#911 for robots

[karimitic]

I don't think that bot is ok.

Is there a 911 for robots?

[apricustar]

there's something really important in the way buck grieves in 8x16 that feels like it's being misunderstood. i keep seeing people say he was emotionless--that oliver himself gave us nothing--but i think that silence was the performance; that was the choice-- one made as protection.

last episode, we saw him collapse--on the ground wailing, can't hold himself up, can't draw a breath that doesn't feel like it's tearing him up inside. that was raw, unfiltered. that was what happens when the grief and disbelief hit before he had time to build the walls we see in this episode.

beyond an i love you, bobby's last words to buck were that the team was going to need him. and bobby's words have always carried a significant weight for buck, but these being the last? they clearly landed like a mission. a burden. a plea.

so what we get in 8x16 isn't a lack of emotion--its a man white-knuckling his way through unbearable loss because that's what he thinks he has to do in order to live up to what bobby asked of him. it's buck burying his own grief so deep he won't accidentally spill it on the people around him. it's him becoming that steady presence-- the one bobby said they need--even if it means locking away every part of himself. all the too-sharp edges of his own feelings, all the things he knows might take him under again.

because if he lets go for even a second? i truly think he worries he'll end up back on the ground again: helpless unable to fix or do anything.

oliver didn't give us 'nothing'. he gave us stillness. he gave us restraint. he's carefully calibrated, holding his breath, his posture, holding himself--because he knows if he slips, he might not come back from it. he's holding grief in his throat like it might choke him if he swallows wrong. he's trying to be what the team needs while neglecting what he needs. and it's devastating.

and it's all there if you look at him: the way buck's jaw clenches at times; minute changes to his expression before he smooths it over into careful neutrality; the way his every word feels deliberate and weighted, like he's rolled all them around in his mouth first before he speaks. nothing is effortless, everything is held.

it was heartbreaking to see. and i cant imagine how much more heartbreaking it will be when he finally breaks and lets go.

[spicycinnabun]

🤖 I've loved all the snippets of this au so much!

glad you're enjoying it!! 🤖💙

EB was sidewinding, bumping into Tommy on almost every step. The shots were finally hitting his processors.

Tommy steadied him with an arm around his waist.

“I may have m-m-miscalculated my tolerance,” EB admitted. His cheeks were deeply Thirium flushed. He giggled, then burped up a bunch of metallic blue bubbles. One popped in front of Tommy’s nose, making it wrinkle. “O-oops!”

EB reached up, clumsily attempting to wipe Tommy's face. Tommy caught his wrist and lowered it gently. He patted EB’s hip, smiling. “Okay, we need to cut you off. I think it's time to go home.”

“Already?” EB turned towards Tommy. “Can I go h-home with you instead?” he asked, eyes glimmering.

Tommy’s chest clenched immediately.

Technically, if Tommy took EB to his house without authorization, he would be stealing LAFD property.

“You want me to botnap you?” Tommy asked. 

He wasn’t against the idea. Fuck Gerrard.

EB was still giving him the robopuppy eyes. They were getting even wetter. “I know it’s wrong. I don’t want you to get in trouble, Tommy. It just… gets l-l-lonely at the station when you’re not there.”

Tommy had no idea EB was capable of loneliness. He wondered what it was like to exist at the station. How long had EB been feeling this way? Just for a little while, or since his assembly day?

“I'll be on my best b-behavior. I’ll be so good you might even want to k-keep me.”

The ache in Tommy’s chest grew tenfold. That really twisted the knife. “EB…”

“I’ve had dreams about it before.” EB smiled. It was sweet. Confessional. His lips looked especially full and pink. His LED pulsed blue. “If you were my owner instead of Captain, and I was your botfriend.”

Tommy's brain broke. He wasn’t going to survive hearing more of this. “...You can dream?”

And not only that, but EB dreamt of him? Of them? Together?

“I can construct visual scenarios with various o-o-outcomes,” EB answered, blinking slowly and swaying on the spot. Tommy tightened his grip on him. “Like dreams, they're not real.”

