"What a bloodbath!"

He stood impatiently outside the MRN Medic's office, zipped up in a brown leather blazer. Notably, he'd left his helmet at home. Looks like the doctor had finally reached a trusted enough status in Jane's mental hierarchy that he could bear to make eye contact.

The man rocked on his heels, looking over his shoulder. MRN was a subsidiary of RED, but he still felt as if someone could come around the corner and nail him to the wall with a knife if he wasn't careful.

And he'd heard too many stories about how unpredictable Humboldt's team could be.

@emotionally-clumsy-soldier

[ Everything was. . . A lot. Just a lot. ]

[ Hearing Jane's voice was at least a pleasant surprise; they hadn't talked in some time, so he wasn't hesitant to answer the door to his office. Maybe he was hoping to find a distraction from the actual hell he experienced these past few weeks. ]

[ It was clear the doctor had been put through the wringer. He looked dull and sullen compared to the frantic curiosity and welcoming nature he'd normally have. Was that new grey hair? Either way, he still tried to muster that same energy, if nothing else, to save his friend from worrying too much. ]

"Ehhh... More or less."

He let himself in and sauntered over to the nearest chair, putting a pack of RED branded beer down on top of some probably important paperwork. He didn't mean to be careless, just... Clumsy.

[ The last thing on his mind right now was that paperwork, so he wasn't complaining. He shut the door to the office and headed back over to his swivel chair at his desk. Despite another person joining him, the area felt as empty as it has for the past few days. ]

[ He tried to ignore that, though. ]

"It seems like I've been leaving our base more frequently as of late; outside of work, of course."

"What goes on in Transylvania, huh?"

He means this light-heartedly, but he can only hope to hear Humboldt verbally detest it in order to make ammends for any offense. He's terrible with that sort of thing.

[ Dr. Humboldt rolled his eyes. It'd been long enough that he's learned to take jokes like that easier, but he'll be damned if it wasn't a bad joke. ]

"It's been. . . Less than ideal. I have no room to complain, though."

[ Not in his mind, at least. He did this to himself and was paying the price. ]

"Most of my team is upset with me and the choices I made as of recent. I don't blame them; Even though I took precautions knowing the nature of our jobs, it was-"

[ He was rambling and cut himself off before he got too far along. Jane didn't need to be bothered with this. He should've just said "I've been better" and continued the conversation normally. ]

"Choices you made?"

"I took in a sentient robot some time ago. They named themself 'Clifford.' I found them in one of the old factories."

"They stayed here for a good while; I'd originally planned on finding somewhere else for them to stay, but things got complicated. Of course, I couldn't tell my team, I'm sure you know what we were hired to do regarding robots."

"The only one who found out before this was Juniper, and that was after. . ."

[ He lost his words for a second, his hand idlely reaching up to feel a rather new, large scar on his neck before falling to fiddle with his hair. ]

". . . Some awful things. It wasn't terribly long after that the rest of them found out and that was a rather nasty argument."

[ He paused and took a breath. ]

"It got too much for Clifford, and they ran off. I- I don't know exactly where they went, and with everything going on, I doubt they'd even want to come back here."

"Christ Doc, I-" He seemed to be searching for the words, but couldn't find them quite. So instead he opted to reach over the desk and pat the man's shoulder with his metal palm.

"Soldiers are tough. Wherever Clifford is, he's kicking ass and taking names. I would know."

He wasn't sure if his words were of any consolation, but he meant every word of them. He'd come to know the strength and animosity in reborn bots, come to respect them. And a Soldierbot especially, no matter how timid, could surely hold its own.

"Thank you. For the assurance and for listening."

[ Entschuldigung Sie bitte. Du sollst dir meine Probleme nicht anhören müssen. ]

"I'm not sure about 'kicking ass and taking names,' but they're smart. They'll figure it out."

[ If- no, when Clifford got back, he'd ask Juniper to teach them some of the basics. He had no doubts that she'd jump at the chance of teaching them the basics. ]

". . . What of you, then? You've heard my recent tribulations, it's only fair if I hear you out."

He stood impatiently outside the MRN Medic's office, zipped up in a brown leather blazer. Notably, he'd left his helmet at home. Looks like the doctor had finally reached a trusted enough status in Jane's mental hierarchy that he could bear to make eye contact.

The man rocked on his heels, looking over his shoulder. MRN was a subsidiary of RED, but he still felt as if someone could come around the corner and nail him to the wall with a knife if he wasn't careful.

And he'd heard too many stories about how unpredictable Humboldt's team could be.

