004 ☼ Audio

[isoalgorithm]

[Quorra's voice is quiet, unusually subdued when it sounds through the Forge.] Why do the hate us so much? We're not monsters just because we're different. We don't mean them any harm.

...Most of us, at least.

[She's not even sure she should be saying us in the first place. She's yet to meet any other programs from the Grid, and she's still the

Comments

audio

[teethandtonic]

[cue pity(?) here in the form of a "d'awww"]

Life's not fair, sweetpea. Alls you can do is stand yer ground and know yer not alone here, right? It's gonna work out one way or another!

[yeah, either they burn us all alive in our sleep, or we... do it first.]

Audio

[isoalgorithm]

I know. [But still, the tension in the air is reminding her a little too much of home.]

Audio

[teethandtonic]

... but you're still frettin', right?

[oi, suck it up, woman. BUT STILL, BE NICE.]

Audio

[isoalgorithm]

Aren't you?

[supercilious]

Better to say that you don't mean them any harm. We Scorched, as a group, have made rather a nuisance of ourselves.

[isoalgorithm]

Not intentionally, though. Right?

[supercilious]

Intention is also the trait of an individual. Some didn't mean harm. Some did. Some said they didn't but were lying. How are those without access to the Forge network supposed to know the difference?

[isoalgorithm]

They could ask, or at least try to find out. Condemning us all for the actions of a few - it's not right.

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

[For a moment, this broadcast...stuns him silent. So much of this, he relates to. This from the person who spoke of cucumber sandwiches and socializing, and then Grids and Users and all sorts of terms he didn't understand or bother to try to.]

...Sometimes, being different is all it takes.

Voice

[isoalgorithm]

[She likes to think that her horizons have expanded more than a little, but times like these...bring up bad memories. Bad memories she thought she'd made peace with.

It looks like she was wrong.]

I only wish that wasn't the case.

Voice

[lonestray]

[Right there with you, only he never had any illusions about making peace with them. Those memories are still ones he struggles with all the time, despite the relative comfort and stability Anatole has given him. Another stretch of silence.]

It would be nice. Especially if wishing alone could make it so.

Voice

[isoalgorithm]

That seems to be beyond the powers of the Scorched, however malignant and multitudinous they may be. [Bitter about the flyers? Quorra? Never. Except she totally is.]

Voice

[pratservant]

Why did you have to run?

Voice

[isoalgorithm]

It was either that or deresolution. Death.

Voice

[pratservant]

[And now come the questions.]

Who wanted to kill you? Why?

Voice

[isoalgorithm]

[She's starting to think maybe she shouldn't have said anything, but her feelings on the current situation have gotten the better of her.]

It's a long story. A very long story.

[Voice]

[naniteknight]

Some people hate what they don't understand. It's easier to generalize rather than, you know, try to judge individuals.

It's not right, but that's just how it is a lot of the time.

Re: [Voice]

[isoalgorithm]

Yes, it is. But that doesn't make it any easier to watch. [Not again.]

[Voice]

[naniteknight]

No, never is...

I think all we can do is try to stay away from the natives and if they start chasing other Scorched around, help them get to safety if they need it. I don't think talking to the Anatolians is gonna do much good right now. I've seen this kinda behavior before.

Voice

[isoalgorithm]

So have I. It didn't end well.