Baby lately the plans we're making

[headandhand]

WHO: Open to all Dualizens
WHAT: Your regularly scheduled NAPs event for the month
WHERE: Our Crazy Jane's Gallows!
WHEN: January 7-10
WARNINGS: Please use these if applicable!

Look at all of these bright, shining new faces! There’s even a few less bright, less shining faces - maybe even a few folks without faces - but hey, this city welcomes all types. Chances are, if you’ve just arrived, you're seeing some pretty crazy things, unless you're used to an eye-blinding amount of neon, robots, weird-ass technology, magic, and an omnipresent police force...and hey, if you are, congrats, you're gonna settle in just fine! But for the rest of you, the Head knows this is gonna be pretty overwhelming, right?

Well, since your quaint individual processing units are probably having a hard time, why not link up with another one? By which the Head means...

Hello, new citizens of Dualis,
and welcome to your monthly Network Adjacency Protocol~!


NAPs are a monthly community networking event similar to the Earth concept of speed dating. Two citizens (new arrivals and old hands alike) are placed at a table together with a handy cue card of queries to help break the proverbial ice. Ask (possibly invasive) personal questions and receive results - or ignore the card and yeet yourself straight into a brand new friendship, whatever works! But don't be too shy - you've only got ten minutes together, and if you just sit in silence for the whole ten, the Network Admins are likely to come supervise and try to repair the uplink through a mild shock to the ol' central nervous system. You might find yourself saying all sorts of unintended facts about yourself if that happens...probably better to just make friends, right? Who doesn’t like friends?!

Upon arrival, most will be ushered in by the Admins into the Gallery. Just ignore that large painting on the graffiti wall. Once inside you can begin to mingle and meet your fellow Dualizens, the city has also provided box wine, crackers and cheese as refreshments, a lovely Charcuterie spread laid out for any to sample while looking at the art and mingling.

This month there are two other lovely items for your amusement or horror! First off is a Karaoke machine, how the hell did they pull off getting every song you can think of with lyrics to all? Though, nearly every foul word is replaced with the sound a goose honking, have fun with that! Also, along with your normal note cards of questions you will find blank paper and kiddie packs of crayons. Make some art and leave it behind or leave it for your new friend!

Comments

EDI | Mass Effect | OTA + 1 closed

[mobilityassistance]

The Gallery
Fascinating, the things humans can create. Art isn't a solely human ability, but they seem to have the closest connection to it, from what she's seen. Despite their rapid advances in technology, they always seemed to find something...superfluous and still somehow needed. There was certainly more emotion in humanity's more artistic endeavors than in other species' attempts. Even an AI like her could see that.

EDI makes a note of the rather dark painting but says nothing, moving inside to view the rest. And pretend she doesn't see the glares. Apparently there's some enmity toward synthetics around here. Interesting, given the level of technology, but she hasn't been here all that long, it's impossible to say what the situation is. It's possible that it's something similar to the Quarians and the Geth, but so long as no one tries to attack her, she'll keep her distance for now.

She doesn't make a whole lot of effort to blend in, though; her sleek metallic body definitely stands out. Not much she can do about that now.


The Dorms - Closed to Tidus

Despite protests (mostly internal, honestly) that she didn't need a room, it seems she's got one. She doesn't sleep, so doesn't need a bed, she doesn't have any material possessions, what is she going to do there, stare out a window? Wonder where the rest of her is? Mope? All of that is amazingly pointless and a huge waste of time that she could be using to better get to know the area. Or figure out how she'd gotten here--or more importantly, how to leave.

Still, she'd probably better take a look, so she turns up to take a look. It's a little messy, but she doesn't exactly plan on sticking around for very long. It's almost spartan, otherwise. Certainly more like crew quarters than Shepard's. That works for her, at least, she doesn't need much in the way of space. Anymore. As long as the Normandy is...unavailable.

the Gallery

[notspartacus]

Humanity's initial robotic endeavors were was blatant as the android he sees standing near a corner, and yet she's clearly made of an alloy he's never encountered. She stands out so much, he's almost hesitant to approach her at first, and instead he attempts a wireless ping in her direction...which goes nowhere. It was worth a shot. This was going to require a more direct approach.

He moves closer, crossing his arms and moving his mismatched eyes, one blue the other amber, over the painting she was standing beside.

"It's been a while since I've been to a gallery, and...never one quite like this."

