Scene #7717: Peaceful Days

Owner	Pose
S6	Striker Six isn't very good at conveying whether she's enjoying herself or not. She doesn't complain in the least, but that's practically normal for her in most situations. The movie earlier, the wandering about this gargantuan mall, she has merely commented or drawn attention to things that capture her interest. Now, while waiting beside a fountain for I4 to return, she glances down at herself in thought. She might even look uncomfortable in this kind of posture, in quiet regard to the off-duty outfit she had selected. A knit ribbed sweater is certainly a different look on her, though the pencil skirt is much less out of place. Finally S6 settles on what is out of place. Reaching up, she removes her ever-present headpiece, staring at the inner layer of the Type 51 visor she'd only ever been seen with. Beside her, the POD holding her purchases suddenly speaks up. -FUNCTIONALITY TRANSITION UNDERWAY.- Silvery white eyes blink, shifting colors several times. When S6's eyes settle on a pale blue, the POD speaks up again. -TRANSFER COMPLETE.- -TYPE 51 RELEGATED TO AESTHETIC PURPOSE ONLY.- "...Mm..." A more content-looking S6 lifts her gaze to the beautiful architecture above her, quite suddenly looking far more content while she waits with just that one simple change.
Ishirou	I4 had gone off to get some slushy things at the orange juice slushy place that he doesn't care to remember the name of because it's probably just something really dumb. Before that was the movie, which was an interesting experience. Sure he could have looked up everything online, but the experience was what was important. Also, dinner before that, which also was a new experience in taste. And before, before that, he had picked up some actual clothes. A variety of dress clothes because for some reason he felt closer to things like slacks and a polo than loose-fitting and baggy other clothes. He actually LIKED to look nice, but a suit seemed like a bit much. He'll have to consider a suit at SOME POINT, but business casual was his happy place. He comes up from S6's right side and holds an orange slushy over her head. Right now he's in a pair of tan slacks and a green polo. A brown belt helps keep things together, and his eyes are freed from the blindfold. His eyes are a /striking blue/ color. In fact, S6 would have noticed the similarity to his look and the portrait that Lilian would have sent her. Sitting down next to her, he looks at her own cosmetic change. "Wow, uh..." he says, stammering, I didn't know you had blue eyes too..?"
S6	S6's gaze shifts, following I4 when he approaches. He gets a small smile when he sits himself down, nodding once in a quiet welcome. Her eyes return to the blindfold-like visor in her hand, "...I did not, until just now." The visor is folded up, then tucked into one of the bags held by her POD, "I had not thought to choose a color until now. It had been default white this whole time." Those eyes close when a little laugh escapes her. "It is... nice. Liberating. Being human. I am sorry if I have not seemed...particularly engaged. I am, truly. This is a little difficult for me." Resting her hands on either side of her hips, S6 leans forward a bit, head tilted down but looking right at I4's face, "I am not as practiced as you are in expressing myself. Please do not mind if I learn from your experience, I4."
Ishirou	"Sorry, but no," I4 says to S6's desire to learn from him. "You really don't want to learn from me...and also trying to be me isn't trying to be you," I4 says, for a moment, though he is definitely trying to hide the blush at their closeness. "It's a good color on you though..." he says, with a nod. "Finding out who you are is one of those you can't really...borrow or learn from others. Sure you might pick up habits or adapt ideologies, but those always seem to get colored by your own ideas." "Also you were fine! I didn't expect you to be expressive immediately or at all. You know there are people who are just really hard to get a rise out of? Its..." "Who am I kidding, I can't really say anything about anything right now. Knowing the truth has got my mind in this loop. How many of our comrades are sitting there dying for people who just made other people into slaves? Told us that we're not people...made me think I was some sort of flawed machine.." "You were so good at it too. The best even, I looked up to you because you were supposed to be what was expected," he admits. "Now I...I'm angry and hurt...and confused..." he sighs, "But you're strong and are handling it better than I am.." he sighs, "I'm such a mess.."
S6	Thoughtfully, S6 glances down while hearing her comrade out. It's subtle, a gradual motion as she tilts her head forward until her bangs hide her eyes. Even after I4's thought is spoken, hanging in the air, she's quiet for a long moment with just the bubbling of the fountain and the chatter of other shoppers meandering by. "...No," she eventually says, her voice soft, "...I am not that. I am not strong." Her hands shift, folding over her middle. Not quite cradling herself, but perhaps more to just reassure herself, "I knew the expectations placed on us was wrong. I did not... could not know why. But. Of course I have emotions. I feel. I always have. I hid it because I was afraid." "It hurt to see what you saw. To find out what we are. What was done to make us. We are a product of ... unimaginable cruelty." She sucks in a long breath, then lets it out slowly, sitting back up with her eyes closed, "...But it is...almost also a relief, I suppose."
