Folkmore Inbox

[obeir]

KD6-3.7

[ un: uses both K and kd6-3.7 ]

[ text | voice | video | file | action ]

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un: YorBriarForger

[briarprincess]

[K gets this message like 20 minutes after this thread concludes.]

Hello!

I'm Yor, I was the snake you spoke to. You said you might be able to help me with my network device?

[obeir]

Hello. I'm KD6-3.7, most just call me K. It's nice to properly meet you, Yor.

I can. It seems you've already figured out the streaming and direct messaging functions, so that's good. Have you checked out the other functions yet?

[briarprincess]

It's nice to meet you K. Not yet.

I really need to know how to delete a video first.

[That whole stream was a very embarrassing, mildly traumatic experience and multiple people saw it. She'd very much like to keep more people from seeing it.]

Present Delivery

[defenderoftomorrow]

[ On the evening of the 24th of December, K will have a colorful envelope delivered to his front door. It's a pretty big box and inside there are a couple of things.

One is a portable vinyl player in a light blue box, to add a touch of color to K's place. And because a vinyl player isn't much without music to play, there are also three vinyls from different composers. Herbie Hancock’s album Maiden Voyage, Billie Holiday: Lady Sings the Blues, and the last one is a mix of Aretha Franklin's greatest hits.

Inside the box, there's also a red card with a little white Christmas tree on one side, and Jayce's handwriting on the other that simply says: ]

Thanks for being such a good friend. Happy Holidays.
PD: Feel free to visit whenever.

- Jayce

text | un: K

[obeir]

[ Naturally K wastes no time in putting the music on, touched that Jayce had paid attention to his developing interests enough to know he loves jazz music. After reading the included card, he sends a text (it's late, he isn't sure if Jayce is still up) to thank him. And attaches a relevant cat meme. c: ]

That was an incredibly thoughtful gesture. It's the first time I've been given gifts. I appreciate them, thank you very much. I'm enjoying the music — you chose well. You're a good friend, too.

[defenderoftomorrow]

[ Jayce is an early bird, but he has had some trouble sleeping lately and is still awake by the time K writes back. ]

Hi, K. I'm glad you liked the music, some of those singers I discovered recently but they very famous in their home worlds. You should tell me when your birthday is, or the replicant equivalent, so I can be ready with more presents when the day comes.

Oh, that's adorable. We have access to cat pictures in the relic too? Gideon showed me how gifs work. [ He's going to look around for a few seconds and then send one back. ]

Me right now:

lmk if this works!

[twatter]

[ One chilly winter's night and a whole lot of curiosity are what eventually lead Technical Boy to KD6-3.7. Technology would always gravitate toward other technology, and while Tech Boy has been focused on a great number of projects and planning and trying to figure out what the fuck is this place -- there's a call out amongst the starchildren he can't quite ignore. Something that wasn't deity but something that's still his all the same. It's not magic. It's not lore at work. It's different from anything Tech Boy's felt, perhaps even more advanced than his own world could produce. Eventually it gets to a point where he can no longer ignore it. He grabs his jacket and heads into the night, following this technological siren call, drawn to it like a magnet.

Tech Boy has no doubts KD6-3.7 will be able to sense him as well. He's not trying to mask himself or be offline. He wants to be found. And more than that, found in person. As easy as it would be to jump straight on this connection and chat away, it's pretty rude to do it without knocking first. So a face to face meeting. That's neutral ground. A place for the two of them to talk and establish boundaries.

Eventually, Tech finds him -- and instead of saying anything, he stands and stares like an idiot. At a glance, K is so human. So very human in appearance and demeanor. Tech Boy takes a few steps closer and dares to bring his hand up, to cradle K's cheek in awe and wonder. That single touch sets off all of Tech's senses -- like an internal electrical connection. ]

What are you?

[ Perhaps a stupid question, but give him a moment. His brain is rebooting at this discovery. He's never met technology quite like this. ]

perfect!

