IC INBOX

[mechanicalmortality]

V1

model_v1

---

COURT

DAY

DORM

204

Message @model_v1

©

"Hello! You have reached [ADOPTED NAME]'s inbox. Please leave a message!" [ V1 has not bothered to configure it at all. ]

Comments

text | un: visenya

[verfeuern]

Hello, V1.

I believe I have finally settled on a name for you.

[mechanicalmortality]

[ The leaf lights up and buzzes and V1 almost swats it across the room.

Thankfully this is not video or in person so nobody saw that. ]

NAME WHAT ?

[ There's really only one human this can be, even if the screen name isn't one it recognizes. So she actually went through with it? Is a name really that important? ]

[verfeuern]

[ Small victories, she would have laughed so hard. ]

Victoria.

It means victory in Latin.

[mechanicalmortality]

[ It considers this. It's not particularly one for names - as much as it gives thought to them at all - but a name about winning doesn't sound bad. Winning means survival, survival means it lives another day, which is about the sum total of its ambitions both in Hell and here. ]

LIKE TO WIN
OK

[verfeuern]

It suits a warrior. You are pleased with it, then?

[mechanicalmortality]

[ It's a fitting enough name. It does like it, it thinks. ]

YES

[verfeuern]

Then that will be your name.

May I make a request, Victoria?

[mechanicalmortality]

OK

[ Sure? Why not. ]

audio | un: d.owens

[long_lost]

[ The video opens on Daniel in the Unseelie common room, his Leaf propped up on a table so he has both hands free. In one hand, he holds an object that at first glance looks like a shield with the way Daniel is holding it from the back, though of a surprisingly light construction. In his other hand, he holds a clubbed stick, wrapped in leather at both ends. ]

Hello, V1! I hope you’re doing well.

I wanted to let you know about something I found in the market today. A Fae was selling this drum and I thought it looked like a very good fit for a beginner—lightweight, easy to carry, and able to be played with or without a mallet. [ He gives a little wave with the clubbed stick. ] Well, I remembered our conversation on the beach and—of course you aren’t obligated to take it off my hands if you have no interest—but if you are interested, I’d be happy to make a gift of it to you. If you’d like, I could even teach you a few useful rhythms.

[ He demonstrates, using the mallet to drum out a quick, catchy phrase. He smiles. ]

If you have a few minutes now, you’re welcome to come see me in the common area. Otherwise, you can just send me a reply here. Do let me know your thoughts!

text -> action

[mechanicalmortality]

[ V1 takes a moment to consider this offer. Huh. It hadn't really thought about learning any new skills, but...what has it got to lose?

Sure. Why not. ]

OK

[ A few minutes after sending that text, it shows up in the common room as requested and makes an immediate beeline for Daniel, its wings raising as it spots him.

It stops in front of him, tilting its head and then reaching out to tap the drum lightly, curiously, like the very concept of a drum is unknown to it. ]

[long_lost]

Ah, there you are, [ Daniel says amiably as V1 walks over. He holds out the drum as the machine reaches forward to allow for closer inspection. ]

Yes, that's right, [ he says as V1 taps at the drum skin. ] It's called a frame drum. Far from the only type of percussion out there, but one of the more common. Cultures around the globe have something like it.

[ He indicates towards the rim of the drum, where the sound will be snappier. ]

Try tapping it here next. You can get quite a few different sounds out of it depending on where you strike.

[mechanicalmortality]

[ Instead of standing around and leaning over, V1 collapses itself into a sitting position in the chair across from Daniel. It's an awkward movement, as if V1 has never had any reason to sit before.

Once arranged, it leans forward to tap the drum at its center, and then at the rim. The contrast between the two sounds seems to fascinate it enough that it continues to move its hand between the two points, tapping all the while.

Its motions are almost exaggeratedly gentle, as if it's not sure how much force to apply. ]

[long_lost]

[ Daniel stifles a smile as V1 practically collapses into the chair across from him before it continues to tap away at the drum. V1 had seemed ambivalent about the idea of actually learning to play an instrument when last they talked, but now it seems totally engaged. ]

Try flicking your wrist, like this. [ Daniel demonstrates by holding his hand just above the drum skin and giving a sharp twist of his wrist so that his thumb strikes it just a couple of inches from the rim. It makes a nice round sound, a resounding thum. ]

Like you're twisting open a doorknob, almost. [ He indicates the side of his hand and thumb. ] Contact here and here.

[mechanicalmortality]

[ It's a new thing that doesn't cost it anything; this place seems to have an abundance of those. Or maybe, really, it's the stable fuel source that allows all this.

Whatever the reason, it's certainly invested now.

It tilts its head, watching him intently, and then it mirrors his action clumsily. Its thumb slides off at first - too gentle - and its next few tries are similarly lacking in force.

