[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

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Comments

@LELRIC; audio

[armoured]

[He remembers her from before, but it's been such a long time that it takes until she says her name for him to connect who it is.]

Wow, it's-- it's been a really long time, maybe you should find somewhere to sit down for this.

audio

[athenashand]

I am not sure if I should sit down. I can't spend the night here. [It's nowhere near nighttime, and shelter should be pretty close if she remembers correctly, but it's best to be practical!

Plus...this place is unsettling in a way Aigis can't articulate. Being surrounded by dead humans like this...

She presses on.] I could sit down at the firehouse. [She's not actually sure why she should sit down, anyway, but Alphonse seems concerned about it so she is just taking it at face value.]

[armoured]

No! I mean, uh-- maybe pick one of the other buildings?

[He hadn't meant to sound quite so urgent then, but he thinks there might still be an anomaly trapped there. Or, if not, then it's definitely a place where a few anomalies have shown up.]

Have you checked the map for other places to stay?

[athenashand]

[Aigis gives a questioning hum.] The firehouse is closest. It didn't seem necessary.

Is there something wrong?

[armoured]

Well-- someone trapped an anomaly in there a while ago, and I'm not sure if it's been let out yet.

[Mostly because he hasn't gone down that way in a long time.]

[athenashand]

Hm. [That is something to consider.] Do you know how and where it was trapped?

[armoured]

I'm not sure, I'm sorry, I wasn't around there at the time. I think it may have been chasing people and they managed to barricade the door to stop it getting through.

[He's very fuzzy on the details, and that might not even be the right story.]

I just know that the word went out that the firestation wasn't particularly safe.

[athenashand]

...I will consider my options carefully. It looks like I could reach a different building with enough time to spare, but...

[She hesitates. Her tone remains mostly level, but there's a low, fearful undercurrent present.] ...I don't want to go back out into the cold yet. That's how I...

[Died. Right?]

[armoured]

[Oh.

He understands that, and his heart aches for her. It's not fair that so many people here have to confront such terrifying things and then be expected to carry on.]

I'm sorry.

[Low and genuine.]

But I can stay on the line with you the whole time, if you want?

[athenashand]

[That's very kind of him. She does remember Alphonse being kind.] Is that alright? I would like the company...but I'm not sure what I would say.

[She has never been known for being an excellent conversationalist.]

[armoured]

That's okay, I can talk if you don't know what to say. Maybe we can use the time to get to know each other better.

[His voice is soft and kind.]

But you're gonna need to set off first, okay?

[athenashand]

...okay.

[She collects her pack and taps a few times on her tablet, pulling up the map that everyone has worked so hard on.]

I will go to building 240. The notes indicate that this building will provide safe shelter and running water.

[She's still not entirely accustomed to eating and drinking, but she feels like it would probably be best to drink some water after her long period of unconsciousness.]

[armoured]

That's a good idea, and you should have more than enough time to get there.

[As far as he remembers, it's not too long of a walk from the fire station.]

So, uh-- let's get to know each other, huh? My name is Al, but you probably already knew that, and I'm fifteen. Though I guess I might be sixteen now, I've been here a while.

[athenashand]

[She already introduced herself in her post, so she doesn't see the need to do it again, but the topic of age is a somewhat difficult one to broach. She's quiet for a moment, but there are sounds of rummaging and shuffling as she begins to move.

After some thought, she continues the conversation.] ...most of my classmates were sixteen too. I am not, but my situation is...different.

[armoured]

[He understands a different situation, he sounds like he's still ten and that causes problems because of the way he looks now.]

Do you want to tell me about it?

private

[athenashand]

[It takes another moment of silence occupied by thought, but she puts a private filter on the conversation and decides to answer. It didn't go so badly when she told someone else.] I'm not a human. I'm a machine. I was activated...I was "born" ten years ago.

private

[armoured]

Okay.

[It's a gentle response to show he's not freaking out, even as he thinks about what to say next.]

Do you think that makes you different in a bad way?

permaprivate

[athenashand]

I don't know. [She never even thought about it much until after her loss on the Moonlight Bridge.] The purpose for which I was originally built was not a good one. I have chosen a new purpose... But I don't know if it is enough.

[Not to mention she can't fulfill that purpose while she's trapped in Norfinbury.]

permaprivate

[armoured]

Do you want to talk about it?

[He doesn't mind which she might want to talk about, the past purpose or the current one, or maybe both. He's not going to judge her without all of the information.]