World Crisis
For the first time, Ataxia cries.
Toymaker Labs - Fourtieth floor
This floor isn't as well lit as those below it, but it still keeps the same color scheme, at least for the floor, walls, and cieling. It is left entirely open, and is filled with thousands of boxes and crates, of all shapes and sizes. Some of the crates are left open, exposing that they are, in fact, used to store unshipped androids/Toys.
Jini's guitar lifts itself on little mechanical legs; it walks to the girl, who picks it up, plugs it into herself with a soft _click_, and plays a gentle lullabye for her erstwhile recruit.
Lupe is just quietly sleeping through all of this, of course.
Jini speaks softly, barely heard over the soft, lilting tune she plays. "I told Theeka about this, sir System, madam Ataxia. She laughed, of course. She always does!" She smiles. "We lay locked in data exchange for a long time. I don't know what to do. Her Serene Majesty is still thinking upon it."
Schizzy walks over towards the voices she hears, then says, "Hello, folks."
System bobs slightly, flashing up text. "Greetings, Schizzy."
Jini is sitting upon a half-open crate playing a soft rondo, Lupe is asleep against a shattered crate. System and Ataxia are a little apart. There is a definite tension in the air.
Schizzy says, "Abandoned your humanoid shell, System?"
Lupe is sleeping at the base of a crate that Ataxia ripped apart the night previous, with Jini nearby playing a soft tune on her guitar. System is hovering nearby, and is quietly trying to get Ataxia to follow him out. (Scene-set for Schizzy)
System text-manifests, "That is correct, Schizzy."
Schizzy sits on a handy crate, and asks, "So, what's up? You guys hiding from something?"
System drifts to one side. "No; I was simply attempting to seek Ataxia. There was evidently an incident of Ataxia overstepping the bounds of acceptable behavior, and I wish to have words with her."
Schizzy says, "Ah, I see."
"I'd given Lupe a sample of what it is to be a junior Doll," Jini says, "Ataxia and System seem to feel that free will doesn't extend to choosing to give it up!"
Jini giggles. "Lupe told me what Ataxia did to her, but I forgot it!"
In System-speak, this would be: 'Closing the entryway to the agricultural facility after the equine inhabitants have violated protocol in excusing themselves from residence.'
System buzzes heavily. "If it were Lupe's choice, I was not intending to intervene. As I had told you before. I suppose it is a bit much to hope for intelligence from a Doll."
Schizzy arches an eyebrow. "You don't think it was Lupe's choice?"
System text-manifests, "I know it was her choice. Jini appears to think it was my intent to intervene to force her against her choice, which was not my intent, as I have asserted repeatedly."
Ataxia does finally wake up, peeking out one eye.. She ignores the grouping, however, and turns, inching, and drawing her way over to Lupe, an arm draping around her as she looks at her, ears back and up as she watches intently with dull blue eyes.
System text-manifests, "However, she is a Doll, so expecting actual rationality and thought is a bit much to ask."
Schizzy looks at System, and says, "You *do* realize you're talking to an ex-Doll, right?"
System bobs. "Positive."
System text-manifests, "Ataxia, I urgently request that you follow me."
Jini's playing gets more fluid, playing with the rhythm more. "I love you, System," she says. "And you, Ataxia."
Ataxia isn't looking up from Lupe, or seeming to listen to words. She's simply looking at her tattered form for the moment, expectingly.
Lupe flickers an ear and has a ghost of expression trail across her face while she sleeps; halfway heard throughout the conversation, she's daydreaming of a surrealistic counterpart to the meeting that's going on. After all, System as a floating orb? How preposterous! As for herself, the shards of latex have been peeled away, sent back to whatever ether or realm they first sprung from.
System buzzes heavily in place, agitated.
Jini says, "Expect para-rationality from us, System." Jini laughs. "Oh! I bet you think I'm threatening you or Ataxia, or something!" The rabbit giggles, with voice and guitar. "I'm not - I just want to settle this so we can all have fun again!"
Ataxia's ears press back further as she watches the flickering.. "Lupe?.. Lupe?.." she repeats, all while she holds an arm around her, not a terribly healthy thing to be doing for the sleeping hyena, but seems to have more leeway in her actions with her.. She begins to whine softly, her tail thrashing behind her at emotion the three month old has not felt in depth before.
