[Video]

[butwonderful]

[ Excuse the awkward robot with the ears. ]

Hi there. I know we've had some new arrivals recently. My name is Drift and I'm-

I'm an Autobot. I want to apologize for all the commotion lately. Things seem to have um. Settled. They've settled.

On that note, I'd love to open the option of self defense classes to anyone who is interested, or if you are already inclined, I'd be happy to spar.

So. Um. Let me know! Humans, cybertronians, and any other species fully welcome! If you'd like to learn swordplay, I'd also be happy to teach.

Drift out!

[ Awkward wave. ]

Comments

[butwonderful]

Actually... we're a pretty universally hated species. Our society was much more-

Well. Racist before the war. Now we're kind of considered thugs to be avoided.

I don't really blame them.

[now_i_know]

Yeah, I'm starting to get that.

[butwonderful]

We're not all bad.

[ Just most of them. ]

Many of us are just very spiritually constipated.

[now_i_know]

...

[Sigh.]

And you're the guy caught in the middle.

[butwonderful]

I honestly don't know where I am along that scale.

[now_i_know]

So you're just responding to me?

[butwonderful]

What do you mean?

[now_i_know]

Well, maybe you haven't realized this, but you've been trying to defend your people this whole time. If you're not doing it intentionally, then you're doing it responsively.

And you're taking on a lot of your people's shame and guilt.

[butwonderful]

Hey now...

That's assuming a lot, ma'am.

[now_i_know]

Well, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. It sounds like you guys have a lot to own up to, too.

[butwonderful]

We do, I won't deny that. But there's good in us, too. I guess like any intelligent species.

[now_i_know]

Then...

[and her tone becomes a little gentler]

Maybe you should try talking about that, too.

[butwonderful]

[butwonderful]

I guess I could manage that.

[now_i_know]

[smile]

I'm Labrys.

[butwonderful]

Nice to meet you, Labrys. I'm Drift- er. But I said that, didn't I?

[now_i_know]

Yeah, but I think I'll remember that introduction more.

It was meant for me, after all.

[butwonderful]

I guess those really are the introductions that count, aren't they?

So... where are you from? Earth?

[now_i_know]

Yeah, dat's right. Fromma place called Yakushima.

[Even if her memories from there aren't the happiest... it's important to remember where you came from. It's still a part of you.]

[butwonderful]

Yakushima... sounds familiar. Where is that? What country?

[now_i_know]

What, you heard of it?

[Surprised!]

...uh, it's an island of a country called Japan.

[butwonderful]

Ah! Of course! I stayed in Japan while I visited Earth!

[now_i_know]

ARE YOU F'REAL?!

WHEN?

[butwonderful]

It was some number of years ago, before our war ended. We got stranded there for a while, but Japan was my favorite place that I went while I was there.

[now_i_know]

And nobody was bothered dat you looked...

All...

Well, there ain't no better way to say it: you.