@daylit; audio.

[sunborne]

Hi! I’m Daylight. Um… I know a lot’s been happening and we’re all trying to figure out what we can do to help. It’s actually why I’m making this post now, honestly.

A few months back we had this scavenger hunt event. It was run by Ms. Robin- [ he falters here, the memory of her latest post still fresh in his processors.

he shakes his helm, grateful that no one can see him, and continues on: ] -and I got something for participating in it. It was a phrase from the forest spirits' language. The one where we use with the ocarinas and language app she also set up for us in our tablets.

A friend of mine- Riku, he's really nice - he said he also got one. So did someone else after the event. So I’m thinking she must have given to everyone who participated in it and I'm hoping you guys, if you have it, can pass them along to me. I want to try and use the phrases we have to figure out more about their language. Make more phrases, find new words. Stuff like that. I want to talk to them. See if they can direct me to the green-eyed spirits.

[ you wanna what now day- ]

So if you guys got anything similar to this, you can let me know here or in my inbox or in person or whatever works best for you. I, um, will try to pay you guys if you want something in return.

Umm… Yeah… That's it, I guess. Thank you.

Comments

[worthallthis]

[The look the Soldier gives him is one like they think that is a very, very dumb question.]

I'm not letting you go out there alone. You need protection. In case the green-eyes are hostile.

[sunborne]

[ daylight beams, all the same, nodding along in agreement as his winglets continue to flap in excitement. ]

Yeah- Always better to have a buddy with you for situations like these. [ it sounds like he's repeating this than saying it from experience, his expression wistful all the while.

after a second or two passes, day adds a quiet, ] And, um, Soldat?

Thanks. It means a lot to me you're the one going with me. I know you'll have my back for this.

[worthallthis]

[That wipes the briefly unimpressed expression right off the Soldier's face, turning it into something surprised, and then vaguely embarrassed. They look away, gaze sliding sideways. Being thanked for doing what feels like their job is still kind of new and unfamiliar. Not bad, thought.]

You're welcome. It's what I'm good at. I ought to be available to do it when I can.

[And, you know, Daylight is a good kid, seems like. Too trusting, but that's not something they really want to see changed. Just keep him safe, and maybe he might get to keep some of that optimism.]

[sunborne]

[ someone please get daylight either a child lease or a bell to wear so everyone knows where he is at all times. please...

daylight continues to beam in reply, happy and touched by what soldat is telling him. he nods with both clear enthusiasm and trust, his winglets fluttering in joy. ]

And I'll try to do the same for you then, buddy. We're in this together. Whatever happens, out there in the woods, I've got your back.

[ daylight then... does a very daylight thing of him in that moment.

he extends a servo towards soldat, pinky out. clearly waiting for soldat to do the same. ] That's a promise!

[worthallthis]

A promise.

[The Soldier has never seen a pinky promise before. They stare at it in confusion, but mimic the gesture after a moment since that seems to be what Daylight's waiting for. They use the metal hand, since that seems appropriate with a robot person.]

[sunborne]

Yeah! This is a pinky promise! [ he either has no shame or a lot of certainty in what he's saying right now. a bit of both, perhaps. ] This is, like, a super important gesture where I'm from. An absolutely sacred thing friends do to show they're serious about what they're going to swear by.

[ daylight's pinky tries to hook around soldat's and he begins to shake their linked servos(?) up and down. with a great deal of enthusiasm too. ] I promise to do what I can to help you while we're here, buddy! No matter what happens, I've got your back.

[worthallthis]

[There is something. Like maybe they've done this before. With a much... much smaller pinky finger... a child, maybe. The Soldier lets their finger be shook like a handshake, and finds this is a bit less unsafe-feeling than a handshake, at least.]

The same. I'll keep you safe, Daylight, however I can.

[Then they have to ask, because the feeling is overwhelming that they should be doing this with a child-- a little girl, dark hair and blue eyes, name and relationship refusing to come to the surface-- they ask,]

Daylight. How old are you.

[sunborne]

[ daylight immediately frowns when he gets the question because huh. that's the second time this month, more or less, someone asked him about his age.

he's starting to wonder if he's doing stuff that alerts people to the fact he's not an adult-adult, compared to most of those in beacon. is it that obvious. ]

... Old enough. [ alas, he couldn't narrow his optics since the protoform around them wasn't elastic enough for such a feat. his winglets wriggling in clear confusion and discontent will have to do. ] Why do you ask?

[worthallthis]

I don't have a lot of memories. But I just had one. Of doing that pinky thing. With a small child. A little girl with dark hair and blue eyes.

[Kind of like the Soldier's dark hair and blue eyes? Maybe. They pull the metal hand back, looking at it with a little frown, then up at Daylight with a kind of fond resignation.]

You aren't an adult, are you.

[sunborne]

.....

[ daylight puffs out his cheeks, letting out a little 'whuff!' from his vents. ]

Not really. [ that's the closest he's ever going to say 'no' when asked to address this sort of thing. it's always going to be a sore spot for him but soldat is his friend and he deserves an explanation: ] From what I've been told, I'm in the equivalent of a, um, person in their late teens if you compare me to a human.

[ more or less. give or take. ]

[worthallthis]

[(He's a teenager. A fucking teenager. Oh god. He makes so much more sense now.) The Soldier resists the urge to run a hand down their face.]

Okay. Thank you. That's good to know.

[They're going to leave that alone, now, though. They know. It can factor into their plans, now, however much it needs to. Instead, they say,]

So after the town hall? We will try finding someone to talk to?

[sunborne]

Yeah. [ daylight nods in agreement, thinking it was important to try and reach out to them, the green-eyed spirits, as soon as possible. might as well strike while the iron is hot and the spirits showed a willingness to speak with them.

... but there is something else he wants to do: ] We gotta find someone to talk to and we also gotta find someone to stay back here. Because, you know, if we're out there... It would be good if someone stayed back here in Beacon to share the information if they have to at that moment.

[worthallthis]

In case we die and take days to come back. Or don't come back.

[No harm reminding Daylight of what exactly is at stake, here.]

You can do that. Find someone who won't mind having a connection open for as long as it takes.

[sunborne]

[ daylight winces at the reminder of what could happen to him and soldat but then he tries to look serious, nodding in confirmation. both finding someone who can help them out in relaying information and... for what could happen. ]

It's dangerous, I know, but I want to take that risk. [ he smiles now, trying to show his confidence in both their choices and soldat. ] Fortune favours the bold, you know? Gotta take a bit of risk to see what can and can't be done.

[worthallthis]

In my experience, being bold leads to people being dead. Or to being punished. Depending on who o was being bold at.

[The Soldier shakes their head.]

My experience may be unusual. But I'll go with you, see what we can find out. After the town hall, and after I talk to my contact.

[sunborne]

Your friend, right? I'm happy they're okay after what... you know... happened.

[ in the last few weeks. during the time he and others were in the weird vision-experience while soldat and others fought for their lives.

he tries to make this end on a positive enough, smiling softly as he adds, ] Yeah. I'm down for that plan. I'll talk to Rastus for some torches and see what we need to bring with us.

And... Thanks again, Soldat. I owe you one for this.

[worthallthis]

You don't owe me anything.

[They try to sound reassuring, there, rather than uncomfortable. They mostly manage, for once.]

Find me when everything's ready.

[And with that, they head back the way they came, though keeping an eye on Daylight for as long as they're able. Just in case.]