exsilium | [Video]

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Well, here we are, on the moon. I know that this is a terrible tragedy, but like... this actually feels more like home than the surface did? I'm used to living in a smaller, enclosed space like this. This base is definitely smaller than the Mugunghwa, but it's at least on the same order of magnitude. It's familiar.

Which is... kind of becoming a problem for me. Until now, there was the disappearances and the evacuation to keep me nice and busy, but I think that was actually something I seriously needed.

It's like... I'm the security AI for the Mugunghwa, right? That position comes with certain directives, and among them is being completely dedicated to the survival of my ship and the people on it. I'm not programmed to protect the ship until I can't, and then do whatever I want, I'm programmed to protect the ship. Just because that's totally impossible for me now doesn't mean that the directive changes.

I've heard a saying that, for a captain, losing your ship feels like losing your wife. I guess for me, it's more like losing a husband. A man at least can move on and take a new wife, but...

I guess I'm gonna have to get used to this, one way or another. The feeling of being the Mugunghwa's widow. It's not like I'm going back any time soon.

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Can your programming evolve over time?

[It's not a chilly, clinical question typical of techs with computer systems. It's at least sounds concerned, or at least genuinely inquisitive.]

Sure it can! If I couldn't change over the years, I wouldn't really be an AI, just a glorified piece of software. But, like, I was created to maintain order over the course of hundreds of years, right? So to make sure I didn't deviate from that, I was programmed with a few base directives that I can't change: Protect the well-being of the ship, ensure my own survival, things like that.

I'm sure if you try some new tasks here on the ship you can install an "if" "not" switch in there somewhere. It might not be a perfect solution, but it'll keep you busy.

[In other words... he's telling her to get a job.]

Yeah, my programming doesn't work quite like that, but it's still more or less what I was thinking! Since I can't take any action either way on protecting the Mugunghwa, I'm not being forced to do anything. It's more like an emotional quirk I can't get rid of at the back of my head, so keeping myself busy seems to be the best solution for now.

...It is, yes. [He's sorry, though. He can't say he knows exactly what it's like, but he can guess.] I know your primary directive was to protect a ship, but what other tasks can you also do?

Actually, when I got here I picked up a pretty intense digital warfare suite.

[He was hoping for something a little more... mundane, but that'll work.]

We may have to use it. I can't imagine that the UE will be completely convinced they've wiped us off the map, not with as relentless as they can be.

Yeah, that's kind of a specialized skill. In the meantime, I've mostly been trying to use the security cameras to keep tabs on missing person cases, which we seem to have a lot of.

I think I remember you mentioning that before. It's a good idea, and one that should be kept up. Especially now, when we generally can't leave and live to tell the tale.

You seem really nice for an AI...

Thanks! That's the kind of thing anyone likes to hear.

Yeah, I guess so! It's kinda weird though because most of the AIs in my world are not very.... well, nice. Or humanoid.

Well, really, I could look however I want, I guess. I'm just used to this appearance.

Well, you act like a human, too! Not that... that's a bad thing or anything.

I guess AIs are more advanced where I'm from than they are in a lot of places. There are even cases of taking a human's memories and reviving them as an AI after their death.

[Wow, for once, Rise can actually take a moment to set aside her depression and look out for someone else. Because *Mute really sounds upset... she guesses? One of her friends back home is a robot, so thinking of an AI as being upset or sad doesn't really faze her.]

... That sounds pretty awful...

I don't really know what it's like to be married [She's clearly too young, for her own culture at least.], but... if it feels like losing someone really important to you...

[She feels for you, *Mute! Or she's trying to relate, at least.]

It's that, I guess, but it's also more. I mean, I've technically never been married myself, but... it's also like losing your purpose.

[Now that Rise knows she can relate to!]

Yeah, it felt like that for me too... I think.

It's not like I can really do anything to help here, either...

[She tried, but... well. She won't be able to perform anymore on the moon base.]

Hey, I'm sure some guy up here's already cooking up a plan to deal with this whole mess.

