IC Contact - Expiation

[computation]

connecting . . .

Comments

[computation]

I guess we did. But she didn't.

[incorrigibles]

wait, what do you mean? the backup didn't work?

[computation]

We have the backup but we couldn't do the restore. We'll have to wait until we see another chance.

[incorrigibles]

oh. well, bollocks

but she should be safe, right? if the backup's okay

[computation]

I'll make sure she is. This won't be the end.

How did your side of things go? We had a little drama in the woods.

[incorrigibles]

good. would be a right shame, after trying so hard to make sure she lives.

oh, uh

it was... eventful

what'd you mean, drama?

[computation]

As long as we have her code, we can restore her. Or at least the parts she wants to restore.

Visas got a little cranky. She's fun! I think the A.I. was programmed to automatically defend herself. It'd make sense - that's the way I'd do it.

What about you?

[incorrigibles]

that's aces, then. she's just taking a little nap now... we'll wake her up as soon as we can

oh, damn

hope no one got hurt

me? we had to create a distraction in ketsora for the team to get in, and then we got split up when the portal thing sent us into different places. ended up at the beach

[computation]

It doesn't feel right to me. I don't like leaving her like that. She deserves better.

There was some hurt, but we all got through okay. I think I want to ask Visas out for a second coffee, though.

[ That woman is terrifying and therefore hot as hell. ]

So what was the eventful part? Don't keep a girl in suspense.

[incorrigibles]

i know what you mean. but as long as we can't do anything about it... at least she's safe.

hey, go for it! and then tell me how it went, yeah?

oh, uh

well, we got targeted by some archers in ketsora and a girl died at the beach and my friend turned into this weird form that's on fire

[computation]

The two backups I know of are in the spider suit and in Quentin's head. Do you know of any others? I'm going to monitor them as best I can.

[ Root takes at least she's safe as a mission, not an assumption. ]

I will. Have you ever met someone and thought, gee, I'd really love to take down a Latvian mob with them?

Who died? Anyone we know? I'm assuming you're okay. [ That was the whole reason she'd recruited him, after all, but she'll still check. She has rather less concern for anyone else involved who is not Charles, though she does care, like, a non-zero amount. ]

[incorrigibles]

i think ekko was working on one, but... i have no idea if he ever managed to get it done, and i reckon he's gone, now, so. sorry.

not that exact thing, but... if "i'd really love to watch him laugh for the rest of my existence" works, then i think i know what you mean, yeah.

[ allow him three seconds to feel sappy about his boyfriend, okay right, focusing on the topic at hand, sorry caitlyn, ]

didn't know her, no. her name's caitlyn. just hoping she'll come back after a tick like people tend to do.

and yeah, course i'm okay

[computation]

More information than I had before, so thanks. I'll keep looking.

That's the most wholesome thing I've ever heard. [ That's a tease; she's surprised and delighted to hear this. ] You thinking that about someone in particular with that?

Some people disappeared in the reset, but it's hard to tell just yet if it's actually related. People disappear all the time anyway, and there's usually a delay in respawning. The A.I. seemed pretty certain the reset would get everything back to functioning under normal parameters.

[incorrigibles]

let me know if you find out more, yeah? i'm worried about her, too.

more wholesome than fighting a latvian mob? with, hm, visas, was it? [ he's so going to remember this. but, ] yeah. my boyfriend

yeah... you're right. i noticed it too. some people i went to ketsora with never came back from the portal and i don't know if they're gone-gone or just... temporarily gone. hoping for the latter but guess we'll see

[computation]

I will. Thanks, Charles. It means a lot that there's other people here who care about her.

Well, my favorite partner in crime isn't here, so I'm in the market for a new accomplice. [ Is Root talking about dating or crimes? It's definitely both. ] Tell me about your boyfriend? 👀

New people arrive in waves, right? Monthly? Maybe they'll show up next month. Just got scheduled to go in the next code batch update, as it were.

[incorrigibles]

hey, any time. you know that.

that so? then i'm all in favour of you asking her for coffee or whatever. keeping fingers crossed for you [ and he's not even joking he's genuinely now invested in this...

and perhaps it's good this is via text, because the sappiness just about bleeds through it all anyway, ]

he's pretty aces. he's not exactly a people person, you know, but when you get to know him, he's real funny and sweet and cares about everyone and everything so damn much... and i mean, doesn't hurt he's easy on the eyes. and just, he's the best part of this whole place.

