Conversation Space III.

[powersthatbe]

A poured concrete floor and cinder block walls are lit by a single bare light bulb hanging overhead. Shackles dangle from brackets on every side, and the chair in the center of the room is clearly an electric chair. A tall glass sits on top of a stool made of what looks like pure gold - but the liquid inside it is almost definitely blood.

Comments

[triggerhappytraitor]

"...Patron Arcanum?" Tachibana repeated, sitting down on the floor. "You mean the one who brought me here....?"

[callmemeibe]

It contemplates the question for a minute or two. "You were not brought here by my actions. But my kind were responsible."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Then why you?" Tachibana asked, tone purely curious. He knew enough about tarot to make guess as to which one this person represented, but the significance was mostly lost.

[callmemeibe]

The being seems to consider that question for a second, before shrugging its metallic shoulders. "Why not? We are compatible enough."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Compatible?" Tachibana repeated, sounding a touch unsure as for a brief moment, he couldn't help but think of the conversation he had had with his superiors when they had approached him about being Garren.

...he was fairly sure that was not what was going on here, however....

[callmemeibe]

The robot gives a shrug of its shoulders - which admittedly looks a little silly while partly upside-down.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana blinked, waiting a moment for any additional answer before continuing. "What do you mean by compatible?" he clarified, shifting slightly in how he was sitting. "Compatible for what?"

[callmemeibe]

It gives a small sigh, answering, "For Synodiporia."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Synodiporia...?" Tachibana repeats, the term utterly unfamiliar. "What's that?"

[callmemeibe]

The being motions to its voicebox again. It seems to be toward the end of its usefulness, needing to be wound again. Then it shrugs its metal shoulders.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana blinked once before shifting forward to wind the spring again. "Is the spring in need of replacing, that it runs down so swiftly?" he asked, a note of concern in his voice.

[callmemeibe]

"... these Proxies don't need to speak often," it answers as soon as the box is moving again. "Neither do I."

It shifts slightly against the tangle of chains, metal clinking against metal, before it finally adds, "A tournament. Or something like it."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Proxies?" Tachibana repeated curiously, sitting back once more.

A slight frown tugged at his lips at the second answer, not quite liking what it implied. Or what that implication paralleled....

"...that's what all the visits to the other worlds are? Part of that tournament?" he guessed.

[callmemeibe]

It shrugs slightly at the first question. It seems a response to that is not forthcoming.

Then the being nods, although it's hard to tell with it being upside down and all.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana presses his lips together a long moment.

"...what happens when someone wins?"

[callmemeibe]

It shrugs. "Depends on who wins."

[triggerhappytraitor]

That... was not an especially reassuring answer. But it was at least one where there was a possibility of something different than the total destruction the Battle Fight promised...

"...If you win, then. What would happen then?"

[callmemeibe]

"I'd be very surprised," Pendu answers honestly.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana blinks. Then blinks again, utterly thrown by the answer. "...Are you trying to?" he asked, both curious and confused.

[callmemeibe]

"It'd be nice, but it's not in my idiom to try anything."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Not in your..." Tachibana repeated before frowning. "Even if it's something important?"

And this was who he was supposedly compatible with? No. No, that couldn't be right. There had to be some sort of mistake.

[callmemeibe]

It shrugs. "It's important, sure. But acting now would end in a mess."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"So you've already given up?"

[callmemeibe]

It shrugs, as if to answer both yes and no.