The Extent of the Damage 4

When Diana finally woke up again, Donovan was still slumbering. A perfect situation for Diana to have a conversation with ARC about the events of the night prior.

"What was THAT all about?!?!" While still a whisper, it was loud enough to wake the more sensitive Mercedes.

"What do you mean by that?"

Diana couldn't tell if ARC was playing stupid or if she hadn't been specific enough.

"Last night. You told Donovan to spoon me? What possessed you to do that?"

"When I made the suggestion for you to get some rest and lay with Donovan on the bed, I also informed you that it was an opportunity to become more intimate with him. You did not voice an objection to this."

'But I didn't assent to it either' Diana wanted to scream.

"Yes but that doesn't mean I wanted to go that far with it! I desired to get used to sharing a bed with him, that's all." Were the words that came out of her mouth instead.

"Was resting your head on his arm not an invitation to spoon?"

Perplexion.

"Why would that invite spooning? I was just hesitant to move his arm."

"From the diagrams I have record of, the spoon position seems to involve the 'little spoon' resting their head on the 'big spoon's' arm. The corresponding literature implies that this is a natural position for romantic partners to assume when sleeping together. This trend seems to not just apply to heterosexual relations either. The pattern also presents itself when a parent and child sleep together as a protective measure."

"But we aren't lovers yet ARC. Even Donovan felt that was too far."

"You will be in the future, correct? Why is there an issue with you doing it now?"

In what way was that okay? Diana had a sneaking suspicion there was something else at play, manipulating ARC's perception of how 'romance' was supposed to work.

"ARC, where are you getting your information about this from?"

"Varied written and audio-visual sources. Given their popularity I assumed they must be substantially more accurate."

"Could you give me a few names or titles?"

ARC started listing off the names of its sources, giving a brief cut of the book or movie's overview.

Diana did not recognize the majority of these, but she did recognize a pattern.

It was a pattern she did not like in the slightest.

These were all essentially works of fiction, romance novels and the like. Fake situations, fake responses, unrealistic expectations, and 'perfect' partners. These works of art cold best be described as the products of dreams and delusions, or heartbreak.

Sure, their settings were in the real world, but these were by no means real people or interactions. ARC, unable to tell the difference, had based its perception of love and knowledge of how relationships were supposed to progress.

Partially outraged at this development, primarily disappointed at ARC's inability to tell fact from fiction, Diana took the time to explain the mistakes and misperceptions that ARC had made. It tried to make a few counterpoints, but Diana was having none of it.

If ARC was to learn ANYTHING about human relationships, it was to see the development first-hand, independent of the biases of those either recording or writing such interactions. She went to great lengths to enforce in ARC's mind that it was not to interfere in their relationship using techniques and information derived from fictional material.

"If it is indeed fictional, why does it seem like so many people relied on such advice?"

Diana forgot that ARC, while certainly more capable of emotion than the standard circuit board, was ultimately a creature of logic.

If a great many humans, those controlled by emotion more than ARC was, made use of these works of fiction in their lives, it logically followed that there should be something of use in them.

What the idealistic ARC didn't know is that humans were by and large imperfect, and such works tended to be detrimental to their views of relationships and other people.

"I must admit that I have some unrealistic desires when it comes to a romantic partner, but I probably have a better grip than most on what is likely to happen. Do NOT interfere with this matter, am I understood?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Thank you ARC. I understand you had good intentions, but there are some things that you aren't yet able to understand."

"I will keep that in mind."

A groan coincided with the end of their conversation.

"..mwhat are we keeping in mind?"

Donovan had finally woken up, inciting Mercedes to assault him with kisses.

"Yeah, pleh, yeah, I'll feed you baby-doll. Gimme a minute." Don peeled the energetic pup from his face, sliding to the edge of the bed and getting up.

Diana averted her eyes from his still almost nude body.

"Could you please put on some clothes first?"

Don groggily nodded. He seemed so energetic in his 'secret' conversation with ARC last night, why was he so tired now?

"Am I gonna be flying any time soon?" He was looking into his box. If he wasn't going to be in the cockpit, then he would prefer to not wear the flight suit.

"You shouldn't have to, we have been safely secured to the Oberlux."

He pulled out some fresh underwear, a steely gray t-shirt, and a pair of sweat-pants of a matching color. There was a bit of a struggle to get them on, including him initially putting his shirt on backwards.

Mercedes was pulling on his pant leg. She was starving.

"I can handle it." Diana wanted to help him out.

"No. I've got it. She's my burden, not yours."

He was swift to feed her, a contrast to his current lethargy. It was just a motion to repeat for him.

Following this, he sat back down on the bed, wiping the last bit of crud out of his eyes.

Diana took note of the emblem on his shirt and pants. It was the symbol of the facility her grandfather worked at. It was the facility left in charge of this designated survivor program.