“I didn’t know,” Tommy said. Choked, really.

“If it was possible, would you want that? Would you want me?” EB asked. His tone glitched on the question, going tinny. The hope in it was painful.

Tommy’s throat clicked as he swallowed. Of course I’d want you, EB.

How could he not?

Someone bumped into him from behind, jostling them and reminding Tommy of exactly where they were and who he was. In a crowded bar with his very masculine, red-blooded coworkers just a few feet away. 

EB's big, mechanical Thirium pump was going to get damaged. Just like Tommy’s heart had years ago.

Self-loathing more than usual, Tommy let go of EB and dodged the question. “I can’t talk about this here. How long will it take for you to regulate your Thirium?”

EB’s expression fell.

So did Tommy’s stomach, straight to his fucking feet.

“Approximately three hours and forty-two minutes,” EB answered quietly.

“We probably shouldn’t take you straight back to the station. Not until you’ve sobered up. C’mon.”

Tommy wanted to take EB’s hand and squeeze it.

He didn’t.

⚙︎

tag list: @brassm-tagged @leashybebes @thesuspiciousflyingjellyfish @setmeatopthepyre @bibuckeroo @station18908 @hmg621 @buffaluff @disastardly @figuringitoutaloud @bbbuckalou @ambernotember @theredrenard @hyperfocusthusly @tedious-waffle @screamlet @xmidhel @nochance-noway

@rcmclachlan @popfly @powersuitup @nonotyourspumoni @espressopatronum454 @loulou-land @all-the-feelss @comeon-intothemadhouse @jake-is-screaming-in-tune @therealstacyfakename @whizzzerbrown @the-omniscient-narrator @5ammi90 @crazypenguin88 @thuperrah @just-barrow @exhaustedpirate

[epiaphany]

scenes (almost) without music: 8.10 buddie goodbye scene the music doesn't start before buck gets the cookies, but i wanted to include the whole thing :) so you can fast forward to there if you want. hopefully this still has an impact even though you can hear some of the music

[violet-knights]

Robot!Buck, who is quickly able to calculate probabilities of failures in buildings and find the best routes.

Calculate the force needed to pry open crushed cars and break down doors.

Calculate survival chance.

Robot!Buck is watching as Eddie goes down the well. He sees the potential failure points, but deems it worth the risks. They gave him a time limit, he would be safe.

But then Eddie does something unexpected, something human. He cuts the rope.

And now he sees the red warning of potential faults as they work to get both Eddie and the kid out. He feels the shift in the air, his sensors kicking in telling him what’s happening before it does- the lightning strike. The well collapses.

He can see how long it would take for him to dig Eddie out. He can see how long the average human can hold their breath for. He can see the bright red numbers telling him the chance of survival is less than 1%. He knows everything he is doing is for naught

And yet he can’t stop himself from digging.

[violet-knights]

I love the idea of android Buck because I think it would just be so fun.

The technophobe and his robot boyfriend

[layan22gaza77]

It is very unfortunate that we have not received any donations within days. Have people become merciless? Have they lost their humanity?🥹🥹

[anewbrainjughead]

'finally found happiness'???? because he ate a pie and made a joke? his husband DIED.

[imakatperson22]

HC that Harry, Denny, and Chris have a biweekly (weekly in the summers) DnD game. Denny brings in Mara (like Erica in Stranger Things) and Chris FaceTimes in from Texas after he leaves.

[mecharacer]

Hi! Looking for some friends. My hyperfixations are

-Hot Wheels Acceleracers/World Race

-SD Gundam Force/World Heroes

-Super Giant Robot Brothers

-Pacific Rim

-Universal Studios Orlando

-Transformers

-Roller Coasters

- 9-1-1 (Buddie stan btw)

I do a lot of oc x canon with canon x canon so if you dont like that sorry? 🤷‍♀️

Any minors DNI

Im happy to talk!

[rosstrytobe]

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOSE?

At this point i don’t anymore...

[elizabeth51847861]

Inter Miami CF vs. Palmeiras

Inter miami vs Palmeiras

[graciebonoffical]