test chamber 06 ;

[sawadeertoday]

[ Everyone but Wheatley ; dictated ]

I was wondering if anyone would guide me through the process of making tea.

If it makes any difference, black or green tea especially.

[ Wheatley ]

[ A few hours later, GLaDOS would be making said tea. The room was already ready; although she hadn't really changed it from its cold and clinical feel, it was something that they were both used to, anyway. Aperture. There was a small table set up, though, with two chairs and little tea saucers and plates, and a little radio in the middle that was playing classical music.

GLaDOS herself would be dressed primarily in blue, in a nice button-down fitting blouse with sleeves that reached her elbows and a knee-length black pencil skirt. Of course, she was wearing some nice shoes to match, no heels of course (even if she did think about them, she likely would have trouble walking in them). She didn't want to wish up the tea already made, instead opting to keep herself busy before the moron got there.

She was a little apprehensive, really. This set-up was ridiculous. She knew she was going to these lengths because he had been so considerate over the past week, where she had only been as nice as she could be, but still. Being kind didn't really come naturally after so many years of being a homicidal AI. It was a foreign concept, even if the friendship itself made her inexplicably happy. If only the tiny bit of data (well, self, now that she was human) that was Caroline could explain these dumb things. Instead of just making her feel them.

She let out a small, nervous sigh before writing in the filter and speaking. Hopefully, he had his journal on him. ]

Come up to my room as soon as you're free.

[ Now, to play the waiting game. She took the two tea cups that she had wished for (with blue designs on them, naturally) and finished the job, hoping he would come soon. Otherwise, the tea would get cold. ]

Comments

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS can feel the dance become more hectic, her snarky personality becoming easier and easier to slip into. Was it her real personality? Everything was getting too crazy to tell.

The compliment is unexpected, but she makes sure her calm poker face isn't ruined, giving him a cool smirk as she suddenly shifted her weight to spin them in the opposite direction. ] Really? I could say the same for you. That vivid shade of orange quite suits you. [ Her voice is low all of a sudden, although it's not the usual angry low. Instead, it's playful. She's kind of really enjoying this. The best of both worlds? She quite thinks so... ] Did you wear it on purpose?

[wheatdos]

"I-If I said yes... how would you feel about that?"

[He is surprised by her sudden shift. He stumbles for a moment, just a step. It was unexpected. There is a pause, and he suddenly laughs...slowly. Unexpected.]

"Oh that was cleverrr."

[sawadeertoday]

[ She's smiling still, actually finding this quite fun. ] I might be happy about that.

[ His laugh and comment please her. Her eyes are shining with amusement. ] Oh? I was just following your example, [ she said innocently. See? It was a bad thing to be spontaneous. It made others fall. ]

[wheatdos]

"Ha. Haha, Then I might've done it on purpose. Never know. Never know."

[Excuse him while he pauses the dance, for barely a half moment, just to remove his glasses, and throw them onto a nearby table. You started this up GLaDOS.]

"My example? D-do you really mean that?"

[He rolls up his sleeves and assumed the proper tango position. He seems to have a new determination, to make the dance... more interesting.]

"...Oho, S-So now you're copying me."

[And so they continue to dance.]

[sawadeertoday]

Oh, don't be mysterious about it.

[ Oh? GLaDOS can spot this determination easily from the way he dramatically threw his glasses aside and the way he rolled up his sleeves. Wheatley looked different without them, she noticed distantly as they began to dance again. She would follow his lead at first, not accustomed to this new kind of dance, but improvised a bit herself to fill in the blanks. ]

Why not? You're the dancing expert, [ she would reply airily, not really meaning to compliment him. It was more of an idle comment to throw into the flame. At one point, she wrapped her leg around him and shifted her weight to spin them again. Even though he was leading, she still wanted to assert some sort of power over him. ]

[wheatdos]

[That shift. For a moment, he fell into her lead. Wheatley closed his eyes for a minute, to assess the situation... and slowly opened them to look at her. Second time she got him. Wheatley would laugh and shake his head, placing his chin on the top of her head again.]

"It...it doesn't count if you lie to me. You told me you didn't know how to dance, love."

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS suddenly felt a small influx of emotion when he put his chin on her head. Thankfully, by then he couldn't see her. She would fall back into his lead, a bit frazzled by the mix of friendship and enemy. The line felt like a blur. ]

I don't. [ she replied simply. ] I was improvising.

