[He's inwardly dismayed that his behavior is negatively affecting her, but he knows that ultimately it will be for the best. He isn't good company, nor is he trustworthy. People are better off staying away from him. They're safer that way.]
I did ask for help, so thank you. We have eliminated the possibility of another person being able to remove the mask, so now we can forge ahead with others.
[He watches her carefully when she looks away, noting how her stress levels seem to be lowering a few percentage points. It's good that she's nervous around him, even if it plucks a pang of loneliness in his thirium pump. He's seen no sign of Hank yet, no others like he and Chloe. He knew he wouldn't be bothering the androids of Jericho, and Chloe is better off without the threat he poses, but he hadn't expected to be completely on his own so soon after deviating. He'd hoped for Hank at least.
He nods at her confession, folding his hands together behind his back. Now it's his turn to gaze around the room, taking in the other party-goers before his eyes land back on her form. He can read the tension there, the lingering distress in her posture.]
I suspected as much.
[His eyes widen almost imperceptibly, something a human would never have noticed as he watches her remove the mask after her confession. How he longs for his quarter to drain off some of his excess nerves! It's harder for him to read his fellow androids, but the brief flash of fear is unmistakable. He tilts his head, absorbing the information his HUD is telling him about her: the increased pace of her thirium pump, her rate of unnecessary respiration, the slivers of red that creep into the yellow of her rapidly cycling LED. He knows that his own LED matches hers, dreading the thought of having to reveal a secret in order to rid himself of this loathsome mask. And yet the more he gives it attention, the greater the compulsion to confess becomes. He bows his head, his eyes falling to the floor as his voice drops to little above a whisper.]
I am afraid.
[Of everything, as he feels his LED burn red in his temple.]
no subject
I did ask for help, so thank you. We have eliminated the possibility of another person being able to remove the mask, so now we can forge ahead with others.
[He watches her carefully when she looks away, noting how her stress levels seem to be lowering a few percentage points. It's good that she's nervous around him, even if it plucks a pang of loneliness in his thirium pump. He's seen no sign of Hank yet, no others like he and Chloe. He knew he wouldn't be bothering the androids of Jericho, and Chloe is better off without the threat he poses, but he hadn't expected to be completely on his own so soon after deviating. He'd hoped for Hank at least.
He nods at her confession, folding his hands together behind his back. Now it's his turn to gaze around the room, taking in the other party-goers before his eyes land back on her form. He can read the tension there, the lingering distress in her posture.]
I suspected as much.
[His eyes widen almost imperceptibly, something a human would never have noticed as he watches her remove the mask after her confession. How he longs for his quarter to drain off some of his excess nerves! It's harder for him to read his fellow androids, but the brief flash of fear is unmistakable. He tilts his head, absorbing the information his HUD is telling him about her: the increased pace of her thirium pump, her rate of unnecessary respiration, the slivers of red that creep into the yellow of her rapidly cycling LED. He knows that his own LED matches hers, dreading the thought of having to reveal a secret in order to rid himself of this loathsome mask. And yet the more he gives it attention, the greater the compulsion to confess becomes. He bows his head, his eyes falling to the floor as his voice drops to little above a whisper.]
I am afraid.
[Of everything, as he feels his LED burn red in his temple.]