Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2018 0:21:36 GMT -5
It was easy to be a hero.
Using one's own power in order to help better the lives of others. But there could be certain individuals who held power, and the 'help' that they could give, were based on beliefs which were 'warped' or 'wrong' depending on the planet that they had landed on. Basic societal norms that differed due to a planet's conditions, along with their government raising them to be a certain way. Some survived, while others had relaxed in complete leisure.
Upon learning these differences, it could have been seen as shocking, or even foolish. Questionable that there could actually be a race of people, who could have lived for so long, or even be capable of producing individuals with extraordinary power. Though did it really matter in the end, how others lived?
For these heroes who were willing to help better the lives of others, or those with a twisted view on what a hero was, how thin of a line was it, for either to be one and the same? Either as one individual, or two different sides choosing to do opposing actions, they normally wouldn't have taken?
To be forced into a situation, or into making any decision at all, was something that most individuals faced on a path of gaining power. But the more power that was gained, the better things were meant to turn out. Situations that were difficult, shouldn't have been a worry, or continue to even be seen as such.
Things overall were supposed to be the way that they had wished, for power opened up the opportunities for security. Though this didn't consider just how immeasurable the number of idiots, there really were in the world. How problems could continue to persist, because there were individuals who couldn't look past the knowledge of what they held growing up, trying to enforce what they didn't have the right to, and feeling that they should live after failing.
Or how problems were very much repetitive, and solutions were something she had given before. But to be said by someone of her worth, on a level that was just more personal than any broadcasts could really be, it was much more meaningful, compared to what the others could have told these idiots or hopefuls.
She was reminded of what she had been told happened on Namek. Where her Majin and Saiyan ally, during the ritual for the Overseer, and what turned out to be a decent sized family gathering, just how ignored they really were. Those two could have asserted themselves of course, with the kind of ambassador relationship had been established, but why would they have to in the first place? It should have been more than normal to pull them away from the crowd of other Saiyans who were in attendance, rather than leave them standing like they were nothing. Meant nothing, even with what power they had held.
So many people always tried arguing against her, believing themselves to have some kind of chance in proving their points. But the idea of acceptance was something most struggled with, and there was only an extent until it became realized, things weren't getting anywhere. It took a lot of measures and consideration for someone with an opinion, to even listen, but a lot more efforts to really overcome what they couldn't even accept before.
The only thing was, only few individuals were really worth warming up to. An idiot remained to be an idiot, with different rumors going around about the two individuals who have proven they were meant to die. A lot of nonsense that she didn't even want to think about, or even consider to be a possibility.
Nor did she have to. Since drinking the blood of the Demon Queen, and gaining such massive power, she had moved on from a lot of troubles. But doing so didn't mean complete and utter improvement for the future. She still had insecurities that were stronger than she had liked, and it was days like these, where she felt too exhausted to cater to her normal routine, was she left with thoughts that she was meant to move away from, as apart of looking forward to the future. It couldn't be helped, and the only way to really purge herself of such thoughts, was to be alone like she currently was in the first place.
The Royal Palace, hadn't really needed too many renovations, and the whole place was something she viewed to be akin to giants living here. This was the kind of comfort that for some odd reason, aliens with no knowledge for anything other than fighting, were able to possess. The idea of jobs weren't foreign to them, and while she wanted to say that there was a difference in equality, compared to what Humans came up with, that wasn't exactly true either.
One of the comforts that she was so used to, which did need renovation to even build, was a large hot tub for her own comfort. There were onsens in each city, ones that were capable of privacy as well, but nothing could ever beat having the kind of ownership, as within what she had of her home.
Some minutes were spent getting ready, before she found herself hopping into the machine's warm waters, wrapped up in a towel. Not even out of modesty, but her own enjoyment of having such weight on her. Minutes upon minutes must have passed while she lied in these waters, and yet, those insecurities were still there. More than she'd like, her thoughts tended to drift towards those around her, or those who she could have met. It was the same scenarios as they had been, when she was a much weaker Vampire, where it resulted in their deaths. Only, it had all meant nothing to her, seeing it play out in her head.
While it could have easily meant she had gotten over the worries of killing them out of control, it could have also meant that she no longer cared about them as much as she had used to. She felt nothing seeing them die, and just how easy it would be for them to go and move on from there without her.
She couldn't just shake it off as anything but delusions, though there wasn't some kind of control she had over it either, beyond ensuring there would only be a few with her, going up against this future war that'll inevitably happen. Her recent spar with them had already showed it was only herself holding back, that could have prevented them from just dying. What made these thoughts odd, were how Vampires held such control over what power they gained.
It was only this kind of exhaustion that came with being alive, that was a real issue. For someone of her power to go into some kind of blood frenzy, was a huge change in what the community would need to even know. But she was the strongest Vampire in likely centuries, to be able to even gain godly ki, let alone a form. She couldn't figure it out, and no matter how many times she played back good memories, there was more recognition than anything.
Smiling wasn't something of an issue with her, but how strongly she felt to doing so, differed depending on the situation. With how the Queen of Earth and the swordsman had been shown to have taken such an extensive leave from this realm, there had been so many scenarios running through her head, on how to approach them. Friendliness wasn't an issue, and while there would be smiles here and there, it very well wasn't her usual expression for others.
She was a business woman, and work was something that required a level of seriousness. It was only around certain people, did she really try and push past what was normal for her. Those two had been a couple of examples, but the most recent had been the Elemi hybrid who made her way into her life.
That night had brought on three different possibilities, and was something she had gone over again and again in her head. Shifting her body so that she was lying against a cushioned armrest, she thought to the most obvious one of all. That somehow, the elemental hadn't been able to show up to this ritual, despite being given an invitation, and so the one accompanying her was instead the silver-haired Vampire she came to know the last few years.
