video | timaeusTestified (cw: casual violence towards child-shaped entity)

[givehead]

(The video opens to Dirk's studio which is filled with various metal parts and the occasional plush rump. Dirk is sitting at his desk, and hiding behind his desk chair is what appears to be a little boy in rabbit-themed knight's outfit. The little tuft of blonde hair sticking out from the hood and the familiar orange glasses might be an indicator of who the little kid is.

Dirk is focused on the video feed, paying the kid no mind just yet.)

Howdy. (Dirk sounds like he hasn't slept in...a while...That or maybe he's just overexerted himself?) I been fuckin' around with my abilities. Some of you already know I can splint my soul. I was just wonderin' how range this place allowed me with that combined with darkblood.

(He turns his chair and the kid tries to hide again. Dirk doesn't let him. Instead, he grabs him and heaves him up through the air to plop onto his lap. The kid looks exactly like Dirk if Dirk was a seven-year-old. Same freckles, same spiky hair, same nose. He could be his clone. Oh wait-.)

This is me. Or at least 10% of me, anyway. I know it looks like a kid, but this is just some core part of me that wants to keep people safe. That's the theory. He's completely mute and kinda shy.

(Like Dirk was at that age. He stands up then, holding the kid under his armpits like a sack of potatoes rather than an actual child. He sets him down. The kid looks up at him silently.)

But he's actually a little tank. I've programmed him...well...Programmed isn't really the right word. I replicated a specific part of myself and manifested it so his only real function is to guide and protect. Theoretically, if you're lost, he will help you find a way out. And provably, if something attacks you or him, he will defend until the opponent has been defeated or safety has been achieved. Simple goals. Check it out.

(Dirk flashsteps away from the kid and grabs a few throwing knives out of the wall. He doesn't hesitate to whip them right at the kid. It's alarming for about three seconds before the kid deflects every single knife with flashing motions and a sword he can apparently conjure out of thin air. Once the threat is over, the sword vanishes and the kid looks meek once again.

Dirk puts his hands on his hips, looking mildly proud of himself, but damn. This was exhausting.)

It really is like lookin' at myself when I was that age. Anyway, you can call him Lil D and if you ever need him, you can shoot me a text askin' for him and he'll find you. (Most likely... Dirk shrugs, sitting back down at his desk.) I'll probably have him just roam the city and keep people safe all the time. He doesn't sleep or eat. But he can die, so, try not to let that happen. It's a bitch when parts of me die.

Okay. That's it for now. See ya. (He holds up his fingers in a peace sign and the video feed ends.)

Comments

un: UNOWEN

[forwantofahorse]

Huh. I've done something similar with my darkblood before, but I didn't try manifesting either of my subprocesses into physical entities. Granted, I didn't need them to act as anything but partitions in my thoughts, but this opens up some intriguing possibilities.

Do you think you could show me your notes for how you created him?

[givehead]

Ain't no notes, I'm afraid. This is a combo with my powers from the world I come from. I'm not entirely sure if this can be replicated in anyone with darkblood...though the theoretical possibility might be worth a shot now that I'm thinking about it.

Shit, what the hell.

What did you do before that was similar?

text; UN: TripleJ

[kyley_b]

but he's so little.

text

[givehead]

I feel like that is a criticism of some sort, but I can't tell of what. Say more words.

[forwantofahorse]

While I was coordinating efforts during the Leviathan attack, I needed to concentrate all my mental effort on my task. So I fragmented part of my soul—did something similar in theory back home, all I needed to do was apply some actual magic to the principle—animated it, and let it control my body while I concentrated on trying to keep everyone alive.

[kyley_b]

does he have toys? a coloring book maybe?

[givehead]

Huh.

Okay, maybe we do have similar powers, actually. Cool. It's a lot simpler to do when you are focusing on the part of your soul serving a specific function. Lil D is my first real-time fully exploring that and so far it seems easier. I'm not really focusing all of my energy on "controlling" him, so to speak.

It's like creating a little robot but instead of installing hardware, you're just installing part of your soul.

(Dirk says this like it is the most basic, simple, and straightforward thing ever.)

[givehead]

The fuck does he need all that for?

(Even if this was a normal child, Dirk would be asking this question. His child care skills are worse than non-existent. If someone gave him a baby to watch, he would just put it in a cage or something. He figures as long as it doesn't die, he's doing okay.)

[kyley_b]

ok I am going to put together a care package and drop it off tonight.

[givehead]

What. No. Why? What's going on. He's just a splint, dude. He's not an actual little kid. He has three functioning brain cells and they are: fight, protect, stand around.

[forwantofahorse]

Mine worked on a similar function: have an existing blueprint of a certain set of patterns for my behavior, and then map those patterns into a discrete entity. It's a concept I've played a lot with back home, but I've only managed to really put it into practice in its "true form" here.

Did you need any materials to build Lil D's body, or did it manifest by itself?

