evecolourshock

[evecolourshock]

Occasionally me @ all my friends (please note i normally chicken out and you get headbonks instead).

@pineapple-banana-pie you know what i mean, and consider yourself nommed.

nom nom

[evecolourshock]

YES YES YES YES YES YESSSSS

Flint is Rinz' first choice, through and through. He gets a loving, doting, fantastic partner who puts him over and above absolutely everything ever. He's wanted, cherished, treated like he's a priceless treasure of a person, and Rinz will do everything to make sure he knows it. Sure, Flint's not entirely sure why Rinz loves him so much, but he's so happy to be chosen and loved and treated right he's not questioning it (because he thinks maybe if he does it'll stop and he's deciding to be selfish just this once and not risk it aaaaaaa sweetheart your self-esteem is so far thru the floor it found magma. Accept the program loves you with his whole self for your whole self damnit).

Rinz tho? Rinz is bowled all the way over that someone saw fangs and claws and savagery and still went "yes I want that one". He's so used to being seen as the spooky monster most won't even dare name that the moment someone actually sees him? He's so far gone. Head over heels, lovestruck murder puppy all the way. The softness and love and trust Flint gives him is super fucking foreign, but damn if he doesn't love every nanosecond. Would do anything for a helmet smooch please, and even more for actual smooches. Core going doki doki so hard he thinks it might burst out of his chest. Finds it unfathomable nobody else chose Flint before he did, and makes sure Flint knows Rinz loves him with all of his code.

Just loving the idea that Flint, feeling like an eternal 3rd wheel and never having been anyone's first choice in his entire life... getting to finally be THAT guy and the one and only to another who makes him go all doki doki inside uwu♡

[evecolourshock]

I still research all the damn dates, mostly because I want Actual Computer Stuff in my stories about silly computer dudes lol

Although actually, Aster? You're a little wrong on the computer thing. Sure, the laser isn't real, but Dillinger's touchscreen desk absolutely nearly was a thing in the mid-80's. A side project done between a hardware developer and an analyst systems programmer in the UK was a prototype touchscreen, working via a pressure grid made up of thin wires under a glass screen. It was futuristic, and a little mindblowing, and most crucially worked.

So what did the company these two entrepreneurs worked at do, when presented with the finished prototype? Did they coo over the fancy new technology? Did they discuss all its wondrous applications? Did they dream of the possibilities it opened up to them - new produts, a new market, the frontrunner of this new tech with everyone else scrambling to catch up?

No. They axed it. Said it would go nowhere, a flight of fancy and flash in a pan.

As I type this on my touchscrern mobile, with my eyes on a touchscreen laptop, surrounded by people with touchscreen tablets and phones and computers? Bet they're feeling pretty foolish now.

Source for this? I'm related to the programmer, who to this day wishes they'd gone independent and patented it with their colleague themselves, instead of scrapping it. What a world that would have been.

Do not write fanfiction. One second you're normal and the next you're downloading a calendar from 2004 and tearing your hair out over what specific date every event in your fic happens

[evecolourshock]

[evecolourshock]

:) spun a fic off this, featuring an eepy Beck and dad Tron.

Beck grumbles under his breath, but does his best to pay attention. Tron's right, his experience gives him wisdom Beck simply doesn't have right now, but-

Rather hard to listen to him when there's three Trons clipping into each other and some kind of external distortion making all of them unintelligible. "Tron-" he manages to rasp out, though he can't hear himself. The world wavers.

Tron stops immediately, at Beck's side in a blink. Then above him- no, that's the ceiling behind him. When did Beck lie down?

"-hear me?" Tron asks, worry in his voice for the first time Beck's known.

"Mh." Beck groans, unable to get words to work right now.

"Okay." Tron soothes. "Alright." He pauses a moment - whatever position he puts Beck in, it's comfy. "When was the last time you slept?" One hand brushes through Beck's hair, and it's difficult not to close his eyes.

Beck shrugs. He honestly can't remember.

"Too long ago, then." Tron lifts him, despite Beck's attempts at protesting - he's gonna get hurt, not supposed to be exerting himself like this. "No, Beck. You're going to crash if you don't sleep." Tron half-scolds, misinterpreting Beck's struggles as a desire to stay awake. "You need-" Tron's breaths become laboured, exactly what Beck feared would happen. "-to sleep."

