Siebren leans forward as Xander speaks, markedly interested. This is data he can work with, or that may be relevant in the future: proof that the train is sentient and potentially sapient. It is intriguing, to say the least, and he opens his mouth to ask for further details, to ask why Xander would think such a useful power would ever be considered rank and file-
And then Xander reaches out to Seto, and something he had been missing clicks into place. If Xander is able to read the train's emotions, what is to stop him from reading theirs?
He closes his mouth, leans back again, takes a breath, and tries his best to quell the sudden anxiety tightening in his chest. For the second time this evening, Xander has been privy to things Siebren tries his hardest to keep hidden, and there is precious little Siebren can do about it.
But Xander seems...open. Willing to talk, and willing to help, if he is interpreting that gesture correctly. Siebren still does not want to talk about it - nobody needs to know about Sigma until it is unavoidable - but perhaps he can trust Xander with the information Xander already has.
Perhaps.
He lets that breath out slowly, and listens, and thinks. "Perhaps," he says, "but in my experience, the benefits of extended isolation do not outweigh the isolation itself." Admittedly, Siebren's circumstances had been involuntary and rather extreme, but nonetheless. He cannot fathom the idea of being so utterly alone again by choice. "Humans are social creatures. Like it or not, we need each other."
It is only after the words are out of his mouth that he realizes they are not his; they are Dr. Winston's, spoken to him years ago, in an ultimately successful attempt to convince him to socialize with the other scientists aboard the Horizon Lunar Colony.
It has been years since he has thought about Dr. Winston, and now it seems the train will not allow him to leave the memories behind him, and he does not understand why-
An uncomfortable feeling rises in his throat, one he cannot name, and he swallows it back and returns his attention to Seto and Xander. Whatever it is, he will deal with it later.
no subject
And then Xander reaches out to Seto, and something he had been missing clicks into place. If Xander is able to read the train's emotions, what is to stop him from reading theirs?
He closes his mouth, leans back again, takes a breath, and tries his best to quell the sudden anxiety tightening in his chest. For the second time this evening, Xander has been privy to things Siebren tries his hardest to keep hidden, and there is precious little Siebren can do about it.
But Xander seems...open. Willing to talk, and willing to help, if he is interpreting that gesture correctly. Siebren still does not want to talk about it - nobody needs to know about Sigma until it is unavoidable - but perhaps he can trust Xander with the information Xander already has.
Perhaps.
He lets that breath out slowly, and listens, and thinks. "Perhaps," he says, "but in my experience, the benefits of extended isolation do not outweigh the isolation itself." Admittedly, Siebren's circumstances had been involuntary and rather extreme, but nonetheless. He cannot fathom the idea of being so utterly alone again by choice. "Humans are social creatures. Like it or not, we need each other."
It is only after the words are out of his mouth that he realizes they are not his; they are Dr. Winston's, spoken to him years ago, in an ultimately successful attempt to convince him to socialize with the other scientists aboard the Horizon Lunar Colony.
It has been years since he has thought about Dr. Winston, and now it seems the train will not allow him to leave the memories behind him, and he does not understand why-
An uncomfortable feeling rises in his throat, one he cannot name, and he swallows it back and returns his attention to Seto and Xander. Whatever it is, he will deal with it later.