A woman who believed in morality so strongly, that she balanced things based on good and bad actions. Not speaking of something just yet, was considered a bad action, of which the other Vampire would have been comfortable with, so long as she did several good options to make up for the weight of those things.
Seen through pure interaction, it was the kind of loyalty and acceptance that the Antediluvian had, which would have just made that night a usual for them. No real progression anywhere beyond just a fling she was too busy to pursue, and like their other friends, the other woman wasn't one to take initiative.
There was no real hint that the Vampire ever even felt risque like she should have, in what a relationship was meant to have been, although she had knew better than anyone that it did exist. She'd like to think that religion was the biggest influence it wasn't obvious however, as she would have liked.
Which only led to the next situation, with a similar scenario. That the elemental would have been unable to show up for some reason, only this time, she would have held the accompaniment of that Demon, who was so worried of her queen's wrath. It was a certain kind of matter that could have really developed into some kind of relationship, though one that she thought likely would have panned out similar to her flings, knowing how sexual Demons were.
Not to mention the difference in loyalties. The idea of a Demon betraying their own faction to be with a Vampire Queen. Or even a relationship between Demons and Vampires forming, being the very thing, or even a ridiculous consideration, it would stop the Demon Queen's idea of a war against her kind.
There could have been something more, it was hard to tell, knowing Demons weren't exactly individuals that she had really knew of, or seen everyday. But ultimately, her thoughts went back to the choice that she did make, and what had actually happened, for it to have already been two whole years.
Events like her god ritual, it was only natural for someone like her, to be accompanied by someone. She had allies, if there was really a lack of a choice, but there wasn't. The ice hybrid, with or without her influential position, was still someone whose mannerisms made it easy to get along with her.
Treating it as what accompaniment was meant to be, she had no issues with, and it was how receptive the woman was, that really made it a memorable time for her. There was a lot about herself, and the others as well, that took some strong acceptance. A thought that made her move towards where she knew the temperature controlling these warm waters, had more exposure. She had replicas of her friends, and even herself, walking around with their own identities.
Considered the latter to be her youngest daughter, when the Android's AI had been capable of answering a question, she was waiting to hear the right response of. There was also the Bio-Android who within the last few years, started to resemble her. A creation, whose own bloodmagic even made that possible. Few people would really be able to look past all of that, or at the very least, entertain the idea that they were even their own people.
Though before she had even brought up such a thing, the night of the ritual, had just been full of herself going along with approaches and decisions she would have done with any other date. There were a lot of things that had made that night for her meaningful, and a future she saw to be more plausible than being in a relationship with a Demon. The commemorative photos was something the other Vampire would have been used to, and something the Demon might have found new, but not in the way that might not have just led to something more playful. Being receptive was something that was important to her.
But there was a difference in the kind of willingness that a Demon would have given her, compared to what she had seen with the elemental. What did power really matter, when she had been so unsure of just how receptive the ice hybrid would be. Every light touch and explanation of just how they'd pose next, only grew firmer and more secure, after speaking of it. They were positions that required comfort where there had already been minimal.
She was assured of that much, knowing how transforming had seemed to be for the Elemi, when she had first talked alone with Natsumi. It was nothing to really get used to, with its suddenness, but there at least needed to be some trust, that the woman wasn't someone who could have just been killed.
For so long, she had used to be the type to picture such things, feeling that she had to flaunt her power, and that some sacrifices had to be made. But it was the kind of reality that just made what she had considered to be progress at the time, weak. As easy as it truly was to do so, people couldn't just die and be killed off when they didn't act as expected. The kind of fear in their eyes had meant something to her, and it still did even now.
But there were differences back then to now. It was okay for certain individuals to fear her, knowing they recognized her power, but if she was willing to work with them, then something like that should be understood. Things got better between her and the elemental, because of the photos, though even knowing there had been acceptance towards how she viewed being accompanied for the night, it was a lot to really go and ask of someone for one night.
However little there was, attraction and interest was needed to really even get anywhere personal with someone. Taking photos before they left, had led to a hint of what would happen later in the night, and actually getting there, she had seen more of the other woman than she really had before.
The mannerisms were professional, even when speaking of things that were suggestive, or like they had at the mansion, being exposed to new things. But it was that way of talking that she found interest in. She didn't find it unusual, as everyone had their quirks, but what made it more noticeable than hearing from someone like Natsumi, was beyond acceptance. The way that she had somewhat brought up normal things, mixed in ontop of where she wanted to lead things.
It wasn't just herself pushing for things to happen. That much had been clear throughout the night. And her own happiness, while she had been riding on the high of power that night, her own actions hadn't just been on the spur of things. She took a chance, made a lot of decisions, but there was never regret.
Everything leading up to them in bed, and herself making a vow, it was all things that she was aware of. How the choices throughout the night would wind up changing things for herself. What she had before that night, wasn't hard to let go of in the slightest. They meant something to her, and she had even been given the option of continuing it, but there were a lot of things wrong in doing so, even before knowing what the mannerisms she saw had meant.
Someone with an intelligent mind, they could find enjoyment in a lot of things. Found different ways to entertain themselves, and all kinds of success. But pairing that together with immortality, or really any long lifespan, just how long would it actually take to feel tired of living?
What she saw appealing in flings, would still be around for her centuries later. Though it was an option to approach in the first place, because those apart of what were generally occasional nights of pleasure, just weren't who could really fit in a life meant to settle down the way she saw herself being capable of. She didn't know when it would happen, as it was the idiots of the universe that prevented it, but she didn't view it to be as an impossibility.