Beck somehow musters enough energy to tap Tron's uninjured chest portion, and then jab his hand weakly in the direction of the healing chamber. He's too tired to talk, but hopefully the weak glare accompanying the gesture gets his point across.

"Beck." Tron frowns at him, so Beck does it again. Taps Tron's scarred cheek for good measure, too - seeing the scar is a sure indicator Tron's doing pretty badly, and given it's bisecting his eye again? Not good at all.

Tron hesitates, like he normally does. Usually, this is when Beck would bully him into the healing chamber with little shoves and lots of liberally applied concerned affection.

Beck currently can't do either. Too exhausted.

So. New plan.

Beck pulls the biggest, saddest, softest eyes he's capable of on Tron. Thinks sad lonely Bit in the rain thoughts, to look extra pitiful. Does his best to convey that he can't sleep if he's worrying about Tron, so could Tron pretty please go into the healing chamber so he can recover and Beck can sleep.

Tron's shoulders slump. He changes direction, settling Beck down in the healing chamber room and leaving again - comes back with an armful of blankets and cushions from who knows where, making a nest for Beck. "Happy?" He asks, and Beck chirps muzzily in response.

Tron steps into the healing chamber. Watching it seal and mist up is the last sight Beck has before he lets himself fall asleep, smiling.

Tron: *To Beck* I’ve been your age age, you haven’t been mine… pay attention.

[evecolourshock]

From the way he lit up, Beck had zero problem with discovering somewhere new. More exploring and new friends? Sign him up. "We'll figure something out." He grinned, already looking forward to a new adventure.

Tron stirred a little, not awake yet but the soft rumbling in his chest a sure sign he would be soon. He hadn't slept this well in a long time, and sleep didn't want to let go of him easily.

From the "Send me your muse’s reaction to visiting mine, only to find their home ransacked and my muse beaten to near-death" meme, adapted a little because of lack of prior interaction. (Hello, by the way!) ~@evecolourshock

Eve had honestly not expected anyone to be around in the house she'd ducked into to hide from a Recognizer patrol. It looked abandoned, the door shattered and everything she could see inside damaged and in disarray.

Dim bluish circuits and a sprawled figure impossible to see from the door quickly changed that assumption. Eve cursed silently, dropping to her knees next to them. Whoever they were, they were hurt. "Hey there." She murmured soothingly, fishing out her emergency medical kit. "You're gonna be alright, you hear me? Gonna patch you up and get you out of here, before anyone neither of us wants to cross paths with comes to investigate - or with reinforcements." She could tell this Program had put up one helluva fight against whoever had attacked them. "I'm Eve. Can you tell me your name?"

((Hi! 😄 ))

Ark had made a mistake, but, thankfully, she had been able to cover it up just enough to keep herself alive. Although, at the moment, she wasn't feeling too thankful.

She had gone out as a Renegade, caused some trouble for the Occupation, like she usually did, but hadn't covered her tracks well enough, and she had been followed.

There had been just enough time to switch to her personal circuits before the Occupation burst in.

Assuming the Renegade was male, they suspected her to be helping him, instead of realizing that she was who they were looking for.

Ark refused to give them any information, and things escalated quickly into a vicious fight.

She was greatly outnumbered, though she fought fiercely, the enemy overpowered her.

They had left her mostly dead, thinking that if she somehow survived, it'd also serve as a warning to the Renegade that whoever helped him would meet the same fate, or worse.

Ark faded in and out of consciousness, struggling and clinging to life. She had survived this long, she wasn't going out without a fight.

When an unfamiliar voice called out, she flinched, then immediately winced as pain shot through her.

Had they come back to finish the job?

A more lucid moment rolled in as she heard the program talking gently to her. Whoever this was was friendly, or, at least friendlier.

She liked the idea of getting out of here, this place would never be safe again.

When her rescuerer asked her her name, she weakly replied, "Ark. My name is Ark." She winced again, but managed to add, "And I'm so glad to meet you, Eve."

She had never meant it more than she did now. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was here.

[evecolourshock]

Beck gave a slow, telling look at Tron, still blissfully asleep. He knew exactly who to manipulate to get more cuddle piles. "Might have to move out of the Garage." From his tone, he didn't mind.

The walls of his room back in Argon had felt like they were closing in by the milli, though pacing them told him the room was the same size as always. It just... didn't feel like home any more, not after Bodhi or Able (not Cyrus' fault, he knew and accepted that), and not with the increasing frustrations of his friends wanting to keep him close while he yearned to explore. Beck needed something bigger than Argon - the caves underneath were cool, but he could only go so far without encountering ones that were flooded and he didn't feel that was a safe place to learn to swim - and he hadn't quite figured out how to tell Mara and Zed that.

