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 Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 7:15 pm
 Challenger shook herself off as she stepped from the building and out onto the front porch. The day had dawned warm but with a breeze which Challenger was thankful for. She wasn’t one for extremely hot weather it made the metal on her body get to a boiling point. She hated this metal on her body hated it so much. She gave a low sigh as the breeze rolled across her body, ruffling her fur. There was the smell of flowers on the breeze and possibly the hint of rain if those clouds in the distance were a warning. Though they seemed far enough away as to not be a threat for at least a couple of hours, Challenger would be back home by then she would make sure of it. It wasn’t that the rain could harm her, no, the men that had created her made sure of that. It was that she just didn’t like the way it sounded when it hit against the metal on her back. It was a constant reminder of the fact that it was there.
She shook her head as she stepped down the stairs on the front porch and started off towards the woods. Challenger needed some time out; she couldn’t stand to be cooped up in the house any longer. She started out at an easy lope which gobbled up the miles before breaking into a full out run pushing herself to the brink before she slowed to a walk and eventually came to a stop in a glade, the wind had picked up and the sky was somewhat overcast, at least the sun wasn’t blazing anymore. Her tail swayed as she looked around the clearing, eyes rolling over the flowers before she moved forward to take a seat in the middle of them. Her ears had fallen back against her head as she lifted a hand to press a button on the visor causing the rainbow over her eyes to vanish and give her a clear view of the beauty around her. She rested there, she needed some time… to just be alone and feel like she might be normal.
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 7:51 pm
Serah loved these kinds of days. Oncoming rain meant Ravage had to pay extra care to protect their home, which was nothing more than a collection of woven branches and old hides that made a makeshift shelter. It also meant she had a lot more time to go sneaking off by herself.
They had recently moved too far away from civilization for Serah to walk there in a comfortable amount of time, so as much as she longed to see what was forbidden to her, she had to content herself with exploring her forest home. The cool breeze felt delightful against her back, her wing membranes... even the glowing tendrils that sprouted from her head seemed to enjoy it, as they sat more still around her ears than normal.
Her nose twitched as she studied the scents around her. Earth, rotting foliage, nearby rain, fresh leaves... And something sweeter. She took a big breath and followed the smell until she came to the glade.
"Flowers!" she exclaimed so loudly, she upset some birds in the trees around her. With an excited laugh she bounded into the flowers and ran a circle around the edge of the glade, without any knowledge that she wasn't alone.
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 8:17 pm
Challenger wasn’t sure how long she had been sitting there when she heard the exclamation of someone off to her left and slightly behind her. She turned her head ears flicking forward as she looked for the source of the commotion. Her eyes landed on something or rather someone that she wasn’t at all expecting. As she looked the living creature over she took note of a few curious things that had her tilting her head. She lifted the hand back to her visor and turned it back on the rainbow sheen popping back across her eyes and displaying information about the current being she was looking at.
She took a few cautious steps forward; the other appeared to be… a hybrid of some sort. Perhaps bat and those spots were unmistakably a giraffe but the green tendrils on her head were… not something that she could place. She took a few more cautious steps forward before lowering herself down to watch the other for a few moments. The femme seemed so carefree and just happy. It was something that was refreshing as most people Challenger had met as of late were angry. She felt a smile quirk her maw before she shook her head. “Excuse me?” She called out softly as she took a few more careful steps forward till she was close enough the other would be forced to notice her. She didn’t want to frighten the female but at the same time she was curious about her.
“Might I ask what it is you are doing here?”
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 9:17 am
Serah wasn't exactly the most observant girl out there, so she didn't notice Challenger's approach at all. She was enjoying the simple beauty of the flowers around her with a huge smile, giggles escaping her occasionally. Serah was happy to be alive, especially when her life could have turned out so differently. So even small moments like this were a joy to her. If she had been locked up in a lab... she would never have had the chance to feel real, fresh air.
"Excuse me?"
A soft voice called out from somewhere close by. Serah looked over, spotting Challenger for the first time. She didn't have much time to get a look at her, though. In mid stride, her front paw caught the wing membrane on the opposite leg and sent sprawling into the grass.
"Oof!"
She hit the ground chin first, legs tangled up among each other. Luckily, the bed of flowers broke her fall, but it didn't stop Serah from reddening furiously from embarrassment, her tendrils mimicking her feelings with an increase in their own glow.
"Sorry! Was I bothering you?" She said with a flustered excitement, not looking Challenger's way so she wouldn't see her face as she untangled herself. "I was just having a bit of fun but I can go away if you'd like!"
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 9:34 am
Challenger gave a soft sound of surprise when the other toppled over. She was swift in her movements, silent even, moving forward to check the other over. She gave her a once over and things seemed fine nothing out of place which was a good sign.
"Are you alright?" She asked in a curious tone, though a stranger she didn't want this female to be hurt. Challenger wasn't malicious by nature and if she could help it she didn't like to see others hurt. Despite what she was created to be and thus what she should like. It never set well with her.
It was then that she took note of what the girl was saying which caused her to shake her head once. She took a seat, tail wrapping elegantly around her paws, displaying the rainbow wire that ran through it. It wasn't something conscious that she did, merely a way to sit.
"No, you weren't bothering me at all. I was just surprised to see someone out here is all. Surprised to see someone like you... pardon my rudeness but might I ask what you are?" She asked tilting her head to the side as she looked the girl over once more. Her eyes catching on the glowing tendrils on the other's head and staring for a long moment. "I mean, clearly a mixture between bat and giraffe... at least I'm almost positive its a bat and a giraffe. But the green tendrils, I'm not sure where they come from. Are you some sort of hybrid?"
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Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 10:18 am
It took Serah a moment to calm down, the glow of her tendrils dissipating slowly as she regained her composure. She got back to her paws and brushed off bits of grass and dirt. "I'm okay... no harm done... excuse me?"
Serah was a bit surprised by Challenger's observations and questions. Most strangers tried to ignore her appearance, even though it always ended up being the giant elephant in the room, or would downright reject her company and get away from her as quickly as possible. Or worse... their words would take a malicious tone and point out all her flaws. That was when it hurt the most.
But Challenger just seemed curious. Serah decided it would be okay to answer. "Yeah, you're right... Bat and giraffe! Fruit bat, to be exact. Umm, these things were an accident. I don't know where they came from, either." She finished picking her fur clean and touched one of the tendrils on her head, which immediately wrapped around her paw. "They kind of have a mind of their own."
Then, as Serah tried to pull her paw away from the stubborn tentacle, she took her first real look at Challenger. At first, she looked as normal as could be... but then Serah was shocked to see the wires that weaved in and out of her flesh, the metal contraption attached to her back, and the wings of the visor that perched on her head like a second pair of ears... And then Serah understood. This stranger was also different...
Finally, she pulled her paw away. "I'm Serah... who are you?" She was forbidden to speak to others, especially those touched by technology, but she was too fascinated and curious to worry about that now.
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 9:35 am
At the excuse me, Challenger felt she may have stepped on some toes. She had tried to be as polite as possible about it. She wasn't judging the other female and she hoped that the other understood that. She didn't have a problem with hybrids she was just curious as to what type.
However when the girl went on Challenger was surprised to find out she was correct. She waited for the other to finish before she went to speak. Though her mouth closed rather quickly at the look she was receiving and the rather amusing way the femme was trying to pull her paw from the tendril.
"I'm Challenger. It's nice to meet you, Serah." She said before giving the smallest and softest of smiles. "A fruit bat, those are my favorite kind. Look just like little flying foxes." She glanced back at the tendrils and shook her head. "Well a marvelous accident then. I find them to be quite charming, truth be told. The fact that they seem to almost have a mind of their own is astounding." Challenger commented as she looked at them closer.
A part of her knew, just knew that his girl had to have been teased at some point. There was no possible way she looked like this and someone didn't tease her about it. People could be so cruel sometimes, it was just terrible. She didn't want the girl to see her as someone like that, someone that was out to hurt or upset her.
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Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:44 am
Of The Epidemic Thank you for being so patient. <3
Serah couldn't help but grin a little, feeling a warm flush at Challenger's praise. She couldn't remember being complimented on anything, and 'charming' was far from what most people said about the tentacles. Only one other person had ever mentioned them without disgust, and that was only because he had many more of his own.
Even Ravage looked down upon them with distaste... Though he looked down on just about everything the same way, so she couldn't really feel too bothered about that.
"It was lucky they decided to use fruit bat... Can you imagine what I'd be like if they had used vampire bat instead?" She made a silly, disgusted face, then giggled. She was quite enjoying Challenger's company, and it brought out her goofy side.
"Um, why is your name Challenger?" She asked suddenly, hoping she wasn't being too bold. "It sounds like, uh, something you would call a machine, not a person." As soon as the words left her mouth, Serah gasped and shut her mouth quickly. What if Challenger was really a machine? That could have been offensive! Serah's tentacles started to glow again, and she peered at the flowers with an abnormal amount of interest in order to hide her face.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:42 pm
Challenger was amused, enjoying the way the other was so light hearted and jovial. At the face the other was making she couldn’t help but giggle bringing up her hand to cover her mouth. “Well now that would be something.” She stated before she fell silent at the others rather abrupt question.
A pained look crossed her face before she shook her head. “Well… that is a really long story, and if you want the full story I would be willing to tell you, but the short version is this.” She stated softly taking a deep breath and steeling herself for what she was about to reveal.
It wasn’t like it was a big secret, or something she honestly kept from anyone. Many people knew, it had been big on the news back when it had happened. Some still remembered and others had never heard of her before. It didn’t really hurt her feelings but she still missed feeling like a human.
“I am Challenger – 172, Model 50. It really is something you would call a machine, because that is what they saw me as. I was a machine to them, not a person. I used to be human, used to have a name and I think a family. I can’t remember it now though, not my name, or really anything beyond a few dim memories before I was adapted.” She gave a low shrug. “So I guess… in a way… I am a machine and since I can’t remember what it was like to be normal.” She shook her head.
“I’m a cyborg, you don’t have to worry though… I won’t hurt you.”
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