[His facial plating suddenly feels as if it's on fire, the moment those fingers touch his lips. He visibly shivers.]
[No -- no, they need to talk. If this is -- no, it's not what he thinks. Is it? His AI is a jumble of excitement, heat, and sudden nervousness. He doesn't want to hope. Doesn't want to think this could be what he'd admittedly been wanting since Power Joe went and made that stupid bet.]
I know... but... But what did you want to -- You wanted to talk.
We -- I have to talk.
[Everyone said so. Everyone said they had to talk. But saying those words, trying to get them out, it's almost impossible with their chestplates touching, the hum of that other life so near...]
no subject
[No -- no, they need to talk. If this is -- no, it's not what he thinks. Is it? His AI is a jumble of excitement, heat, and sudden nervousness. He doesn't want to hope. Doesn't want to think this could be what he'd admittedly been wanting since Power Joe went and made that stupid bet.]
I know... but... But what did you want to -- You wanted to talk.
We -- I have to talk.
[Everyone said so. Everyone said they had to talk. But saying those words, trying to get them out, it's almost impossible with their chestplates touching, the hum of that other life so near...]
Don't we...?