#nil.

"... I do not fully understand the purpose of this."

"I know." Vedan sighed, not moving from where he was reclined. His head was resting against one of his hands as he crossed his leg over the other to give the impression he was more relaxed than he was feeling. He was sitting on one of his more comfortable chairs, one of the ones Nil often would complain about being 'inefficient' and 'unnecessary'.

Nil was standing in the doorway of the study, watching Vedan closely with those unnaturally bright blue eyes, intense and focused with that inhuman precision. No doubt she was examining his body language and the state of the room trying to figure out why he called her in.

Fortunately for her, it was more of a bonding experience, or experiment, for the two of them.

Vedan shifted in his seat, sitting up more as he asked in a purposely soft tone, "Do you trust me?"

Silence. He knew the answer to that question already. If Nil didn't trust him, she would never show up when he summoned her, much less be willing to be alone anywhere with him. He heard that faint sharp clicking sound that often accompanied Nil getting nervous or suspicious as she tilted her head.

"Of course I do, Vedan. What is this?"

The Count just smiled, gesturing for her to come closer. Which she did. Vedan could hear the increasing volume of her internal workings, the clicks and whirs speeding up audibly as she went to stand in front of him. He didn't say anything. He was nervous too. This was... New. And he didn't want to frighten the automaton off before he actually did anything.

Holding a hand out invitingly, he uncrossed his legs and waited patiently for her to make the next move. Nil kept her eyes trained on his face, no doubt tracking every moment and expression shift that passed trying to discern his intentions. When she finally took his hand, Vedan carefully pulled her closer before wrapping an arm around her waist and tugging her down to sit on his thigh. A test, keeping his grip loose should she feel the need to react.

Nil held perfectly still, though Vedan swore he heard something make a popping glass sound somewhere inside her chest. He raised an eyebrow, asking in a low voice, "Are you-?"

"Perfectly fine." She interrupted with that calm and even inflection. Nil's expression didn't change, but she did frown as she fixed her gaze on Vedan, repeating her earlier question with a hint of hesitation, "What... Is the purpose of this?"

"Uhm..." Vedan took a moment to formulate a response she wouldn't find odd or be frustrated with, deciding to be as honest as he could with her, "I just... I wanted to be close to you. Closer, at least. It's a thing people do when they're in relationships."

Nil fell silent again. Vedan took the moment to focus on the fact that despite being an entity made entirely of metal, she was oddly light. She was wonderfully designed, too. A near perfect pass for a normal human woman, save for the slight glow to her eyes and the very clear uncanny feeling in the way she carried herself.

She finally made a hum, shifting slightly. Vedan expected her to move away or attempt to get up, but his eyes widened when instead Nil leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder.

Relaxing more, he leaned back against the chair with her, letting her get comfortable. Nil spoke up again, her monotone voice ringing with an air of curiosity, "This is... Affection. I've seen it. With the others. This is what it's like?"

Vedan smiled, moving to tentatively put a hand on her back, "I believe so. The whole physical contact thing isn't so bad, is it?"

"It's disgusting. And I still believe it is a form of weakness." Vedan wasn't sure whether to sigh or roll his eyes. But then Nil's eyes flickered for a moment, and her expression shifted into her pouty frown as he admitted reluctantly, "... Not bad though. This... Vulnerability."

That made him chuckle, asking amused, "So I take it you want to get up then?"

"No." Nil immediately responded, making no move to get up.

Ho boy...

He just shook his head and closed his eyes, listening to the fireplace crackle and the low, now much duller and droning sound of Nil's systems slowing.

... If she shut down here, he was screwed, he wouldn't be able to get up for the rest of the night-