let us gaze upon the stars. // @rove-bogge // continued from HERE
/noun/ a feeling of having done wrong or
guilt was one of those distinctly human emotions ortho had little grasp or understanding of.
he was custom designed with nearly every scenario possible in mind with abilities like no other. with all at his disposal, making a wrong decision or failing wasn't something he planned for. especially not like this.
this wasn't glitching calibration or broken parts. It involved his friend. he was hurting and.. maybe ortho was too, but there was seemingly nothing he could do about it
rove always got up and walked away before the android had a chance at properly understanding.
days, and weeks thinking over their initial
conversation led ortho to the conclusion that he reacted incorrectly. it was his fault rove acted in such a way, and he should alter his speech patterns to cause less distress, and yet..that was wrong too?
he couldn't wrap his head around it. with how every conversation had gone so far, it seemed he would never be given the chance to.
embarrassing. to be a highly intelligent Al but to be just as lost as a child in a store without their mother for guidance and comfort
ortho's eyes loosely focused on the falling snow as they stepped back outside... he wondered if his brother was okay back in ramshackle.
it was easy to tell ortho wasn't really invested in the lantern making as he was before. placing the candle into the lantern was more like a side quest to earn extra game currency instead of the large main objective to learn & conquer.
at the sight of rove's phone, ortho suddenly snapped back into focus. standing with his lantern he'd pose, making two peace signs with his fingers, smiling underneath that mask of his.
it was easy to assume the two would venture back to campus once ortho was done with his lantern, so rove's proposal for the beach was met with a surprised expression
โ okay. โ simple acceptance in response.
rising from his position, ortho would fly alongside rove's audible steps. he'd glance
between the town in front of him, back to his dormmate time and time again.
yet another silent trek to their desired location. it would be a plain faced lie to say the awkward tinge in the air wasn't uncomfortable.
no one else was present, but they alone. the distant sound of rolling waves filtered through ortho's audio processors. a backing track to the start of rove's monologue.
he could have easily searched and downloaded at least 10 articles of information on these blister bugs within a few seconds but insteadโ he would listen to rove.
the sheer nerves the student carried in his speech spoke volumes. this wasn't about bugs, if it was he'd be much more comfortable dare even fast paced while conveying such information.
it was somewhat silly to describe his mechanisms in a way, but it made complete sense for someone like him. suppose that's what ortho admired about rove the most.
slowly the young shroud approached, taking one of his friend's hands to hold within his own.
โ Iโฆ I do not want to be called human because I am not one. I do not deserve a title that does not belong to me. โ
his digits brushed against rove's open palm, tracing alongside the aforementioned marks.
โ but I do know that I'm very bad at living. I'm overemotional, reckless, obsessive and so many thingsโ I do a long wrong but I always want to do right by you.
you've always made me feel seen and connected despite not being a student. some people here don't even know I exist, really, but I've always been able to have you in my corner. so for whatever I do wrong, I'm sorry. and for whatever bothers youโฆ. please talk to me. I want to help however I can, but I can't if you don't let me. โ