themainframe | action + video;

[action;]
[There's a young, blond haired boy sitting at a bench outside of the small (although it's extremely large to him) Tokyo Tower with a blue dog beside him. The Gaomon refuses to stand still, punching and kicking and jumping around, even as Armin sits as still as he can. He's silent, staring at the ground as a million thoughts run through his head (why him? what is this place? he got the explanation but it just brought more questions. was he the only one here? how would he survive here, he's never known anything outside of the walls that wasn't out to eat people.) He sits there for almost an hour until he finally gets to his feet, taking a deep breath and clenching his hands into fists to keep them from shaking. He's got to figure this out. He begins to walk, the Gaomon pausing its training to follow him as he begins to look for anybody he would be able to talk to.

And that person is you! Clad in a dark green cloak with the crest of a pair of wings embroidered into the back, Armin's expression is both serious and nervous, and he manages to stay calm as he walks up to you, raising his arm to show his D-Terminal.]

Excuse me-- I just arrived here a short while ago, and I'm afraid that I'm having trouble figuring out how this works. If you're familiar with how it works, would it be all right if I asked you to show me? As well as... a few tips on how to get by around here, if it's not too much trouble.

[video;]
[The video is later in the day, hours after Armin left the Tokyo Tower and learned some locations in Terminal Tokyo and found his way to the newcomers' apartment. He hasn't entered his room yet, but instead seems to be standing in one of the corridors, holding his device to show his face on the camera.]

... This is Armin Arlert of the Scouting Legion.

I've arrived at the housing prepared for newcomers to this world. If there is anybody from the Scouting Legion, Garrison, or Military Police -- or anybody who recognizes those names, I would like to request correspondence.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm from the Scouting Legion. I don't know anybody personally from the Military Police, but we are all soldiers working under the same government.

Thank you. I'll ask around some more.

And that's why you don't have a horse on your clothes?

Well... yes. That would be the case. The Scouting Legion's crest are the wings, and the Garrison's crest has roses.

Wings.

[Oh he perks up a little at that.]

Yes, I know what those are. I can look for more wings, easily.

[He felt oddly bad he hadn't seen any "horses" so. Maybe this will stop that feeling.]

They will look like the ones on my clothes.

[He gestures again, a hand to his chest.]

Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate any help I can get.

[He nods.]

I'll remember that.

... sir? You don't... need to call me that.

[???]

Ah, I apologize. "Sir" is a normal form of address where I am from... I'm afraid I hadn't caught your name yet. How should I call you?

But... you don't have to be formal. I'm not even human.

[Sorry, kiddo, this one's an oddball.]

... Kagerou.

Kagerou...

[To Armin, "not human" points to two things: one, that one is an animal, like the horses they ride or the birds and fish they eat; and two, that one is a titan, monsters that eat humans. But Kagerou, as he knows this man by now, doesn't seem like either.]

What do you mean?

I'm not human. I'm... AI. An AI.

Built by human beings.

Ey... eye?

[What.]

You were built by humans? [What.] I-I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.

Yes... AI. Artificial Intelligence in a robotic frame.

[He looks suddenly embarrassed, and touches his chest lightly, to indicate... all of him.]

I wasn't -- this isn't the body I'm supposed to be in.

... I've heard of making artificial limbs to help those who've lost their body parts to injuries or sicknesses continue living -- such as new legs to help them continue walking -- but yours seems to be different from that.

No, it's... not like that.

I'm not a human being. I'm... nothing more than data. Programming. In a robotic body.

Does that make sense to you?

[No.]

Data... information?

I have never heard of the word "robotic" before.

[... Crap.]

[How else can he explain this. It would probably help if he had more life experience or a dictionary or something.]

My whole body is made of metal. Wires. Cables. It's a machine.

My... self is memories. My memories. Stored in a chip -- a card?

...

So that's why you say, you aren't human. [The memory part makes no sense to him, but he thinks he can try to understand a little. This man's body is not the same. He's completely different, and something he knows nothing about. Well, he's used to that sort of thing.]

But we are speaking to each other like this. I don't see I don't have to respect you.

Yes. That's why. I... don't know how else to explain it.

[I'm sorry.]

[He probably should say it out loud, but well, social awkwardness is what it is.]

You... truly mean that?

I do. I can't fully understand what you are, but I doubt that you mean any harm to me -- at least for now. In that case, I owe you my respect.

I...

I don't fully understand that, either, I guess.

Kagerou, was it?

It's nice to meet you.

Yes.

... You, too.

[He flashes a smile. Just a polite one. Nothing less, nothing more.]

I don't know how long we will be here, but I hope we'll get along relatively well so we could help each other out.

I wouldn't mind that.

[And he's surprised to realize... he really wouldn't mind. He just told someone he wasn't human -- and this is the response.]

[It's kinder than he ever expected.]

[So far, he hasn't been attacked or threatened. He has had things politely explained to him, and for being "not human" Kagerou wasn't a 15-foot man-eating monster. That's a start.]

Thank you.

I suppose I'll be seeing you around, then.

video;

fuckinstoplights - 2013-10-25 07:31 (UTC) - Expand

anequal - 2013-10-28 02:12 (UTC) - Expand