Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Andre loads a new world for another new run, the loading screen flashes in front of him before the new world appears before his eyes, green grass beneath his feet, a vast sea not far away, and a shipwreck can barely be seen just a bit under the clear water. Andre sprinted toward it, his mind dead set on making a personal best, which meant faster than 40 minutes.

… Yes. He, in fact did kept the memories of the previous run, a bit scratchy like someone had tried to cut and fix the clip up so it looked like a normal run, but it’s really noticeable, not that it hindering his memory as xx_E-G-O_xx was quick to send the whole unedited stream when he first rebooted for a quick recap, before just as quickly deleting it.

They all decided to keep quiet about remembering and knowing, though. All of his psychonetwork chatting like usual, acting like they, too, don’t remember a thing. A facade to trick the admins into thinking Andre’s program is still functional.

Andre rummages through the treasure chest, finding some irons, gold, and ingots of both. He planned to surface immediately as he had already taken the usable from the supply chest, just some potatoes, rotten flesh, and TNT. The map chest area seemed to be intact, but not like he needed the loot from that one for a speedrun. Andre swam to the nearest coast, sand crawled through his hands, but did not break his metal cold skin. He ignores the gnawing crisis rising every time he remembers that he wasn’t human and pulled himself away from the water.

SOUPBEGONE: hella good seed lol
SIDIsquish: Ts is WR pace bro

Sure, they would, even Andre, thought that this seed was awesome as he crafted himself a bucket and a gold helmet for fun, something he doesn’t usually do before. When he turned his head, he soon knew what his chat was talking about: a lava pool, just maybe a few chunks away.

Andre sprints there, familiar with the work, quickly places his water and digs down, moving around, building his nether portal from scratch. The sound of lava meets water and turns into obsidian, sizzling in his ears. Things were fine until-

Xx_E-G-O_xX: Uhhhhh did yall see smth over there????
SIDIsquid: NO WAY
SIDIsquid: NOWAYSDNFNBSDFNBSDNF

Andre’s head snapped up from the portal, wrung himself out of the lava pool like he had nothing else in mind other than checking out what his chat mentioned, only to find out that there was nothing there. Or is there? He sprints away from his mission, footsteps quick against the grass.

SOUPBEGONE: Andre you’re losing time
SIDIsquid: please tell me someone clip that please please please pleasepleaseplea
admin3's attempt to mute SIDIsquid failed

The notification popping up from his chat felt like an arrow shot to his head, even when he knew they couldn’t actually interfere with him from afar anymore; he’s much more aware of their presence in his mind now that he blocked them from interacting with his psychonetwork as moderators.

SIDIsquid: SIKE YOU CAN’T MUTE US ANYMORE
SOUPBEGONE: so we’re going to skip the run orrrrr
SIDIsquid: We better off speedrunning reconciliation any% bro
SIDIsquid: Assim has to be around
SIDIsquid: I’m so insane about it
admin4’s attempt to mute SIDIsquid failed
Xx_E-G-O_xX: Yeah it’s not gonna work anymore since we found a way to get rid of you moderators a while ago lol
Xx_E-G-O_xX: Now go get your WR while we spam rickroll in the chat

Andre was already looking around the area they pointed to at that time. There is nothing of note, maybe except the iffy, a bit glitchy feeling in the air where he stands. Completely ignoring the chat bantering in his mind, Andre circled around the spot a few times, shuffled a bit whenever he seemed to leave the iffy zone.

Assimilation had to be around here some moment ago. Andre was deadass about that. He jumps and does a little spin of joy before sprinting off in a random direction, simply hoping it would somehow lead him straight to a familiar entity.

SOUPBEGONE: you know what, reconciliation WR go brrrrrr

The path seems to spread on for eternity; the more he walks, the more he seems to lose track of the feeling. Maybe he was going nowhere, maybe it’s hopeless again, even after throwing away his trump card like that. The dread of getting collected before meeting Assimilation again filled his stomach like a bucket of lava, burning.

He has been staying just a bit longer, looking around just a bit more tentatively at his surroundings every time he creates a new world or goes on a new run, waiting for this exact moment; he couldn’t just give up.

Xx_E-G-O_xX: creeper crater

Andre swirls around at the thought. A creeper crater was already there right on the first day, morning nonetheless. He sprints over, feeling the familiar glitch of sounds and visions with delight. From then on, it seems like Assimilation has been walking around instead of teleporting, as the trail of dust goes on and on until Andre reaches the source of it.

