estoria | ( open ) triple sunshine saga

Entry tags:

( open ) triple sunshine saga

Who: Stahn

majinken & YOU! (with guest appearances by Leon/

discard)
When: 6/24, mostly, with an option for 6/22-6/23!
Where: Various
What: Stahn activated his robot… and Leon’s (oops). Did Cerealia need this much sunshine (or hair) running around? Probably not, but it’s happening.
Rating/Warning:None, there is too much purity here.

0.5: Wildcard: The days before;

[on the 22nd and 23rd, things aren’t so bad. The stahnbots are looking and acting more like him by the day; bright and full of sunshine, but still dutiful. they help him with his shopping, partner up with him for multiplayer arcade games, and order all the right foods for lunch.

he’ll be out running errands and vigilantly teaching his robots everything that they need to know with a smile. There are plenty of times and opportunities to run into him and the bots and either balk or be completely amused at the sheer about of sunshine, smiles and mullets are happening in one place.]

I: Morning: Residential District;

[so far, so good. sure, it was a bit of a mistake to activate the two robots without knowing what would happen, but up until today? it’s been pretty cool! well, to stahn, at least. leon and dymlos both have clearly been exasperated by dealing with three stahns, but that’s fine.]

It’s okay, Stahnbot! I can go to work myself, you don’t have to go for me! [currently, he’s sitting on a bench at the edge of a part near one of the apartment buildings. one stahnbot is unwrapping a sandwich and handing it to the real(?) stahn. the other is eyeing dymlos and maybe reaching out for him. The sword is propped up against the bench next to the real stahn.

—suspicious.]

That’s my job though! I really don’t mind.

[so while stahn has a light argument with himself, he’s very distracted and is hardly noticing that the third is trying to make off with his sword.

help him.]

II-A: Afternoon: Just about anywhere in the city;

[there is a stahn coming your way. the thing is? there’s no telling which stahn it is. is he real? is it one of the robots? who knows. There’s one deciding factor, and that’s whether or not he’s got dymlos. only one stahn will be carrying dymlos. And those capable of hearing dymlos may notice that he’s quiet. well, even more quiet than usual.

either way, he seems to have boundless energy and a wide grin as he approaches.]

Hey! Do you have a minute to help me with something?

II-B: Afternoon: Just about anywhere in the city;

[there’s a stahn coming your way, but unlike the others that are running around, stahn isn’t as full of sunshine. He’s breathless, almost haggard… and noticeably missing that sword he always carries around with him.]

Hey… I need some help. Do you have a minute?

[wow, it’s like deja vu or something.]

III: Early Evening; Shopping District

[those who can hear dymlos will hear the booming sound of his voice yelling ”STAHN!” once he’s within close range to the real stahn. And naturally, stahn uses that as his guide, eventually leading him to a face-off with his two robot-doubles, one of which is carrying the sword.

of course, the robots still can’t hear dymlos, which makes this an interesting way for things to go down. For once, stahn himself isn’t a barrel of sunshine, he actually looks pretty pissed off.]

You guys may have had fun, but that’s enough. You can’t have Dymlos! You can’t even hear Dymlos! To you… he’s just a sword that makes you more like me, isn’t he? [he actually sounds a little hurt by this—he may be dumb sometimes, but he can see that they’re just taking the imitation too far, though he’s not sure how to deal with it.]

Give him back to me… come on! [he needs help, primarily because he doesn’t want to cause a scene when there are innocent people shopping and minding their business. the swordless stahnbot can’t his head to the side, while the other responds:]

Huh? But Dymlos is mine. I don’t think I have to give away something that’s mine… do I?

[the bots are equally as confused. This is what happens when a pure bean makes pure bean robot clones: none of them are malicious, but they don’t seem very willing to give in.

help. he needs so much help right now.]

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But—Come on, let go!

[the bot won't run, probably. at least lili is being spared dymlos yelling really loudly...

which is a good thing for her, and probably for the real stahn, since between that, lili's yelling, and the stahnbot's yelling? stahn and stahnbot number 2 have had their attention caught.]