@emotionally-clumsy-soldier

[ Everything was. . . A lot. Just a lot. ]

[ Hearing Jane's voice was at least a pleasant surprise; they hadn't talked in some time, so he wasn't hesitant to answer the door to his office. Maybe he was hoping to find a distraction from the actual hell he experienced these past few weeks. ]

[ It was clear the doctor had been put through the wringer. He looked dull and sullen compared to the frantic curiosity and welcoming nature he'd normally have. Was that new grey hair? Either way, he still tried to muster that same energy, if nothing else, to save his friend from worrying too much. ]

"Ehhh... More or less."

He let himself in and sauntered over to the nearest chair, putting a pack of RED branded beer down on top of some probably important paperwork. He didn't mean to be careless, just... Clumsy.

[ The last thing on his mind right now was that paperwork, so he wasn't complaining. He shut the door to the office and headed back over to his swivel chair at his desk. Despite another person joining him, the area felt as empty as it has for the past few days. ]

[ He tried to ignore that, though. ]

"It seems like I've been leaving our base more frequently as of late; outside of work, of course."

"What goes on in Transylvania, huh?"

He means this light-heartedly, but he can only hope to hear Humboldt verbally detest it in order to make ammends for any offense. He's terrible with that sort of thing.

[ Dr. Humboldt rolled his eyes. It'd been long enough that he's learned to take jokes like that easier, but he'll be damned if it wasn't a bad joke. ]

"It's been. . . Less than ideal. I have no room to complain, though."

[ Not in his mind, at least. He did this to himself and was paying the price. ]

"Most of my team is upset with me and the choices I made as of recent. I don't blame them; Even though I took precautions knowing the nature of our jobs, it was-"

[ He was rambling and cut himself off before he got too far along. Jane didn't need to be bothered with this. He should've just said "I've been better" and continued the conversation normally. ]

"Choices you made?"

"I took in a sentient robot some time ago. They named themself 'Clifford.' I found them in one of the old factories."

"They stayed here for a good while; I'd originally planned on finding somewhere else for them to stay, but things got complicated. Of course, I couldn't tell my team, I'm sure you know what we were hired to do regarding robots."

"The only one who found out before this was Juniper, and that was after. . ."

[ He lost his words for a second, his hand idlely reaching up to feel a rather new, large scar on his neck before falling to fiddle with his hair. ]

". . . Some awful things. It wasn't terribly long after that the rest of them found out and that was a rather nasty argument."

[ He paused and took a breath. ]

"It got too much for Clifford, and they ran off. I- I don't know exactly where they went, and with everything going on, I doubt they'd even want to come back here."

He stood impatiently outside the MRN Medic's office, zipped up in a brown leather blazer. Notably, he'd left his helmet at home. Looks like the doctor had finally reached a trusted enough status in Jane's mental hierarchy that he could bear to make eye contact.

The man rocked on his heels, looking over his shoulder. MRN was a subsidiary of RED, but he still felt as if someone could come around the corner and nail him to the wall with a knife if he wasn't careful.

And he'd heard too many stories about how unpredictable Humboldt's team could be.

@emotionally-clumsy-soldier

[ Everything was. . . A lot. Just a lot. ]

[ Hearing Jane's voice was at least a pleasant surprise; they hadn't talked in some time, so he wasn't hesitant to answer the door to his office. Maybe he was hoping to find a distraction from the actual hell he experienced these past few weeks. ]

[ It was clear the doctor had been put through the wringer. He looked dull and sullen compared to the frantic curiosity and welcoming nature he'd normally have. Was that new grey hair? Either way, he still tried to muster that same energy, if nothing else, to save his friend from worrying too much. ]

"Ehhh... More or less."

He let himself in and sauntered over to the nearest chair, putting a pack of RED branded beer down on top of some probably important paperwork. He didn't mean to be careless, just... Clumsy.

[ The last thing on his mind right now was that paperwork, so he wasn't complaining. He shut the door to the office and headed back over to his swivel chair at his desk. Despite another person joining him, the area felt as empty as it has for the past few days. ]

[ He tried to ignore that, though. ]

"It seems like I've been leaving our base more frequently as of late; outside of work, of course."

"What goes on in Transylvania, huh?"

He means this light-heartedly, but he can only hope to hear Humboldt verbally detest it in order to make ammends for any offense. He's terrible with that sort of thing.

[ Dr. Humboldt rolled his eyes. It'd been long enough that he's learned to take jokes like that easier, but he'll be damned if it wasn't a bad joke. ]

"It's been. . . Less than ideal. I have no room to complain, though."

