the scientist;

{Slightly ticked because of the girl’s attitude, she loosened the grip and let her get away. Effy scoffed once again, her blue orbits pierced on hers.}

"Senseless? Now that hurt my feelings. How can you say it like that as if we haven’t been through so much together already?"

( She does not annex distance between herself and her opponent. While it is illogical to engage in a physical dispute, she is entitled to fend for herself. She intends to do just that should the issue arise, but she will not strike first. )

     "'Trying to act all high class superior bullshit' ---- says the ward attempting to enable some public school pecking order as means of maintaining what she doesn't think she's already lost: control. It's a shame your beauty and blind ambition outweighs your capacity for knowledge."

( She doesn't proceed further. She is acutely aware of the fact that this is exactly what Effy wants. The reaction. The negative attention ---- for attention is attention, no matter which form it manifests itself. Well, she's isn't biting. She refuses to bite. )

"It speaks!" 

{She exclaimed before bursting into soft giggles. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Effy licked her bottom lip a bit before carrying on their oh-so-interesting conversation.}

"And not only it speaks, it can also blink. I’m amazed, really. Would be really helpful if you were more witty with what you were saying cause, girl, if that’s considered funny then you should probably work out your sarcasm if not your humor."

( Applying pressure to the thumb of the hand clasped around her wrist, she pries the digits open with one effortless rotation of her arm. She makes no endeavor to caress the liberated area. In lieu, she maintains eye contact, cobalt orbs with unwavering determination. )

     "Are we done here? Or do you have something to add to this senseless conversation?"

Something akin to a subjugated smile cascades across her porcelain features, illuminating her physiognomy despite its lacking quality. A subtle form of acquiescing to his proposal. She hoists herself to a standing position, awaiting his next move.

     "I don't smoke. Smoking is fruitless. However, I do eat."

She unobtrusively gauges his reaction.

[ She folds her arms across her chest, meeting her library companion’s gaze and never looking away. The girl could hold a stare. And Dia doesn’t mind staring into her brown eyes, never wavering her glare. But somehow, Dia feels like her counterpart is staring into her soul with her intense glare. Dia hopes she returns the favor but doubts it. ]

"Human error? You talk like you’re not a human, just like me. I can deal with silence. But being ignored? It’s a pet peeve. [she states. It’s more than a pet peeve. It reminds her of the life she grew up living as a child. ] “Everyone, even you, has weaknesses. Don’t doubt that.”

"That’s the key. Don’t let people know about you. Evasiveness and elusiveness certainly aren’t negative personality aspects, as people think."

( She examines the assumed position of her opponent ---- arms folded resolutely across her chest. Defensiveness. Clearly she's reached some depth. She's beginning to inadvertently emanate inferiority, that much is certain ---- for which Sage cannot be held accountable. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent ---- possibly the most intelligent quote she's ever had the pleasure of encountering. )

     "The word 'ignore' implies that I did nothing to initiate some form of contact, be it physical, emotional, or verbal. We've already established that while it did not exactly suffice, I did make an attempt to communicate with you via social cues. Therefore, you are in error."

( Oculars flit to meet the glower of her coequal. )

I Am Not A Robot  »  Marina And The Diamonds

So maybe stop being a church mouse? [ Dia casually suggested. ] Making friends in here is stupid but would it kill you to speak up a bit? Not ignore people?

[Dia wasn’t personally offended anymore per se, but everyone else that she had met had talked her ear off. This was the first person who was reserved. And Dia found the change of pace very strange. It seemed everyone here was one end of the spectrum or the other. ]

     "To benefit whom? You?"

( She dignifies her supposition with a moment of silence, unnerving gaze never faltering under the scrutiny of her counterpart. She is impervious to most things, but selfishness has the unparalleled ability to staunch the rapid flow of her detachment as if to be profuse bleeding. She resumes her task. )

     "Human error at its finest ---- one feels the need to insert words where they are neither effective, nor necessary. Filling voids in an endeavor to obscure the awkward reality of the situation. So I'm expected to adjust how I comport myself in social situations so as to accommodate you. Selfishness, entitlement, preservation. Weaknesses."

( She doesn't so much as peer over to gauge the reaction of her company simply because she can anticipate her next move. )

( She reorganizes the disarrayed order of a row of novels absentmindedly, calculating optics assessing their condition as she tediously propels them back into their designated order. She withholds her remarks regarding her final retort. A classic example of ignorance ---- one of which Sage refuses to acknowledge. Besides, it's a reaction she's bargaining for ---- and Sage is above such pettiness. It is no secret to anyone with eyes that Sage is disconcertingly attached from her emotions, just as it's no secret to her that people generally deplore this facet to her personality. Human propensity for rejecting what cannot be understood has always perplexed the pragmatic spectator. Frankly, it is an insult to knowledge. )

Oh look, she can speak. You can’t blame me for assuming you didn’t understand. You were just staring at me, giving me a look that made it seem like you didn’t even hear me.

     "Church mice aren't known for their ability to solve complex riddles. I suggest asking someone a little more forthright. After all, they'd be more likely to understand, right?"