[open] and all watched over

[abandonware]

Who: A2 and open + some closed prompts
Where: all over Aldrip!
What: February open log for depressed androids
Warnings: Nothing yet.

Good morning, A2.

[Pod's clipped and calm voice makes her squeeze her eyes more tightly shut before they reluctantly flutter open. Dawn is beginning to make patterns out of the shadows of the tree branches. The snow is starting to melt. Cold water drips, drips, down onto the top of her head, the shock of it waking her up properly. A2 stands up in slow and careful passes, checking herself for damage. Those dreams...

But there is no damage, nothing outside of the usual. No pain, save the tingle in limbs that had been sprawled at odd angles on the cold, hard ground as she'd slept. Androids did not dream. And yet she had.

(Evolution?)]

Morning, Pod.

[Her own voice is without inflection. She takes her sword from where it leans against the trunk of the tree she'd been sleeping under, and studies the cold, blue-gray sky. Something is budding on one of the branches, a tentative spot of green on a dark, gnarled branch. Weak early morning light begins to flow in from the west. She can hear the discordant chatter of crows, intermingled with softer cooing from songbirds.]

The season is changing.

---

Comments

open | forest & farm

[abandonware]

(music selection: city ruins)

I. the forest

[A2's daily patrol begins in the forest. She has yet to find anything especially dangerous, at least by her metric, but this patrol is a way for her to observe the AI's perception of nature. The animals here are unlike the ones in her war-ravaged Earth — even the birds are different. And there are other animals too. Case in point: one might stumble upon her crouched down, studying something, and once you are close enough, she raises a hand in a universal "stop" motion.]

Shh.

[She's watching a pack of wolves roughhousing in the snow, you see. Her eyes are fixed on the sight, wide and fascinated.]

.... These "dogs" are enormous.

[Who's going to tell her.

Or perhaps you'll find her by a riverbank, leaning back against a short, glowing pillar of light. She's sending Pod to fish, and when it bobs back up with a live one, she writes something down in a... notebook? Before motioning to Pod to send their catch back.

It hasn't occurred to her that you can do anything with fish that isn't catching them and then throwing them back in the water.]

II. farm wisdom

[To call what A2 does "visiting" the farm is something of a misnomer. Instead she sort of... skulks around it, not knowing what to do, and is gone the second someone turns in her direction, or feels that telltale sensation of eyes on them. This has been occurring over the course of several weeks, and her appearances are so brief (and vaguely haunted) that it's hard to say if she's there at all.

Finally, though...

She approaches the entrance cautiously and looks around at all of the activity and... the animals. So many she's never seen before. Unfortunately, she appears rooted to the spot and likely to dart off at the slightest moment, not unlike a spooked horse herself.]

the forest

[giraffic]

[ working at the Shimmer and Shine has made it easier to get food and before she'd left the QZ, Ellie might have been satisfied with that. But traveling with Joel has taught her not to take anything for granted. so she hunts, keeps her own personal stockpile in her one person apartment like the city is about to be hit by famine at any moment.

she's making her way to the water to rest for a moment, gun in hand, when the sight of A2's fish and release loop stops her. ]

Y'know, if you don't want them, I'll take 'em.

[abandonware]

[This human is quieter than some of the others — someone used to moving carefully and quietly, perhaps. Center of gravity lower to the ground - a kid. So A2 stashes her notebook, looking over her shoulder a moment or two before Ellie addresses her proper. Her head tilts at the comment, then she realizes... oh. Humans liked to eat fish.]

Oh. I'm just — [She pauses, trying to figure out how to explain doing something for entertainment that wasn't just saying that.]

Yeah. You can have them.

[When Pod pops back up with a silvery scaled fish, it bobs over to present the catch to Ellie.]

[giraffic]

Hell yeah, thanks.

[ she ties it up to the small line she has, accompanied by some small forest creature she has tossed over her shoulder. she gives Pod an experimental patpat. ]

I didn't know combat robots fished.

[abandonware]

Field research.

[A2 says, automatically, lest someone think she might be enjoying herself.] Analyzing and recovering data from... planetside is part of missions.

Affirmative. Recovering data from species on Earth is a routine aspect of a unit's mission detail.

[Pod backing her up causes her to sigh in relief, but then:]

However, as no such mission parameter has been set for Unit A2, it is safe to assume that this current activity could be considered a form of entertainment.

Oh, c'mon. Do you ever shut up?

the forest

[rebellions]

[ Ragna's routine has been somewhat altered by the loss of his right arm; while he can still fight with impressive efficiency, all things considered, mundane tasks are taking him longer than they have any right to. Case in point, gathering firewood. Pigs will fly before he asks anyone for help, so instead he's here, early in the morning, looking for suitable logs or a tree to cut down. Instead, however, he ends up running into a figure he recognizes... and one that immediately causes him to feel a pang of guilt in his gut over their dream encounter. But before he even has a chance to figure out what to do with that, she points out the animals in the nearby clearing, and... oh.

Yeah, he should probably clarify that. ]

... They're wolves. Kinda similar, but more... wild.

