action + text.

[coinstability]

Who: Connor + you
Broadcast: Yes, fleetwide text
Action: Marsiva and the Starduck
When: November 2nd - 4th

the marsiva - action.

[Connor can't say that he likes waking up with no idea where he is or how he came to be there, but he'll concede that it's something different, at least. He rolls that concept around just long enough to get a look out of the viewing windows at the unfamiliar planets below before he gets to work.

The communicator is the obvious place to start, though Connor quickly realises that he can't bypass any of the security systems in the network. All he can do is scan through what's available. He does that over the course of a minute, frowning down at the device in his hand, before he pockets it and starts looking around the hospitality deck instead. Anyone coming across him there will find him in the process of placing his hand on various electronics and robotic equipment - the skin of his hand sliding away leaving only white plating - with an ever increasing look of mild frustration on his face, the LED on his temple spinning bright yellow.]

the starduck - action.

[Well, he knew it was coming thanks to the network information, but it's still startling when the sudden jump to another spaceship happens. Connor blinks with surprise, then takes a moment to brush the scattered confetti off his hair and jacket. The plate of pudding nearby gets only a passing glance before he leaves the bridge. He can't eat it, after all.

Instead he seeks out the other crew members of the Starduck, checking the other rooms until he finds someone.]

Hello. My name is Connor. I'm-- the newly assigned Communications officer on the ship.

[Nearly said something else there for a second before he caught himself. That's a habit he needs to break.]

fleetwide text.

I understand from going through the network that these communication devices sometimes activate on their own. Is there a pattern or cause for when they do this?

[He's got some theories himself, but the network isn't the full story. Best to get an idea from the actual people trapped here.]

Comments

[coinstability]

It's possible the 'Atroma' is a name that stands for something else. A corporation, an entity, a collective of persons. Without any contact with them we can't know for sure.

It's not much of a competition without rules.

[abracafcku]

Oh! Corporation would make sense? I've been hearing about things called "sponsor drops" that are just plastered with advertising. Smart, but apparently uglier than sin on a Sunday.

I'm pretty sure the "competition" bit is just for show. No one knows the point of this place besides "be entertaining" and "don't die." Not that dying matters here either apparently.

[coinstability]

That would give the theory more weight. It would be useful to know who advertises on these sponsor drops and see if there's a connection between them all.

I've seen mentions of the impermanence of death. That's true of all beings in this place, organic or otherwise?

[Connor's died before. At the time, it hadn't been a concern. If it were to happen again now, though... there may be no coming back from it.]

[abracafcku]

Mmyeah, that sounds like a lot of work? And Taako ain't getting paid to do a lot of work here.

[Just look pretty and make trouble, which is as natural as breathing to him.]

As for the death thing, no idea, my man, but that's the rumor so far. Death still happens, but you get a free pass to a restart a little while after.

Dunno about 'organic' or 'otherwise' though. What d'you mean by that?

[coinstability]

Technically, none of us are being paid to do that. The credits system isn't even tied to the jobs assigned.

[Just some nebulous "be entertaining" concept. Connor doesn't expect to be gaining a lot of cash. His replies are fast enough that it's not noticeable, but calling it a 'restart' makes Connor pause, uneasy.]

I mean other forms of life like androids.

[abracafcku]

Oh, you mean robot dudes? Uh, dunno about that. I guess as long as they got souls they can die and come back? N0-3113 sure as hell did, but that wasn't here.

Can't see why it'd be any different here though.

[coinstability]

[He's died before, more than once. Whether he's got a soul or not is a question he's not fielding. He is alive though and wants to keep it that way.]

You know, I think I'd rather not test it.

[abracafcku]

Oh for sure, my fella. Taako's not about to go testing death here either. He might be hot and all, but I'm noooot interested in seeing him in his work persona.

[Wait.




About a second after his first message sends, Taako shoots another one over.]

Holy shit, are you an android???

[coinstability]

[Still not used to that reaction, but Connor did it to himself this time by using text.]

I am. My name is Connor. And yours is Taako, I assume.

[abracafcku]

You got it, my dude. Hail and well met.

So do you got one of those glowy soul canisters in your chest too?

[coinstability]

[A what??]

I don't know what that is, so I'm guessing not. Is that something this N0-3113 had?

[abracafcku]

I mean, that's probably good. And yeah, she had one - kinda messed up actually how she got it.

[Buuuut glossing right the fuck over that uncomfortable little truth.]

But! As long as you don't got one, then let's just forget about it. So what're androids/robots/robits like where you're from?

[coinstability]

I can say definitively that there are no glowing canisters in my chest.

[Maybe there's other glowing circuitry in there. Canisters, though? Holding souls? Doubtful.

This question is such an odd one, for a person living in a world that's had androids for years.]

Firstly, androids and robots aren't the same thing. Androids are designed to resemble humans in nearly every physical aspect, whereas a robot isn't.

[abracafcku]

Huh, go figure. Guess we only had robots then, no androids. Probably better though considering Magnus's hobby.

So? You're a.....n.... android then? Go figure - woulda pegged you as a regular ol' human.

[coinstability]

That's right. Text doesn't really give much context about the user though.

[Exactly why Connor had chosen it at this point.]

[abracafcku]

Yep - 'cause you're also talking to a non-human here, but that definitely doesn't come through just in my words.

So it might be a first for us both - unless you've got elves in your world, too.

[coinstability]

[Elves? He was frankly expecting aliens before fantasy beings. What is his life even becoming.]

No, I wouldn't have guessed that either.

We don't have a race known as elves, though I believe there are fictional works about them.

[abracafcku]

Elves, Tieflings, Dwarves, Dragonborn, yup - where I'm from? They're as normal as anything. Tieflings and Dragonborn are kinda on the rarer side, but not unheard of.

Did the elves all die out on your world or something?

[Why else would there be stories about them, but none of them still around?]

[coinstability]

That's a lot of different races. We only have two - humans and androids.

[Yes, he's going to call androids a race. That's what Markus and the others have fought for. It's where the road should lead now.]

There were never any elves. They were mythological beings in some cultures and writers use them in stories today.

[Probably? Connor doesn't exactly read fantasy novels. He just has dictionary definitions ready to go.]

[abracafcku]

[He's not even going to question that because sure, androids can be a race, why not.]

Mythological? Ha! Holy shit, that's rich.

So we're just the boogeymen in stories to you guys? Weiiiiiird.

[coinstability]

Something like that. It would have been real belief in ancient times. Of course, you could be entirely different to the elves in Earth's mythology.

[abracafcku]

Makes as much sense as anything else in this weirdo world.

What were the elves like in your stories?

[coinstability]

Sorry, but it's not an area I'm familiar with. All I know is they're meant to be magic-related and have pointed ears.

[abracafcku]

I mean...that's not wrong. Elves are more attuned to magic than most folk, not that every elf is. The pointed ears thing is a deffo yes though.

Not one for fantasy reading though, huh?

[coinstability]

So there are similarities despite the different worlds involved.

It's not something I needed information on before.

[Now he's thinking there's a definite gap there, if he's going to legitimately be talking to elves and... who knows what else.]