[ Not in his mind, at least. He did this to himself and was paying the price. ]

"Most of my team is upset with me and the choices I made as of recent. I don't blame them; Even though I took precautions knowing the nature of our jobs, it was-"

[ He was rambling and cut himself off before he got too far along. Jane didn't need to be bothered with this. He should've just said "I've been better" and continued the conversation normally. ]

He stood impatiently outside the MRN Medic's office, zipped up in a brown leather blazer. Notably, he'd left his helmet at home. Looks like the doctor had finally reached a trusted enough status in Jane's mental hierarchy that he could bear to make eye contact.

The man rocked on his heels, looking over his shoulder. MRN was a subsidiary of RED, but he still felt as if someone could come around the corner and nail him to the wall with a knife if he wasn't careful.

And he'd heard too many stories about how unpredictable Humboldt's team could be.

@emotionally-clumsy-soldier

[ Everything was. . . A lot. Just a lot. ]

[ Hearing Jane's voice was at least a pleasant surprise; they hadn't talked in some time, so he wasn't hesitant to answer the door to his office. Maybe he was hoping to find a distraction from the actual hell he experienced these past few weeks. ]

[ It was clear the doctor had been put through the wringer. He looked dull and sullen compared to the frantic curiosity and welcoming nature he'd normally have. Was that new grey hair? Either way, he still tried to muster that same energy, if nothing else, to save his friend from worrying too much. ]

"Ehhh... More or less."

He let himself in and sauntered over to the nearest chair, putting a pack of RED branded beer down on top of some probably important paperwork. He didn't mean to be careless, just... Clumsy.

[ The last thing on his mind right now was that paperwork, so he wasn't complaining. He shut the door to the office and headed back over to his swivel chair at his desk. Despite another person joining him, the area felt as empty as it has for the past few days. ]

[ He tried to ignore that, though. ]

"It seems like I've been leaving our base more frequently as of late; outside of work, of course."

They were trying to restore thrown away plushies left on the side of the road, wearing thick rubber gloves as to not let the water get into their circuitry. The one brown fur of the stuffed rabbit they found slowly became paler and paler, becoming more of a silky cream colour you’d find in coffee with extra milk.

They squeezed as much water as they could out of it, deeming that this is as clean as it’s gonna get while they plugged in a hair dryer, pointing it at the stuffed animal at max settings to get the rest of the moisture out. That was until they felt a tap on their shoulder.

“Clifford?”

It was the voice of the doctor they lived with, Humboldt. Clifford turned off the hair dryer and looked behind themself to see where the doctor was.

But he wasn’t even in the same room as them.

Clifford double checked to make sure Humboldt wasn’t there, lifting up their helmet and scanning the room before going back to their hobby.

“Clifford.”

The voice repeated itself, this time its tone was more stern. Clifford flinched and again looked around the room. Nobody there.

“YOU’RE NOT REAL.” Clifford said in an attempt to dismiss the hallucination. Usually saying this helped to ground them in reality, but not today.

“Clifford.”

The voice was now more impatient and agitated, as if hissed through sharp, gritted teeth. The tapping on their shoulder now felt like a tight squeeze, and Clifford’s fans began to turn quicker now.

They didn’t respond. They thought that eventually it would go away on its own if they just ignored-

“CLIFFORD.”

The voice was now a full on yell, making Clifford flinch and nearly drop the hair dryer, which they thankfully caught in the nick of time.

They couldn’t ignore it anymore, they were too shaken up and afraid. Slowly, they turned to the doorway and left the room, making their way through the halls and being careful as to not be seen by any of his coworkers.

Finally, they made it to Humboldt’s office, and asked unprompted;

No, why would I be mad at you? Is everything alright?

[ He knew he'd been busy as of recent, but now he was worried he hadn't checked in with them enough. Had it bothered them that badly? Or was he that unapproachable? ]

[ Such familiar worries from times in the past with his family. But those worries were for another day. ]

Talk to me, what's troubling you?

…I DONT THINK MY SENSORS WORK LIKE THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO

[ Thats been the case since the day they woke up. Hearing and feeling things that weren’t there. Sometimes it was confusing, other times it was irritating, and this time it was scary for them. ]

I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU CALLING MY NAME, AND YOU KEPT GETTING MADDER AND MADDER…

[ They went up to the doctor and gave him a hug, careful as to not squish him with their metallic arms. They were built to carry around rocket launchers with ease, so Clifford was always overly cautious with them. ]

Of course.

