PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
| I know how to talk to people, I swear! |
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Post by Lelianna Varna on Sept 6, 2017 0:09:08 GMT
852 wordsPathos
Best first impressions always ► "Okay guys..." Lelianna started with a huff as she rubbed her face. "I get that you were trying to help me out when I tripped. Which, okay, I can understand. I can even appreciate it!" The magi said with a small smile towards the nearby tree. However it soon faded back down to a frown. "However, this is not exactly what comes to mind when I think of help!" Cue her hands being gestured towards the branch completely wrapped around her foot. Did Lelianna mention that she had to gesture up towards her entrapped foot?
Yeah; Lelianna was currently hanging a few feet above the ground via her ankle.
"I am not a piñata!" The druid protested, huffing once more as she crossed her arms over her chest. However, it was hard to take the girl seriously at all when her bright red hair was hanging straight down. That and when she was just dangling there like some peculiar piece of fruit. She wasn't alone either; Stewart had come along with her on her trip to Haven this time. She needed to gather a few more seeds (aka: basically buy every bit of seed the town had) for her garden. Hopefully they had something new today! Although maybe that didn't matter so much seeing as she was currently chilling in the air with a tiny little sloth strapped to her back like a backpack. Lelianna could feel the little guy shifting around with his grip. Poor thing likely had one heck of an experience when they suddenly got into this situation.
During her walk over, she'd tripped on a rock. In a blind panic, Arecia had responded to her burst of energy. As it extended a helping branch the magi had found herself not kissing the ground. Instead, she found herself suddenly flipped over into the air and suspended up. Almost like a deer with its hoof caught by rope (Oh now this was even more embarrassing). Worst of all was that poor little Stewart had to deal with the whiplash and vertigo too. And from what Lelianna could feel, he wasn't taking to it well. Those little claws around her shoulders and waist were beginning to slip. With eyes widening the magi uncrossed her arms. Just in time too! The small sloth abruptly slid off her clothes and started to plummet downward. A fall from this height would really hurt! Fortunately Lelianna was able to react fast enough to just barely grab the little guy by his arms. Though now without her little sloth backpack holding it in place, her shirt started to slide down and reveal her torso. Plus get in her face awkwardly. For now she was more preoccupied with her animal buddy.
"Stewie! Oh jeez, careful little guy!" The hermit said with concern in her voice. Stewart- who had managed to flip his way rightside-up from his mini tumble- stared up at the druid with his typical dopey smile. At least one of them was staying relatively happy through all this. With a begrudging little smile Lelianna gathered him back up into her arms. Or, er, well... as well as she could in this state. He was still kinda above (below?) her head and all tangled up in her hair and shirt now. At the very least she kept a grip on him so he wouldn't fall and break something. Once that was established, she twisted her head to try and get her shirt out of her face. For the love of- why did this happen?
"Come on guys! Let me down!" They knew she was okay now! Arecia's amusement registered clearly in her head. Besides that, she could hear the plants' voices! Meaning she could hear the fact they were laughing at this point! Faint whispering chuckles that registered in the back of her mind as she hung there hopelessly. "Now you're just being mean! I don't want to drop Stewie! And I've got antlers and gems now; if I land on him it's gonna hurt!" Now that was a scenario the magi really didn't want to have to deal with. She was close to Haven, true. Still, Lelianna didn't want to find out how fast she could run to the temple to heal her friend from being impaled by the antlers and crown of crystals atop her head.
"Plus I mean, what if someone else comes along? I already have a really rough time with first impressions; you know that you big old bark-" As if on cue a faint noise came to Lelianna's ears. Immediately green eyes went wide. She whipped her head around. Which in turn caused her to a) spin as she hung from her branchy rope and b) get a face-full of shirt again. "Gah! Stupid... shirt!" Fully struggling now, the magi probably never so closely resembled her deer aspect as she did in that moment. But eventually she managed to blow and bite down on her shirt so she could see...
A person.
Oh come on!