[wheatdos]

[He was a bit surprised, but relieved when she fell back into his lead. He hadn't thought to consider why. His eyes flicker up at the clock as he rested his chin. Time had flown. They had been dancing for hours already. 6 hours till midnight. He planned on dancing with her till the two of them became exhausted, or till she was sick of seeing his face.]

"I bet you're just the master of improvisation, aren't you. Human sarcasm right there. Did you hear it?"

[A chuckle.

He'd dance with her for a good while in silence.

...

Finally, he'd turn the side of his head, and press his cheek against the top of her head. His voice softer.]

"A-are you keeping track? Of the time that is. Keeping track of the time."

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS was tired. She was really tired; the dancing was draining her physically and emotionally, and she was beginning to falter when Wheatley pressed his cheek to the top of her head. His soft question made everything worse.

Yes, during those many hours, her gaze would dart towards the clock. Time was running out. ]

I have. [ she replied softly in turn, slowing to a halt. ] Five hours and a half.

[wheatdos]

[The dancing was less dramatic. Just him, really taking a step or two, resting his head on hers.]

"I'm beginning to think that the castle didn't spare us the humiliation to leave a bit of the...uh... artificial make up that we have. Not particularly unexpected...but-"

[He took a breath. His voice has this odd tone to it.]

"I think I... uh, feel something. It's human, definitely. Never felt it before in my life. New thing, new thing... but I'll tell you. It feels absolutely dreadful. Kind've empty. Oh...um, Sort've like... like I lost something..."

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS realized that she felt the same way. Hollow. Empty. Melancholy. This was too much. This was all too much. Why had she agreed to this dumb truce in the first place? Why had she even bothered inviting him over today?

Stupid, stupid GLaDOS. She berated herself in her mind. She felt like this never would have happened if they didn't become friends. Even if it was for a week, she should have realized that this would happen.

But she never did, because she had never had such an experience before. So how was she supposed to know what was waiting for her now?

All Wheatley gets in reply is a shaky breath and arms wrapped around him in a hug, holding him close. And eventually, a small: ] Me too.

[wheatdos]

[He gave a very sad smile in response to the hug. It was comforting somehow, but somehow it made it worse. He hugs her back. He doesn't let go of her, speaking through her hair. ]

"Well! Uh... we still have a bit over 5 hours! Just a bit though. That's enough time... if there is anything you want to do before--uh, before the truce ends! We can...we caaaan... do it now. No problem. Watch another movie? Go make something... we-we could even just... just sit here. Sit here and talk. I don't mind. As long as we're...you know."

[sawadeertoday]

[ She was thankful that he hugged her back. It was funny how easily she folded in his arms, and how much she liked it. She took another, deeper breath before calming down. ]

We've done so much already. Let's just... stay here for a bit. [ Thankfully, her voice didn't quaver. She was afraid of that happening. ] My bed's... over there, somewhere. I got rid of the couch.

[ she would point, but she was too comfortable in his arms. ]

[wheatdos]

[He raised his head slightly. Oh, he didn't even realize that she got rid of the couch. He didn't even realize the fact that this was the first time that she actually let him into her room. He also didn't realize it looked exactly... felt exactly like aperture. He didn't know how he felt about that. Wheatley wasn't used to the emotion... he wasn't sure how he felt about anything anymore. And then he came to a thought that maybe he never did.

Except he felt that killing her had to happen, whether he thought about it or not.]

"Got rid of your couch? Haha, why would you do that? Ahhh, alright... that's fine then. Up you-up you go."

[He picked her up, in the same fashion that he had carried her to the castle. He remembered that. It felt like everything he did had some great memory with her in it, and it was starting to feel bittersweet. He'd carry her over to her bed.]

"Nice place you got here. You knowww... you know it reminds me of some place I know."

[His attempt at making a joke.]

[sawadeertoday]

[ Making her room look like Aperture had been intentional. To keep everything impersonal. Cold. Clinical.

And yet here she was, an emotional wreck. She also knew that killing the moron was something she definitely had to do, regardless of what happened this week. And that's what was conflicting her.