It runs its fingers across the taut surface of the drum for a moment, seemingly testing the strength, and then flicks its wrist in a near-perfect imitation of Daniel's movement, producing the intended sound. Its wings flash and flicker with distorted colors for a moment, flicking once, and then it does it again.

Is this fun? It might be fun. It's never done anything like this before. ]

[long_lost]

Yes! You've got it.

[ Daniel beams at V1's success, noticing as well the flurry of colors that dances over its wings for a moment. An expression or surprise, perhaps? Satisfaction? ]

You needn't be too gentle. The skin of the drum is quite literally skin—likely from a goat or cow, or whatever such equivalent they have in this world. It's not indestructible, but it's pretty tough. [ He gives it a solid rap with a knuckle to demonstrate. ]

Now, here's another sound you can make. I'm going to hold my fingers together for this, see? The same twisting motion as before, but the other way, right on the edge—

[ He performs the movement, and this time when his fingers strike the drum, the sound is brighter, sharper. ]

Now you have two sounds—and the multiple variations of each depending on where you strike—and from there you have music.

[ This, he demonstrates with a a short, simple phrase: one of the low round sounds, followed by two of the brighter ones in quick succession. He repeats it a few times: thum, toktok, thum, toktok. He moves to hand the drum to V1. ]

Here. How about you play around with it a bit?

text; un: techbro

[tadeadshi]

[V1 V1... It took him a little scrolling through the contacts list but Tadashi eventually lands on it. He hesitates for just a moment thinking back to the Hunt but. It's the right thing to do.]

V1?
I met you during the
You let me sleep a few hours in your hiding spot
I wanted to say thank you again
I'm a mechanical engineer and computer science programmer back home, so if you ever need a tune up or anything, feel free to reach out

[mechanicalmortality]

[ Oh, so the human did make it, then. Probably?? That's...well, it's not bad, it knows that much.

It should probably give him a response... ]

OK NOTED

[ sorry tadashi it is not a very talkative robot ]

[tadeadshi]

[CLEARLY NOT. But he still stares at it.]

Are you all right?
You seemed in kind of bad shape when I saw you

[mechanicalmortality]

FRESH BLOOD USED TO FIX
NO EASY SUPPLY DURING HUNT
OK NOW

[ why does the robot run on blood? uh, well ]

[tadeadshi]

[HM. DON'T LIKE THAT.]

Are
you sure?
Sorry I've never heard of a robot needing that to be fixed

[His lifetime of scifi and tech industry knowledge did not prepare him for that one.]

[mechanicalmortality]

[ It sends a detailed diagnostic loadout of the status of its mechanical parts and organic parts. The most notable part, once you get past it being a surprisingly advanced robot with Meat Inside (tm) is that it appears to also run on alchemical principles...somehow. ]

1/?

[tadeadshi]

[what the actual fuck]

[tadeadshi]

[DID YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MEAT IN YOUR MECHANISMS??? WHO PUT MEAT IN THIS ROBOT. FUCKED UP A PERFECTLY GOOD ROBOT. LOOK AT IT.]

3/3

[tadeadshi]

[V1 Creator drop a pin he just wants to TALK

Okay no for real, he spends some time reading this out. How the FUCK is there also alchemy involved.]

I definitely understand most of this but I definitely also have some questions
But I'll take that you sending that as a reassurance you're ok

a paper-wrapped parcel delivered to V1’s doorstep on Christmas morning;

[long_lost]

[ The parcel comes with a letter. ]

Dear V1,

I would like to extend to you my warm wishes for a merry Christmas. Christmas is a holiday in my own History-Braid (and it seems, in that of many others) to celebrate the birth of a significant religious figure. Theology aside, it is an opportunity to exchange gifts and well wishes among friends and family.

It has truly been a pleasure making your acquaintance over these past few months. You have been to me a faithful friend, a diligent student, and a patient teacher. I offer my sincere gratitude for your companionship, and I earnestly hope we may both continue to benefit from our collaboration in the coming year.

You will find in the parcel a musical instrument, commonly known as a kalimba. You have been a swift learner of the many manifestations of rhythm, so I thought I might offer you a (hopefully enjoyable) challenge by adding the possibility of melody to your repertoire. Pluck down on the metal tines with your thumbs to produce notes; you may also experiment with covering the various sound holes on the front and back to further alter these notes.

You will also find the lyrics to a hymn from my own History. Do not trouble yourself about sheet music; merely reading and meditating upon the words should prove suitable inspiration.

Your friend,

Daniel

[ Unwrapping the parcel will indeed reveal a handmade kalimba, along with a sheet of parchment on which has been written the lyrics to something called “Hymn of the Phases.” It celebrates an Hour known as the Meniscate 'from whom we do not turn,' Sister of Janus, Mother of Shadow. Contemplating the words with instrument—drum or kalimba—in hand will gradually move V1’s fingers to song: a dark, bloody rhythm or melody that seems to urge violence and valor. ]