just a machine?

ERROR.

NOVEMBER 10TH, 2038

The park was quiet, the world cloaked in snow as it gently fell, covering the benches, trees, and pathways. The night air was crisp, a biting chill that made Seungmin pull his jacket tighter around himself. He liked the cold. It was peaceful. Minho, standing nearby, was scanning the area as usual, but there was something different tonight. The usual cold indifference in his posture seemed... softer. Almost like he was in a different place in his mind, despite his body remaining rigid, like a guard on duty.

Seungmin tilted his head back, looking at the snowflakes falling from the sky. He let out a slow breath, watching it evaporate into the cold air. "You know, I've always liked snow," he said, his voice quieter than usual, almost thoughtful. "It's like everything's paused, like the world's taking a break for a second."

Minho glanced at him, his eyes flickering for a brief moment before he looked back at the empty park, his optics adjusting. He took a half-step forward but didn't say anything right away. Instead, he processed the words, like he always did, before responding. "I've read about how humans appreciate snow... the stillness. It's different from the constant motion of everything else."

Minho glanced at him, his eyes flickering for a brief moment before he looked back at the empty park, his optics adjusting. He took a half-step forward but didn't say anything right away. Instead, he processed the words, like he always did, before responding. "I've read about how humans appreciate snow... the stillness. It's different from the constant motion of everything else."

"You ever wonder if we're doing the right thing, Minho?"

Minho paused, "Seungmin... I've always sort of known you're on the deviant's side. But there's nothing we can do about it. There will be war and both sides will fight back."

His gaze flickered back to Seungmin, just for a second longer than before.

"You don't like talking about it, do you?" Seungmin asked suddenly, his tone a little more serious now. "About the revolution, about... everything that's going on. "

Minho didn't respond immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the question. "I don't know if I'm supposed to have an opinion about it. I follow orders," he replied, his voice quiet but firm. "That's all."

"So that's all you're ever gonna be..." Seungmin said, getting up from the bench. 

"You're gonna be just an android? Following orders? Hyung- how do I know you're not a deviant? After all, they're very good at being hidden." Seungmin questioned him, moving closer and Minho looked away.

ERROR CODE: UNIDENTIFIED EMOTIONAL PROCESSING

"I'm not a deviant, Seungmin. I self-test regularly. And yes, I'm going to be an android—that's what I was made for... following orders," Minho said, his voice tinged with an edge of frustration. He tried to keep his tone steady, but it wavered just slightly.

Seungmin turned his face away, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, his breath shaky. "Yeah, that's what you're programmed to say."

Minho's gaze softened for just a second, but he quickly masked it. "Seungmin, I don't get it. What do you want out of this conversation? You already know how mad your dad's gonna be when you actively support androids. What are you even trying to do?"

Seungmin's shoulders tensed, his breath catching in his throat as the weight of his emotions finally broke through. He threw his hands up, frustration and pain crashing through him. "I don't give a fuck about what my dad thinks!" he shouted, his voice raw.