".........uhhhhhh, hhewwoh?" The druid mumbled out with a mouth full of fabric and a steadily growing blush.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 6, 2017 7:11:54 GMT
Greeting the magi were the azure blue eyes of a small woman in a business-like overcoat; she stood there for a moment to register what lay -- or rather, hanged -- before her. At a glance, the creature was humanoid with many features distinct in this regard; flowing hair, eyebrows, and a belly button. What made the girl tilt her head in confusion was that garbled mess of a greeting; it didn't sound all that human. Internally, her language recognition software analyzed the word 'hhewwoh' several thousand times within the span of a hectopascal, and the closest word that her systems could piece together from that gibberish was 'hallo'. While the android considered that the hanging woman's speech may have been obfuscated by the fabric over her mouth, or she may have decided to speak a second language in the presence of an outsider.
Slowly, she raised a hand and waved, "Hallo, you appear to be in trouble." She observed a length of wood that grasped the woman by her ankle, "I am not sure how you managed to get into this situation." Everything about this situation was nonsensical; there wasn't a trap in sight, and trees couldn't just grab people off the ground -- none that she knew of anyway.
At the moment, there was the matter of the potential language barrier between android and forest dweller, "I could hear a woman's voice -- yours, I assume." The android explained as she approached the woman and stood a respectable distance from her, "In order to facilitate unobstructed communication, I'll be removing your shirt," there was a pause, "...from your mouth," she added, and her eyes darted away from the hanging woman briefly. "Your preoccupation with that furry animal is hindering your ability to help yourself, so allow me to help you," She slowly reached out and grabbed a length of shirt covering the woman's mouth, then lifted it up and away. Inches separated the both of them now, "We are now in an ideal communication environment!" She chirped, smiling at the person she'd assisted. "My name is Pathos, can you tell me yours, as well as the name of the thing on your body?"
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
| I know how to talk to people, I swear! |
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Post by Lelianna Varna on Sept 6, 2017 16:39:14 GMT
469 wordsPathos
One sweet little derp ► Don't worry Pathos; neither did Lelianna. But despite that, she seemed to get in a lot of situations similar to this one. At least she was fully dressed this time and didn't have a gun pointed her way. That and the woman before her seemed nice. If not baffled.
Not that the hermit could blame her.
As she approached, Lelianna felt herself grow hopeful. Maybe this woman would help her!
"I'll be removing your shirt."
...
"...from your mouth."
Oh thank Gods.
The minor tension in the druid's body went away when Pathos finished her sentence. While removing her shirt probably would have helped Lelianna speak, the hermit wasn't so sure she would've wanted to be, ah... hanging there for anyone to see. I mean, the druid was dense but not that dense. And it would've been a bit uncomfortable to be undressed (though with presumably good intentions) by a complete stranger. Fortunately that didn't seem to be the case! As the woman approached she helped lift the shirt away so it wouldn't be all over Lelianna's face. Finally.
"Thank you." Was the first thing the redhead said. Now then, to explain herself. "I'm, ah, Lelianna! And this here is Stewart." She glanced up (down?) at the little sloth cradled in her arms. The fuzzy little guy, on his part, now slowly turned his head towards their apparent savior for a moment. But after a second or two he went back to looking at Lelianna. A slow claw reached up to boop her on the nose, causing it to scrunch. "Hey! Don't you take advantage of this!" The magi protested, though she was fighting off a smile despite herself. But oh yeah, they had company.
"But if you mean, ah... this thing," With that she looked down (up?) at the branch curled around her leg, "Then it's... complicated. Sort of. See the tree was trying to 'help' me after I had tripped but it got a little carried away." A sharp look was aimed over at the offending tree. Which did a marvelous job of sitting there looking like an innocent tree. "Now it's just having a laugh at my expense. Again, I might add!" She called out. But then she realized that; oh yeah, most people weren't used to her talking with trees. Cue more blushing and a new wreath of rosy flowers in her hair. "Uhhh... Y-Yeah. Ah, could you, ah... help us down? Or at least hold Stewie so I can try to untangle myself? He's nice, I swear! Though he might, ah, try to climb on your head." Already he was growing curious about this other limb helping keep Lelianna's shirt out of the way. Tiny claws were gradually extending out to grab onto the android's arm.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 6, 2017 18:06:33 GMT
In all of Pathos's existence, she had never known trees to be sentient, nor prone to dangling women by their ankles. The evidence of it was staring at her, however, and so she couldn't say that Lelianna was lying to her. "I can do that," she raised her other hand and scooped Stewart the...whatever he was, into her arms. Immediately, Lelianna's shirt fell back over her face while the android went about situating her temporary cargo atop her shoulders. Raising her companion's shirt back up wasn't on this robot's to-do list; she approached the offending tree described by her dangling friend and appraised it while Stewart began to shift and move about on her shoulders.
