(no subject)

[fight4theusers]

Tron hasn't been seen around much since his loss to Erik in the Games. Most of this time has been spent in his sparse quarters, allowing his self-repair algorithms to work on his minor injuries (and largely attempting to ignore the not-so-minor ones).

He lost. How could he lose in the Games? Granted, they weren't the same type of Games as back on the Grid, but still... this was what Tron was best at... perhaps not his original design, but whether as Tron or Rinzler, he was undefeated. Until now.

Despite the self-deprecating thoughts running rampant through his processor, Tron can't remain sequestered in his room forever. Eventually, he emerges, and can be found either walking slowly through the Ingress Complex halls, or on the way to R1. One might notice that he is holding his right arm stiffly and close to his body, though no visible injury shows on the outside of his suit.

Comments

Ingress Complex get

[notglitching]

Tron wasn't the only program present in the Games—or even the only iteration of him. But if Rinzler hadn't been selected for the final match, he had won his round of combat handily, and at this point, no cracks mar the enforcer's shell. If the quick, unhesitating pace with which he turns the corner is much sign, he's not even hiding damage this time.

Of course, that doesn't mean he doesn't notice Tron's. Steps lag, mask quirking curiously as he notes the slow pace and careful positioning of that arm. Rinzler doesn't move to close the gap, but his helmet tips up to his double's face in silent question. Or criticism, perhaps.

Is Tron planning to stay that way?

[fight4theusers]

Rinzler is definitely low on the list of people or programs that Tron wants to see right now. Of course he's aware of the fact that his double won his match in the Games... how could he not have checked to see? Tron knows the two of them are evenly matched in a fight (or at least have been, in the past), so whatever happened in that Arena was either something completely out of the ordinary or... he doesn't want to think of other possibilities.

He won't run away, though, or refuse to confront his duplicate. Pausing, he straightens his stance just a bit and drops his arm to his side in feigned casualness, ignoring the pain that ripples through his code at the movement. Rinzler may be able to see through him, but he'll be glitched if he'll show more weakness than necessary.

"Did you want something?" If his tone is more strained than usual, well, he'll play that off as the usual tension between the two of them.

[notglitching]

Really, mirror? There's a scathing static scrape to the enforcer's noise, but he doesn't dignify the question with any words. Instead, the black mask dips a fraction to Tron's right... then raises with a pointed tilt.

Somebody's looking less than functional.

[fight4theusers]

Tron glances to his side, then back at Rinzler. "It's nothing. Surface render flaws... it'll self-repair. Eventually." Hopefully. He's been through enough with disintegrating scars that wouldn't heal on their own. At least this one isn't as visible as the ones on his face had been.

[notglitching]

Surface render flaws. Of course. Rinzler doesn't point out that his copy should hardly be staggering from something so minor, or that it's been almost half a decicycle since the fight. More than enough time for instabilities to seal—where and if they could.

No, if Tron thinks he's so stupid as to accept such a poor lie, there isn't much to say at all. The enforcer's stare lingers pointedly, sound ticking out for several beats, before he dips his head in short acknowledgement. Turns, making to step past.

...and flashes out an elbow, aimed to jostle Tron right in that damaged arm.

[fight4theusers]

Good, he understands, Tron thinks for all of 2 seconds as Rinzler begins to walk by him. It's not like his double has never feigned being unhurt before.

Then Rinzler's elbow lashes out, catching Tron in the arm before he can move to dodge. Injured as he is, he would not have been able to move fast enough to avoid the blow, and it catches him hard enough to split open the cracks that had just barely been holding together in the first place. Blue cracks splinter over his arm up to his shoulder, no longer covered by his armor or gridsuit. He bites back a hiss of pain, his free hand coming up to cover the injury.

Spinning to face Rinzler, he clenches his teeth in pain and anger. "Do you feel better for that? What are you trying to prove?"

[notglitching]

Oh, Rinzler has certainly been in Tron's position. His first three decicycles on the Moira were spent hiding damage—a blow inflicted by Tron's disk. He'd covered the injury, kept it out of sight... until a user had managed to get close enough to smash half his side in at the wound.

Rinzler meets and matches his double's glare, noise growling out in harsh counterpoint. He doesn't back down in the slightest, and if the aggressive slope clinging to his frame is any sign, he's very willing to take this further if Tron wants.

Still, when his hand reaches up, it's not for a weapon. And this isn't payback. Not like that.

Need repair.

[fight4theusers]

Tron tries not to flinch back from Rinzler's reach, but there's still an involuntary twitch backward. "Yes. I know." His hand still clutches his injury, the cracks shedding blue voxels over his fingers. "Was planning on it. Do you want to gloat over your victory in the Games? Is that it?"

[notglitching]

The reach had been for his communicator. Tron's retreat (Tron's flinch) earns a flat stare, but Rinzler lets his double keep the distance.

Don't need to.

He'd won, Tron hadn't, and Tron is clearly conscious of the fact. Almost irritatingly so. What's the fun in doing better than his mirror when Tron is already wallowing in the loss before he gets there? Anger is right, anger is at least a challenge, but that flinch had just been disturbing.

If in doubt, push harder.

Superiority: demonstrated.

Subtle.

[fight4theusers]

Tron isn't angry at Rinzler, not really... or at least he wasn't until that comment. For the past few days his anger has been directed inward, berating himself for daring to lose, for getting so overconfident that he made a mistake.

But Rinzler doesn't need to throw it in his face, not that Tron expects any less. "Superiority against your opponent." Try to save some face with this, now. Rinzler isn't superior to him, isn't perfected.

[notglitching]

Rinzler was perfected... but even with Clu's (grudging) approval for what he's become since, he wouldn't claim that label now. Still, he'd claim better. Superior. To the leashed, perfected tool Clu kept him as for hectocycles... and to Tron?

Not really. But with his mirror finally managing something that sounded closer to an argument than just self-loathing?

Didn't lose.

Rinzler's going to prod those buttons just a little more.

[alan_1]

[Alan heard about the arena fights sponsored by the Artifixx, of course. He hasn’t, however, made the connection back to his programs. So when he spots Tron walking through R1, he’s alarmed to see that the program appears injured.

Alan walks over, gaze lingering worriedly on the arm that Tron is holding against his side.]

Tron? Did something happen?

[fight4theusers]

[Hearing his User's voice, Tron turns with a mixture of apprehension and relief. Alan can repair him, surely, but... will he be disappointed in him, now that he's lost?]

Alan-one. It's... nothing major. An injury from the Arena, recently.

[alan_1]

Arena? [It takes Alan a moment to realize Tron must be talking about the gladiatorial games hosted by the Artifixx. Alan has to suppress a frown. From what he’s heard, those “games” were supposed to have ended a week ago.]

Major enough not to have healed by now. [There’s just the slightest bit of reproach in Alan’s voice. You could have told me.] Is it major enough to need repairs?

[fight4theusers]

[Tron nods, just a bare tilt of his head.] I should have come to you sooner... I'd hoped it would repair on its own.

[alan_1]

[Alan’s admonishing tone softens.] Well, I suppose it’s a good thing I ran into you when I did. [He looks at that arm again, searching for fractures.] I think I’ve seen enough missing program limbs to last a lifetime. [A slight, wry smile at that. Honestly, given the kinds of damage he’s become used to since meeting his programs, he’s just glad Tron’s injury isn’t worse—though he still doesn’t relish the thought of delving into a program’s code yet again.]

Come on. My apartment isn’t far from here. We can get you patched up there.