[Voice Test] Connor & Peter - Seasons Greetings

[st_abilitylost]

Of every face that Connor’s internal database failed to recognize since the beginning of his short stay, the only source of familiarity was found in the inanimate statues of Mr. and Mrs. Claus mounted in the lobby. He recognzied then as symbols of generosity and goodwill towards all humanity, but something about the way the sculptor chose to craft their features seemed...off.

He didn’t have any business lingering and passing judgements on the craftsmanship but there was no lieutenant to bark at him for “spacing out” and it all left him at, for lack of a better phrase, a loss.

Comments

[st_arkintern]

"I always thought that, too." At least of the androids in media, anyway. "Are you allowed to protect yourself if a human attacks you?" It sounded like that was the case earlier. The follow-up comes before Connor can answer:

"Have you ever been attacked by a human?"

[st_abilitylost]

"Yes." Connor's eyes lingered to the side. "Though nothing violent enough to justify self-defense."

[st_arkintern]

"How violent is violent enough to justify self-defense?"

Peter's already got this mental image of androids being shoved around and simply taking it. He hates to think that that kind of thing might be happening to Connor on the regular back home.

[st_abilitylost]

"Threat of disassembly, generally. By a non-affiliated human. But even that is of little consequence to my person. I can initiate memory upload and get re-deployed with a new body." Connor shrugged after a moment. "Admittedly, that wouldn't be possible here."

[st_arkintern]

"You don't find that..." Peter pauses briefly to find the right word, but it doesn't come, so he settles another. "...disconcerting?"

[st_abilitylost]

"I find it necessary. If one physical body experiences shut down, another can simply take its place. Working alongside humans in high risk jobs, it can prevent loss of life. There's nothing disconcerting about a machine replacing another machine."

Though all androids were not so fortunate. The individuals that humans deemed unnecessary or harmful...

"It's happened once before. I try not to make a habit of it."

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah, but you're not concerned now that you can't just be re-uploaded?" he asks.

[st_abilitylost]

“I have an internal battery that will power me independently for approximately 137 years. As long as I don’t take unnecessary risks.” The corners of Connor’s mouth minutely tightened.

[st_arkintern]

"That wasn't the question, though."

[st_abilitylost]

“It’s an added risk. I worry about it as much as a human worries about their own bodily health, I suppose. Though I don’t have to eat or sleep.” Or fulfill most physical needs that humans did. “Provided there are no people hostile to androids, I’d assume the risk is far lesser here.”

[st_arkintern]

"Mmmm."

Peter doesn't say anything for a moment.

"I don't think you're going to have any problem with the people here. Mia's an android, too, and everyone's nice to her." Not that Peter had had much of a chance to talk to her, least of all like this.

[st_abilitylost]

Connor’s LED blinked at that.

“An android.”

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah, I haven't really talked to her, but she's pretty and people say she's nice." Peter rubs the back of his head. He probably should have talked to her by now -- she'd been here for a few months, but there was something intimidating about her, even despite her approachable personality.

It was probably all in Peter's head, though.

[st_abilitylost]

“I see.” Connor replied after a pause, adjusting his tie on habit. “Well. Staying vigilant in peace is all I can hope for.”

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah, it's mostly peaceful here," Peter agrees. "We had some creatures attack a few months back, but that's really been the only big trouble there's been at the inn since I arrived here."

Outside the inn, during the Other Worlds? That was a different story.

[st_abilitylost]

“You’ve been very helpful, Peter.” Connor smiled again as he adjusted his cuffs. “I don’t have much to offer but my thanks.”

[st_arkintern]

"You don't need to offer me anything," Peter says. "Thanks for answering all my questions."