// video; open

[circumspector]

[ Angel's feature's flicker onto the screen, black-eyed, black hair, those strange blue markings that adorn her body down her left side and right horn, that telltale hint of fur that appears across her shoulders, her neck, collar-like. Decidedly, completely, not human. ]

Hi. There has never been an easy way to have this conversation so I am just going to jump into it. I'm a monster. [ Her long ears flick, pricking to sound, her chin resting in the palm of her hand. Her thick, black claws that come to flat ends tap against her cheek. ] It's a long, long story. But the sum of it is pretty straight forward, there was a God. She took people like this place takes people, she turned us into things. I became this. I wasn't always this, nor was I chosen for any grand reason. But now I am capable of smashing through concrete with one kick, I can lift ten or twelves my own weight, and I weight a lot, despite my size.

But that and the horns isn't why I call myself a monster. I'm a monster because I crave human flesh. I can and have eaten living people. I didn't get a choice about it. I can sate it when things are good. Raw meat of animals will do the trick. But, if I put it off any meat at all long enough, the hunger becomes ravenous, and I get taken over by this... this rage and hunger. I might - care for you, want happy things for you. But when I am like that? I'm not your friend. I'm not human. I'm not... not me. I can manage it, but this place just wiped my memories for a few days, so I can't make that assurance it will never happen.

So this is my permission. The day that happens, and you can't trap me or stop me, you can put a bullet in my head. I won't cling selfishly to a life where I am hurting someone to fuel myself. I'll only regret it when I come out of it. If it's me or someone else, I'll always pick for someone else to live over me hurting someone just because I am like... this.

[ She clears her throat, because what else is there to really say? So just... ]

... Do you think Tequila is bad for the Reindire? I keep feeding them mine.

[ #nailedit ]

Comments

[circumspector]

[ hmm. ]

Have you tried recording yourself?

[theweakhavepurpose]

I don't think I'd have time between when I know something is wrong and when I pass out.

My guess is I run around looking for weapons.

[circumspector]

No, no, I mean a device on you, 24/7. A little camera or just sound recorder. Do you have any cybernetics? We could get a read out your body too for that matter.

[theweakhavepurpose]

Cybernetics? No. I'm one of the boring human ones with no cool powers.

[circumspector]

Boring nothing. Not even if you've seen what I've seen 'just' humans do.

[ BEAM. ]

But alright, give me some time, I think I can try for something basic to get a read on your heart rate, breathing, stuff like that. It'll be non-invasive, if I wing this right, you won't need surgery. It might be able to help you get a handle on it.

[theweakhavepurpose]

Wait.

Back up.

Surgery? What are you doing to me?

[circumspector]

Oh? What? No, no. No surgery. We don't have any equipment for that, not at all. Don't worry, I won't do to you what I have. [ taps briefly at the one remaining cybernetic in her head. ]

But there are a lot of different options, like I said. Completely non invasive, like wearing a wrist band or glasses, something like that, once I get a handle on the tech levels here.

[theweakhavepurpose]

Oh. Okay.

That'd probably be useful.

Look I saw my first roomba here and I had to talk to a guy made of metal so go easy on me with the robot stuff.

[circumspector]

Oof. First time with AI? Don't worry, I won't throw you into the deep end first off. We'll start off small.

[theweakhavepurpose]

Yeah. Everything here is way advanced for me. Well, not the microwaves and stuff. But the tech that makes up the dome and the robots.

Never even seen one before and there's dozens here.

[circumspector]

Really? Wow you must be from near Charles time.

[theweakhavepurpose]

2018.

Robots exist but not like this. They're like in factories. To make cars or whatever.

[circumspector]

Awww! That's so sweet! Those little guys must be so tuckered out. Do they get holidays?

[theweakhavepurpose]

No?

They're not alive. Not like the ones here. And they're not shaped like people, they're just big arms taking things off conveyor belts and putting them together.

[All he knows about factories is from watching How Its Made on the Discovery Channel.]

[circumspector]

That's not a robot that's an antique...

[theweakhavepurpose]

Go easy on me, I didn't get to pick when I was born.

[circumspector]

No wonder Connor said he didn't have cameras. I don't think I'd survive, some of my best friends are robots, back home.

[theweakhavepurpose]

I don't have anything against them. I don't think. Just haven't.. met many. Other than here.

I like my roomba?

[circumspector]

Well, that's a good start. Have you tried naming it?

[theweakhavepurpose]

Peter told me I should call it Prince Rug. To go with Princess Thug. Not sure how I feel about that.

[circumspector]

[ She tries not to laugh, she really does, but the giggles start to creep out until it is too much and she is just bubbling over and hiding her face with it. ]

You should! You definitely should!

[theweakhavepurpose]

[Line Face intensifies.]

Yeah yeah.

I guess it doesn't matter what I call it, it won't understand me. It's not exactly smart.

[circumspector]

Well. You could make it smart. I am sure there is an AI core around here somewhere.

[theweakhavepurpose]

Do I want to make it smart? I don't want to give a vacuum an existential crisis or anything.

[circumspector]

Oh, that usually comes later. It'll probably try to fall in love with everything first. It's way worse, I once saw a Tediore Sniper fall head of heels in love with a Maliwan piloting system?

Really messy divorce afterwards.