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[nostalgiabomb]

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[nostalgiabomb]

[ The change in her demeanor doesn't pass his notice; he didn't get the full story on why the kid needed transport out of here, nor did he care to ask (it wasn't his business), and while he's curious, it's not in Peter's nature to pry for information. Still, he pauses, frowning. ]

If you need a sec to yourself...

[coppertopped]

[ Penny hesitates again, eyes fixed on the bay doors. Unlike Peter, she has no sense about what is okay and what is not to ask people about, or what constitutes as “prying”, which is why she blurts out: ]

Have you ever had to leave someone behind?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The question catches him off-guard, and he blinks a couple of times before answering. ]

Yeah. I have.

[ The answer is straightforward enough -- nothing cagey about his response, aside from its brevity. Telling a kid about all the times he's ditched a fellow Ravager for the sake of finishing a job probably isn't particularly wise if he wants to keep his rap sheet to himself. And it's probably not what she's looking for, anyway. ]

It's never easy.

[coppertopped]

[ She clenches her fists, the handle of her suitcase creaking with the pressure. ] I told Ruby I wanted to stay.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His head tilts to one side. ]

Friend of yours?

[coppertopped]

My best friend.

[ Her only friend. ]

She doesn't even know I'm okay.

[nostalgiabomb]

And I'm guessing there's a real good reason you haven't told her.

[coppertopped]

It's... really, really complicated. I don't know how much my father told you. He's usually very secretive.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He huffs out a breath, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards in amusement. ]

I pretty much got a time, a date, and coordinates, so. [ He shrugs. ]

It's not my business to know more than that.

[coppertopped]

[ If it’s possible for Penny’s expression to fall even more, it does. More secrets. She’s getting tired of secrets. ]

I see. [ A beat. ]

Everyone thinks I’m dead.

[ She’s really, really tired of secrets. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

... Huh.

I'm guessin ' there's a real good reason for that, too.

[coppertopped]

I don't know if you know about the Vytal Festival, but there's a big tournament for students from the different nations.

I um. Something went wrong.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ he knows exactly nothing about the festival, but he doesn't say as much. ]

How wrong, exactly?

[coppertopped]

I got cut in half. Lost an arm.

[ she clears her throat, nervous and self-conscious ]

You know.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ uh ]

One more time?

[coppertopped]

I'm... I'm not a real girl. I'm a machine.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ a pause, then, ]

You sure you should be telling me this?

[coppertopped]

No.

But I don't want to lie anymore.

[nostalgiabomb]

Alright. [ slowly, doubtfully. He leans against the bulkhead, shoulder pressed against the metal and ankles crossed. ]

So you're-- a robot, is what you're saying.