*helpfully, since Metal isn't looking at them* That's Waspinator. And Tango's the one near your hand. She's a cat, sort of. I think she wants you to pet her.
*Metal finally does decide to look. He still thinks this is nothing more than a trick, but he'd like to at least get a chance to see what's near his hand. He doesn't move much, just enough to look around a little, and does his best to limit his reactions at first. Metal is a bit scared once he notices Waspinator and even more confused at being asked before someone does something to him. Why doesn't Wind just do whatever he is planning and get it over with?* Why does it matter what I want?
*He quietly repeats something he's been told a lot over the past months, knowing it's the answer Wind wants to hear.* I'm just a failure that is only fit to be one of Wind's test subjects.
*Waspinator buzzes angrily for a second* Little xeno does not deserve that. No one does. Wind is very sick mech.
*Waspinator calms down and looks at Metal, curiously* Matters what little xeno wants. Waspinator will not touch little xeno if little xeno does not want to be moved.
*Quick isn't sure how to respond to this. His feelings of guilt for having let this happen from earlier are getting worse. Quick has never, in all the time since he was activated, seen Metal act like this. When he finally does respond, he speaks sounds a lot more scolding than intended.* Metal, come on. Don't say that type of thing. You should know better than that. We are trying to help you.
*Metal flinches a bit. Angry or unhappy people means more reasons for them to cause him pain. Tango's behavior confuses him a lot, if just because he's never really dealt with animals of any type before. He responds softly.* Don't like being touched. Just ends up with me hurting more.
*Air is a bit uneasy, but he figures than Metal might find his presence less upsetting than Quick's at the moment, especially with Quick's current mood. He approaches the CR slowly, speaking softly.* Don't worry, Metal. You're among friends here. We aren't going to let anyone hurt you either.
*Metal looks at the strangers nervously. It wouldn't be the first time that someone lied to him and told him he was safe when he wasn't. He frowns a bit at what Ballade said.* Never cared before that I wasn't the source of anger. Just a reason to hurt me.
*He pauses a bit on finally seeing Air. He's even more frightened now.* This can't be real. They said you were destroyed. I saw the pieces.
*Ballade gives Air a questioning look for a moment before shrugging slightly and saying, to Metal* I think they lied, cause he doesn't look like he's in pieces to me.
Hey, Quint? Does Air look like he's in pieces to you?
*Air stares, horrified at the thought. He hadn't thought Wind was capable of sinking this low. He's not really sure how to react.* Metal, they lied to you. I'm fine. This is real. Please, trust me on that. Why would I lie?
*Metal shivers a bit, remembering when they had given him the news.* Why would they have lied though? They gained nothing from it. Wind was really angry at not being able to get Air. *He cringes, remembering how much pleasure Wind took in talking about what he was going to do...* Wind had a lot of plans that were ruined by that.
*He goes completely silent at this point, afraid that he might have said something to make the inevitable pain worse.*
He gained this from it, *Quint said bitterly. Twisted mindgames were not uncommon in his universe.* You don't believe this is real because they lied and told you Air was destroyed.
Did they tell others this too? What did they say about Quick and Crash? I bet it made a better story than to let anyone know that someone escaped.
*More softly, he adds* Think about it, oniisan. Which story would they tell you to help keep control? That Air was destroyed, or that he was safe and out of their reach?
*Metal cringes a bit, knowing exactly what response was expected. When Wind played his tricks, if he responded differently, Metal would be punished more for it.* Quick and Crash were recycled. I was told about the order by Wind, and the next day there was the screaming... He always brought back proof to leave where I could see it whenever I was activated. Said that they had been traitors... And that it was my fault for not keeping them under control before.
*Part of him is wondering at the way this is going. The questions are different this time. Wind had never brought strangers into his games before either. Metal keeps himself still though, knowing that escape was pointless.*
*Air speaks quietly, trying to hide how upset he is and failing rather badly.* Come on, big brother. That didn't happen. Quick and Crash are both here now and perfectly fine. *He pauses before adding* And even if they weren't, it wouldn't have been your fault. They're old enough to make their own decisions now.
*Metal is quiet for a bit before he decides that maybe he'd better just do something to get it over with. Staying still is starting to get to him. He starts to move slowly, clumsily trying to get to his feet. He feels a bit bad for upsetting Air, even if he isn't sure that this is really Air.* How did I get here? Last I remember, I was in the small room Wind stored me in when he didn't have something he wanted to test out...
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*He quietly repeats something he's been told a lot over the past months, knowing it's the answer Wind wants to hear.* I'm just a failure that is only fit to be one of Wind's test subjects.
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*Waspinator calms down and looks at Metal, curiously* Matters what little xeno wants. Waspinator will not touch little xeno if little xeno does not want to be moved.
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It's ok, they're not mad at you. I think they're mad at Wind, because he's a jerk.
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*He goes over near the CR* It's ok, Metal. I understand you don't think it is, yet. But we're not going to hurt you.
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*He pauses a bit on finally seeing Air. He's even more frightened now.* This can't be real. They said you were destroyed. I saw the pieces.
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Hey, Quint? Does Air look like he's in pieces to you?
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*Quint looks a bit disgusted and upset by this* I think Wind likes to find whole new levels of twisted to sink to.
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*He goes completely silent at this point, afraid that he might have said something to make the inevitable pain worse.*
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Did they tell others this too? What did they say about Quick and Crash? I bet it made a better story than to let anyone know that someone escaped.
*More softly, he adds* Think about it, oniisan. Which story would they tell you to help keep control? That Air was destroyed, or that he was safe and out of their reach?
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*Part of him is wondering at the way this is going. The questions are different this time. Wind had never brought strangers into his games before either. Metal keeps himself still though, knowing that escape was pointless.*
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