cause sometimes the stars seem closer than they should

[oh_worm]

[ This week's party is... a quieter affair. There's not as much salad laid out, but courtesy of Beth and Otis, there's still some, as well as some hot dogs and some other assorted quick foods from the kitchen. There aren't fancy invitations, just pieces of paper slipped under people's doors. ]

Come to the lobby if you don't want to be alone. Sorry it's mostly salad again, feel free to bring other stuff.

-Beth and Otis

[ And that's that. Come mingle and try not to think about the death of a rapidly-aged little girl! :D ]

Comments

[oh_worm]

Yeah. That's... if you lose a fair fight, even if you get totally shamed that's one thing. But losing something where there's stakes like this against a total asshole who doesn't wanna play fair sucks.

[in4apounding]

The Grimm don't fight fair either. They're not- ...I didn't think it was possible for a PERSON to be so much worse than they are.

[oh_worm]

I think the usual phrase old movies and stuff use is "Man is the real monster."

[ She sighs. ]

So you're... basically uninjured, though, even after that?

[in4apounding]

[Ah, there's the nerves coming back.]

Ye-e-es? I'm pretty sure.

[oh_worm]

[ She breathes out. ]

You... don't have to answer, if you don't want to, or if you can't, but. How do you know?

[in4apounding]

It's- um.

[She gets up, pacing a little in a small circle.]

Can you keep a secret? It's- not bad, I don't think- [hic] but it's. Really important. Can you promise?

[oh_worm]

For sure. Cross my heart, yo.

[in4apounding]

...thank you.

[You're a good probably-friend, Beth. Which is something Penny will need to confirm after her nervous breakdown.]


It's- ...on the bus. When I said I was human, that- I was lying. I'm sorry.

[She paces some more, hugging herself.]

I'm not a real girl. I wasn't born, my father built me in a lab.

[Don't run away, don't run away, at least see how she reacts first-]

[oh_worm]

[ Beth blinks once, twice, then smiles, placing a hand on Penny's shoulder. ]

Just because you weren't born doesn't make you not real, Penny.

[in4apounding]

[She turns, still a little nervous.]

You mean that? You promise?

[Ruby had said the same thing, hadn't she.]

[oh_worm]

For sure! I don't know how things are in your time, but we got plenty of robots and clones and whatever and of course they're people. Just different people, who don't have to deal with like. Spleens.

[in4apounding]

....

[Sorry Beth, you're suddenly being hugged by a very tiny, humanoid bullet train.]

Thank you-! ...I definitely don't have a spleen, no.

[oh_worm]

[ IT'S FINE SHE'S TRAINED FOR THIS- ]

Oof- heh, spleens are overrated anyway.

[in4apounding]

What do spleens actually do, anyway?

[And loosening her grip, at least.]

[oh_worm]

Some junk with blood, don't worry about it.

[in4apounding]

Okay.

[And stepping back a lot.]

You did mean it though, that you won't tell anyone? Mister Ironwood always said- I'm the only one like me, at home. That people weren't ready to know yet, that it might scare them.

[oh_worm]

I crossed my heart, Penny, that's forever! Legally, actually, as of 2896.

[in4apounding]

...you're a great friend, Beth. Um- we are friends, right?

[oh_worm]

You bet your butt we are!

[in4apounding]

[Congrats, Beth, you have gotten one (1) smile out of a sad robot.]

That- that's really great, thank you. I'm glad we met- ...just. Not that we had to meet HERE.