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[obeir]

KD6-3.7
3313 Creampuff Way


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[obeir]

[ Nightmares aren't a new phenomenon and at least he knows how to handle them. With how much he's been forced to repress in his short life, it isn't surprising when something haunts his subconscious mind like this. And as long as he doesn't have to submit to any baseline tests again... ]

Short of having Zephyr remove the memories, keep facing them, I guess. [ Because obviously Royce shouldn't just give into the fear and give up hunting altogether. ] I know you don't want anybody with you, but I'd like to be. At least once. See how it goes. [ If it doesn't actually help Royce or if his presence makes everything worse, that'll be that. K won't ask to accompany him hunting again. Leaning back, he keeps his eyes down as he eats but his smile will probably give him away. ]

You said being distracted from it helps. What kind of distractions? [ Aside from piano lessons, of course. And it isn't just meant as teasing. ]

[bywolves]

[ Deep breath, and then: ] Okay.

I'll probably be okay during the hunting itself. It's the after that bothers me the most. [ Royce says, drumming his fingers against the glass. That's acceptance - that he's okay with K accompanying him. Maybe having someone there will mean he won't even have the problem at all. But he hears K's smile in his voice, and glances up, smiling despite himself. ]

As far distractions go, anything. [ A pause. ] Talking about something entirely different tends to focus me while I'm panicking. [ He takes another sip. ] Films work too, but not in the moment, obviously.

[obeir]

[ Acceptance. It's a good feeling, being allowed to help. And if it turns out being there to talk Royce out of the panic does work, K will make an effort to be there every time he's skinning, if permitted. For as long as needed. ]

I'll keep that in mind. [ Including the films idea. He's only ever watched them with Connor and sometimes Joi — maybe they could all watch something together. Preferably something where the robots aren't the villains, which is such a common trope in Earth-based media it's hard to escape. ] When are you next planning on hunting?

[bywolves]

[ He thinks about it, tilting his head back. ]

Soon. A few days from now. I'll... I'll send you a message. Or I'll have Lady bring it to you. [ Yes, he's trained his cat to deliver messages. ]

[obeir]

[ You can't just drop something like that and not expect questions, Royce. ]

You trained your cat to deliver mail? [ He sounds amused, glancing up. ] You trained a cat. [ Something that, to his understanding, is nigh impossible with how independent and willful cats are. They can't be made to do anything they don't want to. ] Are you sure she isn't a shapeshifter?

[bywolves]

No, I'm not entirely sure. [ Royce says, amused. ] She's smart, and she seems to listen to me, like Bear does. Maybe it's the magic.

And I've only tested it once. She brought a note to Alfie, but who knows if she'll do it again. She's a cat.

[obeir]

[ The thought makes K smile. Not teasing now, but something softer. Royce is a bit like a cat himself, he thinks, that's probably why Lady listens to him. ]

I'll keep an eye out for her. I hope I'm allowed to give her a treat for her services. [ Forgoing the water for now, he sips from his glass of wine. ] Should I bring anything? For the hunting. [ He doesn't mean a weapon. More checking if Royce anticipates needing anything, like maybe something to get cleaned up with. Which K intends to bring regardless of his answer — to clean any blood off Royce's hands. ]

[bywolves]

You are. She's spoiled for just about everything else. [ Royce hums. He takes another sip of his wine. ]

And... I don't know. Just yourself is fine. I have what I need to hunt, and all the tools to - to do the rest are at the butchery.

[obeir]

I can do that. [ It's said almost to himself as he finishes the food while he considers things. Then he speaks up. ] The films, too, if you'd like to sometime. [ Maybe not the Lord of the Rings if that's something special that Royce and Alfie share, but there's plenty of other choices. Including ones K could wish for from his own homeworld.

Getting up, he returns the stack of sheet music to the back of his piano and lingers there for a moment, before taking a seat to play something. Sometimes inspiration just strikes. ]

[bywolves]

Mm. I would.

[ He goes quiet for a little bit just to listen, because piano, if nothing else, soothes him. He's not sure why, but there's something about the sound of a real piano being played that has him sitting back and closing his eyes.

When K is finished, Royce doesn't open his eyes, but he speaks up. ]

That also works. [ Sniff. ] The music. It helps, too.

[obeir]

[ K looks up when Royce speaks again, and the sight of him finally looking more relaxed — and not fidgeting with his hands — kindles an unexpected warmth in his chest. Despite all he's been told about androids being incapable of genuine empathy, genuine anything, it still feels real enough in moments like this.

Music, though. That's easy to provide, and something he enjoys doing. ]

You should come by more often. [ He says after a time, in the lull between the end of the last song and the beginning of the next. ] Whenever you want company. Even if you don't. Just sit and listen and not talk, if that's what you need. [ Even though K spends several hours a day playing piano at the Phone Tap, he frequently plays it whenever he's home as well — and knows how to appreciate a good comfortable silence. Connor's also usually around, and maybe his endless inquisitiveness could be a good distraction, too. ]

[bywolves]

[ He listens, and it eases him up the rest of the way. And when K speaks up, Royce offers him a little smile. ]

Yeah. I will. [ He doesn't think he needs an excuse to come listen to piano. ] Maybe I'll come by and read. If you don't mind.

Thanks, K.

wrap here if you want!

[obeir]

Of course I don't mind. [ Being a nice place to curl up with a book or play the piano seem to have been the main inspirations for K's Meadous home, after all. He hadn't exactly had many other preferences or hobbies for Zephyr to draw from.

Possibly getting some book recommendations from Royce is also something to look forward to.

Since he seems content to listen, and K's happy to continue playing, he does so, weaving in more than a few of the Lord of the Rings songs for Royce's benefit. Knowing how they sound on piano may make learning them easier in the future. ]