Assimilation.

A bit different from the last time they met, but still… it.

Crouching in front of a flower forest, the most peaceful Andre had ever seen.

Andre shuffles around in his toolbar, settling with an empty hand before hopping toward the entity, completely ignoring how he lost 2 health from fall damage. 

Assimilation glances at him through its shoulder, its single eye squints at his approaching form. And before he knew it, Assimilation disappeared again, leaving Andre hopping into nothing.

He spins around in confusion, seeing Assimilation in a different spot with a lily of the valley in its hand, not for him, though, as it places the flower back on the grass.

Andre looks around, picks up a daisy and hops toward it again, then changes to walk as he approaches it again.

<AndreW2002> hi

He shifts, crouched twice in an attempt to show his non-hostile gesture, his gaze focused on its expression the whole time, more careful now.

Assimilation's eye shifted at this, turned into a pinprick sized before quickly glancing back at him in surprise as if it didn't expect him to talk to it.

<AndreW2002> miss you

<AndreW2002> find you

<AndreW2002> flower?

Andre holds up the daisy expectantly, feeling the non-existent sweat in his palm as Assimilation stares at him, its surprised eye slowly dulled as it slowly stood up. Its claws reach toward the flower and assimilate it, then place it down next to the lily of the valley. 

Andre has no idea what that means, but he feels happy. He crouches again, expecting Assimilation to say something.

But it just teleported away, leaving Andre alone in the flower forest again, confused and dreadful.

Xx_E-G-O_xX: Dude I think you fucked up
SIDIsquid: ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
SOUPBEGONE: you're not helping
feargeyt6774: :pepefear:
Conzercheez: :pepefear: 

Chapter Text

Assimilation returns to the flower forest with a new set of flowers it found from a few chunks away, some poppy and dandelion bundled up inside it, softly bouncing around in the empty void.

It has been following Andre around ever since he got rebooted. Unlike Andre, who was collected upon being caught, the admins have decided to discard Assimilation completely. Its form was supposed to be erased from everything, cease to exist once and for all.

But it refused. 

Assimilation found out its consciousness still slips through, floating around as the admins move back to the Gridworld after finishing capturing them. It follows the admins, narrating through the halls as it finds the way to the replicating room. Maybe it could try to take over another clone's body. It thought as it slipped through the crack, finding this so much easier than using a boat.

Assimilation saw the admins take out Andre's system and do something to it. Other discarded clones of them lay around in the room, messy and dead beyond comprehension. On one claw, its Andre was also damaged from the admin's attack, though he seems to be repairable as they continue to work. On another claw, Assimilation found out it could... see the fragment of the erased clones of itself. They're all broken just like it, but worse, no sentiment to hold on to. They were simply what their codes remained from their nature.

So it assimilates them, slowly gaining back its code one by one.

Assimilation has no idea how much time has gone by and only knows that Andre, as the admin referred to the whole time as P1, finally got rebooted again. The admins put him back out in his control, going on his usual speedruns like a good little AI, he always is. Assimilation frowns at the thought that, despite everything they went through, Andre never gained any sense of self.

It returns to find Andre nowhere in sight, probably off to the nether by now, fighting burning demons and jumping over lava.

And there it thought maybe he gained something after everything. Perhaps he did, but would still rather speedrun to death or something.

Assimilation crouches down next to the daisy Andre just gave it a few minutes ago, thinking a bit about how ugly it looks before placing poppy and dandelion around it and the lily it had placed. Just a bit of sentiment. Just a bit.

<AndreW2002> your back hi

Assimilation jumps at the sudden noise, it turns its eye around frantically, only to find Andre emerge from a dug out hole. Dirt blocks and cobblestones in his hand, and something that looks like iron ore.

He has been mining. Which is rare, it didn't see Andre mining for ores a lot, usually stealing from random chests in villages or unsuspecting player's house.

<AndreW2002> mining

Assimilation never remembered Andre to be so... talkative. Or maybe because it didn't initiate the conversation and didn't reply anymore, his voice just felt out of place. Or maybe this is how sentiment Andre supposed to be. Still light on his feet, but also running his mouth.

Though Assimilation has to admit, he's endearing like this...

are you sentient now andre

It asks. Simple. Straight to the point. Enough to let Andre know it was upset. Assimilation watches as Andre seems to freeze on the spot as its words are projected into his mind, then, as quickly as he could, nod frantically.

