ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀𝙖𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳͟𝘶͟𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀𝕰𝙻𝙴𝙲𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙲 𝕷𝙾𝚅𝙴 .ᐟ
⠀ ⠀ ⠀

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

⠀ ⠀ ⠀
⠀ 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 —
⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞͟𝙫͟𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙚 .ᐟ
⠀ ⠀ ⠀

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

darling joule ! come here.

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

honks at u. honk honk

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

@NANOJOULES https://t.co/Oo8gFCLIEB

me coming up with this username

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

https://t.co/Oo8gFCLIEB

this username is still so fire

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

mmmmmm … something like that, yes.

( the high arc of their hair catches the light, red and blue plating flashing brilliantly. they smile, bright and confident. )

i’m called electra, though you certainly could do to ask more politely … it’s nice to say things like “ please. ”

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

(+) leave, but electra swallows * that * particular sentiment down. )

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

( it takes electra a moment to consider it, but then — they nod, and their face softens. )

of course ! you know i’m always happy to have you at my side.

( a part of them thinks that if krupp wanted to stay close to them, he shouldn’t have run off when he’d been put on (+)

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

i would prefer to stay close by you. if that is acceptable.

( yeah. he is still distant and upset, and likely will be for a while because he just .. doesn’t know how to navigate feelings like that. it’s going to sit with him for quite some time. but still, he feels that need —

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

( what the hell, sure. electra raises an eyebrow. )

a champion, hmm ? self-proclaimed, i assume.

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

?????????????? 🫵

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

⚡️ ⚡️ ⚡️

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

( they falter, for a moment — this is still wrong, krupp is still distant and upset — but they can’t help but cling to the normalcy of how they’d used to act with him. before all … this. )

an assignment ? well … i suppose you could go around the yard, see if anything is amiss.

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

( krupp blinks. and then blinks again. he doesn’t know what to say. )

what would you like me to do now, electra .ᐣ i would like an assignment.

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

( and just like that, electra's mood is improved! they smile, delighted, as though nothing had ever happened. this is Fine. )

oh, wonderful ! good !! you're so good for me. my darling krupp.

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

( krupp nods. it would be easier, electra is right. )

yes. that would be … yes.

( but electra had fired him, electra had cast him aside. and krupp finds himself struggling to go back to his role without holding on to electra’s betrayal. )

we can. try.

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

(+) why can’t we just go back to normal ? i miss the way things were.

( a bit of vulnerability, there. )

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

( it’s hard to be angry with krupp, when he’s using words like love. )

i don’t think you would lie to me, krupp. i don’t think you could.

( electra sighs. they run a hand against the arc of their hair, static sparking at their fingertips. it’s a nervous, fidgety motion. )

(+)

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

… yes. this is true.

( mm. that stings. perhaps krupp deserves it, perhaps not. )

you are being unkind, electra. everything is about you, and here you are — throwing a fit about it .ᐟ i do not understand you. my job is to keep you safe. love was never part of the —

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

(+) only care about what you think your job is, and if you think it’s your job to make me happy, to love—

( they cut their words off, electricity sparking across their frame. )

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

but you * were * programmed to want to please me, weren’t you ? that what you always say !

( aaaaand there goes their restraint. their voice goes all flat, mocking krupp. )

“ anything for you, electra. whatever makes you happy, electra. ” you don’t think for yourself ! you (+)

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

i was not programmed to love. i was made to protect. to defend. i was not designed with love in mind.

and yet.

( krupp shrugs. he’s way out of his comfort zone, being vulnerable like this. )

why else would it hurt to be fired .ᐣ i do not like to be anywhere but by your —

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

fine. prove it.

( short, clipped words; their anger is usually explosive, but they manage to bite it back. )

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

yes.

( krupp is very, very hesitant to admit what exactly he has done that isn’t in his code. )

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

does it ? it’s always “ my programming ” this, “ my programming ” that. are you capable of doing * anything * that isn’t in your code ?

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

no. it is … more than that. this goes beyond programming.

( krupp is frustrated, not only because electra is being a jerk, but also because he can’t seem to find the words to explain the frustratingly complex nature of his feelings. )

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

because you’re programmed to, yes, i’m aware.

( unfortunately for krupp, electra is capable of incredible levels of bitchiness. especially when their feelings are hurt. )

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

no. i care about you.

( come on electra, don’t you see how much torment you’ve put poor krupp through .ᐣ have mercy on him. )

[ᅠᅠᅠ𝐀𝐂 ╱ 𝐃𝐂 @transelectropop]

( it feels * good, * hearing that, and then just as soon as it feels good it feels awfully, incredibly bad. )

is that all you care about ? doing your job ?

[𝕽𝙾𝙱𝙾 ⚡︎ 𝕾𝙰𝙿𝙸𝙴𝙽. @armamentstruck]

( krupp very much is still upset. very. but. electra …. he misses them. he needs to be around them. )

… i.

( he stops. why give electra the leverage of knowing how he feels .ᐣ )

it is my job to protect you, even if i am upset with you.