There was, after all, a whole Grid out there to discover.

From the "Send me your muse’s reaction to visiting mine, only to find their home ransacked and my muse beaten to near-death" meme, adapted a little because of lack of prior interaction. (Hello, by the way!) ~@evecolourshock

Eve had honestly not expected anyone to be around in the house she'd ducked into to hide from a Recognizer patrol. It looked abandoned, the door shattered and everything she could see inside damaged and in disarray.

Dim bluish circuits and a sprawled figure impossible to see from the door quickly changed that assumption. Eve cursed silently, dropping to her knees next to them. Whoever they were, they were hurt. "Hey there." She murmured soothingly, fishing out her emergency medical kit. "You're gonna be alright, you hear me? Gonna patch you up and get you out of here, before anyone neither of us wants to cross paths with comes to investigate - or with reinforcements." She could tell this Program had put up one helluva fight against whoever had attacked them. "I'm Eve. Can you tell me your name?"

((Hi! 😄 ))

Ark had made a mistake, but, thankfully, she had been able to cover it up just enough to keep herself alive. Although, at the moment, she wasn't feeling too thankful.

She had gone out as a Renegade, caused some trouble for the Occupation, like she usually did, but hadn't covered her tracks well enough, and she had been followed.

There had been just enough time to switch to her personal circuits before the Occupation burst in.

Assuming the Renegade was male, they suspected her to be helping him, instead of realizing that she was who they were looking for.

Ark refused to give them any information, and things escalated quickly into a vicious fight.

She was greatly outnumbered, though she fought fiercely, the enemy overpowered her.

They had left her mostly dead, thinking that if she somehow survived, it'd also serve as a warning to the Renegade that whoever helped him would meet the same fate, or worse.

Ark faded in and out of consciousness, struggling and clinging to life. She had survived this long, she wasn't going out without a fight.

When an unfamiliar voice called out, she flinched, then immediately winced as pain shot through her.

Had they come back to finish the job?

A more lucid moment rolled in as she heard the program talking gently to her. Whoever this was was friendly, or, at least friendlier.

She liked the idea of getting out of here, this place would never be safe again.

When her rescuerer asked her her name, she weakly replied, "Ark. My name is Ark." She winced again, but managed to add, "And I'm so glad to meet you, Eve."

She had never meant it more than she did now. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was here.

[evecolourshock]

have you ever made art that you are actually proud of?

[evecolourshock]

"Yeah. No nightmares, is always good. Didn't hear Bo screamin', only laughing and good times." He hummed, eyes half-lidded. "And Cy's warm and comfy. You?"

This was nice. Surrounded by friends, living and not, with a future ahead. Beck had been honestly worried he wouldn't get one.

From the "Send me your muse’s reaction to visiting mine, only to find their home ransacked and my muse beaten to near-death" meme, adapted a little because of lack of prior interaction. (Hello, by the way!) ~@evecolourshock

Eve had honestly not expected anyone to be around in the house she'd ducked into to hide from a Recognizer patrol. It looked abandoned, the door shattered and everything she could see inside damaged and in disarray.

Dim bluish circuits and a sprawled figure impossible to see from the door quickly changed that assumption. Eve cursed silently, dropping to her knees next to them. Whoever they were, they were hurt. "Hey there." She murmured soothingly, fishing out her emergency medical kit. "You're gonna be alright, you hear me? Gonna patch you up and get you out of here, before anyone neither of us wants to cross paths with comes to investigate - or with reinforcements." She could tell this Program had put up one helluva fight against whoever had attacked them. "I'm Eve. Can you tell me your name?"

((Hi! 😄 ))

Ark had made a mistake, but, thankfully, she had been able to cover it up just enough to keep herself alive. Although, at the moment, she wasn't feeling too thankful.

She had gone out as a Renegade, caused some trouble for the Occupation, like she usually did, but hadn't covered her tracks well enough, and she had been followed.

There had been just enough time to switch to her personal circuits before the Occupation burst in.

Assuming the Renegade was male, they suspected her to be helping him, instead of realizing that she was who they were looking for.

Ark refused to give them any information, and things escalated quickly into a vicious fight.

