003 | Allegro Maestoso (in E minor)

[pianola]

[ VIDEO ]


[ Dorothy appears to be standing on top of a very high building somewhere, in Nova City, during the small hours of the morning. It's an observational deck, but there don't appear to be any other tourists or visitors there now. She's alone, and watches the streets below, and the flying cars around.

She seems content to let it record, until she asks, finally: ]

Without your previous responsibilities.

How did you decide what to do with your lives here?




[ TEXT | Private to Satori and Koishi ]


I think it may be time to find a place of my own.

Comments

[Video]

[leekspins]

You really like high places, don't you, Dorothy-chan?

[Yeah, Orihime's not worried. Her friend knows what she's doing.]

For me, I'm still figuring it out! I guess I just go where I'm needed until I'm not. And then I bake!

[Video]

[pianola]

It's a nice view.


How do you know where you're needed?

[Video]

[leekspins]

Oh, I don't!

[She grins cheerfully, pressing her knuckles to the side of her head.]

I kind of have to rely on other people to put out the call if they need a healer. Other than that, I keep my eyes open and try to stay aware of any emergencies where I might be able to help out.

Why do you ask?

[Video]

[pianola]

I see.

You had said "I guess I just go where I'm needed until I'm not."

I wasn't certain if you had ... better ability, in telling when people needed your help, than I do.

[Video]

[leekspins]

Well...not really.

[She hugs her arms with a wry little smile.]

I put my name up as a volunteer for healing, but no one's called for me yet. That's a good thing, though! It's definitely better if no one gets hurt, right?

[It's still not a pleasant feeling, though, to think no one needs you.]

A-anyway, having a job helps, ne?

[video]

[vicious_slice]

Mostly I reconciled whatever I could with my programming and the purpose for which I was designed.

... Shouldn't you uh, get down from there?

[video]

[pianola]

[ Dorothy considers this. ]

What was your purpose?

[ Dorothy looked back out at the city. ]

Why?

You can see a lot from here.

[video]

[vicious_slice]

I'm a combat robot.

And it just looks pretty dangerous.

[video]

[pianola]

... How have your functions been adapted to this place?

[ Her eyes narrow, slightly. ]

I am standing on a deck meant for humans without my superior sense of balance.

And you who are meant for battle considers it too dangerous.

Text

[chocobosnap]

I haven't decided what to do yet,
but I'm pretty new.

Is there something you like to do?

Text

[pianola]

When did you arrive?

How do you tell if what you like to do is a hobby, or a career?

Text

[chocobosnap]

I'm not sure, not that long ago. Maybe we're coming up to a month?

Most hobbies, I think, can become careers if you want them to be.

Text

[pianola]

Not long yet, then.

I see.

Is that how things are for you?

[Voice]

[wonderland_vogue]

[It's easier if she can control her voice and not have to worry about her appearance or emotions on this particular topic.]

I haven't been here long, but the only option I really have is to try and do what I did back home. Other than that, I can't say how to live a life if you only have limited time. [Perhaps that was a little more cryptic than she would have liked, but it works for now.]

[Voice]

[pianola]

What did you do at home?

[ There's a hint of curiosity, just a small one. Otherwise, her voice is just as calm and even as it was before.

Matter-of-fact: ]

... Your time is not limited, like most humans?

[Voice]

[wonderland_vogue]

Survive, mostly. Entertain, too. [Probably the most vague of answers she can give on the matter, but until she can figure out how to make herself anonymous, she's not going to risk details.]

[As for the next part she's remaining silent for a moment or two to find the words.]

I'm not a human. But... yes, my time's not really unlimited, at least not in the traditional sense.

[Voice]

[pianola]

Survival and entertainment seem like an odd combination.

[ Her voice is smooth and calm now, not quite a monotone. ]

I am also not human.

My body, while it will wear down and show signs of age, will do so differently than a human's would as well.

[Video]

[youfool]

[This one comes at evening time, with a campfire in the background. He keeps his voice low so as not to wake any. He sounds winded and should probably be getting what sleep he can.]

Exercise. Deathly exercise.

Still, it's an odd question. One's moral responsibilities, for example, are quite universal. There's really no shaking them. Only the particulars, at most, are wont to change.

[Video]

[pianola]

... You need rest.

[ Said flatly. Her question wasn't important enough to keep anyone from much-needed sleep.

But, she appears to take what he says seriously. ]

This is true.

But, as those responsibilities are universal. They do not narrow down a path to follow here.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[Snort]

Astute as ever, Dorothy. In my defense, conversations can be restful.

[Though that might be countered by looking at a screen. Not very conducive to sleep.]

Broad burdens that find narrow expressions. The usual dogma applies: "Love God, then others". I'm paraphrasing. Doubtless Love has as much to do here as anywhere. Have you found any modes for such, just yet?

[Video]

[pianola]

[ Still flat: ] If you say so.

[ She considered, again, what Ted says, quite seriously. ]

Humans always invoke God when attempting to find purpose.

Or when justifying megalomania.

I've never seen it applied to the concept of love.

[ A pause. ]

And I don't understand how love is relevant here.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Cassian looks thoughtful when he answers a little while later. ]

I... guess I didn't change much at all. I was floundering for a while, but I mostly tried to keep to the same routines I maintained at home. I tried civilian jobs, too, but for all that it was interesting to see how normal people live they weren't satisfying to me. When I became Guardian I found a new way to further the goals I'd been fighting for at home.

I guess I just found what was important to me about my responsibilities at home, and adjusted to doing my duty here.

[pianola]

... I see.

This is very helpful.

[ She's considering what Cassian said seriously. ]

What goals were you fighting for? What about them was important to you?

[captain_by_the_book]

[ He hadn't expected his own mess of an experience to be useful for anyone else, so that's a pleasant surprise. He thinks for a little while, weighing his answers. Dorothy deserves better than wishy-washy evasiveness. ]

I fought for equality, for justice. For the return of democracy and rule of law, but.. mostly I just wanted to help make the galaxy a better place. I don't have the Force and I'm no leader or royal, but I did my part, however small it was at times.

I didn't think about it back then. I thought of it in terms of fighting against the Empire. It wasn't until I was Guardian and had to decide what kind of town I wanted Attleton to be during my term that I really thought what I was fighting for.

[pianola]

[ Cassian is talking about the why he had chosen what he had, and how, and his motivations. Knowing how and why he'd made his decisions here - and yes, even knowing it was difficult for him to do so - this was incredibly useful to her.

She's quiet, and weighs his words against her own actions in the past.

Quietly, echoing: ]

What you were fighting for.

...

[ There's a long pause. When she talks again, her voice is still quiet, but almost contemplative. ]

Protecting others. Free will. Choice.

Giving each person that chance, to make their own decision.