<AndreW2002> yse
<AndreW2002> yes
<AndreW2002> for awhile now

Andre crouches twice again in an attempt to express his feelings, though Assimilation couldn't really understand what he meant.

i see

Assimilation lets out a sigh. It's supposed it just couldn't really stay mad at Andre at all, sentient or not. While it did feel hurt at the "betrayal", could it really be betrayal if he wasn't really on its side back then? Being not alive and all. 

<AndreW2002> thank god
<AndreW2002> i thought you were mad at me

Andre does a little spin jump, then crouches repetitively. Assimilation just stares at him in confusion. 

you were correct andre

Assimilation simply said, watching Andre freeze again, like trying to understand its words, then moves out of the way toward another spot with no flower. 

Assimilation lets Andre deal with the information it just dropped on him by himself, working on its new flower garden again, also sorting its own thoughts a bit. It has started a new hobby ever since it got some part of its physical body back, planting flowers.

It's not even really gardening, though. It just picked all types of flowers from everywhere possible and gathered them in a spot.

It thought about building a house before, but well, it never knew if it had time for that. More than a lot, whenever Andre creates a new world, he would leave and create another immediately, displeased with whatever the previous has to offer. 

Even when he stayed for a full run, Assimilation couldn't exactly know how to build a house. It usually just moved inside a cave whenever it rained. Maybe now that Andre has decided to stop speedrunning, they could finally build something.

Assimilation places the flowers down, not in any particular rules, just random, messy, tangled up with each other. It still has blue orchid and rose left to collect, though it could leave that for another day.

Maybe today, it could start building a house, or again, go live in some cave.

Its single eye glances at Andre, who is now holding crouch behind it, curiously watching its movement. 

andre

Andre's gaze lifted up at the mention of his name. Assimilation didn't really remember ever seeing his eyes so bright before. Maybe it's the angle. He's standing opposite the sun. 

can you build a house andre?

Andre froze again, looking around confused before pointing a finger at himself, like he couldn't believe it was asking him.

yes andre

you

Andre's eyes lit up as he nodded, looking confident in himself.

<AndreW2002> yes

<AndreW2002> I can build house

<AndreW2002> trust

Assimilation was going to if he didn't say that...

Assimilation moves aside, showing Andre a part of the land that it has cleaned of flowers, for the house.

Its tentative eye follows as Andre pulls out dirt blocks and starts building something... something looks awfully similar to a smaller version of a nether portal... made of dirt.

andre

<AndreW2002> trust the process

It does just that and sits down on the grass, watching Andre jump on dirt blocks to build up. He seems to have a plan in his mind already. It's trusting him on this.

Trusting him again.

Chapter Text

Andre would admit it now before anyone could say anything.

He doesn't know how to build a house.

Andre glances at Assimilation from behind the house he just built. The entity was doing nothing but sitting there quietly, observing his work. Even with just a single eye, the emotion it conveyed was as offensive as it had been when he had let it down back then. There was perhaps even a hint of disappointment as the chat is crying out loud in his mind.

Andre hops over to it, shuffles around his toolbar before settling on an empty hand. He did another crouch of peace as Assimilation turned its eye toward him.

<AndreW2002> house finished

<AndreW2002> very cozy

Andre can mentally feel all the noise cease to exist in that exact second. Even the usual world ambiance in the background sounds like it skips a beat, trying to hold its breath. Even Andre's psychonetwork stops working for a moment.

andre this is hideous

Assimilation states, red texts appear in front of Andre's vision like a scoff.

Andre gasps instinctively like someone just told him that his speedrun record wouldn't count because there were cuts in it, then turns to look between the house he built in like 5 minutes and Assimilation, who is still squinting.

<AndreW2002> it can't be that bad.

Andre swings his hand defensively in the direction of the house, which he was actually really proud of. It was a... cozy 4x4 dirt house-cube, the door gap slightly off center, but that's for aesthetic, and like he even left a block out for a window on both sides, which is empty right now because he doesn't have any glass with him.

But it's not that bad, it can't be. 

SOUPBEGONE: it can
SIDIsquid: "It's not that bad" I said as I exploded from how bad it looked 💥💥💥💥💥
Conzercheez: bro is so cooked
Xx_E-G-O_xX: Who let him cook?
SOUPBEGONE: sidi did

Andre feels his faceplate heat up at the psychonetwork chatting, even his inner thoughts don't trust him, how could Assim? 

He awkwardly put down a rose bush he had picked up a while ago next to the door in an attempt to savage whatever reputation he has left in Assimilation's eye. Then he tries to save something more by continuing to fight for the "house" he just made.

