audio/action;

[akito]

[ 'Family' Filter ]

I know that it's been a while since the event... It was a lot to sort through afterwards, ne? But I wanted to say thank you for being kind to me!

Ah... And that's it, I guess.

[ awkward awkward ]


[ PUBLIC ]

What is it like living in the city? Are there any advantages to it? Like a higher chance of avoiding 'losses' or 'events', or anything like that?

[ he's out wandering around, walking his baby skunk. it follows him around like a duckling, tail straight up; perky and alert. he still doesn't really know how to take care of it, but it hasn't been that hard so far... ]

Ah! And is there a pet supply shop there?



[ Simca ]

Do you want to meet our skunk? It's super cute..!

We named it Akira!

[ because it seemed fitting somehow... ]


[ Madge ]

Are you alright..? You're not alone, are you?

Comments

[perfectisnteasy]

For Users, maybe, but not programs like me...

[you know how he was saying he was different? yeah.]

[akito]

Ah, you're a program? [ He's seen and heard of stranger things at home, so it doesn't take him aback much. ]

Programs can evolve to incorporate emotions in their decisions, given enough time. At least that's what I've heard theorized.

[perfectisnteasy]

That's not the way it works in the Grid, not for programs. ISOs, maybe, but ... [he trails off, as a piece of the puzzle broadsides him like a Solar Sailer. no wonder Flynn prized the ISOs over the rest of them. they were more human. they were closer to what -he- considered perfection.

and he'd ...

he'd ...

oh, crap.]

[akito]

[ Akito was going to say more - that even if it wasn't that way in the Grid (whatever that was), that it could be that way here, if he wanted it to be. But he stays silent for a moment, listening. ]

...Are you alright?

[perfectisnteasy]

[the sound of the boy's voice brings him back to himself, to the moment, pulling him almost abruptly out of his thoughts. he can think on this later - later, when he's alone and doesn't have to worry about other people being witness to whatever reactions that going deeper into it might produce. he puts on a smile, just to make sure it carries through in his tone. he's a flawless actor, after all]

Me? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking, that's all. Sorry, I didn't mean to get lost in it. Did I miss something?

[akito]

No, nothing. And it's okay! Everyone gets caught up in their thoughts sometimes.

[perfectisnteasy]

Thanks. But ... yeah, no. I'm not the kind of program that can just ... add things because I want to. My User, Flynn, has to do that.

[akito]

It's possible it could happen here on your own though. This castle is strange like that. It might be able to alter a program in a way that gives it room to grow and evolve on its own without being limited by its creator.

[perfectisnteasy]

... Maybe. I mean - it did already turn me into a User twice ... and there was that strange week where we had to find all those items, and people kept calling me a Prince.

[there were also froofy clothes and a sword, but those are not important]

You really think it'd change my programming?

[akito]

I think it could if it wanted to... Or if you wanted it to.

[perfectisnteasy]

You mean, like, with a wish? ... I dunno, man, I don't think I'd trust it with something like that. Not after the way it treated everyone recently.

[akito]

More like something subconscious! If it was a subconscious desire, it wouldn't be surprising if the castle picked up on it a bit.

But un! I definitely wouldn't trust it.

[perfectisnteasy]

... Subconscious? What does that mean?

[whatever it is, he's pretty sure he doesn't have one. it sounds very much like a User thing]

[akito]

It's like um...

You have your consciousness, which is what you're aware of. You use it to actively think and feel and remember! The subconscious is the same, except it's not something you're aware of.

[perfectisnteasy]

But I'm aware of all my programming, even the subroutines.

[akito]

You might have one! A subconscious isn't a subconscious if you're aware of it.

[perfectisnteasy]

... But I'm a program, I'm aware of everything. It's all in my coding...

[just the same, he's taking his disc off his back and activating his codestream now.

JUST TO CHECK MIND YOU]

[akito]

Where's the fun in life if you're aware of everything all the time, ne? The mysteries are the best part!

[perfectisnteasy]

But then you're not prepared for them --!

[he bites back his frustration, remembering how upset Flynn was about what he did to the Sea of Simulation... and it occurs to him that he might have a window to understanding that, now]

... Why do Users get so excited about unexpected things?