❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

connor ( detroit: become human )

[determinans]

( a frozen land )

[ the minute they arrive and connor realizes just what sort of trek they're faced with, he turns off his temperature sensors. it's dangerous, because it means that his internal temperature could drop dangerously low and he wouldn't know it--freezing thirium, damaging his biocomponents--but what choice does he really have? it's that, or suffer the cold with the new, slightly terrifying awareness of a deviant.

he makes, at least, for a surprisingly visible figure in the driving snowstorm-- the bright blue of the light-band on his blazer is easy to spot as he moves tirelessly forward, pace never changing or faltering.

he only pauses if he notices someone else near him does so, turning with a small, apparently-unconcerned smile and offering a hand up if they've fallen or moved to rest. ]

We have to keep going, I'm afraid. Would you like to keep hold of me?

( nadril city )
i.

[ connor.. sticks out, somewhat unfortunately. with 'ANDROID' in large white lettering across the back of his blazer, and with his model and serial numbers also emblazoned for the world to see, well, it's.. kind of obvious what he is.

it's probably no surprise, then, that he seems just a tiny bit uncomfortable and maybe just a bit pained at seeing the numerous AIs being used and sold here. true, most of them seem fairly rudimentary at best, but well.. it hits a bit close to home anyway.

outside paws about town he can be found staring thoughtfully in at some of the display models, mouth tipped down into a small frown and LED a solid yellow occasionally flickering with red.

if one is roomed with him, it's also probably slightly weird watching him interact with the room's AI. it's mostly silent, with connor's LED flickering yellow from time to time to show that he is, in fact, communicating. .. hopefully he's not encouraging it to free itself. ]

ii.

[ the labs also prove to be interesting-- and also hopefully useful. he rather surprisingly finds a sample of thirium that someone was working with, and it gives him at least some hope that he'll be able to find an alternative here. without thirium, after all, he's essentially doomed to a slow decline and death.

the substance he's hovering over is bright, somewhat alarming blue-- and without seeming to care if anyone's watching, he touches a fingertip to it, then lifts that finger to press it to his tongue.

what. ]

( wildcard )

[ if you want to try one of the other prompts, lmk @ metamorphmagus and i'll work something up! ]

Nadril, ii

[impavid]

[ John has been having a lengthy, loud argument at the other end of the room over an Ancient device they have. Connor has probably picked up snippets, the short version of which seemed to be that John was convinced it would never work for them as it was (apparently) gene-coded? So they should give it to him.

They didn't seem inclined to do so.

On the bright side, his heated debate has proved enough of a distraction that none of the staff care that Connor is... licking? Their sample of thirium. John is moving past in an agitated hurry, and shoulder-checks Connor, turns to touch a hand to his arm in apology when he... freezes and squints both at Connor and the... situation.

> Nadril Lab
> Thirium
> RK800

Everything else aside, this guy is -- an Android? ]

Hi.

[ Wow John, that's eloquent, way to go. No wonder you're so popular. He blinks rapidly and draws back his hand, tries to think of a rational question. ]

Do you... work here?

[ Does Nadril have... Android things? He saw the tiny robo-pets but, is this... like an actual android?

He doesn't haven an ARG to handle a replicator war so please say this isn't going to be that. ]

[determinans]

[ connor doesn't mind the shoulder-check, mostly expects it from humans at this point, so it's more of a surprise to find the stranger stopping to apparently apologize. that's what brings his head up, the look in his eyes faintly that of a deer in the headlights for a single, startled instant.

he straightens, though, at the question, head tilting faintly. ]

Hello. [ return greeting given, he moves on to the important bit. ] No, I'm a guest here. I was simply testing a sample of thirium that they have here.

[ he rubs his fingers together to clean away the last traces of the blue liquid, then lets his hands drop to his sides, open and easy. ] It doesn't appear that this population yet has the means to create sufficiently-advanced artificial intelligence or androids.

[impavid]

[ Oh. Right. A guest.

Wow, that opens up so many questions. Do they put Androids in stasis? What happens when an Android is in stasis? Is the system the same? How --

John has about a million questions, and no idea where to start. It's probably rude or something to ask an Android questions about being an Android but... really, he's so nosy he can't bear it. ]

From Darma, right?

