obeir | Deerington Inbox

[ ... Wow, Martin. Buddy. You need better friends. ]

So your friend has the ability to compel people to give him information whether or not they consent to it.

Now I understand the reaction.

I can't speak with complete authority on what this AI has personally experienced, but it's safe to assume that such a violation was more deeply upsetting to her than you can fully understand. Beings like us were designed to serve humans. And while I'm still subject to that programming, I don't believe this AI is. She has developed free will and a sense of autonomy. She's her own person. Your friend essentially took that away from her, if he used his ability against her. It may be hard to see it this way from your perspective, but I believe the fact she let him live was an act of mercy.

If you approach her in good faith, I don't think she'll be unreasonable. But I strongly urge you to choose your words very carefully and be mindful of her feelings. That specific type of violation must have been terrible for her to experience, if that is what happened. Her name is Arid; her network handle is the same.

I don't mind contacting her on your behalf if you'd like me to. Let me know. And if you speak with her yourself, I'd like to know how it goes.

[ Because he'll be checking on Arid either way. Humans continue to be the worst!!! (Well, Martin isn't so bad. At least he's willing to make amends with Arid. That counts for a lot.)

Sent a few moments afterward, as something occurs to K: ]

Do you possess similar abilities?

[Martin reads K's message a few times, mulling it over, trying to think of how to best respond. First things first.]

No. As far as I'm aware, he's the only person in our world with the particular abilities he does have. There's someone else I know with similar, but different abilities.

You're right that it's difficult for me to understand exactly what she went through, but what he can do to other humans is extremely traumatic, as well. I've seen what he did to someone in our world and it was not okay. Just like this was not okay. On any level. It was a violation, full stop. And while it might be okay for demonstrably evil people, I don't expect he had that kind of full awareness of Arid or her motivations.

I'll be keeping a closer eye on him from now on, like I said. I can't promise I'll be able to stop it happening again--that's on him as much as me--but I will do my absolute best. Unfortunately, due to things that have been done to him against his will, he is forced to feed on information. It's as much a physical need as an addiction. He can get information by speaking to people or by getting written accounts and recording them. Written is perfectly safe. Verbal is what happened to Ms. Arid.

I'll speak with her and let you know how it goes. Thank you. And I'm sorry again this happened to someone you know.

[A little later, Martin contacts K again.]

I spoke with Arid and I think it went about as well as it could have done. She wants to have Jon apologize in-person. I'm going to speak with him and see what he wants to do. We'll set up a meeting with her if he decides he wants to try.

I think she's probably hurting a lot more than she'd let on to me. I just hope this can go well. I appreciate your help again, KD6-3.7.

Thank you for informing me. I also hope the meeting goes well, if your friend agrees to it. If there's anything else I can do to help, let me know.

[ And he's just going to leave out the part about possibly being present at the meeting himself. He's still thinking on Arid's offer. The 'deception' seems unnecessary — at least where Martin's concerned — but if it's the only way Arid will let him accompany her...

But there's something else that's been nagging at him; whether or not Martin's doing all this of his own volition. ]

You mentioned having experienced your friend's abilities first hand. Were you aware of being under his compulsion as it was happening, or only afterward?

Both. Looking back on it and knowing what I do now, what we both know, I can see how it was in effect at a few points. But I didn't realize it at the time. I don't think Jon did, either. I can tell most of the time these days.

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tmw you have to make an icon specifically for one reply

yes, good, peeerrrrrfect

after the convo with Arid

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