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meadowlarklogs2019-01-05 04:51 pm
CLOSED.
WHERE: Loki's apartment
WHEN: Beginning of September.
WHAT: Just revolution things.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Not right now, but will update if needed.
We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,
[ where it might be detrimental to Connor or Markus to push into the restrictions around AI implementation in this world, Loki does it with a careless curiosity. it's to cover their bases is what he says, and what he told Markus, and it is to an extent, but it's for him, too. to continue their investigations, they need to narrow down their options. so, he finds what he's looking for, and as promised, sends along the message to both Markus and Connor:
I wouldn't say it's a surprise, but I do have a present for you. Care to come get it? I'll put out salsa.
-L
it's accompanied with a GPS pin to his apartment and a calendar invite (the time is earlier in the morning, around 4 a.m. to comply with the city-wide time change). there's not much information other than that, but there's only a handful of things that it could be about, and Loki's not about to divulge through the network.
the apartment building is tall and nondescript, built to hold as many people possible in a small place. it's mostly micro-apartments, small, two-story-ish rooms that offer no privacy whatsoever. there are two pings, once to get into the building, and another at Loki's door. when they arrive, he's already leaning on the doorframe, as if he were waiting. ]
Ah, it's not often that I get to play host. Hello, Markus, Connor. Please—my home is your home.
[ and he whisks them in. it's small and narrow, with a large window on the west side that show's a lower skyline of the city (the only redeeming quality of the apartment). there's a place to sit, a small kitchen with two seats and a counter for either cooking or eating. above is a slim staircase that leads to two beds. cozy might be a better term, but it does get claustrophobic. ]
no subject
They can’t, plain and simple. Not when Loki promises presents, and he knows the word holds a strictly different sort of meaning — curious all the same — when employed by this particular god. That there’s something that needs to be said, but it needs to be said face-to-face, which means it’s an invite not to be ignored.
It also means they’re both quick about arriving at the right time, at the right place, the two androids being able utilize a GPS navigator trailing along a sprawling map of New Amsterdam with laughable ease. Loki is there to greet them, and Markus enters the apartment with a quiet, assured step.]
Thank you, Loki.
[The more limited living space doesn’t seem to bother Markus; his and Connor’s own apartment is not a very grandiose thing, actually rather small, so it’s simply par the course. The android gravitates towards the window, drawn in by the skyline. He’s more than patient enough to let everyone find the spaces they’d like to hover around in, while Loki probably keeps them in suspense about why they’re here.]
no subject
This is nice, (connor gestures around with a hint of a smile that's quick to replace itself with that same earnest default he always seems to have pasted on,) and the area, too. Does the sun set on this side here?
(meandering over to the window with his hands clasped at parade rest behind his back, canting his head to the side.)
I don't like where we live, but the apartment itself is nice. I suppose you have to trade one for the other, here.
no subject
there's a sleek fold out chair that has a curve at the rear and is neatly cushioned with grey fabric. (it folds up and goes into the closet for space management.) Connor and Markus head toward the most prominent feature in the room: the window.
taking a detour, Loki stops by the half-sized refrigerator built into the cabinet, and brings out the salsa. there's a metal bowl full of chips already on the table. ]
It does—better than rising, I suppose. No one wants to be roused at sunrise with this weather.
[ there's a suspended shrug. ]
Space is a commodity here, with so many people crammed in one place. Not so surprising. Of course, you both probably have figured that I didn't ask you here to show off the real estate. So then—Markus, I told you that I'd look into something for you a few weeks ago, do you remember?
no subject
[Hard to forget any conversation that even touched upon the subject of AI life. Just as it's hard to forget the point he made to Loki that day — in a world where they no longer exist, where they had been wiped clean in a war that shed an ocean of blood, Markus will prefer to err on the side of caution, until given reason to do otherwise.
Eyes idly tracking the offering of salsa in Loki’s hands, he thinks it might be prudent to reiterate that fact.]
Your willingness to investigate the past, present, and possible future of AI life in this world. And my reservations about putting ourselves at risk because of it, given that it’s a war long finished, already engraved into history.
[As terrible as it is. As hard as it is to say. But he made his priorities clear that day — protecting Connor, keeping people safe, and wanting to return to Detroit with his android body in tow, in some form or fashion. Sticking his neck out when there is no one left to stick his neck out for? He treads that territory cautiously.
He looks at Connor obliquely, before deciding to cross over to sink into a place to sit. Coincidentally close to the metal bowl of chips.]
