[GP] Check-in Day

[st_oneswidow]

The wheel of the year turned and turned and Curnen found herself at an anniversary of sorts that she flatly didn't want to be remembering but got stuck on a loop of anyway.

This time there was no taking the hell off into the wilderness, though. Nor were there endless, circular recitations of "The Queen of Argyll." Rather than be poisoned by the memory of someone she still hated like everloving fuck, she focused on remembering the friend she'd lost. And besides this being Kash's song, she figured it was never a bad time around here for "John Barleycorn." Perched on the roof with her guitar, she sang of John Barleycorn's dying and rising again, subtle magic weaving into her voice to lead anyone lost in their little bubble world this way.

There was three men come out of the west their fortunes for to try,
And these three men made a solemn vow, John Barleycorn must die,
They ploughed, they sowed, they harrowed him in, threw clods upon his head,
And these three men made a solemn oath John Barleycorn was dead.

It was Kash's song, in her mind, but you talked to half the people around here and it wasn't a bad fit for them, either. From her vantage point, she watched the road.

Comments

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

"The future to most residents here." Loki nodded, pleased his reasoning had been confirmed. "About twenty years to my universe's Earth, give or take one or two."

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

“Isn’t it true you preside in Asgard?” Connor inquired the way he’d question anyone else in search of information.

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

Loki raised a hand and tilted it back and forth in 'sort of' gesture. "I used to. No longer."

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

"And you can't escape this hotel of your own volition." Was it disrespectful to talk to a god this way? This didn't occur to Connor regardless--there was no protocol in his social relations program for addressing higher-order beings.

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

“No one can.” That might have been an aggravating question/statement, though still a good one, in any tone less straightforward than the android’s. As it was, Loki answered in the same straightforward vein instead of stabbing him. “I hear that from time to time we’re allowed out in some way on a temporary basis, but I’ve not seen it yet.”

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

“And there’s no culprit to point to?” Connor anticipated an answer in the negative, yet he asked anyway. “No investigative work done?”

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

"Plenty of work, I believe, but no answers." Loki waved a hand. "Sentient nature being what it is, there's a hard limit to how long anyone continues to investigate with zero result to show for it. In my view it's best to wait quietly for a crack in the door than scratch at it endlessly."

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

“I see...” Though, he scarcely did. However, it was expected for someone like this being. Connor had enough self awareness to reflect on the fact he was attempting to apply a psychological profile to a literal deity. “How does one spend one’s days?”

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

"Quietly, for the most part. Most of the residents find some sort of job to keep themselves occupied," Loki was no exception, with his consistent attachment to the clinic, however unnecessary it was about 99% of the time, "but it's not really required as the Inn tends to take care of things itself. It's worth bearing in mind that those who claim to be in charge are no more or less in charge than even you are."

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

“I’m programmed to follow human directives. I don’t anticipate sparking any...power struggles.” Connor stated, though it was only true to a point. He could refuse any orders that didn’t contribute to the fulfillment of his mission or ones that he deemed wastes of time.

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

"Expect to hear a lot of argument over what constitutes human as well, then. Many of the people here, despite being basically human, will deny that they are with every breath that may or may not be in their bodies." Which seemed ridiculous. It wasn't like it was impossible to be more than one thing!

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

“I assure you, I’m human only in appearance.” Connor straightened his tie, his LED now in a blue-hued homeostasis.

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

"I wasn't talking about you." Loki chuckled. "If you want 'human authority', it's going to be hard to come by. Many here will tell you they can't be human authority because they're not human. Which is utter nonsense in most cases, but that's humans for you."

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

Connor straightened his cuffs at that, almost sheepishly at making a snap assumption about his meaning. He was far too used to Hank and his unfortunate tendency for posing probing questions. “If there’s no defined leadership, I’m sure I can make do on my own. Barring the appearance of home-world authority, I technically answer to no one.”

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

"That's the best way to go. Answer to yourself first, and anyone else on the rare occasion it suits you." Not that it made much difference either way at the Inn, but the android was a little too put-together. A little spark or rebellion would do him good.

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

“I thank you for your time. ...I just have one final question.” Connor inclined his head. “Am I the only android here?”

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

"No. To my knowledge, there's one other. Anita, I believe she's called." Loki hadn't interacted with her directly, though Stark had. He knew her from the osmosis that happened whenever a group of beings were all stuck in a terrarium together. "There are also one or two cyborgs - part machine, part biological. For whatever that's worth."

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

Anita. Some small voice in Connor was insisting that it was wasteful to cling to his mission in a place like this, but it was overrided by every ounce of his programming. His stoic featured hardened before he regained his wits. “I see. Is there a means to reach out to other residents directly?”

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

“If you haven’t already, you’ll get a book.” Loki brought out his own journal briefly, then stashed it back over there. “It’s probably the best method of communication if face to face is inconvenient.”

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

Connor followed along with the explanation easily enough, though his LED flashed in surprise when the humble book simply vanished. 'Right. God.'

"Thank you again for your time, Loki." Straightening his cuffs, Connor inclined his head once more. "I'm afraid I don't have much to offer in the way of a proper blót. Perhaps a lock of hair will do?"

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

Only centuries of practice at controlling his features and expressions kept Loki from bursting out laughing. Of course the android would do his best to adhere to old traditions! It was rather cute, but mostly funny. “That, or you can owe me.”

No doubt he’d choose the hair. Being in Loki’s debt rarely ended well for mortals. Or mortal-adjacent brings.

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_abilitylost]

"A favor it is, then. They're not real." The synthetic fluid composing the carefully groomed brunette locks atop Connor's head vanished in part, revealing a paper-white underskin. They were quick to reappear, along with a faint smile touching Connor's lips.

"I'm Connor." He began, remembering his manners. "An android created by Cyberlife."

Re: Connor - Assigned Threads

[st_ratagem]

“Interesting.” His appearance was dictated by programming, then. Given what he’d said about obeying human authority, it was likely a design feature, an ability to set preferences. Likely also not something he controlled directly if so. Well, there might be some fun to be had with that. “Welcome to the Madonna Inn, Connor.”