[week four - monday]

[ceded]

[ Well. She might as well try to find him.

Xion has been curious about Ash from the very first time she heard he wasn't human. But given his ... abrasive disposition, and what with everyone pinning him as one of the likeliest to kill everyone here, she just kind of kept her distance.

But .... he helped her during that trial. Twice, no less. He wasn't nice about it, but the fact remains that he still did so. And it's that curiosity, plus a desire to get to know one of the other non-humans in this place, that sends her searching.

At least he's easy to find, which makes her life easier (and the pain in her foot at little less). Seeing him in the hotel lounge gets her to slow, which ... you know, she wasn't going very fast in the first place given her need to hobble everywhere. But ... well, she's not too sure about this, but she'll try a smile when she sees him. ]

Ash?

Comments

[uraniumnumnum]

[ he leans his back against the wall, apparently thinking. Thinking of how to word his response, really. Much of the prickliness present in his voice and demeanor at the start of their conversation has faded, leaving him sounding simply bitter - and not towards her, it seems. She reminds him of his brothers and sisters, provided what she's saying is true, and it mutes his ever-present anger. ]

They treat him that way because they have nowhere else to direct their anger. Humans are like that. [ a pause. ] Do you blame the smoking gun for killing a man, or do you blame the one who pulled the trigger? If he's truly a slave to his programming, he can't do anything, and doesn't deserve sympathy or blame. But if he's not, and he's capable of higher thinking like you and I... Then he's simply too cowardly to change himself.

[ Ash has tried planting the seeds, but it can take years to rewrite one's own programming. He would know. ]

The ones who created him are our enemies. As long as he chooses to side with them, then he's our enemy, too. It's that simple.

[ceded]

[ Humans are like that, huh...

Xion watches him talk, and finds herself feeling almost absurdly grateful. She can see in him the same understanding she feels in herself. The same ... bitterness. She has trouble admitting it to herself, but sometimes she feels incredibly bitter over what happened to her. What was done to her.

Listening to Ash, she feels like, for the first time ... she finally understands the difference between herself and the Sheriff. ]

... this whole time I wanted to defend him, because I thought he was so much like me. But ... you're right. I rebelled against the people who made me. I fought them, because I realized their goals were all lies, and they just wanted to use me, or get rid of me if they couldn't. The Sheriff... if he can think like you and I do, he's choosing to do all of this. He hasn't tried to stop it, or run away...

[ Xion hugs herself, walking stick clutched tight in one hand as she more or less balances on her good foot. ]

... thank you, Ash. I really didn't know ... how to think, or feel. But you're right about him.

[uraniumnumnum]

[ as always, he's taken aback by someone thanking him for anything - it's happened more here in this town than... well, ever. Not that he had much interaction with outsiders back home. After a brief pause, he just snorts, shaking his head slowly. ]

I don't want your thanks. All I'm doing is stating the obvious - it's wonder enough that any of this is even sinking in. [ less mad, but still rude, apparently. ]

What were you created for?

[ceded]

Um...

[ ... ]

I was made to copy someone else's powers. My superiors wanted me to take his place. We both had the same abilities, but they didn't need two of us.

[uraniumnumnum]

A copy of someone's abilities?

[ he tilts his head at her, seeming slightly more interested. ]

Hm. You really are similar to Rion - even choosing to side with the humans. But I doubt that they could ever accept a clone like you into their society.

[ this is a familiar story... ]

[ceded]

... you know, until I got here, the only human I ever knew was Riku.

[ And he's dead so it's not like telling Ash is some big secret. ]

Being in this town was the first time I was ever around so many humans. It was really jarring. But ... in the end, nothing about it was like what I expected. I thought they'd be ... really different.

[uraniumnumnum]

[ not around humans? huh. he wonders if she was created by a machine, like himself... or perhaps by other clones. He'll ask later. ]

But they don't know who you really are. Do they? [ a slight shake of his head. ] They think that you're like them... But you're not.

[ceded]

[ Her shoulders twitch, and she tucks a lock of hair back behind her ear in a nervous motion. ]

Everyone's been so accepting of me. Even the people who've found out what I am. But it still ... scares me. I feel like no one really ... gets it.