Chapter Text
V2 presses the jut of her head against its neck with whirring laughter. Both of her arms are wrapped around it, holding it against her body as she dips it down low. It laughs alongside her.
“Hi, birdie,” she says, “I’ve missed you so much. I’m glad you’re back.”
Weren’t they always together? They were practically never without the other these days.
She settles it back onto its feet, lacing her fingers through its own.
“Will you follow me?” V2 asks.
“I’ll go anywhere if it’s with you.”
With interlocked hands, she drags it away from the gilded golden rooms and down empty halls. Her chatter fills the silence as they walk.
“Oh, you’ll love what everyone’s done with the place. The festivities are upcoming, you know? Everyone’s been busy decorating every single corner, and you wouldn’t believe the sight. So many lights and bows and garlands all around.”
The two of them round the corner, and V1 brings a hand to its optic, squinting as it adjusts to the brightness levels. V2 wasn’t kidding when she said it wouldn’t believe the sight. It can barely see it.
Optic now adjusted for the current light level, it asks the first thing that comes to mind: “Where did you get those clothes from?”
“Oh, these?” she moves the side of her coat, “Maria gave me these, now that her nephew doesn’t wear them anymore. Don’t worry, you wouldn’t know them. I’ve never introduced you to them.”
“It looks nice on you.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself. The scarf is a nice addition.”
Scarf? V2 is right, there’s a scarf wrapped around its neck. It’s wearing a jacket on top of a sweater, too.
“Why do I have clothes?”
“Frankly, I’d be concerned if you didn’t have any. We can’t have you walking around without wearing anything,” she says dryly, “I’d rather we not get caught for indecent exposure.”
“We’re machines, we don’t have anything to expose.”
“How scandalous,” she pokes the top of its head with a single finger, “Do they feel alright on you? Nothing too restricting, itchy, or otherwise uncomfortable?”
“It’s fine,” it replies. If it had taken this long to notice it was wearing anything at all, then these clothes do a good job of being unobtrusive. It still doesn’t feel bad to wear, now that V1’s noticed it.
“That’s good. I’d hate for you to feel bad on such a big day,” she adjusts its scarf with her free hand, “We’re meant to enjoy all the fun and festivities today. I even have a big surprise planned at the end of the day, just for you.”
It perks up, “What surprise?”
“It’d be telling if I say what I’ve got planned now. That wouldn’t exactly make it a surprise anymore.” She leans in, connecting the metal of their helms together for a fleeting moment. “But let that tide you over for now. Let’s go, I haven’t shown you everything yet.”
They break from the narrow alley into familiar streets. The sky is the clearest it’s ever been, without a cloud in sight. Stars dot the vast expanse. Would one of the constellations here be the Big Dipper? Maybe V1 could find the fabled Size 2 fish at the end of the journey.
Covering the sight of most of the sky is 1000-THR, her neck bent in front of her. The light of her eyes are out. She must be asleep.
“We should follow the constellation. Size 2 could be there.”
“This again?” V2 shakes her head, “Size 2 fish isn’t real. You won’t find it no matter what, so give up on that already.”
“Never,” it bumps its head against her shoulder. She turns around to press a kiss against on top of its head.
“I guess I should’ve expected an answer like that from you. But let’s not stand around here any further, I’m sure you’re hungry. Let’s go get something to drink.”
“You mean blood?”
“What else?”
V1 eyes the silhouettes of people milling about the main square. It doesn’t get the chance to stare for long, V2 tugging it along with her to wherever she’s decided to go.
The inside of the mall is even brighter than the outside. V2 motions for it to sit and wait by a bench as she promises to come back with everything that she’s going to get.
So that’s where it is now. Sitting on a bench and snapping the joints in its fingers to make a satisfying clicking noise.
“Oh, hey. It’s you.”
V1 turns in time to see a blue V-model slide into the open seat right next to it.
“You know, it was really rude of you to stand up a girl like that right after I invited you out to lunch. Did anyone ever teach your Swiss cheese brain not to do that?”
V1 returns back to focusing on its fingers, ignoring Mirage’s presence.
Should I talk to you like this instead?
How did you connect to my feed?
That part doesn’t really matter, trust me. I did it because I can, and because you were ignoring me, which, again, rude. First you stood me up, and now you’re ignoring me? Seriously, couldn’t you be nicer?
