bby come back--

[praelucente]

[An unsurprised, soft, but tired laugh.]

You never can let me rest for long. What's in store for us, this time?

Comments

[plainlyobvious]

[There's a long pause as Alia is trying to process this very familiar looking reploid. No way, it can't be, it's X. In a robe.]

X? You...

[Gosh, not only does he look like a lovely maiden different something about him is "different". ...oh, well. X is still X!]

Has your Player decided what they'll do with you, yet?

[praelucente]

[...Sob, he's been teased in the past for it being a dress; you're not the first and probably not the last, Alia. Not that he actually cares all that much.

Age does interesting things. And it's... been a long, long time since he's seen her. Ah, how to handle that? He's changed quite a bit.]

I don't think they have. [A sigh; still not surprised.] It might not even be in this medium.

[plainlyobvious]

[All X from the Zero series must face this teasing ohoho.

There's a curious look on Alia's face.]

What do you mean by "in this medium"? Are you going somewhere outside of...well, DreamWidth?

[praelucente]

[At least this isn't coming with skirt-flipping.

X tilts his head, data particle "halo" breaking apart with the movement before flowing to re-establish itself.]

It's possible. If not here, then most likely Tumblr.

[plainlyobvious]

[...i..iyaan?

Gosh X, when did you become so... ...well...oh. Right. Time to focus on other things first. Personal(?) questions can wait later.]

Ah, tumblr! I know of that place! Tumblr is a new way of "blogging" during the year 201X! It's quite popular yet most seem to treat it as some "secret society" despite being a public domain and-

[Alia, Alia no.]

Well, if your Player intends to go there with you, I hope it leads to fun experiences for you! My Player is there as well, but she seems to be more comfortable with a more structural setting RPwise. Of course, each Players have their on playstyle and they should find what appeals to them! It doesn't hurt to branch out and[blahblahblahblah...]

[praelucente]

[sob no

So... what? But her explanation comes as nostalgic and he smiles faintly. And he has the patience to wait until she comes to pause somewhere along the lines before interrupting.]

My player's considered it before, but hasn't really had reason to give it much thought beyond curiosity.

[plainlyobvious]

[im so sry X....

Oh X, you are the most patient. Even when dealing with Alia before she had the ignore option in X8.]

I see. Well, has your Player found anything of interest, X?

[mega_maiden]

They should let your rest longer! [She quickly realizes how bad that sounds and adds] Not that it isn't nice to see you.

[praelucente]

[Quiet little laugh.]

I would hope family thinks that way.

[mega_maiden]

[Hugs. All the hugs for X. Even if he's tiny cyber-elf he's going to get some form of hug.]

Still, I...hope what ever your mun plans, it let's you be really happy on occasion.

[praelucente]

[Well, no, he's about normal-sized, just a hard-light hologram of sorts. Rock, he's pretty sure you've done this exact thing before.]

There are some times when they can't help that.

[mega_maiden]

[And she will continue to give them to all forms of X. You got the bad end of the stick and big sister blames herself (even if she knows in her head it isn't).]

Shh...let me have something to help me recharge at night.

[praelucente]

[He's pretty sure they've talked about this before, back on LJ or something. Her response has him laughing.]

I meant it as a positive statement, Rock.

[mega_maiden]

[Probably! Never changes the fact that it's always going to be that way.]

It felt sort of vague, really.

[praelucente]

Ah, did it? I'm sorry.

[He pats her head.]

But you know they do shove me into positions where happiness is actually attainable, from time to time, so no worrying about that.

[mega_maiden]

I'm sure I'll end up worrying anyway. [She chuckles and leans into his petting. Mm~] It's in my nature...well you know what I mean.

[whistles_the_blues]

...Perhaps a change of attire?

[praelucente]

[He glances down at his robes with a wan smile.]

That's never done me much good.

[whistles_the_blues]

I guess everyone is entitled to a sense of style, but why a dress?

[hunter_maverick]

Yet another poor imitation. [Scoff.] To think that my vision falls to such charlatans as you.

[praelucente]

"Imitation"?

[X sighs, so damn tired, and just fixes him with a flat stare.]

You have me confused with someone else, Sigma.

[hunter_maverick]

[He shakes his head.]

No mistake. You are not X. You wear his face like a mask. X and I have our differences, and our ideals seem to be destined to always be at odds, but there's one thing he has that you lack.

Spirit. X is the epitome of what it is to be Reploid. Even if he does not agree with my methods or vision, I have the utmost of respect for him.

You are nothing more than a hollow shell shaped in his image, attempting to grasp - and failing - at his greatness.

[praelucente]

[And he smiles at that, laughing as much at Sigma as himself. He knows there'd been cracks forming after a century of self-aware near-solitude, but this?]

I did break, I think.

[His eyes close and he leans back on nothing, data particles swirling about his feet and flowing with the movement as he crosses his ankles and bends his knees--floating. He folds his hands in his lap.]

It's a very human explanation, but we're not so different that I can't use it: I have lived a very, very long time, and I am tired. I think I'm allowed that, aren't I? To want to rest a while. I'm still in one piece, though.

Well.

[A small smile as he opens his eyes.]

My body isn't.

[hunter_maverick]

[If Sigma were allowed to use his viral form to straight-up attack the hologram, he would. For now though, he'll growl impotently at the projection.]

No. Whatever you were, you were not X. X does not break, no matter how much punishment his body took, his spirit never wavered.

He's too much like myself. I know when I'm talking to X instinctively. You are not X.

[winsnaturally]

[Elecman's never seen anything like this! It's a hologram, and so well-programmed it's practically sentient! His sensors register nothing but a strange and powerful energy, controlled by something but he can't pinpoint what.

That face, though, is so familiar he almost doesn't want to believe it.]

...Who are you?

[Please excuse this Lightbot for forgetting his manners, he's never seen X's like before.]