Difficulties

[lostamigo]

[1 - backdated a little]
[Daniel wasn't around for several days - he suddenly asked for a leave, if anyone bothers to investigate his disappearce. But now, he just as suddenly shows up again. He also looks kinda dejected. The large cyborg sits down in a chair heavily (which creaks in protest), and boots up a tablet (he has to use a stylus - fingers too big), which shows an e-book titled Tales From The Old West. But Daniel doesn't look like he's in the mood for reading. It's a mystery if he's physically capable of sighing, but he looks like he really wants to.]

...Thought I finally found them. But I was wrong. It was a false trail. A red herring. Again.

[2 - the outskirts of Alhambra]
[Steel Wanderer is being piloted right now, for a practice session. The mech fights against a target dummy, hitting it repeatedly with a training sword (pretty much a large steel tube). The attacks, while certainly strong, are very simple and without skill, as if delivered by a rookie - very different from Daniel's usual precise sharpshooting. Is he really the one who's piloting the robot?]

Comments

2

[stupidhonor]

Mm...

[Sielje is standing on a hill, staring at the training and looking not very happy with it.]

1

[keep_your_dignity]

HITTING YOUR HEAD AGAINST A BRICK WALL TOO, I SEE.

[Floating past behind Daniel, on her way to somewhere, was one of the few people in unity that make for a more massive shape than he does. And so she comments even as she glides through.]

1

[itbelongsinamuseum]

So the lead you thought you had didn't work out? Is it something others can look for, there are a lot of connected people here, after all.

[lostamigo]

...

[For a moment, Steel Wanderer stops. But then it continues with the practice again.]

I didn't know I have company.

[lostamigo]

Not the first time it happened. And-

[Suddenly Daniel pauses as he stares at Kagura.]

[lostamigo]

It's not something. It's my friends. The same ones I've been trying to find for years. I thought I found them this time. But no dice.

1

[dolorous_sensei]

Your fishing trip was unsuccesful?

[keep_your_dignity]

THAT'S WHAT THE BRICK WALL SAYING MEANS.

[Yeah, Kagura has about a guess of what Daniel's reaction is going to be]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I meant if the lead you thought you had found was something others could look for. You must have some idea of what it takes to find them.

[stupidhonor]

It was not my intent to sneak on you. So it is you? Inside his machinery, it is Daniel after all.

... But what you do is unlike you.

2

[empress_without_a_throne]

Trying to work on your melee skills?

[lostamigo]

[The practice doesn't stop.]

In what way?

[lostamigo]

Ah. Yeah.

...Sorry. I lost my breath for a moment.

[stupidhonor]

You are bad at this.

[lostamigo]

Hmm. No. Don't think so.

All I'm trying to do is catch leads of people who could be Maggie or Bob. Any leads, even vague ones. I haven't heard from them in so long that vague is the best I can get. This time, it led me to a pair of wanted criminals. Couldn't be them.

[lostamigo]

Depends. Do my old friends count as fish?

[lostamigo]

...Yeah.

[Daniel keeps on with the practice.]

...Last few fights made me realize one thing.

[lostamigo]

...Yes.
[Daniel doesn't sound eager to admit this.]

I'm trying to change that.

[stupidhonor]

I see why you do so covertly, as a secret from others.

[keep_your_dignity]

I SEEM TO HAVE THAT EFFECT ON PEOPLE.

[Between the gigantic robot frame and the ominous GRAVEYARD sigils, it's not much wonder why]

[lostamigo]

Well... Yes.

...

After all. You're the most beautiful woman I've met.

[keep_your_dignity]

[Well. Being an empath, Kagura had detected some admiration. But she had definitely expected that to be the admiration of a cyborg for a superior combat frame - her KOG suit is legitimately pretty badass - not... well, THAT kind of admiration. She's surprised enough that it takes her a few seconds to actually respond to that.]

WRONG ON BOTH COUNTS, I'M AFRAID. I'M NEITHER BEAUTIFUL NOR IN ANY WAY A HUMAN WOMAN. I AM MAJOR KAGURA. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND GRAVEYARD LIAISON IN UNITY GROUP.

[dolorous_sensei]

Dunno, that depends on your psyche really. So I assume you were continuing your livelong quest of trying to find these friends of yours? How long have you been doing this actually?

2

[fourth_rider]

[A particular horse watches this with great interest.]

...

This is new.

[His rider is not too far behind, but seems to have gotten part of her dress caught in a bush.]

[lostamigo]

It's not a secret. I just don't announce it.

[So yeah, it's kind of a secret.]

Recent fights made me realize melee is my weakness. Going in a fight with a big weakness is just asking for trouble.