A relationship, something that she could have considered a real one, wasn't meant to be enough of a change, that she found herself abandoning what goals she had. Give up every part of her life, just to devote herself to this relationship. She hadn't ever really had something meant to be serious, but she acted on what she believed would have been right for them to approach. There was a lot she wanted to hear, and even more that she had wanted to feel.
Their relationship meant something to her, as a lot of things did. But she was waiting, hoping, that it was something that could be more than recognition. How the other woman could have been more than a body she could warm up with. She cared enough to put in what effort there was, in how their relationship should be. But she wanted to feel hurt in ways that could only be felt from being in a relationship, and wanted to see it in those eyes too.
Something that wasn't just meant for the elemental's former relationship. Things could be so much better. Things could be so different. But when? She was generally an honest person, believing only the idea that some things weren't just necessary to reveal. And with the hybrid, there were a lot of moments that carried issues that she pushed off addressing. It was that far off stare that she didn't like. Where she questioned if it'd be right to have the Elemi bear it. There was a lot about the other woman she didn't understand, a lot of wishing that she could see more impulsive behavior from the hybrid.
But if such a thing were to happen, just how far of a change would it have really been, seeing a side that hadn't been so visible before? How much would it have meant to her? She could have really lied in the hot tub for hours more, as pruning didn't matter, knowing that she had a form of magic within her.
The warmth of these waters wouldn't have gone cold at all, with how the inner mechanics were, but she had always knew full well when she was done here. No matter what she could really do in here to feel better about herself, this feeling of exhaustion she had today would come to pass soon enough.
One of the real best things she found, of being in one place for so long, was just how easy it was for her legs to fall asleep. It was a different sensation from being weak in the legs through other means, but nonetheless had required herself to take a few minutes to sit on one of the tub's arm rests.
Her eyes had needed to adjust as well somewhat, having been kept closed, though she didn't need them to recognize the light knocking on the door. The presence she couldn't really sense, even after gaining the power of a god, but it was only natural to be unable to feel out the signature of a machine.
"Hellooo? Miss Rukia? Did you fall asleep?"
Rukiki. In the past two years, the Android had developed into recognizing its own reality, without the need for herself or others to prompt it through questions. She had first built it with the help of those who knew the field of robotics, with the purpose of having it grow and choose a power different than what she had taken. But such things required time, starting it out at the age of 8, and giving it only things she had knew of then.
For a time, it held a routine of believing that it was seeing, hearing, and talking to people who weren't there. Younger versions of those she had personally knew, had often shown up, and there were a couple of times where some of the information gathered through interviewing others, had surprised even her. Having seen one or two people, long before she had personally met them, according to the beliefs of her relatives who took care of her.
But like the other two Androids that she had her workers built before this one, things became different as enough time had passed. There was an extent to the kind of information within its database, that it could go through without sensing some kind of familiarity that it had done so before.
That had been the very thing she waited on, to see it find itself being surrounded most of the day, in what it had considered to be a 'dream' rather than the reality it had knew of. To want the Android to be the one to approach the subject of what had gone wrong, to be unable to 'wake up' like before.
The day it had happened, had been one of her prouder moments, and she spent so much time feeding its database information on what the truth was. There was no longer any real need to have its hearing sensors filter out certain conversations, just to go and preserve the kind of innocence that it held.
But she had still remained surprised, finding that its core beliefs were kept, and although its body and other database were updated, there seemed to have been a different approach to its ability to recall. Like a person thinking of past events, it was able to recall its information on its own.
There wasn't a need to prompt it with some kind of question. She still saw it talking to itself on the occasion, and choosing to do so when it didn't wish to really interact with what reality truly was, but the latter wasn't due to some kind of overwhelming state on its mainframe. It still had its happiness.
"I'm awake!"
Responding lightly to the Android, she didn't rush getting up to properly dress herself. It was unnecessary, knowing that the machine was going to just wait outside. Her hair still needed extra drying, being wrapped up in an extra towel, and with how she hadn't really planned to go out, she only wore a robe over lingerie. Her bedroom within this palace was close enough to just walk, which would be time she could spend entertaining the machine for a little while.
Their talks had always been something that amounted to finding some answer or comfort, to the kind of things that she often kept to herself. Children were more honest than she could ever be, and while the Android wasn't exactly one, its thinking was still something she viewed to be as comparable.
The locks on the door had clicked as she opened it up, immediately feeling little arms wrap itself around her waist. A bit of personal space was still lacking, but that wasn't something unusual. As the door had closed behind her, and they had walked away together, her thoughts had turned to just how much the Android, no longer really felt the need to have its hand held. The age of 10 had really made a difference, and there was yet any real insecurities.
How lucky. The machine was so aware of what her 'future' could be like, but there was still such happiness and hope. She saw intellect in their past conversations, but not yet anything near to what she knew of now. There were things the Android had cared for, but how much it meant was different.
"You were in there for so long! Something's going on, right?"
There was some frowning here and there, as the machine still looked around the halls it had been down plenty, with interest. It was that curiosity and wonder, but one that was still capable of remembering that it had been talking to someone. The more she looked at one of her creations, the more she was reminded of what she once was. Nothing which made her feel any better about herself, but it didn't really change what she had currently felt either.
"Troubles that'll pass on, but it's not something I wouldn't be willing to share. You're old enough for it."
The machine had looked at her with a smile, hanging onto every word like a child would have. She could see the excitement, and knew that no matter what she could have talked about, there was going to be interest. It wasn't just its AI processing wishing to develop and add more information to its database.
"I suppose we can start by talking about the others. It's amazing isn't it, for us to have so many people we could rely on?"
"Uh huh! Yukari-chan~ Ayumi-chan~ Juri-chan..."
