#!forsooth

[gearsoffate]

Work Off Some Steam

@hxrderthansteel

“Well met, Hard Man!” Knight waved to the extra large 3rd-liner as he approached. “I was on my way to the training rooms, and couldn’t help but notice you seem a bit agitated. Perhaps I could tempt you to join me? Nothing gets me out of a foul mood like a good bit of self-improvement!”

[gearsoffate]

“WHO MADE MY ALLY CRY!?”

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Silk smooches Knight on the cheek. "Mistletoe." she giggled while pointing up before walking off.

Congrats, Silk. You’ve reduced the once-proud warrior into a stuttering pile of fluster.

“Now what did your lips do to deserve such cruel treatment?”

[gearsoffate]

“Honestly, this is a touch sad to watch. Skull alts all seem hellbent on ripping one another apart, whereas we Knights can get along just fine with but a single conversation.”

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“You were there the entire night, and found ZERO robots willing to join the regime?”

“First off, you knew Vesper Woman had a hard no politics rule for the party. I was lucky to bring it up as much as I did without getting thrown out. Second, I did find one person who might be worth looking into.”

“...I suppose that is technically better than nothing. Tell me about them.”

“Her name was Round Prescott. I talked to her for a bit, and she told me about some modifications she wasn’t a fan of. Apparently, she was originally designed as a combat bot  but the state made her creator disarm her. Sounded to me like she’s not to happy about it, though.”

“...wait, you said her name was Round...Prescott? By any chance, did you learn her serial code?”

“Uh...I think it was DPN-something? Why, you recognize it?”

“Well, isn’t this fortuitous...Excellent work, Skull Man. I’ll be sure to ask Lord Wily about giving you some time off for this...”

[gearsoffate]

“Skull, you’ve been approved for scouting duty for this party Vesper Woman will be holding. I assume you’ve not even started preparing for your assignment?”

“All taken care of, actually. Got a grim reaper costume so nobody’ll recognize me, and the scythe’s got a camera to record anything worth note. And I’ve been practicing my pitch to recruit anyone there who might want to join the regime.”

“My, how surprisingly productive of you! Well if you’re so ready, I shan’t bother you further!”

“...okay, Knight’s gone. What are you really up to?”

“I’m gonna go get hammered. I’ll just tell him the camera shorted out and nobody was interested.”

[gearsoffate]

Previously on this bullshit! Hard Man challenged fellow bigboi Guts Man to a sporting arm-wrestling challenge! Unfortunately, Hard was far from prepared for Guts’ unintentional charm, and was forced to back out in disgrace! Just then, Snake Man arrived, and gave Hard the peptalk he needed to challenge Guts to a heated rematch with unexpectedly brutal results. Let’s see how Guts is enjoying being a two-time arm wrestling champion!

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

“Guts you have been screaming for the past 19 hours JUST CALM YOURSELF AND GIVE HARD HIS ARM BACK!”

@hxrderthansteel

[gearsoffate]

There was a gentle knock to Knight’s door. “Knight, sweetie? It’s Magic. You want to tell me what’s got you down?”

“I’m not letting you or Skull in here.”

“Skull went to repair bay, Knight. It’s just me. And you don’t have to let me in if you don’t want to, I just want to help you feel a little better.”

“And why should I believe you care about my well-being in the slightest?”

“...I admit, we’re not the best of friends, but I’ve heard a few things through the grapevine the last few hours. If there’s any truth to what I’ve heard, I promise that I’m not the type to play around with broken hearts.”

There was a moment of silence before the door opened slightly.

“..are you sure, sweetie? I don’t want you to think you have to let me in your room.”

“Just get in before I reconsider.”

“Okay, whatever you think is best.” Magic stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. He then spotted Knight Man sitting on his bed. The usually fully armored bot was without his chestplate, pauldrons, or helm. Upon Knight’s featureless black face, shining streaks under the eyes made it clear that some crying had been going on. “Well, someone’s seen better days.” No response outside of a blank stare through bloodshot eyes. “Right...so. I heard that you’re not to happy about Centaur Man resurfacing.”

“Woman.”

“Pardon?”

“Centaur is a woman now. She transitioned during the earlier rounds of the Tournament, but did not reveal it publicly until after all was said and done of that affair, after she was back home in Greece.”

“I see. My apologies.” Magic took a step or two closer to Knight. “Well, you two must have been quite close for her showing back up to affect you like this. I’ve never seen you so...well, I don’t have to tell you how you feel.”

“We were...not as close as we would have liked to be. We knew how one another felt, but...with the Tournament, we felt it impossible to be together, when we were supposed to be enemies.”

Magic stood in silence before sitting next to Knight on the bed. “Knight...you really loved her, didn’t you?”

Knight took a deep breath before sighing. “Centaur...she meant so much to me. Before Lord Wily reprogrammed us all, I saw all of my fellow finalists as family, our bond forged and tempered through battle, but she...was so much more. Even before her transition, I do believe she held my heart in a way no other had before, or has since. Back then, fighting for the regime, to me, was fighting for a world where we could be together without such trivialities as robot law or nations' borders to come between us. After Mega Man thwarted us, and we were returned to our nations, I of course broke free and went straight back to the regime. But...before that, I went to Greece. I hoped to bring Centaur with me, and we would return to his lordship's side together...she refused...she chose to stay with her family...I have not known a greater pain since. As if my own heart were ripped from my chest and stomped into the dirt...”

“...I...I had no idea...Knight, if it hurt so much, why on Earth didn’t you choose her over Wily?”

“You don’t understand. Lord Wily is the reason I am. I could never turn my back to such a debt. Besides...I...I still think that if lord Wily were to conquer the world, it would become that world where we could be together.”

“I don’t think that’s how she saw things. Knight...do you think maybe Centaur would have wanted to be with you in the world as it already is? Maybe if you had chosen her over Wily that day in Greece...”

“There’s no point in fretting over what could have been...this is what is.”

“...I suppose that’s true.” Magic stood up from his seat. “Still, though.”

“...say you are right, and that is what she wished. Say she did think we could have been together in the world as it is now. What if she were wrong? What if we had tried, only to be torn apart?”

“...and what if you were wrong? It would mean that you were the one who tore you two apart.”

“!!! You dare-”

“Knight, I won’t stand here and debate your ideology with you. Goodness knows nobody believes in Wily’s cause as much as you. That said...maybe you should take a look at what that belief has ended up costing you in the long run.”

“...mm.”

“...I should get back to the circus...take care, Knight.” Magic left the room, leaving Knight to himself and his life choices.