Jan 16th - Video - un: monkey

[moonape]

[Now that everyone is awake and not shared dreaming. Have a talking gorilla on the network!]

Uh, hello there. To hopefully get a few things out of the way, yes I can talk, no you're not imagining it. How can I talk? It's complicated.

My name is Winston, nice to um, meet you all?

[He winces with an awkward smile.]

So I've been having a look at the network set up here through the device provided and it's interesting to say the least. A few of my major questions have been answered looking back at things, but gotta ask just in case. Are these Technicians available for a chat or is this on a "them" basis?

Comments

[thelesserevil]

[ Hm. Now what is this one? So far, she has only seen humans here.

Whatever the furry man is, he seems to be used to people not expecting him to be able to speak. She squints a little, he reminds her vaguely of something, like she has heard before of someone or something looking like he does, or studied them in a book. ]

They don't seem like the kind of people who are willing to drop by for a chat. [ But. Also. Fuck tact. ] What are you?

[moonape]

[Honestly Winston is expecting a lot of questions about his person, so it's not a shock when she asks. He does at least appreciate that she answered his question first.]

Unfortunate. I'd think it would be only fair to speak with us considering circumstances. Then again, I can't imagine they care about being fair.

[That pamphlet painted a pretty strong picture of them.]

Oh, well, if we're being technical. I'm a gorilla.

[He's a scientist.]

[thelesserevil]

[ That earns him an amused, somewhat bitter snort and a nod. ]

No, I don't think they would care about being fair if they aren't bothered by kidnapping and murder. Too bad. Kidnappers who like to play fair would make for a nice change of pace. [ She hums a little. ]

And a gorilla... I feel like I have heard that term before. Read it in a bestiary. The book didn't mention they can talk like other people.

[legbreakings]

[ Um.

UMMMMM!!!

Yes, he is gonna need a minute here. Deep breaths, Jiang Cheng, deep breaths. Be calm. ]

Is this a joke?!

[ Well. An attempt at calm was made. ]

[moonape]

[It's not that he didn't expect this kind of reaction, but he'd hoped to avoid it. Oh boy.]

No, this is not a joke. I understand if you're shocked, but I can promise I'm on your side.

[He's a good boy human friend. Pinky swear.]

[legbreakings]

[ A blink, a scowl, then he puffs his cheeks up in what looks suspiciously like a very upset pout. ]

I'm not shocked. I'm outraged. And I never said anything about which side you are on! That's not the problem. It's not like you're a tiger and likely to try and eat me.

voice. @r.o.s.i.e.

[r_o_s_i_e]

[ Oh, that's interesting! R.O.S.I.E. is glad to see some off-brand individuals here; while she does adore humans, of course, she'd like to learn about more species in the multiverse. ]

Hello, Winston! It's nice to meet you too.

The Technicians seem to talk to us on their own terms, mostly. So far there's only been one official instance of corresponding with them in my time here.

[moonape]

[Oh good, someone not surprised at his everything. Whew.]

Oh, thank you, it's nice to meet you too.

Hmm... so everything is on their terms. That definitely doesn't make things easy. It looks like this network goes back months. How long has this been going on?

[r_o_s_i_e]

[ Trust her, she's seen stranger. And honestly? She almost misses seeing stranger species occassionally. ]

Unfortunately, yes, that seems to be the case thus far.

From browsing the available data, it appears that individuals first started appearing approximately six months ago.

video; un: astromech

[droide]

I would also like to talk to these Technicians. But first, I have a much more important question.

Why wouldn't you be able to talk?

[moonape]

[Oh! An... omnic? Of some sort. He's never seen this model before... could be some private custom model?]

Hm? Oh well, primates and most animals on Earth aren't able to communicate with spoken word like humans or omnics can. Some can mimic it, but my kind aren't one of them.

I was raised in a control group on a moon colony. We under went genetic therapy and testing and long story short, I can talk and have advanced intelligence because of it.

[Among other things. Gorillas are already strong, but he's definitely a big strong boy.]

[droide]

A few follow up observations, if I might...

First of all, "Earth" is the stupidest name for a planetary system that I have ever heard. You might as well call your planet "Dirt," or "Big Spinning Rock."

Secondly, do you mean to tell me you are the product of a genetic experiment on an otherwise non-sentient species of animal? That's-- infuriating! I wish I could say I was surprised, but after seeing the way organics treat droids, nothing surprises me anymore. They weren't satisfied ignoring the sentience they instilled into inorganic beings, made to do their dirty work, they had to go on and give sentience to animals as well!!