One of the main problems on how she was feeling today. While the Android had listed off the names in a playful tone, holding out her fingers as she counted each of those they had knew, she didn't really think much more about the issues she had with them. She paid more attention to what was in front of her, and how much the processors were working to recall the information stored within that database. The Android wasn't linked to any network, so beyond getting damaged enough to have its wires exposed, there wasn't a chance that its data could ever get corrupted. But everything it was, she'd easily lose if it was destroyed. It didn't matter if she could remake the database and everything it had knew. It wouldn't be the same machine it previously was before.
Only think itself as such. That was the issue in making an Android that had no soul. It was one thing to turn someone into part machine, but a whole other thing entirely to make an entire one. And it had taken so long, and an ample amount of money to even start off this long project of hers.
They were beings who were capable of fighting, and yet to preserve all of the information that they had, for the future role that they would play in keeping her company their originals couldn't give, they weren't meant to. She had a lot of allies like that, People who weren't supposed to fight, but give support.
"Well, you've seen my power. When I had been a younger Vampire, it was harder to control. I had nightmares, that I'd kill the people we know. The problem isn't that these nightmares had come back, but it's that I can't find myself caring if I did kill them."
The machine had remained silent, but the expressions she was seeing, made it so clear that the Android was thinking. Trying to come up with answer appropriate for its age. The machine was really only two and a half years old or so, compared to how it had actually looked. Still rather new when it came to technology, but with how Androids were, according to how they were meant to be based on information found in sub-labs, she didn't expect for its materials to age. And if it did, then it can be replaced one at a time, without a need to go and disassemble it entirely, like with most technology.
She didn't feel any pain from speaking about what she had kept to herself, still giving more glances at the Android than anything else, as they walked into her room. The lights were flickered on, and they had both headed towards the bed together. While she had chosen to fully lie down on her back, the machine had chosen to sat until seeing her, then inched closer to lie down next to her with a smile. It didn't change her mood, but she recognized how nice it was.
"So you were little like me? I think if you let us try, Amalga and I can care enough for everyone for you~"
It wasn't a solution, and it was hard to even consider it to be something of comfort. But she did think about those words, and the kind of affection that the machine so wanted to display. She'd be able to think better on it alone, but she still held onto those words and just what it was suggesting.
"I was in high school. You're only just on the edge of starting middle school. But I'll think about having the help of you two."
Its education was nothing but her own memories of what school was like back then, mixed in with information from the others. If the capability had really been possible, she would have preferred giving the machine false memories to go off on, but that wasn't something which would have been truly meaningful.
"Good! What else are you having trouble with?"
To feel like they were actually being of use, was the very thing she heard that children were looking for. She couldn't really say just how useful these words would be to her, especially knowing her mood today was only temporary, but talking to the machine in the first place, was to hear herself admit these issues. There was nothing she felt she could have used of what was said, though solutions were never an immediate thing to actually pop up.
"You've got a lot of things to look forward to, even if you might wind up growing differently. And part of it just has to do with how much someone can really mean to you, or at least, is supposed to. I have a lot of things to say about Cryonia, but it'll be well past your bed time before I even finish."
Bringing the elemental up, was a lot more of a presence on her mind, than the others that they had really knew of. It could have really been because the woman was someone to come home to or with, leaving everyone else that was around to their own doings, as she so often did see them more as part of work.
But it was true there was also so many other things about the hybrid, that held more of an importance on her mind. The very fact that they were in a relationship, that she even had a relationship, was something that was one of the few things she was sure could have made her cry, the longer that she had thought about it. There was a lot of things in life that others would have found painful, which she would have only thought they should bear for awhile.
Though a relationship was something so very different. The most evil of beings, the most naive, or the most idiotic of individuals, were capable of finding relationships for themselves. Something that wasn't purely just flings, and could actually mean something. She knew for certain, that there were those who would have simply suggested settling on just about anyone. Working with any issues as apart of learning just how to even work a relationship.
But she already had that kind of experimentation. Everything that she had now had worked for a lot of reasons, that weren't just the Elemi's biology. Things that didn't involve feeling like there was something to fix, about the issues they both kept to themselves. She found herself lightly starting to hug the Android, who waited with that smile, on just what she had meant. The more she looked at the machine, the more things had sometimes got surreal.
Having it here, it was almost as if she was able to speak to a younger version of herself, giving advice for a future that had already happened. The Android wasn't destined to become like her, because she wanted the machine to be someone who was happier, and without the troubles that came with life.
If it meant not allowing the Android to really fight to ensure that, she'd hold back on teaching it, for as long as possible. It was a lot of times like these, that the machine was someone she viewed to be more important to her, than Lithi or Amalga could have been, just talking to either of those two.
"I guess my issue though, can be summed down to worrying on how things could be better for us. We have a habit of pushing off things that should be talked about. Important things that can hurt us more than any actual fighting."
"Is it because you guys are too busy?"
It was a question the Android didn't have issues with coming up with, and while they did have positions that could be exhausting, she wasn't one not to really initiate things. The machine would really come to realize that, when she was older. Though it certainly saw little glimpses of it itself.
"It might be part of the reason. I'll have to think about it some more on my own, but thank you for listening."
"Uh huh!"
Moving itself up, and nodding its head, the Android did seem to understand just what she was suggesting. She found herself being loosely hugged again, before the machine had made its way towards the door, a hand on the knob. There was a wave of goodbye with that smile, before the door was closed. She continued to lied there on her back drying off, really trying to fill out the nonexistent warmth, the Android carried with that smile.
Something she really missed how it really felt, outside of just certain situations.
