The little smart boy takes a genuine look down into his organic parts, they had been.. admittedly a bit worried, considering how their world functioned. People could barely keep their internal parts, (or external,) in the right place! So it was good to know they were, in fact, still there.

Maybe they had some trauma they needed to work out.

But Colin, being told they had in fact been caught, caused their eyes to slowly turn a bright pink color, and their mouse pointer hand raised up to press into their cheek, looking away abashedly.

“ Oh well, I guess I can’t really hide it, heh.. the truth is, outside of the technical terms, I don’t really understand what love is.. it’s a strange little thing, outside of a description, it’s still a hard emotion for me to understand. And I know that’s kind of stereotypical, ‘hahah, the robot doesn’t know what love is!! They’re just a little funny computer man with no emotions!’ WRONG! “ They chuckle after a minute, ‘clearing their throat’ and looking to Shrig finally.

“ Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout. But you get what I mean. I just don’t fully understand it.. and since my cheeky little friend knows- “ They playfully imitate his current stance, batting their eyes with a familiar little butterfly icon showing on their screen-

“ He ought to help me! If he- uh, you don’t mind.. please. “

Jeez, why are they all bashful all of a sudden? They silently ridicule themselves in their mind to get ahold of themselves, it’s not that embarrassing.. is it? They nervously fidget with their hands, trying to ‘breathe’ to calm their flustered demeanor.

🌈 " Mind? " The butterfly all but snorts from his goofy little giggle. " It would be a blessing! " He certainly never thought of Colin as someone incapable of understanding such a thing. No, he knows they're just bursting with love, he can see it in their big square eyes. He sees no reason why a computer can't love. This one, at least. They have a soul, don't they? Probably, maybe. The scripture doesn't really.... mention... computers.

But he's going to get real close to them now, close as he can without touching with his big yellow nose. " When you ask about love, what do you think you don't know? Is it what it feels like? " And just as quick, the butterfly pulls back and draws a circle over himself, making the image of a sort of visual aid to his words. " It feels kinda like a thousand little me's fluttering inside your stomach, and it tickles so much you can't think of what to say! Or sometimes-- it just feels like a cup of warm cream after standing in the cold! And after a long while, it feels like the place you live in! " Perhaps this was karma, being subjected to what being a student feels like, but at least the butterfly will respond kinder to being interrupted by a fellow teacher should they have questions. And they may HAVE to interrupt-- because he is not slowing down.

🌈 " Right. " A nod, a pleasant laugh, one just a little bit stiff, a pause just a little too long. " I-I would know all about that, you know! I never really thought about it, but... I have a job just like you! I am a priest. " Yes, the little butterfly sitting on a flower beside them is a religious authority, apparently. He lays his head on his knees and frowns at the briefcase. " And priests do the weddings, but they can't have the weddings. Not ever, ever, ever. I know you're a very busy man, but... I hope... you can find the time to fall in love. Someday. "

🌈 " Oh, there's always more people with nowhere to go-- no one to turn to! Always, always, always... " The butterfly might have seemed eerily too happy about that, softly crawling across a surface on his little hands and feet-- which was entirely normal for a bug but perhaps a tiny bit strange for one that wore shoes and gloves.

🌈 " Oh-- why... I think I'm.... the shepherd. " He answers far too innocently and far too earnestly, a hand placed to the bright red heart on his chest. " And you're... a little black sheep, friend. " A beat of pause just a little too long as he remains eerily still until he finally makes a pleasant giggling sound. Had they forgotten their roles, had they forgotten their script? He fears the poor thing has forgotten their entire head with how they confuse his pristine narrative.

" You mustn't act so surprised. Is this not who I've always been to you? " The teacher's disorienting voice always sounded like he was talking in your thoughts, not the ear. And there was a reason he was so often determined to look into one's eyes. But this ex-disciple is just so indignant now... nothing ever seems to calm them.

( It is tradition for all love cult members that are direct servants to Malcolm to have "SH" in their newly given name. Which is why yellow guy was having his name changed to Shrigis! ) }}

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Unicorn boy: Rodnish. He's married to the rabbit. He has a very deep voice and is about the size of a real upright pony. Almost as big a boy as the priest is when he takes the form of a man. He dresses very sensibly and helps most with hard labor because he's the strongest boy of all and Malcolm is very impressed ♥️

Rabbit girl: Sherry. She's married to the unicorn. She gives warm hugs, she makes warm meals, and likes to help her husband in the garden. She hopes to have lots of children someday and sometimes she lies about nibbling the harvest, but Malcolm loves her anyways. ♥️

Furry Boy: Ishie. Ishie likes to help out by watching over you when you think you're alone. He hopes that one day his diligence will reward him with a special one, and this inspires him to keep others diligent too. He isn't always polite, and he twitches when he talks, but he is so very loyal, and we love him for that. ♥️

Purple boy: Shire. He's the record keeper. Though he isn't allowed to read the scripture-- that would be a silly job for anyone but the priest-- he keeps track of all kinds of words and numbers. Like birthdays and names, how much gravel was fed, and who has been sentenced by anathema. He also burns the records that no one likes. He rarely makes mistakes and Malcolm knows it. ♥️