theoceanbetween | IC Inbox

[After the events of this thread, A2 shows up! in the room, bleeding from a stab wound that is still steadily leaking fluid everywhere, though she seems unperterbed by this. Whether it's because she's trying- and failing, most likely- to not alarm Aqua or because it seriously doesn't really bother her.

In fact, she's going to pretend it's not even an issue while it's dripping all over the floor as she tries to find a piece of cloth to staunch the wound!]

[Aqua is sitting on her bed, recovering her alertness and energy after some more desperately needed sleep following...whatever that incident was. She wasn't coherent for half of it.

She's still a little groggy, anyways, and doesn't immediately register the odd murmur of dripping out in the hall.

It isn't until A2 walks in and Aqua rubs her eyes that she sees it, and the fact A2 isn't making any sound at all other than the drip, drip, drip from her torso is deeply disturbing. Aqua almost wonders if she's blocked out any noise but that steady sound, her focus settling squarely and solely on the fact A2 is hurt.

She's on her feet in a flash, striding to the android and reaching out to stop her from moving.]

A2, you're bleeding...!

[That's obvious, but there's a clear gamut of questions in Aqua's tone, the worry on her lips, and the furrow of her brow.]

[A2 is summarily stopped by Aqua, but she gives her a weird look.]

Yeah? I need to staunch it. [Actually, if Aqua pays! close attention, she'll notice that A2 has been completely run through. There's an entrance and exit wound! Fantastic.]

Don't worry about it.

[Oh, she's paying attention. And summarily ignoring A2's request.

In fact, with the android holding still now, Aqua inspects her closely, looking increasingly horrified? She even makes a soft, aghast sound under her breath. A2 is doing a bad job of keeping the humans around her calm...

There's already a Cure on Aqua's lips, her fingers - wrapped in a green light - brushing over the area of the wound. Though, Aqua has never tried this on an android before, but she's not really thinking?

All she can digest is the fact this is a deeply serious wound, and she just wants to fix it.]

[Surprisingly, the cure works on A2, and the wound closes under the soft green light.

It makes A2 pause, and gently move aside Aqua's hand to brush at the area herself? Like she can't believe what just happened.]

Uh. What did you do?

[Aqua is so relieved? The wound closes easily enough, leaving nothing but A2's bloodstained synthetic skin perfectly intact beneath her palm.

She breathes a heavy sigh of relief, stepping back a little.]

I healed you.

[Aqua says simply. Which, again, obvious, but it's probably the first time Aqua has indicated she has powers like everyone else on this station.

Besides, shouldn't she be asking the questions here?]

Are you going to tell me what happened?

[That's a joke. A2 doesn't have a choice.]

I was stabbed. That much is obvious.

[And A2 is just! Going to leave that there. And not go into any further detail.]

But how?

[Hahaha, as if Aqua isn't going to pry. Blood means nothing good, A2!]

You said there was no fighting here.

There isn't normally. Unless you happen to pick a fight. It's fine, no one was seriously hurt, Aqua.

What...? You were completely run through!

[Aqua has gone from concerned to displeased? A2 didn't seem the type to cause trouble...so her picking a fight is even worse, but not as bad as her trying to downplay it.

Like, Aqua's glad A2 is okay! But she vehemently disagrees that being impaled isn't serious??]

Yeah? Androids are sturdy. This happens sometimes. Besides, we have nanomachines that facilitate our regeneration. It's not that bad. I swear.

[Never mind, A2's personal space is lost because Aqua steps forward, definitely agitated now.]

I'll decide how I feel, A2.

[She doesn't appreciate A2's evasiveness, not one bit. Especially when she's actually trying to let someone explain themselves? She didn't do that for Terra...let her use what she's learned, damn it!]

How am I supposed to ignore this when you were hurt because of it? Either you tell me, or I'll find out for myself.

[She does cringe a little, under the intense look Aqua is giving her, but she doesn't back away, instead she makes eye contact.]

I was asked to prove my hacking ability by hacking another android and pulling up memory data relating to the conversation he had with the person who asked me to do so. He wasn't exactly happy with it, understandably, and defended himself.