While Lelianna went about freeing herself, Pathos went about it in her own way.
A mechanical hand was brought to rest on the tree's trunk, it definitely looked like any old tree. "Could I ask that you relinquish the hold you have on Lelianna, tree?" She stood there for a while, awaiting some sort of response...which predictably never came, given that trees couldn't talk. At least...not to Pathos's knowledge. "If you do not, I'm afraid I will have to break your branch. Inverted suspension leads to an increased flow of blood to the head, which can result in death. You are placing this woman's life in jeopardy, and thus it is my duty to stop you," the android's tone was undeniably stern, yet spoken softly, calmly.
Furry arms slowly descended from the top of Pathos's vision. It seemed she had a new hat. "Curious."
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
| I know how to talk to people, I swear! |
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Post by Lelianna Varna on Sept 6, 2017 21:11:14 GMT
734 wordsPathos
Teamwork! Sort of! ► Thank goodness. Okay, time to try freeing herself.
As she handed Stewart off, her shirt fell back into her face. Of course it did. Luckily now she had her arms free to push it out of the way. While Pathos went about her own way, Lelianna looked down (up?) at the branch around her leg. This was going to be weird but... well the situation was already weird in the first place, wasn't it? So with only a second of thought, Lelianna strained to pull herself up. It was... probably odd looking since she had to basically use herself to yank herself... upwards... Yeah that was a hard one to explain. The good thing was the druid was no slouch. Maybe not as scarily strong as a certain cyborg she knew, but strong enough given her days of wrestling bears.
Eventually she managed to yank herself upright while holding onto the branch. Though it wavered she knew it was strong enough to hold her. it had snatched her up, after all. Curiously though Pathos was... actually trying to communicate with the wooden sentinel. Huh. Never thought anyone else would do that. Blinking in surprise, Lelianna paused in her maneuvering to watch for a bit. Funnily enough she could actually feel and hear Arecia's response to someone else scolding it for a change. Amusement registered in the back of Lelianna's mind. There was the faint creaking she'd learned to associate with the forest's laughter.
Good to know she wasn't the only one Arecia got a kick out of.
But right, right; back to freeing herself. Her arms were starting to get tired, after all. With a free hand (the other clinging firmly onto the branch) Lelianna unraveled the branch from around her. It didn't take too horribly long, and soon enough she was able to safely drop herself back down onto the ground. Well... "safely" but perhaps not "gracefully." She did end up on her butt after all. "Oof! sonuva-" The magi mumbled to herself under her breath as she brought herself back to her feet. Ow. Yeah, that was going to ache for a while. As she brushed off her injured rear, she turned her attention back to her would-be-savior. Or at least Stewart's savior, if we were getting technical. Ah yes, the little fuzzbutt had already made himself comfortable atop the other woman's head. Lelianna rolled her eyes but found herself smiling again.
"Stewart, just because you can't sit on my head doesn't mean you should go around being a hat for everyone else we meet! Some people don't like their hair messed up." The magi scolded as she approached. The sloth, on his part, simply glanced over at her. He seemed quite content where he was. Little bugger. But how's about we be nice, Leli?
"Thanks for taking him. I didn't want to drop him from that height. Or worse: fall on him. I've got, ah... I've got a pointy end, pretty much." It would only take a glance at the sharp antlers and gem spires in her hair to confirm that. Without knowing it, Lelianna basically had a potentially lethal headbutt. "I can take him back now, if you want. Though there's not a doubt in my mind he'd stay like that for a while." The hermit pointed out. Stewart certainly wasn't showing any signs of moving himself now that he'd gotten his perch. But if she wanted to return him, Lelianna would gladly take him.
"Oh, and, ah... thanks for trying to talk with the tree." A sentence which definitely didn't sound strange. No sir. "No one else has really ever done that before. Well, except for Caroline since she already knows Arecia's..." The magi frowned. Why was she trying to explain this again? It always managed to sound odd. No going back now, she supposed. "Um... So far I'm the only one I know who can actually, ah, hear what the plants are saying. Though it did hear you. It just can't... talk back. Or, ah, at least not in the normal way? Like how people talk? With mouths and stuff?" Yes, Lelianna, with mouths and stuff. "...Thanks." She finished off lamely before she made anything worse.
