Achia

Amon was mean to me yesterday...sniffle, sniffle.

Oh, how magnanimous~! I really am grateful. So grateful that we shall be on our way~

Come along, xiao Vee~ Push, push!

[Cackling, they got up, urging him along, back towards where they came from. Enough sunlight for now.]

[Achia shrugged with a smile, letting him speak. They laid a hand over his own.]

[They smiled.]

My bloodless charge, who does not currently have the strength to run. Surely you would not kill an innocent merely for being at my side~?

Technologist!

[She got corrected......]

🎨: ninjin_x1

welcome to the seventh astral era.

#achiaposting

Auuuuugh, nosy, nosy, NOSY PROFESSOR!!!!

[An arm around him, a reassuring smile...and a side glance at Olwen, over in the distance.

They spoke to him of the observing party.]

[They come back for it, laughing, seemingly rather jovial about all this...and then they sit with it for awhile.

At least it doesn't look like trouble...?]

Once changed, they eased in with him.

Hugging saved space.

--you. Want to watch~?" they teased, expecting "V"'s usual snap of disgust for a moment...but they figured it wouldn't come.

Stepping away, they stripped of their attire, pulling on their thinner, casual sleepwear.

"Guh. My arms are way too weak..." they complained, getting him into the bed, on the side close to the wall.

...more of a cot than a bed, but big enough for them both. Achia had collected a nice selection of soft, cozy blankets and pillows at least.

"I'm going to change, okay? Then I'll join--

"Yes. Let's sleep. Can you walk with help?"

Slowly, gently, they moved to try and assist him up.

[....there is an unwelcome pink thing running around barely within her sight.]

"...you told me to choose, so I have made you as a typical person. You are no longer V, the weapon." they explained, catching his hand gently in theirs, linking their fingers.

"In their place, I have prepared tools for you to take the place of your abilities...but later. Do not strain yourself."

--supported his body as best they could, holding him to themself.

"No more sleeping in pods of fluid or cold glass. We'll eat proper foods, instead of supplements...warm food. Want me to make some now~?"

"Yes. It's okay. It'll be okay. It is small, but we can share my bed for now... I'll make a nicer one soon, your own."

Tons of metal, chips and cords to work with...but very little in the way of pillows, blankets, and soft cloths. Their currency didn't translate well to gil either.

They--

"Hmhm~ Well, humans handle that something like this~"

Hug. A light one, as not to hurt him. Enough of their body to be warm.

"...the body will take some time to adjust to, but I took great care to ensure it feels like your own. Your mind should accept it without issue~"

--themselves.

Achia had given him clothing by now.

"Vee. Wake up."

"...I see. I know what you shall be, then. I will be a proper creator. It's time to sleep again."

A hand upon the node. Again, he drifted into darkness.

...when he awoke, it was as a man, and nothing more.
His hands were empty, to pick up a weapon if he so chose, but not made as weapons--

"Yes, this is true of your creation, but this is a rebirth. Your purpose is only to live." they spoke with a softness rare for Achia.

"...if you do not wish to hurt others again, you do not need to. You may be born as you wish, this time."

--capabilities this time.

Which do you want? ...cosmetic changes can be made too, if you dislike the appearance."

"Apologies. I know it isn't pleasant to exist in such a form... so I'll let you sleep once you tell me the things I need to know."

Achia folded their arms, exhaling softly.

"...it is possible to make your body the same as before, meaning a weapon...or, you can have a body with typical--

@domaninkmage.bsky.social

--brain and stem, currently kept out of sight.

On the table before the node, a nude body he recognized. He used to call it his, thousands of years ago.]

[An amount of time had passed. Not an amount of time V would need to know, and Hwei had woken up somewhere dazed and lacking some recent memories.]

...wake up for me?

[They spoke to a node serving as a terminal for his consciousness. It had the ability to see, hear, and touch, unlike his new--

Oh, I intend to follow you around until you tell me to leave!

...

Accessing our shared memories, you spoke with them of dying when one's duty is complete, in summary.

Your way of life is incompatible with theirs. Should your paths cross again, you will both suffer, surely.

Not that I care if I meet with you though. I lack empathy.

Well, question answered.

Yes, indeed, but you have seen the result of Achia's fear of death, haven't you?

We have curiosity, and that's about it. We do what they want, and learn about things when there's no task. If we all experienced a fear of death...

...haha. Imagine us *all* trying different schemes to prevent it.