[ He speaks in a hushed voice, not looking to provoke the pack into attacking them. Not that it would be hard to dispatch them, probably, but why kill innocent animals needlessly? ]

They'll leave you alone if you don't bother them, but might attack you if you stick around in their territory for too long.

[abandonware]

[Surprise crosses her features when she sees the man from that... whatever it was. That bizarre dream. She frowns: it's hard to say if it's disapproval or simply her default expression. Then she turns back to her observation of the wolves.]

Looks like you woke up. [She mutters, and then she leaves it at that. It's not in her nature to pry, and the information he gives about these animals is more interesting to her at the moment, anyway.

She would ask later. After the wolves had departed.]

That's what they're called, huh. [...] I know they're more wild. I've been tracking them for days.

[Her own voice is low too, barely above a whisper.] That's what makes them tough. They're not going to attack me. I know what to do.

[She reaches for something — not a sword, but a plain black cloth bag, the sort used for groceries. Fishing around in it for a moment, she emerges with... what looks like a package of American cheese slices.]

This will lure them.

[rebellions]

So did you.

[ Since they're apparently doing the Captain Obvious routine here. He's more than happy to leave it at that and move past the whole dreams business ─ he has some thoughts on the ordeal, but as always, it's nothing he's eager to share with others.

Instead, Ragna takes a moment to actually watch the woman now that they're not in a life or death situation for a change. There is... a lot to unpack here. For starters, why isn't she wearing... well, anything, really? It's hardly a weather to be running around almost... naked. Second, days? Why would she devote so much time to stalking a pack of wolves? They're quite neat as a species, he supposes, though he's more familiar with the seithr-infected kind that he'd have to kill during his travels back in his world, so he'd rather keep a safe distance if given a choice. And third... why is that her plan to engage with wolves?

Maybe he'll start from the end, since that seems to be the most pressing part. ]

... What are you planning to do with those, exactly...?

[abandonware]

[The question makes her eyes narrow. Wasn't it obvious, she thinks? (It really wasn't...) Flicking her hair over one shoulder, like the irritated twitch of a cat's tail, she responds.]

Dogs like this food product. "Floppy cheese." One of the humans told me. Since these are... big, wild dogs, I'm going to test if they like it too.

[Her attention returns to the pack of wolves.]

They're interesting.

[And she wants to pet them....]

And they can't hurt me much.

i

[solitarysoul]

[The boy with the rifle is out on something somewhere between a nature walk and a patrol when he comes across A2 fishing. Or...studying? He pauses and watches her write then motion to the black box thing.]

...are you a scientist?

[abandonware]

[The swinging weight of a rifle is a familiar sound to A2, though she hadn't heard it here before. As such, her ear is trained to it, more than the shuffling of footsteps and crackling of brush underfoot, and she has tensed in preparation for some sort of altercation, when she hears the voice accompanying that sound.

She relaxes. Another kid. Turning to him properly, she tilts her head at the question.

Then, she snorts.]

No way.

It's ah...

Field research. [The drone beside her replies.]

What Pod said. This is something we did on Earth on missions.

[solitarysoul]

Mm. Do you turn it in later for pay or something? I'm not sure if that'll work here, but if you kept the fish you could at least sell them. O-or eat them, I guess.

[abandonware]

No.

[No one to turn them in to. However...]

Humans will buy these? [She puts a finger to her chin, thoughtful.] I see. Could use the cash.

What are you doing out here, anyway?

ii. bigfoot sightings

[memori3s]

[ By now, Minato's gotten used to the rustling that seemed to shadow him around the farmhouse. It followed him as he checked on each animal, and the noises continued, even as he tended to the tiny garden patch that he'd claimed as his own. Twice, he'd tried glancing over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the stranger, but they'd darted off like a spooked deer before he could identify them.

He'd never been worried about the stranger though. The first few times Koromaru had stood alert, but he'd never seemed bothered by the presence. Whoever it is, they likely mean no harm. Minato trusts his canine companion's instincts after all.

Today, it seems the shadow's decided to untether itself and ventured out on its own. It's Miss Android, gazing at a flock of grazing sheep.

Minato doesn't approach just yet. Instead he stands a few feet diagonal of A2, Koromaru at his heels. ]

...are you here to see the sheep?

[abandonware]

[In her observations of this world, she has returned, again and again, to the boy and the... Dog. She watches them while cloaked in the safety of shadows, as they go through their routine at the farm. For a while, she'd thought the Dog, with his increased sense of smell and animal instinct, would give her away. Perhaps he'd make that noise again. But the Dog had not done this.

Despite tracking their location, she's so riveted by the sheep that her defenses are down. She starts like a skittish cat when Minato speaks to her, as if she's been caught at something she shouldn't be doing.]

Ah...

[She is quick to regain her bearings. The sheep bleat in happiness, frolicking among one another and grazing without a care in the world.]

Is it alright?

[For her to visit, that is.]

[memori3s]

[ What an odd question. ]

Yeah.

[ Of course it's all right. The farmhouse was open to all. It's become an even more public spot considering no one lived there anymore. But based on the uncertainty that crossed the android's features, this... must be something she'd never experienced in the past.

