Upon Vestia: Chapter TWENTY

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Heny stood there and listened as the two spoke, her heart beat rising. She had visited him a couple of times but found it too painful with eveything going on.

"Shit..."James said. Realizing that wasn't a good response, he tried again, "Sorry, I didn't mean that like it sounded. It's just, nobody's ever felt that way and I'm kinda not sure what to say here. I'm a robot, you know? People don't feel that way about robots, they just, like, don't. Usually. I mean, sometimes they do, but like, nobody ever felt that way about me--" Maybe it was time to stop talking now. He shut up and looked at Acus.

Swarm followed Tala, curious about all this.

Esk was sleeping in a pretty awkward position, head slumped on his chest and snoring gently.

Kay was ignoring him, wasn't like he could do much to wake him up. Not unless he threw something at him but all he had on him was his tablet, he'd emptied his pockets of anything else earlier just in case. He was not wasting his tablet on Esk.
Besides which, he didn't much want to get shot.

He looked up when Tala and Swarm came in, looking quizzical.

"Greetings," Tala said, trying to whisper but physically unable to do so thanks to the limitations of her vocal cords, "We came to pay you a visit. during your incarceration!"

Esk grunted but didn't wake up.

"Is he alright?" Swarm asked.

Kay navigated out of his video. [He's drunk.] He wrote. He looked to Tala. Why aren't you at the party? Is everything alright?

Tala switched to telepathy in response to Kay's telepathy. Things are well, but Swarm sensed the other Swarm close, so I escorted them here for their safety. I had seen enough of the festival and I was happy to return home.

Kay nodded slowly. He wasn't totally sure he understood that but he was rather too exhausted to go into it.

"you did not change." Swarm observed.

Kay shook his head.

"That is good." "Must be relieved."

[Spending the night with my brother was somehow more painful.] Kay wrote, smirking weakly.

Tala eyed the tablet, trying to make sense of the letters. Bah, stupid shapes that were supposed to mean something, but didn't.

Kooshie wrote:"Shit..."James said. Realizing that wasn't a good response, he tried again, "Sorry, I didn't mean that like it sounded. It's just, nobody's ever felt that way and I'm kinda not sure what to say here. I'm a robot, you know? People don't feel that way about robots, they just, like, don't. Usually. I mean, sometimes they do, but like, nobody ever felt that way about me--" Maybe it was time to stop talking now. He shut up and looked at Acus.

"...I'm sorry." He said after a few moments, look at him, "I'll understand if you don't share the same feelings... This isn't the first." He gave this weak smile, "So don't be mad at yourself."

James nodded weakly. "Sorry man, I just... I've never been romantically interested in anyone, I'm not sure my brain even works that way. And obviously sexual attraction is right out the window, since I'm, you know, a robot."
He winced, "I didn't even realize that I was leading you on, man, I just thought, you know... We had our half hour together and that was it, I figured it was fine to flirt with you since we'd reached an agreement that that was a one time thing... I guess maybe preening you late at night, and all the suggestive songs, might have sent some mixed signals though..."

(*Quietly laughs at James*)

(Oh... There a idea in my head that would have you kill me >_> )

Acus weakily chuckled, "it my fault I misread it." He soflty patted his shoulder, "It a two way street James, I was the fool the ignore your nature to be a flirt.."

(I'm scared. Can I have a hint? lol)

James shook his head. "I do--did--flirt with you more than pretty much anyone else," he admitted. "I'll bet a psychologist would have a field day analyzing that fact."

Kay noticed Tala struggling. Just a joke. He assured her. Swarm has too many minds, it's too difficult to lock onto just one of them and project and too many to project to simultaneously. It's easier to just write. He explained, looking apologetic.

Tala nodded. That is fair. Our limitations are terribly inconvenient. She considered, I must eat! I shall make something and then return. Shall I bring you anything?

Kay considered that, he hadn't really eaten much since before sundown and his stomach made sure to remind him of that. He nodded. Anything you can find to eat would be good. Thank you.

Kooshie wrote:(I'm scared. Can I have a hint? lol)

James shook his head. "I do--did--flirt with you more than pretty much anyone else," he admitted. "I'll bet a psychologist would have a field day analyzing that fact."

(SD won't have a captain...)

He weakily chuckled, "Probably, but it fine.. Honestly." Acus felt numb inside but kept that smile on his face.

Tala nodded happily and pranced off to the galley to find something for herself and Kay.

~~
(Oh dear)

James nodded. Now what was he supposed to do? He couldn't hug the guy, that'd be more mixed signals and pain for Acus. "Look," he said uncertainly, "I don't want to hurt you. I'm happy to be your friend, but if seeing me is hurting you, I can try and stay out of your way."

"No no, it fine honestly. Not the first time I been friendzoned and keep on working with them." He laughed, "Probably why me and Silv clashed so much.."

"If you say so, man." James tried to smile, but he looked kind of uncomfortable, the word 'friendzone' didn't sit well with him, although he wasn't sure why.

"Well, I guess g'night?" He asked, there was almost a numb tone to his voice as he went to neutral facial expression.

"Yeah, good night, man." James looked at Acus unhappily. "Look, I'm really sorry. I know I already said that, but I'm still sorry."

Tala would return to Kay's new home carrying a tray of food. Salad with some sort of dressing on it for herself, and some sort of sandwich and chips for Kay, which must have been chosen by Vestia. Also she thought to bring water! Yay.
She'd take her salad and set it somewhere, then bring the tray over to the delivery slot for Kay. I hope the food is satisfactory! If it is not, I will not find you other food.

~~
James slunk off to his room, locked the door, and miserably started taking off his fancy clothes. Guilt gnawed on his processes; how had he not seen what he was doing to the guy? He'd been around organics all his life, he should know how to read them!

But no, somehow he'd missed the signs, and he'd been casually tormenting Acus all this time, making him hope there was something there, when really there wasn't and there would most likely never be. As if poor Acus needed rejection and shattered dreams on top of his grief about Avia, and the guilt and pain of his own war crimes!

James folded up his suit carefully and set it on a shelf, before tugging on his normal clothes. His thoughts kept churning. Why did he act this way, when he didn't love Acus? Why was he so obsessed with pretending to feel things he didn't? Why didn't he feel those things, when Asher and so many other androids had made it clear that his species could?

And a weird question sneaked unbidden into his thoughts,

Should he have loved Acus?

And what did it say about himself, that he had never wanted anyone?

Kay smiled weakly to tala and took the tray. Thank you. He sat down on the floor and ate ravenously.

Tala nodded. You are welcome.
She sat down on the ground, legs awkwardly stretched in front of her, and got to work on her own dinner, picking up leaves with her fingers instead of using a fork.

I'm relieved to know everything seems peaceful out there. Kay told Tala. Swarm had sort of filled him in on things while Tala had been gone. He licked butter off his fingers.

Yes, perhaps this night shall be a success and all shall leave in good spirits, Tala mused. It is good to see Esk here fulfilling his duty as your brother. He is a fine young man despite his odor.

Kay covered his mouth with his hand as he tried not to smirk at that remark. I'm not sure i'd go that far, but he's efficient and usually fairly responsible at least. Kay looked to Esk warily. He was still pissed off with him. He had a terrible knack for getting under people's skins and it just really really wound Kay up. Probably because he had no legitimate rebuttal to anything Esk said. He was always frustratingly right, and he knew it. Argh. Kay shook his head. He was always very good at guard duty.

He is pragmatic and patient, which is to his credit, Tala said. I heard there was a minotaur attack today and he was injured. Is that why he sleeps so soundly?