[It's an insufficient and vague answer for A2. And possibly Pod, but they aren't saying anything.
The concept of love was not foreign to androids, though to A2 it felt as ephemeral as air and difficult to conceptualize. Emotions were prohibited. However-
She had loved her teammates, and she had loved the Resistance members who died in her stead. And 9S too, in the strange and muddy way that 2B's memories and her own resolve to save him had brought on. She had loved the world, despite the agonies it had enacted on her. But the love this girl speaks of is of a different sort.]
Not quite? What does that mean?
[She is oddly curious to be so intimidating and quiet.]
A2 puzzles over this. To her, this sounds needlessly complex, but what she knew about humans could barely fill the page of a book. Perhaps this was some fantastical custom that had been lost to time — like that city of masks and rules that the machines had emulated in the desert.]
I don't think that... ugh, mushy junk applies to someone like me. I'm not human.
Mm. I'm not. [It feels strange to her to be mistaken for one. Dimly uncomfortable too, some small blasphemy. It was a facet of this new world that she would have to become accustomed to.] I'm an android. [She jerks her thumb in Pod's direction.] That's Pod. They're a... [you can do it A2] Pod.
This legitimately gives Koharu pause, who slows her walk to a total stop in favor of fully turning, giving her the first real sizing up (lack of clothes be damned for the moment, it seems). Her gaze goes up, down, up, back to Pod again, back to her, then: ]
—Seriously?! But you look like a totally normal person!!
[ Says the literal supernatural being who could also be mistaken for human. ]
I couldn't tell you were a robot at all!
[ Wait. Maybe that isn't true. Those are creases around her limbs and torso, aren't they...? ]
[Both she and Pod look to one another, then A2 looks down at herself, turning her hands this way and that as if seeing them for the first time. She really doesn't know what to do about being mistaken for a human, and feels the need to set this train of thought down the right track.]
We were designed in humanity's image. [It's said with the blank and emotionless familiarity of constant recitation.] Have you... [cautiously:] have you seen anyone else like me?
[She certainly hoped not. The very thought makes her exhausted to contemplate.]
For a time she's quiet again, keeping pace slightly behind Koharu, eyes scanning the environment in an attempt to get a sense of this location. The intact and quaint looking streets, the gentle snowfall. It's so calm. Still.
Eventually, it occurs to her to ask a question.]
The place you're from. ... Is it like this?
[She wouldn't have asked such a question normally, but this person is going out of her way to give her a coat (she didn't particularly need, but still), and it was a good idea to gather intel. Right.
[A curious response. Pod accepts it in stride, but A2 frowns, dissatisfied. More intel on "Tokyo" would be useful. However, Koharu's function is its own curiosity. Pod has broken the ice for her to feel comfortable again asking her own.]
So what do you do? Other than getting the humans to fall in love?
[It's an answer she's not expecting, though she isn't sure why. It was only that Koharu looked so much like a human, her assumption was that she'd have... a hobby, or something.
(This is more than a bit hypocritical.)] All you did was perform your function? How many humans need you to do... [She pauses.] whatever it is you do to make them fall in love?
As many as we want, really, but some targets take longer than others, and there's a reason we have to keep working. [ And, because Koharu knows she'll ask: ] With every one we complete, we're rewarded something called 'karma', which is like... our currency, you could say! Which means the more we work, the more karma we can collect.
[Responds A2, after a moment. While there was no need for things among most of YoRHa, most too loyal to disobey, and the ones that thought to summarily destroyed, A2 nonetheless recalls some of the more opportunistic soldiers hunting for her. For better positions, for glory, for nicer living quarters or a new sword.] I understand.
[She doesn't bother asking if she has to do it or not. Anything with a function was doomed to perform it.]
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expiationmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
expiationlogs2024-12-09 08:17 am
i'm late but anais IS THAT YOU
The concept of love was not foreign to androids, though to A2 it felt as ephemeral as air and difficult to conceptualize. Emotions were prohibited. However-
She had loved her teammates, and she had loved the Resistance members who died in her stead. And 9S too, in the strange and muddy way that 2B's memories and her own resolve to save him had brought on. She had loved the world, despite the agonies it had enacted on her. But the love this girl speaks of is of a different sort.]
Not quite? What does that mean?
