Office Hours

[adminus]

[Compared to the other two, Oswald is much more difficult to get time with. He only appears on school grounds on Tuesdays and Sundays.

Nonetheless if you're determined... he can be found. Most of that time is spent hovering around the Faculty Office. It's almost like the Entrance Exam made him anxious of just walking around freely or something...]

Comments

[preconstruction]

[ connor is too honestly. he takes a seat across from him folding his hands in his lap, a picture perfect compliant android. ]

I doubt it surprises you that I want to talk about Lieutenant Anderson. I'm afraid that it was my actions that led to such an violent reaction. I wouldn't want him to be punished because of something that I played a part in.

[adminus]

So I heard. He mentioned a rather personal conversation the two of you had.

Nonetheless, rest assured that we discussed it calmly and fairly and that I'm only doing this for his own personal benefit.

cw; alcoholism

[preconstruction]

[ connor hums, understanding. ]

For humans who are used to drinking in excess, it is difficult for them to go without.

[adminus]

Yes, I am well aware.

[...hmm! Interesting.]

I gave him my number, should he need anything during this time. It is a punishment, but it's my intent to help him succeed, not cause him more trouble.

[preconstruction]

I see.

[ maybe Oswald is right; it isn’t healthy for hank to drink, either. And with Connor’s track record lately should he really be holding anyone’s life in his hands trying to make optimal decisions? ]

[adminus]

You don’t seem very sure.

...well, I’m not surprised. Hank wasn’t either.

[preconstruction]

I feel responsible. My uncertainty is not about your steps to alleviate the problem.

[adminus]

You feel responsible.

[Listen to what you just said Connor.]

I see. Still... it might just as easily been any other conversation. Humans make some poor decisions where strong emotions are involved. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

[...sounds like there is some personal experience there.]

[preconstruction]

[ the guilt he’s carrying around is very heavy. ]

You want to help him because you understand.

[adminus]

Our faults are similar, I suppose, in the sense that they are very human in nature.

Yet mine can only be called selfishness. Hank is, ultimately, the better person.

I’d like to see him fight, yes.

[preconstruction]

I haven't known you to be selfish. I know that you're trying to save your world, and that you think this is the only way to save everyone. You've had to make the kinds of difficult decisions that people will never understand. You have to become a villain, to save your world.

That's not something selfish.

[adminus]

That is the truth.

...yet it is only a portion of my truth.

[preconstruction]

Humans are multifaceted.

[ he shrugs ]

No human is all good or all bad. A portion of your truth is that you're not selfish. Maybe a portion of your truth is that you are. But neither of them is a summary of everything. I've seen you have feelings, Oswald.

Who the fuck told you I have feelings OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

[adminus]

...hahaha. You sound a lot like him.

[Whether that is a good or bad thing is hard to tell. The look on Oswald’s face is bittersweet.]

he saw them with his own eyes

[preconstruction]

[ .... ]

Like Jules?

[adminus]

....very astute of you.

[He takes a deep breath like it burns his throat and closes his eyes.]



Yes. Like Jules.

[preconstruction]

What happened to him?

[adminus]

[talking about it clearly hurts him, and yet he doesn’t shut down the conversation. he travels it carefully, letting the wounds re-open themselves.]

...I’m not sure one could say that the person known as “Jules” exists anymore.

[preconstruction]

Was he an android?

[ i mean come on you have to ask at this point. ]

[adminus]

No, he was a human. But— he was incredible. You might have thought his brain was a processor. He had so much potential.

[preconstruction]

[ connor smiles, happy to hear him talking about it. it's nice. ]

It sounds like you really cared about him.

[adminus]

[painful as it is maybe there will be some good to come out of facing it.]

Very much so. More than anyone.

[preconstruction]

Did he get sick?

[adminus]

He is. Sick. In a sense.

As Han would put it, he was Hijacked. But it was a very unusual case for him.

He was neither strong enough to fight it off, nor weak enough for it to take over him.

So now he rests in what may be an eternal coma. Unless an answer can be found.

[preconstruction]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[ he looks sad; hearing that - it's terrifying. the hijacking that had happened when they climbed the wall had sounded awful too. he hates the idea that someone could take over someone's body. that they could be hopeless. ]

I hope that you -- I hope you're able to save him.