1/014: The moron is just too clever for his own good. [Dated 3 days after the truce.]

[wheatdos]

[Here GLaDOS. Have another letter from "Larry." While it doesn't exactly say it was from Larry, the handwriting is the same, and the scribbles are still there. It was slipped under your door, just waiting to be read in a little grey envelope.

As for that lovable moron, you haven't heard of him since the end of the truce. It was almost as if he was avoiding you. There was one time where you caught a glimpse of him in a hallway, but he quickly walked off in the other direction upon spotting you there.]

Enjoyed myself last time we met up. I've come to a conklconclusion.
I have to see you. Meet me outside in the back, love.

[Something a little weird about that?]

Comments

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS grunts as she pulls him up; although he didn't put much weight, it was more how she was moving her pained back. Once he was up, she let go of him, having trouble meeting his confused gaze.

Why had she done that? ]

...

[ She doesn't know how to respond. She really doesn't. She never would have done that, back at the beginning. She would have watched him there, taunted him mercilessly until he headed the other way. So why... ]

Just go. [ she eventually managed, not able to meet his eyes. ]

[wheatdos]

[He stands up, staring at her blankly.

After a moment, he starts pointing behind him.]

I uh... maybe I should go...

[He's backing away from her... slowly...]

So, wait I can't quiiiiite tell and this is probably not the best question. Not the best timing, no... but uh... are you feeling... mildly peeved, orrrr abso-absolutely rageful? Because... if it's the first one, then... I-i can leave and not worry that-- that... you might kill me back.

[sawadeertoday]

... [ The question makes her truly wonder how she's feeling at the moment. It's a mix of awkwardness, disappointment and frustration, mostly directed at herself. So she just shakes her head. ]

You do know I'm still going to kill you, right. [ she would reply flatly, still not as biting as she wished it was. She was exhausted and she wasn't she could keep up all of this standing business for much longer. ]

[wheatdos]

[A pause. He thinks about that response, still clutching his nose.]

Riiiiiiigght....Oh, this is terrifying. Not exactly the answer I was looking for.

[He is backing up.]

No matter! I have a number of things up these sleeves anyway, love. A MILLION... which is, a large number. I have a lot of things. What do you have? Nothing probably.

[Can you hear it in his voice? There's a different tone. He sounds tired, like he doesn't actually want to be there, threatening her.]

[sawadeertoday]

[ It takes one to know one; GLaDOS can hear that tiredness in his voice, having a feeling that he didn't want to be doing this, because she's talking that way, too. ]

A million bad ideas? [ she would reply, attempting to force her voice to hit that careless sarcasm she usually employed. It didn't quite work. ] Oh, good. I can't wait to see them all fail.

[wheatdos]

I...Gnngh! Sh-Shutup!! Not listening! I can't hear you!!

[Even though her voice wasn't genuine, she hit a nerve. You've got some kind of upper hand GLaDOS, you can take it!]

[sawadeertoday]

[ She can tell she did. There's a tiny crucial pause where she clashes inside from an odd pity and her usual cruel glee, but she shakes the former off in an attempt to regain herself. ] Oh, how sad. The little moron's too heartbroken to admit all of his plans are going to fail.

[ Her voice hadn't quite gained its edge, but she was trying desperately to slip completely into her cold personality. Wasn't it the true one? ]

[wheatdos]

I-- I am NOT A MORON. Or..or heartbroken! I'm- neither of those things!And my-and my plans are not going to fail...!

[You totally didn't break his heart. He makes this really awkward face as he does a double take to wonder if she was at the bar. NO SHE WASN'T. SHE'S TEASING HIM.

He gets a little flustered. Oh wow, GLaDOS, you are hitting nerves all day aren't you? When she mentions him being heartbroken, he speaks a little loudly. ]

YOU... ARE BY FAR... THE WORST WOMAN. IN THIS CASTLE.

1/2

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS notices how flustered he gets, both a sense of pride that she still could do that and a sense of guilt for doing that swirling in her mind. It really didn't mix.