System text-manifests, "I have my doubts about your definition of 'fun', Jini."
Jini says, "She's asleep, miss Ataxia... she's all worn out after last night!"
Ataxia looks back, and glares lightly.. "Why is everyone here?.." she whines softly.. "Why is everyone around me.." she shivers, and looks back to Lupe.. "She stopped being my friend.." she continues, her eyes tearing up.. "She called me miss.." she continues, her tail wrapping against her leg.
Jini smiles, and does not reply to System.
System bobs heavily. "Ataxia, I request that you follow me."
Lupe smiles quite sweetly at being hugged while she's asleep. *Streeetch* She wags that short tail of hers and opens her eyes... oh. Face to face with the one who nearly killed her the night previous and tried to relieve her of her bell. "I called you miss because it was the polite thing to do," she growls.
Ataxia's eyes fall down to Lupe, her ears remaining back.. "You went from being close to me, to being distant, a layer of miss and missus, as if I were just anyone on the street.." she responds. She might have killed her - but then, she thought it didn't matter, from the professions of indifference over her death at the jaw of Onya.
System buzzes heavily, attention-grabbing. "Ataxia, please."
Ataxia's ears flick back further, and she looks to the corner of her eye to System's text.
System text-manifests, "I urgently request that you come with me. I must speak with you."
Lupe doesn't view 'death' as anything particularly bad, except when it's in the furtherance of trying to remove something from her possession. "Because I was trying something new," she grumbles, and tries to sit up. "Yes you're a friendly face, and yes I enjoy your company, but last night was *way* over the line."
Jini says, "She wanted to take a break from will and volition, miss Ataxia. I gave her that."
Ataxia nods faintly to System.. "When I can.." she responds, quietly.. then looks back to Lupe, her arm slowly sliding out from her.. She growls softly, her ears back at all the people around her.. "Why are you all here.." she asks, again, her fingers curling against the ground as her tail lashes.. She looks to Lupe.. "For all I knew, though, you didn't really care about me at all anymore, Lupe.." she offers, her ears back still. "I thought separating you from the bell you had in you would be a good thing.. I wanted to talk to you, but I didn't feel that I could.. What is the line when you're afraid of something?.." she whispers.. She's never been afraid before..
System drifts to one side, buzzing slightly in agitation. "I am here because I needed to speak with you, Ataxia."
Schizzy says, "I came up here because the internal sensors reported alot more motion than normal."
Jini says, "I'm here because you need me."
Lupe's expression softens a bit at Ataxia's manner; it certainly doesn't seem like the same sanctimonious being who imposed her will on her not twenty-four hours ago. "And I'm here because I never left. But what has me so upset is that you didn't ask me if any of this was okay; you just decided that I was acting weird, and took it upon yourself to fix me - all you had to do was ask, and I would've told you it would have worn off in a day or two! In the meanwhile, you could have enjoyed my company to your heart's content."
System drifts to the side, tilting slightly.
Jini says, "You feared for her, miss Ataxia, and ripped her apart. IN fear."
Ataxia Looks back to the group behind her.. and huffs.. "Please, I don't need anything right now.. Not you to be here, not for a crowd to form, not to talk to anyone but.." she trails, looking back to Lupe. "I was afraid.." she adds.. "And I didn't think it mattered.. Onya assault you without permission, and it didn't matter, right? And that wasn't to help you.." she whispers, her ears back.. "I didn't think asking would do anything, Lupe.. I just thought you were far gone because of something you hadn't asked for.. I was afraid, I was afraid.. It hurt, it hurt.." she continues, her blue eyes closing, the watering displaced as tears down her gray fur.
System floats up to Ataxia, generating faint fields of force that wrap themselves around the jackal, cool and smooth pressure from the gently glowing light.
Jini and her guitar fall silent.
Ataxia chokes softly as a growl lulls in her throat to Jini, pained in response, simply. Her tremble lulls slightly as the ordered fields of System curl about her, but she remains indignantly silent, on some level violated just as much by being in pain, and having it exposed, even to people who might care for her. The young jackal still trembles, to keep her focus where she wants, and not to break out and just run.
