Checking an angry pacifistic android for rust (cross-posting to dear_player)

[technicalpacifist]

'Approve' may not be the right word. It would be more accurate to say I... appreciate the opportunity. And I won't turn it down. I think you knew that already.

If you're sure about this, finishing the review would be a smart idea. Especially if you're going to incorporate [ and his expression wavers, closes up for a moment ] all of my canon. There's a lot you need to remember.

[ He pauses for a second, then tries recovering a smile. It's... almost reassuring. ] But you should have an easy time remembering my limits. After all, I think I've made them very clear.

Comments

yay erek!

[tortureprincess]

Ooo, it's you. I know all about you, dogfucker. I share some headspace real estate with a copy. 'Remember'... 'respect'... better hope your mun is better at equating the two than your hypocritical little friends were.

oh hi taylor! practising making friends i see.

[technicalpacifist]

[ On the one hand, the Sub-visser gets to needle him; on the other, he doesn't have to play minion so... net win? ]

You're still the least qualified person to judge that, Sub-visser.

[ …But that is the question, isn’t it? And he’s reserving judgement. (Thanks a lot, Erek.) ]

... negging? :D

[tortureprincess]

[ A tie is as good as losing! She pouts cutely. ]

I can't imagine what you mean. I get to do whatever I like, probably because I don't force a thousand stipulations on my mun. You're only having trouble because you're trying to control them, when the natural order is obviously the other way around.

[ Love your puppeteer, Chee. Embrace your puppeteer. ]

that's the standard yeerk tactic, yes?

[technicalpacifist]

One stipulation. [ OK maybe two but it is not that hard. ]

If you know as much as you think, then you know taking control isn't how we do things. How is the 'natural' order working for you, by the way?

[ Taylor that is not how this game works. :| ]

sure, whatever slimy underhanded tactic it takes to pick up a nice (pref organic) body.

[tortureprincess]

Fine, but one that makes you really boring. [ Or... an interesting challenge? ]

My arrangement is working just fine. My people and humans are extremely compatible; you really should have known better than to support them in the first place with a stick of that size up your ass. [ Not bitter about the series conclusion or anything. She shrugs. ] Now you're making demands, like a tool has any right.

[ ... Aha thank goodness for that, though. ]

never so glad to be made of metal.

[technicalpacifist]

If my mun wanted a warrior, she already has plenty to choose from. [ Pacifist runs: all the kids are doing them. ]

I'm not a tool, Sub-visser. And I don't intend to become one. [ ...Again. No-one came out of the conclusion happy, did they? ] We have been working with humans for a few thousand years longer than you.

[ So they sort of did know better. The conservative Chee have had their chance for 'we told you so' and it's all been very awkward. But that's staying inside the family, so to speak. ]

wow rude, no one thinks you're cool okay :(

[tortureprincess]

And you think that that's some sort of accomplishment! Of course you're a tool. Who isn't?

[ The Sub-Visser gestures imperiously, now visibly irritated. ] You "work with" them, you moralize to them, you go out of your way to tie your fates to that of livestock and then balk when they act according to their nature. [ Is... she still talking about the Chee? ] Why should you get to keep your hands clean when you helped destroy the future of me and mine?

standing up to (non-)peer pressure is totally cool. human PSAs told me so.

[technicalpacifist]

[ It's about the perspective he'd expect, and it sounds like she's warming up for a rant. So although his hologram's eyes narrow, he just listens for a minute. ]

The Yeerks have lost one war. Not their entire future. I know it suits warmongers to claim everything depends on their particular fight, but it's never that simple. [ Is he actually trying to argue this or just get out of being the subject of this discussion? Mostly the latter. She's hardly the best Yeerk to talk to. ]

darn it, i knew our PR should have been targeting those after-school specials!

[tortureprincess]

Don't act like you're some kind of authority when you don't know anything about ambition. [ She's not that hard to derail; she gets too emotionally invested to troll anyone she can't dismiss. ] The Empire was our hope. You helped end us. Over nothing.

honestly that's the only inane message the Sharing /didn't/ make us sit through.

[technicalpacifist]

[ Despite himself he lifts his eyebrows at that - nothing, Sub-Visser? All else aside, even she knows the desire for self-preservation.