[obeir]

[ Having spent most of his very short life in a dystopian world beset by nuclear winter, K's inured to the cold by this point and the mild winter that's descended on Folkmore barely registers as a concern. It's certainly not enough to keep him inside on such a pleasant night, with a sky so free of pollution that the stars are actually visible. He's alone at a table outside one of the ubiquitous cafés in Epiphany, pen perched over an open notebook of music manuscript paper in front of him, contemplating the partially filled lines.

Learning to play the piano had been the easy part. Playing music that already exists — that presented little challenge. But creating something new... that fell well outside the parameters of his programming, something he should not even be capable of doing, and yet the notebook is filled with snippets of original melodies, nebulous ideas that he's been trying to refine and build on for months. It's slow going, especially lately.

For the last while a sensation like the hum of static has taken up residence in his head, the intensity fluctuating from time to time but always present. It's distracting. He's come to accept the technological tinnitus as being just another peculiarity of this place, which is what makes its sudden absence now startling.

He's peripherally aware of someone near. Approaching. Reaching—? The hand on his face has him instinctively bracing himself for violence. Prepared to endure it, not initiate it. When the expected pain never manifests he raises his eyes and regards the stranger with open curiosity. The static has quieted, replaced with an indefinable something that after a long moment has him subtly leaning into the touch, cautiously accepting it. That point of contact has his nerves practically buzzing in a way he's never experienced before. ]

An android. [ His tone is bemused, and his hand not holding the pen hovers uncertainly between them. Wanting to touch, too, perhaps. This is where he should pose the same question in turn, and there's no doubt in his mind that this being isn't human, but what he asks first is: ] Has that been you this whole time...? What I've been feeling.

[twatter]

[ An android, he answers -- perhaps with questions of his own or perhaps because no one ever brazenly asked him what he is. Tech Boy could imagine at a glance this being would be mistaken as human. He looks human. Down to the fine details -- the subtleties of his facial features and fluidity of his movements. But there's something far more behind the superficial details, the coat of human paint he wears. Tech Boy sees it so clearly through this touch. It's beautiful. Some indescribable union of code and programming and network. It fits with Tech Boy perfectly, like the ends of a jigsaw puzzle.

Tech musters up a smile, thumb very subtly shifting against K's cheekbone. Idly, he wonders what components make up the bone structure of an android's body. In his world, androids are a dream of the future -- living only in the imagination of science fiction and space operas. ]

Yeah. That would have been my system you were getting pings off of. I'm a god.

[ Reluctantly, he draws his hand away from K. Then, arms extend outward like some Jesus to the cross moment because how can one talk about being a god without the theatrics? ]

The god of all technology. Past, present.... [ Eyebrow waggle. ] ...and future. Perhaps especially future.

[ Arms drop to his side with an audible slap. For as impressive of a spiel as that might be, Tech Boy doesn't come at it from a place of arrogance or thinking he's above K. He's not. Technology is a part of him and he's a part of technology -- an equal and balanced system where both parts run better in proximity. Because of this, Tech Boy is tempted to touch K once again but shoves his hands into his pockets instead, closing one around his vape pen. ]

I've felt you for a while now. Sometimes it's just passing. Sometimes it's as strong as this, shining like a fucking beacon. But it wasn't safe...

[ A wary glance toward the stars -- as though one of them might come crashing down and interrupt this conversation right now. Tech shakes his head, gaze returning to K once more. ]

Either way, what I felt and now what I'm seeing? You're remarkable. We're nowhere near this level of advancement back home...

[ There's a silent moment to simply appreciate and bask in what K is before Tech Boy shifts, unable to stay still. He settles onto the opposite side of the table, eyes drawn to the music. At first it's just a place to rest his gaze, but then he registers what he's observing. The notes, the scraps of unfinished melodies -- it takes his breath away. Because in one glance, Tech Boy can see his own journey laid out on the table. I gave it permission to shatter the rules, a young Xie proudly proclaimed to his father.

