purrtagonist | [futurology ic contact]

[ The puzzlement happens on both ends; 9S wrinkles his nose, a lot like he feels this should be obvious. ]

—Why? We're built to serve our human creators. There's no point in me being around if I can't even do that much.

What?

[that answer just deepens Akira's confusion]

Of course there is. Just because you were created to serve humans doesn't mean you can't live your own life, too.

[he's already seen that 9S has thoughts, feelings, emotions of his own. whether they're prohibited by YoRHa or not didn't matter. the fact was they were there, and if 9S had those?]

[then certainly he had the freedom to choose what he wished to do with the life humans gave him]

[ It's a notion he hadn't considered much before. 9S had always dreamed of what a peaceful existence on Earth would be like, and the things he would do, but he hadn't thought it involved giving up on his duties. He took pride in them, after all. ]

I... I don't know. [ There's still a nagging voice in his head that tells him no, you cannot. ] As long as I can be useful to the people here, it doesn't matter all that much to me.

[well. . . if being useful to humans is what 9S wanted, deep down? then Akira couldn't argue against that. but even so. . .]

Think about it, all right?

[he suggests casually. their confidant isn't high enough for him to press more than that]

Don't go against what you truly want, if being useful is what that is. But don't be afraid to chase your own dreams, either. Okay?

[ Chase his dreams? It's hard to say if he even had any to run after anymore. He was full of simple ones, and so many of them involved one person.

Who's gone now, so all he has left is staring down a group of lilies, wondering how many of them to take with him. A dream feels so insignificant at the moment.

9S simply nods, because—who knows, it's a thought. One to ruminate on later. ]

I could try to give it a shot. [ Despite everything, there was nothing about it that sounded unappealing. ] I just thought no one would ever tell me that. You know?

[hmph. Akira folds his arms across his torso as he leans his shoulder against the greenhouse wall]

That's because the humans you know from back home suck.

[he says bluntly, without beating around the bush. MOON HUMANS :/ you might want to correct him on this mistaken assumption, Nines. . .]

If they won't tell you to chase your own dreams and be your own perso? Then I'm more than happy to do it in their place.

Erm...

[ ... Yeah. ]

Well, they never actually told us much of anything in the first place. [ Even the signals from the human server were fabricated, presumably by androids. (And how messed up was that?) 9S guiltily shifts in place, caught in a lie—despite Akira not knowing he had in the first place. ] To tell you the truth... the human race went extinct thousands of years ago.

[ah--]

[well, it isn't a lie that Akira finds particularly offensive. he lifts a hand and rubs at the back of his neck, somewhat sheepish]

So it's just androids and machines, then. . . [. . .] That's all the more reason for you to take my advice to heart.

[or. so he thinks. but it is, of course, up to Nines]

[ It's not the biggest lie, no, but it was the easiest story to tell at the time. Though, 9S doesn't think hearing about your own kind ceasing to exist was pleasant, either.

Either way... ]

It's not that I don't want to...

[ Once YoRHa went crumbling, he had to make a decision for himself. When his one purpose in life was rendered moot, 9S had no idea what to do, and it left him wondering why he had to be made this way. ALASTAIR was enough for him to mostly bury those thoughts, at least, because there was humankind here and elsewhere and it didn't mean leading a pointless existence, for the time being.

Akira is making him question that again, though. ]

Do you really think it's that strange? It's not like I'm human, too—you know that. So why?

[ He's so adamant about this, and it strikes 9S as extremely ironic. ]

[sorry about your existential crisis, android friend]

[Akira pauses, searching for the words, his toes tapping lightly against the ground]

You know, one of my best friends back home isn't human. [OR. WELL] He thought he was for a while, and he still wants to be.

[and perhaps one day Morgana will get that human body he so desperately wants. it's an adventure Akira would absolutely help with]

Point is? I don't think things like feelings, or free will, are reserved only for humans. If that makes sense.

[a nod]

That's why.

[ Well—no, it isn't. 9S wouldn't disagree, because currently walking around Oska are many different types, different races and species, and he wouldn't say they don't deserve it either.

But 9S isn't them. Or... so he thinks, as does programming hardwired into him. He was made with a reason, not born to find his own purpose in life.

(Yet, does being metal and wire and data make him that different from those of flesh and bone? He could have just as easily been made to think like the rest of them. ... So why did he have to be built this way?)

9S lowers his head, pressing fingers with one hand against his forehead. This is too much to think about right now. ]

It... does, but you're still kind of weird.

[ For insisting about it so much in his case. ]

Definitely not the first time I've been called that.

[he replies quickly, pushing away from the wall to shift his weight onto his other foot]

Better to be a little weird than completely boring, don't you think?

[ He pauses to actually consider that, but only ends up with a bit of a non-answer. ]

So, not being a weirdo makes you boring now?

[Nines!1]

[lifts a hand, rocking it back and forth in a sort of so-so gesture]

It's kind of a sliding scale.

Uh-huh...

[ He puts on a little disbelieving tone, but also puffs out a breath in a light, short laugh. ]

... Though, I think I should go ahead and take these back now.

[ The flowers, that is. He's been staring them down long enough already. ]

[his amused smile probably says it all. you'll figure this kid out eventually, Nines]

Would you like some help? Or do you have it from here?

C'mon, I know how to pick a few flowers.

[ There's a 'what do you take me for?' edge to his voice, but it's airy enough. ]

... There's one more thing before I go, though.

[gives Nines a look that basically says, "you know that's not what I meant." but his curiosity is piqued once again]

Oh?

[lay it on him, 9S]

[ Can do, captain. ]

So, um... My friends back home would call me Nines.

[ He just leaves it there. Totally expecting Akira to get the hint. ]

[oh. that is totally the sound of a Confidant ranking up]

[tugs!! at a lock of his own hair!!]

Nines it is, then.

[a pause, and I guarantee you he wouldn't have given this name in the other thread SO--]

Some of my friends at home call me Joker. [a hum] But like this, I prefer Akira.

Like "this"?

[ A beat. Wait, right. ]

Oh, yeah... Those other clothes. [ Along with the everything else. ] Uh—I guess I save "Joker" for that, right?

[snaps his fingers in a "bingo" motion]

You got it. Think of it as a code name, to match the mask.

[not strictly necessary where people recognize him just fine even in the mask, but. eh. old habits are hard to break]

That's a bit... [ This is why you're weird, Akira. He files his further questions for another day, though, a better time. ] —Anyway.

[ Let's say he's picked a few of the lilies by now. Only a few—not too many. 9S finally pushes himself back up onto his feet. ]

I'll catch you later?

[Nines may not finish his statement, but Akira gets what he wants to say, anyway. he just laughs, and nods]

I'll catch you later, then.

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bestaround - 2017-11-02 06:42 (UTC) - Expand

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purrtagonist - 2017-11-03 00:29 (UTC) - Expand

[futurology ic contact]

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immortalizes your typo this time

hey.................. 1/2

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waves hands around

does the macarena

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gets the last tag in