2020-11-02: False but Genuine Pretenses

From Dream Chasers
Jump to navigation Jump to search
  • Log: False but Genuine Pretenses
  • Cast: Azoth, Dash Caskett
  • Where: Macalania
  • Date: November 02, 2020
  • Summary: Instructed to eventually bring Dash in to Megaman Juno when the chance presents itself, Azoth tries to find an advantageous in with the Digger by offering a sympathetic ear.

<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.

As much as Azoth tried to lean into the secondary calculations and objectives that led him to Spira -- trying to find Ivan and Esmeralda and make it up to them, even though they would never know that was why, or that he was the same construct they fought at the gate -- he cannot ignore the higher priority reasons he came.

One of those reasons is to find 'Megaman Dash' and establish some means of observation. Getting put in prison made that difficult, and some of his other equal priority objectives fell in his lap along the way. But now Azoth is out of legitimate excuses, and the overrides demand he make the calculates and execute the actions to make good on his objectives.

It's led him to Macalania, not for the first time. The Azoth that fought at the gate appeared a far more a construct: a humanoid made of black steel and red light with clear mechanical parts. But Azoth's current mode looks human at a glance with his blonde hair and tanned skin, and even done up in asymmetrical bright blues and oranges (with goggles! and belts! he's RPG Heroing correctly!) to help him blend in with Spira's fashion sense. Physically, his too-bright eyes remain his biggest tell.

He wanders in his search, but trying not to look like he's searching for anything besides particularly unique rocks. Or leaves. Or birds. To be fair, he does hold keen interest in all of these things, and is pocketing the occasional stone to keep. But his primary focus is any sign of the Digger in blue armor.

<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.

After the battle for Home, and the rescuing of Drifters caught in the crossfire, and everyone was reqrouping, it became evident that one individual was missing. Dash Caskett was admitted in for repairs (though his systems handled themselves fine) but never checked out.

Some suspected foul play at first, though the Fereshte was possibly the safest location available for Filgaians. How one would sneakily abduct an entire robot boy would be impossible to fathom outside of immense forces.

The truth is, Dash up and left without so much as a word when he was fully repaied.

Some folks that know him well may understand why.

A lot was revealed during the battle for the Main Gate. Including some info on Dash himself. And while the basurdity of such claims about the boy have no evidence, they struck a chord and is hard to ignore, Especially with his friend Kamui's reaction to revelations regarding herself as well.

As such, Dash has been... well, robots, reploids, whatever Dash is probably doesn't technically have a soul, but soul-searching is about the best way to describe his purpose right now. And among the crystalline forests of Macalania, the quiet serenity therein has helped set the stage to sort everything out.

Among the surroundings it is hard not to spot Dash, sitting on one of the ancient boughs used as roadways, overlooking lazy waterways not quite yet frozen from the northern chilly chimate.

His head picks up slightly at the sound of movement nearby, though isn't actively looking for people or creatures quite yet.

<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.

Seeing Dash look over the water brings up the memory of Kamui looking over her battlefield. It, perhaps, could remind Azoth of himself, except that he already knows he wants to leave the past behind. Look what unearthing it has done for Kamui. And now for Dash. Varius was right -- they should keep it there.

But Azoth can't. Not because of an overpowering curiosity or urge or need. Because he can no more ignore it than an organic could stop their own heartbeat.

When Dash looks over, Azoth flinches, giving the tiniest of smiles and half lifting his hand in a wave. He keeps his voice low, as if it might disturb the thoughtful atmosphere. "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize anyone else was here."

The lies begin.

He slips further from his place in the trees to approach, frowning a little. "...Hey, uh, you all right...?"

<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.

The waters of Macalania are thought to be revitalizing to those brave enough to delve into the forest and take a dip. If only the same could work for the mind.

The sound of a voice gets Dash tu turn around and look now "Huh?" he says, turning to see Azoth. Someone who is unfamiliar to him. Their attire suggest Al Bhed in origin. "Oh, hey! Uh, don't mind me. Just sorta.. hanging out. No fiends around to worry about. Fought some off."

In high tech armor and armed with a Buster, lower end fiends take a bit of work to deal with, but can be taken out.

THe pyreflies are long since gone though. How long has Dash been here?

"The story is probably kinda boring, plus can be kinda offensive to some folks on Spira, I guess...?" he responds with, unsure how to approach this topic with a native. If they are one, that is. The recent influx of folks from Filgaia can have some Drifters show up on the road, potentially.

<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.

Being mistaken for a native so consistently is, at least, firing off some manner of positive feedback in all this mess, small and trivial as it is. But the lack of pyre flies doesn't go unnoticed. No fiends either...

When they're lost, they fight. Was Dash made to be a weapon, too? Or did he decide to become one?

Azoth points up to himself, smiling cheerfully. "No worries there, I'm from Filgaia!" He glances pointedly down to Dash's buster, then back to his face. "And I think we may be similarly blasphemous in our tools. Offend as you please!"

He softens his smile. "...If you want. It's not my place to pry, but... you look like you could use an ear or two right now."

<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.

Eyes light up a little as Azoth mentions their origin. "Oh. Well! Okay then, yeah!" Dash scoots a bit over on the old wooden walkway branch. "Most folks dont like my armor and weapons here from back home. So I always try to be careful and avoid cities."

"Yeah, I suppose that is true, Dash says sheepishly. "My name's Dash. Who might you be?" he asks kindly.