She was greatly outnumbered, though she fought fiercely, the enemy overpowered her.

They had left her mostly dead, thinking that if she somehow survived, it'd also serve as a warning to the Renegade that whoever helped him would meet the same fate, or worse.

Ark faded in and out of consciousness, struggling and clinging to life. She had survived this long, she wasn't going out without a fight.

When an unfamiliar voice called out, she flinched, then immediately winced as pain shot through her.

Had they come back to finish the job?

A more lucid moment rolled in as she heard the program talking gently to her. Whoever this was was friendly, or, at least friendlier.

She liked the idea of getting out of here, this place would never be safe again.

When her rescuerer asked her her name, she weakly replied, "Ark. My name is Ark." She winced again, but managed to add, "And I'm so glad to meet you, Eve."

She had never meant it more than she did now. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was here.

[evecolourshock]

@not-that-dillinger it's you!!!

FUCKING EDQARD DILLINGER JR? IS IN SOMETHING ? IN 2025??????????????????????

[evecolourshock]

Beck guessed Ark was awake, since she stiffened up a little. Just enough for Beck to tell pretending to be asleep from asleep. He turned his head carefully, making sure he didn't disturb Cyrus. "Hi." He whispered, still pretty relaxed - Cyrus was comfy.

From the "Send me your muse’s reaction to visiting mine, only to find their home ransacked and my muse beaten to near-death" meme, adapted a little because of lack of prior interaction. (Hello, by the way!) ~@evecolourshock

Eve had honestly not expected anyone to be around in the house she'd ducked into to hide from a Recognizer patrol. It looked abandoned, the door shattered and everything she could see inside damaged and in disarray.

Dim bluish circuits and a sprawled figure impossible to see from the door quickly changed that assumption. Eve cursed silently, dropping to her knees next to them. Whoever they were, they were hurt. "Hey there." She murmured soothingly, fishing out her emergency medical kit. "You're gonna be alright, you hear me? Gonna patch you up and get you out of here, before anyone neither of us wants to cross paths with comes to investigate - or with reinforcements." She could tell this Program had put up one helluva fight against whoever had attacked them. "I'm Eve. Can you tell me your name?"

((Hi! 😄 ))

Ark had made a mistake, but, thankfully, she had been able to cover it up just enough to keep herself alive. Although, at the moment, she wasn't feeling too thankful.

She had gone out as a Renegade, caused some trouble for the Occupation, like she usually did, but hadn't covered her tracks well enough, and she had been followed.

There had been just enough time to switch to her personal circuits before the Occupation burst in.

Assuming the Renegade was male, they suspected her to be helping him, instead of realizing that she was who they were looking for.

Ark refused to give them any information, and things escalated quickly into a vicious fight.

She was greatly outnumbered, though she fought fiercely, the enemy overpowered her.

They had left her mostly dead, thinking that if she somehow survived, it'd also serve as a warning to the Renegade that whoever helped him would meet the same fate, or worse.

Ark faded in and out of consciousness, struggling and clinging to life. She had survived this long, she wasn't going out without a fight.

When an unfamiliar voice called out, she flinched, then immediately winced as pain shot through her.

Had they come back to finish the job?

A more lucid moment rolled in as she heard the program talking gently to her. Whoever this was was friendly, or, at least friendlier.

She liked the idea of getting out of here, this place would never be safe again.

When her rescuerer asked her her name, she weakly replied, "Ark. My name is Ark." She winced again, but managed to add, "And I'm so glad to meet you, Eve."

She had never meant it more than she did now. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was here.

[evecolourshock]

:)

"Rinzler." Beck calls, ignoring the hushed exclamations of terror from his fellow Uprising members. If they didn't want him doing the distraction, they shouldn't have made that his role. "Hey buddy." He coos, seeing that blank helmet perk up in recognition. "Wanna play?" He slips one hand behind his back, watching Rinzler bounce in eager anticipation.

The laser pointer nets him a lot of confusion from his teammates, but given the way Rinzler crouches, with his whole body wriggling delightedly? Well worth the confusion. "Ready?" Rinzler sets his hands on the floor, raspy purrs getting louder.

Beck prepares for pandemonium, and switches on the laser pointer. "Go!"

Beck sorely wants to join in, watching Rinzler pelt around the room chasing a yellow dot. If the chirps the Enforcer lets out are any indication, it's great fun, especially when Rinzler pounces for the dot, thinks he caught it with a triumphant beep... and then jolts and flails out all four limbs like a startled Gridbug when Beck produces another laser pointer and there are two dots he can pursue.

