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[It's text because he knows he won't be able to control the emotions in his voice if he talks to Connor right now.]
Markus is gone.
I can't find him
but his device still responds to me
but he's no where connor I don't know what's going on
Markus is gone.
I can't find him
but his device still responds to me
but he's no where connor I don't know what's going on
[connor relaxes into it slightly, eased by the touch. he likes that kind of contact, he's decided. but part of it is habit too--he's used to needing to interface by pressing synthetic skin together with another android. it's an added sense of connectivity on levels he doesn't even comprehend.
his brows are furrowed together, eyes downcast]
Concerns? About--ice cream?
[he's not avoiding the obvious topic on purpose. he's just...lost, clearly.]
his brows are furrowed together, eyes downcast]
Concerns? About--ice cream?
[he's not avoiding the obvious topic on purpose. he's just...lost, clearly.]
No, no...not the ice cream. How you're feeling. What you're experiencing.
[It's almost child's play for 9S as he begins to sift through Connor's data, byte by byte, acting like a living anti-virus if you will. So far though nothing has turned up. He does catch him relax once their hands connect though. It's interesting, considering 9S feels the same way. (Relaxed, that is.)]
[It's almost child's play for 9S as he begins to sift through Connor's data, byte by byte, acting like a living anti-virus if you will. So far though nothing has turned up. He does catch him relax once their hands connect though. It's interesting, considering 9S feels the same way. (Relaxed, that is.)]
Simon?
I had...a similar experience with Hank. I watched him die, and a few days later he came back with the new arrivals. His memory was altered, but he was there.
Do you know if Markus was injured at all, last time you saw him?
[he doesn't need to hear his voice to know how important markus is to simon.]
I had...a similar experience with Hank. I watched him die, and a few days later he came back with the new arrivals. His memory was altered, but he was there.
Do you know if Markus was injured at all, last time you saw him?
[he doesn't need to hear his voice to know how important markus is to simon.]
no he was okay
nothing was wrong with him like that
[He would stop to consider everything Connor is telling him, but his own emotions have overridden the ability to notice it. He'll owe him an apology later.]
I think there's something wrong with North too
please I need to find them you hunt deviants help me find them
nothing was wrong with him like that
[He would stop to consider everything Connor is telling him, but his own emotions have overridden the ability to notice it. He'll owe him an apology later.]
I think there's something wrong with North too
please I need to find them you hunt deviants help me find them
Hello, Connor. This is 2B.
I wanted to speak to you if you have time. If not, a conversation via text is fine. Please don't let me keep you from your duties. I want to address the danger your human has faced here and advise you of a possible threat from the world I came here from.
I wanted to speak to you if you have time. If not, a conversation via text is fine. Please don't let me keep you from your duties. I want to address the danger your human has faced here and advise you of a possible threat from the world I came here from.
[kamski can't possibly know the existential dread he's experienced since that test. even though the amount of time that's passed has only been a few months, the events leading up to their meeting feel like a lifetime ago. he's gotten closer to other androids here, he's learning the experiences and emotions of more advanced models, and hank--well, he'd be very hard-pressed to discuss something like that with kamski. it feels...private, and something worth keeping that way. connor has his social profile on what hank likes and what he's discovered from their more intimate time together encrypted deeply within his systems--yet another shred of implied deviancy even if he'd insist otherwise.
seeing kamski standing there, looking hardly any different besides clothes is...more jarring than he anticipated. he blinks rapidly, noting an increase in stress levels and filing it away for later consideration. kamski might be the smartest man of the century, but surely he can't tell that from looking at face value--or so he hopes.
he folds his hands, stepping inside with a small nod.]
Thank you, Mr. Kamski.
[he'll follow that instruction, sitting with his back uncomfortably straight and his hands folded in his lap--rigid, like the movement of most androids at first glance. but he doesn't look like there's an absence of thought or processing until kamski speaks--rather, it looks like he's troubled behind his deep brown eyes.]
Where should we begin?
seeing kamski standing there, looking hardly any different besides clothes is...more jarring than he anticipated. he blinks rapidly, noting an increase in stress levels and filing it away for later consideration. kamski might be the smartest man of the century, but surely he can't tell that from looking at face value--or so he hopes.
he folds his hands, stepping inside with a small nod.]
Thank you, Mr. Kamski.
[he'll follow that instruction, sitting with his back uncomfortably straight and his hands folded in his lap--rigid, like the movement of most androids at first glance. but he doesn't look like there's an absence of thought or processing until kamski speaks--rather, it looks like he's troubled behind his deep brown eyes.]
