[Though Konoha has hidden in her room to cry on the occasions she wasn’t able to help herself, unable to keep up the strong and cheeeful outlook she preferred, she’s mostly been out. Keeping busy, keeping herself moving so that she won’t remember the strange, buoyant weight of the babes she had held in her arms, won’t remember the chaos and blood and shadow.
A4’s voice pulls her from her focus, fingers covered in dirt that she accidentally transfers to her cheek when she rubs it just in case there were any tears there, turning with a smile from where she was weeding in a corner of one of the gardens.]
Oh, A4-
[“A4”. Just like “A2”... it wasn’t a real name, and her smile wavers half a moment when she remembers how awful it had felt in the dreamscape, calling out that “name” in panic, thinking she was dead and having only that to call.]
[ One metal hand raised, wiggling her mechanical fingers. It's her only hand missing artificial skin at the moment, but it's still somewhat functional. She doesn't know who to go to for some cosmetic maintenance.
Though A4's putting on a smile now, she hasn't forgotten. Especially the children that she didn't expect herself to grow attached to. Non-human children, surprisingly. She'd seen for herself too how attached Konoha was to the children. She can't imagine how hard it must've been on her.
She bounds over to join jinba's side, even adding a few skips in her steps. But she's careful enough to avoid trampling any budding plants. ]
Soooo, what're you up to? Are you planning to plant fruits? Or flowers, maybe?
[Healthy. Functional. But neither of them are “fine” or “good”. How could they be... after all that?]
Still she tries to smile, inadvertently getting a bit more dirt on her face as she wipes her brow and brushes her heavy bangs out of the way, leaning back where she lays beside the planting bed so that A4 can get a better look.]
Vegetables, actually... it’s a good time for radish and turnips... At least, I guess it is.
[It was getting colder in the Temple. Even though she didn’t know if it really had seasons or not, her coat was still coming in thicker all the same, lending a more fluffy look to her lower body.
But despite her efforts she can’t help but be drawn to look at A4’s hand now that it’s so close, a bit perturbed despite herself of what lay beneath the skin. “Skin”?]
[ Curiously, she crouches next to the planting bed. Just looking. She's not entirely sure of the planting process anyway to make any remarks. ]
Are radish and turnips sweet?
[ She's unaware of how silly that question might sound. Despite how many times she's seen fruits and vegetables around the Temple, her knowledge is still severely lacking. Most fruit names she'd learn from Konoha, so far. ]
Hurt? No, I'm good. This is nothing.
[ She merely smiles, flexing her metallic fingers. At a glance, it's difficult to discern any weakness. The programming in her hand needs some adjustments. The pain was much worse on her sensors when the damage was fresh, but she's learnt to deal with it. She wouldn't admit to any pain to Konoha or most anyone. ]
[Though she’d express shock if almost anyone else asked her that question, after her experiences with A4 and dried fruits Konoha had a better idea of androids from her world and their knowledge of foods... so instead she just shakes her head.
No. Not sweet.
But a further explanation doesn’t come, distracted by the way the light gleams on A4’s exposed metal, the similar look it had to parts of A2. Parts she’d always assumed were just how metal people looked... but. They were injuries, then. Right?]
... Can I see?
[Brow furrowing in thought, Konoha holds out her hand, gesturing towards A4’s own.]
[ Standing, she straightens herself up. She moves to rest her left hand in Konoha's own outstretched hand. The texture is as smooth as expected from a metal surface, but not without a few nicks here and there from combat. The missing skin appears to extend much further than her wrist. Her dress sleeve helps to cover the rest of the damage over her arm.
Her little smile doesn't fade. She doesn't want to cause any worry. ]
I got into some scuffles back in Akvos. But I assure you, I'm fine.
[Even though she knows that they're probably more sturdy than anyone, Konoha takes A4's hand as if it's the most delicate thing in the world. Carefully, she rubs her thumb over the smooth metal, her expression turning down slightly in worry, even though A4 is still smiling.]
All of you are like this underneath? 9S, 2B... A2... ?
[ Metal, as well as a bunch of other components. Her right hand still retains the artificial skin. Probably a strange sight when compared to her damaged hand.
A moment's hesitation before she answers Konoha's first question. She doesn't want to wrongly inform her that they're entirely immune to pain. Getting knocked around in Akvos was pretty painful, though she didn't sustain any heavy injuries. ]
It... hurt much more when the injury was fresh. Not so much right now though. Something like this is not that big of a deal.