Quick, a different subject! "Are you from, ah, Haven though?" Was the first thing to the hermit's mind. They were nearby, after all.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 6, 2017 23:27:01 GMT
Pathos took the tumble of Lelianna as a sign that her words had gotten through to the unruly tree. "Thank you," she patted the tree's bark, hopefully, that would convey gratitude well enough. "Are you okay?" she asked, but it turned out that her concern was unnecessary. Her redheaded friend was already to her feet, albeit with a grimace from her bruised butt.
Lelianna's explanations were met with attentive silence, though Pathos's widened eyes betrayed her interest in the magi's floral communication abilities. "I think I understand. The trees speak in their own way beyond the scope of what human beings can hear. Androids are similar, in a way; we can communicate by linking together, much like a network..." The android's gaze fell to the tree again, "One tree of many in their own 'network'. Fascinating."
Stewart's playfulness brought some of Patho's attention back to his friend's prior scolding. "It's okay, I don't mind allowing your friend to rest here," Pathos's eyes drew upwards as she felt tiny claws run through her artificial hair. "It may be best if I hold onto him for a while longer. Disorientation poses the risk that you may fall over," she explained, hoping that Lelianna would buy this excuse to allow her to experience what it's like to have an animal hat just a little longer. Would he react differently to an android? Just what was he, anyway?
Then another question hit; Pathos registered some nervousness in Lelianna's tone, and she feared that she might be coming off as wooden and unapproachable. "I...am. Haven is my home, where I was manufactured," she spoke hesitantly as if she had some trouble believing herself. Pathos didn't have the faintest idea why. Haven was her home. At least, that's what she remembered it to be. "I live with a man known as Elijah, whom I assist."
"Can you tell me more about your mutations?" Pathos suddenly blurted out, approaching Lelianna's personal space without warning. "I noticed that the plants you wear changed colors. Why is that?" the android then leaned to the side to get a better look at the woman's flowers. Stewart lazily extended a claw forward to brush alongside one of them.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
| I know how to talk to people, I swear! |
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Post by Lelianna Varna on Sept 7, 2017 1:27:30 GMT
609 wordsPathos
Ever-changing color hair flowers ► Lelianna had to blink. 1) This person was an android? 2) She actually understood what Lelianna was going on about? Wow. More and more it seemed like she was somehow getting decent at explaining her strangely strong connection to the woods. That or she was just coming across people who were really good at deciphering her gobbledygook. Either way she was thankful for them whenever they showed up. "Yeah! Something like that, actually."
Now back to Stewart, whom the other woman didn't seem to mind too much. Which, honestly, was great in Lelianna's book. The poor little fella didn't really get the chance any more since Lelianna's new features (literally) emerged from nowhere. So as long as Pathos was okay, Lelianna felt fine letting her sloth friend have some fun. For the most part he looked happy. Pathos' hair was apparently adequate in terms of softness. The little critter was even playing around with it somewhat. "Well... if you don't mind it." The druid said with a shrug. Who was she to take away a person's chance to have an animal hat?
Speaking of Pathos, she... seemed a little unsure of her answer. Though Lelianna was a bit curious at the hesitancy and uncertainty she thought she heard, she wasn't going to pry into that. besides, she was a little more fascinated by the fact Pathos said she'd been manufactured in Haven. "Oh! Well I guess I've just never run into you before. Then again I don't go to Haven that much frankly..." this last piece was more muttered to herself. But before she could say anything else on it, suddenly Pathos was really close.
