ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

[formidable]

Androids, psychics, magic, investigations, and finding out how to human. ➢ Cool Mood Music No. 1 ➤ Cool Mood Music No. 2

Comments

[emotive]

Let's see...

[Ai retrieves the remote TV and plops herself next to Connor, looking through some rentable movies on her streaming service.]

Maybe something with some action at the very least. Thriller maybe? I tend to watch some more relaxing media on my own, but it might be easier to watch those other genres with you.

[After some scrolling, her eyes land on a classic title and it's...]

Alien... 1979. Oh, this one is pretty old! Lien said this one was scary, but good.

[determinare]

"Alien"?

[He doesn't recall anything like that in his database, and a cursory mental search brings up nothing specific pertaining to 1979. And so, the conclusion is easy enough to make:]

I assume it's a sci-fi film that must be exclusive to your world? I'm interested to see how the future was envisioned to be in the late 70's.

[emotive]

I hope we can both enjoy it then! This is definitely outside of my tastes, but it's good to expand the type of things I watch.

[Godspeed.

She presses play and the movie begins. The atmosphere already feels mysterious and dark, but that's what's intriguing and keeping her hooked. Eyes, attentive to the screen, Ai makes sure to pull her mostly dried giant bear over to stay cozy.]

[determinare]

[Connor watches silently, seated on the couch with his back straight, his body language attentive. He's never taken the time to watch a movie before (another first), and with the images flashing before him on the tv screen, he finds himself becoming relatively quickly lost in the narrative.

The aesthetic of the 70's is glaringly obvious, but even so, it depicts an interesting universe in possession of technology that was still far beyond the scope of his own world. Deep space, and the dangers that lurked within; what atrocities could be housed within the flesh casings of a human body, and how vulnerable the lives of the crew truly were.

It's not without its creeping tension, of course. During particularly stressful moments, Connor leans forward, hands grasping at his knees. His eyes never leave the screen, not yet.]

[emotive]

[The movie takes its time and it takes Ai time to start feeling the tension and thinking that she might have been in over her head with this movie. And yet she couldn't look away. She finds herself being invested in the fate of the crew of the Nostromo.

Connor may hear her mutter "I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay..."; arms slowly wrap around her legs and her body stiffens as the sense of dread begins to pile on...]

1/2

[determinare]

[It’s a fairly well-known scene at this point. The tension is running high and in the narrative, shit has definitely already hit the fan. Connor still remains enthralled rather than put off by any of the more gruesome moments — he seems quite interested in the story and the fate of those still alive.

The stress and build-up for this scene is not insignificant. Anyone who has seen it knows what comes next. And though Connor remains silent and his body language only a little stiff, all it takes—]

[determinare]

[—is a grand swell of music, an alien literally bursting forth from a man’s chest in a bloody show, and Connor startles in his seat, jerking back and grasping a hand on the back of the couch. His eyes widen and he lets out the customary yell of surprise that are prerequisite of any good jump scare. ]

[emotive]

[She also yells when the chest burster alien makes its entrance and without thinking, she grabs Connor's sleeve and several pillows move to cover up her whole body and her face, leaving one arm sticking out of one hole to keep a hold of him.

Just. Oh no. OH NO. Ai knew this was scary, but NOT TO THIS EXTENT.]

[determinare]

[It's almost sensory overload (poor android boy) with the dread excitment of what's happening on screen, coupled with Ai's yell and the way she's grasping his sleeve, tugging him a little closer.

He can feel his Thirium pump moving quickly in his chest, and he turns his head to look at her -- she's mostly covered up in pillows. And despite everything, he has to give out a shaky laugh.]

Is this too much for you?

[emotive]

I'M OKAY!

[Or so she yells, muffled behind the pillows. Ai seems to realize she was holding onto him and lets go of him. One pillow drops from her face so that there's a square-shaped slot to still see the screen out of.]

But this feels safer.

[Safe from the imaginary aliens, yes]

[determinare]

[His sleeve is let go of, but it's not like he minded it to start. Still, he almost feels the need to tease her for her reaction. (Not like he didn't jump or anything, too.)

