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[Zam usually enjoys attention, but things are different when it’s attention in the form of people going out of their way to help him. Now he just feels slightly embarrassed.] Thanks, [He mumbles as he watches the other man add the blankets to the pile.]

To be honest, I don’t know. Hopefully? [His usual protocol with the cold is to avoid it altogether. He reaches for the scarf and winds it around his neck. The movement out from under the blankets reveals that he’s missing most of his right arm. Which makes putting on the glove somewhat problematic. He leaves it where it is.]

Blankets or not, the cold doesn’t really… agree with me. [That’s putting it lightly. More like the cold has a long and extremely personal vendetta against him.] Not really much I can do until the captains decide to not have us all die slow, icy deaths.

[Tron frowns a little, unsure of what else to do. He knows that Users... humans wrap themselves in more layers of clothing and blankets to stay warm, but if that's not working for this person, he's not sure what else to offer.]

I am not affected by it... actually, I perform better under these conditions. Heat does not agree with me.

[If he notices the missing arm, he doesn't mention it, even as the other tucks himself back under the blanket pile.] I'm sure the captains are working on the power outages.

[Zam manages a wan smile.] You humans don’t realize how much you lucked out on the whole endothermic physiology thing, you know that? [Sure, Zam imagines it must be a strain on one’s metabolism, but if you can afford to keep it fed, it must be a hell of a convenience.]

You’ll excuse me if I don’t have much faith in our esteemed captains after all this. [Seriously, what kind of captain let a key life support system go dark?]

[Tron smiles wryly in return, then shakes his head.] I'm not. Human, that is. [He'd been trying to keep that a secret at first, on this ship, until he realized he was far from the only non-human here. No one else seems to have issue with it, so he's finally comfortable saying so.]

[He holds out his hand, showing the glowing circuits on the back of the glove. They brighten slightly as he speaks.] I'm a program, written by a User... a human. I look just like him, apparently. [He considers a moment, then touches a hidden circuit at his wrist to decode just his glove, the black material disappearing from his hand in a small wave of pixels. Underneath, his skin has the same pattern of circuits, more delicate and brighter.]

Edited 2015-12-03 06:42 (UTC)

[Zam’s brow furrows at this description. A “program” as he understands it is more of an abstract collection of data rather than a physical being. Perhaps the man is simply referring to what he is mentally. Which means:] So you’re like a borg? Or an android? [He watches as the man presses something at his wrist and one of his gloves disappears in a flurry of pixels. Zam’s not quite sure what to make of that at all. Nor does he know what to make of the fact that his hand appear to be glowing. It’s actually enough to get the shapeshifter to lean forward out of the shelter of his blanket nest for a better look.]

How are you doing that?

I am not familiar with those terms. [He's been called a 'robot' before, but knows that's not accurate either.] I existed inside a computer system before being brought here... I know I take the form of my User, but I am a program.

[He holds his hand closer, turning the palm up, then down.] My suit is coded onto my identity disc; I can remove it like that. It's not like the clothing here. [It had taken him some time to get used to manually putting clothes on and taking them off when he first arrived... it was an immense relief to have his gridsuit re-coded onto his disc.]

I… don’t really follow. [As far as Zam knows, computer programs don’t take physical forms. One can upload them into a robot or android body, but the data itself is just that: abstract, intangible data.

Neither does he follow the man’s explanation about an “identity disc.” All he understands is that it’s advanced and probably--] Uh, do you have a fever or… whatever programs get? [He can feel the heat emanating from the man’s hand from where he sits. It’s… really distracting honestly. Zam reaches forward with his own hand, stopping just short of touching Tron, his fingers splayed a few inches above the other man’s hand. It’s like putting his hand next to a space heater and after hours of sitting in what to his cold-blooded sensibilities is numbing cold, he can't help but make a little involuntary hum of relief.] You’re really hot.

It's hard to explain to someone not familiar with my world. [Tron's mouth turns down a bit in a frown, but he moves on as Zam comments on the heat radiating from his circuits.]

I am operating within temperature parameters... [He trails off as he realizes how the warmth from his circuits must feel to someone who is very, very cold. He doesn't really want to get into explaining how his circuits bleed off the heat from his processes, nor the way his "breathing" is simply a cooling mechanism as well. Warmth is usually the opposite problem for programs; too much, and he will shut down. Sharing warmth has never been a thought to cross his mind, but now...]

Can it help you? [Raising his hand a bit, he curls his fingers around Zam's, the chill from the other instantly obvious.]

[Zam tenses at the initial surprise of the man’s fingers closing around his, but quickly relaxes as heat from the program’s skin seeps into his own. His eyes close and he sighs contentedly.] I’ll be honest, this is probably the first time I’ve been able to feel my fingers in the last few hours.

[His eyes open again at Tron’s question.] Yeah, it can. [A smile pulls at his lips.] Though I guess now I should ask how exactly programs feel about personal space.

If I can do something to help, then I do not mind. [Though it's a bit uncomfortable to have his circuits touched directly, Tron would not leave someone suffering if he can help.]

[The... other effect of circuit-touch shouldn't be an issue, either. He shouldn't react to Zam, as he doesn't know him enough for attraction.]

Here, I'll get under the blankets with you for now. Will that be good? [He's already moving to do just that, tugging back the blankets a bit to slide into the bunk behind Zam.]

Sure. [He’s certainly not going to protest. He scoots forward to allow Tron space to sit. Zam himself has very few compunctions about personal space and even if he had more, he’s more concerned with maintaining his body temperature at the moment. He gives a sigh of relief as he feels the blankets gradually warm from the program’s circuits.]

I take it programs weren’t generally used as makeshift space heaters where you’re from?

[Tron smiles at that, settling in behind Zam with one arm draped around him. He lets more of his gridsuit fade away, the black "fabric" disappearing in pixel patterns over his arms and chest, revealing more of the more intricate pattern of circuits on his skin.]

No, I'll have to say this is a first experience for me.

[Zam settles contentedly against him, letting his head rest against the program’s shoulder. He doesn’t seem at all bothered by the close contact; Zam’s not the type to be squeamish about physical intimacy, and even if they were, they’re too damn comfortable now to care.]

If power outages like this become the norm, it might not be the last. [He closes his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.] Sorry in advance if I fall asleep on you.

I'd be glad to assist again, should that be the case. [Tron shifts more comfortably on the pillows, allowing Zam to rest against him. He hasn't been this close to anyone in a long time, but he finds that it's not unpleasant. Zam is warming against him, and though his circuits are exposed, he's not uncomfortable.]

I won't mind if you fall asleep. I can go into recharge mode myself if you do.

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