System draws closer to the jackal, holding force around her, its central light flickering fitfully as its outer ring bumps against her side.
Lupe shakes her head slightly as Ataxia starts to cry; never did she think her own outrage as what happened to her would sting so badly. For sure she takes a few moments or so of relative calm to comprise her answer to that. "Shhh, shh... it's alright." Disorder or not, she reaches a paw out to rub at the jackal's shoulder with a soft gnead. "If you were afraid, you should have said that as well. The silence was what caused such confusions."
Jini pads off silently, for part of Doll programming recognizes when their brand of happiness is not needed.
Schizzy just seems to fade inot the shadows.
System sends text flickering up, force stroking ice-smooth over Ataxia. "I love you, Ataxia."
Ataxia's eyes clench tighter for a moment, blackness instead of tears dripping from her eyes. She never quite makes a noise, even if her trembling action says it all for her.. "I.." she trails, breathing in slowly.. Her head falls a little after, and she coughs, wisps of blackness pouring out from inside of her, her jaw, her face catching into black flame, her lap and front quickly immolated.. "Its all too much.. I need to be alone.. Please, understand.." she trails, even as her voice grows exponentially in volume from the change. A mottled mix of blackness and flesh slowly immolating, she pushes herself up, and bounds to the elevator, turning and smacking a claw right through the door to grind it closed, and hold it there while she pulls in the second, and makes her way out with just enough leeway that she can run in the comfort of solitude.
---
Ataxia makes her way to Downwarp, running alone:
J.G. Ballard Memorial Freeway(#633RLJ)
You stand on a ribbon of cracked and broken asphalt, a boneyard of broken
machines, the grave of a mad dream of speed. The freeway's twenty crumbling lanes are littered with the metal carcasses of a myriad crashed and burned
vehicles, the debris of some unthinkable catastrophe -- thousands of cars, trucks, motor vehicles of all kinds from a hundred ages and technologies; even, incomprehensibly, the enormous hulks of aircraft and spacecraft, their wings broken, silver skin gone dull with rust and age. Fragments of broken glass, plastic and metal litter the road, and various fuels and lubricants have run like blood from ruptured tanks and engines, pooling in the potholes in the blacktop, and sometimes reacting with one another -- which explains the occasional plumes of yellowish, acrid vapor.
The highway signs, bold white sans serif on dark green, are riddled with bullet holes. You still manage to make out most of the text, but instead of locations, strange slogans are printed, along with numbers for nonexistent exits.
6A - Put A Tiger In Your Tank. N32 - Better Living Through Chemistry. FF - The Ultimate Driving Machine. 12.5 - Quality Is Job One.
A descends from the right side of the freeway, and a from the left.
passes through the tarnished gold needle of Big Active. There seems to be a
functional in one derelict chunk of hullmetal.
System floats up, searching for the jackal. "May I speak with you, Ataxia, or should I leave?"
Ataxia's walking towards the end, or into the distance towards an undiscovered conclusion of it.. She does notice, and turns.. and no matter how far away, its not as if her voice cannot be discerned as she yells with even less control than she's normally able to muster.. "You may ask me something.. but then, I want you to go.. you deserve that much at my expense.."
System drifts to one side. "If you do not wish my presence now, I shall leave you alone. I simply wish you to know that Jini brought the incident with Lupe to the attention of the Bubble Doll Queen, and I have suggestions that the Bubble Dolls as a group may wish to impose some of their attitudes on you. They are not pleased."
Ataxia nods softly.. "I do love you, System.." she continues, loudly.. then, turns away, walking into the distance.. "I need.. my time, I need only myself to listen to for now, though.." she continues, her toeclaws making terrible long streaks of blackness along the ground, scraped in intentionally to make her progress grinding. The young jackal does not know what a bubble doll is - she was never warned. She realizes fully people are unhappy with her though, and might take it out on her.. and that much brews in her mind, questions never before needing to have been posed.
System bobs in place. "Feel free to seek me when you wish. Would you prefer me to retain this shell, or to switch into my biological emulation shell?"
Ataxia's tail lashes back to you, and she turns for a moment, then continues on.. "I have no idea what I want, System.. except solitude to know just that.."
System bobs. "I shall speak with you later."
System walks down the stairs towards Downwarp.
System has left.
And, later..