[She is oddly curious to be so intimidating and quiet.]
heheeheehoo.... HEWWO
[ Ugh. Okay, just spill it out, Koharu. You're overthinking this. (Hopefully.) A little nervously: ]
I mean. No. Without a cupid, you aren't able to experience the feeling of love. [ Koharu says, assuming she's human. ] So. That's what I mean.
hello!! you should add me on plurk (if you want!) @gravesinger!
A2 puzzles over this. To her, this sounds needlessly complex, but what she knew about humans could barely fill the page of a book. Perhaps this was some fantastical custom that had been lost to time — like that city of masks and rules that the machines had emulated in the desert.]
I don't think that... ugh, mushy junk applies to someone like me. I'm not human.
runs directly for you
[ Mark this the nth time Koharu looks over her shoulder in bewilderment. ]
You... you're not?
[ Like, says her, but details. ]
✨❤️✨
A Tactical Support Pod.
no subject
This legitimately gives Koharu pause, who slows her walk to a total stop in favor of fully turning, giving her the first real sizing up (lack of clothes be damned for the moment, it seems). Her gaze goes up, down, up, back to Pod again, back to her, then: ]
—Seriously?! But you look like a totally normal person!!
[ Says the literal supernatural being who could also be mistaken for human. ]
I couldn't tell you were a robot at all!
[ Wait. Maybe that isn't true. Those are creases around her limbs and torso, aren't they...? ]
no subject
We were designed in humanity's image. [It's said with the blank and emotionless familiarity of constant recitation.] Have you... [cautiously:] have you seen anyone else like me?
[She certainly hoped not. The very thought makes her exhausted to contemplate.]
no subject
[ Koharu pauses, expression pinching together in a way that clearly conveys she's thinking about this. ]
At—at least, I don't think so? No one I've met so far has told me they were, so you're the first... For me, anyway.
no subject
Good.
[Is all she says to that.
For a time she's quiet again, keeping pace slightly behind Koharu, eyes scanning the environment in an attempt to get a sense of this location. The intact and quaint looking streets, the gentle snowfall. It's so calm. Still.
Eventually, it occurs to her to ask a question.]
The place you're from. ... Is it like this?
[She wouldn't have asked such a question normally, but this person is going out of her way to give her a coat (she didn't particularly need, but still), and it was a good idea to gather intel. Right.
It definitely wasn't that she was just curious.]
no subject
[ With no context, the question feels a touch out of nowhere. A little, because granted, Aldrip is a... unique place. ]
Well... honestly, not really. I come from a much bigger city than this—from Tokyo, actually, so it feels a lot different from this smaller town.
no subject
[She sounds mystified. Something about the word "Tokyo" sounds familiar — data from that machine Library?
A topic to ponder over later. She wants to ask what it's like, to live in a city, but she's awkward and bad at conversation. She clams up instead.
Luckily, Pod has no such reservations.]
Query: what did daily life entail in "Tokyo?"
no subject
Huh. Maybe Pod wants in on the conversation, too... This is so strange. Koharu's never talked with a robot before, let alone two. ]
Heh heh, well... I don't live the same way humans do! They may work and go to school and all that, but not me.
no subject
So what do you do? Other than getting the humans to fall in love?
no subject
[ Koharu trails off briefly, as if putting some thought into this. ]
Honestly, that's what takes up most of my time. It's a lot of work! And there's a lot of people we gotta target, so...
[ She probably could afford to slack off some, if she wanted, but Koharu is on a bit of a grind. ]
no subject
(This is more than a bit hypocritical.)] All you did was perform your function? How many humans need you to do... [She pauses.] whatever it is you do to make them fall in love?
no subject
As many as we want, really, but some targets take longer than others, and there's a reason we have to keep working. [ And, because Koharu knows she'll ask: ] With every one we complete, we're rewarded something called 'karma', which is like... our currency, you could say! Which means the more we work, the more karma we can collect.
no subject
[Responds A2, after a moment. While there was no need for things among most of YoRHa, most too loyal to disobey, and the ones that thought to summarily destroyed, A2 nonetheless recalls some of the more opportunistic soldiers hunting for her. For better positions, for glory, for nicer living quarters or a new sword.] I understand.
[She doesn't bother asking if she has to do it or not. Anything with a function was doomed to perform it.]