. It used to be his.]

An old man can't learn a thing or two?

[awearysoul]

Human. User. Depends on where you're from.

What are you, if you don't mind me asking?

[awearysoul]

You might not be, man. What are you... '82? '83?

[sysadmin]

Too little and too late. You think it's going to help you now?

[awearysoul]

We can't all be perfect.

[the_gamesmaster]

I hope you don't mean years, man. [He grinned.]

Uh, let me see.....1982, yeah. That's the year. 1982, man. How about you? I mean me....uh, you?

[clu2_perfection]

Perfection is something we all strive for. That fine line between creation and failure. Users have flaws. I have learned to overcome those weaknesses.

So, man. How is life treating you?

[nexus_creator]

I am from a world where humans have become something else entirely.

The explanation might be a bit too lengthy for you so let us just say I am a very complex program.

[awearysoul]

I'm not sure I'm the one who needs help.

[breaksthelandscape]

I tried telling my mun almost the exact same thing to dissuade them from adding me to their cast.

It didn't work.

Now I'm stuck in a sinkhole with Tron that I kind of helped make after crash landing on top of him and the mun and their friends keep calling me a duckling who thinks he is a dog. Whatever that is supposed to mean...

[awearysoul]

You don't say.

Far out render you've got there. What kind of system?

[nexus_creator]

Well thank you. [It felt a little weird to be complimented, it was a rare thing for someone to do that because they wanted to.]

The system has a lot to do with the state of my world. Due to the malfunction of a machine the Earth is not like anything you've seen.

[justthedoctor]

Oh, don't worry, the Muns have a way of managing. You never know, you might help yours in some way. I like to think I help mine.

If it's any consolation, one of your old friends is in our headspace. He says there's a place for you, nice people, and you'd be safe! Plus, it's nice and slow, your Mun wouldn't have to worry about keeping up with how much they've let you out to socialize every month.

[manwhowaited]

Hello, Flynn. [He smiles.]

What is it you say? 'Go with the flow' or something like that?

Muns always accumulate muses. If it's going to happen, it'll happen. Not really much you can do about it.

[sysadmin]

[ Bristling; ] Spare me. I realized a thousand cycles ago that your 'help' was unnecessary. The Grid was better off without it.

[ He doesn't need your help. Just your disc. ]

[awearysoul]

Whoa, there. Let's take this one step at a time.

[He holds up a hand. Still, if you look close enough, Beck? You might see your Creator struggling not to laugh.]

You got... Tron... stuck in a what?

[breaksthelandscape]

[Beck, in turn, is trying his best not to spontaneously combust in embarrassment. HE IS TRYING REALLY, REALLY HARD TO LIVE UP TO TRON'S IMAGE, OKAY?]

Er. The Portal sort of hijacked me and dropped me on top of Tron. The ground beneath us collapsed and now we are stuck in a giant sinkhole waiting for someone to find us. The sides are too slick to climb out on our own and Tron is not in any condition to travel long distances by foot or 'cycle.

[awearysoul]

I'd certainly try, man. She's the stubborn sort, though. Spends half her time telling me I did it wrong.

Slow's good. [He smiles.] Friends are better. Who've you got kicking around up there with you?

[awearysoul]

[Frustration surfaces briefly, but he sighs and shakes his head. Bend. Don't break.]

I saw what you did with the place. Can't say I approve.

[And c'mon, man, even your games don't win that easy. Package deal?]