Where should we begin?
You and I need to have a conversation.
[ Less talk and more action, but Connor would figure that out. ]
[ Less talk and more action, but Connor would figure that out. ]
I haven't heard from North in quite some time either. I had preconstructed that she was simply preoccupied in the Down, but that may have been inaccurate if she and Markus are both missing.
I'll help you, Simon.
It's okay.
Are Markus' things still in his apartment? Are you able to confirm that, or do you need me to investigate?
I'll help you, Simon.
It's okay.
Are Markus' things still in his apartment? Are you able to confirm that, or do you need me to investigate?
thank you
I don't know I didn't want to break in to see
but he wouldn't not answer me especially if I was asking if he knew where north was too
what if he's hurt inside there? what if something happened I should have gone in
I don't know I didn't want to break in to see
but he wouldn't not answer me especially if I was asking if he knew where north was too
what if he's hurt inside there? what if something happened I should have gone in
Is he home now? It may be better if we don't discuss him in front of him.
[She's pretty sure humans don't like that...]
[She's pretty sure humans don't like that...]
[if connor was human, he might feel like he was experiencing deja vu. it's the second time in as many days he's been summoned up to elijah's floor, waiting in front of the door with slight apprehension. last time it had been due to the idea of confronting a man who put him the most challenging conflict of his life; now it is the uncertainty and lack of evidence to preconstruct why there is a suddenness in his request to meet again.
he shouldn't be so...ungrateful. elijah had given him plenty of information to work with. a part of him is still reeling at the idea that he'd needed to use an emergency exit to combat his own programming or override amanda. and unfortunately, there's no way for him to verify that through any of the other androids or hank. that would have been his struggle alone. and without elijah having shared the existence of it...things could have been dire. the revolution could have failed, a revolution he's slowly coming to accept the existence and his own participation in.
but he's still not a deviant--not yet. at least, not in the sense that he's outright disobeying cyberlife or causing trouble. he's cataloging emotions and experiences and feelings--and it isn't doing any harm to his overall investigation. if anything it would be beneficial.
he knocks on elijah's door twice.]
Mr. Kamski? I'm here.
[no introduction needed this time. he folds his hands, just like before, head tilting slightly when elijah answers the door.]
he shouldn't be so...ungrateful. elijah had given him plenty of information to work with. a part of him is still reeling at the idea that he'd needed to use an emergency exit to combat his own programming or override amanda. and unfortunately, there's no way for him to verify that through any of the other androids or hank. that would have been his struggle alone. and without elijah having shared the existence of it...things could have been dire. the revolution could have failed, a revolution he's slowly coming to accept the existence and his own participation in.
but he's still not a deviant--not yet. at least, not in the sense that he's outright disobeying cyberlife or causing trouble. he's cataloging emotions and experiences and feelings--and it isn't doing any harm to his overall investigation. if anything it would be beneficial.
he knocks on elijah's door twice.]
Mr. Kamski? I'm here.
[no introduction needed this time. he folds his hands, just like before, head tilting slightly when elijah answers the door.]
[ They've discussed deviancy. They've discussed that emergency exit, that backdoor and way out. Kamski wasn't as helpful as he's sure Connor might have liked but he doesn't want to give all the answers. He wants to see what Connor does. What he asks and what he chooses. He's a passenger, not the driver and if Connor were ever to push, he'd make certain that he's aware of that.
But he hasn't and remarkably, Connor is still extremely obedient. He comes when Elijah calls. Will it always be that way? When and where are Connor's lines? ]
Come in.
[ Elijah opens the door and gestures the android inside. ]
I have a quota to fill, Connor, and I'd like you to help me reach those goals.
[ It's upfront, a practical approach and Kamski has his reasons for it. He pauses to let that settle in and then tips his head, closely watching Connor's reactions. ]
But he hasn't and remarkably, Connor is still extremely obedient. He comes when Elijah calls. Will it always be that way? When and where are Connor's lines? ]
Come in.
[ Elijah opens the door and gestures the android inside. ]
I have a quota to fill, Connor, and I'd like you to help me reach those goals.
