I already had this one going, but I’m going to revamp it with some different information. Going to rework Sam’s history. She’ll have never been a stray, but her disc will be glitched. Either from inherent problems present in her code, or from damage during the ISO Wars.
Undertale!Verse
New verse I’m making where muse is a monster. She’s SAMPIRE. (teehee). Possibly part of the royal guard. She’ll be an “original monster.” Like how there’s only one Undyne or Alphys, unlike the multiple Froggits. Gotta rework the idea of a vampire for UT’s lore and tone though.
The teal circuitry of the medic programs complimented their surrounding purple tinged walls. Injured programs were led into rooms.
"Just wait here." One of the programs told them, leaving them in one of the rooms. There wasn't much inside; a table, a couple chairs, and a long platform for injured programs to either sit or lie down on; clearly a room only used for temporary visits. Within a microcycle another medic program walked into the room, a data pad in hand.
"Hello," he greeted the program with a smile, "my name is Danny." he glanced down at their body quickly, "Got an idea what's hurting you?" he asked them.
Sam had been doing some minor pick up as the night ended, she hesitated in the process of flipping a chair onto its nearby table. She pushed the chair ontop of the table and went still, processing the question. Forté's face instantly flipping up in her mind. Her fingers flexed around the chair legs and she looked over at Paola.
"Uhh, who?" Sam asked, keeping a neutral expression on her face.
Like all cities in CLU's domain, this was not Sam's ideal location. However, there was a program in the EOL club that could help her. She just had to find the host first. He stood out easily among the rest of the programs in the club.
"Hello," Sam said, greeting the entertainer clad in white. "Are you the host?" she asked him.
Because of how screwy Sam's disc is, it affects some stuff.
Her disc itself, flickers oddly for a second when she activates it. So, that means when she activates it for a fight, activates her code, and sometimes when she docks her disc.
When she docks her disc and it flickers Sam feels this weird sensation, but usually she prepares herself when she docks her disc so her face doesn't really change. However when absently docking her disc, she will generally tense up, most notably with her shoulders going up. Or sometimes a shiver will go through her. One or the other.
The only other glitches are that sometimes Sam's circuits change slightly. Their brightness will fade some, it'll stay like that for half a minute to five minutes, then it will gradually brighten back up to its normal intensity.
I recently saw an image where it looked like a program with circuit lines in their skin (like what happens to a program when they get derezzed slowly- those lines). So, I was thinking maybe have that happen to random spots on Sam when she gets seriously injured, but it takes a lot longer for the lines to fade away. I'm not sure. Maybe instead of those lines it'll be more like Tron's scar, but really light and just a small section here and there. And this stuff will fade, but she gets extremely self- conscious about it even though it's not that bad. Which of course, once again, this stuff is only when she gets seriously injured.
There's also a bit down there about how program!Sam is different around "people" compared to normal Sam.
Sam is not great about showing affection, AU or not, except to the exceedingly innocent or whatnot. Also reminder that the first stage is always having affection, but she doesn't realize it.
Well for program!Sam this has just a bit more truth to it, because she also has a lot stronger trust issues in this AU. When there's a sort of intense situation going on she is aiming to keep every program alive. However her words are key indicators, and while she may center herself around a program she cares most about it is likely that she'd also go to the programs that need the most protection.
So some examples of sentences that are all spoken in the same serious tone of voice.
No affection: "Just keep your eyes open." - "Stop worrying so much." - "You're not getting derezzed." - "Everyone is doing this together, and it's better than you being alone."
-Invalidating their feelings, painting situation as group work towards the goal rather than herself as an individual (which is like not revealing feelings/motives/etc.)
Affection: "We're all here so you'll be okay." - "I'm not letting you get derezzed." - "Be careful or you're going to get yourself in trouble." - "It's not a pretty situation, but trust me, you'll get through it."
-Comfort/Promise that YOU will be okay, including herself- SHE is protecting you- it is not simply a situation where you will be fine- it is Sam with the goal specifically regarding you, (Basically specifying YOU and Sam herself, and her words are meant to be comforting.)
But alright what about normal situations. Well she will start being generally a physical distance closer. Whereas with strangers she tends to put objects in between them or maintain a certain distance when possible. Her phrasing gets more casual as well, but only when they're the only program in hearing distance. And when comfortable enough she'll start actually talking with the program about non-business stuff. However, whenever there's another program in hearing distance or they're in public Sam will take on formal speech again and not talk about personal things.
((SPECIAL NOTE: Something different about program!sam for normal Sam. Program!Sam is actually not prone to chatting it up with strangers, well at least for long. She does still do it, but she always keeps the conversation on them and only them. She is always afraid that some event from the past will come up or if she tries to make up a story for herself she'll make a mistake because she isn't sure what a normal life is.