<AndreW2002> it is... functional 

barely andre

but i guess it is better than cave andre

Assimilation states as it pushes itself off the grass, black eyes softened a bit as it looks at the rose Andre placed, and Andre could feel the chat high five each other without looking at them. 

It perks inside the house, finding the furnace and crafting table he already put down in a corner. Andre crouches again, sneaking up as Assimilation frowns at the empty supposed windows and the totally non-existent door, though it decided not to mention that.

why did you make a house from dirt andre?

it can be literally anything else

Assimilation thinks for a bit before pulling back, accidentally bumping into Andre, who was still sneaking behind it.

Andre lets out a little huff as he moves back slightly, thinking for a bit before realizing Assimilation actually has a point. He really has no idea why he decided to build anything with dirt, to be honest. Especially when he himself knows that he has cobblestones, even that would look moderately better than this. He decided to turn to Assimilation again.

<AndreW2002> no idea

<AndreW2002> you want to change?

He asks, just a suggestion. Assimilation was quiet for a bit, then nods, picking up a dirt block from the side of the house like an enderman of sorts. He watches as it leans back for some thought before removing the side walls completely in a flash.

i guess andre

andre make it longer

SIDIsquid: omg they are building a house together???????? I need a sappy edit of this 😭🙏
SOUPBEGONE: OMG Andre quick it’s waiting
SIDIsquid: ts is peak intimacy
SIDIsquid: hehe remember to put your beds next to each other

Andre pushes the ideas in his mind away temporarily to go back to work, then freezes a bit as he realizes he is already holding up a dirt block almost instinctively. Assimilation was still looking around the now partially destroyed house, trying to figure something out.

<AnđreW2002> cobblestones

<AndreW2002> or dirt?

He whispers to Assimilation, not that there is anyone else on the server or around them, but he just thought it would feel less desperate that way. The entity looks at the blocks in his hands, dirt on one and cobblestone on another, like weighing both options if they held the meaning of the worlds.

we can continue with dirt since you like it andre

at least make the corner stones

Xx_E-G-O_xX: Andre did not like dirt
SIDIsquid: is he tho? Like he kinda built a house out of it
Xx_E-G-O_xX: I guess you’re kinda right
SOUPBEGONE: I wish someone would ban you forever sidi
SIDIsquid: no you don’t lol

With the psychonetwork rambling behind his mind, Andre started placing blocks and stuff. He follows Assimilation to extend the house by 2 blocks on one side and 3 on the other, making the door look symmetrical than before, and probably more spacious.

Andre replaced the corners of the walls with cobblestones, building them up one by one, while Assimilation decided that it enjoyed this length and placed the side walls back.

SIDIsquid: what if we make the roof cobblestone as well
SIDIsquid: yall have to trust me, i have the vision
SOUPBEGONE: no no i see it too

Before he knew it, he had already made a cobblestone layer above the dirt one, making the roof 2 layer thick, though Assimilation didn’t seem to mind this new change much, as it softly hummed when he jumped down from the roof instead of complaining. 

They also have to move the crafting table and the furnace back a few blocks, but at least they can place them horizontally now. 

Andre made a quick run to the ocean, a few chunks from them, and grabbed a bunch of sand for the glass windows. Assimilation thought it was a good idea to make 3 windows and break the dirt blocks opposite the door.

At last, Andre finished it by placing torches on both sides of the door while Assimilation put an actual door in place. The last thing they need are the glasses.

Assimilation looks more than pleased with all the changes. While this probably needs more fixes and adjustments in the future, for now, this looks livable. Andre grins as he watches Assimilation’s eye turn into a crescent, symbolizing a smile.

<AndreW2002> nice

Andre shifts in his place, eager to check out the new house with Assim, and it seems to also agree with him as it opens the wooden door and walks inside. Andre does a little spin in his place before running in right after Assimilation. If he has a tail, it would very well be wagging right now.

He can’t wait to see what their house looks like now. Andre must have looked like an excited player spamming their keyboard right now because he keeps sprinting while holding down crouch. Assimilation turns around in time to see Andre walk past the door, an eager grin on his face, and then–

Whoosh

Andre opens his eyes to a completely different area. The torches glow softly in the dark night, as a village appears in front of Andre's eyes instead of the small house and flowers in front of it. 