But someone has to wield the laser pointer, and Beck knows he won't be attacked on sight. Some time off for Rinzler, goofing around to chase a speck of light with no fear of repercussion or hurting anyone, is something he knows the Enforcer looks forward to.

Hopefully one day. Seems like it would be brilliant with a friend.

Beck pouts, bored and exhausted. He probably should be paying attention to whatever it is Alan_One is talking about, but-

Dot!

Beck bats at it, a lot more alert. It skitters away, and he bunches up to pounce-

Only to be elbowed by accident when Sam stretches and yawns. Right. Boring meeting. He adjusts how he's sitting, deperately pretends he didn't want to scamper across the room after a light speck... and catches Tron valiantly attempting to not hit the dot himself when it comes in range.

Beck perks up. He hasn't brought the laser pointer out of storage in a while - didn't get the chance, what with the whole... Users and escaping and end of Clu chaos going on. And when Tron had climbed out of the sea instead of Rinzler...

Don't get him wrong, he's glad Tron's back, but Beck had figured he'd lost both his potential playmate and the chance to be ridiculous.

And yet-

Beck squints. There's definitely orange tinting those circuits, not blue. Maybe Rinzler's not quite as gone as he thought?

Beck has no idea how he gets through the meeting without lunging for the laser pointer at least once. But he does, and the humans file out, so it's just him and Tron in the room.

Tron's doing that thing where he pretends to be mysterious and wise and not at all someone who nearly cracked the arms of his chair trying not to throw himself across the room after a glowing dot.

Beck clambers up onto the table. "Push the chairs to the sides?" He asks. "Or just. Somewhere we're not going to run into them. Maybe under the table, actually."

Tron looks at him, mystified. Beck grins, fiddling with a device he'd made a while ago. He doesn't know what to call it, but it has a full hemisphere of randomized movement...

...and a mounting block for a single laser pointer, tinted yellow.

"Figured it's about time we had some real fun." Beck waggles the remote at Tron, seeing the suppressed delight when he catches on to what Beck means. And how his circuits flood amber, happy purrs starting up. "Yeah?" Beck coaxes. "We get the chairs out the way, and we can play together."

The chairs still end up all over the room. Beck chirps, herding the pesky dot over to Rinzler so they can pounce on it together - only for it to zoom off to the other end of the room, Rinzler in hot pursuit.

He was right - this is so much more fun with a friend.

Imagining Rinzler chasing a laser pointer, but for the reason of Clu used them to point out who to kill (and had it shine out of his fingertip so he could point dramatically at someone to declare that they shall die).

Then someone who doesn’t know this uses one at a briefing and chaos ensues.

Then the Uprising figures it out and starts using their own lasers to point Rinzler at the black guards.

Clu switches to controlling him with the spheres after that.

Alan uses one post-legacy and Tron still feels an urge to fling himself across the table. He won’t do it though because it’s undignified. He just hits at it when it comes in range and then pretends it didn’t happen

[evecolourshock]

"That's okay. Progress is good." Tron didn't like the implication of Ed being the only one able to use his auto-injector, but then again...

Had he been so different, refusing to admit when he needed his healing chamber, that his poor health often got the better of him? Had he not done his best to pretend everything was fine, that he didn't need help, because to admit vulnerability felt like opening himself up to attack? Had the first time someone had seen through the act and given him the respite he sorely needed not terrified him beyond belief?

He and Ed were far too similar, on some things. Ed would get there, in his own time, and not before.

"True. I'd rather not have to worry about him being in that position, or whether I'd have to back him up. Contrary to popular belief, I'm a terrible liar." Tron chuckled, figuring out how to chop some carrot sticks Ed hadn't gotten round to finishing. "With luck, it'll be fine. One way, or another."

Ed huffed, stifled a laugh. It wasn't... bitter laughter, though it wasn't quite amusement, either. "Idiot beta, sounds about right," he said.

"As far as Peter... it's likely that may have been one of his programs? As I understand it, he was one of Encom's programmers, before he became Dillinger's assistant."

He stiffened at the contact, but it did manage to pull him back to the present. He turned from the cooler, back to the fridge. "I--I know. And... thank you. I know.... you're still recovering, and had probably hoped the peace would last a bit longer, but. I do appreciate you being here."