After all, she hadn't ever met a dog until becoming acquainted with Koromaru. ]

They're eating right now.

[ Minato steps forward now, heading past the observer to crouch near one of the sheep, cradling its face between two hands. He won't gesture for her to come closer, merely leaving A2 to her own devices for now. She'll probably come forward once she feels sure enough to do so. ]

[abandonware]

[When the Boy says the sheep are eating, A2 turns to watch. They are, she sees now. They remind her a bit like boar, but the shape of the face is different — the eyes have a docile look. The pupils are strange. They didn't have the mean glint in their eyes like wild boars did, who would surely attempt to attack if some clumsy android got near one of their young.

Eventually, she speaks.]

I've been reading about these. Humans used their coats for making fabric. They bred them until they were suitable.

[Against the pen, A2's hands flex, unflex.]

Do humans do this to everything?

ii

[grappler]

[sometimes on her runs, she finds herself by the farm. she hasn't introduced herself to the new person who's run it after Kotone, but she goes by every now and then to see if the animals are well taken care of. and they are, of course. even when no one was technically taking care of it, the Chosen had picked up the slack.

she smiles sadly as she stops, remembering the person who'd owned it first. some days... she missed Astralin.

but then she sees the woman cautiously approaching the entrance, and steps forward until she stands not far behind her. her hands go into her sweatpants' pockets, and she tilts her head.]

Ever seen a farm before? I know I hadn't before I'd come here.

[abandonware]

[The greeting, as well meaning as it is, makes her whirl around quickly, all of her tensed in preparation for... something. Then she regains her wits again, relaxing. Slowly.]

No.

[Her hard, focused gaze takes in this new human. A woman she doesn't recognize — she'd remember that hair if she did. The frost leaves her eyes not long after, though, and she only looks surprised.] ... You hadn't?

[She'd thought such a thing was a given, for humanity. That all of them were surrounded by these... farms.]

[grappler]

[she takes in A2 suspiciously for just a moment. but then she seems to relax, and she takes another step forward. it seems as if this person's just jumpy, which she can't blame her for. everyone's worlds seem to be some sort of hell, after all.

she shakes her head, her gaze going out to the farm and the animals currently outside of it.]

Nope. I didn't even really see nature at all before I came here. Everyone thought I was crazy for being shocked about the sheer amount of grass that's outside Aldrip.

[that had been... almost two years ago. damn.]

[abandonware]

[A soft and surprised noise escapes her in response. There were no humans on her version of Earth, true. But nature? It was everywhere. Even with the machines. Despite all the endless battling between the android forces and their mechanized opponents.]

None at all? [...] Shit. That's awful.

[It's said gruffly, but there's real bite to it.] Not even trees?

here for farm things!!

[incorrigibles]

[ it's strange, to say the least — charles volunteers at the farm three times a week, and recently, well. is it silly to say that he feels a little like, hm, haunted?

and that's the joke of the century, a ghost being haunted, but here they are; or maybe it's the farm itself that's being haunted by this apparition, there one moment and gone the next, so quickly charles has to start to wonder if the simulation is still glitching, after all.

except there she is, now: standing there like she isn't sure whether to stay frozen or run away like a deer in headlights. so he turns to her, and makes sure to go for his brightest, most reassuring smile as he says, ]

Hey there. Good to see you. [ finally, he doesn't say, but it's implied. ]

🐑🐏🐄🐎🐤

[abandonware]

[Besides the Boy and the Dog, she'd been watching this one, too. Her downtime left her bored and restless, which in turn made her begin to think. That wasn't good. Not usually, but especially not here, in a spinning web that a machine had constructed around her.

Instead, she'd perused the network. Knowing who and what one would encounter in an unknown location was essential for strategic movement. And he'd been very kind, so much so, that she hadn't had the nerve to tell him it was a wasted emotion on her. And because he is kind, she shouldn't be surprised when he approaches her.

But his footsteps are different from the other humans. There's no heartbeat she can capture with her internal sensors. So she jumps when he speaks to her — a barely-there flinch along her shoulders before she can catch the reflex.

Quietly embarrassed, she forces herself to relax.]

... Hello.

[It's said in a mutter.] I... you said I could visit.

[She says it like she's concerned he'd changed his mind.]

[incorrigibles]

[ spooked, yes — though whether specifically by him or another person, he can't really say. all he can do is hold his hands up in the universal sign for surrender, before he lowers them slowly and says, gentle and earnest, ]

Yeah, I did. And it's brills you're here, yeah? I'm glad to see you.

[ properly, he thinks, because the flashes he's seen throughout the week must have been her; he really is glad, now, that she's at least talking to him. ]

So, what do you think, so far?

[abandonware]

["Brills." She mouths it to herself. Some kind of slang? A2 quietly decides to look into this.

His good cheer is more overwhelming in person. Why would anyone be glad to see her, she wonders. The pleasantries are too difficult to respond to, so she focuses in on the practical question.]

... It's interesting. I've never seen this many animals. The plants are strange. Do humans really eat them?