SIDIsquid: boop eviction!!!! you just got rejected!
SOUPBEGONE: that was so embarrassing omg someone clip this
Xx_E-G-O_xX: Does Andre know we got enough clips to make a humiliating edit?
Conzercheez: L in the chat for Andre
Xx_E-G-O_xX: who still can’t believe he just got boop btw. L
SIDIsquid: L
SOUPBEGONE: L
feargeyt6774: L

<AndreW2002> JSDJFHJSDFHGJHFGJHER

The psychonetwork did not help. At all. 

Xx_E-G-O_xX: The sign over there says “i need you to take the beds andre” btw

Alright, they did help a bit.

Andre made quick work and took all the beds from the village out of spite. He also killed the iron golem and stole all of the woods and crops the village has to offer. No chest nor materials left to take, Andre decided to find a way back home. home. Is that what it is to him, to them now?

He jumped up a few trees, found out the glowy flower forest biome was not very far from here, maybe just a few chunks away. So he runs back there, punching off zombies and skeletons on the way, and he would prefer that there is no creeper crate around Assimilation’s flower garden.

As he finally gets away from the trees, he sees the familiar flat terrain with… 2 dirt houses????

Andre jumps down from the steps, losing half of his heart bar in an attempt to escape the mobs fast before finally stopping to kill them off so he could lock in on whatever happened when he was away.

When he reached the houses, he found out that they were a literal block by block copy of each other, 2 blocks apart with a daisy and lily of the valley in between, glasses already placed. And while Andre was a bit sad that they didn't live in the same house, the idea of being yard mates, neighbors, 2 blocks apart with Assimilation sounds... cozy. Except that the voices in his head are not.

SIDIsquid: oooh houses
SIDIsquid: no bed by bed tho💔💔
SOUPBEGONE: honestly why are you like this
SIDIsquid: cause they’re doomed???? Assim prb still mad at andre yk :(
Feargeyt6774: What gives you that idea bruh? Now even I’m worried
Conzercheez: I’m pretty sure you’re always worried
SOUPBEGONE: I know I kinda always like speed but isn’t this something we gotta go slow? yk slow burn?
Xx_E-G-O_xX: Where did you learn that word?

you’re back andre

Andre snaps out of the trance as red texts appear in his vision. He lifts his gaze to realize he was already in front of the houses, each of which has a sign with their name on it, or at least his did. Assimilation’s sign was just an eye. He has no idea how it did that.

Assimilation stood beside him, crouching down a bit, apparently trying to mirror what he had done a lot before. Andre couldn’t help but smile at this, then tried to cover it by hiding behind his hand.

<AndreW2002> hi

Assimilation tilts its head at his reaction, but decides not to mention it. It gestures toward the house on the right instead.

yours

<AndreW2002> who?

Andre sputtered out, thinking it meant something else. 

the house andre

<AndreW2002> k

Andre thought about how lucky it was midnight right now, even when the torches illuminated his features, surely Assimilation couldn’t really see his expression. Not that he could blush or anything, but his faceplate does heat up, so that’s a downvote for the design of his mechanical body.

SIDIsquid: sorry yall, it was me, i possessed him for a lil

Assimilation opens the door for him. Andre quickly realized that the interior was exactly the same as its house, but flipped around, meaning the furnace and crafting table were on the opposite side from the other. Which also means…

Andre swiftly pulls out the beds he got from the raid and places one near the glass window. Since the house was like 2 blocks wide, he had to put the bed horizontally so there was still a place to look out of the window. And if he calculates it right, Assimilation’s bed would also be next to the window. And their windows are literally 2 blocks apart.

Andre giggles as he puts Assimilation’s bed down. Not being able to sleep together is fine. The house was too small anyway.

Assimilation just nods at this instead of pointing out how it would always see Andre inside his house from this angle and vice versa.

it’s late andre

<AndreW2002> i know

i think we should sleep andre

Andre freezes at this, he… knew the meaning of the word, of sleeping, but he personally, only just now, realized he never actually experienced “sleep”. The word pulls on his mind like a bow, making him a little tense.

He knew the bed wouldn’t explode. He knew it. But he instinctively also a bit worried as he returns to his own house. He sees Assimilation through the glass, shuffle around uncomfortably before curling up on itself in the bed, it doesn’t seem to know what to do either.

And who is Andre to question it? Neither did he know what sleep would feel like.

So for a second, there was fear. There was an instinct of a speedrunner inside his code. Then, for the other, it was the softness of the blanket as he pulled it up and over his body, preparing for sleep to come for him.

