mingle mangle

[takeabow]

Who: anyone!
Broadcast: why not!
Action: sure!
When: Whenever!

[ what are you up to, flooters? passing the time playing cribbage? watching Die Hard with a Vengeance, or maybe trying to repair friendships and perceptions of people that were dashed by invasive dreamscapes?

This is a mingle, so enjoy! ]

Comments

[reconstitution]

No, I know that..

[ He pauses, brow creasing as he tries to put his thoughts together into something concrete. ]

I'm just not sure when it gets to end.

[takeabow]

What do you mean?

[reconstitution]

It's difficult to explain.

[takeabow]

Try me.

[reconstitution]

I've been forced to work for a cause I was tricked into believing.. They took everything that made me a person. Turned me into their machine.

[ He pauses, watching the plates of his left hand shifts as he clenches his fist. ]

I killed innocent people and I couldn't-- can't do anything to stop it.

[takeabow]

...I'm sorry. I... kind of understand that. A little, I guess. I wasn't controlled but I was... lied to. A lot.

[reconstitution]

Lying was just their way of controlling you..

They tell you that you're doing a good thing-- they can't do their job if you don't do yours. That you're doing something to better the world. They tell you what you need to hear to believe them. That you don't matter in the scheme of things.

[takeabow]

Yeah.

But you do matter.

[reconstitution]

..Yeah. To someone, at least.

[takeabow]

It just takes one.

[reconstitution]

Yeah.. I guess you're right.

[ There is a pause much longer than necessary. ]

Thank you.

[takeabow]

[ places her hand on his metal one, briefly ]

I have to remind myself of that, too.

[reconstitution]

I'll have to remember it.

[ His metal hand has no sensation of touch, but he can feel the gentle pressure before she pulls away. ]

[takeabow]

[ wryly ]

May as well start remembering things with that.

[reconstitution]

Only if you do the same.

[takeabow]

Well, okay. If you insist.

[reconstitution]

I'm going to have to.

[takeabow]

Well, thanks.

[reconstitution]

Sure.

[ There's a pause, and then quietly added, ]

We're friends..

[takeabow]

Yeah. I mean, if that's okay with you.

[reconstitution]

I could use one more.

[ He could use about 50 more at least, but he'll be happy with one. ]

[takeabow]

Yeah, me too, probably. We should start a club.

[reconstitution]

A club for what?

[takeabow]

People who need friends.

It was a joke.

[reconstitution]

Oh.

Sorry, I'm still getting used to those.