inheritance | IC Inbox

[ he's like a rambly akihiko... not that aigis really considers him rambly--if anything, she's listening attentively to his every word.

so he's friendly... he seems reliable, and he pays attention to the needs and risks of others. he's definitely a good person... though perhaps that's a bit too analytical. ]

No, I...

[ hm. she doesn't want to make it seem as if he's talking too much, and she certainly doesn't mind that, so--maybe a little more information on her end wouldn't hurt either. ]

I've never had much need for training, so it hasn't crossed my mind to look for a place to do it. I just come here to... um, think sometimes.

[ it's in her programming, and tartarus was usually good practice. so... usually, there wasn't any need to actively pursue it. ]

[Immediately, Izuku forgets the flicker of embarrassment, sympathy welling up in his eyes instead.] I guess you'd be doing a lot of that. Thinking, I mean. You've only been here a few days.

[Now, there's something eager-to-please in the way he leans in toward her slightly.] Anything I could help with? You've probably got a bunch of your questions answered already, but if there was anything else....

[ it isn't his eagerness to help that makes aigis hesitant. it's the fact she can't really leave well enough alone. she kept coming here, after all, even though everyone warned her about...

well. she glances at the forest, a slightly frustrated expression on her face.

she shouldn't. but her inability to do anything is really making her restless. she glances back to izuku. ]

... Thank you, Izuku-san. But I don't want to interrupt your training.

It's not interrupting if I'm offering.

[There's an understanding little smile curling at his mouth now. The way she'd glanced at the forest just now--Izuku has a hunch about what brought her out here.]

You wanted to check it out, didn't you? Even though you've been told you shouldn't.

[ izuku "bad decisions" midoriya.

she knows she was being incredibly transparent with her curiosity, so aigis can't really find it within her to be surprised at izuku calling her out. him pointing out what she's been told, though... that does get her looking somewhat guilty.

it's been a common warning. it's a little silly and reckless to ignore it just a few days after hearing it, isn't it...? ]

I... find it somewhat frustrating to wait and see, when so many people have told me of the danger in the forest. I haven't...

[ been programmed to do that? no. ]

... Lived my life doing nothing about perceived threats.

[ oops. now she's rambling--and she definitely looks both apologetic and sheepish about that. ]

Um...

[A little huff of laughter escapes him even as he ducks his head sheepishly.] I'm...kind of the same [He means, a lot the same.] so I understand how you feel.

To be honest, the warning's there just so people know not to wander in without being prepared for trouble. [Izuku pauses now, looking her over thoughtfully.] Do you know how to fight?

[ again, she shouldn't. but he says he's been there more than once, and... were anything to go wrong, she could protect him...?

maybe it's a combination of that and his reassurances, his understanding, that gets her moving.

without hesitation, she answers: ]

Yes. You could say I was made for it...

[ ha! ha! that's said as a half-joke, but it seems there's a bit there that she isn't quite divulging. ]

[Half-joke or not, Izuku doesn't seem to think there's anything strange about her answer at all, casting another grin her way.]

We could go in together to have a look, if you want! A lot of the quests end up involving the forest anyway.

[He has no illusions that she'll eventually go into the forest, especially if she's capable of defending herself.]

[ he's too nice for his own good.

but. this is an opportunity, and she shouldn't remain oblivious to something that's so obviously going to come up later--

she takes a moment to consider it, glancing at the ground, before she looks up at him again. and... nods. ]

If you're certain...

[ yes. ]

... But please stand behind me in case anything happens, Izuku-san. You're doing this favor for me... so I will not allow anything to harm you.

[ aigis

no

you don't even know what you're doing ]

I'm certain. [For all his smiles and eagerness, Izuku says those words with the firmness of someone who's familiar with danger.]

That's nice of you, Aigis-san. [He has to admit, standing back and simply letting someone protect him is something that doesn't sit right well with him.] But...it's my choice to go, too. Instead of putting all the responsibility on one of us, why don't we just look out for each other instead?

[On equal terms!]

[ oh.

aigis hesitates on that, itching to say otherwise... but, no. he has a point--it was his choice. still, it lingers on her mind that she'd make his safety a priority... though she trusts he'd do the same for her, as well. ]

... You're right. We're both comrades... let us protect each other.

[ on equal terms. it's with that resolution that she glances one last time towards the forest, taking a couple of steps forward.

and, finally: ]

Shall we go now?

[ bad decisions, here we go-- ]

Yeah, exactly! [His sunny smile returns swiftly when she agrees. It's a relief knowing that they'll be on the same page when they head out.

Speaking of which--] Sure, let's head out now. Everyone's already told you what to expect when we go in, right?

[He falls into step beside her, not looking too worried yet. All the monsters and tricks are deeper in the forest, after all.]

A bit... I was told there would be both physical and psychological threats, though nothing specific was mentioned.

[ so. it could mean a lot of things.

like maybe it's bears? hypnotic bears? who knows. either way, whatever it is--aigis is actively scanning their background surroundings, keeping incredibly alert as they begin to head in.

but. speaking of what to expect... ]

... Ah. Actually... How do you fight, Izuku-san?