At least, Ed had hoped the peace would last longer. At least a few more months. If anyone deserved the time to recover in peace, if not to live out the rest of their runtime without any further disturbance, it was Tron. He hated that he was the one to disrupt it.

Ed retrieved his epinephrine auto injector. Thanks to Yori, he hadn't needed it in years, but he wasn't fool enough to leave home without it. He of course had another one in the small fridge under his desk, but he wouldn't have access to his office, but that was meant to be a backup, and it was better to stay in the habit of carrying one with him everywhere, anyway.

He retrieved the holster from the drawer next to the refrigerator, slipped the auto injector into it, and then clipped it to his belt.

"Anyway... anything you want, snacks for later?"

[evecolourshock]

:) Your WIP is amazing and gave me ideas - have a story!

"Did you like my disc?" Cyrus purrs, pinning Beck to the wall. His hands are strong, familiarly so - trained, like Beck is, probably by the same Program given Beck's been trying to learn the exact same pin. Beck still pushes back, though it's more experimental than anything else - there's no give, not that he was expecting any. Just confirming he's not going to win a fight head-on.

So, new tactic. "So what if I did?" Beck flirts back, slightly breathless given the entire forearm pushing against his neck. It's easy - Cyrus isn't exactly displeasing to the eyes, and somehow this feels more natural than anything with Paige did.

Beck... doesn't want to think too hard about that.

"Odd little Program." Cyrus hums, clearly caught off guard but not enough to let go. "What do you think of destiny?" He leans in, whispering close to Beck's ear - and Beck is apparently learning all sorts of things about himself right now, because this feels insanely intimate and he definitely likes it. "Of fate? All of this planned out, just to end up here?"

"To meet you? Doesn't sound so bad to me." Beck murmurs back, voice low and rough with lack of air. "Though I guess it depends on where we go from here - help a guy out? I'm getting mixed messages, and am supremely more okay with one option than the other."

Cyrus seems to abruptly realise the position he's trapped Beck in. So close there's barely any space between them, one thigh between Beck's legs, Beck's throat under his wrist - Beck swallows on purpose, lets Cyrus feel the movement. Beck's hands in no position to do anything of use - one held to the wall, the other instinctively occupied with giving himself a chance to breathe.

"So what's it to be, handsome?" Beck purrs, feeling Cyrus' grip falter. "Gonna take me out right here, or to somewhere a little nicer than a glorified box?"

Something sparks in Cyrus' eyes, lights them up so they don't look so dull and crazed and hopeless. It's a good look on him. "Where did you have in mind?"

"Well, there's a wonderful little café in Gallium, does their own custom blends." Beck offers a smile and his hand. "Shall we?"

So like… drawing Destiny Boyfriends was not on my 2025 bingo but well here we are… have a WIP?

[evecolourshock]

Beck yawned, clicking in the back of his throat. It was nice to be able to boot up slowly, no deadlines or disasters to contend with.

Cyrus was a bundle of slowly pulsing circuits underneath him, lax and content, which was nice. He normally had terrible nightmares, alone and afraid and trapped in an ever-shrinking box, so to see him fully relaxed was good. Beck traced a finger down Cyrus' face, mapping a circuit cluster a little brighter than the others - they got on well together, even with the uneasy truce forged after Tron's disappearance hanging between them, and he was looking forward to actually getting to know the clever demolitions expert.

Someone new curled into his side - Ark, the primary Renegade for Sector Eight. He'd heard a little bit about her, but not much - Tron had tried to keep the Renegades from learning about each other's civilian identities and the exact locations of their bases, so one couldn't compromise others, and had insisted they all had hiding places he didn't know about so they had somewhere safe to go in case he was the one captured. But Ark seemed nice, and with the Occupation beginning to go away maybe they could start a support group and make friends.

And Tron himself was still asleep, cuddling everyone the way he said Beck did. Whole, healed. Safe. Smiling slightly, glowing faintly blue, purring contentedly. At peace, for the first time since Beck met him.

Peace looked good on him. Looked good in general, really, but especially on Tron. He hadn't really experienced it before.

From the "Send me your muse’s reaction to visiting mine, only to find their home ransacked and my muse beaten to near-death" meme, adapted a little because of lack of prior interaction. (Hello, by the way!) ~@evecolourshock

Eve had honestly not expected anyone to be around in the house she'd ducked into to hide from a Recognizer patrol. It looked abandoned, the door shattered and everything she could see inside damaged and in disarray.

