ROLEPLAY HQ - humanity-in-binary

The year was 2043. The city of was growing exponentially every year, bustling with life every day. Shining LED-lit billboards advertised that everyone should move there, not exactly why. Day-to-day was anything but mundane. Cold rain pattered on the dry concrete, quickly covering it up. The slow drip progressed into a heavy downpour with the faint sound of thunder crackling in the distance. Sean stomped his way across the sidewalk and paused at the end. A random pedestrian had selected the button on the tall metal post, prompting the timer for traffic to stop and let them cross the street. Cars whirred past and honked at those who dared to run before waiting in the queue. He didn’t have an umbrella. The green awning draped over the window of the storefront beside him and water collected on the top. It eventually tilted too far and spilled its contents. The usual blue stick-figure light on the sign blinked, counting down from 20 seconds. The small crowd shuffled across and Sean patted his pocket to fish for the key to his apartment. The building contained 6 floors total, with the first being the lobby with access to a gym that was always empty and a mail collection room. Sean lived on floor 4. He would have preferred to be closer to the bottom in the instance of an emergency. The lobby was consistently clean. It contained a front desk with marble countertops, navy blue painted walls, a leather chair seating area and a potted plant. To the right was a glass pull door. This led to a connected 24-hour mart that sold basic necessities such as laundry detergent, snack foods, and a single pharmacy aisle. It was convenient to access in a pinch without leaving the building. A single large door led to an enclosed room with a staircase and two elevators. This was only accessible with a special type of keycard that was only given to residents of the complex. If someone were to bring a guest, they must be accompanied by the resident at all times during entry. S

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ean finally grasped his keys and the card before approaching the entrance to the elevator, and pressed the button to step inside.

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@Mandragora (Fauna)

Standing outside on the streets under a veranda a long ways down the street were two figures. The rain was coming down hard outside it seemed. One figure was a female in her late 30's with short brown hair and hazel eyes. She was much shorter than the figure next to her which held a casual yet easy demeanor about them. "Seems Sean still doesn't want anything to do with Androids.." she sighs watching the rain as the raindrops blanket everything around it. "He's really taken it hard about losing his job. I wish it wasn't so difficult to lay off such hard workers.." "If I may, Mrs. White.." the figure spoke, turning their head to look down at the petite female. "I understand that some Humans do not take lightly to being void of work. However, I do think it is beneficial for both Humans and Androids to work side by side rather than take over the workforce." Mrs. White nodded her head slightly, a faint smile on her coral-colored lips. "Yes, Dakota. I, too wish it were easy for people to get along. However, these days it seems that people prefer slacking off or not taking things seriously. The workforce can be harsh at times, not allowing any type of slip-up or failure to befall them. It would be best to have those workers replaced instead of the entire lot" Dakota, listening intently to the female's words was silent. He was an Android, one of millions in the world. They were created to replace humans so that they didn't have to spend their entire lives working. But that always left a bad taste in their mouths about being replaced solely because the majority were not good workers. It would have been better if the Androids were left to do physically demanding jobs, not something like office work or working in supermarkets where Humans could just as easily do. "Do you still wish for me to be Mr. Eldridge's Android?" he asked calmly with a hint of curiosity. "Yes. He may reject you, but do not let that falter your objective. While it seems Sean loosing his job has taken

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a mental toll on him, you must do your job in making sure he is well taken care of. Understood?" "Yes, ma'am.." "Then see to it.." Mrs. White said as she went to go open her umbrella. "I wish you luck in your endeavors" With that, she walked off. Dakota stood there a moment, watching the rain, the people and the cars passing by. Without much more to think of, he took his leave out from under the veranda and headed towards Sean Eldridge's residence. From the information given to him, he lived in an apartment connected to a convenience store. One that was open 24 hours a day. It didn't take long for him to find the apartment, and what's more, he had spotted Sean entering the building. Perfect. Dakota walked as quick as he could before entering the building. However, he didn't spot Sean until the last second, seeing the male step into the elevator. With a glint in his eye, the Android walked quickly to join him inside. Androids looked very similar, almost identical to Humans. Plus, Dakota was never introduced to Sean so this would surely become a surprise in the coming moments. Once the elevator doors closed, Dakota remained silent, not saying a word or acknowledging the male standing next to him. He probably came off as a 'keep-to-themselves' type of person. @Deleted User