WC: 5,696
9,587/10,000
WC: 5,697
9,588/10,000
Using one's own power in order to help better the lives of others. But there could be certain individuals who held power, and the 'help' that they could give, were based on beliefs which were 'warped' or 'wrong' depending on the planet that they had landed on. Basic societal norms that differed due to a planet's conditions, along with their government raising them to be a certain way. Some survived, while others had relaxed in complete leisure.
Upon learning these differences, it could have been seen as shocking, or even foolish. Questionable that there could actually be a race of people, who could have lived for so long, or even be capable of producing individuals with extraordinary power. Though did it really matter in the end, how others lived?
For these heroes who were willing to help better the lives of others, or those with a twisted view on what a hero was, how thin of a line was it, for either to be one and the same? Either as one individual, or two different sides choosing to do opposing actions, they normally wouldn't have taken?
To be forced into a situation, or into making any decision at all, was something that most individuals faced on a path of gaining power. But the more power that was gained, the better things were meant to turn out. Situations that were difficult, shouldn't have been a worry, or continue to even be seen as such.
Things overall were supposed to be the way that they had wished, for power opened up the opportunities for security. Though this didn't consider just how immeasurable the number of idiots, there really were in the world. How problems could continue to persist, because there were individuals who couldn't look past the knowledge of what they held growing up, trying to enforce what they didn't have the right to, and feeling that they should live after failing.
Or how problems were very much repetitive, and solutions were something she had given before. But to be said by someone of her worth, on a level that was just more personal than any broadcasts could really be, it was much more meaningful, compared to what the others could have told these idiots or hopefuls.
She was reminded of what she had been told happened on Namek. Where her Majin and Saiyan ally, during the ritual for the Overseer, and what turned out to be a decent sized family gathering, just how ignored they really were. Those two could have asserted themselves of course, with the kind of ambassador relationship had been established, but why would they have to in the first place? It should have been more than normal to pull them away from the crowd of other Saiyans who were in attendance, rather than leave them standing like they were nothing. Meant nothing, even with what power they had held.
So many people always tried arguing against her, believing themselves to have some kind of chance in proving their points. But the idea of acceptance was something most struggled with, and there was only an extent until it became realized, things weren't getting anywhere. It took a lot of measures and consideration for someone with an opinion, to even listen, but a lot more efforts to really overcome what they couldn't even accept before.
The only thing was, only few individuals were really worth warming up to. An idiot remained to be an idiot, with different rumors going around about the two individuals who have proven they were meant to die. A lot of nonsense that she didn't even want to think about, or even consider to be a possibility.
Nor did she have to. Since drinking the blood of the Demon Queen, and gaining such massive power, she had moved on from a lot of troubles. But doing so didn't mean complete and utter improvement for the future. She still had insecurities that were stronger than she had liked, and it was days like these, where she felt too exhausted to cater to her normal routine, was she left with thoughts that she was meant to move away from, as apart of looking forward to the future. It couldn't be helped, and the only way to really purge herself of such thoughts, was to be alone like she currently was in the first place.
The Royal Palace, hadn't really needed too many renovations, and the whole place was something she viewed to be akin to giants living here. This was the kind of comfort that for some odd reason, aliens with no knowledge for anything other than fighting, were able to possess. The idea of jobs weren't foreign to them, and while she wanted to say that there was a difference in equality, compared to what Humans came up with, that wasn't exactly true either.
One of the comforts that she was so used to, which did need renovation to even build, was a large hot tub for her own comfort. There were onsens in each city, ones that were capable of privacy as well, but nothing could ever beat having the kind of ownership, as within what she had of her home.
Some minutes were spent getting ready, before she found herself hopping into the machine's warm waters, wrapped up in a towel. Not even out of modesty, but her own enjoyment of having such weight on her. Minutes upon minutes must have passed while she lied in these waters, and yet, those insecurities were still there. More than she'd like, her thoughts tended to drift towards those around her, or those who she could have met. It was the same scenarios as they had been, when she was a much weaker Vampire, where it resulted in their deaths. Only, it had all meant nothing to her, seeing it play out in her head.
While it could have easily meant she had gotten over the worries of killing them out of control, it could have also meant that she no longer cared about them as much as she had used to. She felt nothing seeing them die, and just how easy it would be for them to go and move on from there without her.
She couldn't just shake it off as anything but delusions, though there wasn't some kind of control she had over it either, beyond ensuring there would only be a few with her, going up against this future war that'll inevitably happen. Her recent spar with them had already showed it was only herself holding back, that could have prevented them from just dying. What made these thoughts odd, were how Vampires held such control over what power they gained.
It was only this kind of exhaustion that came with being alive, that was a real issue. For someone of her power to go into some kind of blood frenzy, was a huge change in what the community would need to even know. But she was the strongest Vampire in likely centuries, to be able to even gain godly ki, let alone a form. She couldn't figure it out, and no matter how many times she played back good memories, there was more recognition than anything.
Smiling wasn't something of an issue with her, but how strongly she felt to doing so, differed depending on the situation. With how the Queen of Earth and the swordsman had been shown to have taken such an extensive leave from this realm, there had been so many scenarios running through her head, on how to approach them. Friendliness wasn't an issue, and while there would be smiles here and there, it very well wasn't her usual expression for others.
She was a business woman, and work was something that required a level of seriousness. It was only around certain people, did she really try and push past what was normal for her. Those two had been a couple of examples, but the most recent had been the Elemi hybrid who made her way into her life.
That night had brought on three different possibilities, and was something she had gone over again and again in her head. Shifting her body so that she was lying against a cushioned armrest, she thought to the most obvious one of all. That somehow, the elemental hadn't been able to show up to this ritual, despite being given an invitation, and so the one accompanying her was instead the silver-haired Vampire she came to know the last few years.
