[video] ⚙ heartbeat, heartbreak

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Is it...over? Is everybody okay?

[Labrys was hesitant, speaking like she was either upset over something or just hadn't wanted to record video in the first place. The mechanical girl's red eyes didn't quite look at the camera, slightly downcast.]

Uh--listen, if anybody's got time, I could kinda use some help. If anyone knows stuff about fixin' machinery, could ya meet me somewhere? It ain't hard, I can tell ya what needs repairin' and all that.

[She paused as if considering whether to end it there or not.]

...And, uh...Hidetoshi? Can I talk to ya when y' got a minute?

Comments

[terreifying]

Mm, I'm fine. Everybody else is too. All the costumes are gone. It's kinda sad that they're gone because they're pretty to wear.

[Rei was talking as much as possible, trying to make up for the lost time back when she was a catgirl.]

And I don't feel hungry anymore. Well, not as hungry as I was back when I was playing the costume game. That was like...a black hole or a Dirac inside me and it was making me want to kill and eat everything.

[As for the part with the machinery...]

I think I know how to work with machines a little.

[fuhgeddaboudit]

I'm glad you're okay, but I don't think it was any kinda game.

[Even if she had no idea who this was, anybody being out of trouble was good news.]

There's just one kinda problem if you wanna help me fix it, though.

[terreifying]

It felt like a really fun one back when it was just costumes and candy.

[But then people started dying...]

What sort of problem?

[There's a pause as she realizes they haven't been introduced yet.]

I don't think I've seen you before. Hee~ey, I'm Rei. What's your name?

[fuhgeddaboudit]

My name's Labrys. It's nice t' meet ya.

[She held up her arm; the metal casing was damaged, a few wires and bits of metal sticking in odd directions. Kind of like something tried to crush it.]

See, I got this problem here, but I might need somebody t'hold my arm down if they try to help me fix it. Protocol would be to deactivate pain sensors and things like that if I needed repairin', but I don't think I know how t' do that on my own.

[terreifying]

It's great to meet you too!

[Her eyes go wide at the sight of the wires.]

Are you a cyborg?

[She wishes Mana was here. Mana would know better about cybernetics.]

I think I can hold you down during the operation just fine.

[surpassthelimit]

I can do some basic repairs on my machine so I got a bit of experience. What the hell needs to be fixed?

[fuhgeddaboudit]

My arm. It ain't too bad, I can give ya instructions. I just can't do it myself.

[surpassthelimit]

Sounds easy enough. What did you end up getting a prosthetic for anyway, if you don't mind me asking.

[fuhgeddaboudit]

...Prosthetic?

[She held up a red and silver metal arm; the casing was cracked with wires and metal exposed as if someone tried to crush it.]

Nah, this is my real arm.

[surpassthelimit]

[Oh. Oooooh. He suddenly gets a lot colder...though he already offered to help so he can't take it back.]

...android, yeah?

[video]

[altitonant_emperor]

[ He had no words for how relieved the event was over with made him. The damned wolf was gone, and being no longer forced to walk around almost nude, he was finally capable of putting on his high school uniform again which he done with relish. And then he goes about his forcibly normal routine.

But when Hidetoshi logs onto the dorm terminal, he's surprised when he finds someone addressing him on the network. It's not difficult to recognize that odd getup of hers though. They'd crossed paths in the cafeteria when he'd first arrived, hadn't they? They'd discussed how awful the oatmeal was. ]

Of course. Is there something you wish to discuss, [ what was her name again...? oh right ] Labrys-san?

[ Hidetoshi doesn't look nearly as worn out and shaky as he feels after his first experience with death, but he's got a nice set of bruises and bumps on his skin, along with some minor cuts. Largely from fighting monsters however, not from attacking Labrys. ]

[video]

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[Crazy fact: apparently androids could cry.]

[Less crazy fact: Labrys looked kind of like she wanted to.]

Are you...y'know, okay? After all that...I didn't hurt ya or nothin', did I?

Re: [video]

[altitonant_emperor]

[ Uh. Uh. Hidetoshi wasn't sure how to respond to the girl on the video screen looking like that. Uh, don't cry and why do you look like you want to cry in the first place? He frowned, eyebrows crinkling together as he processed her worried inquiry. ]

Hurt me? [ He echoed. Hidetoshi... hadn't encountered Labrys since the cafeteria. So why was she afraid she had harmed him? Perhaps she had been affected by the recent game forced upon them by the management? That could be it. He shook his head. ] I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. I'm fine. Minor bruises such as these fade quickly, given some time.

[ Honestly, she looks worse than he does. ]

[video]

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Huh--?

[Labrys blinked, looking up again.So he really couldn't tell it was her then. She'd expected as much, or at least that they'd heard different things when the other talked. It wasn't a surprise, but she had more expected that he'd at least seen her.]

I get it. So y' didn't know that was me you were fightin...? You were with that wolf that started bustin' up my arm, an' I had to get away before we really hurt each other.

video;

[ashtoash]

Your request has been received.

[ Says Aschen who may or may not be trolling the other android-looking girl over the network. ]

video;

[fuhgeddaboudit]

...Woah, huh? What're you talkin' about?

video;

[ashtoash]

Your inquiry for assistance.

For repairs, that is. I'm not familiar with this Hidetoshi individual.

video;

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Oh--really? Y'don't mind?

video; I'm that annoying person who tags with two characters alright

[innheritance]

Labrys, are you alright? I, uh, I didn't see you around while that mess was going on.

[ Yukiko's face is a bright red, but there is concern in her eyes as she stares down the terminal intently. ]

video; yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

[fuhgeddaboudit]

I was mostly stayin' around the dormitories. I got a little damage t' my arm, but I'm alright. What about you?

video;

[innheritance]

What about me? [ Not quite getting it as her mind's a bit frazzled due to the past events. ] Damage to your arm... but you're getting that fixed, right?

video;

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Yeah, it ain't a big deal. I just gotta find someone t' help me fix it.

But you ain't hurt or nothin', are you?

[pitiedthefool]

[How do you answer?
> "...Been better, but physically alright now."
> Nothing; you're not even glancing at the network.
> Both these options suck and you're taking a third option. "Are you alright?"]

I'm alright. ...What happened?

[> You are more concerned for your friend and the... well, you can't even begin to 'process' that right about now.]

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Nothin' important. I was more worried 'bout you guys.

[pitiedthefool]

You sure? [Well, not like he can say he was more worried about them than himself...(but FREEDOM FROM GEASS EFFECT, HELL YEAH)]

Heh. Can't say you were the only one for that.