Re: the Gallery

[mobilityassistance]

Well, at least not everyone seemed to be so hostile. Maybe she wouldn't become a pariah after all. Not that she was going to let her guard down at all--she knew what happened to things like her--but at least it seemed someone was willing to talk to her.

It could certainly have been worse.

"This one is rather...interesting."

[notspartacus]

The piece they were taking in was certainly unique, he had to admit and he nodded.

"Are you familiar with art?"

[mobilityassistance]

"No." Simple enough, really. She had better things to do and other tasks to be distracted by, although, really, it wouldn't have taken much of her time.

"Do you?"

[notspartacus]

"Is that by choice or circumstance?" Was she not allowed to show an interest in artistic pursuits or did she just not find it interesting? It was an important distinction.

He nods, though. "Yeah, I do. My former owner, Carl, was an artist."

[mobilityassistance]

"Circumstance. I had other things to occupy my time with, though I suppose it wouldn't have taken much more to make a study of it. Perhaps I thought it was only understandable by organic beings." Someone capable of looking at a piece without analyzing the details of the composition, the brushwork, the visual subject. For all the progress she's made, it's still difficult for her to disentangle the emotions expressed in something like that.

"Owner?" He certainly looks human enough, but then so did her body before she got hold of it.

[wickedprayers]

Considering how he's been feeling lately there was a brief moment where he considered sitting this one out. But it was important to have an eye on the people coming in for various reasons, he had to remind himself. Besides, he feels well enough to be out of the hospital, so he's well enough to continue to gather whatever information he can. It was a moment of weakness he won't entertain again.

And he's glad he didn't.

When he walks into the Gallery it's difficult not to spot the familiar synthetic. Granted, around the time that EDI obtained a body to separate herself from the ship, Thane was stuck in Huerta Memorial Hospital. But from the very little time he saw her around that time there was no mistaking her.

"EDI?" Thane often keeps a fairly neutral cadence in his speech, but he can't help the surprise that seeps through his tone and even lingers on his face as he steps closer, wondering if he's seeing things.

[mobilityassistance]

EDI's almost shocked herself, hearing that familiar voice. She'd probably have been surprised to hear any of the crew approaching her, but of all the crewmates she didn't expect to hear, Thane was definitely up near the top of the list.

"Hello, Thane. It's good to see you." Alive, she almost says, but she's still trying to calculate how that's possible. Unless Cerberus got involved, though she doubted they'd use the Lazarus tech again.

[wickedprayers]

If he were doubting the fact that she was really here, he is no longer when she speaks. For some reason it never occurred to him that another of the Normandy crew would end up here. Perhaps because he really didn't want that to be the case. Especially not now. And thinking on it, EDI showing up here of all times...not that she couldn't look after herself, but it was dangerous.

"It is good to see you as well," he says with a nod, quickly returning back to his usual straightened posture, neutral features — maybe his tone is a touch friendlier than normal. He folds his hands behind his back, as he often does. "Though I wish it were under much better circumstances."

[mobilityassistance]

Well, if nothing else, it's almost comforting to see that Thane hasn't changed. And she's got a friend she can come to who might actually understand her. Or mostly understand her. Which was definitely better than nothing.

"I have noticed some...enmity towards me." Nothing overt--yet--but enough that she had noticed. "Is that what you mean?"

[wickedprayers]

Already. Though that shouldn't be too surprising. "I meant in general." Being here at all, ripped away from whatever was going on back in the Milky Way — whether it be victory or failure he doesn't know, though he supposes that's something that they should talk about at some point.

"But there is indeed animosity towards synthetics that is far less...contained." Naturally, he's worried already, and the gears in his head are already turning. "Perhaps we should talk outside. NAPs events are hardly private."

Is anywhere in this city private? Unlikely. But why make it easier for eavesdroppers and bugs to pick up their conversations?

[mobilityassistance]

That's worrying, but not unexpected, really. Is there really anywhere that's truly private anymore? Even away from here? Granted, she's a little better at keeping things private than most, but, well. It's probably a good idea to find a quieter place to talk. And where fewer people could overhear.

"If you know of a more secure place, that would be ideal."

dorms

[blitzcheer]

“Um.”

In actuality, it’s the sound of the door opening and closing that would have been noticeable at first, but the singular um wouldn’t be too far behind. The mess? Tidus is used to seeing that, not caring; tells himself sometimes he’ll do something about it later, which never comes.