[ There's a brief, mechanical sound, almost like an exhale. ]

Sorry. Your sentience isn't your fault. But if the organics who created you are anything like the organics who created my kind, then I'm willing to bet they don't treat you as an equal, do they?

video; @sadi

[singularwidower]

Every so often the Technicians open a line of communication. For something direct, you might have to wait, I believe. Off the top of my head, I don't recall any other method.

[Daemon considers, looking politely baffled. He is more than familiar with the kindred that lived in the Shadow Realm, but not with this one's kind.]

Forgive me, but I must admit that I never expected there to be landen kindred. Unless you are indeed kindred, but a type that does not only speak mind to mind?

[moonape]

That does seem to be the consensus.

[Winston sighs, but he's just got here. Can't give up yet!]

... I'm uh... can't say I've ever heard of that, sorry. I may be a scientist, but we still haven't figured out telepathy, haha.

[singularwidower]

At least we're consistent. [It's a small, flippant comment that badly hides the bitterness. He drops his chin to his fist as he observes Winston.] Daemon Sadi. Pleasure to meet you, Lord Winston.

video | @lan.wangji

[taciturnly]

( the username is kind of a dead giveaway, but lan wangji has seen much stranger, and a talking ape is almost banal at this point. for all he knows, a talking human could be just as odd for him. it’s a detail that’s easily overlooked here, head politely inclined as lan wangji offers his greetings. )

Winston. Well met. You may call me Wangji. ( he doesn’t smile, poised and solemn, though there’s a certain hint of warmth in his gaze, however wintry he may seem. ) As for the Technicians… Their whims, our challenges. Steer clear of them.

[moonape]

[Lucky for everyone he is very familiar with humans. Especially the talking kind!]

Ah, thank you, Wangji. I can't say I'm looking forward to these whims of theirs, but if we all work together I'm sure we can get through it. I'll do whatever I can to help.

[taciturnly]

( okay but what about the barely talking kind. )

Mn. Should you require assistance in your endeavors, I will gladly oblige.

[Video, @atlas]

[theprezident]

[ That sure is a talking ... monkey? Are monkeys this big? Is he big, or does he just look it? What's going on? ]

Definitely a 'them' basis. Uhm. Sorry, I'm just actually really interested in how you can talk.

[moonape]

[Ahem. Gorilla.]

No worries, after poking around on the network for a bit I had a feeling I'd uh, be a bit of an oddity for you folks.

I was raised as part of a experiment to see how living long-term on the moon would effect beings. We, a group of primates, were genetically altered and some took to it better than others.

Not to brag but I was quite the student. Ehem, but um, yes, through that I learned to speak and perceive the world as humans do.

[theprezident]

Uhhh. How can a moon make monkeys talk? Or was that part some kind of human interference thing?

video; un: lan.sizhui

[deferences]

[although everything within the boy says to immediately start shouting about a talking gorilla, sizhui manages mostly keeping himself under control, the blatant mixture of excitement and half-confusion on his face aside. because for one: amazing, but for two: how in the world?

he clears his throat to cover a laugh, grinning with enthusiasm afterward.] ‘It's complicated’ seems like an appropriate answer for this place.

Welcome, Winston, to... wherever here is? I'm not sure we've figured out a name yet— but it's nice to meet you, too!

[moving on to more important things at hand, though.] As for the Technicians, it seems more like an ‘on their terms’ business, but they've been known to listen from time to time.

Re: video; un: lan.sizhui

[moonape]

Haha, I figured most people wouldn't want to sit through an entire explanation. You can talk, I can talk, thankfully we can understand one another.

[Winston observes the username that this young man has and he's taking a wild guess he's Chinese by the name. Look he's grown up around a lot of different languages and people. He'll clear his throat.]

I don't want to be rude, but is it Sizhui? Or do you prefer Lan Sizhui? Or am I way off base and that's something the Technicians gave you cause uh, yeah. We won't get into my username at the moment.

[Monkey. R U D E.]

video; un @hapless

[useinsouciant]

[Cas's eyes go a little wide in surprise at the video]

I... am sober. Mostly. Which means you. Are a gorilla.

[moonape]

Well, I can't vouch for your sobriety, but you are in fact correct.

I am. A gorilla.