Chapter Text
About this story
T. is a more holistic answer to the question, "what would happen if Uncle Bob didn't die, post-canon?" Many works have addressed this query – but this one, differentiated by its romantic and reader-insert plot, turns on his nature as a machine becoming a man; that is, becoming a being capable of knowing and showing love.
Of course, all are welcome to read it – I hope you enjoy! – though it is intended as a female reader x T-800 fiction, as is the case with its parent series, Roses.
Features of this story
This story aims to analyze little moments, snippets in time, while taking, small-scale, on the questions of fate, humanity, and life and love. I believe that those are the foundation of relationships, forming the patterns of life, as opposed to the major milestones – like this mindset. (Bigger answers require bigger works and scopes!)
It covers several years – as of the time of writing, from 1995 to 2003. There is a timeline, here, which I recommend consulting over the course of reading. However, this work is very anachronistic and out of order, intentionally so as that is how we remember things – in bits and pieces, in moments recalled here and there.
In order to more accurately convey the story and to make it as realistic and immersive as possible – my ultimate goal, given that the message of the franchise (initially) is largely that there is extraordinary in the ordinary and that, accordingly, fate is made in even the smallest of moments – I have included several links within the story. They provide imagery, audio, details, etc.
Additionally, all of the dates and times are real and have been verified. Other informations, such as weather data, locations, historical and cultural contexts, and such are accurate as much as I can verify using the resources at my disposal.
I have also created a moodboard, here.
The “sound” of this story is “Stop Waiting” by Cigarettes After Sex, specifically 5:12-6:01, more specifically 5:30-5:41.
Canons in this story
My personal canon/sources are, of course, T1 and T2 – as well as their novelizations – and, to an extent, T2-3D and TSCC where needed. (T3-7 don’t exist to me)
I also heavily draw from my own characterizations (based on canon) and headcanons – you can read my character sheet on T here.
Informations for this story
This work is designed to never be finished and accordingly is updated whenever I please, without schedule, in both shorter and longer chapters. It is happily neverending; forever and always to be written, added to, and expanded – as is the same of its parent series, Roses. Pivotal moments and times within T. are or will be written into longer works within the Roses series.*
Warnings about this story
This work contains references to eating disorders and psychiatric hospitalization. There is sexual content as well. I make every effort to warn of these themes in the opening notes.
If you have been affected by an eating disorder, please consider visiting NEDA or ANAD for support.
If you have been affected by a stay at a psychiatric facility, please consider finding local resources in your area for support.
★ 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 "𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀") 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
We were together. I forget the rest.
Walt Whitman
This is T.