—Lili!? [his eyes catch her first as he runs over to the source of the sound and the way she's gripping his hair. and while he does that, he notices...]

Dymlos!? [what the hell is going on here? everything is happening so much!!]

[NOPE.

Lili's just going to keep her death grip on fakeStahn's mullet and then glance over when she hears another speak to her and finds it to.... well, that's the real Stahn, right? It takes her a moment to follow his footsteps since he's gotten up from the bench to discern that he's the one she should be trusting.

This is such a pain.]

Your sword has a name too? Collect him then, before this one makes off with him like a lowlife.

[At least hanging out with all the swords in Cerealia have left her able to figure out pronouns... mostly.... when will she run into a lady sword??]

R—Right!

[there's not really much time to explain about dymlos right now, not when his priority is prying him from the stahnbot's grip. at least lili has a good hold on him, which is enough of a distraction to make that viable.

of course, this also means there is way too much stahn happening all at once.]

Dymlos, are you okay!? [stahn will say once he's got dymlos back in hand—fortunately, lili is getting spared the endless angry yelling that comes from dymlos, though stahn can hear all of it and it shows on his face.

the stahnbots are none the wiser though; the one not in lili's grip is standing warily behind stahn, while the other...]

Let go already! Aahhh, please, I'm got going to do anything else!

As if I'd ever believe you!!

[Lili's got laserfocus on this thiefbot tbh... Well, the thiefbot and also making sure that she can tell which Stahn is which before she gets terribly confused. Except it eventually clicks that Stahn is talking to his sword. Like how Leon talked to Chaltier and-]

... You stole a sentient sword?! [ANOTHER ANGRIER YANK ON POOR THIEFBOT'S MULLET] Who do you think you are?! Unforgivable!

A what!? I didn't—!!

[the stahnbots can't hear dymlos, and because they've been so questionable, dymlos has been reluctant to say much when either of them are around; he's definitely the smarter one of the duo, though that comes with having once been an esteemed military commander that saved humanity from destruction and all that.

but they can't hear him, and stahn hasn't been talking to him, so they're completely clueless about this whole situation. it looks like lili picked up on it quicker than they did, actually...]

["You did!" very nearly comes out of her mouth.

Except she realizes that Leon doesn't like talking to Chaltier much in public so... maybe not. Instead she's just going to fume even as she resolves to hold the Stahnbot with just one hand instead... still very much peeved.]

Regardless, theft is unacceptable. It's a crime! And while you possess Stahn's face, it's forbidden for you to act in such a manner, understand?!

[hisssss]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!

[she's scary—the stahnbots think so, at least. this girl is scary and fierce, and the fact that she still hasn't let go of the thiefbot says a lot.

at least now, the real stahn can turn his attention back to what's important (there will be more lecturing from dymlos later though).]

Lili... thanks. [he winces a little, ruffling his hair.] Sorry these guys are making so much trouble for you.

[stahn, they're making trouble for you more than anyone else. stop that.]

[for real tho.

Lili's just going to give Stahn the most withering look, her hold on thiefbot finally disappearing now that Stahn himself is here and possesses Dymlos in his hands.]

Stop apologizing and see to it that it doesn't happen again. I haven't done anything worthy of thanks either.

You'd be saddened to part with your sword, yes? Keep him close to you. I don't trust these things at all.

[the stahnbot will immediately rush to the side of the other stahnbot, and they're both hiding behind stahn like frightened children. which... honestly is for the best right now, it's one less thing to worry about.]

No... I wouldn't have realized it until it was too late, so you need to be thanked for helping me out. [he sounds remorseful for having troubled her, and a bit regretful that he managed to screw up so badly that he could have lost dymlos.]

It happened really fast— [practically in the blink of an eye, and he has no idea if that was by design or not.] So I really appreciate you stepping in!

[he's definitely not going to let dymlos out of his sights again if he can help it, but that'll end up being impossible for sure.]

Stop thanking me, it's - irritating!

