reverielogs | Head down til the work is done

Entry tags:

Head down til the work is done

» WHO? Everyone
» WHEN? After Mike's meeting announcement. (Timey-whimey. If you want your character here, pretend it's whenever you need to be.)
» WHERE? The Bridge
» WHAT? State of the Station Wide Meeting
» WARNINGS? Party-style post. Be mindful of individual threads. Will edit here as/if necessary.

[One hour before the meeting is set to get underway, a reminder will go out to everyone on station that interested parties should meet on the Bridge at 0900 to discuss the current state of the station and forward goals.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Connor notices Alucard looking over at him and offers the dhampir a polite smile before making his way past a few people to say hello. Unlike Alucard, Connor had no idea who else Lapis had chosen. He hadn't asked. Her choice, in the end, was inconsequential to him.]

Hello, Adrian.

[He pauses a moment, a concerned look slowly replacing the polite smile.]

Are you feeling ill again? [He was detecting a few abnormalities.]

Connor.

[A polite clearing of his throat, then Alucard shakes his head.] No, I am wel. As a matter of fact, I made use of one of the diagnostic machines in the medbay that was opened.

My injury has been completely healed. I am healthier than when I first woke on this station. In time for the trip Lapis has arranged for us. I am much less concerned than I was before about possibly leaving the station with no doctor.

[The good news drew a genuine smile from Connor, even if it was subtle.]

How? Do the machines there expedite healing as well as diagnose? Or did someone mend it? With... [He's nearly able to say the words, even if his programming completely disagrees, twitching ever so slightly as his LED flickered yellow.] With... magic?

[His eyebrows raise in delighted surprise.] I didn't realize you were going. I've volunteered as well.

They do. They are able to diagnose and treat injuries. I was pleasantly surprised. I feared I would not be in top shape in time for my return to Wallachia.

[Alucard can't help smile wryly at how Connor has to almost forced himself to say it.] Still a difficult topic, despite what surrounds you. You'll adapt, in time.

I know. I asked her who was going. She mentioned you, Kira, and Apollo. A fairly suitable group. It should minimize any potential risk, at least. We're far more durable than any human, at least.

That's great. Actually, it's amazing, a vast improvement from the rudimentary tools you first described to me. Are you relieved? It's not just your own injuries that have been healed but now, with the machines, there's less pressure on you if others are hurt.

[Connor looks genuinely happy for him, the thought to ask if the machines might also repair androids never crossed his mind.]

I apologize. Magic doesn't exist within the parameters of my programming. It's difficult to adapt to. [He glances at Alucard, scanning his face in an attempt to see if the dhampir understood what he meant.] It's an... indefinable unknown and it, unfortunately, seems to often break scientific laws.

[His LED flickered blue as he pulled up all the information he had on Kira, expression pleasantly neutral.] Apollo... I haven't met them, but I did know Kira was not human though I'm unaware of his abilities. I'm sure they would not have volunteered if they did not think they were suited for the potential environments we may encounter.

I am. Though I believe it's good to still be on board. Trusting this station and its tools can be a risky thing to do, all things considered, but ... if something were to happen to me, I am less concerned now.

[He can't help but smile a little in return. That's enough for him.]

Don't apologize. Perhaps a few months ago I'd have been put out, but I realize it's not an aspect that may even exist in some worlds. I could attempt to explain it, but simply because there could be rules where I'm from doesn't mean it applies everywhere. Just know that magic is not without its flaws, nor is it infinite.

Hmph, I see Kira is trying less and less to conceal himself to others. Apollos is a man who absorbs the power of the sun; I do not know what he is in terms of species, but he is kind and wishes to do the right thing. He has been quite friendly to me. Traveling in space is nothing new to him. [There's a pause, then he adds softly:] I am aware that Kira may not be fond of you, but if he gives you trouble, I want you to tell me. He is my friend, but I will not excuse him if he does you any harm.

Yes. I suppose, their track record is far from perfect.

[For half a second, he starts to wonder what one of the healing machines might do if it malfunctioned, but he quickly decides that delving too deep into those possibilities won't do anyone any good.]

Its lack of definable parameters and the drastic differences, not just between worlds, but between individuals makes it exceptionally difficult to incorporate into my programming.

[His LED flickers as he processes the information Alucard offers, neatly filing it all away.] I don't believe he would damage me on purpose, though he has threatened to do so.

I can understand that. In many ways, it's difficult to keep up for many of us. There are certain concepts that have been difficult for even me to take in.

[Alucard snorts softly.] Kira can be unruly, but manageable. Still, I want you to tell me if he does something that damages you. He isn't cruel, but I understand how he may feel protective of 9S.

