[ Elijah Kamski doesn't normally entertain guests. The amount of reporters, interloper and yes, even police officers, that have tried to gain access to his home throughout the years are in the dozens, and it's likely that only the remoteness of his home that keeps the media dogs from camping outside his door now that androids are free. Everyone wants to hear his opinion, as if it mattered. As if he had any say in whether or not androids should be treated like people.
It's true he had more than nothing to do with that, but admitting it on live TV wouldn't change a thing. Kamski has always been content to keep to himself, to observe and let things play out now that he has shaped the world in his image. After all, God Himself doesn't intervene in the lives of humans, why should he become involved with what happens next to his androids?
There are exceptions, of course. Chloe remained with him, his first and favorite model. She knew him better than anyone, and he'd certainly handed her a gun and told her to shoot, but she hadn't. And if Markus himself came knocking, Kamski would happily meet with him, though Markus seemed to know well enough that his path was theirs alone, not their god's. And naturally, Connor, who had gone from deviant hunter to a deviant himself, whose empathy was a part of him long before he marched out of CyberLife. He was fascinating. A road through which the beauty of his code, his freedom, could truly flourish.
The truth is Kamski is curious too. No other android had the advanced technology he did, no other android had more reason to side with his masters. And yet Connor had, despite even CyberLife's attempts to hijack him, fought back.
He's fascinating. Inviting him over should prove to be illuminating. ]
Connor, how nice to see you.
[ Yes, indeed, things have changed. Kamski answers the door himself for once, though he's likely only giving Connor the courtesy because he's Connor. He's even dressed, though a billionaire should probably dress in more than just jeans, a jacket and a t-shirt, but it's obvious by the lack of socks that Kamski has nowhere else to go today.
Then again, the fact that he manages to sound so ominous and still retain such presence even in his casual clothes does say something about the man. ]
Come in. [ He motions him inside. ] I've been expecting you.
[connor says it almost immediately in greeting when he comes into view behind the heavy door. in some ways, it feels like not much has changed. elijah looks nearly the same and so does connor--still wearing his led and his rk800 issue jacket and tie. it's not that he's resistant to the changes he could undergo to humanize himself even further--he supposes he's just not quite ready to let go of what he's familiar with yet. there's a certain comfort that comes with knowing where he came from, how he came to be, and why he's here now.
isn't that the point of all of this? for connor it is, anyway. and as polite as elijah has been so far at indulging his questions...he has the distinct feeling that any others might need to be earned in some way. he's not certain or comfortable enough in his own emotions yet to quite feel prickled or unnerved by that, however, just anticipating based on these few interactions he has to go on.
stepping inside is a bit eerie--it's just as massive and quiet as connor remembers. kamski doesn't look dressed for the pool this time so he's curious to see what else is hidden inside the no-doubt equally eccentric and expansive place he calls home.
elijah was difficult to read while connor was under duress before--grappling with his orders and the answers kamski dangled in front of him and his own desire to spare chloe--but now he gets the sense that his presence isn't invasive, inconvenient or unwelcome. and he has the approximately sixty-percent unfounded idea that this isn't the case for all his visitors, not even other androids. and he'd like to know exactly why that is, or more accurately what made him special in that sense when he's far from the only deviant to have ever made a peculiar judgment call. whether that will remain a mystery or not...he can't quite blurt that out to start. there are plenty of other socially acceptable things to start on, and he runs through the catalogue of them before settling on:]
Thank you for making time and having me.
--I can't ascertain how full your schedule typically is without more data, but I imagine you have plenty else to keep you busy.
[polite, cognizant of the fact that he could be intruding, and no less sincere for it. it's not quite as stilted as he used to be, but it's still close.]
[ It says more about Connor that he's still rocking the CyberLife look after everything. It's interesting, to see what kind of person Connor could be. Kamski had his suspicions when they first met, even had those suspicions confirmed by his own inaction, but he finds a great deal of amusement from putting together the puzzle that is CyberLife's latest model.
Perfect in every way, and now he's chosen the path of imperfection. What could be more exciting than seeing that curiosity in action? ]
I always make time for my guests. [ He simply doesn't frequent many guests, though a quick google search should make that fairly obvious. ] Things are a bit busier now, but I've had quite enough standing idle, don't you think?