Sean glanced in the direction of the stranger that tagged along in the elevator with him. Why did this person appear to rush? Maybe they were late for something. A monotonous musical tone chimed from Sean’s pocket and he pulled out his cell to answer the call. It was his mother. “No, I’m going home….. No, I’m not at work.” He sighed and ignored the fact that he wasn’t alone. No one ever batted an eye to phone conversations in public like they used to. It was the new normal. “Why am I not at work? Because I don’t have any left. It’s over.” The elevator hummed as it rose up to the next floor, stopping to open the door. No one was there. It slid shut once again and carried the two to the fourth floor. It beeped and once again opened, allowing Sean to step out in a hurry. The air smelled of chlorine from a swimming pool. No pets were allowed in the building with the exception of those who had service animals, or hid it really well from the maintenance crew. “It’s over because I lost my job…… I know. Finances will be tight now… yes, I will begin to look again right away….. Okay, bye.” He hung up and shoved the device away again. His jacket was drenched and he was provoked by the multiple questions he was being presented with over the phone. His grey sneakers squashed uncomfortably across the carpeted hallway until he reached the door with a simple gold number. 418. Sean held up the keycard and swiped it through the slot at the top of the handle and it flickered green. He then jammed a small key into the next slot and twisted it, pushing his way to the entrance. @Mandragora (Fauna)

Dakota remained unfazed when the human next to him had taken a glance. All he did was stand there, waiting in the elevator. Thanks to being in close proximity, he was able to connect himself to Sean's ID Chip. ID Chips were small devices located in the forearm, mainly the wrist area. It was similar to an ID but updates in real time. It has the person's name, age, gender, height and weight, as well as residence. It also has an option to register an Android if they had one. Technically, Dakota could go ahead and register himself to Sean, but that would require making direct contact with him. The android merely peered at the Human's information just to make sure he had the right person. Seems like what Mrs. White had told him matched up. Perfect. Suddenly, the sound of a musical tone could be heard, muffled in the drenched pockets of the human next to him. By the sound of the call, it seems the Human's parent was worried about him for losing his job. However it seemed he was going to be searching for a new one. There weren't many out there that were still hiring Human workers, so it would be difficult to find them. But, they were out there if you searched hard enough. Once the elevator had opened to the 4th floor, Dakota's eyes wandered to watch Sean step out of the elevator. Silently, Dakota followed suit, keeping his distance and acting as casual as could be. The sight of the male stopping at one room in the hallway caused the Android to lift their gaze to stare at the number plate on the wall next to the door. 418. So this was Sean Eldridge's residence, just like on his ID Chip. Another indication that this was indeed the person he was assigned to. "Mr. Eldridge.." Dakota spoke finally, stopping himself just a mere few feet away from Sean. "Mrs. White has sent me to speak with you.." There was a faint smile on the Android's face as he looked at him. "My name is Dakota. Do you mind listening to me for a bit?" @Deleted User

Sean sighed in frustration. It was a relief to be home. However, there was a stack of utility bills on the granite countertop and a glimmering lamp was left on for the entirety of the day. *’Good evening. It is five thirty nine PM. It is forty two degrees outside. It is raining. Would you like to hear your one missed notification?’ A robotic voice called from the kitchen. It was the home assistant sphere, which responded to voice questions with answers from the web or perform simple tasks such as ordering a delivery dinner. Right before he was about to close the door, Sean heard an unfamiliar voice. He stopped in his tracks and turned to face their direction. He didn’t recognize them. He would be damned to listen to another speech by a salesperson. It wasn’t often that someone went door-to-door with a bullshit product that no one needed, but Sean was always one to turn them away. By no means was he an unfriendly being - just antisocial. He preferred to keep to himself in his lonely one bedroom home. The floors above and below remained quiet for most of the evening hours. It was a blessing to have peaceful neighbors. “Go away, I’m not interested in your silk pillowcases or your magical socks.” @Mandragora (Fauna)