Ishirou	It was I4's turn to hear her out, the admitting that she was only in line because she was afraid was...a shock to him. He looks down for a moment, processing the whole thing before he takes a drink of the Slurpee. There is a touch of silence before he looked up again, trying to think of the right thing to say? Of anything to say..? "A relief?" he asks, not sure about it. "It just feels like a weight's there...pressing down on me. Like I was denied life or an afterlife...or something. I feel hurt and wronged...and yet.." he sighs, "We need to go back there. Nobody else can deal with that Bullette, and those people who live outside of INDUS didn't do it to us, did they?" he admits. "And...you're not weak," he admits. "Fear is...something we all have..." he sighs, "The signs were there, S6, and I ignored them because I was also afraid." he admits finally, "The...first time we ran into the worms? The...times you had my rear out of a fire. You risked harm to keep me safe, even though it was against regulations," he points out. "You're important to me, S6...and I'm sorry I've been ignoring your feelings and just been indulging in mine. We both pretended nothing was wrong...and here we are now, unable to look away from the truth." "You must hate me for that, ignoring what was so obvious. Then whining and running away from what we just learned..."
S6	"Mmm..." S6's noise is thoughtful, "...I do not have to pretend anymore. Not as much. Only to FANTOM. Only in Indus. Until something can be done; and I have no doubt something will be done, now." Her legs cross at the ankles, returning her gaze to her partner, "We are our own individual now. With each other; with the Paladins; we can express ourselves freely without prejudice. We have been given a life, I think it is our duty to live it to the fullest." Her eyes drop again, "...Which means I will have to adjust my combat tactics... It does not absolve us of our responsibilities, and I should not be so careless with myself." Her eyes close again, but this time she tilts her head up slightly, "I have always trusted other androids to take care of themselves. I do not protect you because I feel obligated to, or because I do not think you can handle yourself. I am fond of you as well." One eye opens, "Flaws and all. We are partners, and we look out for each other. Thank you for all you have done for me so far, I shall continue to support you as best I can. Bullette or no Bullette.
Ishirou	I4 smiles back towards S6, "Alright then partner..." he says with a happier tone to the whole thing. He sighs, "Yeah, and the moment we go back I think things are going to get hairy. No doubt someone is going to be pissed off like a beehive that the Paladin's told INDUS to go fuck off...but I don't think they're going to try and pull us off." "Hopefully, nobody finds out that we know what we do...or that the Paladins found out. That could be bad..." he thinks. He does breathe easier, "It...yeah, it does feel nice to not have to pretend. That I don't have to bottle things up or tow a stupid line." Closing his eyes, "Or that we can be out here, just...being," he comments, "Alright, so what sights did you like seeing today? I know you were looking at a lot of different things!"
S6	S6 nods once, letting out an affirmative noise followed by a "Yes." before rising to her feet. She taps her toe to check the fit of one heeled boot. -CARRY CAPACITY AT FOURTY-NINE PERCENT.- "We will concern ourselves with work matters when we are back to work," But a little talk was definitely in the cards. She seems much less guarded, at least. Getting some stuff out in the open must have done her some good. "There is a good deal of capacity left. I would not mind terribly gathering more outfit selections. If you are tired of this, though. Perhaps something not in a mall. Some sight-seeing or the like."
Ishirou	I4 thinks on this for a moment, is he done with this place..? "You know, we're not just the normal human people, and can get into somewhat dangerous locations for pictures? Why don't we try the sightseeing thing?" "Honestly, I'd like to watch a sunset or a sunrise...or an eclipse..." he sighs, "Actually get time to enjoy nature."
S6	"Nature on its own," S6 adds with a light nod, "Without all the ruins. Yes. I agree. And without a strict necessity for sleep, our ability to travel is unrestricted." Her eyes lift ceiling-wards in thought. -CAR RENTAL SERVICE LOCATED.- "If you plan a route of points-of-interest, I shall obtain the vehicle." S6 lowers her gaze back to I4, a small smile touching her lips "Humans call it a 'Road Trip'." Lifting one hand, she holds it out, palm-up, "Will you travel with me?"
Ishirou	I4 puts his hand on hers. "Of course, m'lady," he says with an all too easy for him flow. It felt so natural, but never had bothered being so formal slash serious before. "Though a car rental hmmm..." he considers, "I wonder if we can get something flashy and fast?" he asks. He forgot the budget.
S6	S6 briefly closes her hand over I4's, but then releases him to do his thing. Her eyes lift, staring into the distance while she flips through the HUD now swimming through her regular vision rather than on the inside of a blindfold visor. After a moment, she nods once. "The option is here, yes. I was considering the convertible. We only require two seats, after all. Cargo space is unimportant for our needs." -ORDER PLACED.- "It is done."
Ishirou	I4 pumps a fist oddly, "Yessss..." In the future, I4 is riding in the passenger seat, "Aw.." Now, I4 is excited because he thinks he's driving. Though he is at least happy to have a moment with his partner that isn't being shot at. "So any idea what you wanna see first?"
S6	"I am sorry," S6 confesses, "Since I placed the request, they insisted I drive it off the lot." The top is already down, though. Both PODs tucked neatly in the sad excuse for a back seat these high powered cars always have. Unfit for anything even vaguely resembling human, but perfectly fine for a pair of semisentient ambulatory flying laptops. Cruising at a good clip, the only direction S6 chose was 'out of town', perfectly matching the speed limits with the evening wind blowing through her hair. "Route planning was your job," she teases, "But a vista worthy of photography perhaps. Sunset is approaching; perhaps a place we can stop and observe it?"