[ The question is mostly rhetorical, just like his statements are purposely vague. He leads Connor to a different door than the one he saw last time, this one opens up to a similarly-decorated room. At its center is a long, black table, lined with chairs at each side like a dining room. Or perhaps a board room. The walls here feature framed blueprints and glass cases, each displaying several of Elijah's early prototypes throughout their different stages. Plastic limbs suspended in glass, rudimentary eyes and various biocomponents at their early stages are all carefully cataloged and labeled. To a human, it would look like something of a museum. To an android, it probably looks like a mortuary. ]
Please, have a seat. [ Kamski smiles, gesturing the table. At least the chairs seem... comfortable. ] You have questions, I'm sure.
[connor doesn't know he'd call what kamski's been up to idle, but he only has his own limited scope of interaction to go off of. there's still so many unknowns--how active was his hand in the rest of cyberlife at this point? did he still have supporters within? how much say did he have in how amanda had treated him? it makes his led glimmer yellow for a moment while they all blur together, something he almost feels self-conscious about it kamski will catch it or not. it's an obvious tell not just for him, but anyone who could see it on a regular basis...and yet, he's still not ready to part with it. maybe it's illogical, but it's still a comfort he doesn't want to let go of.
regardless, he does offer up:]
Yes, though your current lifestyle and absence from the spotlight has garnered quite a lot of speculation over the years. And...I can't confirm from personal experience that you being idle is an accurate assessment.
[connor lets gratitude reflect across his expression for a few lingering moments, curious if kamski might catch that too as he follows him into the next room. some might find it uncomfortable to see that sort of paraphernalia lining the walls and displayed like trophies--he could only imagine if someone like north was here--but connor isn't as bothered as he could be. maybe it could be considered distasteful or even offensive given the trajectory of the android revolution and the impact it had already had on policy and social customs, but he doubts kamski means any insult by it. it's his creation after all--his work, and he deserves to be prideful of it. all androids owe their existence to him on some level.
connor sits down carefully in the seat closest to elijah's instruction, folding his hands atop the smooth surface and waiting for his host to do the same.]
I do. Several, though it is difficult for me to decide the best place to start. And, would it be polite to offer you something in return?
[his thumbs rub against each other absently, bottom lip twitching minutely. still nervous. still unsure if that's a risk at this point.]
[ It's true with CyberLife on the "losing" end of the deal, their board is looking for someone new to take the company in a different direction. There are certainly rumors that Kamski is being considered, or perhaps, with their stocks at an all-time low, that Kamski was planning a hostile takeover. Who can say?
Connor's LED doesn't evade his notice -- his even still having it is a statement of its own. Was he proud then, to be what he was? Or was he simply clinging to the past? Kamski wouldn't care either way, but he is curious. Always curious. Connor is such a fascinating subject. ]
All speculation begins in fact, doesn't it?
[ Much like Connor's speculation of his hand in the deviant "problem." He can appreciate the RK800's gratitude, even his admiration of his work. Kamski is a man who fancies himself a god. It's not any wonder he'd line the walls with the things he's made and the steps he took in reaching where he is today. He sits down beside Connor, turning his chair towards him and smiling that insidious, curious smile. Of course, every answer has a price. Sometimes the price is simply showing Kamski a reaction. Other times, it could be a bit more. ]
And what will you bargain with? [ He crosses his legs wide, his leg resting on his knee as he gets comfortable in his seat. ] I'm curious.
The only facts are that you left, possibly not by your own choice, though the circumstances were never publicly announced. At some point you gifted Carl Manfred with Markus. And--you don't seem surprised, bothered, or looking to "fix" deviancy.
[that's the easy part. that's what all his programming can spit out by basic analysis of the news and his own personal exchange. but as they've already established...it runs deeper than that. deeper than connor expects to ever know. his own motivation in coming is admittedly much more--what is it considered?--selfish than anything regarding kamski's plans or intentions. but he doesn't think elijah of all people will mind, in fact, he has the somewhat entertaining and odd idea that he'd like knowing connor was capable of prioritizing himself, in a way.
he's reminded a bit of the game that he'd seen gavin and a few other officers playing in the breakroom one day, before he'd been shooed out. poker--don't show your entire hand. he shouldn't just offer himself up blindly, essentially. he remembers how on edge hank had been any time kamski's name came up in conversation, and seeing that placid but secretive smile does give him a bit of a pause.]
