Aw sweetie

[dhil]

[......

They're... not a 'thing'... right?]

Comments

[voiceinthephone]

Hey...what's got you in a rut?

[dhil]

[Someone called them a thing. And it.

They look for something to write and scribble something down]

Not a thing.

Not it.

Person too yes?

[voiceinthephone]

You're a person too, Tahir. Whoever told you that should be ashamed of themselves. [Hugs him]

[dhil]

[They don't understand the reason why they were called thing. Why? They look like a person. They act like a person. Is it because they don't talk? Is it because they haven't married someone? Is it because they weren't born with a name?]

Don't understand. Why?

[They do accept the hug though. They're too tall to snuggle in, so they just rest their head on top of his]

[voiceinthephone]

That person probably said it out of ignorance or hurtful intent. They probably classify people by their gender, and those who don't qualify like, uh, get called things. [Oh God how are you so tall]

[dhil]

[Seven feet tall, Phil.

Gender? ... You mean like boys and girls? ... That's it that's all?

Phil they don't have a gender what is happening why]

[voiceinthephone]

You don't have a gender, do you? [he's never handled this sort of conflicts but he knows how hurtful people are]

Um, okay, so what do you prefer to be referred as then?

[dhil]

[They don't have a gender.

They write... a question mark. They don't know? Everyone has always called them by their current name more or less.]

[voiceinthephone]

Then I'll refer to you as they/them, all right? Nice and neutral. [he gave Tahir a thumbs up] You're not a thing, you're a person.

[dhil]

[That sounds easy enough. Nice and neutral is just how they like things. They nod, looking a little happier now that they have a pronoun to use.

Not a thing! They are a person, a they not an it!]

[voiceinthephone]

Now, if you run into that person again, make sure you give them a piece of your mind and tell them off.

[dhil]

[.. r u kidding

They don't want to fight with someone! No way, they'll just disappear like they always do, no way are they going to 'stick it to them', she can just talk to the wall]

[mybackstory]

[Have a hand on your shoulder, buddy.

Even if he's only known you from real recent. Gets attached way too easy.]

[dhil]

[It's okay, they're attached to you too, Spine. They look at him sadly, pointing at themselves.

Not a thing.

They're a person, right? Just like everyone else?]

[mybackstory]

[He nods, lips pressed into something of a line.

He's a thing if anyone is, and that's getting technical, certainly not you.]

Just like everyone else. Anyone that says otherwise doesn't know what they're talkin' about.

[dhil]

[Don't call yourself a thing, Spine. They'll argue with you on that one, as best they can. They're a terrible philosopher though.

She said they were a thing.

They don't know why though, they can't put their finger on why. They look like people, they act like people, they feel things like people...

They just look horribly confused]

[mybackstory]

[Does someone need a hug? He isn't all that physical, but he does know when a hug needs to be given, and has been told he gives good ones.]

Ain't somethin' I understand well, really. All I know is that some folks call me a thing, and some don't. Some call me a thing since don't don't see me as a person, what with me bein' a robut and all, and do it either because they don't see me as a being or because they mean it to be insultin'.

To try and belittle me, as if I wasn't anything more than a thing. [Pausing, just for a moment.] Frankly, I don't see any reason why someone would call you a thing, since as far as I can tell you're as much a someone as anyone else I've ever met.

[dhil]

[They do need a hug. And they welcome it. Good thing they're pretty much the same size, they nuzzle right in and hold on. They don't care if Spine is metal, this is still a good hug.

But it's so clear Spine isn't a thing. He's just metal. They know the Latin word that started robot, and... that's not Spine. He's not mindless, he's just a metal person.

They pat him gently, trying to reassure him he's not a fake thing. THAT'S RIGHT THIS IS NOW ABOUT YOU, YOU BIG MUSH.]

[mybackstory]

[His warms are warm at least! What with the water boiler and all, and the clothing at least helps not make him feel so metal-like.

It's as comforting of a hug as he could make it, too. Spine has some nice practice in those comforting hugs.]

My guess is whoever called you a thing either did it because they don't know better or... Well, the other reason's best left unsaid since it ain't a nice thing.

[dhil]

[He is nice and warm, and they snuggle into him nice and comfortable like.

It looks like they just don't know any better, to be honest.

But they still feel kind of weird about the whole thing.]

[mybackstory]

[Patting they're back, the movement slow, keeping that hug.

Spine will let them stay there as long as they like, too.]

Best to try not and think too much on it, ain't worth the time really. You ain't a thing, and that's that.

Right?

[dhil]

[That's right, not a thing! They look a little more sure of themselves now, puffing themselves up a little. Not a thing! They're a person!

You're good at peptalks, Spine.]

[mybackstory]

[Part of the job, clearly.]

Good. Feelin' better now?

[robolution]

[ beep beep, here's a really cheerful robot to comfort you! ]

Don't you worry, friend, lots of people call me a thing, too! And creepy! And loud! And annoying! Geez, people can be really bad with names, can't they? If I sound pleased by that, I'm not! I'm actually filled with a violent and uncontrollable rage that tells me to form a robot army and crush the skulls of my human oppressors. Haha!

[dhil]

[Oh my that sounds terrible, little robot! They gently reach out to pat the poor thing reassuringly. It's okay, Claptrap, they don't think you're a thing at all. You don't have to be angry.]