[It's somehow, simultaneously, the best and worst news he could've gotten. Great! He's loved and his presence is missed, just like it ought to be! But also, jesus fucking christ, did they actually...care? About him? Sure, the pickings are slim, but that seems like a poor choice.
Ami nudges again, more insistently, and there's a brief moment where he forgets himself. Where he is. Because he looks and snaps on instinct:] Caboose!
[...but it's just a confused and mildly alarmed tiger-plant. Wash is out of armor, looking as tired as he always sounded, looking like David. His friends missed him and then replaced him with a crazier version of himself. He's a dead AI. All of them are dead. There's nothing left of Alpha.
There's nothing left of himself.
Embarrassed, he looks back at Wash. Doesn't acknowledge the mistake. Just a slip. Wash has had plenty of those, hasn't he? Wash who won't die, can't die.]
That's a lie. [It's not. He knows he's not. Easier, though, to make the accusation, angry, make it angry.] I'm--I'm the asshole, I'm Blood Gulch's Next Top Asshole, I'm--I'm detestable, I just yelled at everyone, and sure, I'm important, but not, like...not like that, right? [Alpha was the incident that led to everything where it was. More than important.] What about you?
no subject
Ami nudges again, more insistently, and there's a brief moment where he forgets himself. Where he is. Because he looks and snaps on instinct:] Caboose!
[...but it's just a confused and mildly alarmed tiger-plant. Wash is out of armor, looking as tired as he always sounded, looking like David. His friends missed him and then replaced him with a crazier version of himself. He's a dead AI. All of them are dead. There's nothing left of Alpha.
There's nothing left of himself.
Embarrassed, he looks back at Wash. Doesn't acknowledge the mistake. Just a slip. Wash has had plenty of those, hasn't he? Wash who won't die, can't die.]
That's a lie. [It's not. He knows he's not. Easier, though, to make the accusation, angry, make it angry.] I'm--I'm the asshole, I'm Blood Gulch's Next Top Asshole, I'm--I'm detestable, I just yelled at everyone, and sure, I'm important, but not, like...not like that, right? [Alpha was the incident that led to everything where it was. More than important.] What about you?