DLN-000

{ independent proto man rp. self interpreted; post mm10. }

[whistlingtheblues]

“Why is it I always seem to find stray cats...?”

[whistlingtheblues]

ridetherig:

              @whistlingtheblues

“Uh… hey.” He didn’t often see the kid– his estranged sibling. Feelings on him were so mixed in the family. For example, Tenor felt sorry for the kid and was on board with reintegrating him into the family if possible. Pop had never forgiven Blues for his transgressions and even now gave him stink eye whenever he showed his face (or half of it, taking the shades into consideration). Granted, most of the family was very much not of the same mind Pop was about this, and Rap didn’t want to be, either. (He loved his brother, but man… a grudge was no good to keep, much less against family!) So, now that he was faced with the decision of how he was going to respond to Blues now, the initial awkwardness was set aside. He was gonna treat Blues like he’d always been around, and offered him a smile. “Good t’ see ya, bro. E-tank?”

“Oh... hello.” 

Blues wasn’t really used to interacting with any of the Lightbots - at least, not those that weren’t Rock and sometimes Roll, but he’d had enough encounters-in-passing to know that their opinions of him were... mixed, at best. So he was cautious, and maybe a little wary... and thus thrown off into uncertainty by the casual and even warm reception.

“...Sure?” It wouldn’t hurt to have the energy boost, after all, especially given his unstable core. And... it seemed like the polite thing to do, given he didn’t want any more members of his family unable to bear his visits, infrequent though they were. (Were they even family? Honestly, he wasn’t entirely certain, given how absent he had been for so long. 

The first DLN didn’t really know what he was supposed to do - with Rock, it was easy; he was older, and he could pull off any uncertainty or hesitance as merely being the cool, aloof older brother. Dr. Wily’s creations... well, with them, he had spent more active time around, and while he’d been apart from them as well, he knew how to read them and what to expect from them.

From the Lightbots, at least those older than him?

...Not so much. Nor did it help that Bomb Man would likely prefer it if he stopped even his irregular visits. And... he probably should try to learn their names - not everyone had the complicated relationship with their own identity that he did! 

“...I’m not here for long,” he admitted at last, tugging slightly at the soft scarf about his neck (worn and ragged along one edge, and in dire need of a good washing). “I didn’t disturb you somehow, did I?”

[kitsune-roleplay]

Questions for the Robot Muse

What is your opinion on robot rights?

What are your views on the Three Laws of Robotics?

Are you bound by The Three Laws of Robotics or do you have freewill?

Do you ever wish to be human?

Who created you?

What purpose where you created for?

Do you enjoy your purpose/job?

What do you think of humans?

What can you do that humans can’t?

What things that humans do that you can also do?

Do you have any goals of your own?

Do you like being a robot?

What are three things you like about being a robot?

What are three things you hate about being a robot?

Would you ever rebel against humanity?

What are you powered by?

Can you dance the robot?

How do you feel about reprogramming?  Memory wipe?

How do you feel about maintenance?  Repairs?

Have you ever attempted repairs on yourself?

[whistlingtheblues]

highvoltagedln:

>…You have six cats?

Blues was only a child, and one that was usually alone at that!

>Regardless– If you can send me your coordinates, I’ll assist you.

> They’re not mine, exactly. Found them on the street, their mother never came back for them. 

> I’m just looking after them until they can make it on their own.

He hesitated for a moment, considering the other Master’s offer. It would be helpful to have someone else looking in on the kittens occasionally, and he didn’t think Elec Man would spread word about one of his hideouts...

> ....If I do, don’t share them with anyone else and don’t come back here without permission. This place is one of mine, and I’d like to keep it undisturbed. Will you agree to that?

[whistlingtheblues]

> Open message to all units flagged DLN-xxx

> Nobody look at me funny for sending a message. This is important.

> …. How do you get a kitten down from a curtain rod when it’s tangled up between the rod, the curtain and the blinds?

> Without the kitten falling, please and thank you.

[highvoltagedln]

Elec was visibly confused when he got the message, wondering why Blues would bother to send a message to all DLNs.

Then he saw the contents of the message, and swiftly replied.

>…Are you not tall enough to reach it?

[whistlingtheblues]

> If I was, I wouldn’t be asking for help. 