[Well, putting her foot down worked! Aqua has to digest all that though, since it's more than a bit beyond her ken.

As such, while she holds A2's gaze, her lashes flutter slightly, thoughtful.]

But...why did you agree?

[Since, as far as she can parse, A2 was requested to attack another android? Just to prove something, apparently. That hardly seems worth getting stabbed!!]

Because I was asked to do something.

[It's... as simple as that, really.]

I know you obviously think that the wound was a lot worse than it was, but it's really not that big of a deal. I'm an android. We're sturdy, and we're made for fighting. It's not that big of a deal.

[On one hand, Aqua was basically the same way. If someone asked for her to do something, she did it, no question. Even play Fruit Ball, which is awful incarnate?

She's still that way if kids pout enough, but as far as this goes:]

And...? That's it?

[OF COURSE, A2 IS HARD-PROGRAMMED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, BUT SO WAS EXPERIMENT 626, AND HE TURNED OUT ALRIGHT???? He made better life choices. Don't let an alien one-up you, A2.

Besides, there's some...dim recollection of A2 being very gentle, somewhere...so her just being bad because she was told to doesn't sit right with Aqua?]

You endangered yourself for no reason! And if someone asking is all it takes [Aqua emphatically places a hand on her chest.] then of course I'm worried!

I didn't think I was going to get stabbed. It's my fault for not paying enough attention.

[Like, that's all she has to say for herself! Granted, her brain is working itself into a tizzy trying to sort through certain complicated factors...]

I'm not talking about that anymore! I mean acting just because you're told to. Not everyone has good intentions, and I...!

[Aqua bites her lip.

Maybe she really knows nothing, and it's not a big deal, but this hits too close to her Terra problem, in a way. As long as she's heard...

She hesitates, then, trying to find the right words. She's still maintaining stormy eye contact with A2, her blue eyes bright and angry. Not really at A2? Just at this whole situation. A2 seems to severely underestimate how upsetting all this is...!]

[Unfortunately, a verbal altercation is just as good as a physical one for confused androids getting their literal wires crossed. There's only so much she can do in the face of the stormy look, before the signals firing in her processors make a really bad, really dumb choice.

She kisses Aqua, right on the lips. It's brief, it's awkward, and A2 retreats firmly after, coolant that's no longer leaking from a wound in her stomach now rushing to her face in a brilliant flash of red.

All A2 can manage in response is a very meek sounding:]

Sorry.

[Indeed, Aqua's abrupt pause was the unfortunately perfect opening, and anything she might have said is swallowed by the last thing she expected from A2. It's not like she knew her aggressive gesturing and raised voice would amp up an android fresh off the heels of a fight!

Her eyes go wide, her anger dashed against metaphorical rocks so cleanly it shatters and is washed away, and she slowly reaches to touch her lips with slim fingers once A2 retreats.

SHE DOESN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SORRY A2 MURMURS IS FOR?? SORRY FOR KISSING HER? SORRY FOR UPSETTING HER, HERE HAVE A KISS TO MAKE IT BETTER? BUT THAT JUST OPENS UP MORE QUESTIONS...

As if to match A2 as well, her face is turning a luminous pink up to the tips of her ears, and her hand suddenly drops to her chest because her heart is fluttering so much she might die?

WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING, HONESTLY.]

Oh...

[It's really a question of who turns tail and runs first: her or A2?]

[WISH A2 KNEW. ALL SHE KNOWS IS THAT SHE FUCKED UP.

SHE FUCKED UP AND SHE HAS NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. THIS IS WORSE THAN GETTING STABBED.

But she's not going to back down first, because she's still running on bad ideas and also because her systems have locked her legs into place. She couldn't go anywhere if she wanted to.

Instead, A2 just mumbles out another "Sorry".]

[Did A2 actually do anything wrong? Aqua is reeling wildly over it, but it's not a bad feeling, exactly? Nothing like how she felt at the Coliseum. It's scary because she doesn't know what to do with it!!

It's not like she can run anywhere either, ultimately. With Zack, she fucking vacated the world itself, content in the knowledge she'd never have to face him or that situation again, but here...

