lars alexandersson // teslagravity.
When one was created for combat, how did one experience what normal meant to many? Amid a war at that.
With freedom. At least, that was what Lars thought he could offer, given their circumstances.
Alisa was now capable of her own thoughts and decisions; Lee saw to that. While those same thoughts and decisions didn't always equate to the most favourable outcome, the soldier would usually cut her some slack. She'd wander and explore the various cities they'd travel through, telling him stories of the people she'd met and the friends she'd made.
One, in particular, was Ling Xiaoyu.
Aside from his conversations with Alisa, Lars also recalled the name from his intel. Lars was proud of her ability to make friends, but sometimes Alisa's naiveté put them in hot water.
Leave it to Alisa to befriend someone from Jin's inner circle. Xiaoyu and Jin's closeness led Alisa to share that she knew where he was recovering and with whom. Worst still, she promised this friend she'd bring her to him–-without consulting Lars first.
It wasn't all for naught. Xiaoyu had proved useful; the android explained that she did open up to her about what made Jin tick, his history and whatnot. Lars had only experienced his nephew's crueller, selfish side. It was hard to believe that he was a kind-hearted person in his past. This only made Alisa want to reunite the two even more.
Alisa had invited Xiaoyu to try the new mochi donut stand that had opened up in town that evening. While it was mainly to spend time with her and to register a unique experience into her memory, afterwards, Lars was her ride back to Violet Systems. It was the perfect opportunity for her to tag along and see Jin.
For once, Lars was visibly annoyed with Alisa. If his face didn't give her enough of that information, her biological sensors certainly did. While they waited, she'd give him her signature smile and try to lighten the mood by encouraging him to use this as a way to vet whether he could trust Xiaoyu or not.
Along with a donut, of course.
@5anrios | starter for Xiaoyu
for years, xiaoyu had been searching for the answer to peace. not only with herself but for those around her. the people she cared for. jin. he never had flat out told her the inner demons he dealt with both literally & figuratively but he didn't have to. she knew jin — the ostracities committed under his name wasn't him or at least it wasn't part of him. he was a tough shell that was hard to crack but he wasn't a murderer. he wasn't his father. he wasn't his grandfather. he was jin & that was what xiaoyu had respected him most for. that, despite those around him believing he was meant for destruction, he never gave in. jin was still jin... he was just lost. maybe it was xiaoyu's affection for him that clouded her judgment or maybe her beliefs were true. that was neither here nor there but she knew better than to believe he had become everything he hated.
“ you shouldn't scold her for having empathy. it was how she was programmed... hypothetically saying, right ? ”
truth be told, xiaoyu was no longer the ditzy school girl everyone believed her to be. she was young then, still young now. though, seeing the destruction the world had gone through over time was something that could toughen up anyone. she was still a fire that was difficult to put out but a much calmer one now. she was determined as she always was. though, just because she had grown up, it didn't mean she no longer wore her pigtails. she still did — it was a sense of home. keeping old remnents of herself that showed she was still xiaoyu despite being older now.
“ panda is someone jin cares deeply for as well... isn't that right, panda ? ” panda's eager sounds was something that never ceased to make her smile. her hand stroked panda's back & felt a sense of calm at how it relaxed her friend. “ it was my fault... if you need someone to be mad at me, let it be me. the moment that alisa told me that she knew of his whereabouts, i insisted on seeing him. ”