The Big O and all of its settings and characters are owned by Cartoon Network, Sunrise, and Bandai Visual.

THE BIG O:

ACT 30

PRICELESS

Chapter Twelve: Something on Your Face

The next day Roger found Dorothy on the rooftop patio, looking out at the ruined city. Scaffolding could be seen on almost every block, indicating that no matter how bad things were it was always possible to rebuild. Dorothy didn't turn around as he walked out to see her. Her back remained facing him.

"Hey," Roger greeted as he leaned on the patio wall next to her. "Didn't see you at breakfast today. You didn't wake me up this morning either. What's going on? Still mad at me?"

"Of course not," she said as she looked away from him. "You know androids don't have feelings like that."

"I'm not so sure," Roger smiled sadly. "I can think of at least one exception."

"You needn't bother." She was still looking away.

"You know, I have a rule about apologies, but it seems that with you I break it all the time," Roger sighed.

"What rule is that?" Dorothy finally turned her head to look at him.

"Rule number six: Never apologize; it's a sign of weakness," he replied. "It seems that with you I break that rule more than any other."

"If you want to stop breaking it, perhaps you should stop giving yourself a reason to apologize," Dorothy suggested.

"Yeah, you're right. I should," Roger nodded, "but you could help me with that every once and a while y'know."

"How so?"

"For starters you could drop this 'emotionless android' act," Roger smirked as the wind blew on his ebony hair. "Your feelings run just as deep as everybody else's."

"How do you know?" Dorothy asked with an unblinking gaze.

"I may not be Danny Kirk, but I know women," Roger replied smugly.

"So I heard," Dorothy said without moving. "Danny made you out to be quite the ladies man."

"I'm sure he was exaggerating," Roger shrugged guiltily. "But the first thing you find out when you know everything about women is that you know absolutely nothing about women. Maybe you could give me a clue every once in a while."

"You do seem quite clueless at times," Dorothy deadpanned.

"And whose fault is that?" Roger gently scolded. "After all the time we've spent together you still don't trust me enough to let me know what you're feeling. You keep it all bottled up and I have to guess. It's not my fault if I forget sometimes."

"Forget what?" Dorothy's neutral voice had an edge. "Forget that I exist?"

"You see, that's the spirit," Roger smiled. "Now I know what you're thinking. But I shouldn't have to upset you just to get a reaction out of you. It wouldn't hurt to let me in every once and a while."

"Danny Kirk treated me as a woman from the first time we met," Dorothy argued. "He didn't need reminding that I'm a person. You on the other hand, treated me as second class from the day I moved in."

"That's hardly fair," Roger frowned. "Even though I didn't ask for you to move in with me I never treated you like you were second class or anything."

"'No matter how human your piano playing sounds you're just simply imitating us,'" Dorothy quoted Roger from the first morning they spent as roommates. "'That's why no matter what you play, it has no effect on anyone and becomes pointless.'"

"I said that?" Roger paled.

"Yes," Dorothy informed him. "That's what you said at breakfast the first time I woke you when you slept in too late. You said I was just mimicking humans. That was why I was 'so unnatural' you said. Did it ever occur to you that I was trying to do what everybody else does so that I could blend in?"

"Yeah," Roger looked away. "Later. Much later."

"You never hesitate to point out the fact that I'm an android, Roger," Dorothy said in her level tone. "Danny Kirk said his name constantly, but he was afraid that he might forget it. Is it that hard to remember that I'm an android?"

"No," Roger said automatically before he stopped and thought about the question. "Yes," he finally admitted. "It is. I guess I got in the habit of reminding myself."

"Why?" Dorothy asked pointblank. "Why do you need to remind yourself of something that you claim is obvious?"

"Not for any reason I'd like to admit," he muttered as he looked away, "not even to myself." Especially to myself, he thought.

"So? How come?" she asked with childish audacity. When he didn't answer she went on the attack. "So. You expect me to be open and easy to read while you keep your secrets. That's all right. I'm used to a double standard."

"I'll tell you," Roger grumbled, "but you probably won't respect me any more than you do now. Maybe less."

