IC CONTACT.

[glassbox]

it's diamond lil.
leave a message, hon.

Comments

[slightlyoffchilt]

Am I -- am I to believe that your husband indulged in droning on [haha get it? drone, because she's a robot] to a vivacious, actual woman?

[There's acid in his disbelief. He's still angry that Danger could ruin him in a second.]

[glassbox]

It's complicated. [ and she's still bitter about the whole thing, no matter what thin understanding her and danger have come to. ] An' not really any of your business. Sounds like y'got your own problems with her t'figure out anyway.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Well, actually, I'm a psychiatrist. It's quite literally my job to assess ad analyze the severe psychological maladi-- aaaah, problems. Of. Others.

[glassbox]

Well, y'can't psychoanalyze my stupid husband 'cause he ain't here anymore. Plus he was in the damn war, 'course he's got mental problems.

[slightlyoffchilt]

The Iraq War?

[He doesn't know you're into old dudes, Lil.]

[glassbox]

[ an exhale. ]

No. Nam.

[slightlyoffchilt]

The National Arbitration and Mediation--?

Oh. No, you mean Vietnam, don't you? Vietnam, how the place is pronounced.

[glassbox]

Are y'some kinda moron?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Uh, no. I'm just not a linguist, and deciphering your charming dialect renders quite the conundrum.

[glassbox]

[ impatiently: ]

He was in Vietnam. Happy now?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Immensely.

So are you insinuating that his presumed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is what enabled his... Relationship? With Danger?

[glassbox]

Maybe. Probably some other shit too. Went through a lot. Guess he jus' stopped bein' able t'understand other humans.

[slightlyoffchilt]

That is. Horrifying. He can't empathize with people whatsoever? After having possessed that capability?

[glassbox]

Honestly? I don't know. We stopped bein' able t'really talk a long time ago. I guess the bot made 'im feel safe -- like maybe he could care about her 'cause she ain't weak and vulnerable like humans are.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Why would he consider you weak and vulnerable, in contrast? Simply because of your humanity?

[glassbox]

Yeah. Because I can die. Don't matter that my power's invulnerability.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I see.

Have you considered that he was only using that as an excuse? That maybe it wasn't your potential death, but rather the death you represented -- the death of his former self, before the war.

[glassbox]

He was always makin' excuses, that doesn't -- [ an annoyed exhale. ] Didn't I say it was none of your goddamn business? What the hell's it t'you anyway. Y'didn't even know him.

[slightlyoffchilt]

But I know Danger. And if he was important to her...

[glassbox]

So, what, y'just wanna get at her?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[A calculated beat.]

Yes. I do.

[glassbox]

What'd she do t'you? Really?

[slightlyoffchilt]

She's attempting to control and restrain my efforts. She invaded my privacy. Such will not do.

[glassbox]

Listen. Hon, can I let y'in on a little secret? Y'know what's sad about her gettin' the one up on folks like you an' me? The truth is, she's real young. An' real inexperienced. She don't really know the world 'cept the facts and figures. Even seein' my husband, she ain't ever been with a man. An' what she really wants? Is t'be loved an' understood. She gets her feelin's hurt like a teenage girl.

You're lettin' that bot fool y'into thinkin' she's got it more together than she does.