002 Vertebrae / Action

[not_doing_puns]

[A tall silver automaton stood on the sidewalk, blinking owlishly up at the buildings nearby. After so long in various battlefields, whisked away after to government facilities in unmarked vehicles with no windows, it was almost alien for him to find himself in a city that was not a complete disaster of a combat zone

Comments

[notanemptymotto]

action;

[ Helen steps around the van she's brought, in hopes of tracing down the abnormal she's been looking for a few days now. She sees the Spine and stops. Helen blinks. She's certainly not used to that attire on him. ]

Dawning the military look, are we?

[not_doing_puns]

[The Spine pauses at the stranger's question, optics dimming in confusion.]

Apologies ma'am, but I'm afraid I don't catch your meaning. [Even after seventy years of personal hell, he will be damned if he is not polite to a lady.]

[notanemptymotto]

[ Her eyebrows turn together. ] The last time I saw you, The Spine, you certainly weren't dressed in military regalia.

[not_doing_puns]

[He looks... startled at her using his name, optics brightening slightly as he focused on her more intently.]

...Been a long time since I heard anyone use that name, ma'am. Or been out of uniform.

[notanemptymotto]

[ Helen tilts her head, eying him. ]

Then, is there a name I should address you by instead?

[not_doing_puns]

[Forever late everywhere XD]

[He gives a small shrug, optics dimming slightly.]

It's fine by me, ma'am. Just took me by surprise is all. Anyone bothers calling me by anything usually just uses this. [He lifted a hand to tap at the small patch on his shirt, marked neatly with '0952' where a name would have been or anyone else. It had bothered him at first, but now it helped to separate him from his life before, where everyone he cared about most in the world was not dead.]

[notanemptymotto]

(( ooc: PSHAW you are fine ♥ ))

[ Helen frowns at the nametag. ] A number is hardly a name. At least not in my book.

[not_doing_puns]

[The silver bot just inclined his head briefly in agreement.] Can't say I disagree with that.

[notanemptymotto]

What happened to you? [ Helen shakes her head. ]

[not_doing_puns]

Can't say I know what you mean ma'am. Just a soldier is all...

[notanemptymotto]

I meant, how did you become a soldier? Everyone has a reason as to why they did.

[not_doing_puns]

Was drafted. Th' battle in the Rock Candy Mines, World War I and II, Vietnam... [A little weary, almost listless shrug.] Any scuffle they get into they drag me along to help.

[notanemptymotto]

You've had quite a long time of service then. [ Helen's lips turn into a sad smile. One that says she understands completely, without explaining how or why. ]

[not_doing_puns]

[That understanding smile just earns a flicker of confusion in The Spine's expression.] It... it's been a long time, yes.

[notanemptymotto]

[ His confusion just makes her smile a tad more mysterious. ]