[IC] Fateful Convergence

[Vocalia]

"Night night, Isaac," Hayley whispered back. "I love you too. I hope you have a decent rest tonight." She began to feel herself fading in his embrace and she didn't bother fighting back against the sleepiness that soon took over her. Alexis took her chance and went on her way. Detaching herself from Hayley, she slowly slipped into Isaac's mental realm where Vincent resided. Assuming his "ideal woman" shape, Alexis began to look for the psychopathic man, still in the nude.

[Daxam]

The realm of Isaac's mind was a large, open field, the only thing visible for miles around being a very distant mountain range. Vincent was standing in the middle of the open field, looking up at what appeared to be a floating screen, upon which images of his counterpart and his ex-girlfriend were playing. "The only time I've ever seen him this happy," he says without turning to Alexis, "is when he's with Hayley. In the time before he met Sarah, then after he lost his memory before meeting Hayley, he withdrew from everything. It's nice to see him coming out of his shell."

[Vocalia]

The being of darkness said nothing even as she approached Vincent and gazed into the images playing on the screen. "Human emotion is a fickle thing, unstable and irrational at its natural state," Alexis replied. "I have only acquired the knowledge of sadness and I have only learned a small part of how humans feel, act, and think. It is a highly irrational response, this sadness. Humans have accepted that they are living organisms with limited lifespan, so why do they respond to sadness by isolating themselves?"

[Daxam]

Vincent shrugs and says, "I guess it's a question of pride. Most people see sadness, or any other emotion, for that matter, as a sign of weakness. So, they go off by themselves in order to keep others from seeing them like that." Turning to Alexis, he smiles softly, not noticing her lack of attire right away, and adds, "You'll learn that being human is confusing at times. But it's all a part of life, you know?"

[Vocalia]

"You accept irrationality as an acceptable facet of life. Is that what you wish to convey?" Alexis tilted her head curiously, her vacant stare and distorted, mechanical voice adding to her uncanny eeriness despite her human form. "I find irrationality to be unacceptable. Actions must be taken with rational thoughts and reasons. Otherwise, a human would put himself in an unnecessarily risky situation that could have been avoided. Are you inferring that humans are self-destructive and unpredictable by nature?"

[Daxam]

Vincent thinks for a few moments before saying, "You know...I guess I am. Us humans act on our emotions most of the time. That's why when Nigel gets pissed, he transforms into that beast. And when Sarah was shot, Isaac tortured that man before leaving him to die. But, it's also our emotions that help us protect the people we care about. Not all people take the time to weigh all of their options before acting. I'm living proof of that."

[Vocalia]

"Are you saying that this psychological, irrational experience is both beneficial and detrimental to human survival? That it has the ability to alter biological functions and reasoning of human beings is a knowledge I have yet to grasp, but that may be due to my lack of information to form a conclusive statement for or against your observation." Alexis looked back at Vincent, now with more questions than she had before. "When Sarah Howeland was terminated, the physical body that I shared suddenly began to excrete fluid from the corner of the eyes. I was aware that Hayley Summerland expressed her emotional sadness by crying, but I cannot explain why the body suddenly performed a biological function I did not consciously order. When my operator and Isaac Ryder were socially interacting in the balcony, I noticed that my priority suddenly become fixed on acquiring the same experience that they were having and I was unable to alter my priorities until they re-entered the penthouse. Are you aware of any method through which I can study and observe this experience of emotion?"

[Daxam]

Vincent listens to Alexis, strangely quiet as she explains her desire to feel what Isaac and Hayley felt when they kissed. A few minutes pass as he actually thinks about his answer. Then, stepping in front of her, he wraps his arms around her and whispers, "I think I might know something that might work..." Closing his eyes, he leans in and brings her into a timid kiss. For all of his bragging, it wouldn't be surprised if one thought he'd gone even farther than kissing someone, but that moment was his first, as well as Alexis'.

[Vocalia]

Alexis felt as if her database was being hijacked and completely scrambled even as she stood here with Vincent pressing his lips against hers. She identified a surge of stimuli inside the human shell she was using, but she was unable to discern the cause and result of the stimuli. Her body was moving without any rational thoughts on her part, almost as if she was acting on reflexive impulse. By the time she finally realized what she was doing, that was returning Vincent's kiss with the same amount of nervousness, she hesitated in pulling herself away and stayed on her spot until Vincent broke the kiss due to lack of air in his lungs.