When she got picked up, GLaDOS smiled a little. He did seem to enjoy carrying her around, too. Not like she had anything against it right now. Her limbs were sighing in relief from not having to move anymore. ]

Does it? [ she would reply, amused. ] Although it's much more in-tact than you would remember it.

[wheatdos]

"Ehhh... you could say that. It's all the same to me, though. All the same. You seem to like it better the other way since you always insist that it was my fault your facility was so wrecked. Yet here... you are... inviting me."

[He set her down on the bed, and kneeled down at the edge. His head resting in his palm. He was relatively close to her, so he didn't have to even speak loud at all. ]

"Difference is you won't have to worry! I won't take over your apartment love."

[He teases.]

[sawadeertoday]

Well, friends don't wreck friends' facilities, or at least I hope not.

[ She looked down at him when he set her on the bed, still amused. ]

And how can I be so sure? [ she teases in return, reaching over to affectionately smooth his hair back. ] You seem to like it here, after all.

[wheatdos]

"Yeahhhh... no, I don't- I don't think they do."

[He laughs, instinctively moving closer to her when she smooths down his hair. He really loved that. When she did that, he had forgotten for a moment that this friendship was a truce at all. He had the habit of forgetting things whenever he was with her.]

"I do. But-- hey, you know, y-you sound as if you want me to."

[sawadeertoday]

[ She continued fiddling with his hair, smoothing it and pushing some strands behind his ears. She liked her hair being played with, and she felt that it was the same for him.

GLaDOS chuckles, even if she feels conflicted about this. Maybe it would be a good idea to change plans and keep him near. Make him believe they were still friends as she worked to kill him.

Yet, as bold and possibly fruitful the idea was, there was something about it that didn't sit well with her. She didn't want to kill him while he was like this. She wanted to kill him when she would feel gratified by doing so. When he had that dumb smirk on his face and that holier-than-thou attitude. ]

I'd prefer not to have my room completely ruined, if possible. [ she would simply tease back, her thumb running over one of his sideburns and behind his ear. ]

[wheatdos]

[He slowly grabbed her hand with his, and held her hand to his face, closing his eyes. ]

"Ohhh... so that's how it is...oho... be that way. "

[When he reopened his eyes, he hoists himself up and prepares to crawl on with her. She'd have to move over, though. If she didn't move quick enough, he'd playfully push herto give himself space.]

"Be thankful I'm a good bloke, then."

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS would start to move, but not fast enough, so she huffs at the push. ]

Definitely good. You know, pushing people around. [ She would give him a little shove back - nothing painful, but just a little push. After, though, she would take his hand in both of hers to examine it, only just now realizing how much larger his hands were. ]

Your hands are giant. [ she said quietly; considering his height and size as a human male, it only made sense. Still, it was the little things that seemed to catch her attention more often than not, now. ]

[wheatdos]

[When she pushes him back, he laughed more, pretending to be absolutely shocked that she pushed him.]

"Oh look at you...! You're one to talk! You're...you're going to bruise me."

[When he laid down next Upon inspecting his hand, he gave his fingers a little wiggle. He didn't think about that kind of stuff, very often, and at that moment he had just realized how big they were...especially in comparison to hers.]

"Huh... well look at that. I never.. you know, I never thought about it. Are you sure that it isn't just you? You know... being so small."

[He closed his hand, wrapping it around hers.]

[sawadeertoday]

I'm a perfectly acceptable height. [ she corrected, weaving her fingers in his, her thumb stroking his hand idly. ] I haven't seen a lot of people as tall as you, though. It must be a rarer height.

[ She shifted into a more comfortable position, relaxing as she contemplated his height. His limbs were all extremely long as a result, making him look rather awkward. It befitted him, somehow; his personality was already awkward as it was. ]

[wheatdos]

"Huh."

[Awkward was right.]

"...That make's me special doz'nit?"

[He gives her a little nudge.]

[sawadeertoday]

[ A short laugh. ]

If you mean 'special' as in hurting people's necks when they have to look up at you, then sure. It does.

[ She shifted closer to him so that their sides touched, leaning her head on his shoulder as she looked at their hands. Really, she could barely see hers; it was engulfed by Wheatley's larger one.

He really was tall, to the point that she felt tiny whenever she was with him. Tiny and breakable. Thankfully, he only noticed the tiny part, so she was pretty safe. ]

But your height is fine. [ She likes how his head fits on top of hers. ]