lostcarnival | let's get down to business

Who: Nightrunners and whoever wants to make use of the training yard for whatever reason.
When: S2 D1-D5
Where: The Training Yard
What: Training, or pointing and laughing at people training.
Warnings: Explosions and swearing, probably.

Though it's never really been off-limits, once they're down off the moon, Lambert wastes little time informing the nightrunners he officially expects them to get back to training and getting in shape. They can make ample use of the training yard facilities to learn how to work with each other after their extended vacation, or just get to know their newer coworkers in an environment closer to what their actual working conditions will actually be like.

The yard, as usual, isn't limited solely to nightrunners. Anyone who wants to work on their physical or magical skills are welcome, as well as anyone from the other departments who have anything they might want to test out that requires a combatant, for some reason.

Lambert's generally a constant presence at the fringes, sometimes participating in exercise or sparring himself, but mostly just watching and making sure no one's about to put someone's eye out or break the equipment, because that would be bad for obvious reasons.

[ ooc; this is an open log, so bring your own toplevel! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well. That was more information than Lambert expected. He looks at 9S, frowning to himself and crossing his arms.

"So make sure it doesn't happen," he says, simply. "You know she's a mercenary now, right? She wants to get out there and she wants to fight. That means you're going to be working together." Somehow, this has all come around to Lambert's shitty ass excuse for a pep talk.

"She's a good mage, but she's still just a mage. You ever want to be stuck in a place where you couldn't help her just because your enemies were human and you didn't know how to work around it?"

9S gives Lambert a look that can only be described as distraught. The thought of losing Rita hurts just as much as when 2B told him about the dormant logic virus buried in her circuits. Other than the exception the Ringmaster made for the game with the Prince, humans only have one life.

"No..."

If he can't learn to fight against humans, then... there might not be any other choice but to rip out out parts of his core programming.

Even if it means destroying parts of his personality.

His life is a mere flicker compared to hers.

He grits his teeth, voice sullen. "I'll work something out."

Lambert cocks his head at that, narrowing his eyes. He recognizes the sullen tone of someone about to do or promise to do something truly tremendously stupid, mainly because he's used it before. Often, and usually to regrettable (for his body if not for his pride) results. But 9S's mood is hard to read right now, with that visor slid over his eyes.

As such? Lambert chucks 9S gently under the chin to force him to tilt his head up, then slides a claw delicately under the visor and prises it up so he can look him in the eye.

"Work something out that isn't stupid. Now do you believe me about sparring?"

9S doesn't wriggle away and lets Lambert touch him, though his gaze still slides away. Where his eyes had been human in appearance during the time in the Prince's manor, now the pupils are narrowed like a cat's.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it."

The tone of voice is more like a child agreeing after being lectured to get out of being lectured more than someone who actually believes what they're agreeing with. He still thinks it's stupid. He has to hold back when sparring! It's not like a lot of techniques apply when he has a sword that cuts through steel. And if things do come to it, self hacking and removing parts of his personality programming is always an option. It's not like anyone here can stop him.

His gaze flickers back to Lambert. "So you remember the time you were an animal in the Prince's Manor?"

Lambert never thought he'd need anyone with an even poorer understanding of non-lethal force than he does, but as always, the Carnival seems to have endless surprises for him.

"Yes," he says simply. He'd prefer not to answer at all, and he's probably not going to tolerate that line of questioning for long. But -- "Your eyes changed. Is that just for looks, or has your vision changed too?"

So Lambert lied to him. What is it about those in command of him lying to him? The fact that Rita remembers... She hadn't said anything about it, but... Maybe humans view experiencing death differently. He doesn't know. He never remembers what it's like to die. It's impossible to remember the experience from the backed up memories. Maybe it doesn't bother her. He doesn't know.

9S' expression sours even further at the interrogation, stepping back from Lambert and tugging his visor back up over his eyes again.

"No, there's no abnormalities in my visual systems. The change is purely external."

He'd been hoping that the lingering magic of the Carnival wouldn't change him the way it changed everyone else because he's not biological, but... he supposes even he isn't exempt from it.

9S's reaction -- like a child being forced to drink something unpleasant -- makes Lambert snort.

"What is it? Does it bother you that much? You know changes only get worse from here."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he grumbles.

He'd really rather not change, though. He was modeled after humans. He'd like to stay that way.

"So, do you need to see any more? Or am I dismissed?" This entire exercise has been a bad time all around.

"That's enough for today," Lambert waves him off lazily, stepping back. "You're off the hook. But we'll try this again."

Something to look forward to, whacking 9S around with a pool noodle again.

let's get down to business

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