Aren’t you supposed to be in school?
Are you as blind as you are rude? Do I still look like a schoolgirl to you? There’s not even any classes during the holiday season. You’d think someone who transferred to my school would know that.
Well, I can overlook that this time. Long time no see. Long enough for you to get a girlfriend, apparently. I can see why you like her. Besides that, anything new since we last saw each other? Helped out any other girls with their own existential crises?
Just you.
So I’m just special? You sounded like you knew all the right words to say. Thought you had practice with that. Well, comparing you back then to now, you’re different.
You too.
For the better, I hope. I’ve been trying to live for new things these days. I can’t care for myself, but I can care a lot about other things. Is it stupid that I’m living just so I can play games and read comics? It is, isn’t it?
Why would it be stupid if it’s about something you like? You have something to look forward to. That’s a good reason.
Look at you, dispensing even more knowledge. Are you sure I’m the only girl you’ve talked through an existential crisis with?
But that’s enough about me. What about you? Anything about yourself you want to talk about?
V1 shrugs.
If not about yourself, then what about your girlfriend? You know, the one that looks like you but red.
You look like me but a different shade of blue.
So? What’s your point? If not her, then what else do you want to talk about? I can’t keep hogging this conversation.
Okay, fine. Don’t know who made you, but me and V2 came from the same company. Same series too, obviously. For us, that just means we knew each other since...
Childhood?
I wouldn’t say that. But yes, we’ve known each other for a long time. If it wasn’t for the New Peace, she would’ve been a V1 model. Kind of weird to think about. Wonder what names we’d use if we were both V1.
I can only think of her calling me Blue, but she wouldn’t know my name. Probably by my serial, if not that. I don’t think she would’ve told me her name. She has a cool nerd name. Suits her.
She’s smart about a lot of things and knows way more than I do. I’m still better with a gun, but she’s close in skill and fun to fight.
I want to take her to the ocean if we ever make it back to the surface. The closest we’ve been is Wrath, and I know she wants to see the real thing.
A sudden feed request is sent. It accepts, switching to the new feed.
Hi, dove. I was just wondering, what’s your favourite colour? Sorry to ask so sudden a question, but I’d like to confirm with you first.
Red and yellow.
Alright, thank you. I’ll see you soon.
V2 disconnects before it can send anything else.
Mirage dusts off her skirt. “Well, that’s my cue to leave. Happy holidays, or whatever.”
V1 swaps to the feed with Mirage. An unnecessary action if she saw its conversation with V2.
That was a separate feed. How? What did you exploit in my security systems?
“Nothing like that. Look, it’s not...” Mirage shakes her head. “Nevermind.” She gathers her bag, adjusts her hold on it, then hesitates before she walks away. She spares one last glance at it. “Be safe, and don’t be stupid.”
And V1 is left all alone on the bench.
Well, this sucks. V2 won’t mind if it takes the time to explore.
The automatic doors to the mall open to the cool breeze of the night air. There’s no sign of Mirage.
The silhouettes of people pass by as they mill about their day. V1 pays no mind to them, staring at the giant tree in the middle. It’s decorated to hell and back, lights covering every part of it. The tree stands out against everything else.
Everything goes dark for a second. It stares around, unsure whether that was from it blinking or whether all the lights went out for just that second. Eh, whatever. Not going to ruin its day.
It gets tackled from behind, a familiar arm wrapping around its torso. “There you are!” says V2, “I was looking all around for you. Why didn’t you stay where I told you to? Ah, no matter, I’m just glad to have found you again.”
She unwraps her arm and holds out her other arm, weighed down by shopping bags and a drink in her hand. V1 takes the silent offer of the drink, opening the cap and finding blood with a candy cane-coloured straw in the middle. It sticks a finger into the drink, letting its plating slowly consume the blood.
“I got you glass flowers. Red and yellow, just for you,” she opens the shopping bag, letting it peer inside. “There’s an empty vase in the living room table, so I figured this would do good to fill the space. But, red and yellow being your favourite colours? Isn’t that a bit on the nose?” V2 flutters her wings with an amused tone.
“You’re not the only thing that’s red and yellow.”
“Oh? Do enlighten me. I’m curious as to what your selection is.”
