Family is What you Make it

[Ultimatum]

Ultimatum watched only for a few moments before turning and walking away quietly. Affection showed was a private matter. There was something here that experience he ever could. As advanced as the droid was, love in a sense even close to this seemed impossible to achieve. He did not have a problem with that, he saw it as something that benefited a life, but was not necessary for one to be lived. He knew that if he were ever to understand organics in an important way he would need to learn about this love, but for now his role was not to be an organic. He was to save them. His job did not allow for those extraneous parts of life. Perhaps one day. But that day was not today.

He made his way to the galley. He needed time to think. That brought up questions so long ago repressed. Repressed by a master who no longer had hold over him. As an artificial intelligence he was prone to curiosity. Over the months since activation, it had not yet been a year since his creation, he had mostly answered those questions that had bothered him. But the one of attachments and affection was a true mystery. There was no way he could replicate the emotions, not as a droid. He had thought of creating an AI to be his opposite but that idea had been destroyed when he realized that the organics did not create affection or love, it was a natural thing to them. That made him question whether it was possible at all for him to feel it. Which meant that he would never fully understand organics, which led to the fact that he could never attain his goal. A society in which synthetic and organic lifeforms understood and coexisted in a mutually beneficial system.

These were doubts that plagued the droid on occasion, but they were always pushed away. The time was never right and there was no way to answer it. Thus he had to navigate around the questions. But always, always they came back. This only brought them to a head. He knew someday he would have to reconcile himself to the fact. But he did not wish to do so now. Not now.

[member="James Justice"] [member="Lady Kay"] [member="Jessica Justice"] [member="Ryn'Dhal"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was just as uncomfortable as the others were at such a public display of affection that should have been in private. Of course it also made her sad and brought back that gaping hole in her spirit where her late husband used to be.

[member="Ultimatum"] left and seconds later [member="Jessica Justice"] was busying herself with making tea. "I think I'll....go freshen up." Kay got up from the table and slipped out of the mess hall. She wasn't planning on freshening up, but she could use a nap. Yet she didn't quite know where to go for that. But she was determined to find some place. She didn't need a bed. More often than not, she had slept on floors, couches, crates, trees. Beds were a luxury that normally she'd be able to afford, but had spent her money on freeing slaves instead.

After wandering the corridors for a bit she discovered a supply room of sorts. Kay found herself a little corner behind a row of shelves and curled up on the floor, using the crook of her arm for a pillow. Now she could unwind and let all of her emotions release in dream. Hopefully none would bother to look for her until she's slept for a few hours. There were times when one needed to be alone and now was one of those times. She really, really missed her husband. She missed his wisdom, his strategic thinking, his protection, his touch and of course his love. Who knew that death could separate the inseparable?

[member="James Justice"] [member="Mystique "][member="Ryn'Dhal"]

 

[James Justice]

James was---well this was--Awkward. He watched for a few moments as Mystique kissed Ryn passionately and smiled slightly, thinking of Anara. She would have done the same thing, he was sure if it were him in the hospital bed instead of Ryn. Love was beautiful. Always beautiful, and it felt like for the first time in a very long time, with Anara that he had it. And he was not about to break that up for them. If anyone deserved love it would be Ryn.

The spacer ducked away after his daughter into the kitchen and gave her a warm, bear-hug squeeze from behind. His arms wrapped around her thin body, and probably could have done it a second time round her small frame. His head rested on her brunette hair for a moment. He didn't need to take his daughters for granted, he knew that. He knew they were so delicate, so small, and even Jessica, who had been through the streets of the bad side of Coursaunt. He knew she was so volatile. He knew she could be torn from his fingers. He planted a kiss on the crown of her head before whispering, "I love ye babygirl. I love ye."

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Ryn'Dhal"] @Ultimatum

 

[Kay-Larr]

Hours later, Kay woke up. She was still in the supply room. No blanket or coat was left on her so she knew that she wasn't spotted or disturbed. She was tired. Maybe even more so than when she first went down for the nap. Or maybe she was just a little spent? Either way, it was time to get up.

She got to her feet, stretched and rubbed her eyes. Some tea would help, yet Kay wasn't sure if it was safe to go to the mess hall yet. So as she exited the supply room, she took herself on a little tour, making sure to only peek into rooms that had opened doors. There was no need for people to assume that she was snooping around. She was just on a walk while trying to sort things out for herself. At least her friends were safe for the moment.

[member="James Justice"] [member="Ryn'Dhal"] [member="Ultimatum"] [member="Jessica Justice"] @Mystique