A woman who believed in morality so strongly, that she balanced things based on good and bad actions. Not speaking of something just yet, was considered a bad action, of which the other Vampire would have been comfortable with, so long as she did several good options to make up for the weight of those things.
Seen through pure interaction, it was the kind of loyalty and acceptance that the Antediluvian had, which would have just made that night a usual for them. No real progression anywhere beyond just a fling she was too busy to pursue, and like their other friends, the other woman wasn't one to take initiative.
There was no real hint that the Vampire ever even felt risque like she should have, in what a relationship was meant to have been, although she had knew better than anyone that it did exist. She'd like to think that religion was the biggest influence it wasn't obvious however, as she would have liked.
Which only led to the next situation, with a similar scenario. That the elemental would have been unable to show up for some reason, only this time, she would have held the accompaniment of that Demon, who was so worried of her queen's wrath. It was a certain kind of matter that could have really developed into some kind of relationship, though one that she thought likely would have panned out similar to her flings, knowing how sexual Demons were.
Not to mention the difference in loyalties. The idea of a Demon betraying their own faction to be with a Vampire Queen. Or even a relationship between Demons and Vampires forming, being the very thing, or even a ridiculous consideration, it would stop the Demon Queen's idea of a war against her kind.
There could have been something more, it was hard to tell, knowing Demons weren't exactly individuals that she had really knew of, or seen everyday. But ultimately, her thoughts went back to the choice that she did make, and what had actually happened, for it to have already been two whole years.
Events like her god ritual, it was only natural for someone like her, to be accompanied by someone. She had allies, if there was really a lack of a choice, but there wasn't. The ice hybrid, with or without her influential position, was still someone whose mannerisms made it easy to get along with her.
Treating it as what accompaniment was meant to be, she had no issues with, and it was how receptive the woman was, that really made it a memorable time for her. There was a lot about herself, and the others as well, that took some strong acceptance. A thought that made her move towards where she knew the temperature controlling these warm waters, had more exposure. She had replicas of her friends, and even herself, walking around with their own identities.
Considered the latter to be her youngest daughter, when the Android's AI had been capable of answering a question, she was waiting to hear the right response of. There was also the Bio-Android who within the last few years, started to resemble her. A creation, whose own bloodmagic even made that possible. Few people would really be able to look past all of that, or at the very least, entertain the idea that they were even their own people.
Though before she had even brought up such a thing, the night of the ritual, had just been full of herself going along with approaches and decisions she would have done with any other date. There were a lot of things that had made that night for her meaningful, and a future she saw to be more plausible than being in a relationship with a Demon. The commemorative photos was something the other Vampire would have been used to, and something the Demon might have found new, but not in the way that might not have just led to something more playful. Being receptive was something that was important to her.
But there was a difference in the kind of willingness that a Demon would have given her, compared to what she had seen with the elemental. What did power really matter, when she had been so unsure of just how receptive the ice hybrid would be. Every light touch and explanation of just how they'd pose next, only grew firmer and more secure, after speaking of it. They were positions that required comfort where there had already been minimal.
She was assured of that much, knowing how transforming had seemed to be for the Elemi, when she had first talked alone with Natsumi. It was nothing to really get used to, with its suddenness, but there at least needed to be some trust, that the woman wasn't someone who could have just been killed.
For so long, she had used to be the type to picture such things, feeling that she had to flaunt her power, and that some sacrifices had to be made. But it was the kind of reality that just made what she had considered to be progress at the time, weak. As easy as it truly was to do so, people couldn't just die and be killed off when they didn't act as expected. The kind of fear in their eyes had meant something to her, and it still did even now.
But there were differences back then to now. It was okay for certain individuals to fear her, knowing they recognized her power, but if she was willing to work with them, then something like that should be understood. Things got better between her and the elemental, because of the photos, though even knowing there had been acceptance towards how she viewed being accompanied for the night, it was a lot to really go and ask of someone for one night.
However little there was, attraction and interest was needed to really even get anywhere personal with someone. Taking photos before they left, had led to a hint of what would happen later in the night, and actually getting there, she had seen more of the other woman than she really had before.
The mannerisms were professional, even when speaking of things that were suggestive, or like they had at the mansion, being exposed to new things. But it was that way of talking that she found interest in. She didn't find it unusual, as everyone had their quirks, but what made it more noticeable than hearing from someone like Natsumi, was beyond acceptance. The way that she had somewhat brought up normal things, mixed in ontop of where she wanted to lead things.
It wasn't just herself pushing for things to happen. That much had been clear throughout the night. And her own happiness, while she had been riding on the high of power that night, her own actions hadn't just been on the spur of things. She took a chance, made a lot of decisions, but there was never regret.
Everything leading up to them in bed, and herself making a vow, it was all things that she was aware of. How the choices throughout the night would wind up changing things for herself. What she had before that night, wasn't hard to let go of in the slightest. They meant something to her, and she had even been given the option of continuing it, but there were a lot of things wrong in doing so, even before knowing what the mannerisms she saw had meant.
Someone with an intelligent mind, they could find enjoyment in a lot of things. Found different ways to entertain themselves, and all kinds of success. But pairing that together with immortality, or really any long lifespan, just how long would it actually take to feel tired of living?
What she saw appealing in flings, would still be around for her centuries later. Though it was an option to approach in the first place, because those apart of what were generally occasional nights of pleasure, just weren't who could really fit in a life meant to settle down the way she saw herself being capable of. She didn't know when it would happen, as it was the idiots of the universe that prevented it, but she didn't view it to be as an impossibility.
