lostcarnival

Who: Rita and YOU!
When: Day 28-29
Where: Around Rita's trailer.
What: Someone left catnip at Rita's trailer, cuteness commences, also general in-between-event stuff for anyone who wants it!

[home videos / open]

Passing through the trailer yard, one might find Rita crouched outside Trailer 19. Her wings seem to be missing several feathers, but beyond that, she appears to be unharmed and in good health despite all the recent chaos.

In fact, she's actually... having... fun?

The space just outside the trailer door appears to be heavily sprinkled with catnip and mint, and her Litten, Francis, purrs up a storm as he rolls around in it. Rita appears to be filming his adorable antics with a handheld video camera, grinning all the while. She doesn't immediately notice if someone else happens to be nearby.

[wildcard!]

Alternatively, Rita might be seen around the carnival, reading a book she picked up in Wismuth, putting the finishing touches on a thick manuscript she's been writing, or just hanging around the training grounds, trailer park, or cookhouse. If you want to do something else with Rita, feel free to tag with a different starter, or hit me up on plurk (

pzue) to plot!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

When Rita brings up 2B, his gaze drops to their interlinked hands. He knew this question would come up, but he couldn't figure out how he wanted to answer it when he'd run through scenarios in his head before he started all this. Funnily enough, he ends up taking a leaf from 2B's book and just deals with it as it came.

"We... didn't get that far." Does making out with a fake count for this sort of thing?? He thinks not!! He lifts his gaze back to Rita. "There were secrets between us," of course there was, given what 2B's true role was, "and she would always push me away so we couldn't be close. ...I can't go back to Earth, anyway."

He'd run through other possibilities that would allow for them to be together, including asking the Ringmaster to bring her to the Carnival. But after his conversation with Strange... he wasn't sure that was a decision that 2B would be happy with.

He doesn't know how 2B will handle being in the Carnival, disconnected from her purpose. The lack of other androids, the lack of organised structure, the inability to serve as he was made to, he had questioned why he was alive. But he's certain that after the war was over and YoRHa had no need to issue execution orders, 2B could be happy on Earth... just not necessarily with him.

"You're not a replacement, if that's what you're worried about." He still loves 2B; it would be a lie to say he doesn't still have feelings for her. He gives Rita a small smile, hoping this won't put her off. "Of all the 9S models, I'm glad I was the one who could meet you."

Was she afraid of being a replacement? It's hard to say what, exactly, is worrying her... There is a part of her that fears being compared to 2B, someone who understands 9S on a level that Rita might never be able to, someone who's extraordinarily beautiful, while Rita's just... ordinary.

He doesn't deny loving 2B... but then, Rita might not believe him if he did. This answer, at least, she feels like she can trust.

"...I'm glad too," she agrees after a delay, ever hesitant to verbalize her feelings. "You're pretty special, yourself." Her gaze drifts to their hands, her mind ever-conscious of the feeling of his fingers intertwined with hers, a feeling that gives her some comfort as she battles her uncertainty.

"And... as far as I'm concerned, there's only one 9S."

9S' smile only grows wider; he can't keep his emotions from his face. He feels almost giddy with joy, a tingly sensation thrumming through his mechanical body. Is this what humans used to describe as having butterflies in their stomach?

Their hands are still joined and he can't bring himself to unlink them when he feels like he never wants to let go.

"Hey, Rita? Do you think you could call me Nines?" People back who knew him well used to call him that, except for the people who really knew him well... But there's another reason for it, too. "It feels more like a name than a model number."

It's funny how Lambert was the first one from the Carnival to call him that.

"Nines...?" Rita repeats, as if trying out the unfamiliar name. "Like a nickname?"

Rita was never really one to use those, except when it came to Estelle... only as a special exception. But 9S is important enough that she should be willing to make exceptions for him, too. Besides, when she first heard his name, she thought it sounded weirdly impersonal, herself. It might take some getting used to, after thinking of him as '9S' for all this time, but...

"I guess you have a point. I'll keep it in mind."

Now that they've both confessed their feelings for each other, what next? It had ended up being a lot more understated than everything he's seen in records of the Old World. It seems right, though. He can't imagine Rita would be particularly impressed with those kinds of displays of love and affection.

No, this suits him just fine. They have time to work things out.

"So, uh... did you want to keep watching the video records?"

"Yeah... let's do that."

Rita sinks into the couch, leaning heavily against 9S - deliberately, this time. The videos are nice, but really, she's happy just being close to him. With everything out in the open, it feels like a small barrier between them has been broken down.

Honestly, what was she so worried about...? All of that fear and anxiety Rita felt earlier just seems stupid, in retrospect.

9S smiles. Strangely, it feels as though his entire body is lighter, as if the weight of the unknown future has been lifted from him. Is this what it feels like to be happy without restraint?

He follows her lead and sits back against the couch, letting Rita lean against him -- it's hard to keep the grin off his face -- and reaching to hold her closer hand.

"Pod?" On command, the tactical support unit returns. If it had any opinions about their state, it kept them to itself. "Continue playback of video data located in storage room 251."

Everyone else can have fun at the drinking party. 9S is perfectly fine here.

OPEN

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