Masquerade Mingle

[thespaceopera]

[The night has finally come--the Gravity Rush is nearly upon us! What normally serves as a large performance hall has been gutted, emptied of its boring furniture and rigged up into a fantastical mismatch of technology and old culture. No matter where you go tonight, you're encouraged to move around, dance, play games, whatever helps you sleep in late tomorrow morning.

If you aren't one for scurrying around a ballroom all night, there's always plenty of people-watching to do. After all, so many people are wearing extravagant costumes and elaborate masks. How can you even tell who is who? Get lost in a crowd of sequins, chatter with a sun and a moon, or try to beat the guy in the monster-mask at a game of cards. Meet your friends or make some new ones--this masquerade party has begun!]


[[ooc: All sections are up now, have fun! A related ooc post is HERE for any questions or plotting you'd like to do.]]

Comments

[thezerothlaw]

I have recently decided that dancing is an interesting exercise, yes.

[Very recently indeed.]

Regardless of the circumstances, it's beneficial for the members of the Fleet to have a chance to relax and enjoy themselves. This is ideal.

[passingthrough]

Good call on that. I approve. Would you like to dance? [Seems like a good enough way to meet someone and get to know them.] Sounds like it would be ideal.

[thezerothlaw]

I would be pleased to join you in a dance.

[And hey, Beverly's been giving him lessons and everything, so he knows what to do. Daneel gives her a courtly bow, and extends his hand for her to take.]

[passingthrough]

[She smiles.] So much bowing tonight. [She takes his hand.] So, where are you from?

[thezerothlaw]

My creators were from Aurora, though I was first activated on Earth.

[He's long past the point of expecting people to know what either of those are, sadly.]

Aurora was the first of the worlds colonized by humans.

[passingthrough]

Creators? You're an android? [Always a good thing for her to know so she doesn't accidentally fry someone with her powers. She just sounds curious, not shocked and definitely not offended in any way.]

[thezerothlaw]

I have always used the term "robot," but yes, I am.

['Android' just seems to be a rather old-fashioned and needless distinction. He is a robot, if a humaniform one.]

Robots are common where I am from, though not generally ones with a human appearance. I realise that this is not true for the worlds everyone here has known.

[passingthrough]

Hey, it's about you, so you get to pick the term.

Magneto built a robot nanny for his youngest back home. Other associations from home wouldn't be the fondest what with the sentinels only existing to kill my kind. They were of the giant, non-human looking variety though.

[thezerothlaw]

[He looks almost ill.]

The First Law of Robotics states that a robot must not harm a human being, nor through inaction, allow a human to come to harm.

[Robot nannies, however, are a perfectly normal part of Auroran life. No comment necessary there.]

What do you mean by 'your kind'?

[passingthrough]

[There, there.]

I'm a mutant. People born with different powers and abilities. So, not exactly a human. Kind of a genetic offshoot. My parents were both human though. And the people building sentinels were too.

Does that law of yours mean you have to put humans first even if it means sacrificing yourself? [Because that seems messed up for someone who seems like a fully functioning person to her.]

[thezerothlaw]

Ah. The one called Mystique mentioned this to me.

[He's still pretty sure mutants count as human, at least in his mind.]

It could mean that. I would prefer not to, as I suspect I am generally able to do more good while I am functioning. Sacrificing myself needlessly would serve no purpose.

[passingthrough]

You know Mystique. Hmm. I would advise you to handle with caution. [Which could also be said of her world's Mystique but since she is with the X-Men there is a level of trust and definitely one of loyalty. But Rogue has told her things of this Mystique that makes it harder to extend either.] Not that you have any reason to trust me there.

But that's good with the continued functioning.

[thezerothlaw]

We have spoken once, and it was at a distance.

[Meaning, her mind was not touchable then. Though he's not about to admit that just now.]

You don't believe she is trustworthy?

[passingthrough]

[What kind of mind touching are you doing, sir?]

I wish I could, but it doesn't seem like it. I'm on the protect humanity side of things myself and I don't think she is.

[thezerothlaw]

[Nothing impolite! He is merely listening to surface emotions right now. Anything more would be rude. And he can't help doing that much.

He considers what she says, though.]

Mystique referred to resentment and fear between "mutants" and "standard" humans. While not surprising, I did find it disheartening. She has chosen to meet violence with more violence, then?

[passingthrough]

She's right about the fear and resentment. [Then he'll probably noticed her earlier warm enthusiasm for the dancing portion of tonight's festivities has mellowed to something more thoughtful. "Hated and feared" was such a way of life for her for years even as she worked tirelessly to protect those who resented her. But it was a complicated situation and while it wasn't good for anyone but Apocalypse, it was the humans taking the brunt of the horrors her world had to offer. She couldn't exactly blame them for not taking the time to draw the line between her and their oppressors.] I'm not exactly sure what she's doing back home, but it doesn't sound good. [Part of her still wants to think all the bad Rogue told her about was for a good endgame.] So, caution.

[thezerothlaw]

I will keep your warning in mind.

[Not that he's likely to treat Mystique with anything other than continuing politeness.]

I am sorry if this conversation distresses you, Miss Pryde.

[passingthrough]

Moving here.