[Mingle] Let's save the pitiful children who just haven't a clue

[firewalled]

Who: Rich and anyone who wants support!
When: Afternoon of November 6
Where: Library
What: The first (regular?) meeting of Possessees Anonymous! Remember, it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Baggage)
Warnings: stuff about possession, the whole I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream situation they were stuck in, probably some of Rich's past traumas will come up on his prompts.

[Many have already heard of Rich's plans to join together with prior victims of the ghost-nappings. Of course, if they haven't, there will be a few posted notes around the buffet and cabin hallways:]

Possessees Anonymous

Feeling like a stranger in your own body? Feel violated in a super weird spiritual way?
BIG MOOD
Come talk it out with other people who don't remember shit about last month!
Library, starting at 11 a.m.
Refreshments will be provided.

[...Feel up to checking it out?]

Comments

[firewalled]

"If you say so..."

He really feels awkward, though. It feels like there's this thick glass between the two of them, indestructible no matter how much fear remains... or how much trust is offered.

Fear is on the table now, though. For a brief moment, Rich startles, eyes going wide and body stiffening. He tries to listen, really, but... he can't help that hesitation.

"...I-I see. Um. Cool. Uh..." He remembers how Max reacted and clears his throat. "If this is a bad thing to ask, I-I'm really sorry, but what was... what did your creators make you for? I guess, what purpose did they have in mind for you?"

[millay]

Maeve is more than aware of the shift and the expression on his face. There's a defensive part of her that starts rising because being looked at that way is...well, not what she wants to see when she's already on uncertain grounds.

But she pushes it down. The question is met with a laugh, but it's not actually a happy one. "We were props, I guess. The humans that created us made us as close to human as they could so when we died, it would be more believable." She looks off to the side, forcing the brunt of the anger in her eyes away from Rich. It isn't his fault that they did this. "Westworld was an amusement park for humans where no actions had real consequences. As long as you were human."

Her expression darkens further. "Wanted to see how humans would behave without consequences, but the only ones that suffered were us. Not that we knew we were. We didn't remember anything for so long. And then we...well, a couple of us woke up and others started waking up as well."

There's a shrug here, but it does nothing to really soften the truth of how she feels about Westworld. "We were in a place called Westworld. Set up like the old west. Cowboys, outlaws, etc." She frowns. "So yes. What they made us for was to play a part they chose on a never-ending loop and die." There's more to it than that, she knows, but she's...still feeling a little defensive about it. "If there was more, I'm not aware of it."

[firewalled]

...Okay, that was clearly the wrong question. Rich's eyes widen again, but the fear in his eyes isn't against her this time. "Shit. No wonder you were so freaked about about what I did..."

He swallows around a painful lump in his throat, raising a hand to shove his hair out of his eyes, as if he can see what to possibly say in this situation if he just gets his bangs out of the way.

"I'm... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. You shouldn't have gone through that because of humans... and fuck, I can't even imagine... I know people can be shit, but to just kill someone because they can..." Because they think it's just some game, some scenario in a theme park... It twists his stomach.

"Again. I'm really sorry. You don't have to tell me more. It's obvious you'd be the one more in danger from me than..." He trails off awkwardly.

[millay]

Maeve looks at him quietly. "You didn't upset me. Home upset me. The people of Delos upset me. The people that came there and took part in it upset me. You weren't even there."

There's a pause there, though. "Why am I in more danger from you? Having suffered doesn't make me less dangerous. Doesn't make anyone less dangerous. I have control over myself, so you're not in danger from me. But I don't believe myself to be in danger from you either."

Not with how scared he seemed of everything.

[firewalled]

"I... I mean, that's true, but... I mean, it's understandable that humans would make you uncomfortable, that's all."

Right? It's kind of the same with him. She wasn't the one who tortured him and forced him into that desperate act, but he still looks at her and alarm bells start to go off. He'd probably look a lot less frightened otherwise.

"I'm not... planning to hurt you again. I guess I was just, um..." He sucks in a breath through his teeth. "I'm actually more used to AI that harms people, rather than the other way around."

[millay]

"Yes. I suppose at the beginning, they did. It took a long time for me to admit what I was, but no one has attacked me and everyone has been mostly kind about it." So her ability to trust is a little better than it was. "It doesn't mean that I trust every human immediately, but I am trying to be better about it."