"It basically boils down to a guy I have never met before saying all this stuff about me like he knows me. The problem being I dont know all that much about myself, so I am unsure if they are right or not."

Dash picks up a small pebble and pitches it into the water below. "Like... I dont quite know how to describe it. My adopted father has always been a little scarce on details where I came from. And what I heard is rather absurd. But the guy could be right? I dont know what to think."

He falls silent.

<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.

Azoth takes the freed up seat beside Dash for story time, returning those bright eyes with his own. "I understand. They've definitely got their sensitivities..." He lowers his voice a little, glancing to the side. "...And hypocrisies, in some cases."

There's a lot of machina Yevon side.

He shakes that thought to smile at introductions. "Name's Azoth!" He pauses, eyes searching a moment for any sign of recognition. It's not impossible Azoth and Dash may have once known each other, like Azoth and Varius did, or like Azoth and Kamui might have, but can't remember.

But Azoth finds nothing in his own memory. "Well, that's sufficiently unsettling," he says in response instead. Megaman Trigger. That's what Juno called him. Said Dash needed repairs.

It doesn't look that way to Azoth.

He picks up a pebble himself, squinting at Dash, then giving his own attempted toss. It plops right into the water along with the other. Ooh, ripples.

"I think I kind of get it... If you've had no information, then finally something, it's hard not to pay attention no matter how absurd." His gaze falls back to Dash. "But whatever they said, even if it somehow was true, aren't you still the 'you' of now?"

<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.

A small nod at the mention of their name. "Nice to meet you!" he says. "Yeah, the Al Bhed are really nice at least when it comes to technology, though theirs isn't exactly the same grade as what me or others got at times."

Indeed, unlike Kamui Dash doesn't appear to have a singular thing wrong with him. Dash has a powerful auto repair system within him. Dash has recently put it together that it has to be a similar system to how Kamui summons her armor. It has the same appearance, the light greenish-blue hued light overtaking damaged areas. A slow process, but unlike the kind female robot, keeps him in perfect condition.

If the connectio nwas true, would be yet another bit of evidence in Juno's favor.

"Yeah, like, it feels right? But it doesn't explain some things. Like how I grew up from an infant under the care of my adoptive father. And yet they say I was around long before that doing something."

"Doesn't make sense."

A small nod is given toward Azoth. "Yeah! Nothing has really changed. I am still who I am! It is just really weird." A pause. "Sorry for ranting! Ah, what brings you out here?" he says, trying to be accomodating to his new acquaintance!

<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.

Azoth blinks once, staring into space with Dash's description of his childhood. Of having a childhood at all. He had assumed, from all this talk of Megamen, and from meeting Juno and Kamui, that Dash was a bit more like him. Or at least like them, but still a construct.

"All right, that's... definitely a hard to reconcile contradiction," he says. Would Juno make a mistake like this? No, that doesn't make sense either. What...? He tilts his head at Dash. "But you say it feels right." He frowns. "Have you talked to your father since? Maybe in light of this, he might be more open with you. I mean -- maybe he could at least put some worries to rest."

He smiles more gently. "Hey, I was the one who asked. Sorry that you've got to deal with strange accusations from weirdos like that." Sorry, Juno. "Me, I was just looking for rocks." He plucks one from his pocket and admires it: a shard of bright blue that reflects the light from his eyes. "They're quite pretty here. I think they might make good gifts for some friends." Azoth's got another tiny, joyful smile at that thought. He's quite serious about this.

<Pose Tracker> Dash Caskett has posed.

A thought about Barrell.

"Ah, I can't say I have," Dash replies to Azoth with. "See, I found this out after a massive attack, and the guy who told me this was kind with the people we were fighting. Then we had to flee and... we all sorta ended up here on Spira. I haven't gotten to see him yet. He is still on Filgaia."

Were they still okay? They were near the fighting that happened, but the Flutter can move quite quickly if needed.

"Ah it is fine! I was trying to look for someone to talk to anyway, no sense in turning away anyone who would listen, right?" A pause. A pensive look crosses Dash's face, but its not exactly directed toward Azoth. "Maybe I should talk to him if I get the chance. Maybe he can tell me more. Thanks for the advice."

A look to what Azoth is holding. Small stones, possibly semiprecious. "Stones huh? There are some really pretty ones I see folks with on Spira! Some folks say they hold magic in them too. No idea where they come from though."

Spheres. Materia. An odd form of magic, that. "Looking for anything like that?"

<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.

Azoth winces. "Ah, right, I guess he wouldn't be here with you." It's not a solution for anything anytime soon, then. "But... we'll get back eventually. I'm sure of it."

He smiles brightly at Dash. "Hey, if you ever need anyone to listen, it's a thing I do."

The overrides prevent Azoth from advising Dash to talk to literally anyone else about this. Please. For Dash's own sake. But that false smile never wavers. It's not like Juno's, either, which seems imperfect for the situation (again, sorry Juno), but one of a gentle, genuine friendliness.

Azoth admires his stone further, feeling over the surface with his thumb. "Magic?!" He abruptly jerks toward Dash with new wide eyed wonder. "I had no idea there might be ones like that around! I probably wouldn't know how to use a magic stone, but that sounds like a way better gift!"

Yeah Azoth just kind of picks up regular rocks like they're the best thing ever and hands them out to people. What about it.