> I’m still not sure why this one decided to climb all the way up there. The other five behave.

[whistlingtheblues]

> Open message to all units flagged DLN-xxx

> Nobody look at me funny for sending a message. This is important.

> .... How do you get a kitten down from a curtain rod when it’s tangled up between the rod, the curtain and the blinds?

> Without the kitten falling, please and thank you.

[whistlingtheblues]

elecooc:

littlebooberry:

oilmun:

elecooc:

roombaroomba:

 “Viol and Plum, sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G~”

Wraps an arm around his shoulder.

“Wanna help?”

     Straight up grabs them both and throws them in the room wherein Blaze is singing

SINGING  I N T E N S I F I E S.

“DAMNIT

VIOL YOU  P R I C K”

 “Time to practice escape plans!!!!”

[whistlingtheblues]

((I’m too lazy to delete it, but everything before this post is archived and this blog is getting a fresh start! It is also provisionally open to multiverse interaction, in that the main timeline is still closed and won’t be affected by multiverse events - however, the multiverse-timeline will be cumulatively affected. 

.... yes this means I’m finally gonna play with people outside my tiny circle at long last. It’s been a while, Mega Man Fandom, but hi.))

[idcalism-blog]

Though the question was meant in jest, the words still stung. Did Blues truly think his father cared so little? Though Dr. Light’s expression remains rather neutral, there’s an unmistakable hurt in his eyes. Driving his first built away was one of his biggest regrets, right up there with ‘not trying harder to ensure Albert followed through on that second chance of his’, and being reminded of his failures wasn’t something the scientist enjoyed.

“It’d been untouched since you first left, actually,” He replies, frowning. “I had hoped you’d come home eventually, so I left it alone– The twins weren’t allowed inside once they were created, either- Not until you reappeared and showed interest in rejoining the family.” 

But enough of that. Dr. Light isn’t interested in discussing the past unless Blues wants to. Not at the moment, anyways. Something much more recent has been plaguing his boy, something that must have been worse than their tangled web of a past– Why else would he suddenly be willing to talk to his father about it?

“Tea sounds nice,” He replies with a nod. Personally, Dr. Light preferred coffee, but whatever Blues wanted! There’s a mischevious note to his voice next, a twinkle in his eye so similar to his sons’. “Roll baked cookies yesterday– She says I’m supposed to be watching my sugar intake. But what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, right?”

[whistlingtheblues]

Okay, that joke was in poor taste - but it surprises him a little that his old room is still intact. Blues isn’t entirely certain he wants to go in it, either - to see the ghost of the person he had been, to face down those memories that still hurt. The same kind of hurt he can see in Dr. Light’s eyes at his poor attempt at teasing.

...Right, then, one more topic to steer clear of while they talk. What’s one more in a good two or three dozen?

On a lighter note, he raises an eyebrow at his father and laughs. “I’d give you coffee instead but you’ve been working for a while and I don’t think you need any more caffeine.” Roll fusses over him a lot, huh? Good. Dr. Light has never done well without someone fussing and making him mind his diet - Dr. Wily is similar. Maybe it’s just a scientist thing?

 “One cookie. If you sneak more I’ll tell Roll you’re ignoring your diet,” he warns, but there’s a small smile on his face anyway.  “I’m not risking her temper by helping you out too much.”

[idcalism-blog]

“Oh, I see. Well. You’ll find your room as clean as you left it, at least– Your sister’s been taking time to make sure it stays spotless, just in case you turned up again out of the blue. Make sure to thank her when you see her, alright?” He chuckles internally at the unintentional pun, though his amusement is short lived. Whatever happened in Central America was bothering his boy, and it was difficult to remain jovial knowing Blues was suffering. 

He might not be willing to talk, but it was Dr. Light’s duty as his father to at least try and get the issue out of him. He imagines Blues would be more willing to let him in than before– So long as it doesn’t involve any repairs or maintenance. (Did he need any of those? Dr. Light wanted to ask, but he knew that unless the problem was life-threatening he would be shut down immediately– And even then, getting his firstborn to admit it would be akin to pulling teeth.)

“You can stay as long as you want. I’m sure your siblings will be pleased,” He continues on, “I’m glad you came by to say hello. … Did you want to talk about Central America? You look a little worn down, Blues. I’ve been working on this all day; I could do with a break.”

