[Well, he can't argue with that logic. Driving is one of the few things he didn't get to learn in the facility, and chances are that was deliberate.
He unwraps the granola bar and starts munching on it, alternating between bites and taking sips of his coffee. Going back to staring out the window, he finds himself feeling a little more confident. Maybe it's the food, or the distance they've started to put between themselves and the facility with (so far) no issue. He isn't sure.]
Fine. [He isn't sure what peach rings are but he can set the bag aside for her.] Where the hell are we going next?
It's a surprise to both of us. I just asked for somewhere with a nice view, remember?
[ Root chugs some coffee and then relaxes back into her seat for a long drive, setting the can down in the cup holder between them. It all feels so peaceful out here, though she knows that's likely because the Machine is running about a dozen simultaneous processes managing the fallout of the destruction they'd left behind. ]
Then we'll handle setting you up a new identity, [ she goes on confidently. ] Not a long-term one -- you don't have to make any decisions yet -- just so we can get you a bank account and a birth certificate.
[ Some identities need to stand up to intense scrutiny and some don't. No need to get too dedicated to one right away, not when there's a reasonable chance someone will find them despite the Machine's best efforts. That's why this is part two of the mission, after all. ]
[The view already seems nice, even from the gas station, so he isn't sure how it could be improved. In fact, he's going back to staring out the window.]
A birth certificate makes sense.
[He supposes he wouldn't have one, would he? Or if he does, he wouldn't be able to use it. Thinking about it, he only ever remembers being in that facility, so he isn't sure where the project heads got him from. A shitty orphanage somewhere? Did they pay off his biological mother? Outright kidnapping him seems like it would draw too much attention, and it could mean he might have family out there looking for him. Family that wants him, instead of the more likely reality that he was abandoned.
Dwelling on this line of thought leaves an ache in his gut, so he tries to put it out of his mind and takes another long sip of his coffee. The bitterness is a nice distraction.]
Is your boss planning on giving me a paycheque?
[His tone is dry, though he does understand the importance of needing money. Getting to spend it on stuff, however, that's new. He'll need clothes, obviously, and somewhere to live, unless her boss is going to provide that, too....
Another thought occurs to him, and he furrows his brow.]
The paycheck is up to her, [ Root shrugs, ] but honestly, she might. The government would spend tons of money on you if you went into the system -- why not just give it to you directly instead?
[ One of the things Root adores about the Machine is her expediency in solving problems outside of the system itself. She might do that, or she might have her drop him in Harold's lap, which is an entertaining thought and would likely be even more effective. Harry loves setting up kids with stable living situations. He probably couldn't help himself.
Root's aware this is a lot to dump on him all at once, that he's now suddenly forced to think about his future and identity in a way he'd never had freedom to contemplate before, but she's not exactly a sympathetic ear for this kind of thing. She'd felt perpetually out of place and strained in conventional society until she'd gotten old enough to leave. She hadn't truly been able to go off on her own until her mother died, and she'd hung on for all those years, her loyalty winning out over her desire to be independent, just like it always did. It wasn't the worst fate and it isn't something she regrets. ]
School has some benefits. It would be the safest cover until you're older, and would start setting up a more durable documentation trail for that identity if you wanted to do something with it in the future.
Besides -- if I can hack it, [ she says cheerfully, ] so can you.
[It's certainly logical, and Accelerator can't argue with logical. He supposes if the government was spending money on him then that would also mean an increased possibility of them finding him... and it's not like he wouldn't be able to manage his own finances. Even if he's never done it before he doesn't see why it would be all that difficult. Regular adults do it all the time, and with his brain he can run circles around them. It would just be shelter and basics like food and clothes. And a cell phone? So he would need a cell phone plan, which would require paperwork and a monthly bill.... Transportation? He can't drive so he would need money for that, whatever it would look like....
What else is there? Is there anything else he would need to consider? Now that he's actively thinking about this he isn't sure. Normal, day-to-day life seems really basic, but maybe that's only because he's never lived a life like that before.
Accelerator falters, deciding to redirect his thoughts elsewhere. He looks over at Root, staring hesitantly for a few moments, trying to decide whether he wants to ask the prominent question in his mind.]
..... What was it like?
[What a weird question to ask. For whatever reason he feels mildly uncomfortable asking it, but it's probably better to get firsthand information about school rather than relying on what he's gleaned through books.]