[ It's upfront, a practical approach and Kamski has his reasons for it. He pauses to let that settle in and then tips his head, closely watching Connor's reactions. ]
[oh. on the list of preconstructions he’d analyzed, as well as statistical likelihoods....this was a much lower approximation than he’d really given much thought to. he’d guessed this was going to be a follow-up to their conversation on deviancy, or perhaps regarding the mysterious visitor that had the city filled with frenetic energy and showing strange symptoms.
his brows lift in surprise, lips parting slightly as he tilts his head. the latter is something he’s always done; the emotion conveyed in the first is not. and yet, despite his admission to hank, he’s still clinging to the idea that he can understand and express emotions convincingly without being a deviant. he looks at elijah—enigmatic and composed as ever, unreadable and yet expectant.
connor realizes he’s only ever had this experience with hank—and that means something to him. would it mean something to engage with elijah too?
still, he doesn’t want to decline. if his creator needs his help—even without a certain investment in his well-being from a logical standpoint he’s a valuable asset for all the androids here too, for connor especially to learn more about his own existence.]
You’re inquiring about the possibility of sexual intercourse.
[he says it mildly, before clarifying more colloquially:]
You’d...like to have sex with me?
his brows lift in surprise, lips parting slightly as he tilts his head. the latter is something he’s always done; the emotion conveyed in the first is not. and yet, despite his admission to hank, he’s still clinging to the idea that he can understand and express emotions convincingly without being a deviant. he looks at elijah—enigmatic and composed as ever, unreadable and yet expectant.
connor realizes he’s only ever had this experience with hank—and that means something to him. would it mean something to engage with elijah too?
still, he doesn’t want to decline. if his creator needs his help—even without a certain investment in his well-being from a logical standpoint he’s a valuable asset for all the androids here too, for connor especially to learn more about his own existence.]
You’re inquiring about the possibility of sexual intercourse.
[he says it mildly, before clarifying more colloquially:]
You’d...like to have sex with me?
[connor is convinced there’s something he missed—something he won’t dare admit is actual emotion causing the sensation of distress and a dull ache beneath his chestplates. he watches his artificial skin receding where it’s connected to 9s at their hands, and somehow the reminder that he’s not as advanced makes it hurt that much more.
he’s staring down at the table, mouth purses and eyes dull as he quietly asks in lieu of an answer:]
You can—watch the footage. Do you think it’s because I wasn’t advanced enough? Would you or another of your kind have been able to spare him?
[as if somehow the unpredictability and suddenness of freak accidents was somehow preventable among humans.]
he’s staring down at the table, mouth purses and eyes dull as he quietly asks in lieu of an answer:]
You can—watch the footage. Do you think it’s because I wasn’t advanced enough? Would you or another of your kind have been able to spare him?
[as if somehow the unpredictability and suddenness of freak accidents was somehow preventable among humans.]
It would've depended on the circumstances, Connor. Sometimes things happen that's out of everyone's control.
[Instinctively he finds himself giving Connor's hand a squeeze as he continues to sift through data, finding his memory bank to review the footage. It's easy enough to find and so he plays it, unable to keep the frown off his face. It's...gory, that's for sure, to see a human he's met die the way Hank does. It's clear though that there's nothing that Connor could've done. Not even a YoRHa unit would be able to have done anything for him.]
It's not your fault. [He shifts closer to Connor, venting warm air he didn't realize he'd been holding. It might not make him feel better, saying as much, but it's the truth.] There isn't really anything anyone of us could've done in a situation like this.
[Leaving the memory behind 9S finds himself sifting through more code. He's curious, of course, to see just what makes Connor 'different' if you will, and the answer is found quicker than he suspects it would be. The lines of code are connected, ironically, to his memory bank. Somehow vital functions have been intertwined with memories and the complex learning algorithms Connor's been given seem to be reinforced positively or negatively depending on his experiences and ultimately, what memories his code has decided is important to keep.
This isn't the first time he's seen this happen.
It reminds him of the machines he's hacked in the past, how those who seemed to exhibit signs of thought and emotion all had one thing in common - they all had a 'treasure' if you will - something that they all had assigned importance to that fueled their emotional development. He can't help but think back to the machine in the theater he and 2B had killed, whose 'treasure' had been the pursuit of beauty, in the hopes of being adored by the one she'd fixated on. It's really, in a way, no different here, is it? This person with their face caved in...it's Connor's relationship to him that seems to be the android's 'treasure', the thing that fuels his coding to develop and evolve past what he was initially installed with.
It's something that 9S has been thinking of himself, the concept of a 'treasure' and how really, when it comes to this particular thing, machines and androids aren't so different. He has a 'treasure' too, after all - 2B was undoubtedly this to him - and while he was given the ability to feel and think for himself straight off the assembly line, it'd be a lie to say she hadn't changed him, for better or worse. His voice is quiet when he speaks next, not exactly liking the answer he's to give the other android.]
