[ Zapped back home or exploded. Either way doesn't make her feel any better. It's also a reminder what may become of her later on.
With each pained noise, she flinches. But in response to the sudden politeness, A4 puts on a smile that looks genuine at a glance. They're both trying to pretend here. It's one of those rare moments where she's having a difficult time trying to keep up her usual peppiness.
She's still feeling like she screwed up here by waking him up. ]
...Fine. I'm functional.
[ "Fine" in that she's a mostly functional android. As for everything else that happened... not so much. ]
Is there anything I can get for you? Something for your head? Does Sumo need anything?
[ Because she doesn't know how to actually take care of humans (and whatever he's taught her about dogs) asides from cooking soup. ]
Sumo could use someone to play with, I guess. He's been a little... clingy, since the uh... you know, the whole... thing. I think he misses the kids.
[He doesn't know why he said that last part, it's the kind of thought that was supposed to stay in the parts of his brain he doesn't visit. But it's true, he's pretty sure, and saying it makes his voice go tight. He doesn't move his arm from his face, presses his lips together, takes a slow breath.]
[ She can guess which kids he may be referring to. The palace was where she spent most her time in Akvos, mainly with the many children who were taking refuge.
Her lips tug into a frown. To smile and have hope in the most dire situations, has been a part of her personality data. Admittedly, it's been getting harder and harder to keep up the smiley facade. She pauses a moment, her voice a lot more soft and quiet when she speaks up again. ]
...Yeah. I miss them too.
[ She turns, moving into a half-crouch to call Sumo over to her again. ]
[She says that, that she misses them too, and Hank’s breath goes deep and shaky, his nostrils flaring. Sumo makes his way over, sniffs her briefly, then plops down nearby on top of the blanket Hank half-dragged with his when he fell. The motion pulls the rest of the blanket off too, sliding it away from the wall. The phrases Hank’s carved in that wall might or might not be visible in the low light; ‘wake up and be fabulous,’ says one. ‘Hang in there,’ says another, atop a faded charcoal drawing of a kitten hanging off a branch that Hank’s carving hasn’t traced over yet. ‘Good thi’ is the latest one, half done. It’s the only decoration in the room, aside from the flowers that magic themselves onto his nightstand every night.
Sumo stretches his paws toward A4 and sets his chin on his arms, watching her steadily.]
[ Her eyes flicker curiously over to the phrases and the drawing on the wall. Initially, she doesn't say anything else for what seems like a long while, listening to nothing but the sound of Hank's breathing and Sumo's movement. Up until now, she avoided speaking of recent events by focusing on different subjects, afraid of making others feel worse than how they already are. It also served as a distraction for her own feelings.
A4 sits on the floor next to Sumo and reaches over to stroke his fur. There's another pause of silence before she says anything again. ]
[Hank's throat is tight and he clears it and tries again, and his voice comes out quiet but, this time, steady.]
Just a bunch of bullshit.
[Hank swallows, wondering if he can get through this whole visit without taking his arm off his face. He swallows again. As long as she doesn't ask him to get up, he can maybe manage to not be a total asshole.]
What, don't you decorate your room with a buncha shit that looks nice but doesn't mean anything?
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no subject
With each pained noise, she flinches. But in response to the sudden politeness, A4 puts on a smile that looks genuine at a glance. They're both trying to pretend here. It's one of those rare moments where she's having a difficult time trying to keep up her usual peppiness.
She's still feeling like she screwed up here by waking him up. ]
...Fine. I'm functional.
[ "Fine" in that she's a mostly functional android. As for everything else that happened... not so much. ]
Is there anything I can get for you? Something for your head? Does Sumo need anything?
[ Because she doesn't know how to actually take care of humans (and whatever he's taught her about dogs) asides from cooking soup. ]
no subject
[He pauses, a little guilt hitting him.]
Sumo could use someone to play with, I guess. He's been a little... clingy, since the uh... you know, the whole... thing. I think he misses the kids.
[He doesn't know why he said that last part, it's the kind of thought that was supposed to stay in the parts of his brain he doesn't visit. But it's true, he's pretty sure, and saying it makes his voice go tight. He doesn't move his arm from his face, presses his lips together, takes a slow breath.]
no subject
[ She can guess which kids he may be referring to. The palace was where she spent most her time in Akvos, mainly with the many children who were taking refuge.
Her lips tug into a frown. To smile and have hope in the most dire situations, has been a part of her personality data. Admittedly, it's been getting harder and harder to keep up the smiley facade. She pauses a moment, her voice a lot more soft and quiet when she speaks up again. ]
...Yeah. I miss them too.
[ She turns, moving into a half-crouch to call Sumo over to her again. ]
Sumo? Come here, boy.
no subject
Sumo stretches his paws toward A4 and sets his chin on his arms, watching her steadily.]
no subject
A4 sits on the floor next to Sumo and reaches over to stroke his fur. There's another pause of silence before she says anything again. ]
What's with the words on the wall?
no subject
[Hank's throat is tight and he clears it and tries again, and his voice comes out quiet but, this time, steady.]
Just a bunch of bullshit.
[Hank swallows, wondering if he can get through this whole visit without taking his arm off his face. He swallows again. As long as she doesn't ask him to get up, he can maybe manage to not be a total asshole.]
What, don't you decorate your room with a buncha shit that looks nice but doesn't mean anything?