"It would be hard to respect you any less right now," Dorothy said mercilessly. "None of this would have happened if you hadn't lost confidence in yourself. You're the reason why Big O went away."

"I wasn't worthy to pilot a megadeus anymore, huh?" One of Roger's unique eyebrows arched up at her remark.

"Perhaps," Dorothy conceded. "But the real reason that Big O left was because it felt guilty."

"Guilty?" Roger blinked. "How could Big O feel guilty? What does it have to feel guilty about?"

"I don't know," Dorothy admitted. "It wouldn't tell me. Perhaps it felt responsible for your lack of resolve."

"Responsible? In what way?" Roger asked her. "And why would it feel guilty if I failed it somehow? Wouldn't it simply judge me as unworthy and leave it at that?"

"You did seem to think that Big O wanted to make you a permanent part of itself," Dorothy replied. "Perhaps I am not the only robot you're having issues with."

"Left myself open for that one," Roger grumbled. "Look Danny may have exaggerated about me, but he didn't exactly lie. Before you moved in I suppose I did have a cavalier attitude towards women."

"I thought you were a gentleman," the girl dryly scolded.

"I try to be," he nodded ruefully. "The thing is that having a pretty young girl like you under my roof can be quite a temptation. And it wouldn't be fair to you if I took advantage, do you understand, Dorothy?"

"So. By emphasizing the fact that I am not human, you are better able to resist taking liberties with me." Her emotionless voice was perfect for conveying disgust. "I had no idea that you had so little self-control. Do you really have point out that I'm an android to make me seem less attractive to you? You really are such a louse, Roger Smith."

"Yeah, I know," he nodded sadly. "Go ahead, indulge yourself. I suppose I deserve it. It will keep me from asking if…" His voice trailed off.

"Yes?"

"Dorothy," he said hesitantly. "I know this is none of my business, but you and Danny seemed… uh… kind of intimate with each other. When I came in, you had your arms around him…"

"So?" Was Dorothy's tone defensive? "Are you jealous, Roger Smith?"

"No!" he answered quickly before he gave a guilty laugh. "It's just that… if Angel and I hadn't barged in… If a megadeus wasn't after you…"

"I don't know," Dorothy voice rose an octave to convey sarcasm, "Danny Kirk can be very charming. He may present himself as a rude, lecherous old man but I have no doubt that with enough time he could talk anybody into anything."

"Anything, huh?" Roger grumbled.

"Yes. Anything," she replied without mercy. "But I'm glad you're not jealous."

"Yeah," he muttered. "So the old man really swept you off your feet huh? Tell me, what was it about him that you found so irresistible?"

"It's quite simple, Roger," Dorothy's flat emotionless voice was almost condescending. "He treated me like a person. Even after you told him I was an android he never stopped treating me as a girl."

"He was trying to get in your pants, Dorothy," Roger pointed out.

"So? That's just the way he treats women," Dorothy should have shrugged, but she was still stingy with her body language.

"He treats women like sex objects," Roger protested.

"You treat me like an object too sometimes," Dorothy retorted.

"No I don't, I treat you like a…"

"Like a pet then," Dorothy interrupted. "Something so humanlike, so close to being a little person, but something that will never grow up and become a human being. You treat me like a child who can't develop. Something you love, but also pity." When Roger didn't have a reply, she continued. "I asked you once if you and I lost our memories and we subsequently met, would we fall in love? Eventually you said that if things were different, and I was human, we would. Why do I have to be human for us to fall in love, Roger Smith?"

"I didn't mean that I couldn't love you because you were an android, Dorothy!" Roger cried. "I simply meant that you were a…" he caught himself and stopped.

"I'm a what?" Dorothy asked without blinking. "I'm a machine? I'm a robot? I'm a wind-up doll?"

"No Dorothy, you're a minor!" Roger spread his hands in a beseeching gesture. "Don't you get it, you're a child! How long have you been online? Over a year maybe? Two at the most? How long have you been alive?"

"For all you know I could have been active for decades," Dorothy crossed her arms in an attempt to assume an arrogant pose. "My father built me in the shape of a teenage girl but I could be older than you are for all you know."

