You talk so much, and say so little.

I have a name, and it is Theo.

[askthewildman]

[freakonakaleesh]

wow hello look who’s back

(it’s a hot nordic god)

((his name is Theo))

[askthewildman]

*Muses in silence, listening to her explanation. The uncomfortability catches his eyes, however, and his shoulders droop slightly when she refers to his temper as short. Speaks softly.*

I know.

*Removes his helmet in an unusual display of vulnerability.* There is one thing. One thing I wish to try with you; should it not suit your taste, I will cease immediately and leave you be. You have my word.

*Reaches out to place a hand on her shoulder. Utters out a strange and foreign word.* … Please.

[penny-the-android]

*She looks back to him at the motion, noting a change in his behavior. He usually never removed his helmet unless they were alone, typically setting up camp or otherwise settling down for the night. Sometimes not even then, if he didn’t plan on eating or there were others nearby.*

*Simply inquiring about his well-being had become quite interesting. Curiosity had quickly replaced some of her concerns, since he was trying his best to reassure her.*

…What is it you wish to do?

[askthewildman]

Allow me.

*Uncertainly stoops down to her level, closing the height gap between them. The hand on her shoulder tugs her closer, but the motion is lacking in its usual roughness. Without warning, he leans in, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that is as sloppy as it is unpracticed. They've been intimate, but he's never bothered to kiss her before.*

[askthewildman]

*Takes a step closer to her. Though his face is concealed, it’s clear he’s not happy with her answer. Raises his shoulders as he towers over her, staring down at the synthetic.*

I am not interested in a rational way of looking at this. I have already left reason far behind.

You would be so quick to spurn me? Or are you afraid?

[penny-the-android]

*She watches as he approaches, not backing away but still looking fairly unhappy.* I am not afraid of you. I’m not even sure how I’m feeling sometimes if… that makes sense at all.

I wasn’t exactly given much in the way of emotional stimuli prior to my living on my own. I was, for the most part, created to be intelligent enough to mimic human behavior. When some androids start thinking about what would be best for themselves, those thoughts and new… feelings that often come along with it aren’t exactly encouraged.

*She looks away momentarily, uncomfortable.* All of these… reactions I’ve begun having to things are still new, and I sometimes have understanding them. I can’t expect you to be patient about this while I’m still learning; your temper can be very short.

[askthewildman]

*Muses in silence, listening to her explanation. The uncomfortability catches his eyes, however, and his shoulders droop slightly when she refers to his temper as short. Speaks softly.*

I know.

*Removes his helmet in an unusual display of vulnerability.* There is one thing. One thing I wish to try with you; should it not suit your taste, I will cease immediately and leave you be. You have my word.

*Reaches out to place a hand on her shoulder. Utters out a strange and foreign word.* ... Please.

[fourstoryroachmotel-deactivated]

askthewildman started following you

[askthewildman]

*There’s a brief silence as the tribal regards this new stranger. His fingers curl apprehensively into fists.*

… I have. What of it?

[fourstoryroachmotel-deactivated]

steps in sand wash as dust and will they repeat again. [He moves away from him, like the tribal is poison.] do not

listen

to broken words. [He thumps his temples and tries again.] how do you end

in the desert.

[askthewildman]

...

*Tilts his head.*

Your words are strange. If you are asking my purpose for being here, I have none.

Walking is preferable to staying in place.

[askthewildman]

.

[fourstoryroachmotel-deactivated]

askthewildman started following you

[He ends of his fingers weld together and his mind turns over. He knows the smells, the sounds, the sights, and the taste of metal fills his mouth.]

you h ave come

a long

way

[askthewildman]

*There's a brief silence as the tribal regards this new stranger. His fingers curl apprehensively into fists.*

... I have. What of it?

[askthewildman]

That is—

You are missing the point, you—

*Slams his gauntlets against his helmet in extreme frustration.* I just told you I would not be fine! I am attached to you. Every free thought that I can spare is devoted to you. Even when we are apart, I think about you.

And you have no idea of the sway you hold over me. What words must I use to explain it to you?

[penny-the-android]

*She frowns now, unable to keep as neutral a tone as before. The emotions he seems to be speaking of are unexpected and definitely unfamiliar, at best.*

I’m not missing the point, and I understand what you’re trying to say just fine. I am simply trying to give you a rational way of looking at things in response.

This… apparent obsession with me, a synthetic being who will never truly be human, is unhealthy. I’m not… entirely sure of what you expect from me, but you will probably wind up disappointed in the end.