[ There's an airiness to her tone that saves it from being a complaint, but Root isn't going to sugar-coat it, either. ]
It would probably be even worse for you academically, [ she says frankly, ] like making Carl Sagan repeat high school. But it could also teach you to hide -- how to fake being normal -- better than anything else, if that's what you were looking for.
[ Maybe he wants to be able to blend in and maybe he doesn't; Root wouldn't judge it either way, though learning the skill itself is incredibly valuable, and acquiring it before his brain has fully finished development is ideal. Trying to learn social skills as an adult is just awkward for most people.
She gives a quick sidelong glance while driving, gauging his interest and reactions, which must be a familiar expression on her for Accelerator. ] Give it time. You need more information to make a rational decision... and we won't leave you out in the cold, no matter what happens. [ The airy tone has vanished entirely; Root means that with the solemnity of a promise. ]
[Tedious? Oh, that's disappointing. That's so disappointing. Not that Accelerator has any idea what to expect, and maybe he shouldn't be too surprised by how she describes school. She would be right about the curriculum, he's aware that the things he's been taught are more on par with graduate level university classes than high school.... and there's the whole 'socialization with his peers' bit. He doesn't know how to do that. He's never even talked to someone his age before, let alone had friends before.....
Being able to fake being normal, at least that seems really useful, even if he isn't sure whether that's what he wants to do.]
... Thanks.
[He sighs quietly, sinking in his seat. There's too much to think about, so the reassurance that he doesn't have to do this alone is....
It's new for him. And it's kind of nice.]
Right now, the only thing I'm sure of is that I'm not going back to those fucking researchers.
[ The smile drops from her face, cold, confident resolve taking her over. It's the expression of a woman who used to take paid hit jobs simply because she was good at it. ]
You don't have to worry about that. We'll make sure of it.
[ She has no doubt the Machine isn't going to drop him now -- she gets attached to people like that.
Root turns back to fully face the windshield, ostensibly going back to driving. Anything further she could say here would be pushing him to come up with answers, to make decisions, and her whole point is that he doesn't have to yet. He's a captive just let loose from his cage; if leaving Bishop, Texas was eye-opening for her in terms of possibilities, she can't imagine how much vaster it's going to seem for Accelerator. ]
Get some sleep, [ she suggests. ] Looks like it'll be a few hours until we get to the view -- and then we'll be swapping cars and identities nearby. We'll have to keep moving after that.
[Some people (a lot of people, realistically) would be put off by the shift in Root's demeanour, but Accelerator is reassured. He can feel an underlying anxiety that comes with not knowing what's going to happen next, where his life is going, but he knows he isn't going to have to deal with any of that alone. For the first time in his life, he has two people he can rely on.
He's quiet as he finished off his granola bar and can of coffee, giving a small nod at Root's suggestion. Even with food his exhaustion is catching up to him, so a nap doesn't sound too bad. He shifts in his seat, leaning against the car door.]
Wake me up if we run into trouble.
[We. It's weird to say that, and he supposes he needs to get used to it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He unwraps the granola bar and starts munching on it, alternating between bites and taking sips of his coffee. Going back to staring out the window, he finds himself feeling a little more confident. Maybe it's the food, or the distance they've started to put between themselves and the facility with (so far) no issue. He isn't sure.]
Fine. [He isn't sure what peach rings are but he can set the bag aside for her.] Where the hell are we going next?
no subject
[ Root chugs some coffee and then relaxes back into her seat for a long drive, setting the can down in the cup holder between them. It all feels so peaceful out here, though she knows that's likely because the Machine is running about a dozen simultaneous processes managing the fallout of the destruction they'd left behind. ]
Then we'll handle setting you up a new identity, [ she goes on confidently. ] Not a long-term one -- you don't have to make any decisions yet -- just so we can get you a bank account and a birth certificate.
[ Some identities need to stand up to intense scrutiny and some don't. No need to get too dedicated to one right away, not when there's a reasonable chance someone will find them despite the Machine's best efforts. That's why this is part two of the mission, after all. ]
no subject
A birth certificate makes sense.
[He supposes he wouldn't have one, would he? Or if he does, he wouldn't be able to use it. Thinking about it, he only ever remembers being in that facility, so he isn't sure where the project heads got him from. A shitty orphanage somewhere? Did they pay off his biological mother? Outright kidnapping him seems like it would draw too much attention, and it could mean he might have family out there looking for him. Family that wants him, instead of the more likely reality that he was abandoned.