The Heliquary
Now that's curious. Outside, there is only one wall, and one wall does not a building make. Inside, though... there are four walls, and those four walls undoubtedly enclose a deep, narrow space. The centre of the floor is sunken slightly, two wide steps leading down into the plush carpeted 'pit'. The whole room is done up in shades of red and black and gold, evoking a heavy Asian air. Paper lanterns hung here and there along the ceiling arches provide only a candle's brightness more light than is necessary to see. Just enough light for one to use to avoid the low tables and heavily cushioned brocade chaises arranged in threes and fours around the room.
Dragon-wrapped columns hold up the arched ceiling, faceted-gem eyes glittering in the dim light. A heavy aroma hangs in the air -- smoky, sweet and intoxicating, nearly overwhelming. Ashtrays and sets of curious brass instruments are laid out neatly on each table, and a few of the tables support ornate glass and brass filigree hookahs, some with as many as twelve long, flexible smoking tubes. In the shadows along the wall, shifting forms can occasionally be seen. Presumably they're servants or attendants, ready to see to a visitor's whim and need. Near the back of the comfortable lowered floor, there is a low desk flanked by two chaises, a tiny island of business. It seems to be reserved for someone in particular.
Contents:
Roque
Diafeara
Ataxia walks in, closing the door behind her, turning slowly to look across the room.
Diafeara is faintly surprised at your words, and her smile grows. When your hand reaches her shoulder, she tilts her head to rub her cheek against it. "Me, of all people?" She laughs softly. "Who else should worry about you, if not your lover?" She takes another step closer, and slides her arm around your waist, loosely, comfortably. "I've missed you, and I worry about you. Ro, you didn't see what he did to-" She pauses, and looks up. "Hey, Ataxia.. How's it going?"
Ataxia looks like she's in perfect order. Except her eyes, which look terribly darkened along the undersides. Not just bags, there's no puffyness.. but literal darkness mixed with fur, her shadowy substance lingering. It doesn't seem to be fading as she walks forward, her ears back.. "Forgive me.. for intruding, if I am.. Diafeara, I just wanted to know.. did you make any headway.. with a drug for me?" she asks, her hands cupping together, and slowly wringing.
Roque stands near the desk at the back of the room, holding one of Dia's paws in her own, her muzzle pressed to its back. Her ears are folded down against her head, bowed slightly over the paw before her. She doesn't lift her head when the door opens, or closes again. It's only until a few moments later that she removes her muzzle, turning towards the front of the club. "Hello, Ataxia," she says softly after the jackal speaks. "A drug?" She tilts her head to the side at that.
Diafeara's gaze goes from the vague cloudiness of a lover's smile to the sharp-eyed observance of a clinician in no time flat. "Ataxia, is there a problem? I've been working on it, and I have made some progress actually.. I need more time but.. What's wrong?" She steps away from Roque and moves toward the jackal.
Ataxia's fingers curl together, white nuckle tight, though the pose they're held in is a forced natural position, trembling at keeping it from looking like nervousness, and making it all the more apparent the closer Diafeara gets to her.. She looks to Roque for a moment.. "Yes.." she responds.. then, as Diafeara asks her,"No.. No, nothing.." she repeats, turning slowly.. "Ju.. st, tell me when you've something for me, Dia.." she offers, placing her hand on the door as she turns to leave.
Diafeara speaks slowly, and with a world of force and will in her voice. "You'll get nothing from me if you can't tell me why. You need more than a simple trip, Ataxia. Prepare your answers for when I have what you need." She crosses her arms, and her face is serene and steely. "I'm working quickly, you may rest assured. My other projects are.. set aside for now."
Roque steps forward at that. "Ataxia?" She may not be able to see the trembling, but she can hear the quiver in her voice. She would say more, but Dia's handling the discussion for now.
Ataxia's dull blue eyes turn back slowly to Diafeara, the jackal held in place for a long, lingering moment.. "I might have nothing to say by then." she responds, her ears back as she pulls swiftly on the door's handle or knob, and make her way swiftly from the Heliquary. Its a strong enough pull that it comes right off with a crack in her hand, and in a moment of panic, she tosses it to the ground behind her, her other arm rising to her head as pushes the door open with the first, unable to add anything more with that final literal break in emotion.
