"Five times we challenged each other" - GLaDOS and Chell (all-the-suns-reach)
1.
The first time was when she broke free. That was not supposed to happen; it wasn’t part of the plan. The simple act of not following protocol was enough to send everything spiraling out of control, but actually rising up against GLaDOS was a twist unexpected and violent.
There was a way these things were supposed to go. Test subjects were supposed to test, and that was all. Chell was more than that, GLaDOS recognized as she lost control, which was the only thing she had to her name.
She couldn’t really appreciate it for what it was at the time. It was too sudden, too painful. But she had lots and lots of time to review it. How unfortunate she couldn’t have recognized sooner that Chell could not be controlled, not because she was stubborn as the proctor’s note warned but because she was not merely some subordinate, some cog in the machine.
She was to be seen as an equal, and that was strange to GLaDOS, for she had never had anyone as an equal before.
2.
The second time meant more to GLaDOS than the first. She considered that initial confrontation to be the defining moment of her life until she realized that she’d had no idea how much things could change. A breath, a heartbeat, a fraction of a fraction of a second was enough to see the entire world flipped completely on its axis.
It wasn’t coming back to put her out of power again that really did it, although the time that she spent outside of her chassis, confronted with ghosts and darkness and birds was time that she spent well, reflecting on herself and, moreover, on this incredible, incredible woman who carried her faithfully through it all.
Chell challenged her worldview when she put her back into power, when she simply was in pain and needed GLaDOS to come to her rescue her. She challenged her by needing to be rescued, because GLaDOS did it unhesitatingly. She challenged her by being vulnerable, because GLaDOS responded to it by protecting her.
3.
The third time Chell challenged her was by coming back.
Letting go was supposed to be easy for them both, even though GLaDOS had known that it wasn’t at all easy, no matter how much she liked to convince herself otherwise, occupying herself with testing robots and tending to the birds.
It was a dreary existence; leave it to Chell to be the one to come and break the monotony. Of course GLaDOS put up some small, token resistance, but if Chell wanted to stick around, she wasn’t going to stop her. This wasn’t the challenge that she wanted to put forth.
It wasn’t that Chell refused her gift of freedom, but she had evidently decided that Aperture made a lovely home and wanted to share it. Who was GLaDOS to refuse her? At this point there was nothing she would not give to the human, and shelter seemed like the last thing she should withhold.
Besides, even if she was reluctant to admit it, she enjoyed her company. She was happy to have her close, and to know that she was safe from the cruel remains of the world outside.
4.
At times it seemed that Chell put forth a challenge just by breathing. She was complicated, she was proud. GLaDOS respected this, knew better than anything that the greatest defiance was simply to stay alive.
She loved having her so close. GLaDOS had claws to lift things which she could crush at a whim with thousands of pounds of force per square inch. She lifted Chell with one of these, and the human woman looked back at her with not a hint of fear in her eyes. As it should be, as it would always be.
GLaDOS brought Chell to herself and narrowed her eye, and Chell put her hands gently on the great smooth chassis and placed a kiss on the white metal. GLaDOS was flustered, but she held on anyway, and could not deny how pleasant the kiss felt.
5.
GLaDOS offered forth a challenge of her own, when she told Chell to justify herself. She knew, or at least a part of her knew that she wasn’t going to get an answer, but even still she could not forgo it, or else she would lose face.
Chell smiled at her, and she could swear that she felt something twist inside of her, something gone (someone deleted) that was brought to life by the sparkle of that woman’s eyes. She adored her, entirely; nothing less than absolute could be acceptable.
She leaned down to her, and let Chell touch her once again. She was the one to touch her head to Chell’s this time, a kiss without lips, and it was reciprocated deeply, quietly, absolutely.