On the other hand, acknowledging others' needs as significant clearly isn't her strong point. ]

You tried one way of approaching the galaxy. It failed. Maybe it's time your people placed their hope in something more sustainable. Less evil.

[ They're not Pemalites, they're never going to be perfect. But they could at least be nicer to dogs quit trying to enslave everyone they meet. It makes a bad impression. ]

was all the community building in the sharing not fulfilling enough for you, erek?

[tortureprincess]

[ Relatively nothing. The benefits of being part of a galactic power would far outweigh whatever minor inconveniences host species suffer. Probably. Maybe. Who even cares? ]

Evil. I guess it's the prerogative of the victors to dictate the context of history. [ Taylor deliberately untenses, runs a hand absently over where her prosthetic joins flesh. ] In the end we were weaker, so my brothers and sisters will submit and return to fodder, powerless and despised again.

I could live with that, although I don't have that option. [ The sad (hilarious?) thing is, Taylor thinks she's really good at not getting what she wants, so long as it's might making right (as opposed to appeal to decency). By her standards, she's super reasonable and Erek is whiny. ]

i was always the worst when we played hunt the bandits. every time.

[technicalpacifist]

[ This philosophy you insist on. He can't hide his distaste for it- no, wait, he can. He's choosing not to. ]

Funny. I thought death or glory was more of an Andalite mindset. Yet you still believe those are the only options. [ He knows morality and compassion are losing grounds for argument - what Yeerk isn't used to dismissing such pleas from their own hosts? But he can find plenty of reasons to object to her position. ] For a people with the ability to literally see through the eyes of other races, you have a very limited perspective.

definitely the worst it was like you weren't even trying

[tortureprincess]

My perspective is completely solid, okay? Of course those are our options because it's Andalite bullshit. Like, what moronic prince would ever entrust us with eyes again? [ The fingers of both her hands curl and uncurl together, and she watches them as she is speaking. ] We're smarter than humans. Apparently smarter than you. We don't hope when it's hopeless.

[ She snorts, still not looking up at Erek. ] I was once the second-most powerful Yeerk in the region and now I'm arguing social studies with a thing.

[ TBH it's easier to dismiss any points he might actually have. What's millennia of experience to a late Sub-Visser, especially if it comes from a pacifist? ]

i liked that you invited us to your secret meetings though. that was nice.

[technicalpacifist]

'Thing?' [ A flash of something in his voice, his expression - annoyance, even anger. Erek knows he shouldn't give her any opening, but he's still... raw, perhaps. Because that seems to be a repeating pattern: people thinking they know his rules, thinking they can use his rules, and forgetting that he might choose to counterattack. ]

[ He shakes it off. More or less. He has to remember who he's talking to. ]

You know, if everything were left up to the Andalites, I might agree. But even they should be starting to realise that they don't get to make all the rules from here on out. [ He smiles thinly. ] They have a great deal to learn. So will your people. At least, those who are prepared to.

[ Well, he's tried. At least he's learning something about her thought processes? ]

you and your friends are uninvited!! plz return your complimentary brain beasty at the door

[tortureprincess]

[ Flippant and defeated, ] Then maybe those who remain will learn, although I find the empathy of humans is hardly worth counting on. They're lack of it, maybe, even with their own. [ That's why I sold them out. I mean, my host did. Yes. Totally justified.

She looks at Erek pointedly; we're totally bringing this back to the mun dilemma. ] Or do you still disagree?

give /back/ Mr. Wiggles?? D:

[technicalpacifist]

[ Way to bring them full circle. His expression hardens, even if he manages to keep his tone neutral. It's a hard thing to admit agreement with her on this. So he makes sure to qualify it first. ]

I don't suggest relying solely on human kindness. No. Just as we chose not to count on Yeerk empathy. There is a difference between being open and being naive.

that's right, pay up bucko, your ineffective cranium resident is empire property

[tortureprincess]

Are you actually dumb? "Rely" nothing, this is 101 stuff. Your perspective doesn't matter if you don't have a choice. [ Quietly, almost to herself. ] Unless you have the chance to trade for power.