[Connor's attention snaps to Alucard at the bit of information he'd let slip, LED flickering blue as he processed what he'd just learned. He'd known Kira had had sex with an android on the station, but he hadn't known who. Funny, since he'd threatened Connor not to 'say cruel things to him' but hadn't actually told him who the android was.]

So, it was 9S who he had sex with?

[Connor leans in a little closer and dropped the volume of his voice, looking concerned.] I have reason to believe that 9S is a deviant. Kira should be careful.

Yes. I didn't presume it was a secret.

[The low volume of Connor's voice in conjunction to what he has to say just feels... oddly humorous? Which he knows isn't on purpose, but Alucard smiles wryly anyway, fangs exposed.]

Kira has little worry from most people. 9S cares very much about him, and is determined to serve humanity. Deviant or not, 9S is not dangerous to humans or Kira. He's not terribly unlike you in that regard.

No... you're likely correct. Kira seemed rather... proud of the fact that he'd had sex with an android.

[Connor snuck a subtle glance in Alucard's direction, trying to read the dhampir's expression. He didn't think Alucard regarded them having sex as a point of pride and not much else, but he did wonder. It seemed like a very strange thing to be proud of, but humans could be very odd.]

You think 9S and I are alike? [He raised an eyebrow slightly.] Don't tell 9S that...

I think that perhaps Kira regards 9S fondly. An appreciation for humanity's children, as it were.

[The glance isn't taken as anything more than that, though the look Alucard does give Connor is a warm one. He has his own complex feelings to sort out, and he has no urge to drag Connor into that emotional chaos.]

Hm, he does not think well of you, then. 9S thinks himself little more than an android, made to serve and protect humans. I asked him if there was ever anything else he wanted to do. I don't imagine he's been asked that question much.

You are not so different from that, I think. You've both been created with a purpose, and are determined to follow through with it. I can understand, in a way.

[Connor thought back to the conversation they'd had, pausing with his mouth open as he tried to figure out what to say about 9S. Kira had threatened Connor not to demean the android, ironically, the conversation had been the other way around.]

I'm unsure if androids are simply very different where it is from or if it's deviant. It became very angry with me the last time I spoke with it.

I find it very difficult to speak to. It seems to become emotional very easily and contradict itself often. [Connor frowned a little.] I just wanted to understand it... and learn what androids were like where it was from.

[Alucard smiles wryly, finding the situation more amusing than particularly bothersome. Reaching out, he affectionately brushes his knuckles over Connor's cheek.]

And there is the difference between the two of you. 9S is more sensitive than you are. Treat him less like a machine and more like an individual without him knowing so.

When I first met him, I thought him incredibly rude and irritating. Though he is capable of both, I think that most of all he wishes to be valued and useful, which is like you.

[He just wanted a good android 'friend' to help keep him on the straight and narrow. Someone who would reassure him that he wasn't out of his mind to be wary of becoming a deviant or feeling things. But that didn't look like it was going to happen. 9S and A2 seemed to hate him just for considering androids machine and ARID seemed almost scared of him in a way.]

But... [His brow knit as he lowered his gaze to the ground, glaring at his shoes to hide his disagreement in a posture of submission. There was no point in arguing with Alucard. The dhampir didn't even think he was a machine and 9S acted much more like a human than he did.]

I'll try to remember that when I speak to him next. [Despite his frown, his tone was still calm and neutral, voice quiet.]

You didn't like my suggestion.

[Despite the phrasing, Alucard doesn't seem perturbed. Though Connor keeps his voice even, his expression tells Alucard enough. He reaches out, gently pressing his fingers at Connor's chin to encourage him to look up.]

You can be honest with me. And you don't have to do what I say, if you do not like it.

[There was a moment of hesitation before he raised his head, forcing his expression back to neutral. Or close to it.]

With Hank, it's often easier not to argue. [Not to argue and then just do whatever he was going to do regardless of what Hank told him to do.]

But, no, you're incorrect, I don't dislike your suggestion. It's just that... I was already treating it the same way I would treat anyone. [He'd been aggravatingly polite and he'd asked questions.] It didn't like my questions. And it didn't like what I presented as fact in my world, in my experience. It's hardly my fault that our worlds differ as much as they do.

He does seem a stubborn man. [To put lightly. If somehow Trevor were older and even more grizzled.]

Hmm. Perhaps start with giving him pronouns? [Alucard sounds terribly amused before he returns to being more stoic, more serious on the subject.] Unfortunately, hearing that does not surprise me. 9S is sensitive and stubborn. But you may have your chance yet to get acquainted with him.

Much to my surprise, he and I have reconciled to some degree, even if we didn't immediately get along. Give it time, if nothing else.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Head down til the work is done

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject