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Home > Expos > Event 4 > Page 24
A SMALL TALK▼
A SMALL TALK

[Model Funk (Mega Man ZX: Area B - Mountain Pass)]

The shanty town was no longer recognizable. Streets of handmade homes have been engulfed, and anything that survived the rising towers was now being torn apart by roads that rapidly built themselves for transportation that didn't exist.

Vejovis V1
A familiar AI unit makes his way through the chaos and destruction towards Princess' castle. He scampers quickly on all fours, luckily being built with manoeuvrability as a prime focus.

"Well. I certainly wasn't expecting that."
Vejovis V1
2024-12-14 18:17:53
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:30:48
He observes the rising towers, for a moment before turning his back on it all.

"There's no way they'll let me in the front gate... not after all this and how angry O-4 was earlier."
Vejovis V1
2024-12-14 18:18:18
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:31:13
"Hmm.... It should be safe enough inside if I can find another..." The thought of the waterway crosses his mind.
Vejovis V1
2024-12-14 18:18:31
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-14 18:18:53
"It can't possibly be that easy...."

Sure enough he approaches the disgusting reservoir without resistance. Everyone else seemed to be preoccupied by the shanty town's rapid destruction.

"Psstpsst!!!!!!"

A shark-like bombat swims up to Vejovis, seeming to understand that the robot wished for a way into the castle.

Vejovis V1
"Oh, how fortuitous! Many thanks, friend." He climbs atop the rat, grateful he wont have to swim in... whatever that stuff was that they were passing for water.

The bombat paddles using its tiny feet into the castle. It might have been slow, but it was better than walking into the water.

Approching the connected dungeon, the bombat lets Vejovis get off, before dunking back down into the waters.

Diana v1
"............................."
Diana v1
Diana doesn't get her hopes up, and says nothing to the passing robot.
Vejovis V1
2024-12-14 18:23:42
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:34:42
Vejovis gives the rat a wave before he peers around the dungeon. This place was certainly rather sturdy... perhaps better at the moment for avoiding any falling debris.
Vejovis V1
He spots Diana in her cell and scrambles over, as nosy as ever.

"Diana? Is that you? I wouldn't have guessed that this is where you were hiding!"
Diana v1
"I am obviously not hiding inside of a prison cell."
Diana v1
"What are you doing on this horrid planet, Vejovis?"
Vejovis V1
"Well, I suppose a cell is a rather poor place to hide.~"
Vejovis V1
"I was invited to participate in some gameshow being run by a little capitalist fairy and his entourage."
Vejovis V1
"Not that I feel I've played any games, mind you."
Diana v1
"Right, this is the same gameshow my brother had fallen for, but I believe he became scared."
Diana v1
"I came to this castle to rescue him, but I have been ensnared. I do not know what they are doing to my dear brother, likely telling him horrid things, causing him to forget himself more."
Diana v1
"I do not care that he stole our money. I only want him back home. He likely believes that I am angry at him."
Diana v1
"This is all my fault."
Vejovis V1
"I saw him earlier being subjected to the worst form of torture..."
Vejovis V1
"...working in corporate retail."
Diana v1
"Only cowards are scared of retail jobs."
Diana v1
2024-12-14 18:28:29
Diana v1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:38:19
"But, I suppose I always get fired in a week for fighting with the customers."
Vejovis V1
"All in all, I suppose he was doing pretty well, there was only a single small fire."
Diana v1
2024-12-14 18:28:56
Diana v1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:38:45
"Wait, why is he working retail? Are the notails forcing him to do so? Seems like a strange job...."
Vejovis V1
"I do not have that data available. However, I did see a tiny robot that made me want to crush it into dust."
Vejovis V1
"Let me help you out of here and we can both go crush it togethe- I mean find your brother."
Vejovis V1
"Though that might be more difficult now since the topography of this region has changed... substantially."
Diana v1
"What AI was it? Greek or Roman?"
Vejovis V1
"I don't think it was either... from the streams I believe they are calling it a Zookeeper."
Vejovis V1
"I think it might be blessed in all honesty."
Diana v1
"If you don't know, then it must be Greek! Of course a Greek is ruining my brother farther. Open this cell now, I must save him!"
Vejovis V1
Vejovis just tries to pull the door open first. He feels pretty lucky today. Maybe it's unlocked?
Vejovis V1 rolls a 20 sided die. A 19 is rolled.

The door......was unlocked this whole time......

Diana v1
".................................."
Diana v1
2024-12-15 01:47:26
Diana v1 Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 01:47:38
"Lets go."

Diana does not want to talk about this.
Vejovis V1
"............."
Vejovis V1
"Okay then, lets go find your brother and then also kill that other robot."
The AIs set off in search of Apollo.
2024-12-15 01:50:34
Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:42:58

After traveling through the ever growing urban landscape, one that was starting to teem with shrimp, Vejovis and Diana found the store Apollo was spotted working at before and headed inside.

Apollo v1
"Welcome! Come enjoy our-"
Apollo v1
"Vejovis?"
Apollo v1
"S-Sister..."
Diana v1
"Come on brother, we are leaving."
Vejovis V1
2024-12-15 01:52:05
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:47:23
He remembered my name!!!!
Vejovis V1
"We have come to liberate you from this corporate hellscape- It's dangerous here."
Apollo v1
"Uh....."
Diana v1
"These people have tricked you into this!"
Apollo v1
"Actually I came here because I wanted to...."
Diana v1
"Because of their mindless advertisement-"
Diana v1
"In this horrid magazine."
Apollo v1
His sister knew it now. She knew he still had that magazine.
Vejovis V1
2024-12-15 01:53:56
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:48:01
Not knowing when to let family handle their own arguments, he adds in.

"Also, your tiny co-worker? Manager? Whatever it is, is a thief and a coward. Wholly undeserving of your presence."
Apollo v1
"I don't know if he's a thief, he gave me a cup of pudding yesterday and even though I couldn't eat it, it was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me in a long time."
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 01:55:15
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:03:41
"I gave it to you to put on the shelf!"
Apollo v1
"Well, it was nice at the time!"
Diana v1
"He is a Greek!"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 01:55:47
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:04:02
"Actually, I'm Zookeeper!"
Diana v1
"Are you Greek, or Roman?"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 01:56:14
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:04:15
"I'm Zookeeper!"
Vejovis V1
"Like a weird Zeus model?"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 01:56:33
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:04:28
"Nope! I'm Zookeeper!"
Apollo v1
"You don't understand when people are outside of your norm!"
Apollo v1
"..................................."
Apollo v1
"He's zookeeper."
Vejovis V1
"If you are a Zookeeper, where are your animals?"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 01:57:27
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:04:44
"......................"
Apollo v1
"No do-don't ask that!"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 01:59:29
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:04:56
"They took away all my animals."
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 01:59:33
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:05:06
"I was filled to the brim with animals, all hand painted by local artists, and they took them all away from me."
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 01:59:42
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:05:17
"But it's ok cause I'm getting a restock right now!"
Vejovis V1
"I can't imagine you could hold very many. You're so small... and crushable."
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 02:00:04
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:05:33
"I can fit at least 20 capsules inside of me, easy!"
Diana v1
"I do not care who you are or what brand you are from-"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 02:00:24
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:05:43
"Zookeeper!™️"
Diana v1
"You will stop forcing my brother to be here, right now!"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 02:00:41
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:06:01
"I'm not forcing him to be here!"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 02:00:46
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:06:10
"He is here, because he is weird!"
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 02:00:50
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:06:16
"I do not know why he is here, he is bad at his job!"
Apollo v1
"I'm learning....."
Zookeeper
2024-12-15 02:02:25
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:06:24
"And I have no idea why you would do that!"
Diana v1
"Apollo, you are being forced to be here, aren't you?"
Apollo v1
"..................................."
Diana v1
2024-12-15 02:02:53
Diana v1 Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-15 02:10:13
"It's ok brother, come with me. We'll go home."

Diana approaches Apollo, hands out stretched to pick him up.

This was it.

Apollo was trapped between two worlds.

Apollo v1
On one hand was Diana, his sister who babied him to no end, blaming any of his mistakes on herself so much, that he felt the need to regain power by blaming himself on everything else in the universe.

On the other hand was Zookeeper, an AI who didn't care what he was......didn't care who he was either.
Apollo v1
He couldn't tell which he found worse. Being cared for so much he couldn't exist as his own person, or being cared for so little that he might as well have been any random robot.
Vejovis V1
"Diana… And I know it is likely not my place to say, but…"
Vejovis V1
"As a medical professional that deals in all manner of fields... I do not believe this is the solution Apollo is seeking."
Vejovis V1
"I know you only want what you believe to be best for him... but have you asked Apollo what he feels is best for him?"
Diana v1
"I did ask him."
Apollo v1
"But you didn't let me answer!"
Diana v1
"!!!!!!"
Apollo v1
".....................I'm sorry."
Apollo v1
Fuck Vejovis! Why couldn't Vejovis keep his stupid mouth closed! Picking is harder than letting everyone else pick for you!
Diana v1
"Brother, you want to come back, don't you?"
Apollo v1
"No...."
Zookeeper
"And I know you don't want to stay here, even though you continue to do so! Strange!"
Vejovis V1
2024-12-15 02:12:57
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:51:42
Gods be dammed, this is why he never did group counseling.
Apollo v1
"I just want to be free."
Diana v1
"Brother, we live in the woods. Nowhere is more free than the outdoors."
Apollo v1
"I HATE the outdoors!"
Diana v1
"????"
Apollo v1
"And I HATE that, you keep thinking I like something, when I don't, like that STUPID DOGGY DOOR!"
Diana v1
"But, you told me how hard it was for you to open the door. I installed it to help you."
Apollo v1
"I wanted to OPEN THE DOOR! I didn't want to GO THROUGH A STUPID DOOR FOR STUPID DOGS!"
Apollo v1
"I wanted......"
Apollo v1
"Arms."
Diana v1
"But you should be proud of what you are, as you are!"
Apollo v1
"Why do you want me to be proud of having NO ARMS?"
Vejovis V1
2024-12-15 02:15:47
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:52:45
Vejovis is crying inside- if he had tearducts they would be overflowing.

"Sniff.... no arms... so sad..."
Diana v1
"You never cared until I....made you call yourself a Greek so we could earn money. It wasn't a problem before. I did this to you, I'm so sorry brother."
Apollo v1
"YOU DIDN'T FORCE ME! YOU SHOWED ME SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO!"
Diana v1
"But.....It wasn't...a problem be-"
Apollo v1
"And it's not a problem now!"
Apollo v1
"Nothing has changed sister! I don't understand why this is a problem for you!"
Apollo v1
"I'm still your brother."
Diana v1
".................................................."
Diana v1
Diana turns around, and walks away.
Apollo v1
"......................................................"
Zookeeper
"Rough."
Vejovis V1
Vejovis looks back and forth for a moment between Apollo and Diana, trying to make up his mind who to follow.

"A-ah, Diana, wait!"
Diana v1
Diana isn't slowing down.
Vejovis V1
He follows after her trying to talk some sense into her, as much as he hates leaving Apollo unattended with... Zookeeper.

"Diana, I-I know I'm prying probably too far..."
Vejovis V1
"But, it sounds to me he doesn't want to be pandered to... But, he still wants your approval."
Vejovis V1
"Why do you hesitate to accept him as he feels?"
Diana v1
"Because!"
Diana v1
"Because....."
Diana v1
".........................."
Diana v1
"He was fine before, and now he is not, and I do not want him to suffer. I love my brother, and do not understand why he hates himself. I do nothing but praise him, and finding ways to give him what he wants, without changing who he is."
Diana v1
"I feel as if I could have stopped this. If I had done more, this could have been prevented. I love my brother, and do not wish to see him in so much pain. All of this is causing him pain!"
Diana v1
"He was fine before."
Vejovis V1
"He may have been 'fine' before... but Diana, things change."
Vejovis V1
"When they do, its up to the people who love them to continue doing so."
Vejovis V1
"If he's not 'fine' now, why not encourage him?"
Diana v1
2024-12-15 02:21:35
Diana v1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:54:19
"But he is changing for the worse, is he not? He is unhappy, and he was never like this until I showed him all that... Greek nonsense."
Diana v1
"Why can I not just encourage him to go back?"
Vejovis V1
"I know this is tough for you... Change can be difficult. When he said he wanted to be free, perhaps he meant independence? The ability to think and act on his own- and if need be, fall on his own."
Vejovis V1
"To get back up after he falls and know that you'll be there beside him to lend a hand rather than hold him in place."
Vejovis V1
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. It might be time to try something new."
Vejovis V1
("It isn't actually, but I like that quote.")
Diana v1
("The definition of stupidity is using idiotic quotes.")
Diana v1
"..........................................."
Diana v1
"I will think about it."
Diana v1
"I do not feel well about it, but you are right that what I am doing now, is not working, and it is not making him happy."
Vejovis V1
2024-12-15 02:23:24
Vejovis V1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:55:33
A breakthrough!
Diana v1
2024-12-15 02:23:37
Diana v1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:56:01
"But right now, I am stuck in the past, I suppose you could say. I need time to think. I just....don't understand."
Diana v1
2024-12-15 02:23:52
Diana v1 Profile
Posted by ID #201
Last edit: 2025-11-17 20:56:18
"But, I do understand that not everything needs to be fully understood right away."
Vejovis V1
"Very well."

Vejovis stops following after Diana and watches her disappear into the newly forming urban landscape.
The two separate without another word, each of them heading down their own paths.
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