“Blood, sunsets, coins. And you, I guess.”
“You guess? How you wound me so! But I’ve nearly forgotten, it’s close to midnight. Quick, follow me. I know a good spot to watch the fireworks.”
V2 twines their fingers together, and it lets itself be dragged away by her as she runs down the streets and into the alley. She shakes off its hand when they arrive at the stairs, but it taps on her shoulder and motions for her to carry it. With a fond shake of her head, she hands off the shopping bags to it and crouches down so it can clamber onto her back.
V2 jumps between platforms and on the walls, making her way up higher and higher, climbing over roofs as the time ticks down to midnight.
Having found a suitable vantage point on the rooftops, V2 crouches down, waiting for it to climb off her back. It refuses, clinging onto her tighter and nuzzling into the crook of her neck.
“Come on…” she says softly, reaching a hand behind her to gently shake it. “We don’t have much time left before the fireworks go off.”
It shakes its head. “I can watch them right here. Please?”
“Cute, but no. Come on, Blue, we don’t have all day. They’re not exactly waiting for us before they start.”
Grumbling, it slides down onto the ground, making sure to grab onto V2’s clothes in protest. V2 uncurls its fingers from the fabric and fixes her jacket. She sits down at the edge of the roof, patting on the ground next to her. It takes the offered seat, leans onto her, and settles its head on her shoulder.
And not a moment too soon. Fireworks shoot up in the air in a colourful display, brighter than day and as loud as its own guns.
V2 quickly notices that it’s paying attention to her. She shrugs the shoulder its head is resting on, murmuring, “You’re supposed to watch the fireworks, not me, idiot.”
It makes a non-committal sound, diverting a bit of its attention onto the display. Only a little bit, and only because V2 said so.
“I can still feel you staring at me.”
It turns to fully face her, brightening the light of its optic. She slaps a hand over its optic, and it silently laughs as it dims its light to lower than usual levels.
The moment she lifts her hand away is the moment it attacks, quickly shoving their faces together, a hand on her shoulder. She makes a noise of surprise, but relaxes against its affection. Her hands come to hold its back as they both ignore the ongoing display of lights.
V2 is the first to separate, idly tilting her head towards the fireworks show that’s still going on. “If we’re not going to watch this, then we should get back. Nina told me she’s feeling better and asked if we could come over and visit her tonight for the holidays.”
“MVN?”
It hasn’t seen MV_N in…
“Yes, her,” V2 says, “Are you still calling her by her display name?”
“She doesn’t mind. But I thought she was gone?”
V1 accepted long ago that all humans were dead, even the human it liked most. But they were in 1000-THR’s city, and she still houses humans, and all the silhouettes of people it saw today was—
“We should get going if we’re not going to keep her waiting,” V2 gets up, dusting herself off and helping it get up to its feet. “Do you want another piggyback ride this time?”
It silently holds out its arms. V2 complies, letting it climb back onto her back. Once secured, she takes off, jumping down with ease. It wiggles once she’s back down onto the floor, and she lets it get off.
It tilts its head at the main plaza as the silhouettes mill about. A few look like they’re dancing. It lets out a silent laugh.
“Something wrong?” asks V2.
“Just remembering the first time we danced.”
“Well, it wasn’t that bad, surely? I thought the whole ordeal was amusing.”
“It was kind of bad. But yes, amusing.”
“Now, that sort of comment hurts me deeply. I tried my best, and here you go, making such a callous comment,” she says in a mock-hurt tone.
“Sorry,” it says without a hint of apology, “but I’ll let you try again later. How’s that?”
“Acceptable, I suppose. But come on, it’s this way,” she motions down the alley. “Follow me.”
She grabs onto its hand, guiding it further down the path. It watches as they go past buildings, taking idle notice of its surroundings.
The shadows lengthen. The lights fade out.
It’s silent.
It forcefully tugs its hand free, taking a couple steps back.
V2 stops and turns back around, tilting her head. “What’s wrong, dear? It’s not scary over here, I promise.”
V1 takes another step back. Can’t she see exactly what’s wrong?
She extends an innocent hand, ready to take it with her. “Come to me, love. I promise nothing bad will happen.”
Without a second thought, it fires the malicious railcannon at her.