[whistlingtheblues]

 “...You mean it’s not a storage room any more?” Blues asks, though there’s a note of weak but good humor under the teasing query. At the candid invitation, he takes a step or two forward and weighs his options. He could avoid the truth entirely, and continue to let Dr. Light have absolutely no idea what it is he does while wandering around the world, going on as he always has...

Or he could take a chance, just this once, on trusting the man who he still feels betrayed by, and in so doing take another step toward reconciliation. It’s a difficult choice; he’s managed just fine on his own for a long time, but... a part of him is tired of it. 

Finally, he sighs and girts his teeth, and nods his head in agreement.

 “Alright...but I think - I think we should talk over tea.”

[idcalism-blog]

"Dr. Light ... ?"

“Yes, Blues?”

The reply is absent-minded, Dr. Light distracted by putting the finishing touches on his latest project. Upon realizing he had addressed his wayward son and not any of the other children, the scientist drops his tools and turns to give the prototype a huge smile.

Things were… Still somewhat awkward between the two of them, but the last time Blues had been home had resulted in a rather long talk. It would be a while before their bond would truly be repaired, but steps forward were definitely being taken– And the only way to continue taking those steps as to put in the effort.

“Blues! Welcome home! Staying a while this time, or is this just a quick visit?” The grin fades upon recalling his son’s tone– Something seemed to be bothering him. Blues could obscure his face all he liked, but the fact of the matter was that Dr. Light knew his children. Whether Blues wanted to confide in him was another matter entirely, of course. His voice grows softer, gentler. “Is everything alright, my boy?”

[whistlingtheblues]

 “For a while, maybe,” Blues says, stepping inside the lab and watching his fa--- the doctor with a wary but somewhat torn gaze. He glances over at the project briefly, then returns his gaze to the human before him, something in his shoulders giving away his mood.  “I’ve been in Central America for a while, and I...” He trails off, fidgeting briefly like the twelve-year-old he tries so hard not to be, then adds, “And I need to spend some time here, instead.”

He doesn’t say what he’s been doing, what he will do again as soon as he can bring himself to plunge once more into the fray - how can he share this with Dr. Light, when he couldn’t even share his continued existence with the man for so long?

 “...Thought I’d let you know.”

That will do. It will have to do.

[whistlingtheblues]

It says something about Blues’ emotional state at the moment that he not only doesn’t pull away, but returns the hug almost desperately. Her question prompts a world-weary sigh from the smaller robot, and he shrugs once more.

 “Kind of. I did what I could, but some of the kids were in pretty bad shape by the time I got there. And not every government is really equipped to help them… some I could get back to their families myself, but some… their families were what got them in to the trouble. It was messy. But no, nobody really got hurt while I was there.”

He’s not sure everyone was safe after he left, but… he couldn’t fix everything. 

[steelsiren]

Oh, Blues… He really was much too young for this line of work– To Melody’s understanding it was too much to handle for even some adults! Her hold on her little brother tightens, and she strokes the prototype’s back in hopes of offering some comfort.

“You shut that operation down, which counts for something at least.” She says at last, softly. “And I’m proud of you. Not all of those childrens’ situations might be… Ideal, but at least they aren’t stuck working under criminals anymore. There’s hope that things can get better. And that’s what’s important.”

…Granted, it was much more complicated than that. But if Blues wanted any hope of maintaining emotional stability, he’d have to cling to the good rather than wallow in the bad.

[whistlingtheblues]

 “I guess you’re right,” Blues agrees, more because he wants to believe her, wants to believe that things get get better in all of the places he’s been to. But he knows it takes hard work, time, and no small amount of luck to be able to make big changes. And he’s just one robot.

So he’ll have to be satisfied with the small ones. “...Thanks.”

[whistlingtheblues]

 “I’ve been,” Blues says, shrugging as he strolls over to sit on the edge of the water. He deactivates his armor as he does so, since there’s no reason to be combat ready here.  “Was in Central America for a while; helped break up a cartel that was using kids as runners. Thought I’d come home for a break after that.”

