Uncertain Heart [Open]

[upupatomway]

Soldiers take stock of weapons and ammunition, mechanics are in and out of the armor workshop, all in anticipation of the movement on Vindess that leaders are discussing. Atom had finished reading another magic book and in practice at the target range, he leaves targets quickly fried to a crisp by electricity. He had faced monsters here, he had faced other monsters and robots at home. Logically, he is ready to join the battle.

He had never attacked a human though. At home, it was against the law for a robot to seriously harm or kill a human, even in self-defense. He had always been under the watchful eye of the public as a representative of the robot race, and labeled a hero after saving people from accidents. He delayed the bad humans until the police arrived. There are definitely parallels between the slavery in the Empire and the slavery of robots, but this is a different world with different rules, and he is aware of what participating in battle might mean.

He isn't sure what the right thing to do is.

He decides to seek out someone who might have more battle experience to give him perspective. The Vault has a few possible candidates, but he also makes a point of visiting Flotsam where there are warriors abound. Atom approaches an individual at lunchtime, with a drink or food in hand to offer them.

"Excuse me. Do you have some time to have lunch and talk? I might be assigned to the front in the next battle, and I could use some advice from someone more experienced facing the Imperials." He asks politely.

Comments

[upupatomway]

Atom has had his share of being heavily relied on in high stress situations; he frowns momentarily at the familiar pressure she describes. He'd be a hypocrite if he tells her not to worry at all.

"Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. We're in this together," Atom attempts to encourage her, before looking at the metronome she pulls out in confusion. Perhaps music brings her comfort when she's stressed?

[theriflespiral]

"I have been using music to help focus my mind and Ether," Natalia explains. "This has proven somewhat fruitful, but battlefields, for all they have a certain rhythm, a kind of percussion, don't have music. So! The music has to stay up here."

She taps her forehead.

[upupatomway]

"I've never heard of that before but it makes sense. Every action has its physical measurements, and music is mathematics."

[theriflespiral]

"Yes. I found that by... shaping my emotions with music, I can turn even my curse into a weapon." She sets down the metronome, and sets it to an unusual tempo for music, but does not start it yet.

Natalia picks up the practice blades. The tempo of combat, however, of a heartbeat in the heat of a battle-- that might be closer to the allegro she's picked. "This, combined with some minor knowledge of various dances... I believe... can affect the battlefield. Would you prefer to observe my attempt first, or work through your own?"