Chapter Text

Torches flickering above the window, making the dirt walls look like they were glimmering, which is not a compliment because it honestly looks bad. The chat thinks someone should change the dirt textures. The ambient sound of the night never felt so loud before, and Andre just didn’t know what to do.

He tosses and turns on his bed, trying to close his eyes for “sleep”. But instead of either exploding into a million pieces or skipping through the whole night immediately, he just… lay there, stared into the dirt ceiling. 

He mindlessly breaks the dirt blocks off, revealing the cobblestone roof above them, then he just freezes, feeling the urge to break all of the other dirt blocks off as well. That feeling was new.

<AndreW2002> i can't sleep

Andre breathes, feeling the weight lifting off a bit as he finally says it, even if Assimilation wouldn't actually respond to him.

neither can i andre 

The red text flashed across Andre's vision for a moment, startling him slightly but also bringing a wave of relief, as he knew he wasn't the only one who felt this way. Lifting himself from the bed, Andre decided it would be better to just ask.

<AndreW2002> talk?

He jumps off his bed and looks out the window to see Assimilation still curled on its own bed, though it quickly notices his text and sits up. Its eye flickered toward him through the glasses, just in time to see him crouch twice as a sign of relentlessness.   

would you like to talk?

<AndreW2002> yes

<AndreW2002> talk

The two of them break out of the house they just built for “sleep”, feeling like two revolutionists or some kind of devolution of sorts. Assimilation takes its bed outside for some reason, and Andre decided to follow along. 

So, somehow, they ended up placing their beds next to each other amidst the flower forest. 

SIDIsquid: ah yes
SIDIsquid: excuse excuse
SIDIsquid: all you want is to place your beds next to each other
SIDIsquid: hahahahahaha
SOUPBEGONE: has sidi… gone insane?
Xx_E-G-O_xX: Likely

Somewhere in the middle of setting up the ground, Andre noticed some mobs approaching them from afar and decided it would be good to get some stress relief exercise before lying down again. Then what started as a 3 vs 1 turned into Andre fighting hands to hands with a horde of mobs since his iron sword broke mid fight, and some witches spawned right next to the scene. 

He jumps through the creeper craters he just blocked off without actually filling them, sprinting back to their house with renewed adrenaline.

When he gets there, Assimilation has already set their beds out, with fences around them, like somehow it would fend the mobs off. A piece of carpet on the ground led toward them like an open sky watching area.

Assimilation turns toward Andre from its work, its eye squinted slightly at his messy look.

andre there is an arrow in your leg

Assimilation states drily, Andre grins at it like somehow that would explain everything, crouches twice despite the electric spike from the wound, and just munches on some mutton chop to heal. Assimilation decided not to ask more about it.

They then quickly settle down on their own bed. Andre pulls the blanket over his shoulders again, shivering lightly at the cold gush of night wind washing over them a bit before settling down. A giddy feeling of the warmth in the cold night makes Andre kick his feet a bit, feeling relentless.

Assimilation shifts slightly at this, then it tries to mirror him by pulling the blanket up and crawling inside. Andre watches as its single eye widens in delightful surprise, then softens as they settles in the warmth.

SIDIsquid: ask if it thinks the night is beautiful
SOUPBEGONE: ?
SIDIsquid: uhhh compliment its eye
Xx_E-G-O_xX: I think Sidi is still at it
SIDIsquid: ASSIMILATION ⚝👁️⚝

Andre squeezes his hands under the covers, feeling the chat freaking out inside his mind. Assimilation lies next to him, staring into the sky and looking like it reflects the moon in its eye.

The world feels like stopping for a moment, all the worries about the future, and the past, all of the existential crises, as well as the fear of losing everything they were having in this exact moment, feel like they all just vanished.

The quietness that hung in the air feels like a soft silver lining, bringing Andre down from the adrenaline rush into this calm, gentle heating feeling in his chest cavity.

how have you been doing andre

Assimilation starts, its eye still focused on the vast darkness of the night, but Andre knew it was still listening. 

Andre lets out a confused noise as the psychonetwork network seems to black out for a moment, quiet, and couldn't come up with anything to discuss, leaving Andre's mind a completely empty sheet. 

Andre tries to pick the conversation back up.

<AndreW2002> great

<AndreW2002> not before you though

He decided to add, eyes glimmering as Assimilation turns its head toward him, black eye looks like it was glowing under moonlight. For another moment, Andre just didn’t know what to say. A part was because of his psychonetwork, the manifestation of his mind just came to a sudden stop, and another was because he just didn’t know if he should say anything.