[givehead]

No, I used nothing but my own ability. However, I did spend massive portions of time meditating under the moonlight. Playing by this world's rules a bit when it comes to power chugging. I've been trying to feel out the darkblood power and see what can be done with it.

Then I applied that exact rhetoric you just described. It didn't work right away. I've been fuckin' with this a few months now, but it finally worked. I used the idea of a blueprint I had for an old robotic rabbit I made back home. Kept it simple. Focused on the end goal.

It's not a clean splint. I'm not sure if I would have been able to make an adult version like this without him manifesting with some of his own bullshit. And I definitely cannot make anything that isn't me. I tried. I just can't project my mind like that, I guess.

[kyley_b]

why make him look like a cute little kid, then?! what the fuck dude!

I'm still doing it. just in case.

[givehead]

It wasn't an exact science, bro. I've never done something like this before so I wanted to start small. So I did. Literally. Plus this was the only time in my life I wasn't a total asshole. It just made sense at the time.

Okay, fine, damn.

[kyley_b]

he's adorable.

good.

[givehead]

You're a fuckin' sap, Broflovski.

And also apparently the "mom friend" as they say.

meanwhile in Dirk's studio... [action]

[obeir]

[ While Dirk's been hard at work on his latest splint, K's been seeing to several little projects of his own across the studio, happy to have the company — and the opportunity to keep an eye on Dirk, concerned as he is about this soul splintering business. Which proves to be justified, he thinks, as he quietly watches Dirk announcing Lil D's existence to the network: he can hear that exhaustion.

He busies himself with putting the final touches on something he's made especially for Lil D after meeting him earlier, and when the network demonstration concludes, he sweeps Lil D up and holds him with one arm, hugging the boy to his chest. You know, properly, the way one should hold a child, Dirk. K carries the boy to one of the tables that's covered in scrap metal and spare parts, retrieves the scrap metal sculpture of a bunny he made, and offers it to Lil D while glancing back to Dirk. ]

You must've really taken our conversation about family and kids to heart. I guess we're getting started a bit ahead of schedule, but that's okay. [ His smile is teasing, but there's a genuine softness in his expression and manner and most obviously in his treatment of Lil D, which is becoming increasingly paternal. This definitely isn't "just" a splint to K. ]

I can tell that took a lot out of you. [ It isn't a question. He regards Dirk more closely. ] How are you feeling?

[kyley_b]

I'm a big brother. plus kids are cute! have you ever seen a baby troll?!

yeah ok that's true.

clutches chest

[givehead]

(It has been nice working with K near. Even if he hadn't wanted K to worry about the splinting business, it probably was for the best. Dirk felt more drained than he had been willing to show on the network. He has slumped down in his seat, rocking around to watch K interact with Lil D. Oh, yeah, people do hold kids like that, don't they? Well shit.

Lil D automatically puts his arms around K and merely seems to observe. But when he is given the small figure, the ears on his costume lift up into the air. Lil D makes a pleased noise, waving the metal sculpture around with enthusiasm and curiosity. Lil D really did have a limited capacity of reality, but it seemed that basic attention and neat robotics were enough to thrill him the same way they would have thrilled Dirk when he was actually that age. It's almost embarrassing to watch in a self-revealing way.

Plus there's something about K taking care of Lil D...Dirk doesn't really recognize the feeling it gives him so he looks away, playing absently with one of the throwing knives that had wound up in his desk.)

It made the most sense at the time. Less energy is required to build a soul out of a rather one-dimensional phase of development. (Yes, Dirk, make it sound as void of human sentiment as much as possible, why don't you. Though part of that actually is his exhaust. He sort of sounds like he's talking on autopilot. He rubs a hand under his glasses.)

I'm all right. I'm a little tired. (He leans onto a hand, looking at K again now that he wasn't feeling that squirmy, warm feeling quite as strongly. But then Lil D puts his head on K's shoulder and Dirk wants to die again.)

I will just need to rest for a bit. (Which Dirk never needed to rest, so. K's completely right, in other words.)

Be careful. He's going to glue himself to your hip if you keep that up.

[givehead]

They are just little people. God. K and you are going to be ridiculous about this. I can tell. He's already treating him as a kid too.

(It's adorable, but it would be so uncool of Dirk to say that.)

Yeah. They are very loud and mouthy. I guess they are kind of cute.

[kyley_b]

they're little people who need care.

fuck off wrigglers are the cutest things I've ever seen.

cw: suicide via decapitation

[givehead]

I didn't have care when I was that age or younger. I grew up fine.

(Dirk, sweetie, you have literal scars around your neck from decapitating yourself.)

Okay, I guess they are cute. But puppies are cuter and grow up to be less annoying creatures than trolls are.

[kyley_b]

there are certain things about you that could be better than fine and pretty clearly come from how you grew up, dude.

true but puppies can't talk to you, really.

[givehead]

Wow, damn, Kyle. Ain't holding back no punches.

That's what makes them better. Lil D can't talk either.

[kyley_b]

I think we're past the point of having to pretend, don't you?

well I'm buying him toys!