April 29th, Afternoon

[dialogical]

I feel like the redhead in the intro video perhaps overdramatized the situation.
I do understand that all wars are, to some extent, a waiting game.
And I happen to be particularly excellent and ideally designed to that aspect of them.
But I'm not sure they're supposed to actually be relaxing.
I'm just saying, this place is pretty fucking great.
Akin to what I would imagine from a resort, back when such things existed, like right now.
But enough on that.
I would like to at least construct the illusion of being prepared for something vaguely unpleasant.
How many available weapons are around here?

Comments

[ ACTION ]

[3rdbest]

Thought so too.

But I was kinda expecting a robot. You look pretty human to me. [ the beer and pizza are for after they try to resonate ]

[ ACTION ]

[dialogical]

Nah. I am-slash-was a computer program in a pair of ultra high tech and high fashion shades.

[Taps his own angular glasses on one point.]

Frankly I would have actually been more useful to this effort with my vast compubrain and access to a world wide web that was literally world wide, but I guess BREW didn't consider how much it could use a super computer organizing the war front. Instead it just made me human. Dumb as fuck but I'm not complaining.

[3rdbest]

I guess BREW doesn't really want to win the war. A lot of people would have ended it by now, so they say.

[ Matt shrugs ]

Okay, let's get down to business. You never resonated, right?

[dialogical]

No.

[Belatedly, he also shakes his head. He was trying to get used to offering physical cues but he kept forgetting it was an option.]

[3rdbest]

Do you know what resonation is? [ because it's better to explain it before the actual thing ]

[dialogical]

I assume it's some sort of fantasy-esque spiritual bond that acts as a psychic and empathic link, and possibly a conduit for power.

[3rdbest]

Worse. Think soul mates.

[ it's clearly worse ] Each soul has a wavelength and the two wavelengths have to connect and complement each other. Only if they do you are able to use the Weapon's powers.

For that, you need to focus on connecting to the Weapon's wavelength. Sounds really dumb, but you will get the drift of it when I turn into my weapon form.

Now. If the two wavelengths don't connect, shit hits the fan and we can get really hurt. Not something we want.

[dialogical]

[He tilts his head, eyes drifting absently away as he thinks. Despite the ominous words and his own profoundly dubious feelings about any kind of spiritual bond, nothing so far sounds too worrysome.]

How hurt?

[3rdbest]

Physically, you may faint. But apparently it also affects your own soul. Can't give you more details on that, because it never happened to me.

[dialogical]

You've never resonated before?

[3rdbest]

Sure I have, with several people. Just never experienced Soul Rejection.

Let's hope that doesn't happen this time.

So. [ Matt puts down the beer and the helmet and reaches out his hand. Yes. Holding hands ] Make sure you don't drop me, okay?

[dialogical]

Assuming I don't pass out that'll be my top priority.

[It was probably stupid to put any emphasis on it, never held hands before, and despite himself there is a moment of hesitation before he reaches out to take Matt's.

But only a second, and once he's hold it he hopes Matt can do the next part because a few days ago he wasn't even sure he had a soul, so he has no fucking clue how to manipulate it now.]

[3rdbest]

[ Matt turns into his weapon form, a nice Portal gun, pretty much like the games. Just turning and being held doesn't do much, but when they get to connecting the souls part, now that will be tricky ]

Alright, ladies and gentlemen and AI's, please take a moment to look at the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, which creates intra dimensional gates, that have been proven to be completely safe. Do not touch or look directly at the operational end of the device.

[dialogical]

[Oh my. Was that a faint flush? Certainly not. Well hard to confirm with the glasses anyway. But Hal's certainly intrigued, he holds Matt carefully in both hands, then reaches to slip one inside.]

Is this resonation I'm feeling? Because I expected my soul to be located a little higher.

[3rdbest]

Aha, getting there.

[ and after he is sure Hal is holding him correctly, Matt goes silent and focus. His wavelength reaches out for the other's, hoping they would manage some form of resonance.

Doing this the first time is always tricky, but it helps when one of the parties knows what he is doing ]

[dialogical]

[Brace yourself for your first Soul Rejection, Matt, because despite being objectively willing enough to give this a go, perhaps even eager to try something new, as soon as Matt's wavelength comes into contact with Hal's, there's a sudden, sharp shock.

True to his word, Hal doesn't drop him, but he does abruptly fall on his ass, hard.]

[3rdbest]

FUCK! [ Matt feels that alright, better than if it had been a physical blow. Because it wasn't physical pain he felt. Or maybe it was. But it doesn't come from any part of his body.

The shock actually brings him to immediately turn back, falling on the floor too, hand squeezing Hal's mostly out of shock.

THIS WAS HORRIBLE. FUCK HIS LIFE. FUCK ALL OF THIS. ]

[dialogical]

[Pain was still kind of a new experience. So was feeling his soul. Hal finds himself torn between sincere dislike and curiosity.

But after a moment of examining the feeling a little too closely, a sharp shudder runs through his body and he decides he didn't enjoy that after all.]

I guess I got your rejection-ginity.

[3rdbest]

[ he snaps out of the shock the moment he hears him, and finally his hand lets go of his ]

I was kinda expecting that moment to be deep an emotional. [ at least he can still joke around ]

[dialogical]

Statistically, the first time usually sucks.

[Once his hand is released, Hal pulls it into his lap, shifting to sit loosely cross-legged and stare at them both absently. He does that for several moments before adding:]

Least we got pizza.

[3rdbest]

Probably. [ he wouldn't know.

Matt sighs and then shrugs a bit, reaching to grab his beer ]

And beer. Guess not everything is lost.

[dialogical]

[Hal wouldn't either.

Though if he were being honest, he doesn't feel very bothered by it. Maybe he wasn't ready to have strangers touching his soul.

He reaches out in turn to grab the pizza and set it between them.]

If you've done this before, why are you still partner hunting?

[3rdbest]

[ he hands a beer to the other, in case if he wants to drink it. If he doesn't, Matt will, it's fine. ]

Well, I have this disease called "antisocialitis" which renders me incapable of forming strong bonds with other people, which is what happens when you get a partner.

[dialogical]

[Hal takes it, he's entirely sure he would rather have orange soda but he's curious about new things.]

So upon finding someone who's a potential soul mate, you immediately fuck off?

[3rdbest]

[ Matt laughs ]

That sounded really cruel.

[ he opens a can of beer and takes a sip ] When you fully resonate with someone - like, fully, perfect resonation, you two fit each other's soul wavelengths like a glove - it's like the other person can read you inside out. What you are feeling, when you are a bit uncomfortable, when you are tense.

[ it's fucking scary ]

What can I say, I'm a loner.