Dim bluish circuits and a sprawled figure impossible to see from the door quickly changed that assumption. Eve cursed silently, dropping to her knees next to them. Whoever they were, they were hurt. "Hey there." She murmured soothingly, fishing out her emergency medical kit. "You're gonna be alright, you hear me? Gonna patch you up and get you out of here, before anyone neither of us wants to cross paths with comes to investigate - or with reinforcements." She could tell this Program had put up one helluva fight against whoever had attacked them. "I'm Eve. Can you tell me your name?"

((Hi! 😄 ))

Ark had made a mistake, but, thankfully, she had been able to cover it up just enough to keep herself alive. Although, at the moment, she wasn't feeling too thankful.

She had gone out as a Renegade, caused some trouble for the Occupation, like she usually did, but hadn't covered her tracks well enough, and she had been followed.

There had been just enough time to switch to her personal circuits before the Occupation burst in.

Assuming the Renegade was male, they suspected her to be helping him, instead of realizing that she was who they were looking for.

Ark refused to give them any information, and things escalated quickly into a vicious fight.

She was greatly outnumbered, though she fought fiercely, the enemy overpowered her.

They had left her mostly dead, thinking that if she somehow survived, it'd also serve as a warning to the Renegade that whoever helped him would meet the same fate, or worse.

Ark faded in and out of consciousness, struggling and clinging to life. She had survived this long, she wasn't going out without a fight.

When an unfamiliar voice called out, she flinched, then immediately winced as pain shot through her.

Had they come back to finish the job?

A more lucid moment rolled in as she heard the program talking gently to her. Whoever this was was friendly, or, at least friendlier.

She liked the idea of getting out of here, this place would never be safe again.

When her rescuerer asked her her name, she weakly replied, "Ark. My name is Ark." She winced again, but managed to add, "And I'm so glad to meet you, Eve."

She had never meant it more than she did now. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was here.

[evecolourshock]

"Hm, perhaps the kettle corn? Ram got some from his User once, before... everything, said the version he had was sweet but with enough counterbalance to not be overpoweringly so." Tron gave a considering look at the licorice, but decided against it for now. He could always try it later.

"Ah." Oversensitive internal defences? Those Tron understood. "I... am somewhat similar. Certain energy flavourings... don't mix well with me, can cause crashes due to incompatibility. Different manifestation, but... much the same, too." He eyed the auto injector keenly. "Are there others you trust to know how to use that, if you're in a state where you can't? I hope such a thing never happens, but just in case... contingencies rarely hurt."

Tron laughed at the thought of someone in authority trying to pin anything on Beck - he'd inadvertently taught his beta exactly how to get away with everything. "I believe Beck would have at least five different stories he could whip out at a moment's notice so he stays in the clear. If he puts his mind to it, he's a skilled liar, but most of the time he finds it more effort than it's worth to bother and prefers to be honest anyway."

Ed huffed, stifled a laugh. It wasn't... bitter laughter, though it wasn't quite amusement, either. "Idiot beta, sounds about right," he said.

"As far as Peter... it's likely that may have been one of his programs? As I understand it, he was one of Encom's programmers, before he became Dillinger's assistant."

He stiffened at the contact, but it did manage to pull him back to the present. He turned from the cooler, back to the fridge. "I--I know. And... thank you. I know.... you're still recovering, and had probably hoped the peace would last a bit longer, but. I do appreciate you being here."

At least, Ed had hoped the peace would last longer. At least a few more months. If anyone deserved the time to recover in peace, if not to live out the rest of their runtime without any further disturbance, it was Tron. He hated that he was the one to disrupt it.

Ed retrieved his epinephrine auto injector. Thanks to Yori, he hadn't needed it in years, but he wasn't fool enough to leave home without it. He of course had another one in the small fridge under his desk, but he wouldn't have access to his office, but that was meant to be a backup, and it was better to stay in the habit of carrying one with him everywhere, anyway.

He retrieved the holster from the drawer next to the refrigerator, slipped the auto injector into it, and then clipped it to his belt.

"Anyway... anything you want, snacks for later?"

[evecolourshock]

And you wonder why I try to give them happiness and care and affection anyway. You deserve all of those things too ♡

And yes, you are very likeable! You're amazing ♡♡

As if you guys wonder why I make my ocs unlikeable nerds who everyone hates & should off themselves smh.