I liked him. He was very sweet to me, and I won't allow him to fade away without answers. This investigation is for my benefit - if you'd like help, I'm offering it, but I'll be doing it either way.
[especially from someone that scien thinks has two braincells to rub together. he's already without his assistant, which puts him at an inconvenience here.
. . . . ]
He would be happy.
To hear that you cared for him without strings attached.
[the first comment was made simply because that's not the environment that scien and dahut are from. when you're at the top of the institute, everyone is either trying to use you as a way to bring themselves up - or to take you down.]
... both of us were and are probably going to die upon return to our home world. I told him that makes any connections we make here fairly useless to us.
He told me, in his usual annoying way, that the acting of making them still means something. I don't know if that will bring you comfort but...
You've been trying to find a way to extend the lifespan of your people, right? To live to an old age. [or at least, that's the impression she's gotten from both him and dahut.] Why? Why is that important to you?
Because I don't believe one population should be condemned to early death because of the misfortune of where they were born. My father and grandfather researched it all their short lives, and came up with nothing to show for it.
I finished my projects, so I took up the mantle because I was bored. I developed Reliver technology in those months.
[infuriating man creates clone tech because he ran out of hobbies]
Now, I simply aim to finish what I started. To free the island of its so called curse, because it is my responsibility as someone who has the capability in his grasp. I don't have a big, altruistic reason. I imagine that's disappointing to people... but I would be lying if I said I had one.
Hm. No, I don't think you would. I suppose I'd think you much more selfish if you had just left it at I do this because I was bored and hate leaving projects unfinished.
It's not a disappointing answer. I wasn't expecting anything grandiose. I have an idea of who you are, or at the very least, who you present yourself as.
You said that he thought the act of making connections still mattered, even if you were going to die. What's the point of living if you don't enjoy what it gives you?
I just wondered what the point of giving other people more time was if you didn't believe in that. But your answer was sufficient.
... I've always existed separately from others. Even before I became a Reliver, my connections and emotions weren't very strong.
But for others... [a pause, like he's considering. remembering something. someone else's voice in his head going you're not some god] ... and maybe one day for myself -
I think there is nothing wrong with fulfilling a full, rich, self-involved life.
[to protect themselves and care for themselves - in a way scien doesn't entirely know how to]
... That's what I want. So I agree with you. [she wants to be free, and she can't say that she isn't selfish (which isn't quite self-involved, but they're interchangeable, for her) for wanting it, considering what she has to do to earn it.] If it's not out of my reach, I don't think it's out of the question for you.
You are a very interesting person, Scien. [that sounds like a compliment. gently, she places his braid over his shoulder.] And I'm sorry about Dahut.
... I did. I do. [there's an achy little feeling when she thinks about luke - a blip of a thought about his smile, and then she shifts, standing up to move out of his tether range.]
well, there's a slide of a sharper feeling (that still comes out a little crunchy) as he pieces out what it is - recognition, apprehension, hesitation.
he is contemplative for a moment before he ultimately allows it, still wary:]
... I will let you know if it becomes too much. Until then, you're not troubling me unless I say so.
she glances at him, and this time there's a little wryness in her emotions.]
I'm not going to ask you to talk about my feelings with me, Scien. [she's already detaching again, putting the thoughts where she can't touch them.] You don't need to be afraid of the possibility.
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[she says, not looking at him.]
I liked him. He was very sweet to me, and I won't allow him to fade away without answers. This investigation is for my benefit - if you'd like help, I'm offering it, but I'll be doing it either way.
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[especially from someone that scien thinks has two braincells to rub together. he's already without his assistant, which puts him at an inconvenience here.
. . . . ]
He would be happy.
To hear that you cared for him without strings attached.
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... That makes me happy. [she doesn't feel it, but she knows it must, eventually.] I hope he knew that I liked spending time with him.
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[the first comment was made simply because that's not the environment that scien and dahut are from. when you're at the top of the institute, everyone is either trying to use you as a way to bring themselves up - or to take you down.]
... both of us were and are probably going to die upon return to our home world. I told him that makes any connections we make here fairly useless to us.
He told me, in his usual annoying way, that the acting of making them still means something. I don't know if that will bring you comfort but...
Your time with him did mean something.
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It does. [she says, still soft.] It does mean something. Especially for those of us who only have one life to live.
There isn't much point to being alive if you don't enjoy the things that life gives you.
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A thought for other people, I suppose.
[his emotions indicate he clearly thinks himself apart from that]
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Hm. I don't think so. But I won't argue with you about it.
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After all this.
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... I have a question if you'll indulge me. We can exchange, as usual.
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[insufferable bastard,]
But very well. Ask it.
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You've been trying to find a way to extend the lifespan of your people, right? To live to an old age. [or at least, that's the impression she's gotten from both him and dahut.] Why? Why is that important to you?
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I finished my projects, so I took up the mantle because I was bored. I developed Reliver technology in those months.
[infuriating man creates clone tech because he ran out of hobbies]
Now, I simply aim to finish what I started. To free the island of its so called curse, because it is my responsibility as someone who has the capability in his grasp. I don't have a big, altruistic reason. I imagine that's disappointing to people... but I would be lying if I said I had one.
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[she seems genuinely curious about this]
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It’s simply incidental that my work leads to salvation.
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It's not a disappointing answer. I wasn't expecting anything grandiose. I have an idea of who you are, or at the very least, who you present yourself as.
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Why does it matter?
[why bother asking for his motivations on this, the day of his dead dahut?]
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You said that he thought the act of making connections still mattered, even if you were going to die. What's the point of living if you don't enjoy what it gives you?
I just wondered what the point of giving other people more time was if you didn't believe in that. But your answer was sufficient.
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But for others... [a pause, like he's considering. remembering something. someone else's voice in his head going you're not some god] ... and maybe one day for myself -
I think there is nothing wrong with fulfilling a full, rich, self-involved life.
[to protect themselves and care for themselves - in a way scien doesn't entirely know how to]
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... That's what I want. So I agree with you. [she wants to be free, and she can't say that she isn't selfish (which isn't quite self-involved, but they're interchangeable, for her) for wanting it, considering what she has to do to earn it.] If it's not out of my reach, I don't think it's out of the question for you.
You are a very interesting person, Scien. [that sounds like a compliment. gently, she places his braid over his shoulder.] And I'm sorry about Dahut.
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[those condolences]
After all, you cared for them both, didn't you?
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... I did. I do. [there's an achy little feeling when she thinks about luke - a blip of a thought about his smile, and then she shifts, standing up to move out of his tether range.]
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but he'll reach up to catch ahold of her wrist - still light enough she can pull away if she wishes]
Stay, if you wish. If it's out of consideration for me, you don't have to move.
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a pause, and then she sits back down.]
If you're sure. [now he has to suffer through her embarrassing baby crush on luke though, so that sucks for him]
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uh
well, there's a slide of a sharper feeling (that still comes out a little crunchy) as he pieces out what it is - recognition, apprehension, hesitation.
he is contemplative for a moment before he ultimately allows it, still wary:]
... I will let you know if it becomes too much. Until then, you're not troubling me unless I say so.
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she glances at him, and this time there's a little wryness in her emotions.]
I'm not going to ask you to talk about my feelings with me, Scien. [she's already detaching again, putting the thoughts where she can't touch them.] You don't need to be afraid of the possibility.
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