milliways_bar | (no subject)

"You're not Sime." Suzi says with a shrug. All things considered it's an impressive shrug, "I was born to do this. Literally - I have a biologic imperative to deal with nagers as part of the biologic imperative of a Channel."

"Biological imperative?" He shakes his head. "Yeah, like, totally not my field, babe. ...I'm Xigbar," he adds after a moment.

"Pleased to meet you." Suzi doesn't offer her hand, but does offer a chipper wave. It involves her hand and several tentacles. "I'm a symbiont. My other half is around somewhere - he's a six foot tall blind Gen. Looks like a baseline human. Most of the things I can do involve being a better partner to Gens."

Which... also makes no sense to Xigbar.

"Biological symbiont?" he asks.

"Take Whistler away from me for a month and you have a dead Suzi." Suzi says with a shrug, "I literally can't survive without him. He could live without me, but he'd start getting sick and it would shorten his life by about a decade."

"Harsh babe. Way harsh," Xigbar says. "So, like, are you married or something? Or is it just a symbiosis of survival?"

"Oh, I have no intention of ever having children. He feels the same because his blindness is genetic." Suzi says without batting an eye, "But we've settled into a monogamous relationship with full intention of having sex as often as possible until we die."

"...He's a lucky dude, babe," Xigbar replies. "Oh well, it's not like it'd do me any good if you weren't monogamous right now."

"No, not really." Suzi agrees, shaking her head, "You don't have the biology for it. But, um. If I weren't and if you did I'd certainly be willing?"

Cold comfort, but whatever. He looks like he could use the cheering up.

Yes, she knows that he can't feel it.

Still.

"That's totally awesome of you, babe."

But why are all the hot ones married or monogamous?

Because your life sucks, Xigbar. Because your life sucks. At least she isn't objecting to babe?

"Anyway. Have you been here long?"

"Nah. Couple months, I think, by the calendar inside," he replies.

"During the time I was gone, then." Suzi says firmly, "We had a weird time thing happen. Are you also looking for a heart? If you need someone to help just let me know...I've got a good one."

She knows this. She's a channel. It comes with the territory.

"Thanks, babe," he replies. "I don't need help anymore - got this other hot babe hooking me up - but there are like, some other who could probably still use the help."

"Just let me know." Suzi says, very firmly, "I quite literally need to help people or I go crazy. How many of you are there now?"

"Including me and VIII?" Xigbar asks. "Total of seven. Half of those still don't have a way to a heart."

"I'll see what I can do." Suzi says, in the tone of voice of someone who knows that if she doesn't have the answers, she knows people who do. "Complete biologic overhaul, or just the other bit?"

"Mostly, just the heart and the biology to support it," Xigbar says. "On, like, the physical level. None of that's any good without the metaphysical side though, the bit that makes people, like, people, you know?"

"Believe me." Suzi says, grinning her million-watt grin, "I know. I'll put the word out and see what comes back."

"Thanks babe. You're awesome."

Suzi looks at him blankly and says, "No I'm not. I'm just a normal Sime."

"No, babe, seriously. You're awesome," Xigbar retorts.

"No, um...what's the male equivalent of babe? Anyway. I'm not. I'm Sime. I'm a good Sime, but I'm just Sime."

"Uh, 'dude' generally covers it," Xigbar replies. "So, like. You're saying there are more like you out there."

"Half of the people at home are Sime, one in twenty Sime is a channel." Suzi says with a nod, "So approximately one in forty adults. You don't find out your lairity until puberty."