unknownseas | And we're all adrift together through the cold mist, 'til we're lifeless together

[The preparations hit differently this time.

Last weekend was at least an attempt at being festive, even with the light supplies they have; at being joyous, at giving people at least one nice thing to look back upon before things inevitably took a turn for the worse. And now two people are dead, and instead of trying to figure out structure placement and how best to keep everyone entertained and occupied and well-fed, the preparations now are given to much more practical purposes.

Large amounts of bottled water from the machine. Bagels and bread and muffins, light starchy things to avoid forcing anyone to keep meat or seafood down after seeing a corpse. Fruit for the sake of providing energy. Avoiding including bananas for any reason. Quietly pulling aside one of the first people she sees with any experience in the matter and asking them to help her make tea.

Once she's got one of the tables at the party zone set up and the tea is on its way to being prepared, she'll set around letting people know; the invitations are simple, written in Freyja's broad, elegant handwriting:

I think another gathering tonight would be beneficial. Not to celebrate, but to remember; perhaps more importantly, to ensure that no one is alone if they don't want to be.

Tonight is hard. There is nothing further to do but get through it.]

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...I suppose so.

[Data doesn't know if he would do the same, though he rather doubts it. But then, he doesn't expect that Captain Picard would have either. So maybe it's not deterministic.]

I would have liked to speak to him more. Clearly, we were not entirely alike, but I have only very rarely found myself in the presence of other sapient machines. [....] And never for long.

[this is like not even the first time this has happened]

I... can understand where he was coming from, a little. About his worries about going against his nature. Three years ago, where I'm from, an event happened. The details don't really matter, I guess, but it was bad for my kind. In an instant, we were all sapped of our will, of our personalities.

The Abbey was able to convince people we were tools. A high ranking member of the Abbey used me as his personal assassin. One of the targets he sent me after was the one who saved me, who brought me to my senses.

[....]

I know it's not the same, but I've been there. Being treated as an object when you're a person... it's awful.

...I am sorry to hear that. That is a terrible thing to have happen to anyone, much less an entire species.

[Data's not necessarily that great at expressing compassion with his face and tone, but at least he knows the words to say?]

Many people in my world do not believe I am genuinely sentient. They see me as an extremely advanced machine, whom those I am close with simply anthropomorphize. In truth, there is no way to prove that is not true. I myself have not always been sure if I am, technically speaking, a person.

That's awful.

The way I see it, you're a person. You're here, talking to me. You have your own thoughts, experiences...

That's what makes a person person. It doesn't really matter how you came to be.

Many would argue that you have no way of knowing if I do have my own thoughts. It is quite possible for a learning machine to generate conversations, yet remain non-sentient. I do not...

[well, he's had some moments of doubt, but]

I do not believe that to be the case myself. But, again, it cannot truly be proved.

I guess you're going a little bit over my head with all of this. My world doesn't have anything like that.

[....]

Eizen's more of a philosopher than I am, but I guess my question is this: if there is such a thing as a machine that is so close to replicating being a person it's impossible to tell, is there really a meaningful difference? Maybe it's all semantics.

Humans were quick to think my kind just coincidentally looked like them. Had us wear masks because it made them uneasy.

Ah, the uncanny valley. Humans are often more disturbed by things that look very similar to, yet are not human, than by things which are clearly inhuman.

["Things", in this case because he's also including actual inanimate objects. Mannequins and stuff.]

There are those who have been disturbed by my appearance as well...although I am surprised they found you unnerving. [You look very human.] Perhaps it was merely repressed feelings of guilt.

Huh. There's a term for it?

[.....]

I don't understand why anyone would find you unnerving.

[But then again not all malakhim look human at all. He's used to it.]

My skin and eyes are far paler than the human standard, and my general demeanor is unusual.

[I mean]

I suppose.

I guess it's obvious I don't know much at all about humans, huh?

I suppose. But that is understandable, given the history between your peoples.

Even without the... recent history, there are a lot of things about humans I just don't understand at all. Malakhim choose our families; as we're born from the earth, there's plenty I can't relate to.

I suppose that is true. I have something like a human family, but it is...not entirely similar. I have never spent a great deal of time among them.

[it's really only like a human family in that it's fucking dysfunctional]

[Zaveid laughs at that, but it's a soft, knowing kind.]

Sounds like it's a real mess.

Eizen, my travel buddy, has a little sister. [which, of course, runs completely counter to what he just said about not having human-like families but here we are] He's... well. He's got a Reaper's Curse, which makes him think he's a danger to her. I've told him more than once that doesn't mean he shouldn't see her.

I know she misses him dearly.

Why does he believe he is dangerous to her?

It's the Reaper's Curse.

[...]

This'll take a bit of explanations, but the gist of it is that as malakhim, we have a presence even if people can't see us. A domain, that keeps an area pure and free of malevolence. On our own, without other factors, it's quite small, maybe a few feet surrounding us in any direction.

Eizen's is, well... the opposite of that. Instead he draws in negativity. It's nothing he's in control of, nor is it his fault. But he believes it makes him a danger to Edna. It doesn't, but good luck convincing him of that. I've tried, and I know I'm not the only one.

I see. I can understand why he would think so, but I suppose it depends on the definition of "negativity".

Monsters, curses, ill fortune, malevolence... I know his crew blames their bad luck on him, and they're probably not wrong.

It'll kill him, one day, but I hope that day is a very long time from now.

...if that is the case, in what way is his presence not dangerous?

Well, it's not like him sitting on a ship gets monsters to attack it or anything.

I guess I'm making it sound worse than it is.

Perhaps.

Nonetheless, if his sister wishes to spend some time around him, I do believe that her desires should be taken into account as well.

Glad you agree.

Now, if only I could get him to agree, too.

And we're all adrift together through the cold mist, 'til we're lifeless together

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