[ That was probably insensitive, so he catches himself by holding out his hand in return. His fingers find the joints and he gives a soft little gasp. ]
[Oh, it's pretty insensitive, but Zenyatta has heard worse from people without the excuse of ignorance that this man quite clearly has. He simply takes his other hand too and pulls him, unperturbed, into the crowd of dancers.]
In my world we are referred to as omnics- but you can think of me as a robot controlled by a fully sentient AI.
[Though it's not a bad suggestion, so points for trying.]
[ He'll feel bad eventually; what matters now is this is a sentient AI. These don't really exist in this sense when and where he was from. So this? Was a special event, a unique and fantastically fascinating experience! He gently puts his other hand on the "omnic"'s shoulder. ]
Zenyatta. I'm Hal, Zenyatta. It's... it's really nice to meet you. Things -- no. People like you don't exist where I'm from. Not exactly. I'll stop being rude, now. Just excited!
[ His eyes kept on sparkling, blue and wide. Behind them was a brain going non-stop with questions and inquiries and desire to know and ask and dissect and examine. But this is a sentient AI, and shouldn't be treated like an object. Just like people aren't objects. ]
[That little verbal adjustment is a welcome surprise, and the more dramatically Hal fails to contain his own excitement the more charmed Zenyatta finds himself.]
You are not the first to say as much, my friend! And you need not concern yourself with manners- even in my world there are some who are not so enlightened as you already are.
[And they have far fewer excuses for their ignorance than Hal does. With one hand on his shoulder, though, he busies himself with the task of getting Hal to actual dance: first one step, then another, trying to lead him with a sway.]
I am sure there is plenty in your world that I would marvel at in turn.
[ It's going to be an uphill battle to get him to pay attention to something he is complete garbage at (dance, or any kind of athletic-type skill), so keep trying, friend. ]
Oh... maybe? Haven't done anything like this before, so the bar's set really high.
[ He immediately flushes a rosy pink. Why is this a feature on the AI? Who did this? People do flirt with their AI home assistants and they don't even have bodies, so, maybe the soft voice really works for people? He fumbles, awkward, freezing up. ]
T-thank... you? I'm blind without my glasses, i-it's a problem. I have to get more contacts for the next moon phase, I can't wear glasses with rabbit ears --
[Zenyatta's intention was not to flirt, but, though the realisation of just how his well-meaning compliment could be taken comes the moment Hal turns pink, he cannot bring himself to feel guilty. It's just too funny, in a charming, hopeless sort of way.]
Ah, so you have been touched by Iris! I can see the resemblance already. [That worried expression, and the nervous tick of muscle beneath his palms as he guides Hal too and fro; it is irresistibly rabbitlike.] I had never thought of the practicality of certain transformations, I must admit- are they lop-ears, or erect?
[Teasing or not, Hal gives him a straight answer, and Zenyatta sets aside whatever good-natured nudge to which he might have been subjected once more and answers earnestly in turn with a nod of his head.]
Ah, yes. In comparison with a wolf or a snake, a rabbit is hardly a threat- although even the gentlest of souls can give way to steel, when pushed.
[It makes him wonder about his own future: about what, if anything, the moons will make of his metal body. Predation is hardly in his nature, but...]
I have optic units placed here- [a quick gesture to his eye slits, which he turns seamlessly into something more dancerly]- that operate in much the same way as human eyes. I have heard that humans with similar cybernetic implants claim the similarity is really quite uncanny, but for a few differences.
[Most humans don't have a HUD.]
I would ask if you would consider them yourself, but your glasses rather suit you!
[ He's mostly transfixed with watching this unique, fluid and oddly lovely automaton dance; it's just so foreign and strange, but Zenyatta approached him. Maybe he shouldn't be such a garbage partner. With that, he takes the omnic around the waist, fingers holding him firmly and dips him. He was expecting Zenyatta to be heavier, but luckily he's not, and Hal's weak nerd arms can hold him just fine. ]
I was told I look more handsome without them.
[ This is the smoothest thing he's done in his entire life. ]
[Maybe so, but he pulls it off like a seasoned Casanova. One moment Zenyatta is upright; the next he half-expects an orchestra to swell around them as he is leaned back like Thespion in a Hollywood romance. The lights of his array flicker back up into Hal's face, as close to flustering as he can hope to express.]
O-oh! [His voice flutters for a moment, too, before he laughs.] Then perhaps it is for the best that they remain on, Hal. You are deadly enough without the handicap.
[It's obvious he's joking- but that doesn't stop him from clinging a little more closely after he's righted again, almost body to body until they part for the next step.]
[ That expended his entire Ultimate ability right there, and now he's kind of embarrassed he did that right away; yet there is some pride and amusement in playing with a robot like this. A little taste of a future he may get to see. ]
[Hopefully Zenyatta's own high spirits will keep Hal bouyant through his embarrassment; only their fingertips touch now, but he doesn't look away for a single moment.]
Not in so many words, no. [He hums knowingly.] We all have our own charms. Do you subject everyone you meet to yours, or just those you find scientifically fascinating?