The exhale escapes him shakily and his eyes veer off in case the music was something private, something K didn't mean for others to see. ]

What were you designed to do? [ He asks after a time, attention returning to K. ] And far more important than that, what do you want to do?

un: iamironman | text

[ironypoisoned]

[ Tony wordlessly sends an invitation to a Valentine’s party that he scribbled on. ]

OOC: [ Helpful Link to the Log ]

backdated to when the blackouts start

[twatter]

[ When the first wave of dizziness hits, Tech's not in the middle of doing anything really. He got up to crank the heat in the apartment because it's cold as fuck. But somewhere in the middle of the short walk from the living room to the thermostat, the world around him spins and he has to grasp a hold of the wall to keep standing.

Huh. Strange.

Tech doesn't even realize what's happened initially -- not until more outages start and subsequently force him to disconnect with the world he'd easily integrated himself into. The fatigue and weakness come on quickly thereafter. Unlike a human illness, there isn't anything gradual about this. It's all Tech can do to keep himself from collapsing. He never quite makes it to the thermostat, opting to drag himself back to the couch and pull the blanket off the back to wrap himself in. Okay. This is fine. This will amend itself. He'll be fine. He'll be fine. No need to panic.

He takes calming, steadying breaths -- head dropping to his hands. And by the time K arrives, whether with a knock or simply because Tech can sense him outside the door -- Tech Boy at least has enough power in him to open the digital keypad lock and let K enter. And K will find Tech still conscious on the couch but slumped over as he tries to redirect his power to the only few areas of Folkmore that still have it.

He looks up at the android slowly. ]

You came...

[ There's so much in those words. A near disbelief that K's actually here so quick and also this immense sense of relief he is. Because K knew without Tech having to say a single thing that he was needed and K chose to be here like this. It's so fucking weak that Tech feels his eyes water -- feels a lump in his throat. The high and mighty god of technology nearly sobs out a choked: ]

You came.

[obeir]

[ Power outages happen. It isn't necessarily a cause for immediate concern. But once it's apparent this may be more than a regular outage, K doesn't waste any time fretting over what to do — he knows. He'd made a promise that he fully intends to keep. For him, the blackout-induced fatigue is a slower descent like sinking into a mire, and by the time it's really beginning to drag at him he's already making his way through the door of Tech's apartment, worry plain in his expression.

He navigates the darkness with telling ease, his chilled hands finding Tech's a few seconds before the couch shifts slightly beneath his weight. The emotion in Tech's voice stuns him into momentary silence. ]

I promised I'd find you. [ It's said as though it's inconceivable that he wouldn't have come, wouldn't have kept his word, but that certainty is quickly giving way to anxiety as he gets a proper look at Tech. ] What can I do? [ Then, realising: ] You're freezing...

[ If the way he's huddling in a blanket is any indication. Given the ambient temperature, one would think it's obvious how frigid it is, but K isn't affected by the cold the same way anymore. Some "obvious" things require him to rely on observation to figure out. And he can't help feeling mildly self-conscious over how... well... robotic he thinks it makes him seem, but he doesn't dwell on it. ]

Here— [ Tech's hands are released so K can shrug out of his coat, then he straightens it and pushes the blanket aside temporarily, gently maneuvering Tech to help him pull on the coat instead. It was made to withstand the nuclear winter of his homeworld and its thick faux-shearling collar is good for burrowing into, so it should be perfectly serviceable for keeping the god warm until more blankets can be located. Even better would be a fire, if the apartment has a functional fireplace. These thoughts are shared directly through their connection while K's busy wrapping him up. ]

[twatter]

[ The touch to his hands is a spark of life, a fire lit within him or food for a starving man. It takes only the tiny fraction of touch to chase the worst of the suffering away and Tech Boy clutches to K -- letting out only a soft sound of protest as K draws back briefly to shrug off his jacket and place it around him like a protective barrier from the cold. As soon as he's finished, Tech takes his hands again and shakes his head. ]

There's no fireplace. But it's fine.

[ It's fine. A statement repeated through their connection and better enforced through that connection because its with K's strength that Tech Boy can get stronger and also through it that he gets a sense the blackouts are affecting K the same way. ]

Fuck. Kei. It's getting to you, too? Sit. Let's just take a minute to regroup.