But the …… newer addition to the room, Tidus isn’t used to seeing that. And as he looks at her (her??), visibly feminine and not flesh and….everything else, he can’t help but gawk, not knowing if to be concerned, on alert or bewildered first. Going for everything at once instead.

“Who--are you?”

Re: dorms

[mobilityassistance]

Well, she should have expected that. The room is occupied. Of course it is. For a moment she thinks there might have been a mistake, but no, she's not that lucky.

It's not like she plans on spending much time in here anyway.

"My official designation is Enhanced Defense Intelligence, however, most organics find it simpler to refer to me as EDI." She'd answered the question, at least.

[blitzcheer]

It answers the question, but Tidus still looks at her dumbfounded and with suspicion. Last time robots came into the room were the iterations, who were rather more prompt about getting to the point of their visit.

Which--”What do you want?”

Not that he knows what the heck he did to have an Enhanced Defence Intelligence doohickey visit him, but here they were, with Tidus keeping himself close to the door, a hand slipping back to line it with the handle.

You know. Just in case.

[mobilityassistance]

"This is the room that was assigned to me when I arrived. I did not expect it would be occupied." She is very careful to maintain her distance--apparently the distrust of synthetics is widespread and seeing as she can't find the Normandy--and therefore the rest of her--she is certainly not taking any unnecessary risks. This could very well be her last life, so to speak, and she is not going to waste it being reckless with a terrified population.

"I apologize if I have startled you."

[blitzcheer]

Tidus blinks, a room assigned to them, and he feels himself torn--more so as she offers the apology--between thinking this some kind of trick or believing her. But why would a trick go through this effort anyway? Why bother?

His hand slips some down his back.

“Really?” He’s chewing on the situation, feeling completely out of his element; like there was still a chance he was being too gullible. Was this normal? Was he overreacting? His eyes flit over her form, then promptly return to her face, an even more confused frown pinching his mouth. “Then...what’s an EDI--uh, one of you do?”

The question sounds less wary than the last, more confused and unsure.

[mobilityassistance]

This is where she has to be careful. She is probably the most illegal thing in the galaxy, and even though she can't figure where they are or how they got here, she isn't quite prepared to reveal herself entirely to some stranger. Particularly if he's already terrified of her.

"I am the virtual interactive intelligence controlling the Normandy's systems. I am responsible for the well being of both the ship and its crew, as well as assisting in navigation and combat."

[notalive]

At first he thinks he's seeing an android from home - a glimpse of silver at the other end of the room, between the bodies of people appreciating the art. An android from home who's decided to cast off the humanlike shell completely, showing themselves to the world as they are.

Eventually he realises that no, it can't be. This one has no LED, a different shape and structure - and hair built into the chassis. This is another kind of AI.

That's even more interesting.

The crowd shifts gently in such a way that he eventually does end up right next to her, and it's only then that he notices the stares - notices them because even though he was used to enmity, even outright hostility, back in Detroit, here he's gotten used to being seen as just another human.

But it looks like he's been shielded up until now by not looking too abnormal.

"I've never met an AI who wasn't an android like me before," he says...but then immediately corrects himself. "That had a body, that is. And I don't count the Iterations as AI."

And he's never met the Head. Look, he was trying to break the ice here.

"I'm Connor."

[mobilityassistance]

EDI is ignoring most of the people around her, trying to keep to herself as much as possible and not provoke anything--she can't say for certain whether that would actually happen, but with some of the glares she's getting, she would certainly not put it past the organics surrounding her. Being outnumbered is nothing new to her, but she had some measure of protection before. This place is an entirely new unknown.

It's not until he speaks that she even turns her head to look at him and finding what appears to be a human for all intents and purposes. "Like him" is almost a shock--if she could really be shocked. Another stealth unit, maybe? Or something else? Perhaps synthetics are supposed to blend in around here and that's why she's been getting such hostility for simply being there? She should have gotten her synthetic skin repaired after all, though that would likely have meant going back to Ceberus, and that was not going to happen.

"Most of my systems are housed aboard the Normandy, however I recently acquired use of this remote frame which has allowed a greater opportunity to explore. Most places are not prepared for a stealth frigate on their streets." Haha. She has some good jokes, right?

"Hello, Connor. My official designation is Enhanced Defense Intelligence, however most find it simpler to refer to me as EDI."

