lorelei's inbox

[instructus]

the instructor

AUDIO ✦ VIDEO ✦ TEXT

CODE

Comments

audio, Thursday evening

[selfconcept]

Hey, Miss Instructor. Got a good meal tonight? If you haven't, you wanna have some dinner with me?

[ He doesn't sound like he's flirting... ]

[instructus]

Good evening, Hien. I do, in fact: Instant noodles, and I'll indulge you -- did you want to chat about something?

[selfconcept]

Yeah. I got some topics. I wanted to know what you thought of Florence.

[instructus]

[ ... ]

As in, my overall opinion of them? Or is there something more specific?

[selfconcept]

Yeah.

[ Hien is slightly amused that such a simple question makes it look like Lorelei is on her guard. ]

They're your assistant after all.

[instructus]

Hmmm. Well...

[ She hums pensively. ]

First of all, may I ask what brought this on? I'll answer your question, but if there's a reason, I'd like to know.

[selfconcept]

No, I'm just curious between the relationship between you two. I was wondering if sometimes you chide them like a mother, but back off enough to give them some autonomy.

At least, that was the feeling I got when we talked last time.

[instructus]

Haha, like a mother? Well... I do wish to give them freedom, you're not wrong about that.

[ Her tone sounds a little lighter, unlike anything Hien's heard from her before. ]

While there are certain things I've been having them do for me, when it comes to all of you, those interactions are organic and not the product of me directing them on how to hold conversation.

[selfconcept]

Yeah, I sorta figured. I told them to smile, but they haven't yet. I wonder if they'll get to learn how to do that eventually.

[ AIs are capable of learning, after all... but also, Florence showed him a smile after this conversation. It was amazing to him. ]

Organic interactions are pretty important, huh? ... I like it when you talk like that.

[instructus]

A question for the ages.

[ There's another pause, though. ]

Oh? What makes you say that?

[selfconcept]

I like it when people talk naturally without having to hide and guard constantly. In turn, I'd like to get to know more about you, Miss Instructor.

[instructus]

Alright, sure. I'll bite, perhaps.

What is it that you'd like to know?

[selfconcept]

I wanted to know if you have personal stakes in this.

[instructus]

[ ... ]

In a way, yes, I do. But this is beyond just me, at this point.

[selfconcept]

For some reason, I don't feel like you're having us assist you for the "good of Estelline". Would you be happier if we found a certain person in those Saturday lessons in particular? There seems to be people thanking us after each one.

[instructus]

You're asking if I've lost someone in the process of all of this.

[ A dry laugh. ]

Metaphorically, I suppose I did lose something -- but it certainly wasn't another person. And even if I did, well. I can't say it'd faze me very much at this point in my life.

[selfconcept]

But you're still young, Miss Instructor. Everybody has losses that they care about—they just happen to be people.

[ ... ]

But then again, given all that's happened in Estelline so far, maybe your heart has hardened a little.

[instructus]

...Well. You aren't entirely wrong about that, but as I said, this doesn't involve the loss of another person.

It would make far more sense for me to mourn the person I once was.

[selfconcept]

But would you?

[ Mourn for the person she once was. ]

[instructus]

In a way, I wish I could, but I prefer not to dwell on such things in the end. What's done is done. The only thing anyone can do in this situation is move forward.

...Well. Try to, anyway.

[selfconcept]

Well... I wouldn't say you have to dwell on it, but you can take the time to mourn and then move on. I think that would give a little more closure.

[ He's all for living a fulfilling life. ]

It's admirable to see you working hard for your goals. Though, I wonder... what would you think if I voluntarily gave myself for this course?

[instructus]

...Hm. You have a point, but it's also a question if I have the capacity to do so.

[ She has not touched her ramen at any point in this conversation thus far. ]

Voluntarily signed up for this, you mean? Hmm. Would you approach it any differently?

[selfconcept]

Probably not. I don't really have a home world and I don't have any loved ones that are alive. So, in all honesty, if you asked me to join this course, I'd say yes. If I have nothing to lose, there's only everything to gain.

[ ... ]

Not hungry? I haven't heard any eating sounds on your end.