So...I found where the issue is, if you want to call it that. I can do something about it, but it wouldn't be very ethical.
[Because if Connor really doesn't want to feel anymore, he'd have to rid him of the memories he seems to cherish the most.]
[Instinctively he finds himself giving Connor's hand a squeeze as he continues to sift through data, finding his memory bank to review the footage. It's easy enough to find and so he plays it, unable to keep the frown off his face. It's...gory, that's for sure, to see a human he's met die the way Hank does. It's clear though that there's nothing that Connor could've done. Not even a YoRHa unit would be able to have done anything for him.]
It's not your fault. [He shifts closer to Connor, venting warm air he didn't realize he'd been holding. It might not make him feel better, saying as much, but it's the truth.] There isn't really anything anyone of us could've done in a situation like this.
[Leaving the memory behind 9S finds himself sifting through more code. He's curious, of course, to see just what makes Connor 'different' if you will, and the answer is found quicker than he suspects it would be. The lines of code are connected, ironically, to his memory bank. Somehow vital functions have been intertwined with memories and the complex learning algorithms Connor's been given seem to be reinforced positively or negatively depending on his experiences and ultimately, what memories his code has decided is important to keep.
This isn't the first time he's seen this happen.
It reminds him of the machines he's hacked in the past, how those who seemed to exhibit signs of thought and emotion all had one thing in common - they all had a 'treasure' if you will - something that they all had assigned importance to that fueled their emotional development. He can't help but think back to the machine in the theater he and 2B had killed, whose 'treasure' had been the pursuit of beauty, in the hopes of being adored by the one she'd fixated on. It's really, in a way, no different here, is it? This person with their face caved in...it's Connor's relationship to him that seems to be the android's 'treasure', the thing that fuels his coding to develop and evolve past what he was initially installed with.
It's something that 9S has been thinking of himself, the concept of a 'treasure' and how really, when it comes to this particular thing, machines and androids aren't so different. He has a 'treasure' too, after all - 2B was undoubtedly this to him - and while he was given the ability to feel and think for himself straight off the assembly line, it'd be a lie to say she hadn't changed him, for better or worse. His voice is quiet when he speaks next, not exactly liking the answer he's to give the other android.]
So...I found where the issue is, if you want to call it that. I can do something about it, but it wouldn't be very ethical.
[Because if Connor really doesn't want to feel anymore, he'd have to rid him of the memories he seems to cherish the most.]
no he wasn’t living with anyone
He’d tried to get north to stay with him like I had
if she’d just stayed with us this wouldn’t have happened
i should have tried harder to make it happen
He’d tried to get north to stay with him like I had
if she’d just stayed with us this wouldn’t have happened
i should have tried harder to make it happen
Edited 2018-12-26 20:39 (UTC)
[oh.
oh okay there's not a 95% chance he's being ditched for someone hotter
This Is Fine]
Sure. Meet back at our place? I'm just out with Sumo.
oh okay there's not a 95% chance he's being ditched for someone hotter
This Is Fine]
Sure. Meet back at our place? I'm just out with Sumo.
Okay. I’ll be here when you get back.
True to his word, Connor is there when Hank gets back. He’s sitting ramrod straight flicking his coin over the ridges of his fingers in what is moreso a nervous tic than a calibration routine any longer. As soon as he hears the door close and Sumo trot in, he pockets it and folds his hands tightly in his lap. He’s...well he is nervous, actually.
What if Hank doesn’t want to be involved with him anymore?
His lips twitch slightly when Hank enters the room, not able to pull into a smile. This is—complicated, and he feels like it’s partly his fault too. Hank is the most important to him, but Hank never exactly agreed to that. And Connor thinks from his discussion with 9S that he’s being selfish by keeping the memories, the deviancy that allows it to be so.
“Hi,” he says quietly.
True to his word, Connor is there when Hank gets back. He’s sitting ramrod straight flicking his coin over the ridges of his fingers in what is moreso a nervous tic than a calibration routine any longer. As soon as he hears the door close and Sumo trot in, he pockets it and folds his hands tightly in his lap. He’s...well he is nervous, actually.
What if Hank doesn’t want to be involved with him anymore?
His lips twitch slightly when Hank enters the room, not able to pull into a smile. This is—complicated, and he feels like it’s partly his fault too. Hank is the most important to him, but Hank never exactly agreed to that. And Connor thinks from his discussion with 9S that he’s being selfish by keeping the memories, the deviancy that allows it to be so.
“Hi,” he says quietly.
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