I like a few things about a lot of people. People are fascinating and I love them, it's part of why I work here.
[Iggy snorts.]
I really did. Those, admittedly, are a valid reason for employment. I'm gonna have such a good scrub before I go home. I've earned it - I had a guy with the nastiest toenails I've ever seen in my life. So distracting.
[Takeshi gives him an I just got comfortable look, which goes completely against how fluidly he'd sunk into the seat in the first place. Probably why he doesn't go so far as to voice it, just puts his glass down and stands.]
Loving people is a better reason to end up in this line of work than most I've met.
[It's a pebble skimmed over the surface of a very deep, dark pond. Curious to see if Iggy's aware of how deep. How dark. Or if he'd prefer not to look at it at all.]
[Iggy shrugs and moves to measure Takeshi's chest.]
Well. I was created to help people.
[Stated like it's a fact, not an opinion. He studies Takeshi's eyes.]
I don't believe for one second that you do this just for the baths. And I know you probably don't do it for the same reasons I do. I'm dumb, but I'm not that stupid. But I think whatever reasons you do have should be respected and I'm not gonna judge you for them.
I'm also perfectly aware of how and why a lot of people wind up here unplanned.
[He measures his waist, then his hips. Every measurement he jots down quickly on a scrap of paper with a pencil.]
I did a version of this back home. I've seen it. Desperate people backed into corners. Addictions. Stuff that I'm pretty sure was even worse. Stuff that happens when you can't get legal protection.
[Another shrug, and he steps back. He smiles.]
There! So I can buy us some cute outfits. Get all the sweet tips.
You're not dumb or stupid, Iggy. [Sincere. Something a touch apologetic in the tone, for having implied it. For not telling Iggy the truth of why he here's. Not telling him much at all.] The world I'm from has a disease. It's rotten. You don't want to hear about it.
[Melodramatic, he can almost hear Quell saying. She doesn't sound like she disagrees with him.
He turns to reclaim his seat. Take a deep sip of his drink.]
"Created." That literal, or just a turn of phrase?
[Is all he says to that. No conceding to tell Iggy anything, just agreement. Takeshi's lived with other people's judgement for as long as he can remember, and it's never stopped him doing anything. He doesn't want to hear any of his bullshit himself, is all. Dredge it up here, when he could instead pretend he could leave it behind.]
AI don't bother pretending to be human, and people in synthetic bodies usually chose them for the mods. [He gestures with his glass.] They're the closest to "robot" I know of, and you're definitely not either.
Yeah, definitely. I doubt my family would approve. But I dunno, I think it counts.
People get lonely, you know? I can take that away for a while, and give them someone non judgemental to talk to. And here, well, we provide a way for people to stay safe if they're not comfortable fucking people they know or whatever.
[And there's another string, direct to John himself this time. Takeshi chews on the idea of giving some kind of warning, but decides against it. Decides against giving any advice on friendship, either.]
Just don't get too busy helping other people to help yourself.
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[Iggy snorts.]
I really did. Those, admittedly, are a valid reason for employment. I'm gonna have such a good scrub before I go home. I've earned it - I had a guy with the nastiest toenails I've ever seen in my life. So distracting.
[Iggy sets his drink aside and claps his hands.]
Okay! Let me measure you, you ginormous hottie.
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Loving people is a better reason to end up in this line of work than most I've met.
[It's a pebble skimmed over the surface of a very deep, dark pond. Curious to see if Iggy's aware of how deep. How dark. Or if he'd prefer not to look at it at all.]
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Well. I was created to help people.
[Stated like it's a fact, not an opinion. He studies Takeshi's eyes.]
I don't believe for one second that you do this just for the baths. And I know you probably don't do it for the same reasons I do. I'm dumb, but I'm not that stupid. But I think whatever reasons you do have should be respected and I'm not gonna judge you for them.
I'm also perfectly aware of how and why a lot of people wind up here unplanned.
[He measures his waist, then his hips. Every measurement he jots down quickly on a scrap of paper with a pencil.]
I did a version of this back home. I've seen it. Desperate people backed into corners. Addictions. Stuff that I'm pretty sure was even worse. Stuff that happens when you can't get legal protection.
[Another shrug, and he steps back. He smiles.]
There! So I can buy us some cute outfits. Get all the sweet tips.
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[Melodramatic, he can almost hear Quell saying. She doesn't sound like she disagrees with him.
He turns to reclaim his seat. Take a deep sip of his drink.]
"Created." That literal, or just a turn of phrase?
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I'm a little dumb. It's okay.
...you can tell me. I won't look at you any differently or anything.
[Iggy rolls up his tape measure.]
Turn of phrase, I guess. Like I'm not a robot secretly, although wouldn't that be kind of funny? Like if I just never told anyone.
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[Is all he says to that. No conceding to tell Iggy anything, just agreement. Takeshi's lived with other people's judgement for as long as he can remember, and it's never stopped him doing anything. He doesn't want to hear any of his bullshit himself, is all. Dredge it up here, when he could instead pretend he could leave it behind.]
AI don't bother pretending to be human, and people in synthetic bodies usually chose them for the mods. [He gestures with his glass.] They're the closest to "robot" I know of, and you're definitely not either.
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I guess 'created' is a weird word to use. I was raised religious, so when we would say it we meant like... God had a plan for you, is all.
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So His plan for you was to help people.
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Yeah, exactly. [He smiles.] So! I do. It helps that I enjoy it.
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I think there's people that'd argue your interpretation.
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Yeah, definitely. I doubt my family would approve. But I dunno, I think it counts.
People get lonely, you know? I can take that away for a while, and give them someone non judgemental to talk to. And here, well, we provide a way for people to stay safe if they're not comfortable fucking people they know or whatever.
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Well. I have friends. I mean, you're listening to me right now!
And I have John, and Ianthe. They listen to me.
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Just don't get too busy helping other people to help yourself.
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Okay! Got your measurements, I can hand these over. We're gonna look so hot. Matching outfits! It's epic.
[He goes in for the cheek kiss.]
You look after yourself, too. Hydrate. With water, not vodka.
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I'll half and half.