The Will to Stand

H-hi. I'm Rock. And... I think I got lost again. Do.... do you know the best way back to the tower from here? If I don't get home soon, I'll end up in trouble again! ((Independent RP blog for an AU protoverse Rock, where Dr. Light is in control.))

[a-fading-light-archive]

"Rush! Rush come back!" There's a panicked cry from somewhere as a puppy skitters past, coming to a stop near the boots of Wily's remaining general. The puppy sniffs, then wags his tail and sits down to wait as the voice's owner finally approaches. "Rush! Rush c'mon, you can't run off like that - oh, did you make a friend?"

Rock frowns, kneeling down to pet the stray. “Now where did you come from..?” His eyes flick to the small-but-familiar kid approaching, and he sighs. “Answered my own question, huh?” He keeps petting the pup, shaking his head. “You should prob’ly get a leash for this guy, kid, he’s a runner.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“I think he wanted to meet you, mister,” Rock chirps, unperturbed as he drops to kneel next to his puppy. “Rush doesn’t usually run away! But, um, that’s because I don’t put him down often enough. That’s what my big brother says.” He doesn’t move to pick up the puppy yet, though - he’s content to scratch him behind the ears and watch Rush sniff at the stranger. “I like your boots!”

[thecheapandevilgirl]

"Um, miss pretty lady? Um. Are you okay? Why - why are you walking around in your underwear? Aren't you cold?"

Maeve blinked at the child, somehow reminded of Rock and very much not at the same time. And then it occurred to her that this was not the room she’d walked into. “No, I am not cold. And I am in this because I’m comfortable in it.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Oh, um, maybe I could help you look!” Rock chirps, tugging Rush’s leash as he smiles at the strange lady. “It’s rude to leave a lady wandering the streets at night! Or… well, I think it is, anyway? I’m not sure! But it does sound like you need help, and one of my duties as a Son of Light is to help people!”

 He puffs up proudly, neglecting to mention both that his duties won’t start until he’s’ older, and that the ‘Son of Light’ title is less than official in nature and is, in fact, something he made up because ‘Light’s youngest’ just didn’t sound nearly as impressive.

He just wants to be like his big brother, and big brother Blues would help out a lady caught like this! Right?

[thecheapandevilgirl]

Maeve raised a brow at the boy, then sighed. Of course she would run across a white knight sort. Well…best to take advantage of the aid. “I would quite appreciate that.” A Son of Light. Hm. Perhaps this was a counterpart of Rock’s. It would explain a few things.

[willsetsout-blog]

“I bet Rush could sniff out where you came from!” Rock responds, scooping his puppy back up into his arms to carry him. “Say ‘hi’ to the nice lady, Rush!” The border collie sniffs obligingly at the stranger and wags his tail, then tucks into his person’s arms with a slightly-squeaky yawn. 

“Well.... he probably needs more training, first.”

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

"Big brother! Big brother, are you busy? Bluuuuuuuuuuuuues are you busy c'mon talk to me if you're not. Talk to me talk to me talk to me talk to me!"

“Whoa whoa kiddo, it’s not even noon and you’re messaging me?” There’s obvious affection in the older boy’s voice, the kind of tone you can almost hear a smile in.

“Don’t tell me you’re bored already.”

[willsetsout-blog]

Off runs the puppy, seeking an appropriate place to do the thing that organics need to do, and Rock makes a face as he goes. “Blehhhhh,” he groans, leaning forward and nearly doubling over to bury his face in his brother’s hair. “But that’s gross! Why can’t they burn it off?”

Losing track of what he’d wanted to ask, the smaller robot laughs and nuzzles his brother’s hair. “Help! Help! I’m lost in your hair, Blues! Heeeeeeelp!” He flailed a little, keeping his balance only thanks to Blues’ hand on his leg. “Help! It’s trying to trap my faaaaace!”

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

“They’re not built like us. Can’t eat whatever they want and burn it off kiddo. No core. Heck they’ve got trouble re–” Blues pauses at the sound of his brother giggling. Okay, so this is a conversation for later. Rock’s excitable but distractable, and Blues secretly hopes that never goes away.

“I told you not to go in there without a guide!” There’s a warm laugh as the redhead’s freehand moves to playful poke at his brother’s side. “How in the world am I supposed to save you from such a dastardly trap!?”

