23 - dictated

[takethat]

[It's late at night when Phoenix spots the cat, as he's traversing the halls of the castle, headed back to his room.]

Oh--uh, hey there?

[Although the creature is a little too deep in his uncanny valley, he still puts on a friendly smile. It's not that much stranger than meeting a lion here, after all, right? Probably just a new resident from some weird world with bizarre cat things.]

...are you new around here?

[But the cat doesn't say anything. Phoenix shrugs and is about to wander on toward his destination, when suddenly there's a heavy weight flung into the left side of his body; he's knocked over, the journal skidding some distance away and falling open, to record the full attack.]


What--aaaaggghh!!! Get off me! Get... get away! No!

[The sounds of a struggle are plainly evident for a few moments more, before a rustling as the journal is quickly retrieved, and desperate panting, running--]

GLaDOS!!

[He reaches her door, on the same floor as his own room but further down the hall, and bangs frantically, begging to be let in.]

GLaDOS, please please open the door, please...!

[But no answer comes quickly enough, and the cat is there again, and Phoenix takes off once more, already knowing the sprint to his own room is fruitless--]

H...help! Somebody, please--it's following me! It's--

[And then a scream filled with fear and agony... and then silence, for a long while before Phoenix speaks again.


This time, his voice is hollow.]

Oh my god...

Comments

[sawadeertoday]

[ She sighs in relief when the fire is gone, and then adopts a pretty serious face. ]

Alright. There should be a latch on the end of his core- on one of the sides. Gently twist it and tug it open.

There's going to be a mess of wires inside. Don't shove them or rip any of them- but there should be an obvious reset switch behind some of them.

[ she directed as calmly as she could, still shaking out of pure nerves at everything that was happening right now. ]

[wheatdos]

[STOP SLAPPING HIM AROUND HE'S SENSITIVE.
GLADOS DO SOMETHING.]

[takethat]

[Phoenix's hand is shaking, too, but the switch isn't terribly hard to find. The idea of sticking his hand into Wheatley's chest isn't all that pleasant, but... with some resolve, he does so, and flicks the switch, removing his hand as quickly as he can and sitting back to see what happens.]

[sawadeertoday]

[ She watches carefully from where she's sitting, admittedly a little worried. ]

...

[ But she would never admit it. ]

[wheatdos]

GNNGHHGNNaahh!!!!

[His entire body spasms and flickers back to vibrant life. It would have been even more useful if he didn't suddenly sit up, headbutting the living daylights out of Nick.

YOU DESERVE IT.]

[takethat]

[Without the aid of both arms, Phoenix sort of just wobbles over to one side upon being headbutted.]

...back with us, Wheatley?

[sawadeertoday]

[ She breathes a relieved sigh, not really too worried about Phoenix- after all, they were in numbers. So that science fact really was true. ]

In all his moronic glory.

[wheatdos]

H-hey...! Okay... one, not a moron. Tw-two...What on earth attacked you??? It... y-your arms gone!

[Not a moron. Wheatley rubbed his head and groaned, just a bit more grounded than last time. He looks at Nicks arm, prodding at the stub for a moment, before he made his way to GLaDOS.

...Her leg...]

Not to worry though! I'll have you know... I've already devised a plan!

[takethat]

It was a cat. It had human hands and a human arm...

[Just thinking about it is making him wary of the shadows again, and he gets up to get back to the table and away from the door.]

...what kind of a plan?

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS hunched her shoulders anxiously as Wheatley approached, trying to drag the nub that her hip ended in out of his view, but it was rather difficult considering there was absolutely nothing of that leg to drag.

She was obviously worried of his opinion of her now. She was broken, and even more mismatched than humans usually were. And she was officially unable to walk. Useless. ]

... I... don't... [ she murmured, but her eyebrows furrowed, trying to look collected at the mention of a plan. ]

... yeah, what did you come up with?

[wheatdos]

[Too late GLaDOS. Wheatley's spotted you and he didn't hesitate to walk over to give her a sudden hug. It was awkward in nature, but not because of a change of feeling, but simply because that was the kind of guy he was. Awkward. He made it a point to let her know it was okay, simply hugging her for a long time before he piped up with his idea.

Nothing too terrible. After all... Nick was there.]

Prosthetics! A prosthetic arm... prosthetic leg. It'll have you both up and running good as new! I'll even make it!

[takethat]

[He feels more than a little awkward being here while they're having a bit of a moment, but he still wants more information about this plan of Wheatley's.]

Prosthetics...? ...I guess a prosthetic arm is better than no arm at all... could you really make something like that?

[sawadeertoday]

... [ She relaxed in the hug, her arms wrapping around him in turn, simply sighing lightly in his embrace.

Of course, it had to end- after all, Phoenix was here- and she raised an eyebrow at him, unable to help a slight smile. ]

You, make prosthetics? If anything, I should be the one making them.

[ she teased, although it wasn't quite as strong as a regular jab... it was still something, right? That teasing smile fell almost as quickly as it came, though, and her fingers curled over the nub. ]

...

[fistfullofmagic]

[Dhaos had been quietly sitting this entire time - not that he had much of a choice on the 'quiet' part - and feeling rather useless. At the mention of prosthetics that Wheatley makes though, he can't help but "speak" up.]

'...And what of me?'