She can't fathom why A2 would do such a thing anyway! There was no lead-up, as far as she knows. Unless she just missed something, possibly many somethings, and it should be obvious, but that's terrifying in its own way. She fumbles for words, but A2 looks upset, so she settles on something easy:]

I, um [AHEM]...I'm not mad at you.

[Let the light save her, goodness. Aqua tries her best to keep her cool, her hands flapping at her sides weakly to shake off the nervous energy.]

I just wanted you to understand why I was upset.

[That's literally not why A2 is apologizing, but go off, Aqua.]

You didn't like seeing me hurt.

[A2 gets that? It makes sense, but also she knows. She knows humans aren't supposed to be concerned for androids.

In the future, she'll just have to hide her wounds more carefully.

In the future, she'll make sure Aqua doesn't find out so she can't be upset.]

[Aqua, meanwhile, is steadily getting more flustered despite her best efforts? Because she's thinking back to when they met and how insistent A2 has been on assisting her to the point of occasional exasperation, and someone was there to see her through her delirium and then...

And then this.

Like, it makes a terrible amount of sense, but Aqua really doesn't know what to do with that knowledge. Her face has gone from pink to beet red.]

Well, yes. I don't like why it happened either, but...that can wait.

[Aqua finds her out in this extremely awkward situation, bending to touch the floor, fingertips just shy of the edge of some blood splatter.]

Let me clean this up first.

[Unfortunately for Aqua, A2 is quick on that too, and gently, she leans down as well, catching Aqua's wrist to stop her.]

It's fine. I'll take care of it. It's my mess anyway.

[If Aqua could arch her back like a cat's, it would be puffed to hell right now. As it stands, A2's warm metal hand around her wrist is a heightened sensation, and it takes Aqua a lot of self control not to jerk her hand back immediately.

Please, A2, she knows you mean well but she Needs something to focus on. And yet she's almost too tongue tied to argue.]

That...doesn't mean I can't help.

[As tempted as she is to hop back in bed and hide her head under her pillow!!!!!!]

You don't have to, though.

[Like, she absolutely does not mind cleaning her own android goo up off the floor.]

I don't know if it's safe for you to touch with your bare hands anyway.

I wasn't...!

[Aqua starts, then stops, huffing. As if she would use her bare hands, honestly.

She waves A2 off, still red in the face but absolutely refusing to be beaten. By courtesy, of all things.]

I want to help. And I'll be careful.

[A2 lets go of Aqua's wrist, thankfully for both of them.]

... Are you sure? I don't know what I'd do if you got hurt.

[Which is said completely innocently, all things considered.]

You...

[This is moving at a pace entirely too fast for Aqua, who gabbles at those words for way longer than she would like before she stands up straight, abuptly. Her posture resembles the one she uses when addressed by her Master.

Just, wow. Like, Aqua would hardly be killed by some acidic android goo, so that's somewhat melodramatic for A2 to say, but melodramatic is also Aqua's taste in romance novels.

Wasn't she supposed to be worried? Wasn't there something that needed to be addressed? A2 got in a fight with someone of a mystery identity after all. And yet. And Yet.]

No, you're right. I'll just...go to bed.

[That's it. In a flounce that echoes Yuna's of Final Fantasy X-2 fame, Aqua is just. Peacing out.

She just got out of bed too!! Good-fucking-night, apparently.]

Edited (words,) 2018-07-15 06:31 (UTC)

IC Inbox | Reverie

in person

thanks for the lack of a heads up, A2?????

i like how A2 bleeding everywhere is how we christen aquas inbox

i wouldnt have it any other way. whats really amazing is its not Aquas fault this time

yeah,

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A2 is bad at deescalating..................

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im crying A2 is just like. sorry i didnt win better my b

fghdfghdf

erika what have you wrought

awful gays

yeah

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two girls standing in a pool of blood bc theyre gay

its not even blood its fucking coolant or some shit

it was part of A2s innards and thats enough squick for Aqua

fghsdgfh

me thinking of what disney movie these two would be: lady and the tramp

fgndjfg yeah

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