[willsetsout-blog]

“That’s so groooooooss,” Rock whines again, but is then too far distracted by the hair monster to continue the line of conversation from earlier. “Help Blues! Help! It’s eating me!” He giggled and wiggles his body away from the poke, threatening to lose his balance and topple to the floor.

“It’s tickling my face! It’s sucking me iiiiiiiiiin! Where’s my guide! Save me, save meeeeeeeeeeeee!:”

[thecheapandevilgirl]

"Um, miss pretty lady? Um. Are you okay? Why - why are you walking around in your underwear? Aren't you cold?"

Maeve blinked at the child, somehow reminded of Rock and very much not at the same time. And then it occurred to her that this was not the room she’d walked into. “No, I am not cold. And I am in this because I’m comfortable in it.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“I don’t know, ma’am,” Rock said, clutching at the leash that held Rush, who was -mostly - sitting and being a good dog and only occasionally wiggling in excitement. “That doesn’t look very comfortable. Too many laces and too cold!”

[thecheapandevilgirl]

“Comfort is different for each person.” She vaguely looks to the dog, then sighs and rubs a temple. “I shouldn’t be here. If you’ll excuse me, I need to find a way home.” Before she had to explain further. And before Rock or MZ found her missing from the apartment without more than her hairpins and the smallest of her knives.

[willsetsout-blog]

“Oh, um, maybe I could help you look!” Rock chirps, tugging Rush’s leash as he smiles at the strange lady. “It’s rude to leave a lady wandering the streets at night! Or... well, I think it is, anyway? I’m not sure! But it does sound like you need help, and one of my duties as a Son of Light is to help people!”

 He puffs up proudly, neglecting to mention both that his duties won’t start until he’s’ older, and that the ‘Son of Light’ title is less than official in nature and is, in fact, something he made up because ‘Light’s youngest’ just didn’t sound nearly as impressive.

He just wants to be like his big brother, and big brother Blues would help out a lady caught like this! Right?

[thecheapandevilgirl]

"Um, miss pretty lady? Um. Are you okay? Why - why are you walking around in your underwear? Aren't you cold?"

Maeve blinked at the child, somehow reminded of Rock and very much not at the same time. And then it occurred to her that this was not the room she’d walked into. “No, I am not cold. And I am in this because I’m comfortable in it.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“I don’t know, ma’am,” Rock said, clutching at the leash that held Rush, who was -mostly - sitting and being a good dog and only occasionally wiggling in excitement. “That doesn’t look very comfortable. Too many laces and too cold!”

[closettohammerspace]

"Um - um - miss music-lady? Are you okay? You haven't been talking lately and - and I wanted to check on you and see if I could help!"

Things Kes didn’t expect - this, which is possibly highly swkward. Or not.

“I… uhm…. Just a lot happening atbonce… I’m not scaring you am I?”

Guess what? Kes can’t lie to you kiddo.

[willsetsout-blog]

“What, no! But you play awesome music and you’re an awesome lady and - and I was worried. Are you okay? And - and -” He cuts himself off for long enough to sort his words out, then continues, “And can you play the song with - with lots of guitar and quests that goes really really fast?”

[closettohammerspace]

“Eventually I will.” Kes smiled, chickling.

“Dragonforce today huh? Any song in particular?”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Loud and fast,” Rock chirps, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he answers. “Song ‘s your choice okay? You’re the music lady!”

[closettohammerspace]

“And that’s most of it.” Kes says gently. “I’m the dj, but you’re the customer! I serve you!”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Ummm…. ummm…. then something that makes you feel happy when you listen to it!” The brunet, despite his enthusiasm, is frankly very worried for how sad his favorite illicit DJ has been sounding, and how quiet she’s been lately. “I don’t know enough music yet to pick, so - so as the DJ you get to… to um… ‘broaden my horizons’, okay?”

[closettohammerspace]

“Kiddo, if I did that you’d be getting something besides Dragonforce.” Kes giggles a bit, nodding. “So I’ll toss on Dragonforce for you kiddo.”

He’s still new, but unique enough Kes is learning to recognize him, earning gentle banter.

“Start small.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Oh... well, do  that after Dragonforce?” Rock offers, sounding embarrassed even to his own ears. “Because DJs should enjoy the music they play, right? Otherwise why would yuo wanna be a DJ?”

