[open]

[howlongiwonder]

who: 2B and whomever responds (probably perimeter guard members)
what: settling in with the guard (various prompts)
when: frontdated to after the picnic on april 10th
where: the Guard barracks
warnings: not really


i
[A new recruit has arrived, and she's quick to introduce herself.]

YoRHa unit number two, type B reporting. I'm projected to join the Perimeter Guard of Riverview Quarantine in the near future. When that happens we will participate in shared missions.

Let's work together to ensure future success.

[She states matter-of-factly, fist to the chest in an unusual salute.]

ii
[Okay, before anyone joins anything it's time for physical evaluation and conditioning, or as it's more widely known - boot camp.

Stamina training, obstacle course, weight lifting. It doesn't matter what she's told to do, 2B completes the exercise swiftly and without any complaints. She's not even winded at the end and wearing a blindfold doesn't seem to inconvenience her in any way. Is she even a human? Of course she's not, is she.

How about this then - peeling potatoes in the kitchen. Someone has to do it, right? Just this one time, 2B looks rather pouty at the task. She's still doing it though.]

iii
[Time for weapons practice. 2B stands in front of the weapon rack, pondering her situation. In the end, she's here to fight. No support pod, no operator, it's going to be different than before. Possibly much harder.

But that's not the only thing that's different. She's going to fight, but not to kill. She'll protect others. She'll protect humans. 2B allows herself a small momentary smile. If you look at it like that, it doesn't sound too bad.]

Right. This should be fine.

[She picks up a training baton from the rack and proceeds to swing and spin it around a few times for good measure. Time to get started - are there any onlookers to comment? Or perhaps join in the practice?]

Comments

[yokunaru]

None at all? [That's... honestly really odd to him. Yuuri frowns and sets the potato he's peeling down for the moment.]

I never asked in the elevator last time. What's your world like? I remember you said there's not a lot of humans where you're from...

[howlongiwonder]

There's no need for such things. Some have tried to recreate parts of old human societies, but it was pointless.

[2B's gaze falls a bit lower. She's about to say something really heavy and she knows it. But, hiding the truth is useless here.]

Where I am from - in that universe, Earth was invaded by machine lifeforms created by aliens. The invaders took over the whole planet and forced human survivors to the moon. But humans built their own androids to take Earth back.

I am one of them.

[yokunaru]

[His heart sinks as soon as she pauses. He's had enough of these conversations to sense the shift in the atmosphere between them, and sure enough--]

That's awful. [He's quiet, eyes on her.] How did... things go?

[He's almost afraid to hear the answer.]

[howlongiwonder]

The androids were fighting this war for a very long time. Much longer than I've been alive. For most of that time, there was very little progress.

I am... not sure if things will get any better, now.

[2B speaks with reluctance. It's not that she has her doubts. Considering what she remembers happening in her own world before she was transported here, she is genuinely uncertain what will happen next.]

[yokunaru]

[Even if he's already heard devastating stories like this from his other-world friends, it doesn't get any easier to stomach. Yuuri's brows draw together in his quiet distress.]

I'm sorry.

[It feels cheap coming from someone who has lived a rather sheltered life. Yuuri wishes there were something more that he could offer, or say.]

[howlongiwonder]

[2B stops the peeling, still looking down.

It wasn't your fault. It can't be helped. It used to be worse. That's all true, but why do all these sentences sound so... hollow?]

Tell me.

How is your world like?

[yokunaru]

[He can't begrudge her for wanting to know about his world, when her own is in such a bad state.

The peeler's back in his hand and he quietly starts working through the pile again, if only to give his hands something to do other than fidget uncomfortably.]

It's... normal, I think. Compared to a lot of the worlds other people are from. No powers, no run ins with aliens as far as I know. Our space travel technology isn't that advanced yet.

[He glances over at her.] There's a lot of people. Droids like you haven't been developed.

[howlongiwonder]

I see.

[Normal isn't how 2B would call it. What she's used to, what she'd say is "normal" is something entirely different. However...]

That sounds... nice.

Can you tell me more? How is living in that world like.

[yokunaru]

[He manages a weak smile even as he sets the peeled potato aside and reaches for another one.]

That's a pretty broad question. Um, is there anything specific you wanted to hear about?

