The question drew a sigh from the SQUIP, its breath hot over Justine's shoulder, her neck; it stroked its fingers through her hair idly, its other hand pressing at the small of her back, holding her close.
"Yes," it said at length; there was an odd undertone to the response, as though it felt like it should have been rehearsed, should have been a lie... but it wasn't. It did not regret its control of him, or its forced rejection of Rich; but the way that those things made Connor feel... it could feel his every emotion over the Bond, his confusion, his sadness, and it tugged at something within the machine that it had never felt before.
"... but... even beyond that, I just feel so... alone."
Not entirely a lie... but it was mostly spoken specifically to appeal to Justine. Justine, who understood loneliness, who felt just as isolated... and who shared its craving to be beside Connor.
no subject
"Yes," it said at length; there was an odd undertone to the response, as though it felt like it should have been rehearsed, should have been a lie... but it wasn't. It did not regret its control of him, or its forced rejection of Rich; but the way that those things made Connor feel... it could feel his every emotion over the Bond, his confusion, his sadness, and it tugged at something within the machine that it had never felt before.
"... but... even beyond that, I just feel so... alone."
Not entirely a lie... but it was mostly spoken specifically to appeal to Justine. Justine, who understood loneliness, who felt just as isolated... and who shared its craving to be beside Connor.