re_alignment | [Voice] Trying Too Hard

Entry tags:

✘ dead space | vandal

[Voice] Trying Too Hard

So that's it then. Everything is back to "normal". As normal as this place gets and we're all left a little more fucked up than when we started.

Let's talk, humans, bears, Autobots, Decepticons. We're all people stuck here. Some of us want to be here, some of us don't...

But.

I just want to hear something good.

It doesn't matter if we're friends or not. But I'd like to hear from you.

Have you made friends here?

Would you rather go home or stay? If you want to go home, what is it there that you miss?

What makes you happy?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fuck it I know.

Yeah? Wanna talk about it?

Maybe it's a robot bear.

About missing him?

It sure has hell would't surprise me.

About him.

I... guess I wouldn't be surprised either, anymore.

[He hesitates so long, it sort of sounds as if he's not going to respond at all.]

... He... they built him, based on me. I trained him. Lived with him.

The first friend I ever had. The entire reason I exist.

And I miss him so much it... hurts.

... Sounds like you loved him a lot, huh?

Love... I don't know if an AI is capable of... love.

Seems capable of everything else.

I...

Then maybe. Maybe I... maybe I do.

How do you know for sure?

Well. Think about him.

Does it hurt? In your chest?

[He falls silent for a moment.]

...

Yes. In my AI. Like something breaking.

Definitely love...

You really think so?

[He seems to think that over, and anders himself.] Even if you're right... What good does it do? He's there. I'm not.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

You'll be together again someday.

I don't have a heart.

[... Apparently not realizing she doesn't mean the organ.]

Nothing is certain. I would like that... but...

[You know what, new topic.]

What about you?

What makes you say that?

Uh. What about me?

What makes me say which part?

... all of what you asked. If you'd rather stay, or go. Do you have something you miss.

All of that.

That you don't have a heart. I mean I guess there's the literal absence of the organ itself but the concept is a bit more abstract than that.

Uh. I guess I'd rather stay. I don't really miss anything back home save for you know. A human standard of living. But I like it here better.

That's what I meant. I don't... have organs like that. [Pause.] Abstract?

Human standard of living... But it's better for you here? Even without that?

Having a "heart" is less about the physical and more about. You know. Being able to feel things.

Yeah, Even without that. I.

Have friends here.

I... do feel things, yes. Maybe you're right about... that.

Good. [He sounds sure of himself for possibly the first time ever.] Friends... they're important things. I'm glad you have them.

I definitely feel right about it.

Well, you do too, right?

Then... Then maybe... You're right about the rest of it, too.

I do. Like you. Right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Voice] Trying Too Hard

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