Log - OTA

[byeeeeeeeee]

Who: Hunter + Flapjack, and you
When: January
Where: All around
Summary: Flapjack wants to be creepy. (Flapjack is not creepy.)
Warnings: Blanket CW for child abuse, animal abuse/injury; talk of gun violence


[Don't look now, but there's a bird standing on your windowsill staring in - a small, scarred, bright red cardinal.

Or maybe you hear something scratching or pecking on the glass and...oh. He's supposed to fly away before he's seen. Crap. Perhaps the panicked flurry of feathers is unnerving?

Or are you being followed by a persistent chirp that is trying so very hard to be menacing?

Or maybe you are lucky enough to witness a white sheet struggling and flopping between trees before dropping to the ground. A sad little lump is trying to find its way out.

No matter what or where, Hunter is nearby - hiding just under the window, tucked up in the bushes, crouched behind a tree - ready to swoop in and grab the cardinal should anything go wrong.

He'll cradle his bird in his hands and Flapjack will chirp at him, and he'll sigh.]

I'm sorry, but you aren't very intimidating.

Comments

[byeeeeeeeee]

That sounds terribly inefficient.

[He doesn't miss that glance at the palisman, and feels a knot in his stomach. The last thing he ever wants is for his little bird to be hurt. Again.

He straightens up, hints of the soldier he was raised to be bleeding through his posture.]

But...I will endeavor to master the gun. So no one gets hurt.

[failedpromise]

Good.

(She won't comment on the inefficiency - not everyone has access to the miracles of magic, buddy. Some have to make do with mundane combat weapons.)

So I'm guessing you don't remember being here before. You settling in well?

[byeeeeeeeee]

No, I don't remember.

[There's a short pause before he adds:] I apologize if I caused you any trouble.

[failedpromise]

(She smiles at him.)

You didn't. We were assigned to the same room for a while on an out of town field mission, but we didn't really talk much.

The rain doesn't boil here, by the way.

[byeeeeeeeee]

[That's a relief. Past-him doesn't seem to have made any enemies.]

I know! [He sounds excited.] I was actually stuck in the Human Realm for a while before arriving here. I'm no expert, but I've learned a lot...

[He trails off, looking at her curiously.]

You don't seem human, though. Or! At least, not like any I've met.

[failedpromise]

(She stifles a laugh at his sudden excitement.)

I was made by Humans, but I'm actually a robot. My original function was similar to a palisman, actually.

(Her eyes flick to Flapjack again. Look, she's curious, alright? And maybe also nostalgic. She's smiles at them again.)

[byeeeeeeeee]

[A robot? Not a lunky, clunky abomaton, but an actual robot? She did say something about her "original function" earlier, but he thought she meant like, a job or something.]

You mean like a companion? Do you have magic? Have you ever been to space?

[failedpromise]

(As someone who likes attention, this really doesn't get old.)

Originally I was a disembodied AI designed to enhance the capabilities of a Spartan supersoldier by uploading into their armor. Considering that we were originally deployed to help in a war against a genocidal alien cult, I suppose that should answer your last question.

(She frowns after that, expression darkening slightly.)

I'm not magical.

[byeeeeeeeee]

[Okay...No magic, and maybe don't bring it up again.

The rest sets his head to spinning.]

That's a whole lot of words I don't quite understand, but it sounds really cool.

[The part about a cult has him feeling uneasy. Too bad there was no one like her around to help fight his genocidal human uncle.]

[failedpromise]

(She's not ...the idea that she might be magical isn't offensive so much as tiring. Also, magic in general has some overwhelmingly negative associations for her.)

It was. (She smiles, looking nostalgic for just a moment.)I guess you could say I was kind of like a ghost that lived inside technology and used my abilities to help my chosen partner.

(Cortana would be quite happy to hurt Belos, though given the overall lack of tech on the boiling isles she probably wouldn't be much use ...unless the Chief was with her, but he isn't here.)

[byeeeeeeeee]

[The first thing that comes to mind is "possession", but he'll just skirt around it since this sounds like a beneficial arrangement.]

What kind of abilities?

[failedpromise]

(This isn't show Cortana.

