Inbox - Penance

[red_song]

...
Just say something. I might listen.

Comments

sometime mid-December

[tobetheone]

[Things have been different in the hotel since everyone else was crowded inside. There's enough people to make it feel like a real city. It's more like home this way. But the people have been acting strangely since the crowds moved in. Mega doesn't really appreciate how much discord there's been among the humans, but he isn't sure what can be done about them. Elena's said he shouldn't do anything too physical until his injury is healed, and apparently human bodies take forever to repair themselves.

That's how he came to be here, leaning on a railing overlooking the lobby. He glances back at the sound of a familiar melody. How nice of you to always announce yourself, brother.]

The decorations are really nice out here, don't you think? I wish the people were appreciating them more.

Re: sometime mid-December

[red_song]

[The announcement is for Mega, and Mega only. He moves forward to lean against the railing as well, thoughtful for a moment of the body heat coming off of his brother. How strange.]

They're frivilous.

[tobetheone]

[It's a little bizarre to Mega too. Proto has heat, and Mega can feel it. Temperatures are so strange and fluctuating.]

Frivolous things are nice. They make everyone happy.

[red_song]

[Temperatures were strange. Perception moreso. Body heat, especially close, felt so much warmer than hot air. why was that.]

Not everyone, Rock.

[tobetheone]

[It's a mystery. It makes almost no sense, but humans are delightfully nonsensical]

I'm still working on figuring out what'll make you happy.

What do you want for Christmas, brother?

[red_song]

[One machine's delight is another machine's disgust.]

What's Christmas?

[tobetheone]

[Oh, good! A chance to share some of his expertise in human culture! Mega loves helping family with this.]

Christmas is when Santa Claus comes down from the north pole and brings presents to everyone who's been good during the year. And on Christmas Eve, we have to put out cookies and milk for him to snack on when he comes to our houses. He even takes care of robots.

[red_song]

[Takes care of robots? Sure, everything before that had seemed fake, but that? Clearly a lie.]

So another human children's tale.

[tobetheone]

No, this one's real. He's been to our home. But he's shy, so he only comes while we're all having a rest cycle.

[red_song]

You allow a strange human to break into your home while you're powered down? Crazy.

[tobetheone]

He isn't strange! He's Santa Claus. Every house lets him in.

[red_song]

That sounds like breaking and entering.

[tobetheone]

He's a good man who visits the homes of good people. You just have to believe in him.

[red_song]

There is no such thing as a good man.

[tobetheone]

It's okay to believe in things you haven't seen with your own eyes.

[red_song]

[Proto just scoffs at that. He's good at scoffing.]

[tobetheone]

I bet he'll find a way to get to us down here even. I'm going to make sure my door's unlocked just in case.

[red_song]

You deserve wahtever humans are going to do to you in your sleep, Rock.

[He's as dense as his namesake.]

[tobetheone]

The humans in my room are nice. If something happens, I'll protect them.

[red_song]

The humans in mine are frustrating.

[Mega, they won't protect you.]

[tobetheone]

You don't like them? What's wrong with them?

[red_song]

[Well, they're humans. And he doesn't interact with them much because of that.]

Does the why matter?

[tobetheone]

Of course it matters. Are they hostile to you? You should say something if they've treated you badly.

[red_song]

[Like he would say something ot Mega.]

It isn't your concern, Rock.

[tobetheone]

You are my concern, Blues.