[ The coat is nice, but if K settles next to him -- then Tech Boy doesn't hesitate to move closer and rest against him, tucking against his chest and gliding an arm around his back. Together, they create a closed circuit of energy, enough to give them both a bit more strength than they started with because Tech takes what K puts out and amplifies it to return it to him. And while this process runs in the background, Tech contemplates the cause of these outages. If it was simply a power failure, he wouldn't imagine K would be affected. He was an android designed to survive long after humans. Even if his world was cut off from all power somehow, Tech imagines K would be able to go on.

So is it the magic element that makes this different? The existence of lore? Does it change something about the way they both operate? Tech glances up at K in wonder before he drops his chin back to K's shoulder, fisting the fabric of his shirt. ]

What powers you, K? Is it an internal battery? Or is it more complicated than that? Something your world alone has mastered? Something that would even be beyond the scope of my understanding in my primitive state?

[ Primitive only because he's a couple of decades behind. A couple of decades is usually all Tech's guaranteed before he gets forced to upgrade into the newest model of himself. But as he is now, he wants to understand K and all of his intricacies. Both to have a better picture but also to be able to prevent K from suffering if this place ever has a blackout again.

Or worse yet, if the power here doesn't get restored for a long while. ]

Action-ish

[defenderoftomorrow]

[ Jayce knows that K likes plants, which is why he arranges it so a white bunny wearing a red vest and a beret with two holes for its ears finds him—whether at his house or somewhere else— and delivers him a present.

It's a potted plant of red orchids because that way the flowers will survive for longer than if this was a bouquet. Among the real flowers, there's a handmade crystal rose with a gold stem. There's no note or card on the flowers, but the rose has a really small, easy-to-miss 'T' letter at the base of the stem.

Happy Valentine's day, K. ]

Early March, Action (though doing prose)

[scienceofthearcane]

It was unusual that K would not be at the lab for a few days. But he did have his own life and kept his own schedule, though it was still noticeable. After a week of K not coming to the lab, Viktor was officially concerned. Concerned enough that he had gone to K's apartment to find out what was going on. He had concerns most important that K had somehow gotten hurt and since he was so concerned about anyone else being even minorly inconvenienced, maybe he hadn't told anyone else about it?

Outside K's apartment, Viktor knocked a bit more insistently than he usually would if he wasn't already concerned something had happened to K.

[obeir]

As much as K misses being at the lab-forge and misses the company he kept there most of all, he thought it best to give Jayce some space for a while, providing him a chance to get more settled in with Mel — who's living with Jayce, as far as K knows. His own relationship with Jayce is so new that he's still figuring out where he fits, what he's allowed to want, what's expected of him, and he characteristically worries about everything.

All of which is why he's looking a bit worn around the edges when he answers the door, though the sight of Viktor surprises a smile from him that brightens his expression.

"Viktor, it's good to see you," he greets his friend warmly as he steps back, opening the door wider in invitation and gesturing Viktor inside. "Please, come in. What can I do for you?"

[scienceofthearcane]

K didn't look injured. But Viktor was fully aware that some of the most painful injuries had nothing to do with the body. He did go inside and couldn't help but notice how similar K's apartment was to Jsyce's. Though the latter was more colorful.

Something that Jayce's apartment lacked, however, was the windowed area filled with all manner of potted plants. It was likely noticeable that Viktor seemed to gravitate toward them. He did pause to look K in the eye.

"You've not been at the lab for several days. I missed seeing little signs of your presence from the projects you've been doing to the little casio keyboard you always have with you."

Viktor shrugged a bit.

"I realize you are perfectly capable of looking after yourself but I still felt compelled to check on you."

Text | Un: Talis

[defenderoftomorrow]

Ey handsome,

Now that the trial is over and things are back to normal, would you like to celebrate our one-month bond anniversary? It's not the exact date, because of the mess with the trials, but I thought it could be nice to do something special. If you want.

text | un: K

[obeir]

You're so sweet. I'd love to. Do you have something in mind?

There's a lot of empty shelves at my place. I've been thinking about displaying interesting looking minerals from around Folkmore, and I hear you're something of an expert. How about a rock-hunting date as part of our celebration?