Wowza, yeah she was close all of a sudden. And as such the abrupt invasion of Lelianna's personal space brought with it a rapid change in her blossoms' colors. All of them shifted into different hues of red, and the little gems poking out from her red locks turned ruby in color. "Oh! Uh, well they, uh, c-change color with how I'm feeling." The druid stammeringly explained. A little sensation was felt as Stewart grabbed a clawful of her own hair. Oh boy, now she was sort of stuck in this position. "Um... But yeah. my hair grows flowers. They grow and wilt based on how I'm feeling too. It can be a bit of a pain to comb, especially since these guys grew in too." With a free hand she knocked against one of the crystal spires growing out of her head. A new edition, the pure gems had since gotten longer. They all formed a circle on the top of her head, almost like some sort of crown. Nowadays they were actually becoming more noticeable. "They just sorta... grew in one day. I'm gonna have to figure out some way to... trim them I guess. Is that the right word?" The hermit paused to herself in order to think. Eh, close enough. "But they, ah, change color too. Pretty much the same as my flowers. Just made of crystal instead. So far I think I'm the only one I know with them. But then again I am a hermit so that isn't too surprising." Again the last bit was more to herself than anything. Were there others out there with the same traits as her? According to Cherche they were rare. "I have to be a little more careful about the flowers though. If too many of them grow it attracts bees. Looooots of bees." Some of which would accidentally try going in her ear. No, they were not going to revisit that.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 7, 2017 23:32:04 GMT
Pathos hung onto Lelianna's every word; magi mutations were truly fascinating phenomena, and there was something exciting in learning more about them. "I see," the android's eyes flitted up to Lelianna's flowers, "They are red right now..." Pathos's emotional imitation programs covered the concept of emotions being associated with colours, and right now she could deduce that Lelianna was feeling...bashful. "Oh!" Pathos hastily stepped away from her, "I, I sometimes forget myself. I apologize," she said, looking just as embarrassed as her companion.
The android felt that there were few avenues their conversation could go after that little social faux paus. "I am glad that I could assist you, miss Lelianna," she finally said after a moment of awkward silence. "Did you have a destination you planned to reach? If you need to be on your way, I will not hold you up," Pathos reached up to lift her fuzzy hat up and extend him back to Lelianna. "Should you require assistance, please seek Elijah Kingsley; my master."
Truth be told, Pathos wasn't on any errands herself, and the prospect of speaking with Lelianna further was highly enticing. Yet proper etiquette dictated one to never invite one's self into another person's home. Pathos stood there patiently while she waited for Lelianna to see her off.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
| I know how to talk to people, I swear! |
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Post by Lelianna Varna on Sept 8, 2017 0:20:09 GMT
523 wordsPathos
I'm awesome with words, guys ► Looks like Lelianna wasn't the only one embarrassed now. Though Pathos had been a bit faster than most people were when it came to recognizing what her flowers' color meant. "I-It's ok! I mean, I do that too sometimes." Lelianna said swiftly with a small, hopefully reassuring smile. "I'm not the, ah, best with people due to the whole hermit thing, y'know." But she could talk to people, she swore! It just... happened to turn into mini rambles more than half the time.
When Stewart was lifted and offered to her, Lelianna blinked. The sloth, for his part, gave Lelianna a look. Oh she knew that look. But this time rather than resist, she kinda agreed. "I was only going to Haven to get a few things." Lelianna replied with another smile. "Honestly I wouldn't mind company, if you were headed that way. Besides," She glanced back at the tiny fellow trying to slowly climb his way back towards the android's head. Lelianna had to laugh a little at the sight. Persistent little guy, wasn't he? "I think Stewie's taken quite the shine to you now. I'd feel mean taking him away from his new friend so soon." Why not? Lelianna could use the company if Pathos really was alright with it. Though that made her realize something. "Oh! Unless I'm holding you up though. D-Did you have something you had to do?" If so Lelianna wouldn't want to keep her from it.
But if Pathos said anything otherwise, then the druid would only be too happy to head to Haven with her. She'd also take back Stewart if Pathos really wanted. Otherwise he'd definitely be making a path back towards his earlier perch atop blonde hair. Meanwhile the redhead had to admit she had a few questions. Other than Caroline she really hadn't met any cyborgs. Or Androids for that matter. There was a difference, she thought? Maybe? The hermit wasn't exactly sure. But then again she wasn't sure if asking a lot of questions about that was rude or not. I mean I won't know unless I ask, right? Curiosity really was bugging her at the moment.
"Ah..." She began, rubbing the back of her neck. "You said you were an android? I-I've never really met many androids before. Or cyborgs either, though my girlfriend is one." A statement which made her smile wistfully. A warm feeling came with the statement unbidden. She really couldn't help it. But back to the present Leli, come on. You had company. "I... Well can I ask if there's... What makes an android and a cyborg different? Are there differences?" The magi blurted out. Though she swiftly blushed after doing so. "S-Sorry it's just I never... I'm really curious is all but I didn't mean to offend you if I did I just really wanted to know especially now that I'm dating one and it still kinda blows my mind that that's a thing and-" Breath, Lelianna, breath! The words came out in a fumbling rush as the magi spoke. Shoot, had that been a mistake?
