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[lightconductor]

If you have a message for me, Dr. John Watson, please leave it here. I shall certainly get back to you as soon as I can.
- JW

Comments

[lightconductor]

"It means I care about you," Watson says, patiently. "That I want you to be happy and well, or at least as happy and well as it's possible to be in a place like this, and that I will take action to keep you happy and well if I feel that I can."

See? Simple and logical. He leans against the counter, arms folded loosely.

[serialskiller]

Again, it's getting hung up on words. 'Happy' is a null signal, it wouldn't recognize happy if it was hit on the top of the head with a birthday party.

So it doesn't respond to that aloud, instead pulling over a chair so Watson can sit down, if he wants to.

[lightconductor]

He'll take that invitation. Watson retrieves his coffee from where he's left it, in its paper to-go cup, and sits down, leaning his cane nearby. He takes a sip, waiting to see if there's an answer forthcoming. Apparently not.

"What is it, Rin?"

[serialskiller]

It actually goes back to counting bottles, processing its way to an answer with the rest of its mind, finishing a shelf before shrugging. It doesn't face Watson when it does speak.

"I don't know if I have ever been happy. So trying to ensure that I am seems like an impossible task. Not worth the effort. It's a nice idea, but probably something you should give up on."

[lightconductor]

"The other part of friendship," Watson says over his coffee cup, "is that when your friend is unhappy, you offer company and comfort and a listening ear, if needed."

For a moment he's quiet, looking at Murderbot fiddle with bottles. "If you have truly never been happy, my friend, then I'm very sorry indeed, but I shan't give up."