Toymaker Labs - Fourtieth floor
This floor isn't as well lit as those below it, but it still keeps the same color scheme, at least for the floor, walls, and cieling. It is left entirely open, and is filled with thousands of boxes and crates, of all shapes and sizes. Some of the crates are left open, exposing that they are, in fact, used to store unshipped androids/Toys.
Jini's guitar lifts itself on little mechanical legs; it walks to the girl, who picks it up, plugs it into herself with a soft _click_, and plays a gentle lullabye for her erstwhile recruit.
Lupe is just quietly sleeping through all of this, of course.
Jini speaks softly, barely heard over the soft, lilting tune she plays. "I told Theeka about this, sir System, madam Ataxia. She laughed, of course. She always does!" She smiles. "We lay locked in data exchange for a long time. I don't know what to do. Her Serene Majesty is still thinking upon it."
Schizzy walks over towards the voices she hears, then says, "Hello, folks."
System bobs slightly, flashing up text. "Greetings, Schizzy."
Jini is sitting upon a half-open crate playing a soft rondo, Lupe is asleep against a shattered crate. System and Ataxia are a little apart. There is a definite tension in the air.
Schizzy says, "Abandoned your humanoid shell, System?"
Lupe is sleeping at the base of a crate that Ataxia ripped apart the night previous, with Jini nearby playing a soft tune on her guitar. System is hovering nearby, and is quietly trying to get Ataxia to follow him out. (Scene-set for Schizzy)
System text-manifests, "That is correct, Schizzy."
Schizzy sits on a handy crate, and asks, "So, what's up? You guys hiding from something?"
System drifts to one side. "No; I was simply attempting to seek Ataxia. There was evidently an incident of Ataxia overstepping the bounds of acceptable behavior, and I wish to have words with her."
Schizzy says, "Ah, I see."
"I'd given Lupe a sample of what it is to be a junior Doll," Jini says, "Ataxia and System seem to feel that free will doesn't extend to choosing to give it up!"
Jini giggles. "Lupe told me what Ataxia did to her, but I forgot it!"
In System-speak, this would be: 'Closing the entryway to the agricultural facility after the equine inhabitants have violated protocol in excusing themselves from residence.'
System buzzes heavily. "If it were Lupe's choice, I was not intending to intervene. As I had told you before. I suppose it is a bit much to hope for intelligence from a Doll."
Schizzy arches an eyebrow. "You don't think it was Lupe's choice?"
System text-manifests, "I know it was her choice. Jini appears to think it was my intent to intervene to force her against her choice, which was not my intent, as I have asserted repeatedly."
Ataxia does finally wake up, peeking out one eye.. She ignores the grouping, however, and turns, inching, and drawing her way over to Lupe, an arm draping around her as she looks at her, ears back and up as she watches intently with dull blue eyes.
System text-manifests, "However, she is a Doll, so expecting actual rationality and thought is a bit much to ask."
Schizzy looks at System, and says, "You *do* realize you're talking to an ex-Doll, right?"
System bobs. "Positive."
System text-manifests, "Ataxia, I urgently request that you follow me."
Jini's playing gets more fluid, playing with the rhythm more. "I love you, System," she says. "And you, Ataxia."
Ataxia isn't looking up from Lupe, or seeming to listen to words. She's simply looking at her tattered form for the moment, expectingly.
Lupe flickers an ear and has a ghost of expression trail across her face while she sleeps; halfway heard throughout the conversation, she's daydreaming of a surrealistic counterpart to the meeting that's going on. After all, System as a floating orb? How preposterous! As for herself, the shards of latex have been peeled away, sent back to whatever ether or realm they first sprung from.
System buzzes heavily in place, agitated.
Jini says, "Expect para-rationality from us, System." Jini laughs. "Oh! I bet you think I'm threatening you or Ataxia, or something!" The rabbit giggles, with voice and guitar. "I'm not - I just want to settle this so we can all have fun again!"
Ataxia's ears press back further as she watches the flickering.. "Lupe?.. Lupe?.." she repeats, all while she holds an arm around her, not a terribly healthy thing to be doing for the sleeping hyena, but seems to have more leeway in her actions with her.. She begins to whine softly, her tail thrashing behind her at emotion the three month old has not felt in depth before.