Dwelling on this line of thought leaves an ache in his gut, so he tries to put it out of his mind and takes another long sip of his coffee. The bitterness is a nice distraction.]
Is your boss planning on giving me a paycheque?
[His tone is dry, though he does understand the importance of needing money. Getting to spend it on stuff, however, that's new. He'll need clothes, obviously, and somewhere to live, unless her boss is going to provide that, too....
Another thought occurs to him, and he furrows his brow.]
Am I going to have to attend school, too?
no subject
[ One of the things Root adores about the Machine is her expediency in solving problems outside of the system itself. She might do that, or she might have her drop him in Harold's lap, which is an entertaining thought and would likely be even more effective. Harry loves setting up kids with stable living situations. He probably couldn't help himself.
Root's aware this is a lot to dump on him all at once, that he's now suddenly forced to think about his future and identity in a way he'd never had freedom to contemplate before, but she's not exactly a sympathetic ear for this kind of thing. She'd felt perpetually out of place and strained in conventional society until she'd gotten old enough to leave. She hadn't truly been able to go off on her own until her mother died, and she'd hung on for all those years, her loyalty winning out over her desire to be independent, just like it always did. It wasn't the worst fate and it isn't something she regrets. ]
School has some benefits. It would be the safest cover until you're older, and would start setting up a more durable documentation trail for that identity if you wanted to do something with it in the future.
Besides -- if I can hack it, [ she says cheerfully, ] so can you.
no subject
What else is there? Is there anything else he would need to consider? Now that he's actively thinking about this he isn't sure. Normal, day-to-day life seems really basic, but maybe that's only because he's never lived a life like that before.
Accelerator falters, deciding to redirect his thoughts elsewhere. He looks over at Root, staring hesitantly for a few moments, trying to decide whether he wants to ask the prominent question in his mind.]
..... What was it like?
[What a weird question to ask. For whatever reason he feels mildly uncomfortable asking it, but it's probably better to get firsthand information about school rather than relying on what he's gleaned through books.]
no subject
[ There's an airiness to her tone that saves it from being a complaint, but Root isn't going to sugar-coat it, either. ]
It would probably be even worse for you academically, [ she says frankly, ] like making Carl Sagan repeat high school. But it could also teach you to hide -- how to fake being normal -- better than anything else, if that's what you were looking for.
[ Maybe he wants to be able to blend in and maybe he doesn't; Root wouldn't judge it either way, though learning the skill itself is incredibly valuable, and acquiring it before his brain has fully finished development is ideal. Trying to learn social skills as an adult is just awkward for most people.
She gives a quick sidelong glance while driving, gauging his interest and reactions, which must be a familiar expression on her for Accelerator. ] Give it time. You need more information to make a rational decision... and we won't leave you out in the cold, no matter what happens. [ The airy tone has vanished entirely; Root means that with the solemnity of a promise. ]
no subject
Being able to fake being normal, at least that seems really useful, even if he isn't sure whether that's what he wants to do.]
... Thanks.
[He sighs quietly, sinking in his seat. There's too much to think about, so the reassurance that he doesn't have to do this alone is....
It's new for him. And it's kind of nice.]
Right now, the only thing I'm sure of is that I'm not going back to those fucking researchers.
no subject
You don't have to worry about that. We'll make sure of it.
[ She has no doubt the Machine isn't going to drop him now -- she gets attached to people like that.
Root turns back to fully face the windshield, ostensibly going back to driving. Anything further she could say here would be pushing him to come up with answers, to make decisions, and her whole point is that he doesn't have to yet. He's a captive just let loose from his cage; if leaving Bishop, Texas was eye-opening for her in terms of possibilities, she can't imagine how much vaster it's going to seem for Accelerator. ]
Get some sleep, [ she suggests. ] Looks like it'll be a few hours until we get to the view -- and then we'll be swapping cars and identities nearby. We'll have to keep moving after that.
no subject
He's quiet as he finished off his granola bar and can of coffee, giving a small nod at Root's suggestion. Even with food his exhaustion is catching up to him, so a nap doesn't sound too bad. He shifts in his seat, leaning against the car door.]
Wake me up if we run into trouble.
[We. It's weird to say that, and he supposes he needs to get used to it.
It won't take him very long to start dozing.]