Let me Crawl Inside Your Veins (Wide Open)

[bridge_princess]

Who: Parsee bridge_princess and You!
What: February Open Log
Where: Pretty much anywhere
When: February (after the 8th)
Content Warnings: Body Horror, Blood, Roots and flowers growing in things like lungs and other places they don't belong. Probably some serious self loathing here

Prompts below!

Comments

[bridge_princess]

The good news was that she did at least address the issue before it came that far. It got close, but it didn't get to the point of zombification and the damage wasn't permanent. That possibility would have been worse than emotional rejection by a mile. She wouldn't have been able to handle becoming that because of this. "Agreed," she muttered past a little cough.

"Good. I'd really rather not find out what a Geth zombie is like."

[forwearemany]

"Competition is typically treated as part of enjoyment." Though, admittedly, excessive competition is treated as a barrier to it.

Would Parsee go so far as to destroy enjoyment in the game? It is entirely possible, they think: such attitudes are a part of her nature.

Still, they do not believe she should exclude herself.

[bridge_princess]

"Yeah that's pretty normal for humans. They like to compete. It just gets weird with someone like me, I think." She wouldn't destroy the game. She'd be more likely to destroy her competitor. "Heh... but if that's what yo have to do to take a shower, I'll have to figure something out won't I?"

[forwearemany]

"Though we would lack intelligence and complex abilities, it is likely we could still be extremely dangerous."

Legion would rather die than become that.

They should probably actually try confessing something though. If they want to prevent it.

[bridge_princess]

"Yeaaah, the little I know about anything like a zombie? Definitely not something we need for any of us to turn into. So, good plan." She frowned, though, noticing that Legion wasn't doing any of that confessing thing by now. Maybe...

"Do you have anything you need to say to me? Or is there someone else you need to talk to?"

[forwearemany]

"There are additional showers in the gym locker areas." She can always go there, if she's that worried about the games.

They still think she shouldn't exclude herself, but it's her right to choose.

[bridge_princess]

"Oh, well that's not so bad. Just weird then instead of trouble." she was a little grateful to realize that, and might not have looked because she assumed the worst as always. "But... I might... give one a try."

[forwearemany]

"Those we would talk to are not here. However..."

Their headflaps shift, and ripple.

"Earlier you spoke of reasons you believed your friend was unlikely to return your romantic affections. We do not feel romantic love, however, we have cared and still care for many who would be considered ... worse."

[forwearemany]

Their headflaps lift slightly. They appear ... pleased? At least, it's not the same sort of headflap lift movement they do when startled, questioning, or anxious.

"Perhaps you will beat our score." It's entirely possible: Legion can dance but they aren't the best at that kind of game-their body is bit too large and heavy. Someone smaller and lighter like Parsee can probably out perform them with a bit of effort.

[bridge_princess]

"Hah, you are the exact opposite of me sometimes. I'd be worried about folks beating my score, but it kind of sounds like you want me to do it." And deep down she expected that Legion almost certainly meant it.

[bridge_princess]

"She's... also kind of in love with someone else, Legion. He's not here, but she has someone back home. They aren't married, but they've been dating and I know how important he is. It's just... she's too free with her heart." That was really what the problem was, wasn't it? Rinoa could love just about anyone, but Parsee wanted her to be in love with her.

[forwearemany]

"We are not beaten often." A lot of games can be reduced to algorithms, or, for videogames, use algorithms that Legion can innately grasp. Playing with others, particularly organics, provides an element of uncertainty, but their knowledge and reflexes give them a unique advantage. They tend to prefer more cooperative play, such as acting as support in Galaxy of Fantasy raiding parties, for this reason, among others.

Losing is a novelty.

[forwearemany]

Well, they were going to tell her about who they still care for but they're distracted by her words.

...That does change things.

"Even if it is unlikely that she will return your feelings, you will still have friends who care for you." Including Legion.

[bridge_princess]

"I... I know. And, I know it's hard for me to acknowledge that quite the way most people do, but it means a lot that I have you, that I have friends." She swallowed a little and closed her eyes. "I also know that I don't think I would have developed feelings for her if I could have just chosen who, but you fall for who you fall for. I don't like that I'm asking her to choose me over him. I don't want to be the other woman, even if they're not married."

[bridge_princess]

"Haha," she started laughing a little, smiling at him rather genuinely. Oh, that was rich, because she thought she'd just realized something about Legion. "You mean that legitimately losing, fair and square, at one of these games is so rare that it's almost like you're winning a little?" That was kind of priceless and deep down she loved it.

[forwearemany]

"It is a novelty."

Or, in other words, yeah, kind of like that. It can get awfully boring, winning all the time.

[forwearemany]

"Acknowledged. Love is not a choice." It is simultaneously a revelation and something they've always known-they've never put it into words.

They still care about the people who hurt them.

[bridge_princess]

"It really isn't, is it?" It was something that choices could impact, but those feelings tended to have a life of their own. Something she'd learned long ago. She just didn't like admitting.

Because, admit it or not, part of her still loved her husband for a very long time after he died.

[bridge_princess]

"It's going to take a lot of work mastering one of those. Have you ever had anyone beat your scores before?" She had trouble believing it with Legion's reaction times. It would take an impressive feat.

[forwearemany]

"We are currently in continuous competition for the top score with multiple individuals." Several people who are either very good dancers or just very determined in this world.

So yes, they have been beaten at games before.

[bridge_princess]

"Well, at least you've got some games going already." She was NOT much of a dancer, but she was definitely determined. Hmmmm, but which one to try. Which one to ...

"Do you have any recommendations for me? My hand coordination's really not that great."

[forwearemany]

"We love those who destroyed us." By which they mostly mean the Quarians. But now that they're thinking about it, it's not just them, is it?

They had Shepard-Commander at their mercy, dangling over that cliff. They could have dropped her to her death, dealt with Creator Tali'Zorah, finished the upload.

And yet ... they did not.

[bridge_princess]

"I... am not surprised to hear you say that." She didn't know it, but the moment that Legion said it, he believed it. Not because Legion was so great at sounding sincere, but because in the Geth's simplified way of sometimes handling interactions? she legitimately believed it meant that. "I think that is probably part of why it pisses me off that they did it. You didn't want to hurt them. You just wanted space and go on being."

(OOC: And oh god that's why I could never ever do that to the Geth in the game if I didn't immediately just ship Legion off to Cereberus without turning it on. It just always felt so cruel.)

[forwearemany]

(And she just accepts it. No shock, no questioning, no anger or disbelief or questioning if a machine is even capable of love.

She actually understands them, as much as an organic can, and Legion feels a sudden surge of appreciation for that.)

We also love you, and other allies.

[forwearemany]

"The shower games are rhythm based and require dancing. Hand-eye coordination is useful but not necessary for play."

They don't really have any particular recommendations, unfortunately.

"The arcade also offers games, though few are functional."