Scene #7757: The Bugster and the Green Knight

Owner	Pose
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	A far-flung settlement ekes out a life away from the gaze of Cadenza's authority. No music drifts above this town's walls, no love for Cantio beats within their hearts. Faith in her seems at an all-time low here, especially after one of her controversial 'Bugster Defense Force' units proved to have picked up the worse parts of its original host. But what of the better parts of a Bugster's original host? Upon his last visit here, the Green Knight made a covenant with the sole surviving Bugster. It would be made to bear an impossible burden, and if it could bear this burden nobly, then Bercilak would lift another from its shoulders, of equal weight. He never said what either burden would be, but he knows well enough what they are. The burden the Bugster will bear is one that it would bear regardless of the Green Knight's presence. One that it bears right now, put upon its shoulders by Cantio, by the people of this place it protects. By Lilian, and Shotaro. The burden of proving one's right to exist. A burden that no one should have to bear, but many do--be it by word games of the rich and powerful, by sterilized legislation, by othering and shunning. This Bugster would bear that burden already--it is Bercilak's reasoning that the Bugster may as well get something in return for such an ugly burden. That the Bugster should have the chance to shrug it off now, before tempers and voices and wills flare too strongly to allow that. Two tests shall he make, to see that chance fairly given. Test the First - The Wretch So it is that a wretch came to live within these walls--cloaked and hooded in clothes of Cadenzan make, dirty and silent and feeble despite his immense size. His face is hidden behind the hood of his cloak, and in the short week he's been here, he's evidently put himself on the shit list of most of the people in town. Every minor custom or nicety is somehow done wrong. He has no money with which to buy food, and his efforts to earn his own way have seen his immense size work against, rather than for him. Merchandise has been broken, as has machinery, as have weapons, until the wretch is left to beg in the streets, unable to speak to make his plaintive requests. Hungry, alone, sad, scared. Does the Bugster see these things, in the wretch? Does it care? What shall it do?
Cantio	Within Cadenza's walls, a Bugster clad in silver 'armor' roams the streets. It's proven itself as not particularly hostile to human life in the most general sense, and it avoided the grisly fate that its redder compatriot encountered mere days ago. Whether it did so through self-control, luck, or some combination of other factors remains to be seen. However, it's that very uncertainty that Cantio's opted to let the self-proclaimed protector of something uncertain do its rounds on its own today. At least, that's what she told it. In truth, she's actually watching it through one of her clones, instructing herself to only intervene should the Bugster cause harm to one of her citizens. As such, there's some slightly movement from a nearby rooftop as the silver Bugster approaches that cloaked figure, feet dragging beneath it with the sound of rubber scraping pavement. It was instructed to patrol the streets for strange activity and use its own judgment. It doesn't know what it should do in this situation. It sees him begging, and it stares at him from behind the hollow helmet that covers its 'head'. Or is that hollowness actually its face? Whatever the case is, the silver Bugster is most definitely just staring at the wretch, and it hunches over to get a closer look at him. Although it still recalls bits and pieces of what it would have done in its memories, right now... Maybe its master would know better. "Come. I know a place. A person that can... You can work for." It looks like it's offering a hand at first, but that hand goes closer and closer, more like it's trying to pick up the stranger by the arm and carry him over its shoulders like a sack of potatoes.
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	The wretch withdraws, at first, when that hand is offered--he is used to being chased, chastised, perhaps even struck. Though the hood covers most of his face, the light does catch the fearful gleam in his eyes--which only abates when the Bugster provides its reasoning. Its speech has improved considerably since the last time they met. It is trying to put complex thoughts to words. The wretch takes its hand. Carried or led, it doesn't matter--though the Green Knight is thankful for the hood's concealing presence, should the Bugster opt for the former, for it will certainly amuse him. Led to its master--to Cantio, the wretch can't bear to look her in the eye. It's as if this is just another in a long line of such promises--as if he doesn't want to have hope, lest it be dashed. He carries with him but one possession--a chalkboard, with which he uses to communicate, in slow, methodical scrapes, as if the bones of each letter were of utmost importance. W O R K? Though he can't look her in the eye, though he towers above her, the wretch's hands tremble, holding that thing, old and scratched, the chalk but a tiny white nub between his thumb and forefinger, used almost all the way up.