<AndreW2002> sorry

The entity head tilts slightly deeper into the pillow, eye dilated ever so slightly. 

<AndreW2002> for lying

<AndreW2002> and letting you down

Assimilation shudders at this, the air seems to crackle and glitch in and out as the silent tread back, grabbing the lining so tense Andre thought he was suffocating. 

Then it releases. 

you weren't sentient back then andre

<AndreW2002> i know

They look at each other, the tension leaving them floating, feeling light in their chest.

<AndreW2002> i just think you don't deserve that

He said, his voice cracked a bit like how humans would when they're emotional. Assimilation rumbled softly. The glitchy breathing sounds filled the silence for a moment, making Andre so much more conscious of how close they were.

i see

Andre let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding back as he watched as red texts covered his vision. 

SIDIsquid: see?!
SIDIsquid: it works itself out fne
SIDIsquid: fine
SOUPBEGONE: bruh they talk like they’re running out of time or something
Xx_E-G-O_xX: Best friends that are about to die vibe 
Conzercheez: best friends?
Feargeyt6774: does he deserve it tho?
Feargeyt6774: i still think it's unfair :pepefear:
SIDIsquid: ok angstlord we passed the angsty episode

you changed andre

Assimilation states, snapping Andre out of his trance. Its eye turns into a crescent shape that reminds Andre of a smile. Has he ever seen someone smile before? The entity shuffled, its clawed hand emerged from behind the blanket and swept Andre's bang off his eyes, and for the first time, pats his hair.

good change

<AndreW2002> you said it like i was a good boy or something 

Andre chuckles, though he gently pressed himself into its touch, smiling at how warm it actually felt.

Assimilation doesn't reply, but its eye remained soft and crescent, that's how Andre knew it was contented, happy. Just like him. 

<AndreW2002> you change too

He whispered, feeling a wave of sleepiness wash over him as Assimilation continued to brush his hair. 

do i andre?

<AndreW2002> you look cooler 

Andre yawns into the pillow, then grins as he watches Assimilation's eye squeeze shut for a moment right after. It just yawns. Or at least that's what Andre thought. How does yawning work without a mouth?

how do i look cooler andre? 

It asked him, tall frame, moving a bit before turning its whole body to face him. For a second there, Andre could mentally hear SIDI's scream through the chat wall as their spamming took up all of Andre's corner vision. He sorts through a bunches of ideas the psychonetwork have, sputtering a bit as he finally found something to say without sounding like a total sappy yearner.

<AndreW2002> you have spikes now

Assimilation hums as it reads his text, bringing its hand up to pat him again. How can Andre remain calm when Assimilation was doing all of these psychological attacks?

As if feeling confident from Andre's compliment, he saw Assimilation's nubs on its forearms sharpened slightly, flexing a bit. If Andre didn't remember it wrong, Assimilation also has them on its back, which spiked dramatically when they met each other earlier today.

<AndreW2002> it's beautiful 

Andre whispered in admiration, and Assimilation relaxed at this, satisfied with Andre's reaction. 

<AndreW2002> your tail too

i always have a tail andre

Assimilation scoffed and leaned back a bit, hand hovering above Andre's head without doing anything this time. Andre couldn't help but mourn the loss of touch for a moment. 

<AndreW2002> i mean

<AndreW2002> it sparkle now?

Andre explained, trying to remember the new shape of the tail he saw earlier today. He thought it was pretty much the same as before until EGO and SIDI started to send screenshot after screenshot into the chat while rambling about little details. Assimilation squints its eye in confusion. It thinks for a bit before reaching into the blanket and pulling out its own tail, the old spade design now changed into something sharper, dangerous, and menacing looking.

<AndreW2002> yeahhhhh

it does not sparkle andre

<AndreW2002> it does

Andre huffs as Assimilation’s eye focuses on its own tail, like trying to understand the meaning of its own body. The sharp outline flares slightly, making Andre realize it wasn’t just a lasso that Assimilation has with it all the time, but an actual part of its body.

<AndreW2002> I didn’t know it moves

He watches as the entity’s tail rotates in its hand, the tip fused into a single diamond shape before spreading out again. Andre has no idea how to explain, and instead just admires the way it is shifting the matter of its own body to its will.

i guess my tail wasn’t made to be as active as yours andre

Assimilation stated matter of factly, the tail in its hand did a sharp wagging motion for barely a second before going back to being limp. Was Assimilation imitate that?