[ He was silently hoping that the reassurance was enough to help Clifford's peace of mind. There wasn't much else he could do with full confidence that it would help. ]

They were trying to restore thrown away plushies left on the side of the road, wearing thick rubber gloves as to not let the water get into their circuitry. The one brown fur of the stuffed rabbit they found slowly became paler and paler, becoming more of a silky cream colour you’d find in coffee with extra milk.

They squeezed as much water as they could out of it, deeming that this is as clean as it’s gonna get while they plugged in a hair dryer, pointing it at the stuffed animal at max settings to get the rest of the moisture out. That was until they felt a tap on their shoulder.

“Clifford?”

It was the voice of the doctor they lived with, Humboldt. Clifford turned off the hair dryer and looked behind themself to see where the doctor was.

But he wasn’t even in the same room as them.

Clifford double checked to make sure Humboldt wasn’t there, lifting up their helmet and scanning the room before going back to their hobby.

“Clifford.”

The voice repeated itself, this time its tone was more stern. Clifford flinched and again looked around the room. Nobody there.

“YOU’RE NOT REAL.” Clifford said in an attempt to dismiss the hallucination. Usually saying this helped to ground them in reality, but not today.

“Clifford.”

The voice was now more impatient and agitated, as if hissed through sharp, gritted teeth. The tapping on their shoulder now felt like a tight squeeze, and Clifford’s fans began to turn quicker now.

They didn’t respond. They thought that eventually it would go away on its own if they just ignored-

“CLIFFORD.”

The voice was now a full on yell, making Clifford flinch and nearly drop the hair dryer, which they thankfully caught in the nick of time.

They couldn’t ignore it anymore, they were too shaken up and afraid. Slowly, they turned to the doorway and left the room, making their way through the halls and being careful as to not be seen by any of his coworkers.

Finally, they made it to Humboldt’s office, and asked unprompted;

No, why would I be mad at you? Is everything alright?

[ He knew he'd been busy as of recent, but now he was worried he hadn't checked in with them enough. Had it bothered them that badly? Or was he that unapproachable? ]

[ Such familiar worries from times in the past with his family. But those worries were for another day. ]

Talk to me, what's troubling you?

…I DONT THINK MY SENSORS WORK LIKE THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO

[ Thats been the case since the day they woke up. Hearing and feeling things that weren’t there. Sometimes it was confusing, other times it was irritating, and this time it was scary for them. ]

I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU CALLING MY NAME, AND YOU KEPT GETTING MADDER AND MADDER…

They were trying to restore thrown away plushies left on the side of the road, wearing thick rubber gloves as to not let the water get into their circuitry. The one brown fur of the stuffed rabbit they found slowly became paler and paler, becoming more of a silky cream colour you’d find in coffee with extra milk.

They squeezed as much water as they could out of it, deeming that this is as clean as it’s gonna get while they plugged in a hair dryer, pointing it at the stuffed animal at max settings to get the rest of the moisture out. That was until they felt a tap on their shoulder.

“Clifford?”

It was the voice of the doctor they lived with, Humboldt. Clifford turned off the hair dryer and looked behind themself to see where the doctor was.

But he wasn’t even in the same room as them.

Clifford double checked to make sure Humboldt wasn’t there, lifting up their helmet and scanning the room before going back to their hobby.

“Clifford.”

The voice repeated itself, this time its tone was more stern. Clifford flinched and again looked around the room. Nobody there.

“YOU’RE NOT REAL.” Clifford said in an attempt to dismiss the hallucination. Usually saying this helped to ground them in reality, but not today.

“Clifford.”

The voice was now more impatient and agitated, as if hissed through sharp, gritted teeth. The tapping on their shoulder now felt like a tight squeeze, and Clifford’s fans began to turn quicker now.

They didn’t respond. They thought that eventually it would go away on its own if they just ignored-

“CLIFFORD.”

The voice was now a full on yell, making Clifford flinch and nearly drop the hair dryer, which they thankfully caught in the nick of time.

They couldn’t ignore it anymore, they were too shaken up and afraid. Slowly, they turned to the doorway and left the room, making their way through the halls and being careful as to not be seen by any of his coworkers.

Finally, they made it to Humboldt’s office, and asked unprompted;

No, why would I be mad at you? Is everything alright?

[ He knew he'd been busy as of recent, but now he was worried he hadn't checked in with them enough. Had it bothered them that badly? Or was he that unapproachable? ]

[ Such familiar worries from times in the past with his family. But those worries were for another day. ]

Talk to me, what's troubling you?