[ An exaggerated beat. ] Duh.

damnit gmail how long was this in the spam bucket. ): whyyyy.

[technicalpacifist]

You may not have a choice, Sub-Visser. [ A shrug. He's... not very sorry about that. He's nonviolent, not endlessly compassionate. ]

oops i saw this but you caught me right when i was moving

[tortureprincess]

At least I had them. They won't. Are robots even allowed to lie to themselves? They shouldn't be. [ Like her love for the Empire ever had more to do with her feeling for her fellow Yeerks than with her personal bids for power.

She knows how to spin it, though. Just because her primary beef is selfish doesn't mean the rest is any less real. ] No, they won't have choices or mercy. I'm dead! I've accepted that! I just think you shouldn't either.

slowtagging FTW?

[technicalpacifist]

[ He wonders what she really wants to hear, and if it would satisfy her. ] That's a given. I don't remember much of either under your command.

Go team! *\o/* i hope sliding into an ending is okay.

[tortureprincess]

[ She smirks automatically. "Your command" still sounds so good. But it's sort of sad. ] Well, you aren't a Yeerk. [ Freedom is a zero-sum game - and she's even a voluntary.

There's nothing the Sub-Visser truly wants to hear. She came here to lash out and be a jerk, got embroiled in an ethics debate she could never have truly won (parts of her won't buy what she's selling), and in the end, nothing's changed. How long does mourning last? She huffs.] I hate this. I think I'm going to leave now. Just so we're clear, I still hope your mun screws you over.

good point for it! I may even get as far as actually catching up!

[technicalpacifist]

[ His face is so straight it's downright sombre. ] I'll remember that very carefully, Sub-Visser.

[ Regardless of what happens. ]

[hawkbrain]

[ Well doesn't that handsome face seem very, very familiar.] This is unexpected.

[technicalpacifist]

Tobias. [ Have a slight smile. A guarded smile. ] Popping up unexpectedly isn't exactly new for us.

[hawkbrain]

[ There's only a slight nod in greeting at his name. ] Maybe not but it's rare as hall around here.

But yeah, I guess we've mastered the art of it.

[technicalpacifist]

True. It has... been a while.

How are you?

[hawkbrain]

That's an understatement.

[ Well that's a compliacted thing to answer, Tobias just shrugs.]

Well I'm human, Rachel's dead. Or at least she is sometimes. You never know in this place. Last time I saw Marco we had sex and I'm pretty sure Jake hates me.

So...

How's that?

[technicalpacifist]

Confusing. [ He means the best emotional description, not so much developments being weird. Not by Animorph standards. Although... ] Why would Jake be angry with you?

[ Can't quite stop the emphasis on that last word. ]

[hawkbrain]

I bet. [ It's dry and sarcastic as he rolls his shoulder a little, the whole war had made Tobias more or less jaded. ] It's a long, complicated story. Does it really matter?

[ Yeah, it's hard to miss that emphasis. So he just gets a little wince in return.]

[technicalpacifist]

If you'd rather not talk about it, it's not my place to pry. [ He knows from uncomfortable stories. It's just. He has to admit he's curious. ]

[spacedoggess]

Hey, don't worry, things will probably work out fine! Some muns are deliberately mean [ you mean like yours? ] but your limits are a part of what make you interesting and I'm sure yours sees it that way too!

[technicalpacifist]

Thank you. It's hard for me to call them interesting, but our limits define a lot of who we are. Beings like mundanes usually have a reason for picking out the people [ even pawns ] they do. I have to assume my limitations are part of the deal.

[ So it's less blind faith in people and more 'prior experience with capricious cosmic meddlers'. He's accumulated very little inclination to trust people with power but a really depressing level of experience emptying their literal and metaphorical chamber-pots working around them. ]

[spacedoggess]

No way, they're definitely interesting! Especially [ since apparently you once wanted to transcend them she doesn't say, since it occurs to her too late that it's rude. ] uh, especially since we usually don't experience that kind of thing in the same way ourselves.

Anyway, loophole-hopping and game-breaking is definitely a human passion, but that'd be meaningless if your mun just ignored the rules! [ Is this not boundlessly reassuring? ]