And being called the worst woman in the castle? She doesn't know whether to take that in stride or not, anymore. How honest he sounds when he says it doesn't help. So she might look a little hurt... ]

2/2

[sawadeertoday]

[ ... but she tries to cover it up with the usual calculating smile. ]

Oh, really? Am I now? I'm just saying the truth. I don't know how that makes me a horrible person.

[wheatdos]

You...you know... but you are!

[He stutters, unsure what to say. He's feeling really conflicted right now, and it causes him to just stare at her for a moment, and spazz out for a half second.

So. Many. Bad. Feelings.]

Are you-- are you trying to make me look like an idiot??! I'm not a moron! I'm not! Stop calling me that!

[sawadeertoday]

[ But she is. GLaDOS' eyes seem to hold less malice and for a moment again, she seems vulnerable despite the smile. She doesn't know why his insults suddenly hurt more. Why? They're dumb, uneducated insults. It's not like he's prodding a weak spot, either.

So what is this? ]

But you are a moron! You were designed to be a moron. You make bad decisions, like a moron. You'll have to prove otherwise.

[ She doesn't know why she's given him a chance to change her mind, either. Not knowing the logical reasons behind her decisions was-- dare she think it?-- frightening. ]

[wheatdos]

YOU'RE LYING. I KNOW YOU'RE LYING ALRIGHT--

[He points to himself... he was getting into it when suddenly... that.

Wait a minute...]

Wh-wait what? Did you just say... prove it otherwise?

[sawadeertoday]

[ And now it's GLaDOS' turn to look a little flustered, and she tries to look as neutral as possible when she looks him in the eyes. ]

Yes, I did. Can you?

[wheatdos]

Of course I can!

[He sounds insulted you'd ask. But it's not in a hostile sense.]

I mean... I'm great at loads of things love. Tons. 'Specially the things that don't have too many buttons... unless, unless buttons are the only way. Th-then bring on the buttons, I suppose. I'll figure it out. No problem.

[sawadeertoday]

Then start listing.

[ She's curious to see what he thinks he's good at, actually. Although she wouldn't admit that.... ]

[wheatdos]

[His eyes get slightly larger. Oh god did she just ask him to list them?]

Uhh... l-let's see.
Good at talking for one. I'd call myself a... social master, in the sense... master in... social...ology. Oh, and lifting things. Great at that. I can lift all sorts of things. Not too hard. Definitely... uhh... mmm...hmmmmm...

[He's stroking his chin in thought... hoping that she won't make him list more...]

[sawadeertoday]

[ .......... sigh It seemed that he was more inept than she thought. ]

Anything else other than mundane things that everyone does every single day? [ i am so sorry ]

[wheatdos]

Don't see you doing any of those, love.

[Awkward silence... He's quick to add:]

Oh...! Uh, I can follow really REALLY good directions! Good at that. Nothing to it... And dance. I can dance. But you knew that. Not everyone can do that. Thankyou Macey

[sawadeertoday]

I'm talking to you right now, you imbecile. [ Although she says that half-heartedly.

When he mentions the dancing, she lets out a little 'hmm'. ]

I suppose you do have that one thing going for you. You're acceptable at dancing. [ Thinking about dancing made her feel awkward again, though there was that one time they had danced and still exchanged their usual snark... that was nice, and less awkward to think about. ] Although you're hardly an expert.

[wheatdos]

Does it make you mad that I'm better than you?

[He takes his glasses out his pockets, and begins fiddling with the broken lenses.]

1/2

[sawadeertoday]

[ Snort. ]

Hardly. Besides, dancing isn't ...

actually 2/3

[sawadeertoday]

[ she trails off, not having quite realized what she said, but she had to finish anyway. ]

3/3

[sawadeertoday]

Dancing isn't science.

[wheatdos]

[He responds absentmindely, trying to see if he could save his glasses.]

Y-You sound like that bloke. The one with the booming voice.

[He paused. Wait. Why did he bring that up. Flood back the bad memories... He stops fiddling with his glasses, pretending to be occupied with them so he didn't have to look at her.]