[ that's a little bit important. ]

[Oh, that's pretty vague.] I can give you a few examples! The psychological threats usually involve illusions of some kind. The forest really likes to use our memories against us, to lure us into danger by showing us visions of the people we care about.

[He's briefly distracted from his long-winded explanation when she pipes up again.] Oh! Good point, Aigis-san. We should know what we both can do before we run into anything. Um, long story short, I have increased strength and speed. I can use long distance wind pressure attacks, too. What about you?

[ oh... interesting. she takes note of that, trying to visualize his skills and those threats to try and get a clear vision of what to expect...

before he asks for her own. she expected that, really, but she'd hoped that an appropriate answer to that question would've popped in her head by the time he asked it. which... well, it didn't.

in this case, perhaps it's better to be honest...? it isn't like confidentiality is an issue here, not when there's so many people from so many different worlds. starting with the easiest thing: ]

I'm not certain how detailed I should be with my explanation, as there are others here who can use this power... But I can use a Persona, Athena, which allows me to heal, support, and utilize some stronger physical attacks. And I, um...

[ ... she's a little more awkward here. ]

I myself am a machine specialized for combat, so I'm equipped with several firearms. I'll do my best to adjust to your fighting style as I observe it, so please do not worry.

[Izuku slows to a stop, looking at her in surprise. There's a lot to unpack here??]

You're a persona user? There's a few other like you here--maybe you guys even know each other!

[And while he'd normally begin to ask questions about her persona, there's something else here that he just can't help but get stuck on.]

Wait...you're a machine?? [Wide-eyed, he looks at her face, studying her more carefully now.] Wow...I couldn't tell at all. [That's some impressive technology, there.]

[ maybe she should have dropped these bombshells outside of the forest... aigis slows with him, looking somewhat sheepish at izuku's... understandable reaction, but you know.

she's dividing her attention between their surroundings and his surprise. the latter honestly doesn't get any easier, no matter how many times she experiences it. ]

Not many people can... At least, not when I wear my school uniform.

[ the oddest part of her face is probably her eyes... but besides that, totally human looking. ]

That's really cool, though! [If anything, Aigis doesn't have to worry about Izuku freaking out too much about her nature. Growing up around as many strange quirks as he has, he's generally able to take things in a stride.]

I'm looking forward to seeing how you fight, Aigis-san! [He gives her a grin.] I know I'll be in capable hands.

[ ahah... "really cool" is a good thing, so she'll... offer a friendly, somewhat relieved smile at that. not that she expected him to reject her or anything based on that, given what she's seen of him.

... still. every one person she tells is another person she's a little more natural around. as natural as a robot can be, anyway. warmly: ]

And the same to you.

[ though ideally they wouldn't have to fight at all, but they all knew what they expected coming out here. ]

Now, let's move on, Izuku-san. I... suppose I can say this now that you know what I am... [ she glances at him, a bit of light tone in her voice. ] I don't detect anything abnormal just yet.

[ at least, she thinks she doesn't...? ]

[The more she reveals about her abilities, the more Izuku wants to ask. If only he hadn't left his notebook back at the cottage! Thankfully, he has a good memory--he can just write all of this down later.]

That's such a useful skill to have. I bet it's really hard for anyone to sneak up on you. [Then, his voice drops to a mumble.] It'd be extremely useful for any hero doing fieldwork, too, in case of ambush. Not to mention, dealing with villains who'd have quirks that mess around with sight, like invisibility and illusions, or even villains who have speed quirks. Then again, it depends if the detection ability could pinpoint someone in particular or if it's a based on a radius of some kind...

Ah! [Oops, he went off on a tangent again. Sheepishly, he turns his attention back to Aigis.] What kind of things are you able to sense? You said anything "abnormal", but what would that mean?

[Especially when "normal" is a bit skewed here, when all the fauna around are mutated in some way.]

[ ... woah, izuku. honestly, the feeling is mutual... because those abilities he's listing are certainly out of the norm, and the way he thinks so thoroughly about the applications of her own ability is a side of him that she hasn't seen yet.

of course, she hasn't known him for long... but he is interesting. ]

My sensory abilities aren't my specialty, and my Persona abilities don't supplement them... so they're limited to what I was originally designed with.

[ so if he's looking for anime powers to fight the anime, aigis is not as good a fit as fuuka. however-- ]

I do have surface body temperature scanners, along with some recognition functions. "Abnormal" refers to anything I could perceive as a possible threat, which is... nothing, at the moment.

[ given she was designed with primarily shadow combat in mind, so her systems may be a bit biased in that regard... ]

That's good enough. [Izuku gestures up at the trees now, where Aigis would be able to see a few birds, each with a mutation of some kind--extra wings, extra heads, and so on.] Most of the animals here are mutated anyway. If you sense anything that's bigger or anything that's headed right for us, give me a warning.

[He isn't sure if mythical creatures would register differently on her sensors yet, so that's all they have to go on for now.]

So...what do you think of Chroma so far?

[It's said quietly, so they can still keep an ear out for trouble, but Izuku figures if they're going to be walking for a while, he might as well make small talk.]

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