goneawaycomms | AGENT WASHINGTON

[ North has been biding his time since the whole situation happened with Wash refusing to allow Theta to verify his identity. Sure, there had been another method to do so, but Wash's refusal signaled to North that there was still some deep-seated stuff going on in his head about the AIs. Theta had been sort of insulted, in addition, or hurt. More like hurt.

So on this particular day, when he sees Wash sitting in the mess, he decides to approach and sit across from him. ]

Hey there, Wash.

Edited 2021-02-07 05:56 (UTC)

[North has him hostage for a while. He hasn't even gotten to his pudding cup yet.]

Hey. What's up?

Edited 2021-02-13 06:25 (UTC)

[ Of course Wash realizes something's up. It's not often North sits with him in the mess, after all. ]

I wanted to talk to you about the other day, that's all.

[ A slight pause. ]

That was something different, I know, and it wasn't even like it was necessary, so don't think I'm saying that. It's just with how resolute you were, Theta was just a little...

[Wash sighs and slumps slightly.]

[He makes a guess.]

His feelings are hurt.

Yeah, a little bit. He ended up kind of excited about sharing a moment with everyone, and you opted out of that.

[ North isn't paying much attention to his food, though he reflexively stirs the shitty mess goop they call stew while he talks. ]

You know, Theta's not like Epsilon.

I know.

[And he sounds like he actually does.]

Can I talk to him?

[Because...he's trying to be nice. Especially because of the EMP. He's starting to move away from the very economical "these AI are just things" mindset.]

Absolutely.

[ As he answers, Theta's hologram projects, and he's not bouncingly excited as he often is when people ask to speak with him. He seems to be withdrawn, instead, his head slightly bowed. ]

Hi, Wash.

Theta, after what happened with Epsilon, I dislike how it feels when anyone's in there. And I know you wouldn't willingly hurt me. I know that about Delta, too.

[This is not really territory he wants to walk into, doesn't want to explain.]

[Part of it is because part of this entire conversation is a bit disingenuous when he's hiding something.]

[But part of not liking an AI being in his head is the truth. It's just that if he wasn't hiding something he'd hesitate but maybe eventually (temporarily) allow it.]

[He still wouldn't like it.]

But I'm not scared of either of you doing something to me. I'm scared of something being done to us while you're in there. Do you understand?

[He's willing to explain more if Theta doesn't.]

Edited 2021-02-13 16:49 (UTC)

[ Theta's little head shakes. He doesn't. ]

I know I messed up when I said what South was thinking. Was that part of it?

No. No no, it's -

It's that in an uncertain situation, there's always a risk something could happen to us while you're in my head that causes damage. We don't know what would happen if the shock collars got activated, when my brain and my neural implants are a much bigger mess than North's.

[Even just the fact he'd obviously had past head trauma. They'd mentioned it when he was recovering, and he couldn't remember the concussive head shot Locus took that caused it, nor Emily fixing it up, so he has no clue how much his original implants are damaged or not.]

You might walk away from that. Epsilon was okay in the end. But I don't think I would be. Because I still have to work sometimes to keep myself and the Alpha's memories separate. And I still have trouble sometimes.

When Epsilon was gone, everything he remembered was left behind, which means if something hurt us, even if you're okay your memories might be left in my head. If I also got yours, too, and had to keep all three of us straight...

[There would be no "Washington" anymore. There's no way he could successfully keep all three of them pried apart. It'd be too hard to disentangle three people.]

I don't think I could. It's always been hard enough when it was just the two of us.

[ North looks at Wash sympathetically and reaches across the table to pat his shoulder. ]

We understand better, now. I'm glad you're not afraid of Theta.

[ At least, not because of Theta. ]

And Theta is feeling better about it, too.

It's also best for him, too, North. Epsilon's memories were the Alpha's memories. The things he wanted to forget, the things that were done to him that were so painful he splintered off his trust - Theta - to survive.

[Wash shakes his head.]

What happens if he gets exposed to those memories? At the very least it could be traumatizing.

It could, yes, I understand.

You understand, right, Theta?

[ Theta nods. His body language is less closed-off, more open. ]

Yeah, I do.

In that vein...I'm here if you need to talk about any of that. I know in some ways it's ancient history, now, but... Just so you know.

AGENT WASHINGTON

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