Maybe he could be a DJ someday! Wait, no... Father probably wouldn’t like that... Maybe - maybe he could just be the person who made sure the radio stations were doing things right? If he got put in charge of that he could make it so Dragonforce could be played on EVERY station, not just the ones that weren’t technically supposed to exist.

[closettohammerspace]

"Um - um - miss music-lady? Are you okay? You haven't been talking lately and - and I wanted to check on you and see if I could help!"

Things Kes didn’t expect - this, which is possibly highly swkward. Or not.

“I… uhm…. Just a lot happening atbonce… I’m not scaring you am I?”

Guess what? Kes can’t lie to you kiddo.

[willsetsout-blog]

“What, no! But you play awesome music and you’re an awesome lady and - and I was worried. Are you okay? And - and -” He cuts himself off for long enough to sort his words out, then continues, “And can you play the song with - with lots of guitar and quests that goes really really fast?”

[closettohammerspace]

“Eventually I will.” Kes smiled, chickling.

“Dragonforce today huh? Any song in particular?”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Loud and fast,” Rock chirps, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he answers. “Song ‘s your choice okay? You’re the music lady!”

[closettohammerspace]

“And that’s most of it.” Kes says gently. “I’m the dj, but you’re the customer! I serve you!”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Ummm.... ummm.... then something that makes you feel happy when you listen to it!” The brunet, despite his enthusiasm, is frankly very worried for how sad his favorite illicit DJ has been sounding, and how quiet she’s been lately. “I don’t know enough music yet to pick, so - so as the DJ you get to... to um... ‘broaden my horizons’, okay?”

[closettohammerspace]

"Um - um - miss music-lady? Are you okay? You haven't been talking lately and - and I wanted to check on you and see if I could help!"

Things Kes didn’t expect - this, which is possibly highly swkward. Or not.

“I… uhm…. Just a lot happening atbonce… I’m not scaring you am I?”

Guess what? Kes can’t lie to you kiddo.

[willsetsout-blog]

“What, no! But you play awesome music and you’re an awesome lady and - and I was worried. Are you okay? And - and -” He cuts himself off for long enough to sort his words out, then continues, “And can you play the song with - with lots of guitar and quests that goes really really fast?”

[closettohammerspace]

“Eventually I will.” Kes smiled, chickling.

“Dragonforce today huh? Any song in particular?”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Loud and fast,” Rock chirps, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he answers. “Song ‘s your choice okay? You’re the music lady!”

[closettohammerspace]

"Um - um - miss music-lady? Are you okay? You haven't been talking lately and - and I wanted to check on you and see if I could help!"

Things Kes didn’t expect - this, which is possibly highly swkward. Or not.

“I… uhm…. Just a lot happening atbonce… I’m not scaring you am I?”

Guess what? Kes can’t lie to you kiddo.

[willsetsout-blog]

“What, no! But you play awesome music and you’re an awesome lady and - and I was worried. Are you okay? And - and -” He cuts himself off for long enough to sort his words out, then continues, “And can you play the song with - with lots of guitar and quests that goes really really fast?”

[the-l0st-reploid]

willsetsout located the clinic

“Welcome to the clinic, I’ll be with you in a minute!” Because right now Kelvin’s making such a fuss he’s upside-down in Ben’s arms and NOT LETTING MOMMY TURN HIM RIGHTSIDE UP HE’S MAD RIGHT NOW MOMMY.

[willsetsout-blog]

“A clinic?” The brunet frowns over the noise the wailing toddler is making, looking around in confusion as he clutches his puppy to his chest. “Um...” He didn’t think there were any clinics in this neighborhood, which meant... he was in another neighborhood entirely - in other words, Rock was lost again. 

The puppy in his arms wiggled and yipped, disturbed  by the squalling toddler, and it took Rock everything he had to hold onto the little animal without hurting him. “No! No, bad Rush, stay still, stop wiggling!”

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

"Big brother! Big brother, are you busy? Bluuuuuuuuuuuuues are you busy c'mon talk to me if you're not. Talk to me talk to me talk to me talk to me!"

“Whoa whoa kiddo, it’s not even noon and you’re messaging me?” There’s obvious affection in the older boy’s voice, the kind of tone you can almost hear a smile in.