Cantio	It doesn't take long for the Bugster and the wretch to find Cantio. Although she didn't specifically tell it where to find her nor did it report back to her about looking for her, they just happen to conveniently cross paths after the first few blocks of movement and, unknown to the Bugster, a few conveniently placed teleports. She definitely didn't just come down from her perch to avoid having it get lost in the process while hoisting someone over its shoulders like a kidnapper. "Work? Ah, so that's why...." She comments idly while looking the hooded figure over, taking note of his reluctance to make eye contact. There's a sympathetic tone in her voice as she pats the back of the giant's hand, smiling softly at him before turning to the Bugster. "You did well bringing him to me. But before we get into any work-related matters..." She flips out her Dorado Black card. "We need to get some food in you first. Now..." Cantio starts to lead the way, then pauses before turning towards the Bugster and the wretch. "Does burgers sound good? Or would you rather eat without using your hands?" She's mostly directing that question at the wretch, but there's also a few curious glances towards the bugster as if seeing whether it has any preferences at all. Also, she might be testing if the creature even cares about eating non-data food. It doesn't, although it does look over at the hooded man once more. "Something easy. Ff... Comfort food. And he'll need..." It gestures at the nub of chalk, and Cantio follows up with a tablet, already presented to the wretch with a drawing program opened up. "It's a little older, but... Will this work for now?"
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	The wretch nods once, at the Bugster's suggestion. Food is something he would evidently appreciate. Haltingly, the wretch takes the older tablet, holding it as if it were cast in gold, as if one errant move might shatter its glossy screen. There is still that very slow, deliberate way in which he writes his words. He must be slow and deliberate--must concentrate, or else Morgana's meddling will give away exactly who he is. The drawing program presents the opportunity to write in colors, and the wretch takes it, selecting a shade of blue. He turns to the Bugster, when he is done, even reaching out to stop it from leaving with a gentle grasp on its wrist. The other hand holds up the tablet. W H y H E L p ? It is the final part of the first test, but also the most difficult question. Why would this Bugster interpret 'protecting' the town so? Why would it take initiative to do this? Does it expect a reward? Or is there some other reason? These are the questions those eyes plead, under the darkness of the hood.
Cantio	Seeing the wretch handling the tablet carefully is good enough for Cantio to lead the way instead of babysitting the pair the whole way towards whatever burger joint she's leading them towards. She takes her time, too, but gives them enough space to chat about whatever it is the wretch is writing on that tablet. No sense crowding him or the Bugster, after all, especially when she's deliberately observing the latter to see how it handles things. Feeling that grip on its wrist, the Bugster still continues to move forward stiffly for a brief moment longer before stopping to turn to him. It reads that message quickly enough, but actually answering takes a while longer. Is it for survival? Partially. It saw what happened to the red Bugster, but its own nature is different as well. Is it because it was told to by its master? Also partially. It knows Cantio could destroy it far more easily than how she created it, but that didn't drive it to act. It's starting to remember things again. It looks towards one of the city's grander concert halls from a distance, and it just stares that way for a while while the sounds of music can be heard rising from its open-air areas. Despite the Bugster's lack of visible eyes, it almost looks like it's trying to remember something. "Why... Not? It's what she would do." Cantio stops. She brings out her own tablet to tap something into it, then keeps walking while glancing back. "We're not far now. Do you have any food allergies?"
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	Learning from others. Emulation. He shakes his head no. No allergies. Like anyone else, Bugsters can choose good or bad things to emulate. The choice of what to emulate says as much about them as the desire to emulate in and of itself. Compassion--a seemingly genuine care for his well-being. Generosity--giving freely of its time to act on that care. Perhaps that -wasn't- the last part of the first test after all. It occurs to him that there is something he might still test, wrapped in this guise. Of course, he plays along, today, and for several others. Eating food as it's offered, putting his best effort into answering her questions, that he might find the work the Bugster promised. The man has great strength and fortitude in equal measure, though he doesn't have use of his voice. He knows the digital wilderness well, and his hardy nature would make him a good scout or guard, making up in physicality what he lacks in finesse. Throughout it all, there is interest in the Bugster. Even upon his assignment to his first task, the moment he has free time off-hours, he seeks the Bugster out, to have conversations in that slow, methodical, silent way, his eyes speaking volumes from beneath the cloak he refuses to shed even with food in his belly and a job to his name. -What does it want the most? The Green Knight had asked, once--but now the wretch does. -Why is 'she' someone to emulate? -Do you have any friends?
Cantio	As promised, Cantio takes these two to a burger joint. It's not a fancy one, either, so someone dressed like the stranger's gets far fewer stares than the Bugster accompanying him and Cantio. Even now, it's clear that Cantio's project is still getting second and third looks from the populace, and the Bugster isn't blind to it either. It does, however, do a good job at pretending not to notice while also keeping its movements calm and utterly predictable. It doesn't eat, though, so it might still be eerie eating around it in general. The work Cantio suggests, meanwhile, takes full advantages of the man's abilities while taking his lack of speech into account. Being a scout or guard for the city is an obvious recommendation considering his stature, but she also suggests more quiet and self-driven occupations such as farming, animal husbandry, and even learning how to play heavier musical instruments. Whatever he picks, he'll have plenty of time to pick at the Bugster's brain or whatever equivalent there is in that strange rubbery head. What it wants is consistent with what the Green Knight had asked once before, but the answer is given more quickly as it becomes more comfortable with actually speaking over time: "I want to protect things. This city. These people. It's my home." "'She' is the leader of this city. The hero. The person even she tries to copy without knowing she does it." "No. I think I had them, but I don't know who they are."