"Mr. Eldridge, I implore you listen to what I have to say.. I assure you it has nothing to do with silk pillowcases or magical socks. Though the latter does not exist.." Dakota spoke, stepping forward to now be standing in front of the door, staring ahead at Sean through the cracked open door. "I'm here on behalf of Mrs. White. She informed me that you have currently been let go from the company and worries for you. Therefore she sent me to help you get back on your feet.." Dakota continued, his brown eyes staring at Sean. They were the color of cocoa, or more like milk chocolate. His faint smile stayed where it was as he continued. "I understand you may be feeling rather vexed about the whole situation. However, I also believe it is rather upsetting for Humans to be without work. Mrs. White wishes for me to help you in your journey to recovery, and.. should you need, I can assist you with other tasks." Dakota was what one would consider a Companion Android, one who's main task is to help their Human in times of strife. However, they are also equipped with performing tasks and working; among other things. One could say that Dakota was a jack-of-all-trades assistant. @Deleted User

It took a moment for Sean to process this information, and that’s when it clicked in his mind- ’upsetting for Humans to be without work…’ “Wait. You’re here, to help me find a job. But you’re an Android? Look, I don’t need your help. Tell Mrs. White to rush the severance pay and be on your way.” His expression became cross. His damp clothing was beginning to dry, leaving the unpleasant itchy fabric cling. Sean took a step backward and shut the front door, clicking the latch to lock it. He pulled the folded wallet and keys out of his pocket and slammed them angrily onto the table. The brown hardwood floor creaked with every inch he moved. Thunder continuously rumbled outside more frequently than before. He plucked the stack of papers and shoved it all into the nearest drawer. This wasn’t fair. It wasn’t how he planned or envisioned his life. Sean stood in front of the only mirror in the apartment, which was in the restroom. His wavy brown hair was tangled and unkempt. @Mandragora (Fauna)

"Mr. Eldridge, if you would please listen to-" but his words were cut short by the unpleasant look on the Human's face as he shut the door, locking it. That was the end of that conversation. Which means that the task that Mrs. White had given him would prove to be much more difficult that they would have hoped for. Even more so for Dakota as his job was to be a companion and an aid to Sean. Though, that was only after Sean registers him. Which he hasn't managed to even get close enough for that to happen. Dakota turned his body to the direction he had come from, his eyes gazing at the door, staring at the room plate. 418. Turning his head to face the same direction as his body, Dakota moved towards the elevator where he had come from, however he stopped, noticing that he wouldn't be able to use the elevator without access to a card. Which means that he was stuck up here. There were the stairs, but that also required a keycard to even have access to the stairwell. Dakota tried to process possible solutions, but that would deter him away from his task of helping Sean. "Guess I will have to stay put" the Android said quietly before turning back towards the direction of Sean's apartment. Instead of knocking on the door to get his attention, the Android simply sat down next to the door, criss-cross. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to rest for a bit to conserve his energy, or at least until he deemed it necessary. If I am to aid this Human, it seems my forceful approach isn't going to do any good. Would it be best if I were more silent? Laid back? No, that would push me back rather than help me move forward on the matter.. I should just see what tomorrow brings and work out a plan from there. @Deleted User

Sean was irate. His cellphone was consistently buzzing and didn’t cease for the next few minutes. Certainly he figured that his mother had spread the word about the loss of his job to the rest of the family. Sean couldn’t give a damn about their opinions on it. He held down the button and swiped away, silencing any future notifications. After dragging a comb through the mess of hair on his head, Sean slumped onto the plush cushion of his sofa and reached for the nearest pillow to drop his face into its surface. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to shrivel away and never hear from anyone again. Why did this have to be happening? The interior of the apartment was as dreary as the weather outside. The walls were painted a slate blue and the floors were a deep chestnut brown. Years ago it had a shiny polished finish that had now become scratched and dull. There were no decorations. The material and color of the kitchen cabinets matched the floor. The television sat on a glass table, which would light up if you prompted it by voice. “TV, power on.” Sean muttered into the pillow and with a chime, an old comedy show droned in the background. He swore that he heard a shifting noise from the opposite side of the locked entrance door. He was being paranoid. There was no one there, right? It would become exasperating to jump each time something felt off and continue to check behind the other side of that door. If the Android remained, Sean did not care. It certainly would not make him feel any better to have someone reminding him of every failure he felt right then. @Mandragora (Fauna)