“Don’t tell me you’re bored already.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Yes! Yes yes yes yes, yes!” Rock cheers, slipping onto his brother’s shoulders and tugging at Two’s hair a little. “I bet you know all the awesomest places,” he says, watching as Rush takes off to the door and wiggles impatiently in front of it.

“Oh… um. I think he’s gotta go,” the young robot says, blinking. “Why do organics do that, Blues? It seems kind of gross.” Rush pays no attention to Rock’s question, instead beginning to spin in circles and yip at the door.

“Can we take him with us?”

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

Blues is the picture of patience as his brother wiggles and tugs on him, only adjusting so he can stand up straight. “Welllll they are preeeetty awesome.” Before answering Rock’s question, Blues steps forward (careful to keep one hand gripping his brother’s leg) and opens the den door, allowing Rush to skitter where he pleases.

“I’m pretty sure they have to do that because they have to eat. Their bodies don’t use everything, so they have to get rid of the stuff they can’t process. Otherwise it’d just store up and they’d run outta room.” Or, that’s the most simple way he can explain it.

Getting a better grip on the smaller bot, Blues starts them both off down the hall. “I don’t see the harm in letting him tag along?”

[willsetsout-blog]

Off runs the puppy, seeking an appropriate place to do the thing that organics need to do, and Rock makes a face as he goes. “Blehhhhh,” he groans, leaning forward and nearly doubling over to bury his face in his brother’s hair. “But that’s gross! Why can’t they burn it off?”

Losing track of what he’d wanted to ask, the smaller robot laughs and nuzzles his brother’s hair. “Help! Help! I’m lost in your hair, Blues! Heeeeeeelp!” He flailed a little, keeping his balance only thanks to Blues’ hand on his leg. “Help! It’s trying to trap my faaaaace!”

[musesgonnamuse]

send “▶▶️” to get a glimpse at a scene from my muse’s future. send “◀️◀️” to get a glimpse at a memory from my muse’s past.

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

"Big brother! Big brother, are you busy? Bluuuuuuuuuuuuues are you busy c'mon talk to me if you're not. Talk to me talk to me talk to me talk to me!"

“Whoa whoa kiddo, it’s not even noon and you’re messaging me?” There’s obvious affection in the older boy’s voice, the kind of tone you can almost hear a smile in.

“Don’t tell me you’re bored already.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“I take him on walks!” Rock retorts, blue eyes widening with the barest hint of a pout as he dashes toward his pile of things. His gaze roams over the assembled junk for a few seconds, clearly torn between all of his assembled options. “Um…. um…”

Frowning, he whines and then does a dramatic flop onto the couch, face-first. Recovering nearly instantaneously, he rolls onto his back and grins up at his older brother, then hops back to his feet and starts trying to climb the much-taller robot.

“You decide! You pick, bro, c’mon, you never ever pick and I say it’s time for you to choose because I can’t make up my mind and - and I’ve tried to let Rush choose before, but he just chews on my maps!”

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

Blues is used to this routine. His brother may only be a few months old, but being used as a jungle gym is a near daily occurrence. Blues hunches over slightly, both to allow Rush to escape to the carpet, and Rock to start clinging to his side.

The redhead smiles, hooking an arm just under his brother’s rear, and lifting the smaller robot to shoulder level.

“Heh, I get to pick now? Must be a special day.” A wide grin, and a chuckle. “Why don’t I show you some of my favorite spots, hm?”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Yes! Yes yes yes yes, yes!” Rock cheers, slipping onto his brother’s shoulders and tugging at Two’s hair a little. “I bet you know all the awesomest places,” he says, watching as Rush takes off to the door and wiggles impatiently in front of it.

“Oh... um. I think he’s gotta go,” the young robot says, blinking. “Why do organics do that, Blues? It seems kind of gross.” Rush pays no attention to Rock’s question, instead beginning to spin in circles and yip at the door.

“Can we take him with us?”

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

"Big brother! Big brother, are you busy? Bluuuuuuuuuuuuues are you busy c'mon talk to me if you're not. Talk to me talk to me talk to me talk to me!"

“Whoa whoa kiddo, it’s not even noon and you’re messaging me?” There’s obvious affection in the older boy’s voice, the kind of tone you can almost hear a smile in.

