un: xspire

[synthsized]

At what point does something get the right to be called a person? What do they need to do to deserve that?

Has anyone ever thought about it?

Comments

[deuteranope]

[The odd ache stutters out, replaced by something disgustingly hopeful despite his confusion. He probably looks like a dope, staring blankly at them like he is. Um.]

Why...? I mean, I'm -- w-why me? Or is it just...

[Convenience, maybe? Or specifically using this question? Because he isn't anything special, so even some robot with faulty programming shouldn't find him particularly interesting enough to focus on... If he's been singled out, it doesn't really make any sense to him.]

[imitationsoul]

Around here and anywhere else, isn't it? Naivety is an inbuilt feature of social expectations.

[synthsized]

[He might look like a dope, but he's a cute dope.]

I...don't know if I could explain it. You were interesting from the start.

[Maverick was a curious person, and Rover was a curious thing. They can't deny part of it was just on a whim, and they probably would have said the same to any other...but Maverick's reactions were what kept it going.]

[deuteranope]

[Maybe it isn't the most flattering answer, but it feels honest, and that matters a lot to Mav, who had so many doubts. Even without his mind tearing him down or holding him back, there was...the mess that was everything else before all this. He couldn't even claim he'd completely crawled out of that.

He swallows and looks at the ground, embarrassed to find his mouth dry, heart awkwardly thumping away, and brain scrambling to pick out words that weren't ridiculously stupid. He nods numbly, going back to his cigarette, but after his next exhale, he peeks over at them again.]

Yeah. If it's cool with you, I wanna, uh, see your room.

[synthsized]

[Gently, so as not to startle the Maverick -]

I wouldn't have offered if it wasn't cool.

[They snuff out their cigarette despite the fact they've barely smoked it, hesitating for a moment before they push themself up off the bench.]

Hopefully it's not too boring.

[deuteranope]

[yeah, that's fair. He's kicking himself over that, but he's still feeling sort of floaty as he does it. The cigarette is a waste -- but then, Rover smoking at all was a waste, wasn't it -- and Mav's glad his own had burned down much more so he doesn't have to have yet another excuse for mental kicking when he abandons it in favor of joining the other.]

I guarantee you I've seen rooms way more fucking boring, no matter what the case fucking is with yours. Don't you fucking worry.

[synthsized]

[They shake their head, fond, before leading Maverick. They live in Lumiere, right on the first floor. They lead him to 101, and their room is...

Well. They were right about the room being boring. There's absolutely nothing in the room besides two strange devices on their desk. Rover looks back at Maverick, before shrugging.]

Make yourself comfortable.

[schmott_guy]

When your creations start asking for creature comforts, you either need to take them apart and start over, or buy them a drink and congratulate them for reaching sapience.

Which one depends on what you were going for.

[deuteranope]

[True to his word, it's not the worst room he's seen, in terms of personalization. This made sense in a way that wasn't immediately depressing as hell, too, so that's a bonus. Kano's room had appeared unlived in, anything unusual tucked away in secret compartments he'd created through the years or shoved into the closet.

Maverick wanders over to the desk, absently shrugging off his coat in an effort to assert himself into the space and follow Rover's invitation. A coat hung on the back of a chair normalizes the room more.]

Sooo... Charging station, or...?

UN: Epicyon

[heromedal]

'Person' is non-quantifiable and unfalsifiable. The question doesn't make sense in itself.

[silksoul]

I'm not saying that to a stranger.

[ Or to anyone, really.... ]

[synthsized]

Depends on how you look at it. Does the intent behind something's creation matter?

[synthsized]

Can't say I relate. Guess you enjoy making people uncomfortable, though?

[synthsized]

If they get to that point, would taking them apart be murder?

[synthsized]

Hm?

[They sit down on the bit, pulling their legs up onto the mattress and crossing them underneath themself. They look at the devices on their desk, before nodding.]

Oh, yeah. Apparently Dad doesn't want to foot the bill for charging me so he made me a station that doesn't hoop up to the school's electric. The other thing is for systems analysis.

[synthsized]

That's the entire reason the question's being asked!

[synthsized]

And here I thought we were basically becoming best friends.

[smh]

[silksoul]

Being friends in one conversation works for some people, but not me.

[deuteranope]

Huh. Stingy.

[Not that he thinks he’d want to pay for that either, but cost is something you’re suppose to consider before you commit to having a kid!!! What an irresponsible dad. Systems analysis is...also weird...but ultimately not something he’s going to concern himself with right now, instead shoving his hands in his pockets and heading over to plop himself down next to Rover.]

Sssso, uh...

[wow so fucking smooth doing GREAT]

[synthsized]

Apparently I need a lot of power.

[They shrug. They're pretty sure it's faster using the reactor Rex built than plugging into the wall.

They look at Maverick, smirking after a moment.]

I think this is the part where you put the moves on me.

[deuteranope]

[ s c r e a m

As if he wasn't already feeling too warm and awkward on his own, that only furthers the stuttering out his brain is doing. For all the regret he'd had over his drunken decision last time he slept with someone he sure could use something to grease the wheels right about now, before he wound up disappointing them by not being able to deliver. He sighs at himself, which probably isn't that flattering, oops, then leans his weight onto his hand so he can bring himself closer. With his other hand, he reaches out to hesitantly cup their jawline and hopefully have them meet him in the middle on this whole leaning thing. He's better at doing than thinking, at least he can be confident about that.

He has to remind himself there's nothing to compare him to when he worries over his kiss being too stiff, or his lips too chapped -- both problems much more exaggerated in his mind than what he has to offer in reality anyway -- and that it'll get easier. Unless they taste overwhelmingly like metal or are freezing cold, that might swing it back into not so easy territory.]

[synthsized]

[Rover's not expecting for Maverick to actually make a move. They're half expecting him to freeze up, or protest, or something like that. They're half-certain Maverick has no interest in them, and is only barely tolerating them at the best of times.

Apparently, they're very wrong about that.

They meet him halfway, hesitant and awkward in the way only the truly inexperienced can be. They are warm, though, and they taste like...not much at all, really. They don't know what to do with their hands, so they cover Maverick's with their own.

This is...nicer than they were expecting.]

[nor_iron_bars]

[Look, she's an engineer. Charts are just how she does things.]

thanks.
good luck with the whole journey of existential identity deal.

[taiyounoyou]

I don't think so?

I mean, even if it did, I think that would reflect more on the person doing the creating... wouldn't you?

[deuteranope]

[It feels...normal. Normal, and weird, and sort of familiar in its foreignness. It's not nearly as clumsy as his first kiss, thank god...and it's got that thrill of knowing someone else was floundering as much as he was. Of course there was the fact that Rover had a much more legitimate reason to not know what the fuck they're doing, but he's going to choose to not think about that!

He's grinning crookedly when he draws back, giddiness putting him at ease. For a second, he brushes his thumb along their cheek, then carefully wiggles his fingers into place between Rover's so he can encourage them to lace together, because as nice as kisses are, he's painfully weak to the simpler little acts of affection. To be held is to be secure and to be wanted.

The bed creaks low as Maverick shifts again so that the next kiss can come more easily than the first, though he pauses after brushing his pierced lips against Rover's.]

This still okay?