If you do find me as fascinating as you've said--then you'd want to see more. And that's what I want--to be more. My programs taught me how to mimic humanity, how to speak to them. But...it's not the same as feeling and understanding.
I want that. Anything and everything.
[he makes sure to lock eyes with elijah, to sit up a little straighter to show how important it is to him.]
I know there have been considerable upgrades from CyberLife to help us integrate better, but I don't have them--and I don't know that I'd trust them after everything that's happened.
[just another thing connor owes him for. better start making a list!!1]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
It's true he had more than nothing to do with that, but admitting it on live TV wouldn't change a thing. Kamski has always been content to keep to himself, to observe and let things play out now that he has shaped the world in his image. After all, God Himself doesn't intervene in the lives of humans, why should he become involved with what happens next to his androids?
There are exceptions, of course. Chloe remained with him, his first and favorite model. She knew him better than anyone, and he'd certainly handed her a gun and told her to shoot, but she hadn't. And if Markus himself came knocking, Kamski would happily meet with him, though Markus seemed to know well enough that his path was theirs alone, not their god's. And naturally, Connor, who had gone from deviant hunter to a deviant himself, whose empathy was a part of him long before he marched out of CyberLife. He was fascinating. A road through which the beauty of his code, his freedom, could truly flourish.
The truth is Kamski is curious too. No other android had the advanced technology he did, no other android had more reason to side with his masters. And yet Connor had, despite even CyberLife's attempts to hijack him, fought back.
He's fascinating. Inviting him over should prove to be illuminating. ]
Connor, how nice to see you.
[ Yes, indeed, things have changed. Kamski answers the door himself for once, though he's likely only giving Connor the courtesy because he's Connor. He's even dressed, though a billionaire should probably dress in more than just jeans, a jacket and a t-shirt, but it's obvious by the lack of socks that Kamski has nowhere else to go today.
Then again, the fact that he manages to sound so ominous and still retain such presence even in his casual clothes does say something about the man. ]
Come in. [ He motions him inside. ] I've been expecting you.
no subject
[connor says it almost immediately in greeting when he comes into view behind the heavy door. in some ways, it feels like not much has changed. elijah looks nearly the same and so does connor--still wearing his led and his rk800 issue jacket and tie. it's not that he's resistant to the changes he could undergo to humanize himself even further--he supposes he's just not quite ready to let go of what he's familiar with yet. there's a certain comfort that comes with knowing where he came from, how he came to be, and why he's here now.
isn't that the point of all of this? for connor it is, anyway. and as polite as elijah has been so far at indulging his questions...he has the distinct feeling that any others might need to be earned in some way. he's not certain or comfortable enough in his own emotions yet to quite feel prickled or unnerved by that, however, just anticipating based on these few interactions he has to go on.
stepping inside is a bit eerie--it's just as massive and quiet as connor remembers. kamski doesn't look dressed for the pool this time so he's curious to see what else is hidden inside the no-doubt equally eccentric and expansive place he calls home.
elijah was difficult to read while connor was under duress before--grappling with his orders and the answers kamski dangled in front of him and his own desire to spare chloe--but now he gets the sense that his presence isn't invasive, inconvenient or unwelcome. and he has the approximately sixty-percent unfounded idea that this isn't the case for all his visitors, not even other androids. and he'd like to know exactly why that is, or more accurately what made him special in that sense when he's far from the only deviant to have ever made a peculiar judgment call. whether that will remain a mystery or not...he can't quite blurt that out to start. there are plenty of other socially acceptable things to start on, and he runs through the catalogue of them before settling on:]
Thank you for making time and having me.
--I can't ascertain how full your schedule typically is without more data, but I imagine you have plenty else to keep you busy.