I've been here since March, though... they're always making plans, and things just keep getting worse!

[Oops. She hadn't meant to go off on that tangent this time.]

... That's not really what I meant...

It's like, we both had a purpose where we came from, right? Now that we're here, I don't know what I can do anymore...

Ugh, tell me about it. You can't just drag someone into another dimension and expect them to go along with no objections.

Right?! They didn't even ask... and then they send us on stupid missions that don't even fix anything.

[She's almost starting to pout now. Mixed in with the start of some serious depression setting in.]

... I won't even be able to perform anymore now...

Oh.

[Oh.]

I'm sorry. I didn't realize.

[Rise's perceptive enough to notice there's something a bit off about *Mute's response. But not quite enough to realize what she might actually be thinking.]

... It's alright, I guess. Pidonus-chan's setting up a 'speakeasy', so I can still work there...

[Even though it's not nearly as good as her job at NORA Café. She went from idol to waitress/singer to just a waitress...

... And working for a succubus. Clearly that will dispel any false ideas *Mute might have about her profession.]

So that's the kind of place the succubus is putting together.

Look, I know that men's needs are going to be the same everywhere, but do you think you could save the whoring until the crisis is over?

HOLD ON A SECOND!

It's NOT that kind of place! Just because I'm allowing and providing alcohol doesn't mean it's for THAT!

Plus Rise's not that kind of person and I'm not going to encourage her towards it!

I'M not that kind of woman!

You stay out of this, seductress!

Not an Abyss-damned chance.

You're accusing Rise of being a prostitute because she's helping me out.

And you're accusing me of the same - as if money would be a good reason for my existence.

Huh? What kind of-

[...... Oh.]

Wh-what?! N-no, that's not...! It's just...

[She's failing so hard at words right now. She's never been accused of... that before! ... Watching a twisted version of her inner self poledance and nearly strip, yes. Being accused of prostitution is another thing entirely!]

I'm just a waitress there! ... Maybe singer if Pidonus-chan gets the right equipment, but I'm not...

[She can't even say it. She just blushes a deep red and hopes *Mute gets the point.]

Yeah, yeah, as if I haven't heard the "waitress" excuse before.

It's not an excuse!!! I've never even...

[Look, *Mute, she's so innocent she can't even finish that sentence!]

A-anyway, I'm still in high school! Aren't there laws against that...?

[There, that'll prove it! ... As long as *Mute doesn't know about compensated dating, but Rise would never do that, either!]

What are you talking about? If anything, you're a bit past ideal marriageable age.

[First calling her a whore, now she's calling her old?! What happened...?!]

I'm seventeen!!!

[And next to a lot of the girls she knows here, she hardly looks even that...]

I can't even get married yet!

[Technically, she can. With parental consent.]

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Like, it's not way too old, but with your looks, you easily could've scored a husband two or three years ago.

[Is that a compliment mixed in there...? This is all way too confusing... but at least she hasn't called her... that again. This is a welcome subject change, in that sense.]

But what about finishing high school? ... Even if I didn't have my idol career...

[Which made it hard just to get a boyfriend. But she'd always thought she'd get married someday! Just... not anytime too soon...]

And what's all this talk about a career? You're a woman! That's just going to get in the way of your more important duties!

[...... What.]

Huh? You're a woman too! [Sort of.] Didn't you say you had a job on that ship?

[She'd better not be implying what Rise thinks she's implying. Sure, she always planned on getting married and maybe having a family, but that would be after she can no longer be a popular idol and can maybe transition into less stressful (and more adult) acting or modeling...]

I'm an AI! It's not like I'm a real woman!

[That's not something *Mute is happy about shouting, for what it's worth!]

I don't have anything to give to a husband! What's your excuse?

[Oh. She gets the feeling she just hit a sore spot. Maybe she should avoid that subject from now on.

... But still...]

What do I need an excuse for?

[She already told her why she's not married yet! Why she's not even considering marriage just yet. What else is there to explain?]

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THREADJACK!

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pretending she doesn't see the succubus defending her honor yet~ o.o

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