Eyes wide, she looks in up genuine surprise, taking careful note of the way Jack asked. Slowly beginning to actually smile, Veda looks less nervous, shoulders relaxing. “I… yes, that is one term for it.”
Even if many people she’d spoken to over the past few months had repeatedly chosen to not use it when it came to her, at one point it had been true. “In… in some ways, not in others.” she hurries to explain, words somewhat rushed. “I have not been ‘normal’,” In any sense that she could be, “for several months.”
Jack’s eyes widened more and more as he listened. So, she was a robot – or automaton, or android, or whatever the proper term was. But apparently she was completely self-aware? And yet not ‘normal’? Clearly, there was a long story behind all of this.
“W-would you like to sit down?” He beckoned toward the sofa. “You could tell me more about it.”
Sit down. The offer itself has her staring at Jack wide-eyed. So he was still allowing her to stay. That was certainly unexpected.
Veda finally nods, surprise still on her face. “That would… yes, that would be easiest.” Easier to do than having to explain she didn’t need to, wouldn’t get tired standing, at least for now. Still nervous, she stays put, waiting for the go-ahead.
Jack waited expectantly for a moment, before he realized that Veda didn’t seem to have grasped the concept. “Well, okay, sit down then.” He took a seat in the armchair himself, and gestured to the couch again. “If you p-please?” He hated how much he was stuttering in his nervousness, but at least Veda hadn’t said anything about it.
Jack Maple 