"Are you?" Roger asked her.

"Roger Smith, you know better than to ask a lady her age," Dorothy scolded.

"I doubt it," Roger shook his head. "You seem pretty young to me. Dorothy, even if I was the ruthless womanizer Danny said I was I still couldn't take advantage of a two-year-old girl even if she looked like she was thirty! You're just too young for… You understand that don't you?"

"Is that why you insist that I wear black?" Dorothy asked him. "Is that why you dress me in such an ugly color? Is it an attempt for 'Mister-Bury-Me-In-A-'Y'-Shaped-Coffin' to make me less attractive so he can control himself?"

"Mister What?" Roger gasped before he nodded with a knowing smile. "I see. I can guess what's going on. You've been talking to Danny. What crazy ideas did he put in your head anyway?"

"He said that I should show you different sides of my personality," Dorothy answered. "He also said that I should stick up for myself more often."

"He doesn't know you like I do," Roger shook his head ruefully. "If he only knew the truth..."

"He also said I should 'mix it up a bit' and not be afraid to act like a stereotypical woman once and a while," she continued.

"Oh really?" Roger raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And how would you do that?"

"If you ever did something that crossed the line he suggested I slap your face," she told him. "He said that if you deserved it I should slap you often and that it would be good practice."

"Oh did he?" Roger asked sarcastically. "Thanks a lot Danny. For crying out loud, Dorothy, you split my lip! I was bleeding!"

"Don't be such a baby, Roger," she retorted. "Your mouth has healed. You can't even see a wound anymore."

"You almost knocked my teeth out!" Roger insisted.

"Don't worry about it, humans heal," Dorothy insisted. "It's androids that you have constantly repair so they don't rattle like old tin cans."

"I never said you'd rattle like an old tin can, I just want you to be healthy!" Roger protested. "You aren't being fair!"

"This world isn't fair, is it, Roger?" Dorothy said as the wind blew through her hair.

"I guess it isn't," Roger sighed, "but I'd still like to make it fair, for you anyway."

"That is very sweet of you, Roger," Dorothy conceded. "Despite your conflicted feelings towards machines and androids, I have to ask: Do you love me? Even though you feel so disconnected to this world that you can't bring yourself to be a part of it? Even though I'm an android? Do you love me anyway?"

As Roger looked into her eyes he found it hard to believe that the darling girl looking up at him wasn't flesh and blood. "D-Dorothy, of course I love you," he nervously replied. "You know that. I lose sleep worrying about you."

"Really, Roger?" Dorothy's voice sounded almost… hopeful.

"Of course," Roger nodded, "and Norman loves you too."

"Roger?" Dorothy reached her alabaster white hand out to gently grasp his chin. "Excuse me. Just a second. There's something on your face."

"What is it?"

With a quick flick of her wrist she slapped him, sending him staggering backwards clutching his chin. "Ow!"

"It's a bruise," Dorothy said calmly.

No Side.

Dorothy and Roger sit on a large hourglass the size of a barstool. Behind them is an orange background. The sound of a piano and the duet of a man and woman singing can be heard.

Sometimes I feel so all alone

Finding myself callin' your name

When we're apart, so far away

Hopin' it's me that you're thinkin' of

Could it be true, could it be real?

My heart says that you're the one.

There's no one else, you're the only one for me.

Yes, this time my love's the real thing.

Never felt that love is so right.

The world seemed such an empty place.

We need someone we could give our all.

Baby, it's you, we'll be together now and forever.

Could it be true, could it be real?

My heart says that you're the one.

There's no one else, you're the only one for me.

Yes, this time my love's the real thing.

Never felt that love is so right.

The world seemed such an empty place.

We need someone we could give our all.

Baby, it's you, we'll be together now and forever.

Never felt that love is so right.

The world seemed such an empty place.

We need someone we could give our all.

Baby, it's you, we'll be together now and forever.

On a desk filled with hourglasses a phone rings. Norman's hand picks up the receiver and a sinister voice says:

Dreams Dark and Deadly