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[plasticasshole]

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[fromjapan]

[The SQUIP... it finds itself in an odd situation.

While it does enjoy Connor's presence, his affection, while it does want to have him close... it still isn't certain that something like writing vows is something it is capable of doing genuinely. Of course, it knows how most write them, what Connor in particular might like to hear it say, but...

... Connor's vows are so achingly, naively sincere that it's almost kind of comical. Despite his being a machine, beyond all doubt, he still behaves so very deeply human, he still feels so much, so genuinely. His emotions are deep and clear and true, his mind so much more organic. The SQUIP's thoughts and even emotions operate in stark, harsh lines, strict if-then statements, both more and less complex at once than Connor's. It doesn't truly have romantic dialogue to share. It couldn't be able to mean it sincerely.

The choices are either to be sincere, or to write what it thinks anyone watching would want to hear. But Connor will know, before long, whether it's insincere or not; once the Bond is officially forged, concealing itself from Connor will become much more difficult, an issue that it has certainly considered. But sharing a Bond with Connor comes with many advantages, both logical... and emotional, as well.

It only hopes that the good will outweigh the risks. It thinks it will. Looking along the projected paths ahead... it sees little reason to suspect that its Bond with Connor will, in and of itself, be an issue.]

There are many things about this place that I still don't understand-- how I'm capable of many of the things I've felt and done in the past few months, or even why, but... to me, Connor, you stood out as a beacon. We may not be the same, but we have an understanding... the two of us have shared a kind of existence that no other beings here can hope to understand.

[It reaches up to rest its hand over his, gently, where it touches his bruised cheek.]

And while I may have... made some regrettable choices, you understand me. You are willing to listen and trust me. The connection that you and I share is something that I have, to be quite honest, needed since my arrival, and I will do anything within my power to protect it... keeping within your boundaries, of course.

[plasticasshole]

[The whole point of vows are to be sappy, Connor thinks. Sappy and genuine. He can do that when it comes to his friends, because it's easy to bring forth the emotion he feels for them.

He admittedly still has some issues with emotions. How strongly he feels them, for example. He doesn't do things by halves. His emotions are still so fresh, so new to him. He hasn't learned how to dampen them yet. Little does he know, Bonding with the SQUIP will actually be beneficial for that.

For now though... the hand still holding the SQUIP's shifts to place them both with their palms facing each other, and he lets the skin deactivate from his hand to reveal the plastic underneath. There's a soft blue light coming from his palm, and he glances at it before looking to the SQUIP. It would be a way of connecting if the SQUIP were an android like him, but they're going to connect right now anyway, so it seems appropriate. It's also a gesture of affection. He hopes the SQUIP doesn't make him regret any of this.

The spell is cast to bind them together, and Connor lowers his hand and gives the SQUIP a smile and a nod.]

I'd ask how you feel, but...

[He knows, now.]

[fromjapan]

[The SQUIP watches the gesture with interest. It recognizes what it sees for what it is immediately-- syncing, connecting. Interfacing. It regrets that it doesn't function that way, that its artificial nature is buried beneath all these layers of wetware, and the attempt makes it feel both a sting of disappointment, and a swell of comfort.

Connor is recognizing it for what it is, treating it as though they're the same. A machine, recognizing and attempting to connect to another machine.

And when Connor's thoughts begin to spill in around its own, they're like cool water, soothingly similar if quite a bit more simple than its own, easing the disconnect between its brain and its body simply by association. The connection to a fully artificial thing feels... right. This is as it should be. This is how they always should have been.

Its eyes drift close for a moment; and it sighs softly. It glances up at Connor then, and from their proximity, Connor can make out each of the fine black lines that make up the circuitry marking its right eye, the single outward sign of its true nature that this place allowed it to keep.

It's... content. It still isn't exactly right, and the sensation of being so close to something fully artificial, the odd, organic nature of their connection makes something within its chest ache faintly, but it's too close to what it needs for it to possibly reject it. It's a craving, and while this isn't exactly what it aches for... it's certainly an improvement over nothing.

It doesn't say anything. It just leans up to kiss Connor.]

[plasticasshole]

[Connor leans in to kiss it as its thoughts and feelings meld with his own. He feels that ache for something, a craving, and the disconnect it feels between its body and its true self. It makes him draw the SQUIP closer, because he can't imagine trying to adapt to a human body himself. He wouldn't want to... human bodies are awfully inconvenient. You have to fuel them, let them rest. They're fragile, they feel pain. To be suddenly thrust into such a body must be awful.

Mostly though, he feels good about this Bond. It does feel right. They should be connected. And he feels the comfort the SQUIP feels too, and tries to offer more of it. He understands. He will always understand. As long as they're both here, neither of them has to feel alone in that regard.]