Emotional Expressions - CHAPTER 2 -Reupload of my Ao3 fic - WLW - ALIEN/HUMAN
If you're more interested in reading it on AO3, here it is!
https://archiveofourown.org/works/87457541
Fandom: Interstellar Muse! On Webtoon. :)
Stella was finally back to writing again, typing away at her keyboard whenâ
The door creaked open. Stella was sort of getting used to this.
âTheia, would you please just knoââ
Stella hardly got to finish her sentence, pivoting in her chair to face Theia .Â
âI have prepared additional questions.âÂ
In Theiaâs hands wereâŚStellaâs own unused notebook and Stellaâs pen.  Fair enough, it was all Stellaâs. Not like an alien would arrive on Earth already owning personal stationery materials. However, the sight made Stella immediately want to drop her head onto her keyboard.Â
Unfortunately, Theia was quick to cross the room to open the notebook right in Stellaâs face, forcing Stella to blink rapidly to refocus. The notebook quite literally physically blocked her from looking anywhere else.
âEvery question in this notebook will focus on emotional causality. Please respond accurately.âÂ
Stella very quickly realized that this was not going to be a conversation anymore. She supposed it was fair, considering the interrogation she had given the scout not too long agoâbut it hadnât been this intense.
Theia quite easily pulled Stella out her thoughts with a clinical tap on the first question on the paper.
What is the purpose of a compliment?
Stella took a brief moment to think on it, hand already reaching for her chin in thought.
âThatâsâŚWellâ It dependsâ Itâs contextual.â
âSo high variability requires deeper classification?â
âSomething like that.â
Theia stared blankly for a split second before sharply nodding. It was then Theia slid her finger down to the second question and tapped it once again. The tapping was starting to grate on nerves Stella didnât even know she had.
2. Does physical proximity reduce uncertainty in relational status?
Stella squinted at it. This one was easier, at least.
âWell, for most people, sure.â
âYes, Theia. Yes. It does.â Stella deadpanned.
Stella wasnât sure if Theia was just brushing past signs of irritation or simply being oblivious when she slid her finger down to the next question once again without preamble.
3. Do you consider my presence beneficial or disruptive?
Well, damn. Guess the third time is really a charm.Â
âThatâs not a fair question.â
âWhy?â
Stella sputtered for a moment before spitting out, âWellâwell, because people arenât⌠single-variable inputs.â
Stella finally rubbed her face in a moment of pure frustration(?), âOkay. You make things harder sometimes. Like, objectively. But alsoââ
She gestured vaguely, â...I donât think Iâd call that bad.â
Stella winced immediatelyâimmensely regretting how that sounded.Â
âNot that I want things harder. I justâugh.â
Theia paused, slowly lowering the book. Stella might be crazy, but she could have sworn she Theia feltâŚless immediate than before. It was quiet after that for a brief moment. Was Theia averting eye contact? It took a lot out of Stella to not smile or chuckle at that.
Stella decided to push her luck and lean into it, maybe a bit too cheekily,, âHow about you? Do you consider my presence beneficial or disruptive?â
Theia was quiet for a second.
âThe question is improperly framed.â
âOh my godâŚ,â Stella muttered. âHow so?â
âThis question cannot produce a reliable output because it compares non-equivalent datasets.â
Stella raised an eyebrow. âIs that so?â
Stella sighed, blowing a strand of hair out of her face in the process, âWellââ
âI must return to the ship.â
Stella got up herself as Theia set up to leave, leaving the notebook with Stella, âTo do what?â
âA required maintenance condition has triggered.â
â...going to the scout cleanser?â
âPositive.â was all Stella got from Theia before the scout practically sped-walked out the office.