System text-manifests, "I have my doubts about your definition of 'fun', Jini."
Jini says, "She's asleep, miss Ataxia... she's all worn out after last night!"
Ataxia looks back, and glares lightly.. "Why is everyone here?.." she whines softly.. "Why is everyone around me.." she shivers, and looks back to Lupe.. "She stopped being my friend.." she continues, her eyes tearing up.. "She called me miss.." she continues, her tail wrapping against her leg.
Jini smiles, and does not reply to System.
System bobs heavily. "Ataxia, I request that you follow me."
Lupe smiles quite sweetly at being hugged while she's asleep. *Streeetch* She wags that short tail of hers and opens her eyes... oh. Face to face with the one who nearly killed her the night previous and tried to relieve her of her bell. "I called you miss because it was the polite thing to do," she growls.
Ataxia's eyes fall down to Lupe, her ears remaining back.. "You went from being close to me, to being distant, a layer of miss and missus, as if I were just anyone on the street.." she responds. She might have killed her - but then, she thought it didn't matter, from the professions of indifference over her death at the jaw of Onya.
System buzzes heavily, attention-grabbing. "Ataxia, please."
Ataxia's ears flick back further, and she looks to the corner of her eye to System's text.
System text-manifests, "I urgently request that you come with me. I must speak with you."
Lupe doesn't view 'death' as anything particularly bad, except when it's in the furtherance of trying to remove something from her possession. "Because I was trying something new," she grumbles, and tries to sit up. "Yes you're a friendly face, and yes I enjoy your company, but last night was *way* over the line."
Jini says, "She wanted to take a break from will and volition, miss Ataxia. I gave her that."
Ataxia nods faintly to System.. "When I can.." she responds, quietly.. then looks back to Lupe, her arm slowly sliding out from her.. She growls softly, her ears back at all the people around her.. "Why are you all here.." she asks, again, her fingers curling against the ground as her tail lashes.. She looks to Lupe.. "For all I knew, though, you didn't really care about me at all anymore, Lupe.." she offers, her ears back still. "I thought separating you from the bell you had in you would be a good thing.. I wanted to talk to you, but I didn't feel that I could.. What is the line when you're afraid of something?.." she whispers.. She's never been afraid before..
System drifts to one side, buzzing slightly in agitation. "I am here because I needed to speak with you, Ataxia."
Schizzy says, "I came up here because the internal sensors reported alot more motion than normal."
Jini says, "I'm here because you need me."
Lupe's expression softens a bit at Ataxia's manner; it certainly doesn't seem like the same sanctimonious being who imposed her will on her not twenty-four hours ago. "And I'm here because I never left. But what has me so upset is that you didn't ask me if any of this was okay; you just decided that I was acting weird, and took it upon yourself to fix me - all you had to do was ask, and I would've told you it would have worn off in a day or two! In the meanwhile, you could have enjoyed my company to your heart's content."
System drifts to the side, tilting slightly.
Jini says, "You feared for her, miss Ataxia, and ripped her apart. IN fear."
Ataxia Looks back to the group behind her.. and huffs.. "Please, I don't need anything right now.. Not you to be here, not for a crowd to form, not to talk to anyone but.." she trails, looking back to Lupe. "I was afraid.." she adds.. "And I didn't think it mattered.. Onya assault you without permission, and it didn't matter, right? And that wasn't to help you.." she whispers, her ears back.. "I didn't think asking would do anything, Lupe.. I just thought you were far gone because of something you hadn't asked for.. I was afraid, I was afraid.. It hurt, it hurt.." she continues, her blue eyes closing, the watering displaced as tears down her gray fur.
System floats up to Ataxia, generating faint fields of force that wrap themselves around the jackal, cool and smooth pressure from the gently glowing light.
Jini and her guitar fall silent.
Ataxia chokes softly as a growl lulls in her throat to Jini, pained in response, simply. Her tremble lulls slightly as the ordered fields of System curl about her, but she remains indignantly silent, on some level violated just as much by being in pain, and having it exposed, even to people who might care for her. The young jackal still trembles, to keep her focus where she wants, and not to break out and just run.
System draws closer to the jackal, holding force around her, its central light flickering fitfully as its outer ring bumps against her side.