A relationship, something that she could have considered a real one, wasn't meant to be enough of a change, that she found herself abandoning what goals she had. Give up every part of her life, just to devote herself to this relationship. She hadn't ever really had something meant to be serious, but she acted on what she believed would have been right for them to approach. There was a lot she wanted to hear, and even more that she had wanted to feel.
Their relationship meant something to her, as a lot of things did. But she was waiting, hoping, that it was something that could be more than recognition. How the other woman could have been more than a body she could warm up with. She cared enough to put in what effort there was, in how their relationship should be. But she wanted to feel hurt in ways that could only be felt from being in a relationship, and wanted to see it in those eyes too.
Something that wasn't just meant for the elemental's former relationship. Things could be so much better. Things could be so different. But when? She was generally an honest person, believing only the idea that some things weren't just necessary to reveal. And with the hybrid, there were a lot of moments that carried issues that she pushed off addressing. It was that far off stare that she didn't like. Where she questioned if it'd be right to have the Elemi bear it. There was a lot about the other woman she didn't understand, a lot of wishing that she could see more impulsive behavior from the hybrid.
But if such a thing were to happen, just how far of a change would it have really been, seeing a side that hadn't been so visible before? How much would it have meant to her? She could have really lied in the hot tub for hours more, as pruning didn't matter, knowing that she had a form of magic within her.
The warmth of these waters wouldn't have gone cold at all, with how the inner mechanics were, but she had always knew full well when she was done here. No matter what she could really do in here to feel better about herself, this feeling of exhaustion she had today would come to pass soon enough.
One of the real best things she found, of being in one place for so long, was just how easy it was for her legs to fall asleep. It was a different sensation from being weak in the legs through other means, but nonetheless had required herself to take a few minutes to sit on one of the tub's arm rests.
Her eyes had needed to adjust as well somewhat, having been kept closed, though she didn't need them to recognize the light knocking on the door. The presence she couldn't really sense, even after gaining the power of a god, but it was only natural to be unable to feel out the signature of a machine.
"Hellooo? Miss Rukia? Did you fall asleep?"
Rukiki. In the past two years, the Android had developed into recognizing its own reality, without the need for herself or others to prompt it through questions. She had first built it with the help of those who knew the field of robotics, with the purpose of having it grow and choose a power different than what she had taken. But such things required time, starting it out at the age of 8, and giving it only things she had knew of then.
For a time, it held a routine of believing that it was seeing, hearing, and talking to people who weren't there. Younger versions of those she had personally knew, had often shown up, and there were a couple of times where some of the information gathered through interviewing others, had surprised even her. Having seen one or two people, long before she had personally met them, according to the beliefs of her relatives who took care of her.
But like the other two Androids that she had her workers built before this one, things became different as enough time had passed. There was an extent to the kind of information within its database, that it could go through without sensing some kind of familiarity that it had done so before.
That had been the very thing she waited on, to see it find itself being surrounded most of the day, in what it had considered to be a 'dream' rather than the reality it had knew of. To want the Android to be the one to approach the subject of what had gone wrong, to be unable to 'wake up' like before.
The day it had happened, had been one of her prouder moments, and she spent so much time feeding its database information on what the truth was. There was no longer any real need to have its hearing sensors filter out certain conversations, just to go and preserve the kind of innocence that it held.
But she had still remained surprised, finding that its core beliefs were kept, and although its body and other database were updated, there seemed to have been a different approach to its ability to recall. Like a person thinking of past events, it was able to recall its information on its own.
There wasn't a need to prompt it with some kind of question. She still saw it talking to itself on the occasion, and choosing to do so when it didn't wish to really interact with what reality truly was, but the latter wasn't due to some kind of overwhelming state on its mainframe. It still had its happiness.
"I'm awake!"
Responding lightly to the Android, she didn't rush getting up to properly dress herself. It was unnecessary, knowing that the machine was going to just wait outside. Her hair still needed extra drying, being wrapped up in an extra towel, and with how she hadn't really planned to go out, she only wore a robe over lingerie. Her bedroom within this palace was close enough to just walk, which would be time she could spend entertaining the machine for a little while.
Their talks had always been something that amounted to finding some answer or comfort, to the kind of things that she often kept to herself. Children were more honest than she could ever be, and while the Android wasn't exactly one, its thinking was still something she viewed to be as comparable.
The locks on the door had clicked as she opened it up, immediately feeling little arms wrap itself around her waist. A bit of personal space was still lacking, but that wasn't something unusual. As the door had closed behind her, and they had walked away together, her thoughts had turned to just how much the Android, no longer really felt the need to have its hand held. The age of 10 had really made a difference, and there was yet any real insecurities.
How lucky. The machine was so aware of what her 'future' could be like, but there was still such happiness and hope. She saw intellect in their past conversations, but not yet anything near to what she knew of now. There were things the Android had cared for, but how much it meant was different.
"You were in there for so long! Something's going on, right?"
There was some frowning here and there, as the machine still looked around the halls it had been down plenty, with interest. It was that curiosity and wonder, but one that was still capable of remembering that it had been talking to someone. The more she looked at one of her creations, the more she was reminded of what she once was. Nothing which made her feel any better about herself, but it didn't really change what she had currently felt either.
"Troubles that'll pass on, but it's not something I wouldn't be willing to share. You're old enough for it."
The machine had looked at her with a smile, hanging onto every word like a child would have. She could see the excitement, and knew that no matter what she could have talked about, there was going to be interest. It wasn't just its AI processing wishing to develop and add more information to its database.
"I suppose we can start by talking about the others. It's amazing isn't it, for us to have so many people we could rely on?"
"Uh huh! Yukari-chan~ Ayumi-chan~ Juri-chan..."
