ataraxion | video; step three

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video; step three

[It seems ridiculous that she'd want to have something be on video when she looks the way she does, but so it goes. As it stands, you're greeted at an unusually early hour by a woman with mussed hair all wrapped up in her blanket with red eyes and a frown. She speaks shakily, obviously a bit bothered by whatever is going on.

And oddly enough, it has nothing to do with the strange occurrences going on on the ship. No, it's a more mundane thing.]

I shouldn't have the capacity for that, but... I think I had a dream. Not a good one. I woke up like this and my pillow was wet and my chest hurt and I'm completely disturbed right now.

This isn't supposed to happen. A moment used to feel like an eternity to me, but now I sleep and everything goes by so quickly. This time it was terrible. I feel terrible.

[She's all alone, and she hates being alone. She's used to a million people needing her every day.

Pathetically:]

Help.

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...Whatever makes you happy.

[He would've said something more along the lines of family or friends, but there's nothing wrong with food.]

Cooking's not that hard to learn. The kitchens here are pretty good, too.

[He's guessing that she never had to eat as an AI, so maybe that's strange to her too.]

[Her only family is her grouchy Spartan, and frankly... he wants as little to do with her as possible, most days.]

Maybe I can take up some kind of new skill or hobby--cooking, for one, yes, I could learn that well enough. You cook, I take it? What's your favorite food?

There's a lotta stuff you could do! Like you could learn to play cards or how to fight, too.

[And even more than that, but that's all Firo can list off the top of his head.]

Yeah, when I want to. I don't really have a favorite; anything can taste good if you do it right. Do you have a favorite? I mean, if you do eat and all.

Playing cards is a counting game, usually. Patterns and predictable reactions. It wouldn't give me any sort of challenge at all. Fighting... I'll have Jai teach me how to fight.

[But she's intrigued, and ideas... other people's ideas suddenly seem important and worthy of her attention. Why? Because she knows this being human business is a piece of junk, and she has to go with the flow.]

Gelatin. I've discovered that green gelatin has a pleasant taste and a wonderful texture. It melts right on your tongue, you know.

No challenge, eh? You sure you're not just playin' against amateurs?

[Firo, she's an AI. Don't try and challenge her to a match.]

...Gelatin? Really? Have you tried that much stuff?

[Oh, honey.]

Games are too simple for an AI.

Ah, but gelatin. It's the first thing I ate! My dear, darling Delta introduced me to it, and I can't say I was disappointed.

What've you played? You can't call a game of seven card stud between experienced players "simple."

[The casino manager in him is kind of offended by the thought.

He laughs.]

It is good. You should try expandin' your horizons. What about actual food?

I've never played anything, but I've seen so many back alley and barroom games played that I'm not really interested.

[But food? Food's good.]

Isn't it actual food? I haven't had anything else, particularly. Not that I've liked as much. Simply a bite here and there.

Hmph. You don't know what you're missin' until you've actually played.

I mean, it's good and it's edible and all, but it's not actually a meal. You can't live off of it, though I guess that doesn't matter for you...

[Technically it doesn't matter for him either, but the feeling of starvation is still painful even without the real danger.]

Why wouldn't it matter?

[She looks genuinely confused.]

I apparently need to eat just like everyone else. It's difficult, but I manage. Somehow.

Oh, right. I guess that makes sense if you need to sleep now, too.

Is it really that hard? It's not like there isn't any food here--and starving's not exactly fun either.

Imagine going from a lifetime of not eating to having to eat all the time...

[Actually, she's yawning, too.]

Now I'm hungry and tired.

[He laughs. As a child, he had quite a few days of not eating; so long as there's food available, he doesn't see the inconvenience of having to eat regularly.]

You'll live, I'm sure. Just remember to eat when you're hungry and sleep when you're tired.

Are you gonna be okay when you go back to sleep?

Mm. Maybe. I hope so. I'm terribly tired, to be honest with you.

[And seriously just... curling back up on the bed.]

Hope I haven't been keepin' you up. Maybe you should try goin' back to sleep now? The more tired you are the less likely you are to dream, I think.

I should hope so. Thank you for making me feel... better, I suppose. More welcome.

[A smile, as she turns the camera off.]

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