038 웃 VIDEO

[secretasshole]

[Private to Mira]

I need to speak with you.

[Public]

[David is in his room, standing in front of the giant window, which is currently just displaying the stars outside the Barge instead of one of the artificial environments it usually shows. He looks... normal, really, just like David usually does, but there's something a little bit different about this message.

It's the last one he's planning on making for quite a while.]

I am four years, three months, and twenty four days old.

[One corner of his mouth lifts in an almost annoyed smirk.] I am aware I don't especially look, or act my age.

In my world, I'm certain I would be considered obsolete by now, with or without my creator. Other models were already in production by the time the first David 8 was released. Before I arrived on this ship, I had only been interacting regularly with humans face to face for a few days. I have been on board for one year, eleven months, and six days.

[He's boiling down to one message, and it's simple and difficult to admit, because it means admitting he's wrong, and he's never wanted to do that.]

I'm leaving.

[So there's that.]

I've discussed my departure with Mira, and Erik had offered me a place in his world. I don't believe I am capable of helping an inmate until I better understand what it means to be an individual, instead of someone who is only beginning to understand it himself.

[Because he is one, he's always known that, but he doesn't really understand how to help give Mira a purpose when he doesn't really have one of his own. He can empathize, but he can't really help.

Maybe he'll be back. But for now, he knows this is for the best.]

Comments

[exnihilo]

[She gets the message when she comes off her work shift in the kitchens, and simply goes to his room, knocks.]

It's Mira.

You wanted to see me?

[Warden business, she assumes. Something.]

[secretasshole]

[David is vaguely surprised that she's come by in person, but answers the door quickly, anyway. Lawrence of Arabia is on the viewscreen, but the volume is down low enough to barely be able to hear any of the dialogue.]

Yes.

[He steps further into the room, stands awkwardly, and finally just comes out with it.] I've been considering leaving the Barge.

[Which sounds awful, now that he's just come out and said it.]

I don't know if I am capable of assisting you, or any inmate, in the way you require at this point.

[exnihilo]

[She wants to cry, a little, to scream, stamp her feet. She can't believe she's getting left behind by another asshole robot, and the thought nearly surreal, because she hasn't connected David and Darling in her mind in months, because they're nothing like each other at all. And it doesn't staunch the hurt, but it short-circuits the tantrum. She sulks, hunches, stares at the wall, tries to untangle something worthwhile and honest from her throat.]

I don't know what I require. But I like you. And I trust you.

Why do you think you can't?

[He's telling her, instead of tricking her. She can be honest with him back.[

[secretasshole]

[David doesn't exactly look wounded, but he's certainly affected, because he doesn't like feeling as though he's abandoning her, which is absolutely what he's doing. Even if he thinks it's for the best. She likes him, and she trusts him, and he's come to enjoy having that. She's always treated him like a person.

But he can't stay.]

Because I can empathize with your position, but I-

[This is hard. Admitting he doesn't know something is hard, because it hurts his admittedly very sensitive sense of pride to admit he doesn't know something.]

I don't understand enough about what it means to be an individual to fully help you become one. It's something I still haven't fully discovered.

You deserve a warden who actually understands how to help you.

[exnihilo]

I don't think half the people here understand what they're doing.

[Mulish, jaw set, but it's sulky rather than truly defiant, no rages brewing. She glances away.]

Where will you go?

[voice]

[400yearsofsurvival]

Looks like I'll need to find someone else to...patch me up.

[voice]

[secretasshole]

Dr. Shephard and Mr. Cole are perfectly capable physicians.

[Even if Dillon doesn't have a medical license hush.]

[voice]

[400yearsofsurvival]

I think I'll pass.

[ He didn't want Dillon within 50 feet of him. And he'd rather snack on the human than be treated by him. ]

[voice]

[secretasshole]

Your loss.

[voice]

[400yearsofsurvival]

Is it.

[strangehistorian]

Oh.

[Private]

Good luck at home. ...I hope we see you again some day.

private

[secretasshole]

I certainly won't rule it out as a possibility.

Thank you.

text

[150th]

Models?

text

[secretasshole]

I am a robot.

[video]

[walkingmeltdown]

You're picking an odd time for it.

[His voice is a bit sharp.]

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you if I say that it might look a bit as if you're running away.

[video]

[secretasshole]

It doesn't, but as fear is one emotion I can neither feel, nor replicate, it would just further prove how incapable you are of understanding, let alone drawing a logical conclusion.

[video]

[walkingmeltdown]

You have a survival instinct though, don't you?

[He waves it off after a moment though, deciding he doesn't really care about an answer. His tone switches.]

What about envy? Do you understand that?

[video]

[secretasshole]

I don't, actually.

[He... really doesn't. That can be a bit frustrating, admittedly, but he doesn't mind not experiencing fear.]

But yes, obviously. I've had more than enough experience with that.

[video]

[walkingmeltdown]

Wait - really? All the things you're capable of, yet you have nothing going on for you in terms of self-preservation? [For some reason this surprises him. David can think for himself, he can want things, he can lie. And yet he can't desire his own self-continuation?]

Then you probably know this is the part where I detest wardens most of all. Because you can cut and run at any time you want, yet I'm stuck here when I want nothing more than to leave before this hits.

[halftheman]

You cold, mechanical son of a bitch!

[ Yeah, that's... not going over well. ]

We're on a crash-course with that fucking pit and you're tucking your mechanical tail between your legs and leaving? You piece of shit!

[secretasshole]

My mirror self isn't any more capable of defending her than I would be. And if it weren't the other Barge, you would be getting upset about some other looming crisis. This isn't the worst this place has to offer.

[halftheman]

Bah! Go indulge your cowardice, then, machine.

Don't come back.

[private]

[routemistress]

David - right before the mirror? Really?

[private]

[secretasshole]

If it wasn't the other Barge, there would be some other trauma. I intended on having this conversation with her before she was in her coma.

You've all made it exceptionally clear you're better suited to looking after her than I am.

[He doesn't even sound mad, it's just true. He can empathize, but he can't push her the way she needs to be pushed.]

[private]

[routemistress]

David, it was never a competition! I'm not 'er warden, I never tried to be. But she trusts you; you were 'elping!

[She does sound mad, though she's doing her best to keep it civil.]

Well, none of us can make you stay. But don't you dare turn this around and say we drove you off 'cause we thought we were better. You might only be four but I know you know better.

[And then she catches her breath, draws it in deep and holds it a second before letting it out slowly.]

Good luck, out there. I 'ope you find what you need, what you want. We will look after Mira, all right? But that doesn't mean you won't be missed.