The Android sat in silence outside the apartment, not moving a muscle, if Androids had muscle that is. Right now, he was more focused on trying to figure out what he was going to do about Sean. It seemed so far that trying to speak to him currently wasn't going to work due to his irate mood. Judging from how the Human had spoken and acted to him, it seemed he wasn't fond of Androids very much. Even more so that he didn't want to seek help. Is it safe to say he has some form of pride about himself. Or perhaps he doesn't want to seek help from the beings that took away his job in the first place? Would toning myself down help ease him? Or would he still see me as nothing more than a nuisance? The faint sound of the tv being turned on could be heard through the door. Maybe it was best to give Sean some space. This was an unexpected situation after all and it was probably best to not provoke the man any more than he already had. Very well, I'll leave him be. Though, I don't plan on giving up anytime soon.. There was a faint pause in his thoughts before they continued. I would like to help him, not just because it's my job.. but because I feel.. What do I feel? Sorry? Is it sympathy? No, surely not.. I feel like I want to help him better understand Androids, better understand that there is always a silver lining to such things. Dakota opened his eyes, turning his head slightly towards the door, before facing forwards once more and closing his eyes. "A silver lining.." he spoke softly with a smile to match before powering down into battery saver mode for the night. @Deleted User

Sean pulled down the heavy quilted blanket and got himself under the covers. The mattress was firm and caused a dull ache in his lower back. He reached for the curtain attached to the window next to the bedside and tugged it shut. The storm continued to roll through the rest of the night, and the television was left running. Sunshine sparkled around the edge of the window and the home system began its daily message. The same time every day. ’Good morning. It is nine AM. It is thirty one degrees outside. Weather alert. The road is icy. Travel with caution…’ Sean blinked and opened his eyes, exhaling deeply with a stretch of his arms. For a brief moment everything felt normal. That was, until he remembered the previous night. Damn it. There was nothing left. No need to rush and prepare for a work day. Unnecessary to make breakfast immediately, spilling the top of his normal to-go coffee that the lid wouldn’t snap on right. No chilling wind in his face on the commute to the office, or dreading a long day of straining his eyes reading emails. Sean stood up and slumped toward the dining table. His cellphone was still left on silence mode from the evening before. No one continued to contact him. Certainly they would care for a moment, or act like they did. @Mandragora (Fauna)

The hallways of the apartment were rather silent throughout the night, minus the sound of thunder from the raging storm. Though during the day would have been a different story if not for the fact that it was a weekend. Saturday had begun and it seems the humans did not come out of their homes much on days of rest. Or rather, the ones who still had jobs that is. "Good morning. It is nine AM. It is thirty one degrees outside." The sound of the Home System could be heard slightly beyond the door and Dakota lifted his head, listening. "Weather alert. The road is icy. Travel with caution." Seems the storm left the world outside an array of issues. Thankfully because it was a Saturday, there would be less people outside, right? Though, as Dakota sat there, he could hear the male inside getting up and moving around. Would now be the time to speak to him? No, he must still be angry.. If I push my luck then surely I won't ever get a chance. I must wait. The sound of a door opening down at the end of the hall caused the Android to turn his head. Stepping out of their room was a Human male. He looked much older than Sean. Gray, almost silver hair and pale skin. Wrinkles dotted his skin like an old blanket left wadded up. Another figure stepped out into the hallway behind him, closing the door. An Android. She had dirty blonde hair that was styled into a Dutch Braid. By the looks of it, the male didn't get out much due to his age, and the Android with him appeared to be a form of Companion Android, though in this case she looked to be more tailored for the Elderly. "Anna, who is that figure down the way?" the old man asked the Android who's name Dakota had learned was Anna. "An Android, Mr. Harris" Without so much as a thought, the elderly man started to make his way towards Dakota. "An Android out here? That's not right. They should be with their Owners at all times.." Dakota watched as the two approached and promptly stood up from his spot on the floor. "Go