One of the main problems on how she was feeling today. While the Android had listed off the names in a playful tone, holding out her fingers as she counted each of those they had knew, she didn't really think much more about the issues she had with them. She paid more attention to what was in front of her, and how much the processors were working to recall the information stored within that database. The Android wasn't linked to any network, so beyond getting damaged enough to have its wires exposed, there wasn't a chance that its data could ever get corrupted. But everything it was, she'd easily lose if it was destroyed. It didn't matter if she could remake the database and everything it had knew. It wouldn't be the same machine it previously was before.
Only think itself as such. That was the issue in making an Android that had no soul. It was one thing to turn someone into part machine, but a whole other thing entirely to make an entire one. And it had taken so long, and an ample amount of money to even start off this long project of hers.
They were beings who were capable of fighting, and yet to preserve all of the information that they had, for the future role that they would play in keeping her company their originals couldn't give, they weren't meant to. She had a lot of allies like that, People who weren't supposed to fight, but give support.
"Well, you've seen my power. When I had been a younger Vampire, it was harder to control. I had nightmares, that I'd kill the people we know. The problem isn't that these nightmares had come back, but it's that I can't find myself caring if I did kill them."
The machine had remained silent, but the expressions she was seeing, made it so clear that the Android was thinking. Trying to come up with answer appropriate for its age. The machine was really only two and a half years old or so, compared to how it had actually looked. Still rather new when it came to technology, but with how Androids were, according to how they were meant to be based on information found in sub-labs, she didn't expect for its materials to age. And if it did, then it can be replaced one at a time, without a need to go and disassemble it entirely, like with most technology.
She didn't feel any pain from speaking about what she had kept to herself, still giving more glances at the Android than anything else, as they walked into her room. The lights were flickered on, and they had both headed towards the bed together. While she had chosen to fully lie down on her back, the machine had chosen to sat until seeing her, then inched closer to lie down next to her with a smile. It didn't change her mood, but she recognized how nice it was.
"So you were little like me? I think if you let us try, Amalga and I can care enough for everyone for you~"
It wasn't a solution, and it was hard to even consider it to be something of comfort. But she did think about those words, and the kind of affection that the machine so wanted to display. She'd be able to think better on it alone, but she still held onto those words and just what it was suggesting.
"I was in high school. You're only just on the edge of starting middle school. But I'll think about having the help of you two."
Its education was nothing but her own memories of what school was like back then, mixed in with information from the others. If the capability had really been possible, she would have preferred giving the machine false memories to go off on, but that wasn't something which would have been truly meaningful.
"Good! What else are you having trouble with?"
To feel like they were actually being of use, was the very thing she heard that children were looking for. She couldn't really say just how useful these words would be to her, especially knowing her mood today was only temporary, but talking to the machine in the first place, was to hear herself admit these issues. There was nothing she felt she could have used of what was said, though solutions were never an immediate thing to actually pop up.
"You've got a lot of things to look forward to, even if you might wind up growing differently. And part of it just has to do with how much someone can really mean to you, or at least, is supposed to. I have a lot of things to say about Cryonia, but it'll be well past your bed time before I even finish."
Bringing the elemental up, was a lot more of a presence on her mind, than the others that they had really knew of. It could have really been because the woman was someone to come home to or with, leaving everyone else that was around to their own doings, as she so often did see them more as part of work.
But it was true there was also so many other things about the hybrid, that held more of an importance on her mind. The very fact that they were in a relationship, that she even had a relationship, was something that was one of the few things she was sure could have made her cry, the longer that she had thought about it. There was a lot of things in life that others would have found painful, which she would have only thought they should bear for awhile.
Though a relationship was something so very different. The most evil of beings, the most naive, or the most idiotic of individuals, were capable of finding relationships for themselves. Something that wasn't purely just flings, and could actually mean something. She knew for certain, that there were those who would have simply suggested settling on just about anyone. Working with any issues as apart of learning just how to even work a relationship.
But she already had that kind of experimentation. Everything that she had now had worked for a lot of reasons, that weren't just the Elemi's biology. Things that didn't involve feeling like there was something to fix, about the issues they both kept to themselves. She found herself lightly starting to hug the Android, who waited with that smile, on just what she had meant. The more she looked at the machine, the more things had sometimes got surreal.
Having it here, it was almost as if she was able to speak to a younger version of herself, giving advice for a future that had already happened. The Android wasn't destined to become like her, because she wanted the machine to be someone who was happier, and without the troubles that came with life.
If it meant not allowing the Android to really fight to ensure that, she'd hold back on teaching it, for as long as possible. It was a lot of times like these, that the machine was someone she viewed to be more important to her, than Lithi or Amalga could have been, just talking to either of those two.
"I guess my issue though, can be summed down to worrying on how things could be better for us. We have a habit of pushing off things that should be talked about. Important things that can hurt us more than any actual fighting."
"Is it because you guys are too busy?"
It was a question the Android didn't have issues with coming up with, and while they did have positions that could be exhausting, she wasn't one not to really initiate things. The machine would really come to realize that, when she was older. Though it certainly saw little glimpses of it itself.
"It might be part of the reason. I'll have to think about it some more on my own, but thank you for listening."
"Uh huh!"
Moving itself up, and nodding its head, the Android did seem to understand just what she was suggesting. She found herself being loosely hugged again, before the machine had made its way towards the door, a hand on the knob. There was a wave of goodbye with that smile, before the door was closed. She continued to lied there on her back drying off, really trying to fill out the nonexistent warmth, the Android carried with that smile.
Something she really missed how it really felt, outside of just certain situations.
WC: 5,696
9,587/10,000
WC: 5,697
9,588/10,000
