Unfinished but perfected machine.

The actor shifted on his heels in slight discomfort under the others annoyed stare, wouldn’t be the first time he was met with that ice cold personality some deemed so charming. He didnt get it, guy was a bit of an asshole; then again guess most would say he wasn’t any better than nines. Fuck their first meet, felt like the guy basically wrote him off as some unknown actor and there for inevitable to fuck this project up.

Fucking A listers.

Gavin scoffed at the other, rolling his eyes. “Only by a half hour, what can I say, first day jitters not like it will be a reoccurring thing.”

He wasn’t use to all this scheduling bullshit. There were loose schedules he had to follow with old directors he had to work for, butout day it felt like film school revisited, just a couple of dumbasses having fun with a camera. This felt like a real job compared to what he had been doing.

“Dont get you panties in a bunch, not gonna ruin your precious little movie, if you remember my reputation is up in the air here, besides they cast me for a reason.”

Gavin stuffed the folded up bits of script back into his jacket pocket, hopefully deep enough that it wouldn’t fall back out during the scene.

“Let’s just get to shoot huh? Ready for another smoke break already.”

Nines couldn’t help but curl his lip in disgust at Gavin’s words. It was as though the work meant nothing to him, and all he cared about was the next time he’d get a dose of nicotine. 

Ugh... Nines hated the smell of smoke. And now he was forced to feign interest and fawn over someone who would reek of it once the cameras were rolling. 

He could do it. But that didn’t mean he’d be pleased about it. 

“Wouldn’t be hard. The church already uses you as a puppet.” She didn’t laugh in a cruel way, but more to indicate she didn’t know why they are all so dumb. 

“Have you noticed any change in your hunger? Sleep?” She doubted demonic possession. Even faced with the horrors she did. She was more convinced it could be a parasite and she wasn’t even that set on that explaination.

He pursed his lips, but didn’t comment on her church assumption. He didn’t exactly work for the church - he wasn’t a crusader - and he definitely wouldn’t go as far as to say he was a puppet. 

“Are you seriously upset I have a different opinion or are you such a masochist you want competition?”

“I know that those who seek it regularly enjoy the pain and enjoy the sin leading up to it. But who am I but one weirdo in a bird mask. I don’t understand the ways of god.” She shrugged. She had parroted words people had told her over the years.  “Leaches for sins sounds just as viable in my eyes.”

She kicked a loose stone. “Soooo. Since you like with it. Do you have any theories?”

He did indeed have theories, but he hesitated. Truthfully, he worried he might be possessed, much like the abominations. If he was, though... surely the church would eventually come after him and kill him or chain him. 

But if he was, wouldn’t his physical appearance morph to show this change? His lapses in control never once changed him physically. 

“What’s the difference?” She shrugged. 

“Alright lets go cut you open.” She stated wondering off to the direction of her inn room. “Mentally or physically. I’m not picky but it’s your body so you really should get a say how.”

She waved her pointer fingers back and forwards to wards him. “Most people are too embarrassed to admit somethings wrong.” It wouldn’t be the first time she had someone bleed out in front of her because they wouldn’t admit they were dumb enough to get stabbed. 

“You sure? I’ve seen you guys fight. That seems very traumatic to me.”

She stepped into his space. “Interesting. This you or a ‘friend’ or an actual friend?”

“I’m not head surgeon.” She didn’t have the screw helmet for that. “But maybe you are blacking out because there is no desire to remember. A lot of people black out due to trauma or alcohol.”

Gavin wouldn’t feel pressured at all, he would just deflect and say it was Nines’ decision if he wanted to get a stomach or not. However he would hint that he would feel less awkward eating around Nines if he actually could eat something too.

“Hm… have we watched Hot Fuzz together yet?” Gavin asked and stroked his chin, a cheeky grin on his lips. He just made everyone watch this movie. If you had a movie night with Gavin and he was to chose the movie, you could bet your left hand that it would be that one.

“We can discuss this on our way to the precinct, let’s get going, that fucking report won’t write itself.” he grumbled. Gavin just hated reports.

“I have not watched it, no,” Nines responded. Which was a bit of a wonder, considering how fond Gavin was of the film. At the name, many pages popped up in his HUD, but he dismissed them. He didn’t wish to spoil it for himself, not if he could watch it with Gavin instead. 

“You know, you look sooooo much better with that little smile on your face!” Gavin pointed out when he caught a glimpse at Nines face. “I mean, you already have a fucking pretty face but with a smile.. you absolutely stop traffic… or my heart.. or however the saying goes.” he slured and slightly pulled away from the android, now that he didn’t have to bear his own weight anymore, he absolutely let Nines handle keeping him up right. 

Then he squinted at his partner “I’ll hold ya to that, tin-can” he said and he would. Gavin was good at remembering stuff people told him when he was drunk, that’s why friends became careful when they went out drinking with him. That bastard remembered everything.

The car pulled up and they could enter, finally sitting again! Gavin was annoyed at how the world was spinning.

Nines felt the urge to... well, not laugh. He didn’t often laugh. But he was amused, and fond. Gavin was unusually sweet while drunk. 

“I’ll keep that in mind, detective. You needn’t worry, I’ve recorded this entire conversation so we may discuss it in detail later,” he added wryly. That wasn’t fully true; he wouldn’t be playing it back just to embarrass Gavin later, but he would be discussing it.