"Ex-machines, that's a good way to put it," the noble commented. Since the spluttering and choking seemed to have stopped, he felt safer sitting back in his chair, an arm hooked over the back.

That supposedly there were other vampires afoot besides just him wasn't as bizarre a thought as the hospital filling up with sentient machines. Vampires were real. They were part of the natural order. They belonged. Talking androids and other science fiction nonsense, on the other hand, strictly belonged to the realm of the fantastical. Or they should have.

Although Aidou had seen Aigis' abilities for himself, her status as a robot remained difficult to accept; when it came to others besides her, it was easier just to shrug their claims off.

Ignorance was bliss.

"Well, I've never heard those names, either. Jeez, so many of you... What's Landel doing, enforcing a new policy where all the new prisoners he kidnaps must be robot people?" His tone was wry, and not a little disbelieving. What a thought. "Mm. Well. I'm sure the four of you would get along splendidly."