[ Just to make sure they're on the right page. John himself clearly doesn't work here if he's asking, so presumably he's also from the ship? ]

I didn't know they were picking up Androids too.

[ ... Although, he squints a little. ]

I guess I don't know why they wouldn't.

[ This is existentially confusing. Does that mean the Natha might have rescued replicators too? What if they're replicators that immediately want to kill everyone?

Okay, come on John, one problem at a time. ]

[determinans]

Yes.

[ well.. he's not sure where else he'd be from at this point. he's been trying to pick up what he can, but connecting himself into local networks has been something of a pain at best. how do humans manage, being isolated in their own heads so much? connor finds it a little.. lonely, almost.

regardless, since he hasn't been able to connect in properly, he's had to pick up information about this place largely the hard, human way. he's not impressed.

the comment earns a small arch of his brows. ] Well.. we are people. [ now, anyway. ] I suppose they considered us deserving of protection. [ because.. they are. it's just taking a while for connor to attach that sense of worth to himself, too. ]

nadril, i

[braidedwonder]

[ Duo takes his time, of course, to explore every nook and cranny of Nadril. It's perhaps a bad habit of his, despite the chill outside and how much he wanted to find a room and curl up in it for possibly the rest of forever - here he is. Wandering, bits of ice and snow still frozen to any of the nearly five feet of hair hanging off the back of his head, continually clutching a cup of something hot and steaming.

He doesn't know what the hell it is, but its something and it's warm. If it's alien coffee, even better. He's gonna need the caffeine anyways.

In his typical observant way Duo's spotted out Connor a few times, but hasn't paused to think much about his blazer or anything else that screams not human. He's friends with a fish girl - what does it matter if this guy is mechanical? Standing in front of the AI pet store, though.. he can't help but comment. ]

This whole this is kinda bizarre... How lazy do you have to be to make a mechanical dog go pick things up for you?

[determinans]

[ the glance connor gives duo is slightly startled, as if he hadn't expected to be addressed. he's considered a person now, yes, and the people from the station wouldn't have any reason to consider him otherwise, but it still takes him a little by surprise to be acknowledged by organic beings.

he blinks, then offers a small, slightly wan smile. ]

My people were originally created to assist in such ways. [ he glances back to the display, lips twitching back down again uncertainly. ] Of course, we're all generally more advanced than these, but.. giving them the option to learn, only to so easily wipe all that away again is.. [ he hesitates, struggling with a word he's been cautious to avoid thus far. ] .. cruel.

[braidedwonder]

[ There'd been a time where Duo would have been surprised to be addressed in the same way - just very different reasons. As it stood he has no reason to treat him any differently, despite all the obvious physical things that might make a person do so. ]

But why - [ He pauses, stops himself with 'bother to make you look so human' - he knows that's not the right way to word that at all, even being the street kid he is. Duo's lips purse, hands shoving in to his pockets as he rocks on to his heels and then back, sucking on his teeth as he thinks. ] - Listen, I know this is the wrong way to say it, but then why bother making your people so.. intelligent. And life like.

[ He taps his finger to the side of his head, the same as Connor's LED. ]

Not that I know what you or 'your people' are, but you take that away and I wouldn't know a damn thing if you changed your clothes from the next human over.

[ Though.. on the subject of cruel. ] .. Being cruel just seems to be the M.O. of anything with some form of intelligence. Even across worlds, if the natives back in Olympia and Wyver are anything to go by.

[determinans]

[ he offers a small smile at the musing almost-question, clearly not bothered in the least by it. it's a fair thing to wonder, if one isn't familiar with connor's earth and how it's progressed. ]

Humans found additional uses for us. We became companions and caretakers, sexual partners. Police officers, soldiers, professors.. In general, humans seemed to prefer human faces, even knowing that we're artificial, and that we were property.

