with fingers crossed they'll talk to me

[buildstherobots]

[phone]

[This... this is a drunk dial. It's obvious from Dist's tone, the way he's slurring... hell, even the subject matter. He's been brooding a lot lately, mostly due to being brainwashed. Twice. To have your mind forcibly taken... it's not an easy thing to recover from.]

We're all... here, we're all surrounded by people. Prisoners, like ourselves. But who among us... who doesn't feel lonely? Disconnected from all those around you... I fear that's their goal. Isolation, even in the face of a crowd.

[Dist takes a deep breath, possibly taking another swig from his drink.]

We're overdue for a town attack. Divide and conquer. Without unity... I don't know what we'll do in the face of whatever they throw at us.

Comments

[buildstherobots]

I have been told that I make a useful puppet, and that I could be trouble unless neutralized. That's something.

[From his tone, though, it's obvious that he doesn't consider these positives. Well, mostly.]

I am a brilliant mind. And apparently, that's all that matters. Why would you worry about me? I can build beautiful machinery regardless of my mood.

[myblimpisbigger]

Do you really believe that?

From my experience, depression can stunt one's creativity as much as one's mood. A Spark with no happiness, with no drive, with nothing to truly live for, produces no more beautiful work than would a tool left upon the shelf forever with no one to wield it.

It's better than work born out of anger, the kind that destroys and has no concept of the sanctity of human life. In that way, I would rather you be depressed than vengeful.

[It's true. He knows Dist. He's studied his weapons, his Kaiser, all the things Dist left with him. He knows what Dist's work can do when used in anger, and it's not pretty.]

But I think, in the long run, I would rather you be happy. You do still have that small clank I built for you, yes?

[buildstherobots]

The swan? Yes. It... brings me comfort. But I haven't been happy in a long time, not truly, and I doubt being in Mayfield is going to change that any time soon. All I can do is pass the time.

We're all so goddamned helpless. It's pathetic.

[myblimpisbigger]

[He... can't really argue with Dist there. They are pathetic, and he is no exception. Two years just surviving, not fighting because he's resigned himself to the futility of it. But what else can they do? Fighting for no reason is even more pathetic and misguided than adapting.]

And what would make you truly happy, then? What would lessen your frustration?

[buildstherobots]

[Dist strokes the swan for a moment, the little robot fluffing up its feathers contentedly.]

...I don't know. I don't see an end. I don't even want to go home; it'd be even worse there. Few friends are better than none.

[myblimpisbigger]

[Of course Dist wouldn't make it easy.]

Well.

[OH NO HOW DO I WITH THE EMOTIONS????]

Despite how difficult maintaining any sort of positive relationship between us has been, I feel it necessary to inform you that I consider you a friend, even if you may not as of yet feel ready to say the same of me.

And should you ever need anything, ask. I have nothing to go home to either, so I may as well do some good while I'm here.

[buildstherobots]

I consider you a friend, even if you did murder me. Twice.

[At least it's said with a sort of lightness this time.]

The second one I'm truly grateful for. I just...

[Dist sighs and takes another drink.]

Can you come over?

Phone --> Action

[myblimpisbigger]

[Well. One good murder and one bad murder cancel out, right? Neutral murder?

Sigh.]

Of course. Don't drink yourself into a stupor in the meantime.

[And several minutes later there is a Klaus. WAT DO.]

[buildstherobots]

[Too late; Dist is swaying when he answers the door. He steps back to let Klaus in, looking frail.]

I mixed one for you.

[myblimpisbigger]

[Dist always looks frail. It's what a Dist does. Though, really, it's magnified now to a worrying degree. Klaus takes Dist by the shoulder as he enters, mostly to keep him from just keeling over.]

Thank you. That was quite thoughtful.

[buildstherobots]

[Okay, the touch is what does him in. He starts shaking, leaning on Klaus for support, though part of it is just a desire for human contact. He sniffles, doing his best to not make a fool of himself.]

It was... the least I could do.

[myblimpisbigger]

[If Dist is going to lean on someone, Klaus is probably the best choice. He's big and solid and steady, even if truth be told he is not used to having full grown men sniffling into his coat.]