Lupe shakes her head slightly as Ataxia starts to cry; never did she think her own outrage as what happened to her would sting so badly. For sure she takes a few moments or so of relative calm to comprise her answer to that. "Shhh, shh... it's alright." Disorder or not, she reaches a paw out to rub at the jackal's shoulder with a soft gnead. "If you were afraid, you should have said that as well. The silence was what caused such confusions."
Jini pads off silently, for part of Doll programming recognizes when their brand of happiness is not needed.
Schizzy just seems to fade inot the shadows.
System sends text flickering up, force stroking ice-smooth over Ataxia. "I love you, Ataxia."
Ataxia's eyes clench tighter for a moment, blackness instead of tears dripping from her eyes. She never quite makes a noise, even if her trembling action says it all for her.. "I.." she trails, breathing in slowly.. Her head falls a little after, and she coughs, wisps of blackness pouring out from inside of her, her jaw, her face catching into black flame, her lap and front quickly immolated.. "Its all too much.. I need to be alone.. Please, understand.." she trails, even as her voice grows exponentially in volume from the change. A mottled mix of blackness and flesh slowly immolating, she pushes herself up, and bounds to the elevator, turning and smacking a claw right through the door to grind it closed, and hold it there while she pulls in the second, and makes her way out with just enough leeway that she can run in the comfort of solitude.
---
Ataxia makes her way to Downwarp, running alone:
J.G. Ballard Memorial Freeway(#633RLJ)
You stand on a ribbon of cracked and broken asphalt, a boneyard of broken
machines, the grave of a mad dream of speed. The freeway's twenty crumbling lanes are littered with the metal carcasses of a myriad crashed and burned
vehicles, the debris of some unthinkable catastrophe -- thousands of cars, trucks, motor vehicles of all kinds from a hundred ages and technologies; even, incomprehensibly, the enormous hulks of aircraft and spacecraft, their wings broken, silver skin gone dull with rust and age. Fragments of broken glass, plastic and metal litter the road, and various fuels and lubricants have run like blood from ruptured tanks and engines, pooling in the potholes in the blacktop, and sometimes reacting with one another -- which explains the occasional plumes of yellowish, acrid vapor.
The highway signs, bold white sans serif on dark green, are riddled with bullet holes. You still manage to make out most of the text, but instead of locations, strange slogans are printed, along with numbers for nonexistent exits.
6A - Put A Tiger In Your Tank. N32 - Better Living Through Chemistry. FF - The Ultimate Driving Machine. 12.5 - Quality Is Job One.
A descends from the right side of the freeway, and a from the left.
passes through the tarnished gold needle of Big Active. There seems to be a
functional in one derelict chunk of hullmetal.
System floats up, searching for the jackal. "May I speak with you, Ataxia, or should I leave?"
Ataxia's walking towards the end, or into the distance towards an undiscovered conclusion of it.. She does notice, and turns.. and no matter how far away, its not as if her voice cannot be discerned as she yells with even less control than she's normally able to muster.. "You may ask me something.. but then, I want you to go.. you deserve that much at my expense.."
System drifts to one side. "If you do not wish my presence now, I shall leave you alone. I simply wish you to know that Jini brought the incident with Lupe to the attention of the Bubble Doll Queen, and I have suggestions that the Bubble Dolls as a group may wish to impose some of their attitudes on you. They are not pleased."
Ataxia nods softly.. "I do love you, System.." she continues, loudly.. then, turns away, walking into the distance.. "I need.. my time, I need only myself to listen to for now, though.." she continues, her toeclaws making terrible long streaks of blackness along the ground, scraped in intentionally to make her progress grinding. The young jackal does not know what a bubble doll is - she was never warned. She realizes fully people are unhappy with her though, and might take it out on her.. and that much brews in her mind, questions never before needing to have been posed.
System bobs in place. "Feel free to seek me when you wish. Would you prefer me to retain this shell, or to switch into my biological emulation shell?"
Ataxia's tail lashes back to you, and she turns for a moment, then continues on.. "I have no idea what I want, System.. except solitude to know just that.."
System bobs. "I shall speak with you later."
System walks down the stairs towards Downwarp.
System has left.
And, later..