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 8, 2017 1:12:17 GMT
Pathos shook her head, "You're not holding me up at all. Truthfully, I was merely wandering the woods because I lacked any errands to run. I'd be happy to accompany you back to the city," she explained while bearing the look of someone who'd just received a pleasant gift, but what was a greater gift than that of good company?
As for Stewart, Pathos turned him around in order to stare into his eyes. If this furry thing had taken a shine to her, she couldn't tell at all. Pathos could only guess the emotions of humans and magi, and frankly, this little fuzzball's face was completely unreadable. I'll have to take Lelianna's word for it, Pathos reasoned before placing Stewart back on his prior perch: her head. He seemed to enjoy being back up there if his snail-like shifting of her hair was any indication. Maybe that was how he expressed happiness?
With their destinations mutual, the duo set off down the path towards Haven, and the journey was much more enjoyable for Pathos with the company of a person rather than the ambient noise of the forest. The start of what would likely be a lengthy conversation began with a simple inquiry, one that Pathos could answer easily. "A cyborg is a human who has been augmented with machinery, while an android is a 'pure' machine created from scratch," Pathos explained. She considered displaying her metal body to Lelianna, but the risk of shocking her with a sudden strip convinced her otherwise. "Androids are programmed to obey orders or follow procedure, and we do not have soul-"
Lelianna's blabbering cut the android's explanation short, and she could only stare at her incredulously. Suddenly, Pathos burst into a fit of giggles, "Do not worry, miss Lelianna! Curiosity is nothing to be offended about, and truthfully I appreciate your curiosity far more than the scorn I occasionally receive within Haven," her smile started to fade as she stared off ahead, "I am often told that because my kind lacks souls, we are...inhuman, tools to be used, rather than truly living beings."
Pathos stared at Lelianna, "Is this...true? I may not require what you do to live, and I may not have a soul, but...does this mean I am not a person?" she was practically whispering this, and it was apparent that her tone was touched with uncertainty.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
| I know how to talk to people, I swear! |
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Post by Lelianna Varna on Sept 8, 2017 1:54:00 GMT
► Awwwwwww
Truly, it filled Lelianna with genuine glee when she watched Pathos put little Stewie back on her head. There weren't many who would be so nonchalant with a sloth wanting to be their headgear for the day. At least Lelianna didn't think so. But lo and behold: she had found yet another person who didn't fuss too much about her quirks. Pathos was quickly climbing her way up Lelianna's opinion ladder. Funny how it seemed like the people she'd met who were more "machine" had gotten along so well with her animal friends. First Caroline. Now Pathos. She was starting to see a trend here.
But maybe she should hold off before introducing yet another metal friend to Skjorn.
Lelianna wasn't too sure Pathos could detach her head quite as easily.
Moving on.
Okay, so a cyborg was originally a human, but then later became more machine. Whereas an android was pure machine from start to finish. So this Pathos was the original Pathos, unlike Caroline who had been human prior. Right, good to know. And fortunately Lelianna's question was met with laughter rather than offense. That was much better than the latter. Though when Pathos kept talking it drew green eyes back over. Swiftly the hermit's bashfulness was replaced by worry. Wait, people treated Pathos with... scorn? What the hay? But she seemed so nice!
Granted they had only met for a grand total of 8 minutes, but still.
When Pathos looked over at Lelianna, the druid met her gaze. Not a person? Wow had someone really been that insensitive to say that? Seriously? "What? No!" The druid said, hints of bafflement in her tone. How could someone have actually said that? For the first time in a while Lelianna felt her typically subdued anger take a stab. It probably showed in her expression as the gems in her hair darken in color. "That's not... I mean I don't think I'm an expert in anything, especially when it comes to souls or whatnot but I mean... That's not right for people to say you aren't a person." Stated the druid firmly. She pulled her eyes away from Pathos' for a moment, to keep her irritation in check so the other woman wouldn't think it was aimed at her.
After a momentary pause, she spoke up again. Now it was her turn to speak softly. "I mean... It wasn't that long ago humans said we weren't people." Now the anger was draining away, replaced by sadness. "They were afraid of us so they just... rounded us up like animals. Or monsters. But we're people too, even if we're just a little different in some ways." The druid certainly hadn't expected to suddenly get into a topic this deep. Nor did she expect to feel the weight on her chest such discussion caused. But ah, she hadn't fully answered Pathos. She'd been going somewhere with this. Lelianna looked back at her companion and gave her a small smile. "So I think you're the same; I do think you're a person. Just a little different maybe. Like magi. Like me. Gods know I'm kinda different than typical magi even." She laughed lightly. It was a bit of self-deprecation to lighten the mood. Or attempt to, at least.
