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[prizeneck]

[At the equivalent of 03:45 AM, you're getting a voice message because fuck your text feature. ]

Right, question.

Actually two.



First: Imagine you're being chased for a long time. You're unarmed, and yer injured. About to keel over. You can only carry one thing as you're running: a cell phone [a pause, and a rustle - he's waving his hand] or whatever you people use to communicate; or some food.

Which one do you take, and why?



Second question: who here can deal with high tech gadgets? I got a thing that needs checking before we head to the next mission.

Comments

[reillumination]

I thought so. But, instinctive answers to a choice someone hasn't experienced is only so interesting on its own. A pure response is difficult to get, considering people mix it naturally with their own reason. [ But, reason only gives you so much advantage. Humans are prone to use it as much as they're prone to lose it under vices and emotions alike. ] Unless you dampen it.

[ He'd know that one. He's definitely instigated some very uninhibited scenarios. Asking so late at night helps, but Ryo's always up these days. He wouldn't have an uninhibited answer for him. ]

But, that's right. It isn't to say anyone's wrong or right, even if they've had a run-in with something like this. [ There's a small pause, and then: ] How would you have answered it?

[prizeneck]

That is true. It’s also a matter of personality, though. Some people are prone to trust their instincts more than others, regardless of experience.

But it’s a starting point. [the clickclick of something plastic as he audibly gets up] Didn’t check the hour, by the way. I didn’t do it on purpose, on that front.

It ain’t even a matter of what you answer, actually. [there’s a smile to his voice, but it’s not really pleasant] The how is just as important.

[reillumination]

A person's character and genetic drive only commands so much. Even the most instinctive among us have inhibitions. That's what makes us different from other animals. |

So, we'll call it lucky on your part.

[ It's interesting, how quickly a person's hackles can be raised. Personalities are an easy tell, but Ryo doesn't have much to hide here. Everyone would have pegged him as paranoid, perhaps experienced (but aren't most recruits by this point?), distrusting of others knowing where he is by his disabled vitals — ostensibly practical. And besides, Ryo's lacked anything close to "usual" for a long time now. He never tells what he doesn't want to. No one needed to know what other aspects laid under that. It's harder to surmise than a relative thoughtful, but cursory answer. ]

Your lack of an answer says quite a bit about you.

[ Largely that you're quite a bit like he is. ]

[prizeneck]

Hm, even when faced with danger? Outnumbered, unarmed... do you think people will stop and think?

[There are short bursts of static. Repetitive, and to a rhythm.

He’s chuckling.] What does it say, then?

[reillumination]

No. I think I've already said the contrary to that. For most, primal urges require a push.

[ Drugs, alcohol, violence — fear. He knows all these. He knows what they do to a human brain. He knows humans are weak when pressed under the weight of all of it. But, humans had nothing to fear where he was from. Well, for so they thought.

He's listening quite closely to those background sounds. He can't quite judge where he's going, but he's notably going somewhere. ]

As much as my answers tell you, I'd guess.

[ That might be true. Who really knows? ]

[prizeneck]

[There is some more rustling, a constant sound of white noise as if something is being lightly dragged on a surface, a pause, the click of something opening, and then a couple of soft, muted thuds.

Then a beep, which may sound familiar to Ryo. Another. A click.

Then the whirring sound of something mechanical.

It’s the laundry machine.]

What if I told you [have you pictured the Laurence Fishburne meme because I have] that I would’ve picked the food from the experience I have? What would that tell you?

[reillumination]

[ He suspects that he would have been told not to be so suspicious by someone else, that not everyone has some kind of malicious intent, but that voice isn't here and he's so far beyond it that the echo of it is a dull imprint. The longer he spends away, the more he realizes the innate ugliness in everything humanity touches, but he still wants to keep them and himself alive.

So, the answer is vague. Information for information, even if that intel might be inaccurate. ]

That you're practical. [ So, quite a bit like his initial answer. ] You know technology isn't reliable.

[ Not that this is reflective of what he's accustomed to. He's had neither often. ]

[prizeneck]

[That makes him utter a loud laugh.

Single, dry, ragged but very, very strong.

The shades, the blade that can cut through anything, the tactics, the tech guy running operations behind him. ] Close, but no cigar.

If I didn't trust technology I would've either been dead by now or not reached where I am today.

[reillumination]

Fine, so you trust technology. It did well for you. [ If there is one thing Ryo hates, it's being laughed at. ] You didn't say it was an equally practical option. I'm only working with what I'm given, just like you.

[ Ugh. ]

[prizeneck]

[Wow, he never heard Siri dictate something so defensively before.

Btw, Ryo, that rhythmic static? It's back, leaving the washing machine behind.]

That's the thing, right? I only placed the options here, it's equally telling which one you subconsciously place more value into.

[And there's the sound of the door of a room opening.] The only reason I trust technology is that of some circumstances where I have to. However, that doesn't really mean I'm entirely useless without it.