Well, it's an equivalent of coffee, anyway. It increases performance for a little bit, something like its physical equivalent. [ You know, like a stat-up. ] There's quite a big market for navi-human romantic fiction, actually! Though I really couldn't tell you why. But yes, it's entirely possible for navis to fall in love with one another if they want.
I realise it sounds strange, especially since you're probably used to thinking of AIs as a lot...bigger. And creatures of logic, et cetera.
I assume it's based off many variables? I suppose if you like each other enough in a certain way, you want to be romantic. That seems to be how it works. [ It's not like navis have a particular physical incentive to seek out a specifically romantic partner, like humans would. ]
Oh, he's the oblivious type. I see. [ They're just casually talking about Tadashi's love life while he's snoozing on the desk nbd. ] Has he had anyone try to flirt with him here yet?
That too. I guess there's all kinds of reasons. I dunno, I don't care about it much myself.
[ He brightens a bit more. Nothing like gossiping about your dorky brother's love life to cheer someone up. He lowers his voice, glancing over to make sure his brother's sound asleep before continuing. ] Ohhhh yeah. In fact, I set him up on a blind date.
It's never been a subject that's interested me either, so I share your sentiments in that regard.
[ Pffft. He sees that look, Hiro. ] Oh? My, that's quick work if he's already gotten people happily willing to go on a blind date with him in the time he's been here. Unless it was for an event of some kind.
What did they end up doing? [ He briefly remembers seeing that network post... ]
Good. Glad some people do. Sometimes I swear my brother and I are the only ones.
[ Not that Hiro isn't fully aware of what being asexual means, but - it still does feel awful weird sometimes. Especially when he's grayer about it than his brother. ]
Weelll ... I might have told him he needed to go to the DMV to get his license renewed. And then got him to go to some kind of weird shark park instead. To meet up with someone.
It has a great deal to do with socialisation, I think. Society tends to push the romance angle very heavily even from a young age. It's probably something you know well already, though.
[ Netnavis don't really have this problem, but since they absorb some things from their human operators, it's not uncommon for them to be well aware of how such things work for human beings. ]
Wait -- he still hasn't figured it out? Oh dear. [ Wow, Tadashi. There is barely-controlled amusement in his voice. ] Though I suppose a shark park isn't the most romantic venue, but--really now. You'd think after a few months something would click.
Well, at least he has you to...ah, help him out, I suppose. [ In a way. He's not going to reprimand Hiro for pranking Tadashi harmlessly, because he'd probably do the same thing. ] By setting him up on dates.
...He must really be working overtime. He hasn't even moved too much. [ Tadashi, that's an uncomfortable position to sleep... ]
Some things can't be helped. Ah, well. I'm sure he'll be just fine.
[ Ah. It's hard to keep in mind what's in store for them, isn't it? ]
Well, it's...understandable. He wants to protect you, you want to protect him... [ Yeah he'd seen that convo going down in the fire, that was unpleasant. ] But there are some things that don't work that way.
...Are you sleeping well? [ Are you having nightmares, he means. ]
Then I will make a correction: both of you are getting far too little sleep. [ He's tried to get Tadashi to sleep more, too, but man, if there's one thing Tadashi is resistant to, it's increasingly unsubtle hints about what he should be doing. ] If anything, it will wear on your immune system even more. You have enough stress to deal with as it is, so let your body rest.
[ Let's not bring in the fact that Magicman seems to be 'awake' all the time and sleeps at odd hours. ]
Well, then. What usually relaxes you? I suppose you could just stay up until you crash, but that wouldn't be good for you. [ Humans are so fragile sometimes. And with Hiro already stressed out enough as is, it probably wouldn't be very restful. ] But surely you have some way of winding down.
You have a lot of projects you want to work on, don't you? Things you haven't yet built. Maybe running through the schematics and working out how everything will fit together will ease your nerves a little. [ No doubt Hiro has exhausted what's available to him in here, so they might as well try a little mental exercise. ]
[ Magicman's right, of course. And it's not as though he has anything better to do, right? But he hates just doing mental exercises; he needs something tactile ...
His focus turns to the pile of microbots just on the other side of the plexiglass. He could use those. ]
You could probably apply some of that brainpower to designing battlechips, if you've got nothing else to do. [ He did catch a bit of that conversation. ] I still retain all my combat data, at least. Has Megaman shown you how netbattling works yet?
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I realise it sounds strange, especially since you're probably used to thinking of AIs as a lot...bigger. And creatures of logic, et cetera.
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Though I guess being human doesn't automatically make you romantic either. Just look at my brother.
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Oh, he's the oblivious type. I see. [ They're just casually talking about Tadashi's love life while he's snoozing on the desk nbd. ] Has he had anyone try to flirt with him here yet?
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[ He brightens a bit more. Nothing like gossiping about your dorky brother's love life to cheer someone up. He lowers his voice, glancing over to make sure his brother's sound asleep before continuing. ] Ohhhh yeah. In fact, I set him up on a blind date.
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[ Pffft. He sees that look, Hiro. ] Oh? My, that's quick work if he's already gotten people happily willing to go on a blind date with him in the time he's been here. Unless it was for an event of some kind.
What did they end up doing? [ He briefly remembers seeing that network post... ]
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[ Not that Hiro isn't fully aware of what being asexual means, but - it still does feel awful weird sometimes. Especially when he's grayer about it than his brother. ]
Weelll ... I might have told him he needed to go to the DMV to get his license renewed. And then got him to go to some kind of weird shark park instead. To meet up with someone.
He still doesn't know what it was.
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[ Netnavis don't really have this problem, but since they absorb some things from their human operators, it's not uncommon for them to be well aware of how such things work for human beings. ]
Wait -- he still hasn't figured it out? Oh dear. [ Wow, Tadashi. There is barely-controlled amusement in his voice. ] Though I suppose a shark park isn't the most romantic venue, but--really now. You'd think after a few months something would click.
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[ He sounds vaguely annoyed by it, mostly. ]
And nope, still nothing. He keeps bringing up how I sent him to the completely wrong address. And not the part where he ended up on a date.
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[ Tadashi that is kind of amazing. ]
He must have had some interesting experiences in high school, then.
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...He must really be working overtime. He hasn't even moved too much. [ Tadashi, that's an uncomfortable position to sleep... ]
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I do what I can. He's mostly a lost cause.
[ A pause; his expression softens again. ]
He's ... he's really worried about me.
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[ Ah. It's hard to keep in mind what's in store for them, isn't it? ]
Well, it's...understandable. He wants to protect you, you want to protect him... [ Yeah he'd seen that convo going down in the fire, that was unpleasant. ] But there are some things that don't work that way.
...Are you sleeping well? [ Are you having nightmares, he means. ]
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He needs to be protected. Because he won't do it for himself.
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[ Hiro please, take care of yourself...He worries, you know. ]
Though I would rather you took care of yourself as well. Having so little sleep can't be healthy.
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I'm sleeping more than he is!
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[ Let's not bring in the fact that Magicman seems to be 'awake' all the time and sleeps at odd hours. ]
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I'm trying to rest. It's just hard to relax enough to fall asleep.
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Building stuff, mostly? Or taking things apart.
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At the very least, it will keep you occupied.
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His focus turns to the pile of microbots just on the other side of the plexiglass. He could use those. ]
I guess I could do that. Draw up some designs.
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