He sighs and leans back a little, closing his eyes to feel the warmth of the sun on his face.  “Sometimes you need to see the parts of the world that aren’t so dark. Here seemed like a good spot…”

[steelsiren]

Excuse your sister as she quietly pulls you in to hug tightly, Blues. Mel knows you’re totally capable of taking care of yourself, but she’s still going to worry. All this so frequently at twelve years old… And did he ever tell anyone but her?

“E… Everything turned out alright, right…? No one was harmed…? N-not you, or those children…?”

[whistlingtheblues]

It says something about Blues’ emotional state at the moment that he not only doesn’t pull away, but returns the hug almost desperately. Her question prompts a world-weary sigh from the smaller robot, and he shrugs once more.

 “Kind of. I did what I could, but some of the kids were in pretty bad shape by the time I got there. And not every government is really equipped to help them... some I could get back to their families myself, but some... their families were what got them in to the trouble. It was messy. But no, nobody really got hurt while I was there.”

He’s not sure everyone was safe after he left, but... he couldn’t fix everything. 

[whistlingtheblues]

 Another voice join’s the mermaid’s, though not in singing - rather, someone was whistling along with the tune as he approached, until he drew close enough to wave at his sister and smile.

 “Looks like I picked a good day to visit the beach!”

[steelsiren]

“Yet the waters ever change… ♫”

…Huh? Someone was whistling along. Melody trails off, twisting around to find the source. Oh. Blues! Of course it’d be him; He was one of the most frequent visitors she got! She waves in return, beaming.

“Any day is a good day to visit the beach, really! But I’m glad you picked today.~ How’ve you been, lovely?” 

[whistlingtheblues]

 “I’ve been,” Blues says, shrugging as he strolls over to sit on the edge of the water. He deactivates his armor as he does so, since there’s no reason to be combat ready here.  “Was in Central America for a while; helped break up a cartel that was using kids as runners. Thought I’d come home for a break after that.”

He sighs and leans back a little, closing his eyes to feel the warmth of the sun on his face.  “Sometimes you need to see the parts of the world that aren’t so dark. Here seemed like a good spot...”

[steelsiren]

“You are the ocean’s gray waves Destined to seek  Life beyond the shore Just out of reach… ♫”

It’s a beautiful day, and any beachgoers would be treated to a certain mermaid’s equally lovely singing.

[whistlingtheblues]

 Another voice join’s the mermaid’s, though not in singing - rather, someone was whistling along with the tune as he approached, until he drew close enough to wave at his sister and smile.

 “Looks like I picked a good day to visit the beach!”

[whistlingtheblues]

 “And here I was getting used to the quiet.”

[thefirstdwn]

It might’ve been years since he’s seen it, but that pompadour is still absolutely ridiculous. Metal can’t help but wonder who gave the kid the idea to style it in such a way… Probably Dr. Light? Though exaggerated to almost comical levels, it does resemble the way Dr. Light wore his hair back in college… At least, as far as he can tell. Dad hadn’t been too happy to see he’d discovered photos from back in the day, but at least he hadn’t gotten in trouble for it… It would make sense, though. Metal’s pretty sure that if he were to lose the shades, the boy would resemble his father and little brother greatly.

At least Blues trusts him enough to armor down around him. Metal knows the DWNs have been giving the kid a pretty raw deal in the time they’ve known each other. The elder robot follows suit, running a hand through silvery hair to try and stave off any helmet-hair. 

“Alright,” he replies, “I’ll hang around here with you until they do. If you change your mind, just let me know. Okay?”

He’s not sure why he feels so fixated on helping the kid– He’s not about to go and cause trouble should Alto turn his back. Perhaps it’s that in a way he feels an odd sense of kinship with Blues. They were both the first robot their respective creators built, flawed in some way, and older brother to a set of twins. (Well… In progress, in the Wily family’s case. They had one half already.)

No matter the cause, he’s not about to ditch the DLN.

[whistlingtheblues]

Now that he’s out of armor, it’s a little easier for Blues to relax. He sighs softly, eyes dim behind his shades as he fidgets with the bed.  “....Thanks,” he says, after a moment of hesitation. He’s not overly close to Dr. Wily’s first line - he worked more with Magnet than anyone else during his days as Break Man - but he’s... grateful to him, nonetheless.

Besides, the bed is soft, and it’s in a dry place. That’s really all he can ask for after having a flareup like this one. 

 “For helping me. I know you don’t really have reason to, so thank you.”