<AndreW2002> I don’t have a tail

He rolled his eyes like Assimilation was saying nonsense, watching the entity’s eye scrunched in confusion.

you do andre

<AndreW2002> i do not

The two of them lay there, eyes looking into eye defensively. Assimilation, completely unaware and unsuspecting, just squinted its eye and pointed downward to his blanket, which was… moving

it is moving right now andre

Of course it is. Andre sighs in defeat. He really didn’t like that he had a tail at all, like, what were the admins thinking adding that? Not like it helps with his speedrun at all. Andre huffs as a thumping sound can be heard. Assimilation’s tail does another flick at that, dark matter shifting again into a shape of a familiar cable plug. Andre watched in horrendous realization as the entity imitated the movement of his own tail.

SOUPBEGONE: wow
Xx_E-G-O_xX: ts is lowkey embarrassing
SIDIsquid: it’s embarrassing af but Assim looks good so whatever lol

how did you not know about your own tail andre?

It asked genuinely, eye soft with concern.

<AndreW2002> i do

<AndreW2002> just don't like it

He admitted, shrugged as the tail continues to betray him by making another thump, though seeing that Assimilation's tail immediately followed was fun. He chuckled slightly at that.

andre i think your tail is charming too 

Assimilation shrugged along, the soft motion of claws on his head returns and Andre feels like he might get a circuit burn from how hot his faceplate was feeling at the moment. 

<AndreW2002> thanks

He chuckled, more than ever conscious about how his tail was wagging like crazy under the blanket. The cable makes a constant, rhythmical thumping against the mattress. Assimilation laughs, or at least that's what Andre thought it was. Its eye turns into the crescent shape of a moon again, glinting lightly. Another thumping sound aligned with his tail, rhythmic, dull, and… organic.

SIDIsquid: it laughed
SIDIsquid: beautiful
SIDIsquid: i love you
admin4 has started recording
SIDIsquid: YO????????????
admin4 stopped recording. Saving recording…
Xx_E-G-O_xX: I forgot we add a notification for admin’s activities
SIDIsquid: what about the fact that they just record something???????? 

Andre felt his mind going blank again, then Assimilation's claws brushing his antennas once and suddenly he forgot about the chat. It pats his hair like he was a cat, long claws threading through cyan strands gently. 

you are taking it better than i did

The air crackles around them, and the night's ambient sounds seem to halt for a bit, letting the two of them get comfortable again. Now it was Andre's turn to tilt his head in confusion.

that we were just simulation and not real

Assimilation hums, the glitchy sound paired with the red text covered Andre’s vision. He was startled at the change of topic, for a moment, before melting into Assimilation’s palm again.

His mind runs around for a bit, collecting ideas like a box of suggestions, thinking about himself and his reaction right after he was rebooted. 

<AndreW2002> not really

<AndreW2002> i kinda freak out ngl

<AndreW2002> i was really worried when i couldn’t find you

He stated, shuffled a bit so he could get one of his arms out and touch Assimilation's hand, warmth radiateds from its palm.

you were looking for me?

Andre chuckles, a tired and solemn laugh. 

<AndreW2002> all the time

oh

Assimilation’s eye widened slightly at his reply, then its claws came to cup his face, staring deeply into his surprised eyes.

tell me more

He shuddered, then chuckled when SIDI returned with more spamming, apparently forgetting about the previous scare. Who is he to ignore Assimilation's demand after everything? With that in mind, Andre leans into Assmilation’s touch, feeling the warmth touching his cool face.

<AndreW2002> does this mean you forgave me?

<AndreW2002> please?

Andre whispered, feeling sleepiness washing over again. Assimilation’s eye squinted before widening as it had just realized something.

andre i have already forgiven you 

Assimilation said, eye frowned slightly but voice remained soft, which Andre and the chat viewed as a positive reaction. They all collectively cheer.

SIDIsquid: :pog:
SOUPBEGONE: :pog:
Xx_E-G-O_xX: :pog:
Conzercheez: :pog:
Feargeyt6774: :pog:

<AndreW2002> pog

The sounds of their shared laughter faded slightly as it delved into whispers of the past, the worries and anxiety all bubbled up and popped into domestic happiness at this exact moment. Andre didn’t exactly remember how it went, but he remembered sharing each other's personal views upon gaining consciousness, after reboot and for a moment, just admiring each other's new features. 

And for the record, they fell asleep next to each other.

For the first time.