Because of how completely foreign the very idea of androids and robots was to her and her world view, Konoha very rarely remembered to treat them as anything but human- both mentally and how she interacted with them physically. Like this... it was such a stark reminder.
How did pain work when you were metal? One of them had tried to explain it to her before, but...
Her hands remain clasped on A4's, gentle, ready to pull away at any indication of wince or whimper.]
And... "A4". You all have names like that? Names that aren't really names?
[ Number 4 was her original "name", having only picked up "A4" only when she was summoned to the circle. It was more up-to-date with A2. Still, it wasn't what you would call a proper name. Names went against protocol, for YoRHa androids specifically.
Her hand doesn't budge, remaining limp in Konoha's grasp. She blinks though, somewhat surprised this question is coming up now. ]
That's right. But that's for only us YoRHa types.
[ For a moment her expression falters, losing its vigor, recalling the brief time she was on Earth. Her smile becomes more fond, yet sad. Rose promised them real names back then. ]
There are other androids where we're from. Not like us. Captain Rose and her squad had really pretty flower names. Lily, Daisy, Anemone... names like that.
["Only for us YoRHa types", she says, but... That's so many of the very few androids Konoha knows. The only ones she's ever known. There's... Cayde-6, he was metal, there was Connor, so was he, and perhaps Simon fell somewhere along those lines, but...
9S, 2B, A4, and-]
A2 told me about them. And the flower names.
[Unbidden, her clasp on A4's hand gets a bit firmer, her lips pursing as her gaze remains wavering on the places where her artificial skin was gone.]
Do you- Do you Want a name like that?
[A real name to call, when they were in trouble. When someone was worried about them. When they were confided in. Not a number.]
[ She stifles a smile, one that appears less forced, seemingly elated by the question. Without having to say it out loud, her expression is telling enough it is what she wants.
When Rose first offered to name her squad, she was excited, to the point of making pleading motions to her captain that made herself look ridiculous.
Her fingers lightly curl around Konoha's hand. It doesn't hurt, but her grip's a bit on the weak side. Normally, she'd jump at the chance for this, immediately answer with an eager acceptance. ]
Aw, Konoha... were you thinking of naming us? [ She lets out a small laugh. ] Well, I do— as long as Number 2 gets a name too. It wouldn't be fair.
I mean... I know it's not my place to just. Give you names.
[She isn't their mother, isn't this... Rose person, who she could tell had meant a lot to them, somehow. But... her emotions are as easily read as always, sincere in her desire.]
But in the Rift, I saw A2 in trouble... And it just felt so wrong to call "A2" like that, now that I know it's just some... some designation and model number.
[Frowning just a bit in worry, in desire to help she isn't sure is proper, Konoha rubs her thumb along the side of A4's metal-exposed hand.]
I told A2 before that... that I'd be thinking of names so she could ask me for one when she was ready, but.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
A4’s voice pulls her from her focus, fingers covered in dirt that she accidentally transfers to her cheek when she rubs it just in case there were any tears there, turning with a smile from where she was weeding in a corner of one of the gardens.]
Oh, A4-
[“A4”. Just like “A2”... it wasn’t a real name, and her smile wavers half a moment when she remembers how awful it had felt in the dreamscape, calling out that “name” in panic, thinking she was dead and having only that to call.]
I’m healthy... How about you?
no subject
[ One metal hand raised, wiggling her mechanical fingers. It's her only hand missing artificial skin at the moment, but it's still somewhat functional. She doesn't know who to go to for some cosmetic maintenance.
Though A4's putting on a smile now, she hasn't forgotten. Especially the children that she didn't expect herself to grow attached to. Non-human children, surprisingly. She'd seen for herself too how attached Konoha was to the children. She can't imagine how hard it must've been on her.
She bounds over to join jinba's side, even adding a few skips in her steps. But she's careful enough to avoid trampling any budding plants. ]
Soooo, what're you up to? Are you planning to plant fruits? Or flowers, maybe?
no subject
Still she tries to smile, inadvertently getting a bit more dirt on her face as she wipes her brow and brushes her heavy bangs out of the way, leaning back where she lays beside the planting bed so that A4 can get a better look.]
Vegetables, actually... it’s a good time for radish and turnips... At least, I guess it is.
[It was getting colder in the Temple. Even though she didn’t know if it really had seasons or not, her coat was still coming in thicker all the same, lending a more fluffy look to her lower body.
But despite her efforts she can’t help but be drawn to look at A4’s hand now that it’s so close, a bit perturbed despite herself of what lay beneath the skin. “Skin”?]
