AUDIENCE FOR: Jason Todd

[guestservices]

Comments

[guestservices]

Yeah, it's in my programming.

[unrecked]

So, hypothetically, how did the person who owns this hotel convince you to work here if you're a robot? Did they re-program you?

[guestservices]

What, are you suggesting that robots shouldn't receive the same employment opportunities as humans?

[unrecked]

They can, I'm just curious as to why they would, you know?

[guestservices]

Well, keep wondering.

[unrecked]

I figured you'd say something like that. Maybe next time I'll bring you a book then. Like to read? You know, when you're not hating the fleshbags.

[guestservices]

[they just shrug, unhelpfully.]

[unrecked]

[He sucks his teeth.]

Come on. Want to go now? I'm sure a robot needs to work their gears. I need to replenish what I returned anyway. You're not afraid of a little library, are you?

[guestservices]

[they sigh.]

I'm sure even someone like you has friends. Why do you need my company?

[unrecked]

[This grievous sigh. He looks a bit amused.]

Because you're not annoying is why. You don't ask nosy questions, and you don't try to pat my ass because you feel sorry for me getting mental boo-boos or living on the street when I was a kid.

[He will start walking toward the library.]

Now come on.

[guestservices]

[ugggggh they want to just leave but they suppose they should do their job a little so they will reluctantly follow]

[unrecked]

[Yes, thank you, Lepus. Jason glances over his shoulder just to see if they are following, but doesn't bug them about anything else. Like walking beside him, or holding hands, or trying to make small talk really.

But that's fine.

Because STARDUST is a thing, and that's what happens. Jason is so tired. Lepus is probably so tired. It's fine.

Lepus can have a memory of the person Lepus reminds him of.]

[guestservices]

[














hate this.]

You two are terrible at communication.

[unrecked]

[Listen. He snorts. Thankfully this memory doesn't leave him high and dry.]

Yeah, we are. But we understood each other, right? In our own way.

[guestservices]

Glad your dick-slapping fights produced results.

[anyway did jason want a memory back? what he wants actually doesn't matter, because he's getting one:

Your companion takes aim and fires at the figure inside of the building: a potential enemy. Neither of you know yet. Only after the figure collapses anti-climatically, liquid splattering, does it occur to you that maybe shooting it on sight was a bit of a drastic action. The two of you probably just murdered someone? The sudden scurrying sound doesn't ease your anxiety any.

"Good or bad sign...!?"

Your companion is freaking out. "Bad sign! Definitely bad sign!"

He tells you to stay here, to get out if anything suspicious happens. Which, of course, is because he intends to check the situation out. Idiot. The two of you argue, as you smash a rock through the window to open up a space, allowing you to see that the liquid is most certainly blood. Oh, fuck.

It's an obvious trap, but he's going in. You try to drag him away, but he brushes you off. You can't talk him out of it, so you warn him that you won't bail him out if he gets into trouble. That's not your style, after all. You have to stay alive for your sister's sake. You have no reason to risk your neck for someone who's a near stranger.

Despite knowing that, he heads in.

Despite knowing that, you head in after him.

(You really are a terrible sibling.)

The rest is a blur of horror. Skittering robots, crawling over everything including the two of you. The dead figure of the man your companion shot. Your sister, staring in horror--at which the world stands still. Weakly, you call out for her, while your mind continues to scream at you that it's a trap. It's impossible for her to be here. It's too convenient. Hesitation means death, so you should walk away. (You have to find your companion. What happened to him?)

Even so, you remain frozen, staring right at her.

Because of that, you don't notice the spider until it's too late. Suddenly, something is spread across your eyes, burning into them. You lash out, swearing inside your head from the flare of panic and--pain. (It's fine, it's fine; you can manage without sight. Your vision is an acceptable price to pay for survival. It's even a blessing now, because when you can't see the fake, you can pretend she isn't there, that her presence doesn't plague you.

It doesn't stop the guilt, the ever present self-loathing, from hitting.)

You call out your companion's name. The two of you are leaving now. This time, it's non-negotiable. He seems to agree, as he wordlessly grabs your arm, before he attempts to bash down the front door (god, the two of you really should've come in from the front, rather than through the window). Fortune is on your side at least a little, though, as someone then opens it from the other side.]

[unrecked]

[NO THIS IS SHINNOSUKE???? YOU BITCH THIS IS BABY JAY THE POST OFFICE HELP MEEEEEEE I DON'T WANT THIS ANYMORE ABORT THIS CR YOU ALREADY KNOW DAMIAN expires

He sort of slows to a stop. And then glances back over his shoulder. But he doesn't say anything really yet.]

[guestservices]

[:thonk:

anyway lepus also stops, very tense.]

[unrecked]

[This is still killing me.

He opens his mouth but doesn't say anything still yet. Like he's trying to debate what he wants to say exactly.]

Uh. You... wanna talk about it? Gonna knife me if I ask what all that was about?

[guestservices]

[tersely, as a hand goes into their sleeve:]

What's there to say?

[unrecked]

[That's fair.]

In the effort of not being completely insane, who exactly were you with?

[guestservices]

[imagine if i was like um anna i didn't say jason could recognize himself? stop infomodding?]

Some idiot I once knew.

[unrecked]

[STOPIJSDFIF HE HAS TWO EYEBALLS i would cry and delete my tag]

No kidding.

[He can self dunk even on baby self.]

[guestservices]

[.............

they just remain quiet after that, still looking like a cornered animal even with the veil. also you saying that when receiving the memory of how someone went blind is very funny]

[unrecked]

[Lepus, buddy. Chill. ALSO SHUT UP, I HATE YOU.

He actually? turns back around to keep slowly walking in the direction of the library.]

Well, if that idiot was there, it couldn't have been at home. So... another place like this one, huh? It's shitty when they screw with you with the people you care about. Got a few of that here.

Waiting my turn for the worst of it, I guess.

[guestservices]

[jason can tell by the lack of footsteps that lepus is not following.

tense, as if they're still waiting for the other shoe to drop—]

Well, good luck with that. I'm sure the others will let you into Trauma Club sooner or later.