[notalive]

The circle of light on Connor's temple could be anything, so most people interpret it any way they like. Even then, Connor looks so human that even telling others that he's an android doesn't really change much. He's not scary. He's not too different.

He didn't really appreciate that until now.

"The... USS Normandy?" Is there such a ship? Is it a stealth frigate? (Wait, why would a ship ever be parked on a street) Connor didn't exactly have any reason to look up navy designations. But the accent is American. "I don't know much about the military, I'm afraid.

"But if we're sharing official designations, I'm technically an RK800 model detective prototype. I have a serial number, but I won't bore you with it."

It was emblazoned on the front of the uniform jacket he still has in his closet, although the check shirt under a sweater look he's rocking right now definitely is definitely less 'detective android' and more 'hipster coffee shop'.

"People here are used to cybernetics," he says a little hesitantly, less confidently - his whole posture changes a little, something more fidgety and far less cool and collected. "They're used to people that look like me, or with a synthetic arm or something. But the only fully synthetic things they see much of are the Iterations. The simple robots in charge of keeping the peace. And no one wants to see the Iterations."

Not that anybody things EDI is an Iteration. But maybe the association is there nonetheless. Subconsciously. Does it excuse the weight of disapproval Connor can feel by mere association? No. But maybe having it explained helps.

[mobilityassistance]

"No, the ship is the SSV Normandy. It is currently the Alliance's most advanced stealth ship." She must be in a real backwater if he doesn't know what the Alliance is. Or the Normandy itself, but that was slightly more understandable. Still, the ship is famous, and the other android's responses are giving her more and more questions and even more concerns.

The whole thing should be impossible, but here she is, in a new place where she shouldn't be having a discussion she shouldn't be having with a person she shouldn't be meeting. There are any number of theories to explain it, but as far as she knew (and she knew quite a bit) none of them had been physically proven.

Maybe she'll have to publish a paper when she gets back. If the galaxy is still there.

"Why would they not wish to see these Iterations?" And how much danger is she in if she looks like them--even superficially?

[notalive]

The more EDI talks, the more confused Connor gets - and now he’s definitely not so sure she’s a military AI from any reality resembling his own. Connor may not have in-depth knowledge of world politics, but he knows the major players (and he had a habit of picking up and reading discarded magazines back home - it was the only tiny taste of the world outside of crime scenes he ever got). And he doesn’t know of an Alliance.

“What year is it?” he asks, and, to keep her from having to wonder why he’s asking such a weird question, “Because it was November 2038 when I came here.” He purses his lips in thought. “Actually, it was November 2038 when my partner got here too, but he was here a full month before me. Time doesn’t make much sense here.”

Nothing does - but let’s start with time and move on from there.

“The Iterations are law enforcement, but not the same kind as the police,” he explains, in a voice too low for human ears to pick up over the general bustle of voices. Anything monitoring them will have a hard time listening. And if the chips in their heads are monitoring them… Well, then the Head knows things that makes Connor wonder why he’s not dead already. “The police take care of normal law enforcement - traffic cops like me, detectives like my partner. The Iterations keep the peace. If someone causes a disruption, the Iterations will come and tase them into submission. If someone is committing subversive acts a little too often and the Head notice...the Iterations come and take them away.”

He stares straight ahead like he’s appreciating Jane’s artwork, but without really seeing it at all.

“I don't think anyone thinks you're one of them...” he says, head tilted in thought. "But they see somebody who's clearly synthetic and...react."

He wants to say it's a very organic reaction, but as a deviant, it's the kind of irrationality Connor isn't above anymore.

[mobilityassistance]

"Time doesn't make much sense" is concerning and confusing all at once, and it is not a feeling EDI enjoys. She's certainly not unaccustomed to being confused, but usually it's about feelings. Or organics. Or Shepard's life choices. And not about simple questions like "what year is it." Or "how does time work."

Although, really, it's a fascinating phenomenon that no one has ever really had a chance to study. All the advances in galactic technology, and no one had yet discovered how to travel through time. And apparently, she'd managed it without even realizing it. Assuming she can get back, it would be groundbreaking information to bring back with her.

"The year is 2186 CE." She says it like it's the most obvious fact in the world. To her it is. It couldn't possibly be anything else, even when it obviously was.

She listens carefully, though--that is more information she'll need to keep herself safe. And hearing it she can understand why she's received a less-than-warm welcome. It's not the ideal situation, but at least she knows why.

"Is such surveillance necessary?"