[No... Embarrassing really, but Lili can't quite bring herself to say that. The way that her face is turning red is probably indicator enough of that.]

I'm surprised you still haven't destroyed these things. Do you have two because you activated Leon's as well? [Lili honest to god wouldn't be surprised.] You know that'll only cause you more trouble in the long-run...!

[So take care of yourself, b-baka!]

I didn't know it would end up like this when I turned them on... it seemed like they'd really be able to help!

[and they did... at first. he thought it would really be useful for getting some things done without he or leon having to worry about it, but now... it's kind of a problem. they're insisting on acting of their own volition more and more, and while they're still "helping" stahn—

well, even he isn't blind to how it's all going. he lets out a sigh; he's getting yelled at a lot today already.] Leon's probably already tried that anyway.

[he adds as an afterthought. if leon hasn't tried before, he's going to soon enough. he knows leon, and he knows how quickly his patience will wane in this situation.]

[Another blank stare.]

You thought turning on the robotic machines that were given by the people who brought us here and have endangered our lives would've helped. Really?

[But that's... cut relatively short, if only because yeah, she imagines Leon's already beat her to this lecture. He's level-headed and that's why Lili respects him. (Even though she also doesn't believe the shit he's spewing about how easy it would be to kill a Stahnbot. Lili couldn't even kill a Stahnbot.)]

... Just don't get in his way if he keeps trying. [A pause.] Or do him a favor and destroy them yourself.

[don't question his logic, okay! he's still unable to believe that ceres is inherently bad; he can't deny the bad things that have happened, but when good things happen, like giving people second chances at life—

how can he completely write them off? so maybe it's better that the topic shifts slightly, because they'd end up in a very circular argument.]

Destroy them... myself? [stahn immediately frowns and winces a bit. can he really destroy something that looks and (mostly) sounds like him? there's a definitely conflict of interest here.

...and the stahnbots are now clinging to the back of his shirt in desperate fear that he's going to take lili's advice to heart.]

[Absolutely a conflict of interest. But Lili's going to stand firm on this. Sorry, sunshine. She doesn't like the look on his face but the alternatives are far worse in her opinion.]

Would you rather make Leon destroy something that looks and sounds like you? Or one of your other friends? Can you imagine what that would be like?

[Honestly:]

I don't want to and I barely even know you - but I would if I thought that I could. [Except Stahn is however much taller than her and infinitely stronger.] But I will if you find no other options. I personally don't think it's acceptable to let these things keep operating.

[that makes his expression fall a little more—thinking about forcing leon or anyone else he cares about into destroying something with his face is legitimately a bit upsetting to him.

stahn hadn't considered it because he does have those pockets of selfishness that give him tunnel vision. he'd only considered having to do it from is own perspective, and that had been so difficult that he completely shut out the idea of how that would affect the people he cares about if the burden fell on them.]

You won't have to do that. [he'll say after a moment, and his tone is much more somber now that he's had some time to think about it.

he won't let it happen. he can't let that responsibility fall on leon, or otome, or kashuu—and certainly not on lili either, despite her offer.] I'll figure it out—I'll figure out what to do without you or anyone else having to do that.

[well, that's the goal, at least. there's an apology that sits at the edge of his tongue, but it doesn't seem to find its exit quite yet.]

[She didn't mean to make him sad.

Just as he's about to apologize, so is she - except she can't let there be even the slightest chance that he'll back out of this. Otherwise there would be someone important to him that would have to do the job, and she knows that he wouldn't want them to live with that either. Still, her hands clench into fists.]

... Just spare the people important to you that. It'll be hard but - [But she can't do it. Even if she wants to, she knows that she's too weak for it. Lili has a bleeding heart despite what she says and the look on his face just makes her wish more and more that she was stronger.]

Don't... think that you have to figure it out all by yourself either! [Because Stahn is that type of person. Yet he's forced her to think a little bit outside of her own violent box:] I'll keep looking too - if there's any way to deactivate them without destroying them... maybe!

