> Aradia: Intro [01]

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

[In the town square stands a machine proportioned like a teenage girl, with tangled waist length black hair. But not a human one, because even disregarding the slightly odd proportions of her face and the glowing red eyes, emerging from that mass of hair are two curled, metal horns. Aradia could use 'ram' to describe them, if she wasn't very much an alien and completely disinterested in your human hoofbeasts. The craftsmanship is nevertheless superb.

Her attempts to abscond had failed. The maid of time couldn't even escape from this town, let alone into another timeline.

Aradia is staring at the clock with a look of distaste while a a haunting refrain plays.]

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[it's curiosity that draws him, mainly. after all, it's not everyday that one meets a little girl robot quite like this!]

Hello! New to town as well? Blimey, there are a lot more this time...

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

[Her head snaps around to the apparent human, and when Aradia speaks, her voice echoes hollowly.

This does not keep it from sounding slightly annoyed.]

This time?

[bit_impossible]

[he notes that tone--but doesn't acknowledge it]

Yup! I was brought here before, ohhh...[runs a hand through his hair, thinking about how long ago it was]...quite a while ago, actually. Didn't think I'd ever be back, but! Here we are.

But look at you! I've met a good amount of robots, androids, mechanicals, mechanoids, cyborgs--the list goes on, really!--but I've never met anything quite like you, or with that sort of design.

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

[She stands motionless, watching the fidgeting man with bright red eyes.]

This is n0t designed by a human. This is a tr0ll s0ulb0t.

[bit_impossible]

Nah, didn't think you were designed by a human. One of the last thoughts in my mind, actually. [tilts his head a bit, peering at her] Never heard of a troll soulbot before, but I can easily guess what that might entail.

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

Having a s0ul.

Escape fr0m the veil int0 a new universe sh0uldn't be p0ssible, 0r we w0uld have already ch0sen t0 absc0nd from the failed session.

[She speaks as though he should recognise the terms. Or maybe as if she doesn't care whether or not he can follow.]

Are we dead?

[bit_impossible]

[and he does in his own way] No, it shouldn't be possible to travel between universes. The walls have closed. But here we are! And we most certainly are not dead. Trust me, I'd know.

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

H0w w0uld y0u kn0w?

[bit_impossible]

Because I've been here and back already, and I'm so very alive. [pauses for a second before he adds] And I know how it feels to die.

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

I'm meant t0 be dead. Again.

[She states it with the finality of depressing fact.]

H0w d0 y0u leave?

[bit_impossible]

[raises an eyebrow] Were you due for a decommissioning or reprogramming?

[starts to rub the back of his neck] Well, that's the thing... The way out is blocked. Again. [much to his annoyance] They're pretty determined to keep us in here this time.

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

[Her eyes narrow sharply at the comment, although it's the only sign of emotion.]

I am n0t a r0b0t. I am a s0ulb0t, and I was alive 0nce.

[bit_impossible]

It wasn't during the 1970s, was it? [he is, of course, just being cheeky]

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

[When Xion sees her from across the square, she freezes and stares.

A metal... girl?

A girl who was made, not born.

She can't stay away. She can't.]

Um... H-Hello.

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

[Another human. Not a troll, but maybe someone who could answer Aradia's pressing questions.]

...

Hell0.

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

[Human... in a way.]

Are... you okay?

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

[Okay. The favorite word in Aradia's language.]

N0. Why aren't y0u dead?

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

What?

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

Why are y0u alive?

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

I d...

[Can this girl tell?]

I don't know. [honest.]

[lamb_of_gold]

[Wandering by, Mu spots the trollbot, and then the insignia on her shirt and cannot resist a twinge of amusement.]

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

[She turns her head to stare at him, mutely.]

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[Call him curious as to what precisely she is and what she can do that first draws his attention, but the look she is giving the clock pulls a chuckle from him as he walks up.]

You look absolutely overjoyed to be here. Not that I am, personally, just remind me not to do anything to warrant a look like that.

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

[She blinks, slowly.]

I w0n't. If I l00ked at y0u like this I w0uldn't be pr0viding warnings. Y0u sh0uld remember it y0urself.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[Clearly humor is not the way to go at all. That's fine with him, straight to business then.]

Duly noted. Might I ask what precisely you are?

[maid0ftime.livejournal.com]

A tr0ll. I was fr0m the planet Alternia.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

Did something happen to your world?