tabularasa_rp | [open] I'm honestly not sure why most humans still have such lengthy sleep cycles.

(Legion is, well, a Geth. Now that there's a network of sort that they can access again, they've got a dedicated program listening to it every hour they aren't sleeping. Usually there's not much: with just them and Turing, it's mostly sharing Bob Ross and music, checking on each other, and similar.

Still, they listen. And thus, it's not long before Turing gets a response to their ping.

Legion is in their apartment right now, little buddy. Since they need to sleep now, they switched out the couch they'd taken from the lobby for a bed again, and they've also been working on stocking the fridge with various foods. It's as good a time as any to bother them.)

[ Excellent! There was no need to rush, especially since they were still quite close by, but they did so regardless. Honestly, the sound of Turing's footsteps did very, very little to hide Turing's approach anyway. Still, they sent another ping to signal to Legion that they had arrived. They even knocked on the door for good measure!

Were they in a considerably better mood than the last time they saw each other in person? ...Perhaps. ]

(They can hear Turing coming, and get up to open the door.)

Greetings.

(They move aside to let their fellow robot in. Their apartment looks different than it did previously--swapping the couch for a bed has it closer to its original state, with the most obvious difference from Alys' apartment being that there are three plants instead of just the one. The flower from Tifa is still as fresh and alive as the day it was picked, and the plant from the forest is currently in its death state though that should change soon enough. The jade plant looks the same as any other.)

Hello, Legion!

[ They ambled inside, being careful to keep their palette level and not leave a nice dollop of paint on the floor. That would be an exceptionally bad start. Of course, the plants drew their attention immediately, and while it was too bad that one wasn't doing so well at the moment, two out of three wasn't bad! It was good to see at least one of the Wilty clones still hanging in there. ]

I was wondering if I could ask you something. Would you be opposed to me adding to the drawings on your armour?

(Their headflaps lift, and they chatter in surprise, before glancing down at themselves.

Those paintings were done by Ren, to cover up their connection to Shepard-Commander. Now they are a memory of her.

They would like to have a memory of Turing as well, they think.)

We would not. (Be opposed to Turing painting on them.)

...Request?

[ A question mark blinked on Turing's face. ]

I was just about to ask you the same question. Wouldn't you like to choose the subject of what I paint?

[ After all, if they painted something and Legion didn't like it, that would be...awkward. While they could tell just by looking that Ren's paintings had been done by a child, they were still very charming, and it wouldn't be right to assume anything based on that. ]

I have these colours, but I can mix some other ones. [ Their palette had a definite tendency toward pastel pinks, purples, and blues. ]

We have no preference as to subject.

(Turing could paint giant veiny cocks on them and they'd allow it. It was more location they were thinking of.

They look at the discolored spot opposite the hole in their chest.)

This cosmetic damage was caused by an ally. Though we do not blame them, they have shown considerable distress over harming us. Perhaps "covering it up" would assist.

(They don't even know if they'll ever see that ally again, but...)

[ Cosmetic damage caused by an ally? That was a good enough reason as far as Turing was concerned, and the resulting distress caused to that person sealed the deal. ]

In that case, I will do my best to cover it with something much more calming!

[ First of all, they mixed up a dark grey--almost black, really--to act as a base coat. If nothing else, the discolouration would definitely be covered up regardless of what they painted. As for the subject, the first thing to come to mind was a particular tree and its leaves. It was probably best to go with a more conventional type of composition, especially since they didn't have a ton of space to work with, but that didn't mean they couldn't get a little creative with the colour palette! ]

Acknowledged. Thank-you.

(They sit down, so that Turing can more easily access the indicated spot.)

[ And so, their art session began! They were originally planning on painting a eucalyptus globulus tree, but as they were choosing what colours on their palette to use, something happened.

Inspiration suddenly hit them like a truck.

...Uh, actually maybe that wasn't the best way of putting it at all, but that was beside the point. Why not cover up a symbol of regretful aggression with a symbol of peace instead? The olive branch that began to take form had some of Turing's own personal touches; colour was the most obvious one, and the angles of the branches were another. The delicate veins of the leaves were probably the only thing that completely resembled reality. They had chosen to paint the branch as if it was sprouting forth from Legion's body and hinting at something deeper and more intrinsic.

When Turing was (finally) happy with what they had painted, they took a step back and beamed. ]

I'm finished! The paint still needs a little time to dry, but let me know what you think!

(They glance down occasionally while Turing is painting, but they can't really get a good look without risking getting in the way, so they can't really see what is being painted until Turing is finished.

And when they are, well... the first thing that comes to their mind when they look at the painting of the plant growing out from within isn't peace, but the deadly disease known as Overgrowth, and they let out a startled burst of chatter.

That humans use the phrase "extending an olive branch" to refer to making peace occurs only afterward.)

W-what's wrong?

[ Internally they immediately started catastrophizing. That was so much worse than voicing it; their thoughts could move so much faster than their ability to voice them. Questions like "was it that bad" were only the tip of the iceberg on that front.

Their gaze fell to their palette. ]

Should I cover it with something else...?

(They did not intend to cause distress!)

We apologize. We did not intend to cause distress.

(They look at the painting again.)

It is an olive branch?

No, no, there's no need for you to apologize!

[ Okay, phew. While they said that, they were still glad to hear that reassurance. ]

Yes, that's correct. I did take a little artistic license, however.

The olive branch is a symbol of peace among humans.

(They chatter, headflaps rippling.)

This was your intention?

It was! To be specific, it is an Ascolano olive branch; this cultivar originated in the Marche and Tuscany regions of Italy, but it is cultivated in California as well.

[ It was unfortunate that they never had a chance to see one in person, but uh, that really wasn't the issue right now, was it? Oops. ]

Forgive me for rambling about unrelated matters. I wanted to cover the cosmetic damage in a way that would also show your ally your feelings on the...er, incident?

Acknowledged. It is a suitable metaphor.

(They chatter.)

However, plants growing from inside the physical platform are a symptom of the disease Overgrowth. The imagery startled us.

It is? [ O-oh. Well, now everything made a whole lot more sense. This was not at all going how they wanted or hoped for! ]

I'm sorry! I can see how that would be very unsettling...

[ Their artwork being mistaken for an actual plant was technically a compliment though? Maybe? ]

Yes.

(They look at the image again. The memories of Overgrowth are ... unpleasant. But the symbol of peace is appropriate.)

If I may, I have an idea for an addition that would make it less frightening?

[ ...Though, uh, saying what it was first might be better. ]

I was thinking of adding a pot of some kind.

Affirmative. (And they will absolutely crouch down so Turing can paint some more.)

[ Okay, whew. Now that they had Legion's approval, they began mixing a few more colours. Perhaps this was a good chance to play with perspective a bit? They added some smaller branches to give the illusion that the first branch was part of a much larger olive tree, and it ended with a weathered but still sturdy pot that had a heart-shaped opening at the top instead of the typical rounded one. ]

How is this?

(They wait patiently for Turing to finish, and turn immediately to look at the painting once they're done.)

We ... like it.

(It is a suitable metaphor.)

Edited 2020-12-31 02:42 (UTC)

I'm glad!

[ After all that, they were just relieved that they managed to correct their previous blunder into something more preferable. ]

Acknowledged.

(They stare at themselves, and the painting, tilting their head to look at it from different angles.)

[open] I'm honestly not sure why most humans still have such lengthy sleep cycles.

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