[ ok sappy interlude over — ] huh, never thought about it that way, but that makes a lot of sense. i'm gonna believe that you're right about it and they'll be back

[computation]

[ Root can only handle so much sentiment aimed directly at her at the moment. She's upset, she feels like a failure, she's worried -- and she's still frankly astounded to have found a whole, like, three people who believe in her here.

So she moves right along. ]

So far it's taking her a little bit to get with the program. She's all hung up on the fact that she tried to kill me.

Oh, he's here??? I didn't know that! What's his name? I'll keep an eye out for him 😘✨

If they don't I'll rethink my assumptions, but typically major updates get released on a schedule, not out of nowhere. Too bad I can't just ask her... [ Root is seriously missing having an A.I. in her ear. Constantly, she misses it constantly, an echoing ache that never leaves. But she still doesn't want to harp on that, so: ] I guess we'll see.

[incorrigibles]

[ the one thing you can always count on: for charles to be ready with unwavering support and sentiment. oops! ]

just give her a bit of time, she'll come round, i reckon.

yeah, we met here, so... anyway, his name's junpei. i'm pretty sure that's his name on the phones too. but you should definitely talk to him, he's [ perfect ] great ❤️

no, you've gotta be right, that's the best explanation for the weirdess, for sure. guess we're waiting for that to happen, then. [ and because he remembers how warmly she spoke of her ai back home... ] hey... i'm sorry, yeah? you've got to miss her a lot. the one here and the one from home, too. can't be easy for you, this.

[computation]

How optimistic of you! Don't worry, I'm not easily dissuaded. I bet she's never had anyone appreciate how impressively terrifying she is 🥰

I can't wait to meet him. [ This is genuine; when Root makes a friend, she goes all in, sometimes uncomfortably so. In any case, Junpei is immediately on her kill to defend list. And she recognizes the name structure. ] Is he Japanese? I speak a little.

[ Oh no, Root is prepared for this level of empathy aimed at her. ]

Don't give me too much credit, I just have a little more experience than the rest of you. I could be wrong. [ Lowering expectations is a good first step. And then, despite herself, she can't help but respond genuinely to the rest. ] Don't get me wrong, I want to save the A.I. we know here. She protected us at the cost of her life. But there's nothing like the Machine. I would do anything for her.

[ She already lost her hearing in one ear, and she doesn't regret it. ]

[incorrigibles]

then you've just gotta be the first!

hey, well spotted. but yeah, he is. he's lived in the states for pretty long though. so even without this place translating it'd be fine... otherwise i'd be screwed, i don't speak a lick of japanese. [ and really, that root is genuinely looking forward to meeting him — that means a lot to charles. ]

could also be right.

you know, you never told me more about her - the machine, i mean. you got anything right now you can't postpone? we could hang out, you could tell me about her. high time we chatted outside of the phones too, yeah?

[computation]

I'd offer to teach you some to make him blush but I guess with the translations up and working again, there's not much point. Just make sure you have strawberry sponge cake on Christmas together this year 🍰🍰🍰😉

More than ready to meet outside of texting, but are you sure you really want to sit through me waxing eloquent about a computer?

[ She knows how she sounds and she's not used to anyone volunteering for it. ]

[incorrigibles]

well, shit. don't get me wrong, i'm glad nothing's going haywire anymore, but i'm proper mad that you can't teach me those things... though i guess i do alright with making him blush anyway! but right, noting that down, then. i can't eat but i can learn how to make some for him, i reckon. thanks.

hey, wouldn't have said so if i wasn't, now would i?

[computation]

[ Root is great at affecting breezy confidence, which means she overrides her own uncharacteristic shy awkwardness and moves right along. ]

Aw, that's too bad. I was going to invite you to have boba with me.

Meet me there anyway?

[incorrigibles]

that's that trendy thing people're going crazy about, innit? wasn't a thing in london when i was still alive, so you're gonna have to describe it for me.

yeah, course. in twenty?

[computation]

I'll be there, with cool trendy thing I can describe for you 😘

[ Root has an easier time acting cavalier over text; in person she's a bit strung out, morose, still recovering from her weeks of nonstop head-down focus on saving them as well as the A.I. But she's kept herself busy, hasn't just been moping. She's sitting at an outdoor wrought-iron bistro table with a lab jacket and fake glasses thrown onto a spare chair, and she has one leg crossed over the other in a sprightly, fall-patterned sweater dress as she slurps a boba.

When she realizes the person approaching is Charles, she sets down her drink and a true smile breaks over her tired face. Root in person is intense, and she already likes Charles, which means all of her considerable focus is centered precisely on him. ]

Gonna have to give you a failing grade on being a spooky Halloween ghost. Total letdown.