[A while after the vision ceases and the victims are made clear, Zoe heads towards the private study. Nothing in it can particularly take her mind off what's happening, but it's at least a remote and quiet place.
When she sees Connor there, though, she lifts a halfhearted hand in greeting.]
[Connor, on his end, seems relatively unaffected by the whole shindig... Though there's a slight furrowing to his eyebrows as he flips through one of the books in the study, before his attention is redirected towards Zoe. Putting the book down, he's quick to greet her in his usual, polite tone.]
Hello, Zoe. [Hi.] It is nice to see you.
[You know........... Alive and not as part of the coffin stack.]
Non-fiction. I've been perusing the books available in this room for a while, though there seems to be a distinct lack of anything related to our hosts.
Of course. I'm undamaged, and continue to operate within acceptable parameters. [Hm.] And you, Zoe? I understand that the news we received this morning were... unpleasant.
[It was a trick of the light. She was projecting on him. She imaged it. Etcetera, etcetera.]
Humans, on the other hand, can experience trauma after repetitive exposure death. I am sorry that you had to witness today's events. [...] I'm not adapted for social care. But, please let me know if there is any way that I can help.
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week two, friday.
When she sees Connor there, though, she lifts a halfhearted hand in greeting.]
Hey there.
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Hello, Zoe. [Hi.] It is nice to see you.
[You know........... Alive and not as part of the coffin stack.]
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[She glances towards the book, though, tilting her head.]
What were you reading?
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[So, like. He's snooping.]
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[Apart from that, though—]
Are you okay?
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Of course. I'm undamaged, and continue to operate within acceptable parameters. [Hm.] And you, Zoe? I understand that the news we received this morning were... unpleasant.
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[But, anyways.]
Of course I'm not okay. Anyone who's okay after what just happened is a jackass.
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Machines can't feel concern.
[It was a trick of the light. She was projecting on him. She imaged it. Etcetera, etcetera.]
Humans, on the other hand, can experience trauma after repetitive exposure death. I am sorry that you had to witness today's events. [...] I'm not adapted for social care. But, please let me know if there is any way that I can help.
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[This is the hill they're both going to die on, or something. Regardless, when she continues, it's blunt.]
I don't think there is, but thanks. Vice versa, though.
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[This is absolutely the hill they're gonna die on. Lord.]
Got it. But if you change your mind, my offer still stands.
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[A humorless laugh follows.]
Yeah, well. Get back to me when you can magically make people less stupid.
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[It's the hierarchy. Get with the program, Zoe. Geeze.]
... I believe, in that case, you will be waiting for a long time.
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[Battle of the wills!!]
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I can't just do that. It goes against my core programming.
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[oh my god.]
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Noted.
[goddamnit, zoe.]
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Thanks, Connor.
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[> CONNOR WILL REMEMBER THAT.]
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I hope I didn't interrupt your reading or anything. What book is it?
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[He'll raise the book so she can see the cover. She'll see it's a book to—]
Moral Philosophy.
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Interesting choice. Is the stuff this morning making you think about it, or...?