Mailbox of Nines

[twoaffirmations]

( 9S is now accepting text messages and voicemail )

Comments

[nishizono]

you can call me tetora. anyway, i was wondering if you have drugs.

[twoaffirmations]

Okay... I'm 9S. If you require medical attention or painkillers, the medbay is nearby.

[nishizono]

i'm not raiding the medbay. plus i don't know where the fuck it is just yet.

do you have any?

[twoaffirmations]

Um.

No? Do you need any help?

[nishizono]

i'm not sick, if that's what you mean.

look, i just need it. can you hook me up or not?

[twoaffirmations]

[Oh. He means that kind of drug.]

Are you looking for something specific? There might still be some alcohol left in the bar.

[nishizono]

alcohol doesn't do anything for me. it's a metabolism thing.

wanna go raid the medbay with me? you can lead the way.

[twoaffirmations]

We should only take what we need... Everyone's pretty sick, and supplies are limited.

[That said, he's definitely not going to let this guy go alone.]

What's your location?

[nishizono]

yeah, about that. why is everyone sick, anyway? is there some kinda alien virus i should know about and avoid? because from a newcomer's perspective this place seems like a disaster already.

i'm on deck 5. room 13.

[twoaffirmations]

We don't know, but rest assure we're trying to figure that out.

[There just hasn't been much progress, but he wants to remain reassuring.]

You're just a few doors down. I'll be right over.

[Not even thirty seconds pass, and there's a knock on Tetora's door. 9S himself looks mostly well, but clearly lethargic. His cheeks are flushed and his breathing's noticeable as his body goes through another cycle of overheating.]

[nishizono]

[ it has the opposite effect because tetora is even less confident about this place's ability to survive than he was when he started out. ]

cool. see you.

[ tetora opens the door and... promptly wrinkles his nose. ]

So, you're clearly not dead yet. I have some regrets.

Can you even walk?

[twoaffirmations]

[9S makes a bit of a wry face in return.]

I'm an android, I can't carry whatever is afflicting the humans here.

[He swings his leg just for emphasis.]

I'm all good. Nothing a little coolant can't fix.

[nishizono]

So get some coolant and fix yourself. Are you sure you're not contagious? I don't believe you're an android just because you said so, you're all... flushed and sticky.

[ tetora even touches 9s on the clothed shoulder with two fingers, just to test if he'll tip over or not. ]

[twoaffirmations]

That's on my to do-- [9S actually does stumble a bit at the push, but that's mostly because he already had one foot in the air. He quickly corrects himself, letting out an exasperated noise.]

H-hey, do you want me to show you to the medbay or not? I'm not sick. Androids don't get sick.

[nishizono]

Just because you're saying it doesn't make it true. You're not an android until I see proof of it.

[ he does relent though, and steps out of the room to fall in step with 9s. ]

Do you want me to hold your hand or something...? You really look like you're gonna keel over.

[twoaffirmations]

You know, you're the first person in awhile who didn't believe me. I'd prove it, but I'm kind of not in the mood.

[9S will starts to lead the way, but he's definitely dragging his feet.]

I'm fine. I don't need to hold your hand...

[nishizono]

If you trip I'm not carrying you on my back, so we're clear.

[ he's considering tripping 9s as it is. it'll be funny, he promises. he does dutifully follow 9s though. ]

How long have you been not-sick?

[twoaffirmations]

Um...okay? My balance sensors are functioning normally.

[So unless someone intentionally tried to trip him, he'll be fine.]

It's been a few days.

[nishizono]

[ the desire to do so is so strong... so so strong. tetora even edges a leg out, not quite tripping 9s yet but getting there. ]

So why haven't you fixed yourself yet?

[twoaffirmations]

It's on my to-do list. Hey, aren't we supposed to be talking about you?

[He conspicuously shoves the conversation off of himself.] When did you get here?

[nishizono]

Who said we had to talk about me? [ he relents, at least, despite his own protests. ] I got here like, a couple days back. People weren't so sick yet.

There's no pharma guy at the medbay, right? We don't have to knock anyone out?

[twoaffirmations]

Oh, well... Not the best time for welcome parties, huh?

[He thinks it's a good thing the medbay is on the same floor, because they're not even halfway there and he already wants to lay back down.]

Uhh.... Alucard would help you if you just ask, and sometimes even if you don't. If you could refrain from violence...

[nishizono]

I'm good with not having welcome parties, actually. They seem like a lot of hassle.

[ he's making a bet with himself whether or not 9s will trip over on his own or with help. he's so close to tripping the guy up he can taste the floor in sympathy. ]

I don't— always stab people when I meet them the first time. I didn't stab you, did I?

[twoaffirmations]

Wait, I thought you were only going to knock him out? When did we escalate to stabbing?!

[He's definitely giving Tetora a wary look, stopping in the middle of the hall. He's definitely not going to lead him anywhere if he's hostile.

Tetora's also lost a valuable opportunity to trip him, for now.]

[nishizono]

I can't stab anyone anyway, I don't have a knife. It's just me and my hands here.

...Did you seriously think I was going to knock your friend dead?

[ because while it's not entirely outside the realm of possibilities, it's... also a little hurtful, whoah. tetora stops along with 9s, and now there's two dumbasses in the middle of the hall having a stare-off. ]

Dude, I'm not gonna kill your friend.