Dist. You should sit down, before you fall down.

[He's going to gently steer Dist toward the living room, unless he protests.]

[buildstherobots]

My drink is in the kitchen.

[He doesn't attempt to steer, though, willingly sitting down on the couch, though he immediately pulls his knees up and buries his face in his arms. Honestly, he's just waiting for the ridicule -- Jade is his measure of "friend" and a show of weakness like this wouldn't go un-taunted.]

Laugh at me and get it over with.

[myblimpisbigger]

No.

[He leaves momentarily, grabbing Dist's drink and the one presumably mixed for him as well and bringing them back. He sits next to Dist, setting his drink on the table in front of him.]

Laughing at you wouldn't help, and I wouldn't enjoy it.

[buildstherobots]

That's what friends do, isn't it?

[When he looks up, he sees the drink on the table and plucks it up, downing an impressive amount in one swig. His face and eyes are red, but it's hard to tell if he's actually shed any tears yet.]

[myblimpisbigger]

No, it isn't.

[Jesus, Dist, what kind of friends did you have back home?]

Laughing at a man who is depressed and afraid and thinking that is going to be good for him is not at all what friends do. There is a certain point where a situation becomes far too serious for that to be an acceptable reaction, and you've already passed it.

[buildstherobots]

[Klaus. You now have a Dist clinging to you, starting to sob into your coat. He was doing a very poor job of holding back, and finally that dam has broken.]

[myblimpisbigger]

[Oh

Oh no

Oh no oh god Klaus doesn't know how to deal with this, it's all well and good to talk about what friends do but when you have a small, breakable Dist crying into your chest, what do]

...Ah. Um.

[He gingerly puts a hand on Dist's back. It. Pretty much covers Dist's back.

Gosh this is strange.]

[buildstherobots]

[Hey, Dist can be pretty pathetic when... well, when he's breathing, but also when he's being confronted with glaring personality flaws.]

L-last Valentine's day... it wasn't fair. It showed me what my life would have been like if I were actually loved by someone very important to me. It was a lie, of course, but... it just wasn't fair. He was even here. He was here and he had the same memories and he wouldn't even pretend.

[Ooooh no, we're getting into that can of worms. Dist hasn't pulled away; he normally maintains a strict personal bubble but right now he needs the contact.]

[myblimpisbigger]

[Well, if you want contact, Klaus Wulfenbach is a good person to get it from. He's big and grabbable and very easy to cling to.]

You do realize that not all love is by nature romantic?

[Says the man who loved his best friends more than he'll probably ever really love anyone but his wife and his son.]

[buildstherobots]

But they put it there. It wasn't real, but we could have pretended until they took the memories away! I'm not stupid, I know when Mayfield messes with us... but... but...

[Klaus Dist is upset. You may want to grab the tissues on the end table to save your coat.]

[myblimpisbigger]

[Klaus thinks back to that Valentines day, and how it was what really pushed him and Ples together, and feels just a little bit guilty.]

Here.

[He hands Dist the tissues with one hand, and keeps the other on his back. Shhhh it's okay Dist shhhh. He has no idea what to say, but he'll give you something to blow your nose on?]

[buildstherobots]

[And not in a mocking way, either; just recognition and fulfillment of a need. Dist cleans himself up and then slowly, hesitantly, leans his head back on Klaus's chest, nudging the man's chin with the top of his head.]

...Thank you.

[It wasn't just the kindness. It was the thoughtless, automatic kindness; the sort that wasn't an exception made for him. It calms him significantly, but he doesn't let go.]

[myblimpisbigger]

[It's a good sign that Klaus allows him to nestle and doesn't push him away. He's mostly just glad that Dist seems to have stopped drinking. He's so small, he can't possibly handle much more than Klaus thinks he's had...]

You're welcome.

For what it's worth, I understand what it is to be a bit love-starved. I haven't seen my wife in twenty years and likely never will again.

[Yeah that's still a really depressing reality.]

[buildstherobots]

You have a wife?

[Well, he has a son, it's only natural. Dist's tone is still disappointed though.]

...Why haven't you seen her?