aefenglom | video; un: aquila

Name: Jasper
Date: 8/2
Format: Video

[An elegant man sits behind a writing desk with both feet ungraciously raised on the grain. Pristine white sleeves rolled to his elbows, his spotless waistcoat embroidered with gold. The heroic image is shattered by the expression upon his face; quiet and solemn as the grave. Fingers massage where his neck and shoulder meet before he utters a word.]

May I have the pleasure of your ear a moment? I am informed by the Coven that I would do well to find a partner. Only they encourage me against their better judgement, as I am afraid I am a terrible partner for anybody.

[He does little but focus on playing with his fringe for ten seconds, maybe twenty.]

So forgive the ironic curiosity - it will kill me one of these days - and kindly share what you like to see in a partner. Age? Beauty? Perhaps you harbour a fondness for wealth?

Sentimental fools believing in love and friendship need not waste my time.

If the first, I should laugh. If the second, I should call you a fool.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jasper does not answer at first, seemingly lost in thought. He fingers his chin while angling his head, aware his fringe hangs down; a display of curiosity but also a show for the curious. The flattery is taken to heart without prompting him to smile. He is not a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. This robot wears it on its chest literally.

How poetic.]

A difficult personality, I dare say, because I am unwilling to tolerate fools who cannot match me.

[His fingers slide into his hairline and scratch it momentarily before drifting away. The look in his eyes is a cold one - but it's not aimed at his new "friend".]

It would be better to be alone than to compromise and choose the inferior option. I hope you understand that.

[Mettaton does hum and consider what he's meant to understand, stroking at the area that might approximate his chin... if his "body" and "face" could be separated.]

YES... UNWILLING AND CHOOSY, YOU ARE. I WAS MUCH THE SAME. I ABSTAINED FOR MONTHS. OVER HALF OF A YEAR, TO BE PRECISE... FOR SOMETHING OF THIS MATTER, WHY SETTLE FOR LESS? WE ALL HAVE OUR REASONS! AND FOR YOU, IT'S TO FIND SOMEONE YOUR MATCH.

[Mettaton rights his body, setting himself upright atop the bed rather than reclining upon its surface so that he can press his fingertips together in thought.]

BUT BE WARNED THAT WAITING FOR LONG... ISN'T EASY. NOT IN THIS WORLD! NOT THAT MY EXPERIENCE WOULD ALIGN WITH YOURS. HYPOTHETICALLY. I'M NOT MUCH OF A WITCH, AS YOU CAN TELL.

[Both feet uncross for a second before Jasper repositions them upon the table. Crossing them once more, he angles to his side, affected by an intriguing air.]

Believe me, I have noticed. It would simply have been insensible to mention observations made countlessly to you in the past.

[He makes observations of another kind. How this monster seems so very human in ways.]

If somebody inflicted such comments upon me I would surely be quite bored...

YES... IT'S A TIRED LINE OF CONVERSATION, ALL RIGHT. A LINE OF DIALOGUE I FREQUENT. BUT I UNDERSTAND. I'M AN ODDITY EVEN AMONG MIRRORBOUND MONSTERS! PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT ROBOTS, PUCA, AND ROBOTIC PUCA! IT'S HARMLESS! AND HOW COULD I DENY THEIR CURIOUS HEARTS...?

[That, and Mettaton can't turn down the opportunity to talk about himself much of the time... Even though he'd rather talk about himself rather than being a Puca or a robot.]

USUALLY, IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE TECHNOLOGY... OR, UNAWARE OF MY SENTIENCE. I TAKE IT THAT YOU AREN'T SO UNFAMILIAR? UNLESS YOU'RE JUST POSSESSING OF MANNERS.

Believe me, it has been many years since I enjoyed human company. Monsters who write letters to each other and speak about their families are well known to me. Some are blessed of an uncommon capacity for cheating at slots. So I believe.

[And some are literal slot machines, but that's a story for another time. Monsters with human behaviour, with human socialisation. The truth beyond that being he is one himself.]

Indeed, my fate has been very intimate with such individuals.

[Mettaton's hands both rise in shock, fingers splaying out as if someone surprising's just walked in through the door. That monitor of his exhibits a red exclamation point down its center, which flickers thrice before settling into the letter 'M' on its face.]

OH! YOU'RE A HUMAN WHO FRATERNIZED WITH MONSTERS? HOW INTERESTING...! [Listen to Mettaton making an assumption about Jasper's humanity based on his appearances. He should know better at this point.] SPENDING TIME WITH MONSTERS... I CAN SEE HOW THEIR TRAITS WOULD MANIFEST MORE CIVILIZED TO YOU THAN MOST HUMANS ASSUME. FROM COMPOSITION TO THE DEVIL'S LUCK, THEY'RE PEOPLE THROUGH AND THROUGH! I MYSELF LIVED AMONG MONSTERS. THE THINGS WE HAVE IN COMMON...

ANYWAY. WHAT WOULD CAUSE FOR YOU A FATE SPENT WITH THEM INSTEAD OF HUMANS.

[Jasper angles his head and fingers his fringe, a wry look appearing on his face as he suddenly begins appearing very removed from the subject. His body sinks in the chair and his hands grip the arms. His cold voice is courteous but aloof - dissociating from the topic at hand.]

My love of solitude, I dare say. The human figures in my life began to question my wisdom, my status and could not bother to understand my decisions. I forgot how fun their company could be, so I crossed the border. But no matter. It was a fruitless search.

[He idly waves a hand. Perhaps he's just acting? Things never shake confident men, after all.]

You know the dilemma of settling for second best. Better never to settle at all.

video; un: aquila

sorry it's a tad late! no notif

np! I'm losing notifs all over the place too...

thanks!

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