🎂

[defenderoftomorrow]

[ The morning of K's 'birthday', Jayce brings him breakfast in bed. He created it with his spoons rather than cooking it himself to make sure all the food is edible and tastes good.

He's also brought a couple of presents for K, both wrapped in colorful but elegant paper. One of them is a navy three piece suit with a matching blue tie. The other is a new guitar that Jayce built himself and that has some runes engraved on the headstock and neck. ]

Awwww Jayce is so sweet 💕

[obeir]

[ Initially K wonders what the special occasion might be to warrant breakfast in bed, if indeed it's a special occasion at all because sweet gestures "just because" tend to simply be the norm with Jayce. Once he realises that not only did Jayce remember the day of his creation, but feels it's something worth celebrating, he's deeply touched and expresses his gratitude by pulling Jayce back down into bed again and thanking him inbetween kisses.

Later once they've untangled themselves the surprises continue. K's delighted by the thoughtful gifts, asking Jayce if he might be willing to give guitar lessons while he admires the beautifully crafted instrument, also asking with interest about the runes, and oohing and aahing over the pretty ornamentation. He can appreciate the work that goes into creating instruments. The guitar feels extra special to him — the first he's ever had. It seems fitting. He's experienced so many firsts with Jayce, this will be another.

The suit is met with a punny quip about Jayce wanting to see him in his birthday suit because K can't help himself, as well as a request for Jayce to get fancied up and go out with him on a date later so he can wear it.

All in all, a wonderfully perfect, memorable birthday he'll always cherish thanks to Jayce. ♥️ ]

Talk about the pendant

[scienceofthearcane]

Viktor had already spoken to Tech about it but Tech brought up a good point about K needing to be aware of what it was meant to do. So while it was uncommon for him to seek K out specifically, he had come to the others apartment with that goal in mind. For the moment he just knocked on the door.

excited! \o/

[obeir]

The Familiar bond serves as a sort of advanced warning system: K knows exactly who's approaching his apartment long before Viktor announces his presence. It's why the muffled refrains of guitar music from within have already ceased by the time he's knocking, and it's only a moment later that K's opening the door for him and gesturing for him to come inside.

"Always a pleasure to see you, Viktor," K greets him with a smile, and the emotions infusing their bond make it equally clear Viktor's always welcome here. But K also knows he isn't usually the sort to make social calls just because; he may be here for a specific reason. "What can I do for you?"

He also has something he'd like to discuss, a proposal for him to perhaps become more of a partner to Viktor with his hydroponic garden project and help out more, and he thinks he may finally be ready to broach the subject without completely falling apart emotionally. Jayce's disappearance has been hard for him. Hard for them both, he's sure — it's part of why he wants to do more for Viktor, if he can, whether that's helping with his scientific pursuits or providing support in any other ways he might need.

Touch and a Familiar bond

[scienceofthearcane]

Viktor had been at the garden cleaning up more of the damage. They were making progress at least. Only a little bit left to do, and that mostly had to be someone who was capable of both flight and not being bothered by sunlight. Since Viktor could do neither he had been working in the battery room. And since that was more technology than biology, he had asked for K's help.

It had been a long day, but Viktor was at least marginally encouraged by the fact that if he slept in K's arms he would not have a nightmare. Right now he pulled off his old threadbare work vest over his head. Since he had been the one to suggest it, he unbuttoned his shirt next, then took off his shoes after he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I don't know where Adele has disappeared too but she usually sleeps on my pillow."

[obeir]

Having showered before changing for bed, K's wearing a pair of loose fitting sleep pants, a sleeveless undershirt, and socks when he pauses in the doorway. He's watching Viktor undress. Openly, at least until he lowers his eyes with a shy smile and steps into the room. The bed dips slightly when he sits on the other side of it.

"Should I look for her?" he asks with a glance toward the unoccupied pillows. It isn't long before his eyes are drawn back to Viktor. After a moment he reaches out to gently pull at Viktor's shirt from behind, a silent offer to help him take it off. K's own shirt could come next, he just hadn't wanted to wander around the lab apartment half-naked.