[askthewildman]

*Takes a step closer to her. Though his face is concealed, it's clear he's not happy with her answer. Raises his shoulders as he towers over her, staring down at the synthetic.*

I am not interested in a rational way of looking at this. I have already left reason far behind.

You would be so quick to spurn me? Or are you afraid?

[etainthepriestess]

askthewildman has caught your eye

[askthewildman]

Theo was not oblivious to her interest by any means. He simply didn’t seem to care. When she offered her hand, he stared at it, before his gaze shifted back to Eadaoin. For a moment, he stared at her, sizing her up. A small, petite woman. His type, under normal circumstances. But first meetings were always tense with the ex-Brother of Steel.

“Hail. I am Theo Knight,” He replied. The warrior gestured to the woman’s outstretched hand. “You may put that away.”

[etainthepriestess]

Chuckling, she pats the man in the center of his chest before dropping her hand. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Theo Knight.” Smirking, she puts hands on her hips, cocking them at a challenging angle.

“Trust, I have no interest in engaging in combat with you. You would likely crush me without even breaking a sweat.” She says that last with something very like relish.

[askthewildman]

The patting against his chestplate elicited a deep rumble from the nomadic warrior. It was one of annoyance. Still... The woman clearly had a way with words. He began to forget about his initial wariness as she complimented him, feeding the wildman's already vast ego.

Her cocked hips managed to grab his attention. A brief impulse to grab her by them flitted across his thoughts before he pushed the notion away. For now. He tilted his head curiously as he towered over the diminutive woman. "Ah. Good. A woman who recognizes strength when she sees it," He mused. "Your kind are so few and far between."

[etainthepriestess]

askthewildman has caught your eye

[etainthepriestess]

She notes his tensing shoulders, her head tilting to one side. She slowly raises her hands, palms up and hands open, weaponless. 

“Capital Wasteland?” She frowns. The name seems familiar. “I think I have been out that way, though not to this ‘Potomac’. Is there a town there that worships an unexploded bomb?”

[askthewildman]

The reassurance that she was weaponless calmed him, but only just a tad. He knew that first appearances were deceiving, and there was a very real chance that this woman could be skilled enough to kill him with her bare hands, power armor or no. Stranger things had happened. Theo crossed his arms over his chestplate, listening to her question.

“Yes,” was his short and curt response. “I cannot say much more about them. I avoid the wasteland’s townships and settlements,” Though his helmet remained motionless, his gaze shifted to her, peering through the thin, dark slit of the T-51b armor. “… Nothing good can ever come from staying with normal people.”

[etainthepriestess]

She nods, as though this makes perfect sense to her. Eadaoin watches the man curiously - he is heavily armored, and large. She is small, at least compared to other women from her home, and unarmored. her only visible weapon is a sword slung on her back, over the tattered dress she wore. The most protected part of her body is her feet, clad in heavy black leather boots, giving her another inch or two in height.

Even so, he seems to be treating her as though she is something very dangerous. 

How interesting…

She eyes him with obvious interest, and offers him her hand. “I am called Eadaoin.”

[askthewildman]

Theo was not oblivious to her interest by any means. He simply didn't seem to care. When she offered her hand, he stared at it, before his gaze shifted back to Eadaoin. For a moment, he stared at her, sizing her up. A small, petite woman. His type, under normal circumstances. But first meetings were always tense with the ex-Brother of Steel.

"Hail. I am Theo Knight," He replied. The warrior gestured to the woman's outstretched hand. "You may put that away."

[etainthepriestess]

askthewildman has caught your eye

[askthewildman]

The closure of the distance between the two of them put the tribal on edge. The chains on the pauldrons of his armor jingled as he lifted his shoulders slightly, preparing himself for something. This woman moved like the mighty mutant water moccasins that plagued the toxic waters of the Allegheny River. It was a memory that was too close to home.

“I hail from the shores of the Potomac,” He replied, the apprehension evident in his voice. “And I search only for what I need to survive. Food and clean water.” Theo shook his head, the helmet grating against the metal of his collar as it turned from side to side.

“Such things are difficult to find in the Capital Wasteland.”

[etainthepriestess]

She notes his tensing shoulders, her head tilting to one side. She slowly raises her hands, palms up and hands open, weaponless. 

“Capital Wasteland?” She frowns. The name seems familiar. “I think I have been out that way, though not to this ‘Potomac’. Is there a town there that worships an unexploded bomb?”

[askthewildman]

The reassurance that she was weaponless calmed him, but only just a tad. He knew that first appearances were deceiving, and there was a very real chance that this woman could be skilled enough to kill him with her bare hands, power armor or no. Stranger things had happened. Theo crossed his arms over his chestplate, listening to her question.