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	One day, after working the fields, the wretch, clad in that same hood, comes lumbering down to the Bugster's post--one of them, anyway. A stop along the patrol route. Dirt still clings to him, but mainly to his hands and his worn boots--not to his face. There is something in his hands. The Bugster can't eat, so there's no point in sharing a grown bounty for that purpose. But it may be able to appreciate something else that came from the earth. A rose, grown from a bush that mysteriously wasn't on the land this wretch had worked, the night before. Freshly picked, alive, and red. As red as the eyes that now peer out from that hood. A stem with skin as green as the skin of the man who stands before him. The cloak is tossed off, revealing Bercilak de Hautdesert. His smile is magnanimous, his tone approving, a meaty palm placed upon the Bugster's shoulder. "Thou hath a frend indede, Bugster. The wrecch and thee, thee and the wrecch, speking as thou didst euche dei." "To him, thou wert beningn, mercial and, verily, frendsom, in thy wai. Swich imenes ifirst of thy fraists is done." It certainly sounds as if the Bugster has passed the first test. But the Green Knight's expression grows grave, as does his tone. "Whider thou ifind that, or the lattermore, mo dificultuous, shalt outsheu the mesure of thee in sum. Fare thee wel, Bugster." He leaves then--to visit Cantio. Arrangements must be made for the next test. Her non-interference must be guaranteed. And he's also rather fond of her, besides. Finding her at her usual station, or perhaps, given her previous behavior, eavesdropping, he hefts her onto his shoulder and carries her someplace where two may discuss such things, and perhaps others, in private.
Cantio	Over the days, the Bugster is becoming more comfortable doing its rounds around the city. Although there's still the occasional hiccups from shut-ins not realizing that it's friendly and not a roaming Virus (and also roaming Viruses appearing), things are actually relatively quiet throughout Cadenza. Bercilak finds it during one such quiet moment as it ushers some particularly inquisitive children away, only turning to him once the coast is clear. "It's you again. The..." It takes a while to mentally translate what he's saying, but it does actually manage to do so this time without having to rely on Cantio for assistance. The Bugster looks at the hand on its shoulder, then the rose offered to it, then to the Green Knight as he speaks. "... From that battle. You were acting this whole time." It confirms with a quick look up and down, and it straightens up just a bit once it finally finishes processing what he's said. "If that was the first test, then... I will take the second one, too. Don't wait long. I won't be getting any younger." Is it actually learning how to crack more jokes? They're not particularly good ones. Cantio, meanwhile, is easy enough to find doing her own rounds as well. Even she needs some time away from her lab, after all! It's rather easy to secure her cooperation for the second test as well, seeing as how she's rather interested in seeing the results herself. What's not so easy is getting her to settle down while being carried off.
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	"Hark," says Bercilak, placing her down to plant a green finger to her lips. His hand caresses her cheek, and strokes a lock of purple hair aside. "The first is done anau. Enterfere not in the second." It isn't a command. Isn't intimidating. His eyes meet hers, and though he has to look down, it is softly pleading. "I am aknoued that the Bugster's prosperaunce is notabil to thee. That thou lest hita success. That this place, so als, is notabil. Wherefore elles wouldst thou folwe so hendeli?" She has a lot riding on this. He smiles. "Theim that journei hither bileve that Bugster is non-mo thanne a thing at bet, and at werst, a beste. Doth thou bileve swich?" His thumb strokes gingerly across her cheek. "Beggen I that thou permitten me to preve the contre. That, ayen, thou enterfere not in mine second fraisting of hit. Thou shalt aknoue, whanne-so that fraist shalt itide. Knoue that if thou cannst itrust me, thou shalt hath what thou lest." Leaning down, he plants a little smooch on her forehead. Can she trust him?
Cantio	For Cantio, the physical contact is far more confusing than mentally translating what Bercilak says to her. Her stance shows about as much, as she's standing not unlike a statue while staring right back at Bercilak, focusing more on what he's saying than what he's doing just to make sense of it all. "That's... That's right. This is all for my home, so seeing where this all goes is... Er. What? I don't know yet. It's intelligent enough to communicate, so it's definitely got that over animals and objects. How much more... I want to see how far it can go, too. If it can reach the level of being a person." She takes a deep breath, then nods firmly without hesitating for once. "Of course. The test wouldn't be conclusive if someone else interfered just to help it pass, after all. And if it fails, then... At least I can still say I tried." She actually lets out a light chuckle at that, but her cool and collected demeanor drops almost immediately at that smooch. "... Wh." Is this what it's like to have a significantly older doting relative other than her sister? "A-anyway! Yes, I'll trust you with this. You're probably the only one outside of the Concord that I can." That is what he meant with that, right?