{{
`${userDetail.user.displayName}${userDetail.user.cachedBungieGlobalDisplayNameCode ? `#${standardizeBungieGlobalCode(userDetail.user.cachedBungieGlobalDisplayNameCode)}` : ""}`}}
{{getUserClans()}}
originally posted in:The New Dojo
1/21/2018 4:55:35 AM
160
[b][i]Alone[/i][/b]
[b]Dojoville, Tatakai[/b]
[i]She woke up to find herself lying in the gutter on the side of an average street. Blinking her eyes, she took a deep breath and sighed, an expression of pain gripping her face. The cold was not helping. Forcing herself to her feet, she mentally cursed, the pain shooting through she entire body. Shakily, she observed her surroundings, and was quick to assume that she stood out. That was what years of training did... but those years of training didn’t prepare her for what she’d just survived. To any on the street, she was an almost disturbing sight. Her hair was a mess, looking as if she’d been through a nasty fight.
Her right eye was a milky white, the product of an orbital blowout fracture. Her clothes, a t-shirt and combat pants, were both shredded, cauterized slashes visible across her chest, stomach, arms, and legs. Bruises and burns dotted her form as well. Dried blood coated her clothes in various places, and she seemed to have dried blood across the side of her face as well. How she was even alive was a miracle, though if she stayed out in the cold for too much longer with no shoes and short sleeves, she was done for. She knew it, too, and weakly, she set about looking for any place to escape the cold, but most things appeared to be closed at that time of night. Alone for the first time in forever, the woman looked around, feeling small in a place she barely knew.[/i]
[spoiler]Open.
Working on a mini-plot here.[/spoiler]
English
-
Edited by Skatch142: 1/23/2018 12:54:41 AM*Alice set down a bra and a shirt as well, making sure she had a full outfit.* <I will leave you to change. Knock on the table again when you wish for me to return.> *She left for her room, presumably to put the rest of the clothes away.*
-
[i]The woman nodded and as Alice left, she set about redressing herself. Quickly slipping into clothes that didn’t totally expose her, she knocked on the table, and then took a seat on the couch, sitting Indian-style. Once she sat down, she set about fooling with her hair, pulling it down to cover her blind eye and that side of her face.[/i]
-
*Alice came back out of her room and sat down on the couch next to the woman. She turned herself to face the woman, although in reality it didn’t really matter what direction she was looking.* <I may have already told you this, but I see using echolocation. That is why I have not asked you to communicate through writing, I am unable to perceive color or light at all. Do you perhaps know the language of Morse code?>
-
[i]She nodded. Even she had been taught Morse code. She knew how to do it rather well, actually. Smiling a little bit, she now had somewhat of a way to communicate.[/i]
-
<Good. Please, tell me your name and what happened to you.>
-
[i]She exhaled, and then began to tap out a condensed version.[/i] [b]I am Rachael. I was betrayed by someone I thought I could trust. He left me for someone I wronged before. That man tortured me for information and for what I had done to his daughter. I was involved with some bad people before I ended up here, and I do not know if I am proud of who I was or who I am.[/b]
-
*She was silent for a few seconds before she spoke again.* <Tell me Racheal, do you wish to be a good person?>
-
[i]There was a fairly lengthy pause before her tapping resumed.[/i] [b]I do not know what I should be. I do not know even if there is redemption to be had. I have never been in this sort of situation before and it is unnerving.[/b] [i]While Alice couldn’t see it, Rachael was blushing hard. This was something she didn’t exactly want to or know how to come to terms with.[/i]
-
Edited by Skatch142: 1/23/2018 3:27:22 AM<I believe that redemption is always possible if you wish for it. If you do not know what you should be, then try to be a good person.> *Though It was hard to tell, Alice’s tone of voice changed to be more understanding and friendly.*
-
[b]I do not know if I can say that I agree with you. There are crimes that are not forgivable, and I cannot say that I am not guilty of such crimes.[/b]
-
<I do not know about these crimes, therefore to me you are as good as innocent. You appear to have paid a debt as well in the form of one of your eyes and your ability to speak.>
-
[i]There was a pause for a moment. She sat back on the couch and had to think for a second. She was being offered a second chance here. This was an opportunity, maybe to make things a little better, maybe to actually live a real life... but she didn’t deserve that. She couldn’t have. Leaning forwards again, she began to tap out another message.[/i] [b]Do you really think I am worth a second chance?[/b]
-
<Yes, I do.> *She set a reassuring hand on Racheal’s shoulder as she said this, nodding.*
-
[b]Okay.[/b] [i]Then the tapping stopped, and she sat in silence for quite some time. Rachael had to admit that this was strange. Being indebted to someone for this was weird, but she was beyond thankful that the machine hadn’t hurt her for what she’d admitted to. Most would have probably cast her back out to the streets for that. [/i]
-
*Alice sat back on the couch and the caracal crawled onto her lap. She didn’t care to know the exact details of what the woman had done. She didn’t feel that they mattered, nor would knowing exactly what she has done bring about any good.*
-
[i]If Alice was good at sensing feelings, then she could tell that Rachael did not feel that same way. Details weighed quite a bit on the mind, and looking back things were only becoming more painful. Letting go was difficult, namely because she simply had nothing else. It was a free fall for her.[/i]
-
*Alice had almost no ability to detect feelings, but she could often guess the meaning of silence. She turned back toward the Racheal and tilted her head a little.* <Your actions carry a great weight, don’t they... Now is not the time to remember them, you are trying to [i]start[/i] a new life, emphasis on starting it.>
-
[i]The tapping resumed.[/i] [b]How do I start again with that sort of past? I am a mess right now... even after everything you have done for me. The things I have done and seen are not easy to distance myself from. [/b]
-
<Well, a good place to start is by finding a new home... If you would like, I have space for a roommate. It may be unusual for me to offer you a place in my home so quickly, but I don’t require as much privacy as others, nor do I spend a lot of time here.>
-
[i]She stopped to think for a moment before tapping out a response.[/i] [b]I do not know how or why you are being so kind... but I am thankful for it. However... I am afraid I must decline the offer. The man who betrayed me will be looking for me if he finds out I am still alive. He will not hesitate to kill anyone in his way, and I do not wish for you to be harmed.[/b]
-
<Though I wear little armor, I am far sturdier than an average human and can survive the loss of multiple limbs. I have a backup as well in case the rest of my body is destroyed, but if you still do not wish to stay then I will help you find another place to live.> *She paused for a moment before speaking again.* <And it is in my programming to be kind and to help others. Though I am able to rewrite that if I wish, I see no reason to. It feels far more worthwhile and honorable to assist people.>
-
[b]I do not want you hurt regardless. You have been too kind to me.[/b] [i]Rachael tapped out, before again stopping and sitting in silence.[/i]
-
<I will not force you to stay here. At least, not once the ointment has fully healed your burns. You have gained an ally, though. If he comes to hurt you, his path will be a very difficult one.>
-
[i]There was no response to that. Sure, Alice was a robot. Rachael was pretty sure that robot had plenty of tricks up its sleeve, but she knew Inferno all too well. He’d melt her down for scrap before she even got the chance to draw a weapon. She didn’t like thinking about that, and quickly attempted to force that thought from her mind. And so, an awkward silence fell over the room.[/i]
-
<Is there something I do not understand?>