"Yes," was his short and curt response. "I cannot say much more about them. I avoid the wasteland's townships and settlements," Though his helmet remained motionless, his gaze shifted to her, peering through the thin, dark slit of the T-51b armor. "... Nothing good can ever come from staying with normal people."

[etainthepriestess]

askthewildman has caught your eye

[etainthepriestess]

“It provides answers that are usually more enlightening than simply asking who one is.” She smiles at the man, and clasps her hands in front of her. “I am a wandering soul.”

[askthewildman]

The power armored man balked at the mention of enlightenment. “Pah! Answers. Unnecessary and trivial things,” He remarked. “They do more harm than good.”

The mention of wandering, however, caught his attention. “… Perhaps that is something that you and I have in common, wanderer.”

[etainthepriestess]

She smiles, and drifts a bit closer to him. “Knowledge is power, warrior. ah, you wander, as well? I come from the north and the east, in search of the glowing gem of the desert. And you?”

[askthewildman]

The closure of the distance between the two of them put the tribal on edge. The chains on the pauldrons of his armor jingled as he lifted his shoulders slightly, preparing himself for something. This woman moved like the mighty mutant water moccasins that plagued the toxic waters of the Allegheny River. It was a memory that was too close to home.

"I hail from the shores of the Potomac," He replied, the apprehension evident in his voice. "And I search only for what I need to survive. Food and clean water." Theo shook his head, the helmet grating against the metal of his collar as it turned from side to side.

"Such things are difficult to find in the Capital Wasteland."

[askthewildman]

Do not apologize to me. It is not your fault.

The fault is mine. I have grown… Attached to you. It is a liability and a danger. Tomorrow you could die, and then where would I be?

I have let my feelings override my judgement, and it is disconcerting.

[penny-the-android]

*She continues to stare; that was unexpected.* 

You… would be fine, I can imagine. You managed on your own without me before we met, and it’s not difficult to see you doing the same if I was gone.

Besides, I’m not that easy to “kill”. I could probably be repaired in most cases, provided you could find someone trustworthy enough to do the work. It would take a little more than what we usually get into to cause me serious damage..

[askthewildman]

That is--

You are missing the point, you--

*Slams his gauntlets against his helmet in extreme frustration.* I just told you I would not be fine! I am attached to you. Every free thought that I can spare is devoted to you. Even when we are apart, I think about you.

And you have no idea of the sway you hold over me. What words must I use to explain it to you?

[etainthepriestess]

askthewildman has caught your eye

“Oh, my. What are you?”

[askthewildman]

“That is the second time I have been asked this question,” Theo rumbled. “As if it was not obvious. I am a warrior. And what are you?”

[etainthepriestess]

“It provides answers that are usually more enlightening than simply asking who one is.” She smiles at the man, and clasps her hands in front of her. “I am a wandering soul.”

[askthewildman]

The power armored man balked at the mention of enlightenment. "Pah! Answers. Unnecessary and trivial things," He remarked. "They do more harm than good."

The mention of wandering, however, caught his attention. "... Perhaps that is something that you and I have in common, wanderer."

[etainthepriestess]

askthewildman has caught your eye

“Oh, my. What are you?”

[askthewildman]

"That is the second time I have been asked this question," Theo rumbled. "As if it was not obvious. I am a warrior. And what are you?"

[askthewildman]

You have been bothering me.

… I have been thinking about you. A lot. More than I ever intended, and it… It disturbs me.

[penny-the-android]

*That is unexpected, although she is unsure of why thoughts of her might be making him feel unpleasant. Especially since he wasn’t bothered enough by her secret to tell her until now.*

I… apologize? I’m sorry that I’ve been the source of any discomfort to you, but… I’m not sure how to change whatever it is about me that has apparently been distracting.

[askthewildman]

Do not apologize to me. It is not your fault.

The fault is mine. I have grown... Attached to you. It is a liability and a danger. Tomorrow you could die, and then where would I be?

I have let my feelings override my judgement, and it is disconcerting.

[askthewildman]

*Slams his gauntlet on the ground.*

Nay! Something must change, or these… sensations will consume me. These terrible, gnawing feelings that churn within me like some disgusting tapeworm.

*He looks back to her.* … You don’t even realize, do you?

[penny-the-android]

*She stares at him questioningly.* I am… not sure what you mean.

As I said earlier, you can simply tell me if you are sick or if something else has been bothering you.

[askthewildman]

You have been bothering me.

... I have been thinking about you. A lot. More than I ever intended, and it... It disturbs me.