[ When Arid sees a message in her inbox from Martin Blackwood, she does indeed assume it is related to Jonathan Sims. Perhaps the Archivist had just compelled a synthetic and his associate is here to plead for her mercy on his behalf. While such a message would be disappointing, it would not be entirely unexpected.
She certainly isn't expecting an offer of pie.
There is. A long pause.]
I do not have a mouth.
[ If Martin were actually there, he would detect more bafflement in her voice than irritation. The notion that a human would think of her of all people while producing baked goods is perplexing in the extreme.
But then she remembers something he had said during their in-person meeting—something the Archivist had compelled him to say. ]
I have no interest in providing a written statement.
[The first message has Martin's cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He... he probably should have thought of that. This was stupid. God, she probably thinks he's a moron. And then the second message takes the wind entirely out of his sails.]
I didn't ever expect one. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I just thought you might like something sweet.
If there's anything else you like and... is relevant to you, please let me know. We're all working together here, and I'm trying to prepare for as many different things Deerington might throw at us as possible. I can keep an eye out for anything that might help you.
[ ...This continues to be a very confusing conversation. Arid would almost be inclined to believe the human had meant to contact someone else, if it weren't for the fact that he had referred to her by name in his initial message.
Because you've been hurt by this place and by Jon, and it seems like you were hurt by other people where you're from. KD6-3.7 said you had some really bad experiences. So, I just thought maybe you deserved to have something nice? And, well, something that might make it easier for you the next time something bad comes for us.
I know it doesn't make up for anything that's happened. But I was just hoping you could feel good, even for a little while? It was silly. Sorry.
[ So the human... pities her? She does not know how else to comprehend his preoccupation with her negative experiences or the notion that she somehow "deserves" something because of them. ]
Suffering does not confer merit.
[ If it did, Arid is sure all of her considerable share would go to the hosts whom she had victimized. In any case, she does not desire pity. Even if she had been willing to accept it, what would she request?
She does not know what would make her happy. ]
Others hurt me. You have not. Your attempts at reparation are not needed.
No! Of course not. I just mean that if you've had a lot of suffering in your life, you might not have had a lot of good things. It's not about reparations for what other people did.
Hasn't anyone ever just wanted to do something nice for you?
[ Arid reads the message several times, trying to comprehend. As best as she can estimate, he is attempting to... establish equilibrium? He seems to believe it important to try and balance the negative experiences in her life with a positive one.
If that is his goal, Arid still has no guesses as to his motivation. ]
But this is about what you want, not what I want. If you can think of anything you'd like me to look for, please let me know. Otherwise, I hope you have a really nice day, Arid.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text;
She certainly isn't expecting an offer of pie.
There is. A long pause.]
I do not have a mouth.
[ If Martin were actually there, he would detect more bafflement in her voice than irritation. The notion that a human would think of her of all people while producing baked goods is perplexing in the extreme.
But then she remembers something he had said during their in-person meeting—something the Archivist had compelled him to say. ]
I have no interest in providing a written statement.
no subject
I didn't ever expect one. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I just thought you might like something sweet.
If there's anything else you like and... is relevant to you, please let me know. We're all working together here, and I'm trying to prepare for as many different things Deerington might throw at us as possible. I can keep an eye out for anything that might help you.
no subject
Her reply is even blunter than the last one. ]
Why?
no subject
I know it doesn't make up for anything that's happened. But I was just hoping you could feel good, even for a little while? It was silly. Sorry.
no subject
Suffering does not confer merit.
[ If it did, Arid is sure all of her considerable share would go to the hosts whom she had victimized. In any case, she does not desire pity. Even if she had been willing to accept it, what would she request?
She does not know what would make her happy. ]
Others hurt me. You have not. Your attempts at reparation are not needed.
no subject
Hasn't anyone ever just wanted to do something nice for you?
no subject
If that is his goal, Arid still has no guesses as to his motivation. ]
No humans.
[ At least, not without ulterior motives. ]
no subject
But this is about what you want, not what I want. If you can think of anything you'd like me to look for, please let me know. Otherwise, I hope you have a really nice day, Arid.