come_sailaway | [OPEN LOG] Come on in, We Haven't Slept in Weeks

Who: Murderbot and You
When: Back end of January
Where: The Serena Eterna
Summary: Someone's actually feeling alright, right now
Warnings: None yet

1. But five minutes looking in his eyes [Drones]
As January progresses, those around the public areas of the ship may note two things about the drones that constantly patrol all decks:

1. They now each have at least two, but in some cases up to five, tiny googly eyes that rattle quietly as the drones move about the decks.

2. They're a little bit more intrusive now. Rather than hiding up near the ceiling, the drones bob about near eye level, and seem to come close to 'check in' on people, especially those who know the SecUnit already. It seems someone's concerned about everyone's well-being after the trial and making a point to make its presence known.

Perhaps you're familiar enough to wave or say hi. Or maybe you're newer on the ship and these little flying orbs, no larger than a centimeter in diameter, are confusing to you.

2. And we all knew he was broken pretty bad, so we gave him what we had [Promenade, Hoodie Library]
Murderbot has an absolute fucking abundance of cute sweatshirts, but at some point it's a.) more than a single individual really needs and b.) more than will easily fit in a closet in one of the ship's cabins. So it decides to hang out near (not in, but near) the Tommy Bahama with some of its extra Modokawa hooded sweatshirts, to see if anyone would like to borrow one. Of course, they're all cutely oversized on MB, so they'll kinda engulf most people.

But is that really a bad thing?

3. We cleared a space for him to sleep in [Adult Pool, 2am]
The number of people who Just Don't Sleep at night on this ship is a bit of a thing. It's impossible not to notice. So it spreads word that it's going to be at the adult pool projector, playing something for those who are awake at 2am and need something to do.

It's not a movie. Or rather...it's not a proper movie, not with plot and themes and characters. It's drone shots from the previous excursions, the peaceful ones. The desert at night under the stars. The forests of summer camp. The snow-covered mountains of the resort. The island and the ocean surrounding it, full of life. Clips thoughtfully edited, and paired with music it's received as a sundries gift, mostly instrumental electronica like Jean Michel Jarre or Tycho.

4. And we let the silence, that's our trademark, make its presence felt [Wildcard]

darkersolstice or Discord to talk.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Watson, for a moment caught off guard, stares at the googly eyes on the drone, and then laughs, delighted. "SecUnit, you've gone and decorated your drones with faces now? I rather like it, though that's rather more than the usual number of eyes, isn't it?"

He is not judging. Far from it.

The voice through the drone speaker is tinny, but perhaps carries its own amusement.

"Sundries gift. I decided not to pull them off the drones."

"They're delightful."

But hey, right now, he'll take all the goofy silliness he can get. It's good for the soul, in a terrible time like this. "I haven't seen you -- well, so to speak," because this only sort of counts, "since before everything happened. How are you?"

"Do you want to see me? I can come join you, or you can come find me." It's almost not sure if there's some implicit criticism there.

"I'm...alright. My roommate on the excursion was good company, and my latest roommate here is also. Though I miss Jinx. She'd never let me live that down, if she knew."

"I always enjoy our talks. If you're free, I would enjoy seeing you." Absolutely no criticism. Sometimes you lose track of people on a ship this size. "I can come to you, if you wish."

Vaguely, Watson recalls when he had drawn a line for Jinx, attempting to prohibit her from taking it apart. That seems so long ago. And also, he has no idea if SecUnit ever witnessed it. It remains unspoken.

"We've lost any number of people," he says instead. "All the more reason I'm glad to know you're still here."

"Wait there, I'm coming to you. Would you like me to bring anything to the infirmary with me? Have you eaten lunch?"

Nag-nag-nag.

He smiles a little, amused at being the recipient of nagging rather than the nagger. "Yes, I've eaten. I want nothing other than your company, but I wouldn't say no to a cup of coffee, if it's on your way."

“It can be.”

Is it reassuring or the exact opposite if the coffee it brings is just how Watson prefers it. Erin jokingly calls Murderbot ‘the panopticon’, but here’s the actual reminder it is always watching.

In all honestly, Watson finds friends who just Inexplicably Know Things to be familiar and comforting. He sips his coffee, smiling. "Thank you, SecUnit, for the coffee. It's very thoughtful of you. Have a seat. I did meet Helena, by the way. She is most lovely."

"She is very special to me." It's actually growing comfortable with saying that explicitly. Even if it doesn't really know what to do with that.

Watson smiles, because he can't help it. "I'm glad for the two of you, you know. I really do think the bonds we make here make all the difference." And it has a tendency to keep itself apart, but even the most solitary of people needs some sort of anchor. So he believes, anyway.

It glances off to one side, pausing before speaking.

"I don't know how to make bonds, not really. But. I'm finding that I have people I want to protect."

"That is a part of forming bonds," Watson says, gently. "Or so it's always seemed to me. I think you're doing just fine on that count."

He says, stubbornly continuing to see Murderbot as a person.

Murderbot isn't going to argue that, at this point. But it does wish to cease being perceived.

"How are you and your family doing?"

"We are... as well as can be expected."

There's a hesitation there, smoothed over with a polite smile. Things may be rocky, but there's a saying about airing dirty laundry. "There are always unexpected difficulties here, but... we love each other."

"Right. And how are you?" It is not good at social cues, but even it heard the dodging there. Yikes, how bad is it?

Watson is quiet for a moment, trying to think of a good way to phrase this. He has been merrily talking of how well he is for weeks. He's fine. He must be fine because he keeps saying that. Being called on that, by SecUnit of all people, has him slightly at a disadvantage.

"Suffice to say that my death in December was the catalyst for a rather serious disagreement which I find myself a little caught between, still."

"Ah. You don't have to talk about it, of course. But it's clearly still upsetting you. You're allowed to be upset, Doctor Watson. Being upset isn't a wrong thing."

Ah, its specialty, saying things to other people that it needs to hear for itself.

"No, but..." Watson sighs, heavily. "One does not like to speak publicly about such private matters. Or at least, I do not."

He covers his eyes with his hand. "And for the most part, I don't seem to be able to do anything."

“Ah. That’s the fucking worst. Not being able to fix the problem.”

This is commiseration.

He gives a faint smile.

"Exactly. It does turn out that having two lovers complicates the inevitable lovers' spat."

"More objects in the system. I understand." It's a three-body problem. "I'm sorry I don't have any useful advice on the matter. But that is rough to handle."

"I'm not sure there's any advice that I don't know already," Watson says. He sips his coffee. "At the end of the day, I must see this through myself. Don't know how you managed to work it out of me."

"I dunno, maybe by caring or something." It's not going to belabor that point, though.

Watson gives a little chuckle. "And I appreciate it, SecUnit. I really do."

[OPEN LOG] Come on in, We Haven't Slept in Weeks

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