Cortana would be surprised and probably hurt to hear such an accusation. She never had any ability to control John's actions. But then, she did just describe herself as a ghost, so it's not like the assumption is entirely baseless.)

Language translation, battlefield intelligence, hacking into enemy communications and computer systems, and I could also enhance his reflexes while linked to him within the suit, among other things.

(She grins at him.)

[byeeeeeeeee]

[Oooh. He's feeling a little starry-eyed again. She would fit right into Cosmic Frontier.]

Are you able to use those abilities here?

[failedpromise]

(And she deflates just a little at that.)

No, actually. Advanced technology has similar limitations to magic here - I gave most of my abilities up to distance myself from the entities. (The unhappiness doesn't last long however before she's grinning again.)

I do still know how to speak both multiple human and alien languages, though.

[byeeeeeeeee]

I'm sorry you had to do that.

[He's learning how hard it is to cope without using magic, despite Flapjack's insisting on being able to access it. He misses flying.]

Multiple... That's amazing. I was learning Spanish, but it's not easy.

[Though maaybe it's easier for an AI robot.]

[failedpromise]

(She smiles somewhat awkwardly.)

Don't worry, I'm doing fine. And it probably helps that I was born with knowledge of multiple human languages ...though I did learn the alien languages mostly on my own.

(Mostly. She may have killed another AI and used some of what she got from it to enhance her own translation capabilities.)

[byeeeeeeeee]

[He looks confused because he's pretty sure she said she was made. And if his vast knowledge of campy sci-fi has taught him anything, it's that robots are built.]

...Born?

[failedpromise]

Created. Smart AI -- the mind that lives in this body -- are generated based on human neural patterns, with the rest of the necessary programming added during compiling. Almost like the way a Human is built based on instructions encoded in their DNA, except our genetic material is composed of thought.

(She looks thoughtful as she says this.)

I guess you could say it's both.

[byeeeeeeeee]

Both...

[He doesn't look entirely convinced, for reasons he's not about to divulge. Maybe it's because he's not an AI with...necessary programming and...composed of thought...? Or maybe it comes from knowing who you are from the start.]

I don't actually know how humans do it. [DNA? Instructions? He throws his hands up.] And I don't need to know!

[failedpromise]

Judging from my interactions with Eda, I suspect the physical act is similar to witches. DNA is more of a behind the scenes thing -- most humans don't actually understand how it works.

(She pauses.)

Oh, wait. You said you didn't need to know about it. (Said with the sort of absolute nonchalance and lack of guilt that indicates both that this was entirely intentional and she's.not even a little ashamed. Look, he's clearly old enough that someone should have told him by now, right?

Besides, it's not like she actually explained anything...

Also this is one hell of a way to admit to flirting with Eda -- and also possibly having made out on a whim once.)

[byeeeeeeeee]

Oh my Titan.

[He groans, head dropping on the sill. He said he didn't need to know! Of course he knows about...stuff, in a very textbook kind of way. He read a book on demon and witch biology. Very helpful when learning about weak spots and vulnerabilities.

His ears - now bright red - flick and he peeks up at her.] I'm going to hate myself for asking. Interactions with Eda?

[failedpromise]

(She's putting such an incredible amount of effort into not bursting into laughter right now. Truly an impressive feat.

When she next speaks, her voice has that drawn out, singing, teasing sort of quality to it that's oh so very obvious.)

Oh? I thought you didn't need to know?

(A girl shouldn't kiss and tell.

...Even if she is kind of doing exactly that.)

[byeeeeeeeee]

[He straightens so fast, Flapjack is dislodged and left to flutter over his head for a moment.]

You're right! I don't! Forget I asked!

[failedpromise]

(Oh Hunter, she is 100% fucking with you, they only flirted and kissed that one time.

...She is absolutely having a blast with this.)

Asked what? (She says in very obviously feigned cluelessness) I don't remember you asking anything. (You're safe buddy. Even if she'd answered that question, you'd still be safe, because they barely did anything.)

[byeeeeeeeee]

...Thanks.

[He gives her a dry look, but he's thankful for the dropping of this particular subject.

He shifts back, away from the window.]

I've...probably wasted enough of your time.