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]

Please tell me you aren't threatened by other electronic material?

[heartlessglitch]

No.
If I were that comparable, you might as well experiment with your toaster.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Funny. Not even the least discriminative neurotic would find a toaster pleasurable.

The deflection was fairly apt, however, you're learning.

[heartlessglitch]

[ YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOT MET MADISON JEFFRIES, CHILTON!! ]

You will find that I am very quick learner, Doctor.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[CLEARLY THERE'S SOMETHING ADDITIONALLY WRONG WITH THAT MAN OKAY!! DIAGNOSIS STANDS!]

When did you learn to be jealous of toasters?

[He is literally kidding.

He doesn't know what he's done.]

[heartlessglitch]

[ flatly-- or more flatly than usual: ]

My first significant other was a technophile.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Is that -- is that so. [A beat.] And how did you know that he loved you, rather than simply fetishize you?

Or. Didn't you?

[heartlessglitch]

[ even more flatly: ]

He told me that he loved me.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Oh.

And you believed him.

[heartlessglitch]

Is this relevant, Doctor?

[slightlyoffchilt]

How can it not be? Our experiment involves intimacy, emotional, psychological, and... Otherwise.

[heartlessglitch]

But it does not involve love.
And therefore, I fail to see the purpose of this subject.
Unless you are simply trying to irritate me.
In which case you are, as usual, very successful.

[slightlyoffchilt]

You differentiate between emotional and physical intimacy.

[Love is the word he doesn't to, because he isn't pleased with this factoid -- it is problematic for his aim. Sociopaths can certainly differentiate between the two as well, therein isn't the concern; it's the fact that Danger appears to value both qualities. And, if anything, she values love over its competing intimate definition.

He would have to fix that.]

Very well. And I'm simply etching out a foundation, Danger, no need to take this all so personally.

[heartlessglitch]

Of course, Doctor.
At this point, one might think that I should be bored of being provoked so often by you.
Anger hardly seems worth the effort.

[slightlyoffchilt]

And yet, it still stimulates you. I doubt it's because of any masochistic inclination.

[heartlessglitch]

How reassuring to know that I am most certainly a violent sociopath, but not likely a masochist.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I only hope I can ensure that you won't heinously deprive any hapless locals here of their lives.

[heartlessglitch]

[ a brief, ambiguous pause. ]

You know how I would hate to disappoint you, Doctor.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[-- a beat follows.]

Such a careful use of irony, Danger.

[heartlessglitch]

I am certain I have no idea what you might be accusing me of now, Doctor.
Perhaps you are allowing yourself to be somewhat distracted from the task at hand.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Is this your attempt to draw me back?

[heartlessglitch]

I would hardly protest if you chose to focus, Doctor.
There are sufficient alternate opportunities for idle talk.
The majority of our sessions generally seem to entail that.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Well -- if you insist, who am I to deny you?

[He's playful with the wording.]

[heartlessglitch]

[ she senses that, though she isn't sure what to make of it, pausing before she responds pointedly: ]

You are the one insisting on a plan.
I am merely accommodating your micromanagement.

[slightlyoffchilt]

And I attribute your acquiescence to your evolving soigné.