9 hours ago
Adam listened intently to L0-9, noting that there were spaces in between what she said as if in thought or multitasking. It wasn't long before Adam actually caught on. L0-9 was talking to both of them at once. She was back, so L0-9 was talking to her. It deepened the feeling of connection even if he wasn't a part of the conversation with her. Adam didn't bring this up to L0-9. It didn't seem important at this time.
He had little to say as she spoke, he just listened with interest. L0-9 was surprisingly sweet, continuing to tell him that she had told her friend nothing embarrassing about him even as she had understood the humor. It brought a smile to him, but it went away as L0-9 talked about her being afraid. Adam didn't want her to be afraid. He barely knew her, but he didn't want that for her at all.
"If you wish I can tell her something you choose. Nothing identifying. Nothing unsafe. But… Adam? What do you want her to know? What matters to you that she might understand?”
L0-9's final question echoed in his mind. He uncrossed his legs and slid down to the floor resting his back against the side of his bed. He drew his knees to his chest and hugged them close. The question made him a little sad - mostly because he didn't know how to answer it. It wasn't a lack of things to say. Adam wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to tell her he never met his parents and that his childhood was mediocre at best. He wanted to tell her that he had joined the military as an escape, and that when Victor offered him an opportunity to help his disabled brothers and sisters, he had taken it. That now he knew he had been lied to, but was still trying to do the right thing. He wanted to tell her that a significant portion of his body had been replaced with cybernetic parts. He wanted her to know that he too felt afraid and alone. He wanted to tell her that he was insecure. He wanted to tell her all of it. Then he realized something very important. He trusted her. Adam had never met her, didn't know what she looked like, and didn't even know her name, but he trusted her. He probably shouldn't for the simple reason that they hadn't met, but he did.
He knew that would scare her more and she didn't need that. Adam didn't know how long he hesitated before answering that question. "L0-9," he said, his voice soft. "There is so much I want to say to her, but I'm afraid that I'll scare her by sharing. I don't want to scare her. I want to help her - more than anything." It felt a little weird to admit that, but it was true. At that moment all he wanted to do was comfort her. "What has helped me is realizing that I'm not alone. That there is someone out there who knows I'm not gone. That there is someone else who is afraid too - even if we fear different things. Can you tell her..." he paused and looked at the LUMA, close to tears. "That it's okay to feel afraid and that's she's not alone in that. Would she understand that? Would that upset her? I don't want to upset her." The pitch of his voice raised and his timbre became more panicked. The last thing he wanted was to upset her.
He had little to say as she spoke, he just listened with interest. L0-9 was surprisingly sweet, continuing to tell him that she had told her friend nothing embarrassing about him even as she had understood the humor. It brought a smile to him, but it went away as L0-9 talked about her being afraid. Adam didn't want her to be afraid. He barely knew her, but he didn't want that for her at all.
"If you wish I can tell her something you choose. Nothing identifying. Nothing unsafe. But… Adam? What do you want her to know? What matters to you that she might understand?”
L0-9's final question echoed in his mind. He uncrossed his legs and slid down to the floor resting his back against the side of his bed. He drew his knees to his chest and hugged them close. The question made him a little sad - mostly because he didn't know how to answer it. It wasn't a lack of things to say. Adam wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to tell her he never met his parents and that his childhood was mediocre at best. He wanted to tell her that he had joined the military as an escape, and that when Victor offered him an opportunity to help his disabled brothers and sisters, he had taken it. That now he knew he had been lied to, but was still trying to do the right thing. He wanted to tell her that a significant portion of his body had been replaced with cybernetic parts. He wanted her to know that he too felt afraid and alone. He wanted to tell her that he was insecure. He wanted to tell her all of it. Then he realized something very important. He trusted her. Adam had never met her, didn't know what she looked like, and didn't even know her name, but he trusted her. He probably shouldn't for the simple reason that they hadn't met, but he did.
He knew that would scare her more and she didn't need that. Adam didn't know how long he hesitated before answering that question. "L0-9," he said, his voice soft. "There is so much I want to say to her, but I'm afraid that I'll scare her by sharing. I don't want to scare her. I want to help her - more than anything." It felt a little weird to admit that, but it was true. At that moment all he wanted to do was comfort her. "What has helped me is realizing that I'm not alone. That there is someone out there who knows I'm not gone. That there is someone else who is afraid too - even if we fear different things. Can you tell her..." he paused and looked at the LUMA, close to tears. "That it's okay to feel afraid and that's she's not alone in that. Would she understand that? Would that upset her? I don't want to upset her." The pitch of his voice raised and his timbre became more panicked. The last thing he wanted was to upset her.
Intelligence is knowing Frankenstein wasn’t the monster; Wisdom is knowing Frankenstein was the monster.