"I mean... I don't know anything about having no soul or stuff like that but... I mean, you didn't have to help me back there." The magi pointed out with a gesture back towards where they'd came from. "And you didn't have to let Stewart ride on your head." Another gesture indicated the quite content fuzzball chilling atop Pathos. Now Lelianna's smile had grown with strength. The vibrantly returned to her gems and hair-petals "So... yeah. I think you're a person, Pathos. Don't listen to those other guys. Cause that was really mean for them to say." There was a little huff to accompany that statement. Though now she in turn had a question to ask. "...Do people really treat you that poorly though?" Perhaps personal, but now the druid was genuinely concerned.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 8, 2017 14:32:02 GMT
For a moment, Pathos thought that she'd upset her friend with the question, but Lelianna's anger didn't appear to be directed towards her. What was more shocking was Lelianna's response -- she was a person? The android remained silent while Lelianna explained her reasoning, and Pathos grew worried with every word. The reassurances...they weren't convincing her, as Lelianna's logic was steeped in emotion and false equivalencies. There had to be more to this, right?
"Why is it not right?" Pathos spoke quietly, "This model is the forty-seventh in a line of caretaker units, would this lack of uniqueness preclude me from being considered an individual?" The speed by which Pathos processed these inquiries was causing her pace to quicken, "And how can you and I be the same? The magi were forced to serve; I was created to serve the magi," she faced Lelianna, looking confused. "Assisting the magi is one of my directives, and I cannot rebel against it. Would I ha-" Suddenly, she cut herself off.
A smile returned to Pathos's lips, and she looked as though she hadn't just launched into a tangent. Her pace slowed until she returned to her leisurely walk, "I apologize, miss Lelianna. It isn't my place to ask you questions like this, please forgive me. And...do not worry about how others treat me. To tell you the truth, I cannot feel offended at slights as per my programming," she explained.
"Would you like to tell me about yourself?" Pathos asked hastily, she seemed to want to change the topic right away.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
| I know how to talk to people, I swear! |
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Post by Lelianna Varna on Sept 8, 2017 15:39:15 GMT
557 wordsPathos
Ever the awkward one ► Pathos didn't seem quite convinced and continued on. She was making some points, though more than anything it was making the magi pensive. Created to serve. Jeez. The druid couldn't really say too much on that, though her brow furrowed. Most of her decisions were based on emotional reasons, yes. Which was why it all still sat wrong with Lelianna. She couldn't see the other woman as just a "tool." The idea just couldn't fit right in Lelianna's head despite what Pathos was saying. She might have been programmed to assist the magi (something that also sat oddly with the druid), and yet...
Abruptly Pathos slowed and apologized. Lelianna had been so caught up and conflicted with her own thoughts that she hadn't even realized Pathos had quickened her pace. Now that she was back Lelianna offered her a smile. But... it still didn't settle with her. A small tangle of discomforted worry had settled into her stomach. Her smile did not quite reach her eyes. "I... okay." Breathed the druid. As dense as she was, even Lelianna could tell it was time for a topic change.
back to talking about her, she supposed.
"Uh, sure." The hermit said, trying to perk up a little again. Talk about escalating quickly. "Ahhh... I've been a hermit for a while now." Might as well start towards the beginning. "Eight years. Though I do come to Haven from time to time as you can, ah, see. Most of the time though I spend working on my garden. It's gotten a bit...big." Admittedly big didn't even begin to cover how large the now miles-wide expanse of vegetation Lelianna had worked on. "T-Though Arecia never seemed to mind so I just... kinda keep going. Though working on it has led me to a lot of really pretty places." Ah yes, the subject of nature. Just talking about it made the druid relax and her smile come a bit easier. "Arecia has a lot of beauty within it, if you just look. Over the years I've come to find that nature really is the master artist. Hopefully I can at least imitate some of that skill in making my garden." She laughed a little and shook her head.
