CONTACT POST.

[secondnature]

username: keith

✉ ☏ 📷

(credit for pic)

Comments

[bestaround]

It's fine, Keith. Really. You have more important things to be concerned about.

[secondnature]

9S.

You're my friend.

[bestaround]

[ There isn't an immediate response, but eventually it does come: ]

... Thanks.

I know you're right, but I honestly don't know what solution there is to this. Core programming doesn't stop because you want it to and all.

[secondnature]

Is it something that you and 2B can work with Hathaway to have changed? I bet both of you picked a similar incentive. Maybe one can change their incentive to change that programming.

[bestaround]

Well, maybe... But if there's even a small chance I could do it myself, I'd prefer it over letting someone else into my head.

[secondnature]

They may be able to perform diagnostics so you can figure out how to do it to yourself.

You already have humans you care about, right? Remembering that you once did it won't make that go away.

[bestaround]

Come on, I know THAT already. This is all a little more than caring about something.

[secondnature]

I'm just trying to make you feel better about it!

[bestaround]

[ Ha. Oh, Keith... ]

Okay, okay! You don't have to do that, either. I'm still managing on my end.

[secondnature]

Fine.

Then I won't help at all.

[bestaround]

I didn't ask you to in the first place!

[ Which comes off as a lot more childish than his intentions behind saying so seem, but. There you have it.

For a moment it seems as if 9S is leaving his words at that, too, but not long after comes an addendum: ]

By the way, could you do me a favor and not mention any of this to 2B?

[secondnature]

I'm not interested in keeping your secrets for you.

Not that I'd say anything.

I'm just kind of tired of people asking me to do that.

[bestaround]

Ugh, fine... Just forget I said that, then.

[secondnature]

If you think you need to keep it from her, you probably need to talk to her about it.

[bestaround]

Not forever! Just... not right now, either. It's a bad time.

[secondnature]

OK. Fine.

[bestaround]

Anyway. [ Enough of... that. ] Don't you have an empress to go rescue?

[secondnature]

Yeah. I do.

So have fun in the forest.

Or whatever.

[bestaround]

Uh-huh, I'll get right on that. Seeya.