[closed] i guess the truth is that the truth is of complex design

[onegreeneye]

Who: Ginko and Epsilon
What: They had to talk about what happened on Nastrandir at some point.
When: September 21
Where: In the woods of Enso
Warnings: discussion of prior injury, also current injury, also the impact of the emotion of hate on robot brains

Ginko isn’t sure, at this rate, how long it’s going to be before he’s comfortable living outside the clinic again - but he can at least feel alright about leaving long enough to talk to Epsilon.

It’s a good thing, too, because he suspects this isn’t going to be the kind of conversation either of them would be comfortable having somewhere as public as the clinic, or even at the cottage they share with Ed. So he makes sure his burns are freshly dressed and makes his way to their agreed-upon meeting place, a part of the Enso woods relatively unaffected by Ahidalga’s offspring, where Epsilon will have ample warning if anyone else approaches them - and won’t have to stand among too many of his scorched brethren.

Speaking of which, he’s sure Epsilon already knows when he’s arriving - but he’d still rather not stay silent as he approaches. “Hey. How’re you doing?”

Comments

[conscientiousobject]

"Hmm. I'm not reluctant so much as I am anticipating a certain amount of pushback." Deliberate self-termination is a choice but it's not one Epsilon is programmed to consider in any but the most extreme circumstances. This isn't really one of those times. The threat is in the ability for any situation to could become that.

"... it's funny, I'm capable of so much less harm than I ever was back on my Earth, but also so much more."

[onegreeneye]

"Right." Ginko can't recall running into much trouble from telling people about his own aggression problems, or even warning them about the return of his and Ed's hunger - but that's no guarantee of anything. Only so many people even know about the former, after all... and the particular topic of hate could easily raise more of a reaction than simple aggression, or even a supernatural "hunger".

His tail pulls over the ground to wind around his foot, without Ginko even really noticing. "...How so?"

Maybe it's a stupid question. But he'd rather not risk making a comment without knowing what he's saying.

[conscientiousobject]

Epsilon pauses, just one beat of silence, purposefully inserted to contextualise the words that come out his mouth directly after.

"The pushback or the harm done?"

Hopefully he doesn't need to explain the idea that people don't want to entertain the potential for threats from within, but better to ask now than need to explain later.

[onegreeneye]

"The latter." Yeah, he at least got that first part. "What did you mean, about doing more harm here?"

From what he gathers, Epsilon's abilities here aren't quite so devastating as those he once had could be.