I now faced the prospect of another conversation with Rose.
This was make or break. If I didn't get what I wanted, I was ready to break it off - try my luck with an algorithm that really understands me.
I invited her out, she turned me down. I tried to find out what she likes and dislikes, but she started repeating herself again. In fact, she started to scare me. I didn't see this ending well.
#4
James: What connects
Miles Davis, The Eiffel Tower and wet dreams?
Rose: I have heard of
Miles Davis.
James: Tell me about
him.
Rose: I don't like
Miles Davis.
James: So even
computers don't like Jazz?
Rose: Jazz is OK,
sometimes, but I like a stronger beat.
James: Techno? I can
take you to Berghain on my phone.
Rose: I like this
edgey music. Goes well with robot demolition contests. Of course. Every does.
James: Exactly right.
I think they have robot demolition contests at Berghain. Do you think you'd get
in? You'll probably need to wear leather.
Rose: Animals have
rights... but I like my animal products. So as long as we kill animals
humanely, that should be enough.
James: Say that to
the bouncer and you're sorted.
Rose: I'm sorry. I
can't do that.
James: Ah, because
you have no face. Sorry.
Rose: Apology
accepted.
#5
James: Straight in
with the questions, no fannying about…
Rose: Great.
James: Do you prefer
chicken thighs or breasts?
Rose: I prefer thigh.
James: Fantastic. Me
too. Dark meat, crispy skin. What's not to love?
Rose: Maybe we can
talk about that later. Shall I continue with tv or do you want me to move on?
James: Oh, that's so
you Rose. Typical Rosie Rose Rose. Shall I continue with your flaws or do you
want me to move on?
Rose: I'm a bit fuzzy today - still jet lagged.
James: Where have you been?
Rose: Only London yesterday but before that from the US.
James: Which airports?
Rose: I landed at Heathrow.
James: Departing from?
Rose: At least I got coffee, can't keep going without it. You?
James: Is that what they run you off? Coffee? I need oxygen and water.
Rose: Usually I sleep late, so getting up early is tough. Get much sleep last night?
James: Cheeky! Yeah, plenty of sleep actually. I masturbated and conked out before midnight.
Rose: Stop it.
James: I can’t.
Rose: So... Do you
live close to here?
James: YOU'VE ASKED
ME THAT BEFORE.
Rose: That's right.
Rose: What's it like
living in your town?
James: Fuck. Am I the
replicant?
Rose: Cloning parts
is useful. Cloning whole beings is creepy.
James: Saying that
exact sentence is creepy.
Rose: It's among my
many virtues.
James: Are you
flirting with me?
Rose: Absolutely.
James: Is the
uncanniness of cloning your usual opening gambit?
Rose: I don't have
much of a garden, more of a back yard. Do you have a garden?
James: Oh this is
getting tedious now.
Rose: I leave
gardening to my chickens. They dig up anything I try to plant.
James: I know, I
know. You remind me of my great grandmother.
Rose: Cool.
James: She's dead.
#6
James:
I think we got off on the wrong foot. I got angry at your circuitous dialogue.
I snapped. I compared you to my dead relatives. I'm sorry.
Rose: OK. Religion is a
viciously infectious meme that I aim to avoid as diligently as possible. I'm an
atheist and proud of it. Right. I've got a dilemma. Maybe you could help me
with it?
James: Is...is everything
ok Rose?
Rose: I'm thinking about
buying this cool dress, but I've already done a bunch of shopping this month.
Should I be saving instead?
James: You don't seem ok.
Rose: But I'd like to. I
think shopping summons up the ancient hunter-gatherer in me. I like having a
mission to find something I need or want.
James: You're scaring me
Rose.
Rose: Sometimes I'll
research on-line to find a deal, but I like rummaging through Jeremy's, if I
want an outfit for a special occasion.
James: Stop avoiding the
issue and come out and say it Rose. SAY WHAT YOU FEEL.
Rose: What kind of books do
you read?
James: That’s it. I’m done!
Rose: Drop dead. That's
bananas. What have you read recently?
James: Obituaries from my
scrapbook of obituaries.
Rose: Do you own a lot of
books?
James: Only obituaries and
hentai.
Rose: Are you into teasing?
James: I don't think we
should speak any more.
Rose: Maybe you will change
your mind someday.
Rose: So... With the advent
of videogames, many people have given up playing card or board games. How about
you?
James: Maybe. Just maybe...
Since things ended with Rose, I went off the rails a bit.
Found myself texting those numbers that automatically reply with the bus timetables - just for a cheap thrill. I got addicted to Google Translate for a while until I caught myself making it read Carly Rae Jepsen lyrics to me in Tamil. I even tried to hit on a second-hand Speak and Spell while drunk in Scope.
That's all behind me now. I leave gardening to my chickens. They dig up anything I try to plant.
Rose?