[Daxam]

It almost seemed like an eternity when Vincent finally broke the kiss. Looking down into Alexis' golden eyes, he feels like he can see a flicker of something more than the analytical being of darkness in her eyes. Clearing his throat, suddenly, feeling sheepish, he, uncharacteristically timid, asks, "So, uh...Did you...feel anything?"

[Vocalia]

Alexis seemed confused at first and was unsure of how to respond, as if her analytical mind was unable to project an efficient or effective response. She felt a faint moment of thrilling rush that she couldn't explain, but it made her feel as if she was energized. It wasn't sadness, she was quite certain, but she didn't know what it could be. In the end, she decided that honesty was the best policy with Vincent and work on her lack of knowledge in human emotions in the near future. "I can say with reasonable confidence that I do not experience "sadness". However, I cannot sufficiently elaborate on my physical response due to lack of information. What I can infer for the time being is that I felt a heightened alertness and formation of social fulfillment when and after our lips made contact."

[Daxam]

Vincent had no clue what Alexis meant, but he did get one thing out of what she said. Smiling, he says, "Well, at least you felt something. Guess we'll have to figure out what that 'something' is at some point." Pulling her closer, he brings Alexis into a loving embrace, saying, "Thanks for letting me help you out with this, Lexie."

[Vocalia]

"Why would you offer me your gratitude for your willingness to assist? Is it not appropriate for me to do it in our current standings, seeing that I was the party who received your assistance?" Alexis asked, but nonetheless didn't try to break away from Vincent's embrace. In fact, she seemed to be returning the favor, if not somewhat confusedly, as she gently ran her hand through his hair and along his back.

[Daxam]

Vincent sighs contentedly, feeling Alexis's hand run through his hair and down his back as he says, "I'm just glad that you're giving me the chance. Even though I don't have a clue what I'm talking about half the time, I'm glad that I seem to be helping you out at least somewhat."

[Vocalia]

"How odd..." Alexis muttered, noticing the irony of his words and his normal demeanor, but she lacked the understanding or the sense of humor to respond to it like a normal human, so all she could do was verbally note the ironic contradiction. "You seem unusually perturbed by your lack of information and data while you have shown complete disregard to data and information numerous times in the past."

[Daxam]

Vincent thinks about what Alexis said, mainly trying to figure out what she meant. When he figures it out, he chuckles and says, "Well, I guess I'm a little peeved that I don't know enough about it because, if I did, I'd be able to help you out more. After all, that's pretty much all I wanna do, is help you."

[Vocalia]

Alexis often found herself questioning about Vincent than anything else. She didn't know what had made her so fixated on him, whether it was his extreme personality or his own focused attention on her. The more she observed and studied him, the more unanswered questions she ended up getting. "I do not understand your focus on my existence. It is irrational for you to put on a great deal of attention over a presence with no emotional existence in this world, an embodiment instead of a sentient, living creature. Why do you act the way you do, Vincent?"

[Daxam]

"I don't know," Vincent answers honestly. "I just feel drawn to you, for some reason. I can't help it." Finally, he pulls away from Alexis, but keeps his arms around her, adding, "All I really know is that, sometimes, I can feel what Isaac feels, and what I'm feeling reminds me of how he feels around Hayley." A few moments pass in silence before, realization dawning on him, he says, "I...I think I love you."

[Vocalia]

Love.

It was a word Alexis had been hearing very often ever since she was awakened. All the information and data pertaining to "love" as an emotion only gave her vague, subjective description at best and involves a range of other emotional experience and understanding, which she severely lacked. She decided that she would need a conclusive observation of "love" in order to fulfill her "per-programmed" desire for knowledge. Now, she realized that she finally found an effective subject from whom she could observe the emotion and action of "love".

"You "love" me, even though I am unable to experience or reciprocate "love". How odd," she replied. "I do not understand the concept of "love". Existing observations have denoted its volatility, extreme characteristics, and exploitable danger, yet humans strive to experience and act on "love" within their lifespan. I do not understand how you can experience and act on "love" for me. Kindly elaborate."

[Daxam]

Vincent sighs and says, "Sorry, but I can't really tell you anything more. This is the first time I've felt this for myself and I don't know much more than you do." Touching his forehead to Alexis', he says, "But, if it helps, I think love is more than a fierce desire to protect. It also gives someone a reason to live, to keep going. If it weren't for Isaac's feelings for Hayley, I'm sure that I wouldn't be here talking to you after what happened to Sarah."