He's not sulking. HONEST.

[dwn_000]

It felt like he'd been running forever, but even a combat reploid like him had to wind down eventually.

I can't believe I actually did that.He'd run off like some cowardly little rookie who lost his nerve and for a moment he honestly couldn't forgive himself for it. He tried not to look absolutely mortified as he tried to piece together the pieces

Comments

/bugs

[moe_rapier]

[She liked to pace around sometimes. Walking helped the ideas flow, the information to fall into place, until she had a mild epiphany and ran back to her console to slap it all into her combat analysis program. She could determine an enemy's weakness like nobody's business by herself, but that program simply boosted the speed and effectiveness of her--

Layer turned a corner, saw red armor and blond hair, and back-stepped quick as a flash, pressing her back to the wall with a tiny clank. A breath in, and slowly released. Whenever Zero was by himself, it tends to be a 'do not disturb' situation... well, unless you were X.

...However, she had to pass by to get back to her station. By the small peek she spared around the corner, he also appeared down. Straightening up, dusting off her front to clear it of invisible dust specks, she turned that corner. Maybe took three steps.]

Hey... are you all right?

[ooc: Eep. Off to work.. but I'll be back in about three hours, short shift!]

Re: /bugs

[dwn_000]

[He looked up, startled out of his sulking brooding. He took a second to size her up - he knew a navi when he saw one, but her design was unlike anything he'd seen before. That little observation didn't do much to improve his mood; What, are the navis more advanced than me now?]

[He averted his eyes, obviously not feeling all that sociable.]

Yeah, m'fine.

[moe_rapier]

[Layer frowned, finally making her quiet approach. She had to admit that she felt awfully curious... she'd been informed a while back about multiple Hunters appearing, and wondered something. She sunk to her knees, and seated neatly upon her heels beside, folding her hands neatly in her lap.]

I can lend an ear if need be. It never hurts to check on the welfare of the team.

[She turned her head, lowering her voice.]

Did... um...

[dwn_000]

[Zero didn't want to admit it, but he got more and more nervous as Layer came over and sat beside him. He's not exactly used to pretty navis just coming over and lending an ear. He fidgeted awkwardly.]

Uh, no thanks. I'm good.

[He peered at her.] Did what?

((OOC: Late reply is late. :|))

[mega_maiden]

[She doesn't get much to do in this new place. She's not used to having something she can't fix or fight into no longer being a problem hovering over her head.

So all she can do is wander around, looking for something to distract her.

And lo and behold. She has found her distraction.]

Sir? Are you feeling okay?

[dwn_000]

[Zero fought the urge to groan. He wasn't great with humans at the best of times, much less children; he left that sort of thing to X and kept his distance. But X wasn't here, was he?]

I'm fine.

[His tone isn't mean, but unfriendly enough that hopefully she'll get the hint.]

((OOC: I'm assuming she's in her human-like form. :D))

[mega_maiden]

Fine.

Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.

There are graveyards filled with soldiers who thought they were fine.

[She sighs and sits next to him.] I'm Rock, by the way.

[dwn_000]

[Congratulations Rock, you just completely gobsmacked him. He wasn't used to be talked to like that by anybody, much less by a 'human kid'. He was even more put out when the girl actually went to sit next to him, and for a moment he was so shocked he just stared at her dumbly for a second.]

Uh ... I'm Zero.

[Jeez, she's got guts. He would have admired her attitude if it wasn't weirding him out so much.]

[tothexthpower]

[X has been looking for the second Zero off and on ever since he spoke to him over the comm. It was something to do. And he was worried about the other Zero. He'd practically vanished and wasn't answering his comm, either.

For a while, he'd been afraid he'd ended up as the body they'd fished out of the ocean. But Alia's scans had shown that the body had actually belonged to the Zero he'd met already. Which meant the missing Zero was still out there somewhere.

He'd been on his way to the Air Bus platform to keep searching when he spotted red armor and a familiar fall of ridiculously long, blond hair. Veering off his path, he headed over. As he approached, he spotted differences in the armor design from the Zero he's already met here. In fact... it was an old design - Zero's original design before Cain had had to rebuild him.

Good heavens, was he from that far back?]

Zero...

[He looked so miserable sitting there...]

...would you mind some company?

[dwn_000]

[Zero suddenly jerked his head up, looking happy and so damned relieved to see him - but then his expression sobered. He was happy to see him, sure, but even a cursory made it obvious that this wasn't the X he knew. There was a gentle strength to him that showed in every movement, subtle yet tangible, changing the very way he held himself to the point that he seemed almost unrecognizable.

[Zero could always size-up every reploid he met, and every one his senses coldly informed him that he was outmatched. His best friend - the unsure kid that he always looked out for - overshadowed him completely.]

[And as shallow as it might be, but he did not like it. At all.]

Hi, X. [He manages a smile.] Sure, why not? Misery loves company, right?

[tothexthpower]

[The open happiness almost caught X off-guard. Zero almost never let his emotions show so openly these days. Not since Repliforce

[dwn_000]

Yeah, seems like it. I don't know what's happening around here, but it doesn't seem good.

[He's still a bit too gloomy to be all that talkative, but he noticably brightens a little when X sits down next to him.]

Thanks X.

[gun_envy]

[He approaches Zero, focused on not showing anything but concentration. This one doesn't have the same slim build as the Zero he's met so far, but he isn't the same design as the one he's been "studying", either... Maybe he's from earlier? Whatever. He settles next to Zero, with a friendly smile.]

Hiya. You're looking like something's botherin' you. Got your future told?

[A complete stab in the dark, but he's not going to get anywhere just observing. The "doomed future" is what happened to him, so it's the first joke he thinks of whipping out to break the ice.]

[dwn_000]

[Zero almost flinched at that, his lips thinning into a thin white line. You have no idea, kid. Still, the kid's friendly attitude helps lessen the sting a little, and he managed a half-hearted smile.]

Yeah, something like that. I think I didn't want to know.

[gun_envy]

[Let's get some cheer in here, yeah? Axl winces a little in sympathy, but recovers with an earnest-looking smile.]

I wonder if we can make a club if there's just two of us...

So! Are you from before this place?

[dwn_000]

[Zero can't say no to cheer. God knows he needs it.]

Uh, I think so. I think I came from way back. I'm not sure - it's confusing as hell.

[totalpacifist]

[At the ping X sends a hesitant reply back; wordless, but marking himself as the one who'd so clumsily broken the news to him. So this Zero could avoid him if he wanted to.]

[dwn_000]

[Zero instantly shoots back a return ping, a friendly one that felt like the long-range equivilant of a pat on the shoulder. Obviously there's no hard feelings.]

[totalpacifist]

[Okay that's an incredible relief, and a couple passing reploids shoot him confused looks when he abruptly breaks into a smile as he sends a voice reply back.]

Are you all right?

[dwn_000]

Yeah, I'm fine.

[His voice sounds sheepish.] Um ... sorry. About before.