[A prosthetic face would hardly be of use to him; not when vision and the ability to breathe on his own are what he truly needs.]

[wheatdos]

You...

[He trailed off, looking at Dhaos from the farthest edges of his vision. Sorry Dhaos...]

I uh... I've got a completely different plan for you mate!

[Enthusiasm! Though don't think he didn't pick up on that jab, though. He gave a nervous laugh, scratching his head while looking around. Come on! Not in front of everyone else. All he needed was other people thinking he was a moron.]

She's kidding... of-of course... ehehehe!

[He's not a moron.]

[sawadeertoday]

[ Her lips gave a forced lift upward for a simple second and she turned back to the table- it was difficult to keep a good mood when one had lost their leg.

Although she glanced at Dhaos when he 'spoke', admittedly feeling a bit jumpy around him. It must've been the lack of a face.

GLaDOS focused on her hands on the table. ]

Then, I can help you. [ she said noncomitally to Wheatley, before pushing her hair back. She wasn't sure why she was so easily upset- her fingers moved to the stump again, feeling absolutely sick as she touched it...

She was clearly not in a very stable mood. ]

[takethat]

[Phoenix has been musing on the idea of having a prosthetic arm while the others converse amongst themselves. Actually, there's something oddly enticing about being a bionic lawyer. When there's a lull in the low voices of the others at the table, he interjects:]

How cool are we talking about here? I mean, regular medical prosthetics or will I have some increased pointing powers from this?

[No, he's still not really okay with the situation... but he is an optimist. Or is trying to be.]

[fistfullofmagic]

'...Increased pointing powers...?' [No, he's not judging you Phoenix, he's just mildly confused about why extra pointing capacity would be desirable.]

[wheatdos]

Mate...

[One of his hands let go of GLaDOS, holding onto her with one hand as he turned to Nick dramatically. Even in explaining it, he was pointing in his direction with such an intensity, it was a wonder why Wheatley wasn't an attorney.]

Your old arm will be sub-par compared to what you'll have!... Do you hear me? Sub. Par.

[And he slowly looks to Dhaos... eugh. It gives him the shivers....]

And you!

Erm...s-same with your face, mate.
You had a wonderful face before, but this face... it'll... it'll beyond just a face.
A superface if you will. Mega face... extremely attractive. Obviously not one comparable to mine, but we can get you there...

[Oh come on GLaDOS. Look at him making all these promises you know he can't keep... help him out...]

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS looked up to Wheatley as he spoke, her face a mix between that sullen look that was repressing all of her anxiety, and slight exasperation.

She knew these were promises he couldn't keep, and it angered her. If only because it felt almost as though he were rubbing it in. That they were nothing anymore.

Invalid. ]

... stop being ridiculous. [ she spoke up, although her tone was frighteningly apathetic, and even a bit shaky to boot. ] Just... stop.

[ She shrugged out of his hand, shoulders shaking slightly. ]

[takethat]

...it's okay, GLaDOS.

[It's perhaps not his place to be trying to cheer her up, but he's worried about her anyway, and forcing himself to be cheerful for someone else is helping. A bit.]

Maybe a little fantasizing about some great glorious future where we're all cyborgs is just... what we need to get through this.

[He smiles, and though it doesn't quite reach his eyes, it's the effort that counts... right?]

[fistfullofmagic]

[Dhaos remains silent. The thought of fusing man and machine holds no appeal to him. He was strange enough with a normal face, so to add a mechanical one? If a machine looks like a human yet is even the slightest bit off, people pick up on that quickly. And with the tendency for people to instinctively shy away from that which is not-quite right, he would be left alone again. Though he feels terribly selfish for it, he wants to remain near his friends for as long as he can.

Thus he says nothing, allowing them to latch onto anything that might help them get through this.]

[wheatdos]

[His smile falters terribly when he realizes the rather unenthusiastic crowd. It was sobering, harsh and just the slightest bit embarrassing. None of them actually believed that he was capable of it. They thought he was a moron. They actually believed that he was joking...

Wheatley had full confidence in himself, so when she shrugged out of his hand, he didn't bother to console her. Instead, he narrowed his eyes a bit and frowned... pacing over to Nick and Dhaos.

Fine GlaDOS. Do what you want. Think he's a moron. Nick and Dhaos were his friends... they weren't going to believe you. At least, he thought they wouldn't..]

I'm... not joking! I'm serious! I-in fact, I can start it and have it for you guys in... in a day! I... I can get to work now even...

[sawadeertoday]

[ GLaDOS wasn't sure what she wanted. She wanted to simply feel better- to be held, maybe, or simply comforted as he was earlier- but at the same time, she wanted to be left alone.

So she simply turned to Phoenix when Wheatley let go of her, not bothering to return. ]

Maybe you. I'd prefer my chassis...

[ Oh, how she missed it. Being the one in charge. The one torturing.

She sounded so bitter. She probably needed a lot of affection, despite her sour state- staying alone would simply depress her. ]

[takethat]

[He sighs.]

If Wheatley can make a cool prosthetic arm for me, I'm not turning down the offer.

[And that's all he has to say on the matter--at least for the time being. He leans back in his chair and crosses his single arm over his chest, frowning. A sort of stoic determination to be pseudo-happy is the best he can muster right now.]