“Don’t tell me you’re bored already.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Deal!” Rock chirps excitedly, echoing the message out loud as he slides off the couch in the tower’s den, pulling his puppy into his arms before running around the room trying to gather all of the things together he’ll need for what he wants to do with his brother.

A stack of board games is quickly tossed haphazardly onto the table, followed by a map with different locations circled on it - things Rock really wants to see and experience, things he’s cleared with their father first. On top of that is a small box filled with random items the younger robot wants his brother to explain to him, and on top of that is one of his brother’s uniforms, because Rock really wants to try to wear it today and has no problems with raiding his sibling’s room to grab one.

With that done, he finally lets Rush down and the border collie takes the opportunity to make a break for it, resulting in robot and puppy chasing each other in circles while they wait for Blues to make it home.

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

When Blues finally saunters in, he’s greeted by the pitter patter of his young brother’s feet, and the tiny collie just before him. Rush obviously wants to stretch his little legs, but that’ll have to wait a few minutes more.

The older Light boy scoops the puppy up, giving the small collie a fond scritch behind the ears. “You know you have to let him out more. He’s going to end up being a pretty big dog. Waaay too much energy to be cooped up in here.” He gives his little brother a knowing smile.

“So what were we doing today? Games? Going to one of your hotspots? Or are we playing 20 questions for as long as that’ll keep your attention?”

[willsetsout-blog]

“I take him on walks!” Rock retorts, blue eyes widening with the barest hint of a pout as he dashes toward his pile of things. His gaze roams over the assembled junk for a few seconds, clearly torn between all of his assembled options. “Um.... um...”

Frowning, he whines and then does a dramatic flop onto the couch, face-first. Recovering nearly instantaneously, he rolls onto his back and grins up at his older brother, then hops back to his feet and starts trying to climb the much-taller robot.

“You decide! You pick, bro, c’mon, you never ever pick and I say it’s time for you to choose because I can’t make up my mind and - and I’ve tried to let Rush choose before, but he just chews on my maps!”

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

"Big brother! Big brother, are you busy? Bluuuuuuuuuuuuues are you busy c'mon talk to me if you're not. Talk to me talk to me talk to me talk to me!"

“Whoa whoa kiddo, it’s not even noon and you’re messaging me?” There’s obvious affection in the older boy’s voice, the kind of tone you can almost hear a smile in.

“Don’t tell me you’re bored already.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Yeah! Rush ‘n me have been waiting for HOURS already!” There’s excitement practically dripping from the words in the message, and the message-sender was having a hard time sitting still. “You said we’d do things when you weren’t busy today you said you saaaaaid!”

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

“Heh, okay okay, I’ve almost wrapped things up here. Give me five minutes to get back home?” Rock’s enthusiasm was hard not to love– though Blues frequently wondered if he’d been quite so bouncy in his early days.

“But you have to decide WHAT we’re gonna do before I get there.” Because otherwise his brother would run around him in circles like an excited puppy. “Deal?”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Deal!” Rock chirps excitedly, echoing the message out loud as he slides off the couch in the tower’s den, pulling his puppy into his arms before running around the room trying to gather all of the things together he’ll need for what he wants to do with his brother.

A stack of board games is quickly tossed haphazardly onto the table, followed by a map with different locations circled on it - things Rock really wants to see and experience, things he’s cleared with their father first. On top of that is a small box filled with random items the younger robot wants his brother to explain to him, and on top of that is one of his brother’s uniforms, because Rock really wants to try to wear it today and has no problems with raiding his sibling’s room to grab one.

With that done, he finally lets Rush down and the border collie takes the opportunity to make a break for it, resulting in robot and puppy chasing each other in circles while they wait for Blues to make it home.

[hopestillrides-deactivated20151]

"Big brother! Big brother, are you busy? Bluuuuuuuuuuuuues are you busy c'mon talk to me if you're not. Talk to me talk to me talk to me talk to me!"

“Whoa whoa kiddo, it’s not even noon and you’re messaging me?” There’s obvious affection in the older boy’s voice, the kind of tone you can almost hear a smile in.

“Don’t tell me you’re bored already.”

[willsetsout-blog]

“Yeah! Rush ‘n me have been waiting for HOURS already!” There’s excitement practically dripping from the words in the message, and the message-sender was having a hard time sitting still. “You said we’d do things when you weren’t busy today you said you saaaaaid!”