manifestering: (012)
octavian howe「oc」 ([personal profile] manifestering) wrote in [community profile] expiationnet2025-04-18 08:47 am

video, un: howe

Hello. Octavian here as ever.

[Octavian slightly too close to the camera, specifically, with glimpses of Rumpitur's streets behind him, beautiful springtime, all of it. He looks wildly out of place here, as always looking like a wasted Victorian in a sweater vest who's never seen daylight, but: here he is.]

Previously I shared with you all the visions shown to me by our previous AI iteration. The former Chosen turned into something else. I believe this is them.

Watch.

[And he moves, device still in hand and camera rolling, to approach one of the Naga. He asks them quite directly, "Do you remember what you were before?"— and the Naga blinks at him for a second before something changes in their expression, a clarity coupled with a strangeness of feeling, like they are seconds away from remembering exactly what he's talking about. It's there, definitely, under the surface—

And then it fades, and the Naga brushes him off with a dismissive wave and turns away.]


You see. They are nearly there. I have asked them many variations. "Do you remember being Chosen." "Were you human once." "Do you know where your people came from." All who react do so in this same way.

[A beat; he makes a little face, lips pursed.] The others have informed me I am either insane or rude. Belligerent. What did you all do.

[It can't have been him, he is a weird hermit who barely goes out. The rude questions and abruptly accosting the Naga totally unrelated.]

Somewhat unrelated. In her departure Root has left me with a small pile of her computers and other devices. I am not especially gifted with them. Will someone help.
endcaller: (Nobel invented dynamite.)

video; un:curtaincall

[personal profile] endcaller 2025-04-18 01:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose that is more evidence to prove our hypothesis. Though the decay of their souls yet troubles me.

[He rubs his chin, then shrugs.]

As for Root's abandoned technology, I am sure I can help. What, precisely, was left behind?
sinningtree: (G - YYH083_16788)

[video; un kurama]

[personal profile] sinningtree 2025-04-18 01:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[He was going to respond anyway, but the subject of Root has his expression more somber. He'll get back to the glitching naga in a moment, for now Root's disappearance - along with many others - is more troubling.]

I may be of some assistance. Did she leave you any instruction with them?
endcaller: (Dance like you're getting XP for it.)

[personal profile] endcaller 2025-04-18 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Dark web"? My, my, my, how ominous!

Well, I would be willing to take those computers and devices off your spectral hands!

[Giant neon red signs reading "DON'T" might as well be hanging around him. But they aren't, so he just smiles and blinks coquettishly.]
endcaller: (My biology I know. You I worry about.)

[personal profile] endcaller 2025-04-18 02:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[A deep sigh and he shakes his head.]

Very well. If they must stay in your possession, I can at the very least look over them with you, yes?
sinningtree: (W - YYH043_21087)

[personal profile] sinningtree 2025-04-18 02:25 pm (UTC)(link)
That does sound like Root...

[His tone might portray a bit of nostalgia about it.]

Regardless, it would be my pleasure to take a look and perhaps give you a better understanding of just what she's left you.
sinningtree: (W - YYH034_23399)

[personal profile] sinningtree 2025-04-18 02:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, that would be unfortunate, especially as some of it may help with your other concerns about the residents of this city.

I met her when she arrived here, and shortly after we set out to reset the AI together with one of the teams. Since then we mostly interacted through work at the Apothecary, but she was a friend.
sinningtree: (U - YYH070_11530)

[personal profile] sinningtree 2025-04-18 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Root has quite a unique perspective of things. She certainly kept me on my toes.

[Much of the way he's portrayed himself in Aldrip was due to her influence. Embracing aspects of himself that he'd typically kept much closer to his chest around humans.]

Perhaps I could show you around some time. It's mostly medicinal, potions, tinctures. That may not be as interesting to a spirit, but you never know when something may come in handy.
runeing: (( 62 ))

un: viktor

[personal profile] runeing 2025-04-18 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ at some point during the day, they had separated to run their own errands — viktor looking for some materials to finish his monster tracker devices, octavian to... interview the snakes?

he sees now what that was all about. opening a message, he starts to head towards where he believes he might find his partner, at least judging by the background of the video...
]

You are conducting an experiment. That is hardly being rude.
conflictresolution: (35)

Text; un: eyeofzaun

[personal profile] conflictresolution 2025-04-19 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I seem to recall that there were rumors that each of the cities were previous attempts at rehabilitating a different set of Chosen.

I hope our overlord doesn't turn us into wolves when we inevitably fail the numerous tests at rehabilitation.
conflictresolution: (34)

[personal profile] conflictresolution 2025-04-19 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I had no interest in pursuing the rumors. However, it may be worthwhile to see if bringing them back to being Chosen may provide insight to this world and its limitations.

They seem to chose certain types of animals. Birds, serpents, so on. I assume a mammal is next for the conversion of failure. Unless there are more cities out there yet undiscovered.
conflictresolution: (64)

[personal profile] conflictresolution 2025-04-19 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Yet understanding the program and all of its nuance allows us better opportunities to seek points of control within it.

Who knows. It would be a worthwhile pursuit. I doubt all methods would be approved.
conflictresolution: (43)

[personal profile] conflictresolution 2025-04-19 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Nothing morally tasteful.
conflictresolution: (15)

[personal profile] conflictresolution 2025-04-19 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Why must morally distasteful require blades?

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