It doesn’t hurt... ? Your hand.
no subject
Are radish and turnips sweet?
[ She's unaware of how silly that question might sound. Despite how many times she's seen fruits and vegetables around the Temple, her knowledge is still severely lacking. Most fruit names she'd learn from Konoha, so far. ]
Hurt? No, I'm good. This is nothing.
[ She merely smiles, flexing her metallic fingers. At a glance, it's difficult to discern any weakness. The programming in her hand needs some adjustments. The pain was much worse on her sensors when the damage was fresh, but she's learnt to deal with it. She wouldn't admit to any pain to Konoha or most anyone. ]
no subject
No. Not sweet.
But a further explanation doesn’t come, distracted by the way the light gleams on A4’s exposed metal, the similar look it had to parts of A2. Parts she’d always assumed were just how metal people looked... but. They were injuries, then. Right?]
... Can I see?
[Brow furrowing in thought, Konoha holds out her hand, gesturing towards A4’s own.]
no subject
Hm? Sure?
[ Standing, she straightens herself up. She moves to rest her left hand in Konoha's own outstretched hand. The texture is as smooth as expected from a metal surface, but not without a few nicks here and there from combat. The missing skin appears to extend much further than her wrist. Her dress sleeve helps to cover the rest of the damage over her arm.
Her little smile doesn't fade. She doesn't want to cause any worry. ]
I got into some scuffles back in Akvos. But I assure you, I'm fine.
no subject
[Even though she knows that they're probably more sturdy than anyone, Konoha takes A4's hand as if it's the most delicate thing in the world. Carefully, she rubs her thumb over the smooth metal, her expression turning down slightly in worry, even though A4 is still smiling.]
All of you are like this underneath? 9S, 2B... A2... ?
no subject
[ Metal, as well as a bunch of other components. Her right hand still retains the artificial skin. Probably a strange sight when compared to her damaged hand.
A moment's hesitation before she answers Konoha's first question. She doesn't want to wrongly inform her that they're entirely immune to pain. Getting knocked around in Akvos was pretty painful, though she didn't sustain any heavy injuries. ]
It... hurt much more when the injury was fresh. Not so much right now though. Something like this is not that big of a deal.
no subject
Because of how completely foreign the very idea of androids and robots was to her and her world view, Konoha very rarely remembered to treat them as anything but human- both mentally and how she interacted with them physically. Like this... it was such a stark reminder.
How did pain work when you were metal? One of them had tried to explain it to her before, but...
Her hands remain clasped on A4's, gentle, ready to pull away at any indication of wince or whimper.]
And... "A4". You all have names like that? Names that aren't really names?
no subject
Her hand doesn't budge, remaining limp in Konoha's grasp. She blinks though, somewhat surprised this question is coming up now. ]
That's right. But that's for only us YoRHa types.
[ For a moment her expression falters, losing its vigor, recalling the brief time she was on Earth. Her smile becomes more fond, yet sad. Rose promised them real names back then. ]
There are other androids where we're from. Not like us. Captain Rose and her squad had really pretty flower names. Lily, Daisy, Anemone... names like that.
no subject
9S, 2B, A4, and-]
A2 told me about them. And the flower names.
[Unbidden, her clasp on A4's hand gets a bit firmer, her lips pursing as her gaze remains wavering on the places where her artificial skin was gone.]
Do you- Do you Want a name like that?
[A real name to call, when they were in trouble. When someone was worried about them. When they were confided in. Not a number.]
no subject
When Rose first offered to name her squad, she was excited, to the point of making pleading motions to her captain that made herself look ridiculous.
Her fingers lightly curl around Konoha's hand. It doesn't hurt, but her grip's a bit on the weak side. Normally, she'd jump at the chance for this, immediately answer with an eager acceptance. ]
Aw, Konoha... were you thinking of naming us? [ She lets out a small laugh. ] Well, I do— as long as Number 2 gets a name too. It wouldn't be fair.
no subject
[She isn't their mother, isn't this... Rose person, who she could tell had meant a lot to them, somehow. But... her emotions are as easily read as always, sincere in her desire.]
But in the Rift, I saw A2 in trouble... And it just felt so wrong to call "A2" like that, now that I know it's just some... some designation and model number.
[Frowning just a bit in worry, in desire to help she isn't sure is proper, Konoha rubs her thumb along the side of A4's metal-exposed hand.]
I told A2 before that... that I'd be thinking of names so she could ask me for one when she was ready, but.
[Would she ever be ready?]
I've come up with some I think you'd like...