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

[slightlyoffchilt]

[A beat.]

Thank you, Danger. That means -- it means a lot. To me.

[heartlessglitch]

I thought perhaps you might appreciate an explicit statement of what has been true for some time.
I should clarify, however, that I still find you to be a very frustrating man.
That has not changed.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Don't you worry. I wouldn't misconstrue your sentiment for one romantic. If that's your fear.

[heartlessglitch]

"Fear" is hardly an accurate term for it.
If my romantic interest were something relevant to our relationship, one might objectively say that you would have far more to be concerned about than I would.

[slightlyoffchilt]

You're possessive enough in an antagonistic capacity. I don't doubt the object of your affections would indeed endure a more focused attention than what I presently enjoy from you.

[heartlessglitch]

That would make sense, would it not?
I have known human women to be much the same, given similar circumstances.

[slightlyoffchilt]

You've known many human women stalkers?

[heartlessglitch]

Have you ever been loved by a woman, Doctor?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[A dragging, cold beat.]

I've had many intimate relationships with women.

[Which was not what she asked.]

[heartlessglitch]

That is not the same.
It is not equivalent.

[slightlyoffchilt]

How is it that a machine can divorce love from sex? Oh, right -- you are dislocated from your organic form. Perhaps intimacy in your natural body would persuade you from this equivalency debate.

[heartlessglitch]

I am not averse to sex in my natural body.
But it would not change my mind.
I have experienced love without sex, and sex without love.
That is evidence enough.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Hm.

[A beat.]

I can allow this evidence, and wish to pursue the implications.

[heartlessglitch]

Pursue it in what way, exactly?
I should remind you that my natural form is explicitly intimidating.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I have seen you in your natural form, yes. I do recall your intimidating contours.

[heartlessglitch]

And yet you wish to pursue some study of my intimidating contours?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Why are you not flattered?

[heartlessglitch]

Why does it matter to you if I am flattered or not?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Is it not part of courtship?

[heartlessglitch]

In my experience, you would be the first to insist on flattery as a necessary component of courtship.
Did this behavior have a high success rate with Christine Stanford?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[LONG, PUNCTURED BEAT.]

Yes. Success was natural with Christine. [Beat.] Because she has narcissistic tendencies. [Much like Chilton himself.]

[heartlessglitch]

Then perhaps you should be reminded that I am not Christine Stanford.
And by your own diagnosis, you would be attempting to court a sociopath, not a narcissist.

[slightlyoffchilt]

There's often overlap, between the two. One is a psychosis, one is a personality disorder. Hardly mutually exclusive. [Softly:] Gideon, for example, is diagnosed as both.

[heartlessglitch]

I fail to see how Dr. Gideon's disorders are relevant to the subject.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Simply as a case study. I know you have studied his... Casing quite thoroughly.