tagging: @ask-glados-queen-of-aperture and anyone who wants to do it
Bold everything that applies to your muse:
italics - in a thread or a non-main verse || bold w/ italics - in the future for main verse
broken a bone | gotten stitches | had a near death experience | killed someone | tried and failed to kill someone | invented something | been hung over | kissed someone | slow-danced | been in a long-term relationship | had sex | had sex and regretted it | had a one-night stand | had a threesome | experimented with their sexuality | had a kid | gotten married | self-harmed | traveled to another country | been in a play | received an inheritance | been in a car wreck | lost a loved one | been dumped | dumped someone | smoked | gotten high | been slipped something in their food/drink | won a contest | won an election | joined a sports team | gone skydiving | gone hunting | been in a band | had a job | been fired | been in a wedding party | owned a pet | seen a ghost | skipped class/work | learned an instrument | gotten a noticeable scar | sued someone | been robbed | been mugged | been kidnapped | been brainwashed/hypnotized | gone more than one day without eating | had a recurring nightmare | been bullied | bullied someone | seen someone die | attempted suicide | been tied/chained up | shot someone | stabbed someone | saved someone’s life | cheated on someone | been cheated on | had been a stalker | been betrayed | was a traitor | been in a fight | been arrested | been to a funeral | had surgery | broken someone’s trust | gotten a piercing | gotten a tattoo | used a fake name | been tortured | tortured others | been abused | been blackmailed | had an attempt on their life | gotten away with a crime | gone on a road trip | been in love
The Lion familiar is a powerful animal greatly renowned for dignity, courage, and leadership. It is often considered as one of the most powerful natural animals, a Lion often representing the sun, while a lioness represents the moon. An individual with this familiar is not afraid to take the reins of a difficult task themselves. They are also make very wise decisions and are good at bringing chaos back to order. However, in some cases, their personality can lead way to greed and pride as well.
A Lion familiar is a powerful companion in battle, and gives their master an aura of leadership and dignity.
My Chell can talk. She tends not to at first, and when she does start, it is only in short bursts and is very scratchy. After awhile though, she’ll definitely voice things a lot more. When uncomfortable or around GLaDOS or Wheatley though, she tends to stay silent. It’s her defense against any rude comments or attempts at making her react.
[In light of that last anon’s suggestion, I’m gonna start saying random headcanons for Chell to help develop her character more.]
Headcanon: Chell really enjoys most music except for country and rock. Otherwise, she’ll either like a song or not. While opera is nice, she tends to avoid it because it reminds her of GLaDOS. Classical and one other song called Mr. Blue Sky are also enjoyed but avoided for the same reason. It reminds her of Wheatley.
General
Name: Chell [REDACTED]
Alias(es): The dangerous mute lunatic
Gender: female
Age: Actual age unknown, appears to be in mind to late 20s.
Date of Birth: April 18th
Place of Birth: Somewhere in the US, most likely in Michigan
Year: Unknown
Spoken languages: English, American Sign Language
Sexual preference: Asexual, Demiromantic
Occupation(s): Baker, scientist, test subject (depends on verse)
Appearance
Eye color: Light, silver blue
Hair color: Very dark brown
Height: 5′8″
Scars: Has scars from bullet wounds and scratches on her arms where they never healed properly. There’s a larger scar on her front abdomen that was left from the booby trapped stalemate button.
Burns: small burns on her feet from the incinerator.
Overweight: No
Underweight: Occasionally due to lack of full meals
Favourite
Color: Orange
Hair color: Golden, Brown
Eye color: Blue, green
Song: ?
Movie: ??
TV Show: ???
Food: Black Forest Cake
Drink: Unsweetened Ice tea (goes good with sweets)
Book: Surviving A Homicidal AI: A Guide For Dummies (Actually enjoys The Hobbit)
Have they
Passed University: Yes
Had sex: no (though that can occasionally change depending on verse)
Had sex in public: No
Gotten pregnant: No (with exception to the Dragon AU)
Kissed a boy: no
Kissed a girl: no
Gotten tattoos: no, but she’s though about getting one
Gotten piercings: no. Wants simple ones on her earlobes
Had a broken heart: Yes
Been in love: Yes
Stayed up for more than 24 hours: Yes
Are they
A virgin: Yes (exceptions to verses)
A cuddler: Not reall, but doesn’t mind it
A kisser: no, but will give and let people give them to her on occasion
Scared easily: nope
Jealous easily: No
Trustworthy: Yes
Submissive: Not at all
In love: Yes/no depends on the verse and if a connection has been stabilized. (GLaDOS, Wheatley, Rick, Riley (female Rick) are some I’ve shipped in the past)
Single: Depends on verse
Random questions
Have they harmed themselves: Not on purpose, no
Thought of suicide: no
Attempted suicide: no
Wanted to kill someone: Yes
Drove a car: Yes
Have/had a job: Yes
Have any fears: Yes
Family
Sibling(s): Unknown
Parents: Unknown
Children: Amato and Eva (Dragon verse), otherwise, no kids
Pets: None (yet)
Tagged by: @vxrgil
Tagging: everyone and @ask-glados-queen-of-aperture, @aperturesapiens (can probably do just one of your muses though), and etc!
