IC Inbox, Brave New World

[rainsrespite]

For all the little things!

Comments

[unbalancedlove]

[Cooking can be learned, do not despair! Or, in this case, do not bully a too honest Politoed.]

Looks like it! Even if it's a machine it's also a pokemon after all, right?

[With warm hands Kotori proceeds to pet the friendly Porygon's head, that cold surface expected from a machine. The contact is certainly different from any other pokemon she has ever touched yet that by itself makes this an special occasion.]

Mh? Yes, I can talk to pokemon.

[rainsrespite]

It is.

[Kotori will find that as she touches Porygon, it warms up. Renraku beeps and whirs.]

Could I ask you to translate a couple questions for me? I feel like there's a few things I need to ask, and...well...y'know...I can't.

[unbalancedlove]

[ The fact that Renraku warms up under her touch is the little push the girl needed to let her careful contact become a more eager petting just like she would do to any pokemon. It's enjoying it so there is no need to hold back, Kotori wouldn't harm it in any case.

The brunette girl's smile widens at Yuuna's request and she nods eagerly. Being able to help others makes her happy, small as it is. ]

No problem at all!

[rainsrespite]

[Renraku clicks again, moving it's head back and forth, nuzzling like any other Pokemon. The fact that it, unbeknownst to either of them, is a man-made life form doesn't seem to change the fact that it likes attention and companionship as much as any other Pokemon. Yuuna reaches down and scritches it's back too.]

I guess the first thing I'd like to know is if it has a gender, or a gender preference? I don't want to call it an it...that sounds a little derogatory.

[unbalancedlove]

[ Isn't it nice, Renraku? you are getting lots of love today.
Kotori nods at Yuuna's preference, sharing her opinion on it being a bit belittling, and directs her words towards the pokemon. ]

Renraku, this may be a weird question but do you prefer being called 'she' or 'he'?

[ An advantage of being an enlightened is that she doesn't need to shift to communicate with it. ]

[rainsrespite]

[It totally agrees. Attention is the best.]

It is not a strange question. It is a human question.

[The Pokemon speaks in a drone, not devoid of inflection, but not exactly natural.]

But if I must have a gender, it would be male. The program running my core functions is named for a male human.

[unbalancedlove]

[ An human question, eh? that's a very honest way to put it. Maybe Yuuna asked it many times but language barriers stopped the reply from being understood. ]

I see, I see. It's not really necessary for you to have a gender but your trainer feels is wrong to call you 'it'. You are a pokemon before a machine in our, well, human eyes.

[ But if he really prefers to be called 'it' she'll communicate such to Yuuna all the same. ]

[rainsrespite]

[Lying, if she asked it, would be a human thing as well.]

Referring to me as a He is perfectly acceptable, Kotori Minami. It is the most appropriate terminology, and while I lack a true gender, it is the core of my persona.

[unbalancedlove]

[ Maybe Kotori is more Swablu than human because when it comes to lying it's more of a challenge than a natural skill. ]

Understood! I'll let Yuuna know. Ah, and 'Kotori' alone is fine, really.

[ Have some extra petting for being honest. ]

Renraku says that he'd prefer to be treated as male! His core personality was programmed like that.

[rainsrespite]

[Renraku chirps, happy to receive pettings.]

Is that so? Alright. Zedd's kinda the same way, but I didn't want to assume.

[Porygon's head bobs, acknowledging that he appreciates her asking.]

I guess the next thing, he keeps asking about this Upgrade software. But the guy I talked to about him before was kinda unsure what he meant. What is it? Does Renraku know?

[unbalancedlove]

It's better to make sure about these matters, yes.

[ And the Porygon seems to prefer being asked too so this path keeps everyone happy. At Yuuna's next request Kotori's eyes widen a bit in curiosity, intrigued by this mystery too. ]

Oooh... I'll ask him!

Renraku, what do you know about that 'Upgrade software'? do you know where it is?

[rainsrespite]

It is a disc, to put into my disc drive. I am not sure where to locate one, however. But it should say Porygon Up-Grade on it.

[He really sounds a little confused by it himself.]

[unbalancedlove]

[ Indeed, his confused tone says that he only knows and would rather not press him uselessly for more information on the disk and it's location however there is something she can't help but inquire on our of sheer curiosity. ]

I see... do you know what it does?

[rainsrespite]

I need it to evolve. It will change my core coding to make me stronger.

[OF course?]

[unbalancedlove]

[ Thar's what it sounded like the Porygon upgrade would do but you never know, hey. Kotori nods eagerly. ]

So that's why you want it, got it.

[ And so she turns around to face Yuuna. ]

He needs it to evolve! it should say 'Porygon Up-Grade' on it and he... doesn't know where it is.. but he really wants to become stronger.

[rainsrespite]

[Renraku again nods his thanks.]

Ah. Well, I guess...I should ask Ezreal or Banzu about it then.

[Another nod.]

One more question then, if you don't mind. Could you ask him why he wants to become stronger?

[unbalancedlove]

[ Ezreal? how peculiar, she feels like she heard that name before... oh well, it'll come back to her eventually. ]

It's probably well hidden, right? good luck.

[ Kotori gives Yuuna a victory sign with her right hand this time instead of nodding and focuses on Renraku once again. ]

Yuuna wants to know why do you want to become stronger.

[rainsrespite]

I want to better be able to protect my new home. I also want more access to my other systems, and I believe that evolution would make my combat subroutines more useful to my trainer, Union, and my new human allies.

[It's an honest answer. There's no denying that. He seems almost eager, even.]

[unbalancedlove]

[ In human terms that would mean 'I want to become stronger to protect my friends and my trainer', wouldn't it? even if Renraku's choice of words make his feelings sound more complex or mechanical there is no way that he can hide that eagerness and determination implicit in his voice. Those are his honest desires. ]

Renraku... you really love Yuuna and Union, don't you?

[rainsrespite]

[Hope you are prepared for a long answer.]

Yuuna took me out of an abandoned factory. She brought me out into the light again, and she gave me a purpose. Everything I have downloaded from the Warp Band on her shows that she is a good person with humanity and Pokemon's interests at heart. She may seem wild to you, but she is a person who is good for the world.

I am programmed to help people and Pokemon coexist together as peacefully as possible. Yuuna and Union are both things that have proven to be in the best interests of accomplishing that. I am a machine, I am bound to my programming, but you could say that yes, I do love my trainer and my new home.

1/2

[unbalancedlove]

[ The young bird listens patiently to the machine's careful answer, the records of it's short yet continuing existence by Yuuna's side. Even if stating the facts may seem cold at first sight the warmth of life lays inside that steel exterior of his.
By the time Renraku is done narrating Kotori completely certain that he does love his trainer. ]

[unbalancedlove]

[ And that's why when she turns in Yuuna's direction to explain what the pokemon told her the shifter's eyes almost sparkle, charmed by the situation oh so easily. ]

Renraku loves you a lot!

[ Hey, that's not what she asked. ]

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna blinks. First at the girl, and then at the Porygon. She's smiling but confused.]

Wait, huh?

[unbalancedlove]

[ Airheads, my friend. ]

He wants to become stronger to protect peace, Union, and you. He says you gave him a purpose.

[ She is still excited about this, Renraku's desires are so noble! ]

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna gives the crystal duck a look before she nods slowly, pulling him tight up against her chest.]

Well, you can tell him I love him too. And I'm glad he's got my back. He's a good addition to the team.

[It never crosses her mind that a machine feeling love is odd.]