[ Okay, now he's paralyzed by what's going on. He can only maintain Not Being Shy for so long. On top of that, it's a fascinating being, one he's already trying to observe every movement of. The voice is very soothing and lovely, even under the synth layer.
Wow. Who made this? Did they not want a more human-looking shell? He blinks, his cheeks going pink. ]
I don't... have charms... everyone just kinda ignored me? I'm getting better though.
[ Honestly, he was likely anthropomorphizing the omnic too much at this point. It -- he -- was likely programmed to respond like this. Make the human like them via compliments. ]
Women seem to like me just fine, though. Stable job, smart, mild mannered...
[Thus ends Hal's short but effective run as a charmer, seemingly, because the next thing to come out of his mouth is a faltering, almost apologetic denial. That is fine. Zenyatta would much rather it came naturally to him than that he force it and make himself all the more uncomfortable.
Which means it is time for Zenyatta to take the lead, so to speak.]
Modesty is a virtue, but you must think more kindly of yourself.
[He pulls Hal gently against him, chest to chest, and moves against him; his hands urge him to follow, feet through hips, through shoulders, in sinuous curves.]
You are handsome, and friendly, and you are evidently light on your feet. I cannot see why only women should like you.
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[ That was probably insensitive, so he catches himself by holding out his hand in return. His fingers find the joints and he gives a soft little gasp. ]
Wow... are you a cyborg?
[ No you dumbass that's not any more polite! ]
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In my world we are referred to as omnics- but you can think of me as a robot controlled by a fully sentient AI.
[Though it's not a bad suggestion, so points for trying.]
You may call me Zenyatta.
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Zenyatta. I'm Hal, Zenyatta. It's... it's really nice to meet you. Things -- no. People like you don't exist where I'm from. Not exactly. I'll stop being rude, now. Just excited!
[ His eyes kept on sparkling, blue and wide. Behind them was a brain going non-stop with questions and inquiries and desire to know and ask and dissect and examine. But this is a sentient AI, and shouldn't be treated like an object. Just like people aren't objects. ]
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You are not the first to say as much, my friend! And you need not concern yourself with manners- even in my world there are some who are not so enlightened as you already are.
[And they have far fewer excuses for their ignorance than Hal does. With one hand on his shoulder, though, he busies himself with the task of getting Hal to actual dance: first one step, then another, trying to lead him with a sway.]
I am sure there is plenty in your world that I would marvel at in turn.
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Oh... maybe? Haven't done anything like this before, so the bar's set really high.
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Nonsense. There is something extraordinary in everyone's lives, no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem to them.
[He turns, slower than usual for Hal's benefit, then curls back in closer than he possibly needs to.]
For instance! You have the most wonderful eyes, Hal!
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T-thank... you? I'm blind without my glasses, i-it's a problem. I have to get more contacts for the next moon phase, I can't wear glasses with rabbit ears --
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Ah, so you have been touched by Iris! I can see the resemblance already. [That worried expression, and the nervous tick of muscle beneath his palms as he guides Hal too and fro; it is irresistibly rabbitlike.] I had never thought of the practicality of certain transformations, I must admit- are they lop-ears, or erect?
[He's teasing just a little bit.]
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[ Because there's a lot of dangerous people in the world, and likely, here. And people act out when under the influence. ]
Do you... see, like via optical units, or is it more like scanning?
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Ah, yes. In comparison with a wolf or a snake, a rabbit is hardly a threat- although even the gentlest of souls can give way to steel, when pushed.
[It makes him wonder about his own future: about what, if anything, the moons will make of his metal body. Predation is hardly in his nature, but...]
I have optic units placed here- [a quick gesture to his eye slits, which he turns seamlessly into something more dancerly]- that operate in much the same way as human eyes. I have heard that humans with similar cybernetic implants claim the similarity is really quite uncanny, but for a few differences.
[Most humans don't have a HUD.]
I would ask if you would consider them yourself, but your glasses rather suit you!
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I was told I look more handsome without them.
[ This is the smoothest thing he's done in his entire life. ]
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O-oh! [His voice flutters for a moment, too, before he laughs.] Then perhaps it is for the best that they remain on, Hal. You are deadly enough without the handicap.
[It's obvious he's joking- but that doesn't stop him from clinging a little more closely after he's righted again, almost body to body until they part for the next step.]
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Do you say that to everyone?
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Not in so many words, no. [He hums knowingly.] We all have our own charms. Do you subject everyone you meet to yours, or just those you find scientifically fascinating?
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Wow. Who made this? Did they not want a more human-looking shell? He blinks, his cheeks going pink. ]
I don't... have charms... everyone just kinda ignored me? I'm getting better though.
[ Honestly, he was likely anthropomorphizing the omnic too much at this point. It -- he -- was likely programmed to respond like this. Make the human like them via compliments. ]
Women seem to like me just fine, though. Stable job, smart, mild mannered...
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Which means it is time for Zenyatta to take the lead, so to speak.]
Modesty is a virtue, but you must think more kindly of yourself.
[He pulls Hal gently against him, chest to chest, and moves against him; his hands urge him to follow, feet through hips, through shoulders, in sinuous curves.]
You are handsome, and friendly, and you are evidently light on your feet. I cannot see why only women should like you.
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And here I was enchanted with you.