The movie continues playing in the background as he speaks.]

The couch cushions make you feel safe?

[emotive]

It's a psychological defense Connor.

[She seems serious enough about her pillow fort.]

Maybe the jump scares won't be as bad with these.

[determinare]

[And at that, he just laughs lightly.]

I see. That makes sense. I'm sure the aliens won't get you in there.

[emotive]

If they do, I'm gonna crush them.

[SHE SOUNDS SO SERIOUS and it's funnier in retrospect considering her powers. The movie continues and she flinches as the crew is finished off painfully by their alien enemies, sneaking through the air vents.]

[determinare]

[You know... he has no doubt that she can. Smiling, he returns to the movie, and is soon drawn back in.

Though, randomly, he speaks up:]

Do you think aliens like this might exist in reality? Not just fiction.

[emotive]

Oh. Well.

[Considering the other supernatural elements that can exist alongside psychics in this world...]

... Possibly. It's funny, we only know so much about space as the experts do. Psychics aren't that in tune with it.

[And neither are magickind. It truly is the final frontier.]

[determinare]

[He tilts his head at the screen. It's true that the point of this film was not necessarily meant to spark such existential questions, but Connor's mind has wandered in that direction.]

The unknown of space can make one feel much smaller as an individual, I think.

[emotive]

There's a point where I can't safely fly in the sky, so you're right about that...

EEP!

[She squeaks when Ripley confronts Ash leading to his reveal as an android...]

... Oh!

[She didn't see that coming :V]

[determinare]

...Ah.

[Connor blinks at this revelation playing out on the screen.]

He's an android.

[One whose intentions are not all that great.]

[emotive]

[Awkward.]

... Uh, this doesn't make you uncomfortable, does it?

[determinare]

[He tilts his head at the screen as the film continues to play out.]

No. Not exactly. It's informative.

[As the film goes on, the android is revealed to not be stifled by things such as moral considerations, and unneeded emotion. A danger to the living crew, as it would seem. Sentience, but in the worst sort of way.]

...The fears of humans are relatively universal. I suppose it only makes sense. [Even if, in his world's case, it's not true and it's unfair.]

[emotive]

[Ai looks at him for a bit through her pillow fort. They all slide down one by one so that she isn't hidden anymore before she looks back at the screen.]

... I don't know much about technology, but I can understand that... The things that humans create is a reflection of our best selves and our worst.

And in stories like these, we fear we put our worst in physical form and that trying to expel it like that comes back to haunt us.

[determinare]

[He nods. Stories like these were always reflective of human nature in some form or fashion; even if it seems to be a horror sci-fi story on the surface, it’s a true analogy of humanity’s fear of the unknown. Of the greed of corporations, the hesitation to rely on sentient technology, and the oppression of one aggressive species over another.]

Maybe so.

The androids in this film are fairly reflective of the androids where I’m from. But Ash— he is an android that is focused solely on completing the mission given to him. [That sounds… familiar.] A thoughtless automaton, its will made to bend to his master.

[emotive]

... Connor?

[Even though the movie is nearing its finale, Ai looks over at Connor again, leaning her head against her knees.]

When I look at you, I don't think of you as human, not necessarily. I think of you as an android. I think of you as alive.

[determinare]

[He looks at her, glancing at him like that, labeling him as what he is: not a human, but an android that is truly alive. Carrying emotions and thoughts that belong only to himself, and no one else.

She's so quick to come to that conclusion. Never did she really consider him lower than her, something more machine than a cognizant being with a... soul. A spark of something more than just working parts thrumming with blue blood.

It's odd, how words don't come to him immediately. How his mind is not even trying to process what to say, that silence just hangs delicately between them -- the light of the TV screen flashing luminous colors across their faces.

Connor averts his gaze to the side. He doesn't feel embarrassed, not really, but there's a sting of self-consciousness rising up that didn't exist before.

But he's happy, honestly, that she believes that.]

...Thank you, Ai.