PROGRAM!SAM HAS CONFLICTING FEELINGS ABOUT BEING OUTSIDE OR AROUND LOTS OF PROGRAMS!!! She doesn't feel safe at all, but she wants to interact with them so much. She just wants to talk with them and ask about their life, and she hates being alone. However when she is alone she feels safe. It's like if you could only hang out with people in a shark infested pool, as long as you don't bring attention to yourself or spill blood you will be fine...but something could still happen. And Sam can't live hiding or by herself, she needs to talk to programs. She knows that she could hide somewhere and be safe, but she couldn't isolate herself.))
//What do you mean? Yes, of course program!Danny needs his own post.
What are you even talking about?
This is absolutely necessary.
Alright, so since Sam is the muse, you all don't get to see very much of Danny.
So you probably assume that hey, Sam has it pretty bad with the amnesia thing since she's the one who fricking got the amnesia.
No.
Nooooooooo. Oh my gosh, no.
And in Tron!Verse Sam becoming a stray and losing those memories.
ESPECIALLY NO!
Danny wins the trophy of pain in this one situation.
Possibly the only situation where he is easily hurt the most.
-
Anyways Program!Danny. First off he is a medic program. Secondly, I'm going to go in chronological order here. Also gives Sam's back story. Which, I mean. Sam isn't going to ever get the memories of it back, so I don't feel bad spoiling any of the part Danny's involved with.
Well, but there might be a post where Danny....nah, I don't think anybody would go for a thread where Danny finds Sam in the Tron!Verse, but just in case I'll keep Sam's bit vague.
Alright, so before everything with the purge and just...ALL of that (but still before Uprising) went down. Sam was a normal system monitor and Danny a normal medic program. They became friends and eventually boyfriend/girlfriend (doesn't know Tron!Verse term). Arthur was also a system monitor and was like Sam's superior/boss.
So it happens, the purge, Tron 'dying', Kevin Flynn going into hiding. During that time Danny, Sam, and Arthur fought together to protect themselves from the Abraxas virus. Afterwards Sam and Arthur leave (not explaining to try and be vague), and Danny contacts Sam every now and then.
Well after a certain point, none of his messages go through and he gets inspired to pull together programs that are against CLU. So he finds the 4 programs (the rest of the group, Balder, May, etc.) and they start travelling together. Smuggling programs, trying to destroy Clu's toys, stuff like that. But also kind of looking for Sam.
Now none of them know Sam, it's just Danny. And I mean he doesn't lose hope, but at the same time he realizes there's little to no chance Sam is still rezzed. He accepts that she's probably gone, but never grieves or anything.
-
Then one day, it happens. There she is.
Sam.
He calls out to her and runs up to her. She's confused, obviously. "Who are you?" she demands.
Oh, and this is where it all starts.
Just imagine. Losing someone so close to your heart, but there's still a chance they're out there. You look and look, but after a certain point you think that you'll never find them. But then you do. And it's magical and great and all you've ever dreamed since that day you accepted something went wrong.
And then all of this relief and joy crashes around you like a glass chandelier. They don't recognize you, at all. They're looking at you as if you were a complete stranger. It is the program you love, but they're looking right at you with no recognition.
Then it hits you.
Stray.
You sincerely hope it isn't true. "Sam, it's me....Danny. Remember?"
Nothing. She backs away. "How do you know me?"
Everything inside of you crumbles, but for one thing. You've found her, she's still rezzed.
And for a moment, you're fine again. Just because she can't remember you doesn't mean it's not her.
Then the arduous journey. You try talking to her, she's cold and harsh. And it hurts that she's directing it to you. And you start telling her about everything, and you say something that gets her to believe you.
After that she treats you worse than a stranger. Never looks at you or initiates conversation. Seemingly avoiding you. You try talking to her. Make her feel better or rekindle something....anything.
You tell her a joke that she used to always smile at no matter how bad everything was, and you smile as you finish it. Waiting for her face to light up, because you've missed it so much. Because there were days you thought you really weren't going to see it ever again, and you just want to make her happy and see her smile again.
She looks back at you, her mouth not moving a centimeter. Her eyebrows pull together slightly.
You look down at your hands. Your smile slips only slightly, but it hurts a lot. "I guess it is kind of an old joke." you admit.
She looks at you for a moment before saying, "Right." then getting up and muttering something about getting a drink.
You get an idea. "I know a really good place-" you begin saying.
She waves back, "No thanks, I'm good." she says, cutting you off.
"Okay." you respond, watching her walk away for a few seconds then looking around you.
-
After that your try to make subtler efforts. You realize it can't be easy for her. You pick rest areas that aren't too loud, but not too quiet. Put the drink that she would like on a table.
Actions that were for her, but were seemingly just inconsequential decisions. Because whenever she notices you're trying to do something for her she rebuffs your efforts.
Whenever you reach out, she pulls back.
-
It's been a while now, and she doesn't outright avoid you now, but just small decisions. Never walking next to you. Only looking at you when you talk, but only if you're the only one talking.
She favors them over you, and you know why now. It's because you knew her and she doesn't know how to deal with that. But it's getting better.
She's getting better.
And finally you realize.
You realize something that you denied from the start because you were just too happy to have found her. In the middle of a moment looking at her it hits you.