[But don't count on it is what doesn't quite make it out of her mouth.]

[it's not really her fault—she helped him by putting things into perspective. but the idea of upsetting the people most important to him does upset him, but it's nothing he can't overcome. he will, because it's what he has to do.

he's prepared to apologize and to thank her—and to use her words as resolve to keep pressing forward. to find the answers and find the best way to fix whatever it is may have gone wrong and led to this. he'll do it alone if it means not burdening other people, not causing hurt to his friends that need him to be strong and capable.

—but then she throws that train of thought right the hell off the rails by making a statement like that, and offering her assistance.]

Lili... [he's honestly a little stunned, so for a moment, he just stands there looking at her with those widened surprised eyes and his mouth agape as he tries to gather the right words.

he looks like of stupid, but he really didn't expect that (even if maybe he should have).]

D-Don't look so surprised!

[She says - but she's embarrassed. She fusses with her hair almost immediately, her gaze turning downward so that she doesn't have to see that look on his face.

Even though it's warranted. Lili's abrasive and rude, she lectures people that she thinks are idiots and doesn't think of solutions very well. All of her immediate ideas are violent and rash. However... for the sake of making it so that Stahn doesn't have to be sad - so that he doesn't have to struggle with the idea of harming someone that looks very much himself...

She wants to be useful. Just once.]

I just... Don't have that pitiful look on your face either or else Leon or - someone else will get mad at me.

[She'd stay mad at herself tbh.]

[the reasons she says seem to betray what she really thinks of things—and for all the ways that stahn can be stupid, the feelings of the people around him generally doesn't fall under that umbrella. sometimes he wavers when it comes to the long-term, sometimes he can be selfish and let those perceptions slip past him...

but in a case like this, where lili has not only given him a needed dose of reality, but also seems to be acting from the goodness of her heart—he can't miss that. so regardless of what she says, he's not exactly taking it at face value, even if he isn't calling her out on it.

stahn's expression relaxes into a small, but obviously grateful smile.]

Thanks, Lili. [yes, that's what he's saying despite the way she frames her reasoning.] Whatever your reason is... I still appreciate it.

[Embarrassing....

So embarrassing and it just makes Lili's face redder, even as she vehemently shakes her head. What is she doing that's worth any sort of thanks? If anything, this is to make up for the fact that she was brutally honest and made him sad - Lili often doesn't care what other people feel but. That was obviously her fault.

And she doesn't dislike Stahn enough to pretend that she doesn't care.

(How many double negatives was that?)]

Don't thank me for something like this... I'm just trying to make sure that you don't overwork yourself.

[Which - for someone like Stahn - really does seem like the bare minimum? It's not like she knows how to make him happy so time to just make sure that he's not... unhappy...]

I think that's a good reason to thank you, though.

[he pouts thoughtfully, raising his hand up to scratch his head.] It's still looking out for me in some way, so it's something to be thanked about.

[maybe that's embarrassing for her, but to stahn that's just common courtesy. he would feel like he was being the rude one if he didn't acknowledge it, more so after she's already helped him by making sure the robot didn't get away with dymlos.]

I'm not—!

[Okay no, she's totally looking out for him, which is why she honestly can't even really finish that denial. She's looking out for him and she's also intensely embarrassed by this fact.]

It would just be troublesome if something happened to you because you were careless.

[That's.

Yes.

Okay, we're gonna lock in that answer and hope he doesn't come up with something embarrassing in response again.]

Ah.... you're right.

[that's innocuous enough. though it's really not because he's intentionally trying to embarrass here that things went that way, of course. but a response like that is intensely familiar to stahn. it would be troublesome.

that's what leon would say, too.

so he can see that he needs to just hold back and watch his words for a minute. he's learned that well enough over the course of time; he knows when to let the other person win.]

I'll be more careful, so I don't cause anyone trouble that way. [of course, it won't really pan out like that in the end, but it makes it no less what he wants to do. for her sake, for leon's—for all of his friends, really.]

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( open ) triple sunshine saga

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