(no subject)

[microbrobotics]

[ AT SOME POINT DURING THE DAY the younger Hamada brother is quietly getting Roy's attention. Roy specifically, though Ling is welcome to eavesdrop and/or follow them. ]

Can I talk to you for a second?

Comments

[backdrafted]

... Yes, of course.

[microbrobotics]

[ glancing around a bit, kind of edgy ]

You're on night watch tonight, right?

[backdrafted]

... Soon, yes.

[microbrobotics]

[ nods ]

We need your help.

[backdrafted]

... [frowns...]

With what?

[microbrobotics]

We're getting the hell out of here. Tonight.

[backdrafted]

... You want to risk what's outside the wall? It's too dangerous!

[microbrobotics]

More dangerous than what? Nightmares and demons and people being burned at the stake?

[backdrafted]

. . .

Still. We don't know what's out there.

[microbrobotics]

... I know what's in here. And Tadashi - Tadashi's been seeing weird things.

[backdrafted]

[...glances up at him, then back]

Like what?

[microbrobotics]

When he looks at the Lady, he sees some kind of insect monster.

[ falters a bit ]

... I ... I can't see it, but I trust him completely!

[backdrafted]

. . . Insect?. . .

[microbrobotics]

[ nods ]

So if even the Lady herself isn't safe...

[backdrafted]

That can't be. What if something is wrong with your brother?

[microbrobotics]

He can't be! We're soulmates, so that means we're the same role, right? And I know I'm a regular villager - that means he has to be too.

[backdrafted]

. . .

You would be alone out there.

[microbrobotics]

So? It's been like that since our parents died. Aunt Cass tries, but Tadashi's the one I relied on.

[backdrafted]

And if you die out there?

[microbrobotics]

That's a risk, yeah. But we might also get back to where we came from before. I might be able to bring Tadashi back, alive...

1/2

[backdrafted]

. . .

[backdrafted]

. . .



There's no room for a blasphemer here. And whatever it means that he's seen his visions, not believing in the Lady is certainly blasphemy.

[microbrobotics]

[ it takes him a moment ]

-- You'll let us go?

[backdrafted]

[nrgh]

I don't want to see a child put on trial.

You realize you'll be lost to us. You'll never know why any of this happened.

[microbrobotics]

... I know. But I can't stay here and see my brother put on trial either. Or worse.

[backdrafted]

... It's your choice, then.

[microbrobotics]

Just don't stop us when we leave. That's all we need.

[ a pause. deflates a bit. ]

... I was going to ask if you could help alchemize a few things, but ...

[broboticist]

[going to come with his little brother and hover behind him at a respectable distance but still close enough to keep an eye on things]

[microbrobotics]

[ thanks bro ]

[backdrafted]

[nods to]

Good afternoon.

[broboticist]

Good afternoon.

[backdrafted]

... You agree? You want to risk outside the wall?

[broboticist]

I want to take that risk, yes.

I don't want to be in this place anymore. I want to take my brother and go.

[backdrafted]

You see the Lady as a monster? What is your role? Doesn't that make you a demon, or sinner?

[broboticist]

I don't know. I just. I want to get out of here.

Hiro said he trusted you. So we took this chance.

But Hiro doesn't see it, just me. He's trusting me. And trusting you. So if you do... So if you do believe me a sinner or demon then at least protect him from whatever happens to me. Don't betray his trust.

[backdrafted]

. . .

I'm only thinking of his safety. ...It doesn't make any sense for you to want to leave, if you're a demon.

I don't want to split brothers up either.

[broboticist]

All we want is for you to look the other way when we try to get out.

[backdrafted]

... That's a lot to ask when you could both die.

[broboticist]

We could both die here too if things go badly. Who knows what the demons will do if they start outnumbering us. Or if we're condemned as demons ourselves...

We're all people who make mistakes. Hiro and I can make our own mistakes or we can wait to be the victim of others' mistakes.

[backdrafted]

. . .

Very well.

[broboticist]

Thank you.

I'm sorry for this burden, sir. I know it isn't fair.

[backdrafted]

I've already made one mistake that split brothers. If you want to run, then run. A blasphemer will be routed anyway.

... Before that, please be honest. What exactly did you see?

[broboticist]

This place isn't.... It's not cute or homey or anything like that. It's like a wasteland. And the Lady...

Like a giant insect. But not even a real one, like a monster. Eyes everywhere and tendrils and.

[puts a hand over his mouth like he's in danger of getting sick]

It's just gross. Everything here is grotesque.

[backdrafted]

. . .And you saw this in your dreams?

[broboticist]

I see it right now.

It's not my dream it's my reality.

[backdrafted]

...

All this time?

[broboticist]

It wasn't like this at first but. Now that's. That's the world I'm living in.