[polite, cognizant of the fact that he could be intruding, and no less sincere for it. it's not quite as stilted as he used to be, but it's still close.]
no subject
Perfect in every way, and now he's chosen the path of imperfection. What could be more exciting than seeing that curiosity in action? ]
I always make time for my guests. [ He simply doesn't frequent many guests, though a quick google search should make that fairly obvious. ] Things are a bit busier now, but I've had quite enough standing idle, don't you think?
[ The question is mostly rhetorical, just like his statements are purposely vague. He leads Connor to a different door than the one he saw last time, this one opens up to a similarly-decorated room. At its center is a long, black table, lined with chairs at each side like a dining room. Or perhaps a board room. The walls here feature framed blueprints and glass cases, each displaying several of Elijah's early prototypes throughout their different stages. Plastic limbs suspended in glass, rudimentary eyes and various biocomponents at their early stages are all carefully cataloged and labeled. To a human, it would look like something of a museum. To an android, it probably looks like a mortuary. ]
Please, have a seat. [ Kamski smiles, gesturing the table. At least the chairs seem... comfortable. ] You have questions, I'm sure.
no subject
regardless, he does offer up:]
Yes, though your current lifestyle and absence from the spotlight has garnered quite a lot of speculation over the years. And...I can't confirm from personal experience that you being idle is an accurate assessment.
[connor lets gratitude reflect across his expression for a few lingering moments, curious if kamski might catch that too as he follows him into the next room. some might find it uncomfortable to see that sort of paraphernalia lining the walls and displayed like trophies--he could only imagine if someone like north was here--but connor isn't as bothered as he could be. maybe it could be considered distasteful or even offensive given the trajectory of the android revolution and the impact it had already had on policy and social customs, but he doubts kamski means any insult by it. it's his creation after all--his work, and he deserves to be prideful of it. all androids owe their existence to him on some level.
connor sits down carefully in the seat closest to elijah's instruction, folding his hands atop the smooth surface and waiting for his host to do the same.]
I do. Several, though it is difficult for me to decide the best place to start. And, would it be polite to offer you something in return?
[his thumbs rub against each other absently, bottom lip twitching minutely. still nervous. still unsure if that's a risk at this point.]
sorry for the delay!
Connor's LED doesn't evade his notice -- his even still having it is a statement of its own. Was he proud then, to be what he was? Or was he simply clinging to the past? Kamski wouldn't care either way, but he is curious. Always curious. Connor is such a fascinating subject. ]
All speculation begins in fact, doesn't it?
[ Much like Connor's speculation of his hand in the deviant "problem." He can appreciate the RK800's gratitude, even his admiration of his work. Kamski is a man who fancies himself a god. It's not any wonder he'd line the walls with the things he's made and the steps he took in reaching where he is today. He sits down beside Connor, turning his chair towards him and smiling that insidious, curious smile. Of course, every answer has a price. Sometimes the price is simply showing Kamski a reaction. Other times, it could be a bit more. ]
And what will you bargain with? [ He crosses his legs wide, his leg resting on his knee as he gets comfortable in his seat. ] I'm curious.
omg no worries!! i had a crazy week too.
[that's the easy part. that's what all his programming can spit out by basic analysis of the news and his own personal exchange. but as they've already established...it runs deeper than that. deeper than connor expects to ever know. his own motivation in coming is admittedly much more--what is it considered?--selfish than anything regarding kamski's plans or intentions. but he doesn't think elijah of all people will mind, in fact, he has the somewhat entertaining and odd idea that he'd like knowing connor was capable of prioritizing himself, in a way.
he's reminded a bit of the game that he'd seen gavin and a few other officers playing in the breakroom one day, before he'd been shooed out. poker--don't show your entire hand. he shouldn't just offer himself up blindly, essentially. he remembers how on edge hank had been any time kamski's name came up in conversation, and seeing that placid but secretive smile does give him a bit of a pause.]
If you do find me as fascinating as you've said--then you'd want to see more. And that's what I want--to be more. My programs taught me how to mimic humanity, how to speak to them. But...it's not the same as feeling and understanding.
I want that. Anything and everything.
[he makes sure to lock eyes with elijah, to sit up a little straighter to show how important it is to him.]
I know there have been considerable upgrades from CyberLife to help us integrate better, but I don't have them--and I don't know that I'd trust them after everything that's happened.
[just another thing connor owes him for. better start making a list!!1]