"Other than working on the garden though I usually just... respond to Arecia whenever it needs help." This might take more explaining. "Ah, what I mean is... sometimes if there's a problem the woods talk to me and tell me where to go. Last time was when a..." Lelianna paused, the memory halting her of the last incident she had to attend to. sadness unwillingly flashed across her features, but she pressed on. They didn't need to get mired back down into sad territory. "Someone had been destroying some of the trees and disturbing those living there- both animals and Spirits. Arecia sent me out to stop it and repair the damage done. So I guess you could say I'm sorta the woods' handyman?" The hermit offered with a shrug. "I'm glad to do it though. Arecia's done a lot for me." More than she could probably ever repay, quite frankly.
"Ah, but what about you? Have you ever really gotten out into the woods? The Loch is really beautiful, if you've ever been there."
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 11, 2017 18:05:32 GMT
A brief scouring of Patho's information databanks yielded a result on the word hermit. They were individuals who chose a life of solitude as part of a religious discipline. Fascinating, thought Pathos, who couldn't fathom cutting herself off from civilization for any reason. She was built by the people, for the people, and a social android like herself would likely go mad from isolation. Probably.
"Beauty..." Pathos muttered, she examined the woods around her and waited for that sensation of pleasure one would derive from their appearance. For several seconds she waited, but the myriad of trees never began to look appealing. Can I not appreciate beauty like Lelianna? The idea that Lelianna's ideology and explanations were wasted on her disturbed Pathos. If she couldn't see the beauty in Arecia, then what did she consider to be worthy of being called 'beautiful'? Such concerns were never voiced, and Pathos's expression remained deliberately blank in order to avoid disturbing Lelianna.
There was something much more relatable in Lelianna's story of her role as the assistant of the forest, and Pathos found herself chuckling as a thought crossed her. "I assist my master and other magi with whatever they need; we're a little similar in this regard, no?" she said, and the light of her retinas appeared to flicker brightly. "A forest as a master...your life must be a busy one."
The conversation then turned back to Pathos. "I often enter the forest on errands, but whenever I am not needed, I find myself...wandering back," Pathos explained, she looked away from Lelianna, seemingly lost in her own contemplations. "I don't know why, but something here draws me, almost as if I've lost something and desperately need it back."
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY West
| I know how to talk to people, I swear! |
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Post by Lelianna Varna on Sept 13, 2017 21:53:56 GMT
441 wordsPathos
Lost and unfound ► Arecia as a master? That was an... intriguing idea. "Well it's not exactly my 'master,' I think. It's never felt like that before. It's more of a... more of a friend. In a way. Which kind of sounds strange to say I'm friends with a forest but, well, there ya go." The redhead finished with a little shrug. "But yeah, it does keep me busy. And pranks me, like you saw back there." With a little jerk of her head she indicated the place they came from. Now a lopsided smile played across her face. "Not many think a bunch of trees can have a sense of humor, but lemme tell you; they most certainly can. And they're mischievous little jerks." The hermit sent a pointed glare to a nearby passing tree. Unsurprisingly it stared back innocently.
It knows what it did though.
Again Lelianna ended up regarding Pathos with equal parts concern and curiosity. Something lost huh? Pathos seemed to be talking more to herself at that point, but it got the redhead thinking. Once upon a time a certain little redhead had been lost herself. In her flight from terror she'd ended up in Arecia and there she stayed for years to come. Honestly back then she'd just been in a blind panic. Needed to find somewhere safe. Somewhere the hunters weren't. Arecia had been the first and best looking stop.
But looking back on it now... Lelianna felt inexplicably drawn to this place. Okay, maybe not inexplicably at this point. Her connection with Arecia's flora and fauna was growing ever stronger. The draw she had towards the place now had an actual voice. Several, truthfully. But back then? There always had been that strange feeling of... wholeness once she'd gotten within the treeline. Meeting Y'enthal had merely cemented it.
Finally the druid spoke up. "Well... there is something magical about the woods. And I'm not just saying that as someone who's lived in it for years." She added on quickly. "From what I've heard some of the priests and priestesses say in Haven, it's been blessed by Arithelia herself. Which, honestly, I can kinda see." Not to mention feel, but Lelianna had an inkling that was more due to her connection with the woods itself. "As for losing something though... I'm not really sure. Do you mean... an item? As in you actually lost something? Or is it more of... like a feeling? I-I don't mean to pry if I am," The hermit quickly said with a flustered tone, "I-I'm just curious. You, ah, don't have to answer that."
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