The Heliquary
Now that's curious. Outside, there is only one wall, and one wall does not a building make. Inside, though... there are four walls, and those four walls undoubtedly enclose a deep, narrow space. The centre of the floor is sunken slightly, two wide steps leading down into the plush carpeted 'pit'. The whole room is done up in shades of red and black and gold, evoking a heavy Asian air. Paper lanterns hung here and there along the ceiling arches provide only a candle's brightness more light than is necessary to see. Just enough light for one to use to avoid the low tables and heavily cushioned brocade chaises arranged in threes and fours around the room.
Dragon-wrapped columns hold up the arched ceiling, faceted-gem eyes glittering in the dim light. A heavy aroma hangs in the air -- smoky, sweet and intoxicating, nearly overwhelming. Ashtrays and sets of curious brass instruments are laid out neatly on each table, and a few of the tables support ornate glass and brass filigree hookahs, some with as many as twelve long, flexible smoking tubes. In the shadows along the wall, shifting forms can occasionally be seen. Presumably they're servants or attendants, ready to see to a visitor's whim and need. Near the back of the comfortable lowered floor, there is a low desk flanked by two chaises, a tiny island of business. It seems to be reserved for someone in particular.
Contents:
Roque
Diafeara
Ataxia walks in, closing the door behind her, turning slowly to look across the room.
Diafeara is faintly surprised at your words, and her smile grows. When your hand reaches her shoulder, she tilts her head to rub her cheek against it. "Me, of all people?" She laughs softly. "Who else should worry about you, if not your lover?" She takes another step closer, and slides her arm around your waist, loosely, comfortably. "I've missed you, and I worry about you. Ro, you didn't see what he did to-" She pauses, and looks up. "Hey, Ataxia.. How's it going?"
Ataxia looks like she's in perfect order. Except her eyes, which look terribly darkened along the undersides. Not just bags, there's no puffyness.. but literal darkness mixed with fur, her shadowy substance lingering. It doesn't seem to be fading as she walks forward, her ears back.. "Forgive me.. for intruding, if I am.. Diafeara, I just wanted to know.. did you make any headway.. with a drug for me?" she asks, her hands cupping together, and slowly wringing.
Roque stands near the desk at the back of the room, holding one of Dia's paws in her own, her muzzle pressed to its back. Her ears are folded down against her head, bowed slightly over the paw before her. She doesn't lift her head when the door opens, or closes again. It's only until a few moments later that she removes her muzzle, turning towards the front of the club. "Hello, Ataxia," she says softly after the jackal speaks. "A drug?" She tilts her head to the side at that.
Diafeara's gaze goes from the vague cloudiness of a lover's smile to the sharp-eyed observance of a clinician in no time flat. "Ataxia, is there a problem? I've been working on it, and I have made some progress actually.. I need more time but.. What's wrong?" She steps away from Roque and moves toward the jackal.
Ataxia's fingers curl together, white nuckle tight, though the pose they're held in is a forced natural position, trembling at keeping it from looking like nervousness, and making it all the more apparent the closer Diafeara gets to her.. She looks to Roque for a moment.. "Yes.." she responds.. then, as Diafeara asks her,"No.. No, nothing.." she repeats, turning slowly.. "Ju.. st, tell me when you've something for me, Dia.." she offers, placing her hand on the door as she turns to leave.
Diafeara speaks slowly, and with a world of force and will in her voice. "You'll get nothing from me if you can't tell me why. You need more than a simple trip, Ataxia. Prepare your answers for when I have what you need." She crosses her arms, and her face is serene and steely. "I'm working quickly, you may rest assured. My other projects are.. set aside for now."
Roque steps forward at that. "Ataxia?" She may not be able to see the trembling, but she can hear the quiver in her voice. She would say more, but Dia's handling the discussion for now.
Ataxia's dull blue eyes turn back slowly to Diafeara, the jackal held in place for a long, lingering moment.. "I might have nothing to say by then." she responds, her ears back as she pulls swiftly on the door's handle or knob, and make her way swiftly from the Heliquary. Its a strong enough pull that it comes right off with a crack in her hand, and in a moment of panic, she tosses it to the ground behind her, her other arm rising to her head as pushes the door open with the first, unable to add anything more with that final literal break in emotion.