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od morning, sir" the Android spoke calmly and warmly to the Human in front of him. Anna was close behind Mr. Harris who stopped a good couple feet from the male Android. "Tell me, young man.." Young man? He was just told that Dakota was an android. Maybe.. he didn't see it that way? "You shouldn't be out here without your Owner. That's the rules of this complex.." he rested an old hand on the Android's arm. "Is your Owner abusive?" "No, sir.. You have the wrong idea" Dakota said calmly, his eyes filled with a sense of curiosity but also slight pain that could not be hidden. "I do not have an Owner. I was assigned to help one, but.." Dakota paused, not sure how to say it. He didn't want to put Sean on blast, so he would refuse to use his name in this conversation just to protect him. "He is not very fond of them, I guess you could say. I'm respecting his wishes, though, I still have a duty to help him.." "I see, and you want to help him even if he rejects you? Why is that?" Mr. Harris asked calmly, slowly letting go of his hold on the Android in front of him. "At first, I was hasty. I thought urgency was the best route. I realized now that not everyone sees things the same as others.." Dakota paused, staring at the old man for a minute, then at Anna before returning his gaze to the man and continued. "While I'm not registered as his Android, I still want to help him to the best of my ability. Though, if he wanted me to jump off the roof of this building and be done with him, I wouldn't object.. cause if that's what he wished of me, then so be it.." The man was taken back a bit by Dakota's answer, but remained firm. "Well, make sure you tell him that yourself, son. Don't go throwing that life away just because he tells you to. IF he tells you to. Androids and Humans aren't all that different. The inside is.. sure. But the views and feelings are all the same.." the man said calmly as he turned to leave with Anna back to his room. @Deleted User

The silver machine on the kitchen countertop buzzed and whirred before pouring out fresh coffee into the mug. Sean pulled the handle to the cabinet door right above the oven and selected a medium nonstick pan. He placed it onto the grate of the stovetop and scooped a small pat of butter into the pan before clicking the button for the flames. The butter began to slowly melt, spreading around the surface and bubbling. While it sizzled away, he quickly whipped up a basic pancake batter in a large plastic bowl and whisked until smooth. There were audible voices outside in the hallway. Not again. Sean couldn’t help but eavesdrop- his apartment was quiet apart from the whir of the flame. Why was this Android so persistent to help him? He didn’t need, nor want anything. What he wanted was his job back and life could resume as it was. He hated the way nothing was the same anymore. He felt isolated. He grumbled and flipped the pancake. Perfectly golden. The thought of everything Sean heard sat in his mind for the next few minutes. It was hard for him to care. But he wanted answers. He shuffled back to the fridge and found a bottle of orange juice, and plucked two glasses out to pour some in each one. Without a doubt he had two breakfasts on the countertop. He wasn’t certain that the Android needed meals but it would be a decent gesture anyway. It was worth a try. He reluctantly cracked the front door open, peering out at the Android who was still waiting in the hallway. There was a brief moment of awkward silence before Sean decided to start the conversation. “There’s some breakfast in here.. if you can’t eat it, well.. then don’t worry about it.” @Mandragora (Fauna)

Dakota heard the creak of the door behind him, slowly turning his head when he saw Sean who was silent for a bit. Was he angry? Would he tell him to shove off after being annoying and disrupting him? "There's some breakfast in here.. if you can't eat it, well.. then don't worry about it." The Android was hesitant for a minute, wondering if Sean was being genuine in his offer but Dakota gave a small smile. "That's very kind of you, Sean. Thank you." Dakota took a step into the apartment, closing the door behind him. Letting his eyes look about the interior of the apartment, the android could see how bare and lackluster it was. Maybe he preferred plain over well decorated? He noticed the two plates of breakfast there on the counter, clearly having just been made. Slowly, he made his way towards the kitchen and picked up one of the plates while handing the other to Sean. "I apologize if my conversation with Mr. Harris disrupted you. I would have left earlier if I had access to the elevator or stairwell. Seems I wasn't too keen on the idea that there would be some security measures in place.." Dakota took a seat on one side of the couch, resting his plate on his knees that were now together. The warmth of the food did not seem to hurt him too much. "I'm also glad you chose to offer food to me. I'm sure you must still hate my presence.." Dakota stared at the food on the plate, his eyes a little sullen but it disappeared when he looked up at Sean. "I.. also want to apologize for last night as well. I was too hasty to you, and I fear I should not have tried to rush you into something you may not want.." Despite being artificial and having quite a large amount of information stored in his memory banks, he seemed almost human in terms of realizing his mistakes and apologizing for them. The way he finally started eating, one would hardly think he was an android at all. However, due to the storm last night and that he had been trapped up here without a way to leave,

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he couldn't charge himself. Androids are capable of charging themselves and preserving their battery when needed. Some androids only have one way to charge themselves, whether it's through solar power, plugging themselves into a charging station or by eating. Dakota was capable of two such methods. Solar power and through food consumption if there was never an easy way to get access to sunlight. "After I finish here, I'll leave you be and head back to Mrs. White. Tell her that I could not complete my job.." he said finally. @Deleted User