Is that why we’re here?
no subject
eyebrows high, he eases himself distractedly onto the couch beside markus.)
I thought Markus and I would be alone investigating the matter. Elysian and the war its murders instigated... I admit I had much more pressing concerns with the present, but this is a surprise, Loki.
(connor is far less patient than markus is. his hands clasp in his lap and he leans shallowly in loki's direction.)
What did you discover?
no subject
You needn't remind me, I'm aware of your stance. That doesn't mean that it's not worth a peek. We're all stumbling toward the truth in some form, and this is of your interest, regardless.
[ he spreads his fingers to break the eye contact, before giving a little huff and looking over at Connor. ]
So, I went through the backdoor instead of the front—or window, whatever metaphor you feel appropriate. The UN has regulations around the conception of any AI post-Xelkoven War. So much so, that most large companies won't even take the risk. There's a culture of fear that has been spread after that, for many reasons you can guess.
no subject
Even if he frowns in tandem with what he’s currently hearing.]
That isn’t surprising. A war that ran that long, and with that many casualties, leaves an indelible bias that might never disappear from the social consciousness of this world. Any large cooperation even considering the re-development of AI life would be taking a risk that most would consider... too dangerous.
[It feels wrong, talking about this in such an empirical way, even if the words don’t reflect the unease that clenches tight around his ribs simply by thinking of it. This place, this awful future so departed from his own Detroit, stands for everything Markus tries so hard to avoid back home.
He pauses, and continues.]
That isn’t to say there aren’t ungovernable minds out there, flirting with the idea of developing advanced AI all over again. You did say large corporations.
[There’s more freedom to act under less scrutiny, after all.]
no subject
(trying to navigate these chips, trying to pick out the most perfect one for dipping purposes. it'd be rude to avoid loki's salsa, even if the conversation topic is grim. connor's never really subscribed to conventional ways of coping with things, preferring to treat it like business as usual until something shocks him.
this isn't shocking him.)
I was at the archives, back before Markus arrived in New Amsterdam. It's likely my name's been flagged, if they're keeping an eye on potential threats. It's good you used a backdoor to investigate... have you learned anything else?
no subject
Not anything that isn't expected from experience.
[ rather, just confirmation between all of them. there was nothing radical, just knowledge of where the path had lead. when dealing with inter-dimensional travel there could always be. hiccups. ]
The development of these sorts of systems seemed to tie back to the need for inexpensive means of labor. It's a nice way of saying servitude, I suppose. [ a pause. ] Though there was another part as well.
The need to create as the divine does, but the two of those things really come hand in hand, don't they?
[ and here they were, two AI and a god talking about the tie between the concepts. ]
no subject
Playing god. There’s irony in that.
[Considering who they’re sharing company with, at least.
But it isn’t surprising; it’s par the course when it comes to human nature, just as more practical reasons, such as manufacturing cheap labor, also aligns with the history of AI development back home. All in all, Loki simultaneously informs him and tells him nothing completely surprising. He’s of a same mind with Connor.]
Again, none of this is particularly shocking. I’m more concerned about the state of our original bodies — and the consequence of two examples of highly advanced AI existing in this kind of oppressive atmosphere.
[Meaning, what’s happened to them? Are they being stored somewhere? What if they fall into too-curious hands? The unknowns far outweigh whatever answers they can cobble together, an unfortunate trend these days.]
no subject
everyone's trying their best to keep themselves afloat, worrying them with something that can't be changed right now is folly.)
So I'm in agreement with Markus. (dipping his chip with a liberal amount of salsa before eating it in one bite, chewing thoughtfully a moment before replying once he's through.) Respectfully, Loki, we're very familiar with... our people being created to be slaves and I'm... I'm unconcerned with the divine in this matter.
(clears his throat a little, fist against his mouth.) —excuse me.
no subject
Nothing shocking, no—but confirmation so there no longer needs to be an assumption of ...
[ he trails off, pausing to give Connor a curious look.
...
...
then a cat-like grin spreads across his face. ]
no subject
Not that it's obvious to start with. But Connor putting his words to pause for no reason is unusual, and Markus halts his considerations to look at the other android. Then to Loki. And the smile crawling across the latter's face is telling, injecting him with equal parts exasperation and suspicion, even if he already knows it's nothing dire. (Probably. Don't die, Connor.)]
...Loki. What did you do?
[THE BLAME GAME IS HAPPENING EARLY but to be fair, it's not difficult for anyone with a clever mind to put two and two together. And it's a room full of clever people.]