ic contact.

[heartlessglitch]

YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY INITIATED CONTACT WITH DANGER.

I AM CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE TO RESPOND.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEAVE A CONCISE MESSAGE.
THANK YOU.

Comments

[clanky]

Oh.

Well. Thanks, I think. I probably won't leave you to suffer the company of only the fleshy ones unless there's no other option.

[heartlessglitch]

I appreciate you being relatively considerate, Aaron.
I will try to remember that you are slightly capable of that.

[clanky]

[It's like being back in Nextwave, almost. And it's a good thing Jocasta isn't here. He'd be in serious trouble if the two of them were ever to meet and talk about him to each other.]

When the mood strikes me. Provided I think it's someone worth at least a shred of my consideration.

[heartlessglitch]

Should I receive that as a compliment?

[clanky]

That's how I'm electing to take "least grating."

[heartlessglitch]

Good.
I will consider this mutual exchange of relative compliments as progress in our friendship.

[clanky]

I've built friendships on worse.

Why did you register? You're a mutant.

[heartlessglitch]

My position as a government agent affords me more opportunities to learn about the system here.
You may think of it as reconnaissance, if you wish.

[clanky]

That's logical.

[heartlessglitch]

I am generally logical, yes.

[ Maybe. Emotions just get so complicated sometimes. ]

[clanky]

And when you're not?

[heartlessglitch]

Then I am most likely attempting to kill someone.
Probable scenario: They hurt my feelings.

[clanky]

I thought you were programmed to pull punches.

[heartlessglitch]

I did specify "attempt."
My programming, technically speaking, requires me to make full efforts to kill.
My fail-safe simply prevents me from actually delivering any fatal blows.

[clanky]

You lead a very frustrating life, don't you.

[heartlessglitch]

That is very perceptive of you, Aaron.

[clanky]

I have a computer brain too.

[heartlessglitch]

Yet you are less inclined to logical decisions than I am.

[clanky]

I didn't say that.

[heartlessglitch]

That is my personal assessment.

[clanky]

On what grounds?

[heartlessglitch]

To summarize:
Because you are more human-like than I am.

[clanky]

That doesn't make me less of a robot than you.

[heartlessglitch]

But perhaps it makes you more of a person.
Or less of a monster.
Though on further reflection, debating the point seems rather futile, given that there is no way to prove things one way or the other.

[clanky]

The answer is no, on both counts.