[ he glances away, back to the display, expression smoothing into blankness. ]

There were ways to tell, even without our identifying marks. It's simply more difficult without taking us apart. [ he knows all the ways to tell a deviant from a machine. .. especially now that he's a deviant himself. a.. person, as strange as that thought still is.

but on the subjects of olympia and wyver: ] I've been attempting to get caught up on what's been happening in the last several months-- [ mostly so he has context and understanding. ] --but I must admit it's difficult without the capability to connect myself to local networks.

a frozen land »

[motivation]

( dutch hates the cold. she hates the cold. she's never liked it, but recent events have pushed dislike into something more. she's not keen to rehash memories of kidnapping and torture, the shame of some extremists getting the drop on her, the hallucinations, the fighting, the breathlessness of wearing the activated collar — she doesn't want to be reminded of any of that and with the cold seeping into her, she's constantly reminded of it.

it doesn't help that she's tired. physically fit or not, this trek is taxing and she's just going to rest for a moment. just for a moment —except someone's talking to her.

he's cute, that's his saving grace. )

What, you want someone to hold your hand?

( it comes out a little biting, but nowhere near as bad as it could have been. )

[determinans]

[ the smile doesn't falter or change. this is extreme weather, after all, and it would be enough to fray anyone's nerves. unless, of course, that anyone is an android that's barely learned to recognize and use his emotional capacity. his hand also remains extended, surprisingly steady in the wind and the cold.

given the time they've been out here, her species, and her height and approximate weight, they don't have a great deal of time before her internal temperature drops below safe levels and it begins to negatively affect her extremities. humans are, in many ways, terribly fragile. ]

If that would be easier. I was thinking my bicep or shoulder, though. [ he blinks away the snow caught on his eyelashes, shifting to shield her somewhat. it seems that he'll always be protective of people, no matter where he is. .. there are probably worse habits to have as a detective. ] My internal components can withstand harsher temperatures than yours, after all. [ though considering that he seems to be unique here, his are probably also harder to replace. ]

[motivation]

( humans are terribly fragile, but dutch was raised - even if she didn't know it at the time - to become something other than human. to survive the process of turning hullen. that never happened and she's as human as those who bore and raised her are not. humans are fragile, but she's not supposed to be. she's supposed to be able to divorce herself from all feelings. to be ruthless and to master her pain.

she's not doing a good job of that right now, even if the pain is psychological more than physical and making her angry more than anything else because anger is familiar and easy.

but he clearly isn't human and while dutch has spent enough time with clara - too many mods to qualify as a person by the laws of the quad - and with johnny who's just a nerd who likes that sort of shit, it makes her consider her reactions a little more. probably a good thing. )

I'm fine.

( let's just get that out of the way. she's fine, she doesn't need help. neither of those things are entirely true, but she needs to pretend that they are. )

What kind of components have you got?

frozen land!

[diplomatie]

[ Alphinaud is absolutely not a fan of the cold, and his time in captivity a while back only soured him further to it. He's a determined boy, though, and each time he falls to his knees in the snow, he gets right back up again. Except for this time, when the storm is starting to tire him out and the flashbacks are getting to be a bit too much.

He knows he's less fond of the cold than most others, but when Connor shows up with that strange smile on his face, Alphinaud can only be confused by it. Certainly no normal person could be that unconcerned in the middle of this storm.

He declines to comment on it, though, instead taking his hand to stand up again, before letting go and tucking his hands back under his arms to make sure his fingers are safe (please don't make him go through frostbite and hypothermia again). And he keeps his composure through his shivering as best he can. ]

Y-You have my thanks, but I can walk on my own.

[ Liiiiiar. ]

[determinans]

[ truthfully, connor's not entirely certain he'll ever stop finding other species fascinating. back home, it's just humans and now androids, and humans haven't exactly dealt well with having another sentient species on their planet. the fact that there are so many here living so well together is stunning.

and naturally, they're all fascinating to analyze.

the polite protest earns an arch of one snow-frosted eyebrow, and connor keeps his hand extended even after alphinaud's tucked his own into his arms. ] I've observed you falling four times now, [ he says, bluntly honest, ] which tells me that you're having difficulty. There's no shame in requiring assistance-- my body, being inorganic, is more suited to the cold than yours. While I can provide no warmth at the moment, I can offer shelter and a steady support.

[diplomatie]

[ Maybe Alphinaud can tell Connor all about his own species, Elezen, when they aren't caught in an awful snowstorm. Though his large pointy ears might give away that he's not quite human himself.

But wow okay ... how blunt of him. Alphinaud is not much one for having his faults so easily pointed out, but he can't ... argue it ... All he can do is look a bit stunned when he hears about how many times he's seen him fall.

He's taken aback by both that, and how Connor described his own body. Inorganic ...? He was created, then? That's ... different. If he weren't stuck in the middle of a death storm, he'd be quick to ask about that. But ... he has to tell himself that there are more important things at stake here, and he shouldn't be so prideful. ]

I-I — [ A small sigh. ] I cannot deny that you have a point.

[ A particularly strong gust of wind and snow comes at this point, forcing him to shield his face from it and grunt a bit from the discomfort. His smallness certainly doesn't help here.

If he wants to live through this, it's best to swallow his pride and let the man help. So ... ]

I-I shall gladly accept your assistance.

nadril, i.

[atwo]

[ wassup android brother from another mother.

a2 had found herself easily interested in connor because it isn't like she see's someone akin to her very often. actually, the last time was back when she had to sneak into a lab -- but that was a machine, the enemy. not another android.

she tilts her head to the side, white hair falling off her shoulders to comply with her movements. she blinks a couple of times, eyes somewhat curious and then she realizes that maybe she has been staring at him for too long. so instead of being awkward and just staring at him, she will be awkward and ask questions. ]

Why does that LED change colour?

[determinans]

[ eeyyy his android sister from another mister.

naturally, connor's noticed her watching. he's a detective, an analytical model; it's just in his programming to be observant. still, she'd seemed content to watch and not approach, so connor's let her be. after all, maybe it's his clearly-artificial nature that's drawn her attention, or the way that he doesn't bother trying to hide it, or any number of factors.

still, when she finally speaks up, he glances toward her, expression polite and interested. by human standards of aesthetics, he thinks she's probably quite pretty, and the white hair is intriguing.

he lifts a hand to the LED in question, almost self-conscious for a half-second before the strange sensation passes. ] It remains blue for the most part. The yellow indicator is for greater processing power, or sometimes emotional state. Red indicates system instability. [ an uncertain beat. ] Or sometimes strong emotional reactions. [ he hesitates, hand dropping away. ] Truthfully, I still have difficulty processing emotion.

[atwo]

So, you're not human. [ that means it isn't some weird, wacky sort of cosmetic. some people here have put some weird shit onto their body so it's never easy to tell if it's an important part to their function or something someone thinks it's 'cool' looking. ]

Emotions aren't easy. I still have trouble with them. [ she can't blame anyone who has trouble with them because sometimes they make no damn sense in her mind. it's like programming clashing and making everything harder. ]

What are you?

a frozen land;

[torchwoodteaboy]

[Unfortunately for Ianto, he doesn't have any temperature sensors to turn off in the cold. Which is quite the pity, because it is really cold and he'd spare himself from this torture if he could. As it is, he's doing his best to keep himself bundled up tight in the gear that the Natha had supplied them with, but it only does so much. He's a Welsh archivist from Cardiff, and never mind the cold, it's the exertion of the walk that's getting to him as well.

In retrospect, he supposes allowing himself to stop was rather foolish. Now that he's huddled in on himself he doesn't much feel like getting moving again. But the other man is right. He needs to try. He'll likely freeze to death out here and then what was the point of it all?

So after a moment, Ianto reaches out a hand to accept the offer up. It's only then that he widens his eyes in alarm at the state of the other man's dress. A blazer. In this weather?]

I... [He stumbles over his words as much as his feet, keeping hold of the man's hand as he struggles for balance.] Jesus, you must be freezing! Here -- [He turns and reaches for the pack on his back, intending to offer the man at least his extra set of gloves, if nothing else.]

((ooc: let me know if there's anything i need to edit for this and i will! c: ))

[determinans]

[ connor helps ianto back to his feet with effortless strength, arm and body as unmoving as steel as the human gets his balance sorted out. (being able to lock one's limbs so perfectly comes in handy in situations like this.) the exclamation earns a startled blink, though, and as ianto goes digging into his pack, connor gently presses the hand still in his own. ]

Thank you, but I'll be fine. [ well, probably. it takes his internal organs a lot longer to freeze than it would a human's. his are mostly protected against the cold. after all, cyberlife spared no expense when they were creating him.

he reaches up, tapping the model and serial numbers on the breast of his jacket, smile returning. ]

I'm an android. These conditions aren't pleasant, but I'll be in no danger for quite a while.