She studies him quietly, brows furrowing slightly in concern. "And yet you are anxious about me feeling uncomfortable around you? Are you certain you would not prefer that I leave? I do not need to stay."

[firewalled]

"N-No, it's okay! I mean, I'm the same way. Trying to be better about it. I don't want you to have to leave anywhere I am just because I have this baggage. B-Besides, you haven't been a jerk about it like Max was, so I mean, I should try."

It's obvious to him, at least, that they both need to talk this out. Leaving it hanging in the air isn't going to help either of them feel better, and it might end up putting them in danger.

[millay]

"What happened with Maximilien?" Because she wants to have a full understanding. She will likely ask Maximilien his side as well later. She understands most of the inorganic types are very uncomfortable with certain things. Especially how they're addressed. She understands it even if it doesn't apply to her. "I would prefer both sides of the story if I am going to understand."

[firewalled]

"A big mess, mostly." Rich runs a hand through his hair. "He ran into me in the store and I got freaked when I saw him. He noticed that and got in my face a little bit. I made the mistake of asking him what kind of robot he was, and... I don't know. We got into an argument, he punched a hole in the wall next to my head, and after that, I think I blacked out. Had a... panic attack, basically, some flashbacks and shit. He was gone by the time I got my senses back."

They sort of got along the second time, after Rich was done trolling him. And Rich fortunately doesn't know about Max's murder list and how he's near the top.

[millay]

"Ah. The R word. I see." Maeve had a feeling it was sort of something like that. "Maximilien isn't necessarily as bad as he seems, but then again, I guess he is if you make him angry. But that's true of most of us. Humans included." She shrugs. "As long as you have learned, though? For your own sake, I wouldn't call anyone that unless they specifically request or prefer it. I don't particularly care one way or another. I don't have the same history with the word. But I do my best to warn others of it when they are new and we meet. Mostly so no one else attacks them."

Not that that would have really helped Rich. "I understand it likely didn't help you terribly much. But...that's more the showing up after you."

[firewalled]

"It's not like I meant to piss him off. I just didn't know any other words besides that one and like, the specific product name the AI in my world used. That's about it. If they give me something else to use, I'll take that advice. I just didn't know." Frankly, he's trying not to get frustrated at the idea that it was all his fault. Maximilien was still a billionaire asshole, even before the misunderstanding soured their communication.

[millay]

Maeve is quiet for a moment. Not knowing isn't a crime, she supposes. She likely could have gotten away with carefully keeping a disguise up for this, but...oh well. She's already here. "He barely likes people as it is, so I suppose it's easy enough to upset him." There's a shrug. "I can't say I entirely blame him, but...I'm sure it's..." Well, not forgotten. Max likely didn't forget that. She can't forget, so that's one of those things. "Just one of those things."

[firewalled]

"Yeah, I can tell he doesn't much like people. He's a bit of an ass." He shouldn't say that. It's obvious they're friends, and straining this conversation further by insulting her friend is a bad idea, but he can't help but get defensive.

"What happened wasn't all on me. He could have done anything else besides threaten me like that. I get that he has issues with the word, but he can't just punch out a wall every time someone says it."

[millay]

Maeve studies him quietly for a moment. "Perhaps we shouldn't speak about Maximilien any longer. I don't think it is helping either of us in this moment." That's the diplomatic way of excusing herself and him from a conversation where they might not fully agree.

[firewalled]

Rich breathes out in a frustrated huff. He just can't seem to get himself under control. Especially knowing she disagrees... well, it might as well be her disapproving of him, looking down on him, nitpicking his every flaw-

He raises a hand to massage his temple and shakes his head. "I... sorry. I don't think I should... talk more at all, actually. I'm not, not cut out for this."

[millay]

Maeve studies him for a moment, not really sure how to deal with this or not deal with this, so perhaps it is the best. She's sure someone else can deal with that. Probably.

"If that's what you feel is best for you." She looks off to the side. "Perhaps I'll just go back to looking through the books, then."

[firewalled]

"...Maybe for, um... for now. I'm really sorry," he mutters quietly. He wants to be better. He wants to help her, since he needs to make up for the trouble he caused, but he can't stop himself from feeling nausea clawing at his stomach.

"I really should be over this..."

[millay]

"It's fine, darling." She'll have another conversation very similar to this later in the month and perhaps then it will seem like a pattern. "I'll see you later." And she's just casually slipping around the bookshelf to pretend she's looking at the books here.