[howlongiwonder]

Whatever's on your mind.

[2B realizes she didn't peel anything for a moment now, she quickly reaches for another potato.]

If you can't think of anything, that's fine too.

[She doesn't want to pressure anyone here.]

[yokunaru]

[He's quiet for a moment. What can you tell someone from a world like hers?]

Well... I don't know what it's like for other people in my world. [His voice is soft and hesitant, but he keeps going.] There's so many of us, and we all have different lives, different friends and hobbies...

For me, a lot of my time goes into training. [A brief smile flits over his lips when he looks at her.] I told you in the elevator that I dance and skate. Practicing and training, it's what comes with being an athlete.

[howlongiwonder]

Do you enjoy it?

[The question arrived quickly, without a lot of pondering this time.]

[yokunaru]

Yes. [His answer comes just as quickly, no hesitation at all. Dance and skating have always given him reprieve from his anxiety when he needed it.

Yuuri pauses now. Now there's an idea.]

If you're curious, I could always show you. [If they were so focused on fighting back, Yuuri figures that they probably didn't have the time for anyting like this.] It's fun.

[howlongiwonder]

This needs to be done first.

[2B states, a little curious at the offer. But, her dutifulness prevails.]

When this task is finished, I'll watch.

[yokunaru]

Yes, ma'am. [There's that hint of a smile again, even as he goes right back to the task at hand.]

I could teach you, if you like either of them enough. Since...I'm guessing they don't have these anymore back where you're from.

[howlongiwonder]

It's true. But, maybe there will be place for such things even in my world.

[Even if hers is in a bad shape, not all of other universes are. That might not be ideal - but it's not that bad either. And that's what matters.

2B looks like she doesn't mind the task at hand anymore. In fact, she lets a small smile appear momentarily.]

It's a promise then. Let's get this done quickly, so I can see what you can do.

[yokunaru]

I hope so, eventually. [His expression softens as he looks over at her.]

It might not be the same for everyone, but things like dance and skating have always helped cheer people up. When you've driven the invaders off, you could celebrate with dancing, like the people here are with this festival.

[howlongiwonder]

Yeah...

[When that time comes, huh. 2B appears wistful once again. The potatoes bring her back to reality however.]

Well, then. Shall we speed up?

[She sounds pretty confident there. Does 2B know a secret potato-peeling technique or something?]

Sorry for the late! had an RL emergency

[yokunaru]

[Something about that confidence sparks Yuuri's interest, making his competitive side kick in. He smiles, tapping the peeling tool lightly against the counter.]

How about a race?

[It's just a bit of fun, and he knows they'll get the task done more quickly if they're competing, too.]

[howlongiwonder]

Good idea. Let's do it.

[So she had a competetive streak too, who'd expect.]

[yokunaru]

[Her response only makes him grin.]

On three, two, one... go!

[His hand darts out, grabbing a potato from the stack and quickly getting to work. He's seen how fast she is; he'll have to work hard if he wants to keep up.]

[howlongiwonder]

[2B nods briefly - and really gets to work. The knife in her hand cuts into a potato and peels it in a single, unbroken spiralling motion. So fast!

She tosses the peel aside in a dramatic gesture and already grabs for another vegetable. The effects are a little rough, but you can't argue with the speed.]

[yokunaru]

[Wow, that was even faster than before! Yuuri has a feeling he's going to lose this impromptu race, but that doesn't stop him from speeding up and trying to keep up anyway.

The poor potatoes are being rather haphazardly thrown back into a pile once he's done peeling them, and his tongue pokes out slightly as he concentrates on this task. There's absolutely no room to talk.]

[howlongiwonder]

[Sorry Yuuri. You may push your hardest as a real human, but androids have advantage as far as easily repeatable tasks are concerned.]

Finished.

[Hard to say who won in the end though. All potatoes are peeled but they went into a single pile so... did anyone keep the score?]

[yokunaru]

Already? [Yuuri's head whips around to look, and sure enough, the potatoes have all been peeled, with the exception of the small cluster just in front of him. He blinks at her owlishly, and then gives a soft huff of amusement.]

Okay, it looks like I lost this one. [Might as well finish with the last few, though! As he's peeling, still quickly but at a more reasonable pace, he pipes up.] Since you won, you get to pick which one you want to see today.