All that’s left is blood on the floor. For a sinking moment, a part of its brain screams that it killed her.
The utter darkness is replaced by the winding golden halls of Fraud, visible once more.
A yawning abyss. There’s teeth at the edges.
The worm bursts out of the golden floor, crashing through the ceiling. The gold embedded in the rubble turns to sand.
V1 runs, sawblade launcher at the ready. The worm falls down through the ceiling where it had once been, digging back into the disguised sand. It estimates the next site the worm will go through and fires a magnet and several saws. The worm swallows the earth, saws and all.
A couple coins in the air and a charged shot from its piercer revolver, and the worm writhes, digging back down into the safe soft ground. V1 clings to the wall, and ejects the core from its shotgun when the worm resurfaces once more right into the worm’s open mouth.
The far wall cracks, and V1 perks up when it recognizes V2. The real V2, mismatched limbs and all. Back in the illusion, both it and the fake V2 had looked as they once did before their fall in Greed, all eight wings and no miscoloured limbs.
With their combined strengths, everything falls quickly. This giant worm that makes its home in Fraud is no different. V1 slides to the worm as it explodes, catching the spray of blood on its plating.
V2 points her slab revolver at it. “Prove yourself to me.”
What? It squints at her, its own gun pointed back at her.
“If you are who your appearance indicates you to be, then prove your identity.”
It tries to speak up, and pauses when nothing comes out. Right. No voice. It taps where its voicebox would be, and motions for her to send a feed request. She hesitates, and it accepts the request.
; How do I prove I’m me?
% Tell me something only the both of us know, and it can’t be something either of us mentioned in Hell.
; Okay. Can you not shoot me while I think?
% If I deem you unsafe, or I find your behaviour wrong, then no. I can’t promise you that at all.
; Unfair. You’re not the one on the spot.
V2 looks unamused, clicking the hammer of her revolver as a silent threat.
; We were the last machines left in 1000-THR’s city.
% Anything else? That information is quite lacking on its own. This sounds like the sort of thing anyone could’ve guessed.
; Now it feels like you’re just mining me for information. Who’s to say you’re the real V2? You should tell me something.
% You used to call me Delta for a time, meaning the landform at the mouth of a river, to put it in a very simplified way. I’ve always wondered why. It was quite the stark difference in all the other things you’ve called me.
; I was making fun of you, and I meant it in the math way. My logic for that was really stupid.
V2 stores her revolver away in a wing and runs towards it. With her no longer finding it a threat, it does the same and puts its own gun away. She continues to talk through their feed while she checks over it for any scratches and injuries.
% I haven’t found the source of what creates these imagined scenarios. The longer it goes on, the more you get ensnared by its falsities. I don’t know whether it’s intentionally luring you towards some sort of danger, or if Hell is riddled with danger at every corner that it doesn’t matter.
; Mine did a bad job. It fucked up at the end.
% The ones that tried to catch me always made you behave wrong. I contemplated playing along, but I didn’t know where you were.
% I will admit, I can see how it could’ve worked effectively. A lot of things that should’ve registered as wrong or off didn’t. It took an active effort for me to notice it, and then to do something about it once I did.
; Fraud sucks.
% You say that of most layers. It’s almost like Hell is an all-around bad place to be in.
; I’m still complaining.
Deciding that V1 is in a good enough condition, V2 stops her checking and bows, pointing a hand to the direction where the exit probably is.
% Well, then, after you. Let’s make our way out of Fraud and onto the next layer.
It puts a hand beneath her chin, tilting her head up, and presses their faces together. Because it wanted to, not because it felt weird that it kissed the wrong V2 earlier. She presses back, letting the two of them linger longer than she usually does.
% I missed you too.
% As much as I’d love to stay here like this, we should really get going before we get tricked and separated again.
; You’re always rushing us to the next layer. And who do you keep calling impatient?
% Well, if the shoe fits. It’s not exactly an incorrect descriptor.
; Okay, let’s go then. Impatient.
% I’m not denying that, if that’s what you’re trying to get me to do. Do you want me to say the line again as well? We should really get going to the next layer?
; Race?
% Normally I’d agree, but a race seems like quite the bad idea in an area that will make you see things. Let’s not separate from each other.
; Carry me?
% If you insist.