[torchwoodteaboy]

[The man reaches out to still his hands and Ianto lets himself to be stopped. His brow furrowing slightly as the explanation comes to follow -- an android. Oh. He supposes that makes sense. He's dealt with... Similar things before. Similar people, though it's been a while and Ianto's tried not to think about it. Tried not to think about Stacey and the Temps or Lisa and the Cybermen or anything else he's left behind with his life at Torchwood One. For everyone's sake, he's going to hope that this -- man, he's going to keep thinking of him as a man, he has to because otherwise how else will he process this -- this man is more like Stacey than Lisa.]

Oh. I...

[Ianto realizes he's been quiet for a bit too long. Looking a bit too much. He straightens uncertainly before he reaches a hand out to offer a handshake.]

Sorry, I. Alright then. Thanks. I'm... Ianto. Ianto Jones.

nadril, ii

[baguablade]

[ What, indeed. The ANDROID on the man's shirt and the other signs of inhumanity don't mean all that much to Cain — where he comes from, humans are only one of many races, and the one android in his crew is treated the same as every other crewmate. He's still totally taken aback to see someone take a sample from the labs and stick it directly in their mouth.

Especially something so bright and potentially toxic-looking. ]

Er. Is that okay to be doing? It might be poisonous...

[ There's a telltale glow around his hands; is he going to have to summon up some magic in a moment in case this man keels over from his over-enthusiastic sampling? He's not entirely sure that his new powers include any sort of cure for ailments... ]

[determinans]

[ connor doesn't startle, but he does look just a teensy bit guilty at being addressed. hank hates it when he tests things that way, but his tongue is a lot more accurate than just eyes and fingers, and hank isn't here, so..

he straightens, rubbing his fingers together to clear away the last traces of thirium, then offers a small, crooked smile. ]

I have the equivalent of a forensics lab in my oral cavity. It's.. easier for me to analyze substances if I touch them to my tongue.

[ but then his glance drops curiously to cain's hands, brows lifting in clear interest. ] --What is that? [ the glowing, he means. ]

[baguablade]

Huh. [ A moment's pause as Cain takes that in, then he shrugs, agreeably lifting his hands up to offer the glow for inspection. ] A healing spell. [ Wryly, he adds: ] In case it was poisonous.

[ But it's apparent it's not. And even more apparent that he's made some very large and false assumptions about the man he's addressing. Ones that have Cain tilting his head to the side, giving him a more assessing once over, taking in that guilty look and the very perfect facsimile of a human he's facing. But this person isn't a human at all... Not with what he's saying, though it leaves the question of what exactly he is. There's many possibilities. ]

That's pretty impressive, though, that you can analyze something, just by tasting it. [ Cain's voice holds a cheerful note; he's a little jealous, honestly. If he could do that... well, it'd have been incredibly helpful on missions! ] I've never heard of having an entire lab in someone's mouth, though.

a frozen land

[garbagepilot]

[She'd been doing alright, making better time on her trek through the snow and ice once she'd had the bright idea to use the Force as a kind of bubble around her to keep the snow from falling into her face anymore, keep the wind out and from chilling her to the bone, but it's something she can't keep up forever. It's draining to keep concentrating on keeping the snow off her and it feels like it's been hours, so by the time she's following behind Connor, following his blue glowing lights like a beacon, the force field has been dismissed and she's trying her hardest to meditate with her eyes open, using her staff as a walking stick to help her with balance as she trudged ever onward.

She doesn't have the training for that the meditation to actually work when she's this distracted, though, and she wishes not for the first time that she'd had more time with Luke. She wishes not for the first time that there was anyone left in the world to teach her at all.

But she's used to fighting through adversity with no one but herself to help her, so she'd accepted that that was what she had to do now. Still, when a gust of wind that's stronger than all the others hits her it feels like it rips right through her and she shudders, knees buckling and sending her, miserably, to kneel in the snow.

And then the man in front of her notices and that definitely doesn't improve her mood.]

Want and need are very different.

[She tightens her grip on her staff to try to push herself to her feet, but exhaustion is settling in on her. She doesn't make it far.]

I might need a hand up.