Well this flower is my soul (open)

[ring_for_giles]

CHARACTERS: Ossie and Giles, and you!
DATE: Early January
LOCATION: Various
SITUATION: Pet an emotional support cat, listen to some music, stop by for tea
WARNINGS: Blanket for changeling nonsense

I should give you every rose that ever grew

There’s not really a private setting aboard the Serena Eternia- it’s a cruise ship, aside from the cabins, the entire thing is engineered to prevent people from getting up to mischief. Ask Ossie how he knows. But the Library has enough cozy nooks that it’s a comfortable setting for Ossie to set up shop. Having taken up the entitlement of the Blackbird Bishops, a Changeling society of caretakers for the lost and despairing, it is now his solemn duty to listen to the troubles of those aboard the ship, and he has a sign at the front of the library advertising his services. He has tea and some cute little biscuits and, crucially, a familiar tuxedo cat on offer to sit on your lap while you talk. Ossie insists on you introducing yourself to ‘Mr Ainsel’ before you talk to him. It’s only polite.

But take this one here for a start

While a significantly riskier affair than usual due to the piano’s newly-acquired taste for flesh, Ossie’s been feeling distinctly sentimental since the trial, and with a newfound appreciation for the Captain’s situation… well, as he says, love is his religion, and there’s nobody he loves more than Giles. So find him practicing and rehearsing a particular song by himself. Or…

With Giles watching from the nearest table, perhaps working on some darning just for something to occupy his hands. It's clear most of his attention is on the serenade, the hearts in his eyes are only one shade off becoming literal, even with the tight control he generally keeps on his expressions. But he'll acknowledge anyone who approaches, and invite them to join him to listen for a spell. Ossie's playing is too good to be kept all to himself, after all.

And you can keep it in your heart

The cottage, as ever, remains open for tea. Perhaps you've been invited round by Ossie at some point, or even by Giles on a rare occasion, either way a knock at either of their cabin doors will have you warmly greeted and invited into their private little sanctuary. Depending on the day, they may both be at home, or only one may be available.

( please include if you want Ossie, Giles, or both of them in the subject line! )

I have everything I need because of you

Wildcard

Comments

[ring_for_giles]

The cat purrs once it's settled in SecUnit's arms, and headbutts it lightly, perhaps in encouragement or perhaps just to show some affection.

[ossie_oswald]

"Beginning is often the most difficult part, yes. Is there something that's happened recently you want to talk about? Some event or situation that's worrying you?"

[serialskiller]

The purring makes it look down at the cat, and then away, to the opposite wall of the room, because it doesn't want to stare. "I'm starting to consider what it would mean to accept myself as a person."

You know, just dipping a toe into the pool of the idea, nothing further.

[ossie_oswald]

"I can imagine that would be a rather rummy subject to be broaching, if I'm recalling our previous discussions on the matter correctly. What's brought this about, if you don't mind me asking?"

[serialskiller]

"In part, realizing that I count other cyborg constructs as people already. The ComfortUnits at Ganaka Pit were absolutely people, trying to stop something horrible from happening. They died and should be counted among the casualties as people who were lost." One hand settles on the cat's body, feeling its rumbling.

[ossie_oswald]

"It is often difficult to view ourselves in the same light and with the same generosity we extend to others," Ossie agrees, his talons tapping against the teacup.

"What would change about your life and your experience of it if you did start counting yourself as a person?"

[serialskiller]

“I don’t know. It seems to matter a hell of a lot to everyone else, but I still can’t grasp more than the edges of it. I ended up yelling at my roommate that he can change and grow and choose to be more than he was made, and saying that aloud, I realized maybe that’s a little true of me too. But it’s hard. I don’t know how to just. Make it happen.”

[ossie_oswald]

He's absolutely just channeling the spirit of his psychologist from back home when he asks- "I'm curious about that- make what happen, precisely? As in reference to changing and growing and et cetera?"

[serialskiller]

“Yeah. I just don’t know what the next step is. Only that it’s there and I don’t know how to take it and I’m scared.”

It gestures with the hand not on the cat, like there’s a gap it doesn’t have a bridge to cross.

[ossie_oswald]

"Hmm," more tapping on the teacup.

"Why do you feel you need to change in order to recognize yourself as a person?"

[serialskiller]

“Because if I don’t, then I could have been a person all along?”

Look, the logic processors are throwing all kinds of error messages already.

[ossie_oswald]

"And if you had been a person all along, what would that change?"

[serialskiller]

"It would mean that those who created me and subject me to programming were doing so to a person." That comes out a little louder, a little snappish, and then its face folds into something pained. "I'm sorry."

[ossie_oswald]

"And yet, by your own admission, if other constructs were people... then they already did, didn't they?" He coaxes, gently.

[serialskiller]

"...yes. Yes they did." It is so quiet and shaky, and it's almost afraid this is when it starts leaking.

[ossie_oswald]

"It is difficult to come to terms with. Evil, I mean to say. Wrong being done to you. It's far easier to blame oneself- that something is an individual problem. That you were found lacking."

Ossie raises an eyebrow at Mr Ainsel for some additional comfort.

"But often it is simply not true. Wrong would have been done to anyone in your position. This is terrifying, as it means that there is nothing you could have done to prevent it. But... there are benefits to accepting it, as well. Solidarity between those suffering is nothing to sneeze at."

[ring_for_giles]

The cat shifts slightly in SecUnit's lap, not entirely spurred by the eyebrow raised in its direction, as it started moving a little before that, and headbutts SecUnit's hands firmly. Rubbing against it in a way that quietly says 'it'll be okay' and also 'pay attention to me'

[serialskiller]

Mr. Ainsel get the gentlest loving scritches.

"I purr too, now. The ship keeps changing my physiology. First, I had to eat, then I had to sleep and dream and now, I purr when I feel comfortable and I let my guard down. And the purring's okay because it's not the ship trying to make me more human, just...organic in a different way. But it's all a lot of change."

[ossie_oswald]

"You're not the only person I've met who's struggled with adjusting to these organicisms," he offers, "many of our kind were wholly inorganic in the fairest lands, machines or beings of stone or glass. I knew a Tin Man once who forgot he had to eat for a week and ended up admitted to hospital after collapsing in public. But, ultimately, having organic functions only means you have those functions. You are wholly and entirely whoever and whatever you proclaim yourself to be."

[serialskiller]

"That sounds so neat and tidy." It doesn't know if it can believe that...it can just proclaim itself to be something, instead of waiting to be told what it is.

[ossie_oswald]

"Is there any reason why it shouldn't be?"

[serialskiller]

"I could declare myself a toaster, but that doesn't mean I can set my weaponry systems low enough not to destroy a piece of bread."

It says this like it should be self-evident.

[ossie_oswald]

"And yet, should you decide to start calling yourself one, there's not a soul aboard who wouldn't happily call you a toaster. And you might find a way to manage to toast that bread in some other manner, if that is what you feel in your metaphorical heart you are called to do."

[serialskiller]

“Called to do.” It seems to stew on those words. “Which is different from what I was programmed to do?”

[ossie_oswald]

"If you believe it to be so. I spent a hundred years entertaining at dinner parties and still chose to do it when I escaped, wot? Sometimes it is a different question, of doing something for yourself as opposed to doing it for others."