driftfleet | Libuscha IV System Mingle (no. 1)

It's nice to meet you too.

[He lets go of her hand and gestures back down the cavern, where the ground continues sloping downwards.]

I was heading in that direction, since it's seen less recent use.

[Lup follows his hand, studying the shape of the rocks and the way the path carves down, and- yeah, she knows nadda about rocks and mining that isn't just raw experience with spelunking. One road's as good as any.

She shrugs and gives him a playful little salute.]

Sounds fine with me. Lead on, my good fella.

[That's... weird, but he's not going to object to being saluted either. Not like he can expect that at home. Connor's happy to lead since he was already going in this direction. With a tip of his head to indicate she should follow, he starts following that slant downwards.]

There's enough airflow coming from this direction that there should be another connecting passage on the other side.

Well, that's useful. I do like having air to breathe.

[She falls into step behind him, hands clasped together at the back of her head, studying their surroundings as they walk. It's been such a beautiful trip that she might consider it worthwhile even if she doesn't find any treasure to bring back, though that would be ideal. It's just so nice to go somewhere with decent aesthetics after a month on Trash Planet.]

Yeah - I think most people do.

[That's a little glib, coming from someone who certainly gives the impression he's breathing. He had nearly said 'humans' but Lup's ears haven't escaped his notice. It's fortunate he already spoke to someone who said they were an elf, otherwise Connor would have been asking questions much earlier.

The magic had admittedly been distracting.

Connor does look over at Lup again, now that it's back on his mind.]

If you don't mind my asking, are you an elf?

[Her response comes hand in hand with an easy grin- clearly not the first time she's been asked that question.]

Guilty as charged. What could possibly have given me away?

[That makes two elves at least. He already knew from low-level scanning that her ears weren't some form of prosthetic addition. Still, his eyebrows go up a bit and he sounds somewhat pleased. Confirmation is pretty nice.]

It was the ears. That, and I was told there were elves in the Fleet.

[His first question would have been different otherwise.]

[Lup can't help her snort of laughter; she was being rhetorical, but he'd answered so sincerely she had to giggle. Talk about a rare trait.]

Yeah, I figured. Okay, you got me pegged, so how about you? Can I ask about the spinner on your forehead?

Spinner - you mean the LED? [Not much else on him that could refer to.] It's because I'm an android.

[He'll watch for her reaction to that, whether it's recognition of the term or bafflement. But soon enough they also reach the end of the cavern, a forking path. Connor gives it the briefest glance before choosing the right.]

This way.

Not familiar with elly-dee, but- you said android?

[Her reaction is unmistakable surprise, mostly because "android" is a pretty rare term even in her long lifespan, and she's absolutely never seen a mechanical person look so indistinct from a human before.]

Didn't see that coming.

It stands for light-emitting diode.

[He takes in that surprise without much of his own. It's becoming a common enough sentiment. Connor just shakes his head, rubbing his hands together as he scopes out the passage ahead.]

Most people I've talked to don't. Either they don't have androids in their own world, or they look very different.

[Oh, ohhh, acronym. Okay, that's easier to remember. She nods thoughtfully.]

Yeah, not so much. Closest we've got is robots with dead souls dwelling in them. I don't know exactly what makes an android, but I assume that's pretty different.

[It's not his first time hearing something like that, but it still has him wrinkling his nose a bit with unease.]

I've... heard about something like that already. From Taako? [He figures Lup might be from the same place and know the guy.] It sounds awful to me.

And you're right that it's different. Androids are intended to resemble humans, robots aren't.

[She smiles faintly. It's not a huge leap to assume they know each other. Can androids recognize identical twins? Is that a thing? Did he even meet Taako in person? Well, it doesn't matter either way.]

That's an interesting distinction, but it checks out. The robots I've seen have been pretty basic, sort of humanoid shapes- body, head, four limbs, but not much in the way of features. Looking at you, I can't even tell. Is that weird for you, or do you prefer it?

[Fortunately for Lup, Connor's only spoken with Taako over text. So there was never any recognition here of features, and there are no awkward questions incoming.

Not about that, anyway.]

What's strange for me is that people can't tell. That's why the LED is there - at home it's meant to indicate what I am. [Which is, of course, why some deviants rip it out.] I've gotten more questions about it here than in my entire life.

[Hey, a bit of awkward questioning never hurt anyone, surely.]

Is that so... maybe I should be asking you if that bothers you, instead. I can clamp down on my burning curiosity if you like.

[She's not an asshole! ...Okay, not a total asshole, mostly.]

Oh... no, I don't think it does. [It's an odd tone, like he's picking out the thread of it for himself as he goes.] It's more that I've never had to explain it before, and everyone requires a slightly different explanation based on their level of knowledge.

Makes sense. Kinda gives you a taste of what being human is like, maybe? At least, most of the ones I've met like to talk about themselves to some degree.

[A trait that her people - and her family - are not exactly immune to, either, but humans are famously selfish in an endearing kind of way.]

They do talk a lot.

[Granted, most of them have been alive for several decades, so have a lot more experience to talk about.]

I suppose it's something to get used to. We're all from such different places here, some amount of discussion about that is inevitable.

Yeah, but I think it's a good thing. If we all just sat around keeping that shit to ourselves I know I'd die of boredom before too long.

[And she's happy to keep poking at that bear - or be the poked bear, whatever - as long as he allows. She's good at hiding what she doesn't want to get into, anyway.]

It doesn't seem to be much of a problem so far. Everyone's been happy to talk about their own experiences.

[More than that, happy to talk to him about it as a person, which is the wilder side for Connor. He doesn't have a whole lot of experience in giving out his own history, though his talk with Ben and the Vision were good tests. Or... first trys, if he wants to be less analytical about it.]

And the locals are very... welcoming.

[Said as though that's not your everyday occurrence.]

[That's an interesting tone, there, buddy. She quirks a brow, curious.]

That can be pretty rare for travelers like us. Enjoy it while you can.

I take it other planets can be more hostile, then.

[Disappointing, he supposes, but more in line with expectations. He can just imagine how Earth would react if a bunch of alien spaceships landed on it. A cynical part of him expects the army would be called in immediately.]

I have liked it so far. The local gift-giving custom is a little confusing though.

[They just do it to literally everyone. Everyone..]

Not necessarily hostile- at least, not always. But they don't have to start fights to be unwelcoming to somebody. People can be subtle about it. Do androids understand what passive-aggressive means?

[It's easier for some to be assholes to androids, that much she knows. An android might be harder, looking like people the way this guy does, but there's plenty who are assholes to other real people, so...]

I know what it means. I've also seen it in practice.

[He hadn't known, specifically, that it was directed at him. Or maybe it was more that it was irrelevant at the time, and more often people skipped the 'passive' part and moved straight to 'aggressive'. He understands being shoved into a wall more readily than subtle digs at his existence. Those aren't so subtle anymore, at least.]

It wouldn't surprise me to find that kind of behaviour elsewhere.

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