{One shell, two minds}

@fifth-sentinal-official

(Rolled a 5)

(2-3)

(rolled a 10)

It gets knocked back mid-attack by the force of the strike, barely managing to land on its hindclaws.

Observation: Numerous improvements are needed for us to keep up.

@fifth-sentinal-official

(Rolled a 5)

@fifth-sentinal-official

A-

@phantom-offical

[Life flickers in the Second Sentinel's eyes. After a moment its eyes fully illuminate once more, its head flicking upwards.]

[Phantom steps back as the automaton rises to its hindclaws. It glances around, then downwards at its claws. Slowly, its head rises.]

[Its gaze is warm. Kind. Familiar.]

[Phantom smiles, a bellowing laugh rising from them. The automaton's expression does not change, but Phantom notices its eyes soften and head tilt slightly—its equivalent of a smile. Phantom steps forward, taking its claws in their own.]

...Welcome back, friend.

[Both of them pause for a moment, taking in the other's presence. Phantom lightly gasps.]

Lo, Senti—if I recall correctly, you wished to know how to dance, yes?

Might I teach you?

Wonderful. I know no better fitting song to guide us than this one.

[They pluck a small selection of notes from its upper set of keys. A deep, mechanical churning is felt deep below both creatures’ hindclaws. Once it stops Phantom presses a final key with confidence. The Organ groans again, briefly. Phantom glides to the Second Sentinel as silence falls. They pause, then gestures for the automaton to take their claw. They pull them into a waltz stance.]

Watch my steps. Follow my lead.

[A soft clicking is heard. The organ begins to belt a tune on its own.]

[Gently, slowly, Phantom initiates the dance. They take step after step, wordlessly explaining how to flow and spin to the beat, guiding the Second Sentinel with their clutched claw. It stumbles and stutters a clawful of times, but catches on relatively quickly, to Phantom's surprise. Even when they show it how to spin and dip them it closely follows their lead.]

[Entire ages seem to pass as the two creatures twirl about the organ room. The song swells with each step, flowing about and carrying them both deeper into the dance. Eventually Phantom is no longer teaching the Second Sentinel, but performing with it. The organist's world fades away as the automaton's presence bleeds into their dance, it hesitantly experimenting with certain moves.]

[Joy blooms in their chest as its presence—its familiar, long-thought-perished presence—completely overwhelms them. Their throat tightens from nonexistent tears for just a moment. It all feels like a dream; a wondrous dream that couldn't possibly be real. Yet it is. After ages upon ages, after being pried apart following a brief reunion, their friend is here. Truly here.]

[As the song climbs into its final chorus, Phantom can't help but sing their thoughts, their feelings—their voice unwavering as the two complete the dance.]

Senti, Senti, At last you've broken through! All these memories, Hold the image of you! So long were we separated, My shell has long since faded, But even still, From now on we will, Stay friends like we were meant to do!

@phantom-offical

[Life flickers in the Second Sentinel's eyes. After a moment its eyes fully illuminate once more, its head flicking upwards.]

[Phantom steps back as the automaton rises to its hindclaws. It glances around, then downwards at its claws. Slowly, its head rises.]

[Its gaze is warm. Kind. Familiar.]

[Phantom smiles, a bellowing laugh rising from them. The automaton's expression does not change, but Phantom notices its eyes soften and head tilt slightly—its equivalent of a smile. Phantom steps forward, taking its claws in their own.]

...Welcome back, friend.

[Both of them pause for a moment, taking in the other's presence. Phantom lightly gasps.]

Lo, Senti—if I recall correctly, you wished to know how to dance, yes?

Might I teach you?