IC INBOX

[decryptic]

[ misc. interactions go here! ]

Comments

action!

[givethemhell]

[OKAY LOOK he's not exactly best friends with Nines, but considering how surprisingly well their last interaction had gone? He's just gonna gently intercept this punk the next time he spots him around Middleton, probably sometime Tuesday night but really what are timelines in the nebulous void. ANYWAY.]

Nines! You're not on any time sensitive errand run or anything, yes?

[decryptic]

[ 9S was probably just walking around, snooping and crouching by random things like old-timey cars and fire hydrants. So much data to collect... When he hears Wei Wuxian, he straightens to attention, surprised but not displeased. ]

Hm? No, I'm not busy. What can I do for you?

[givethemhell]

[9S just hanging near a fire hydrant, trying to determine how ye olde hydrants work...

He offers a little quirking smile, though - there's a tiny bit of tightness there that suggests some amount of stress, but life in Middleton is stressful like 90% of the time lately, anyway.]

I just wanted to talk to you for a moment. Have you heard of any disappearances over in Eastside lately? Within the last week or two, specifically - but anything before then would be fine, too.

actiooon

[wisterin]

[ Wherever he is out and about, Shinobu calls out to him. It could be Eastside, it could be Middleton, if 9S wants to be daring into Westside, anywhere—there's enough reason for Shinobu to be flitting all over the place these days. ]

Hello there! Nines, isn't it? Are you looking forward to the Date Auction?

[ Instead of, isn't the rain calming today, this is her greeting of the week. ]

[decryptic]

[ Let's say Middleton! He's been harassed into going to school more, so he is around there now, he guesses. He pauses so that he can turn and face Shinobu, who seems to be up for some chit-chat. Funny what he's gotten used to at this point, because he offers a lilting response. ]

Helloooo, Ms. Shinobu! Can't say I am. It's not like I have any plans to participate.

[ Dating a human would be just about the funniest/most horrifying thing he could imagine. At best, he'll hang around and see how the proceedings go. ]

Why do you ask? Are you gonna take part?

[wisterin]

I am. It's to promote peace, so it's something that should be supported.

[ It's easy enough to say that, but if that's how it actually ends up is something that remains to be seen. ]

You should bid for a little fun. You don't have to try to win. I only hope the night will go as nicely as it sounds on paper.

action, sometime after gatling gate!

[givethemhell]

[SO 9S IS HERE TO SEE THE KIDS and Wei Wuxian is hanging around because he's glued to his damn resident's sides at this point and will be for quite a while! Bianca and Bennett seem to be in decent spirits, all things considered, though he swoops in as soon as they start to look tired.]

Alright, alright, you three. I think it's probably time for a little break, yes?

[To which Bennett LOUDLY COMPLAINS and clings to 9S's leg... Weakly, considering he's still injured, but he's doing his best.]

gatling gate fjgdf

[decryptic]

[ 9S looks a little tired himself because kids (mostly Bennett) are indeed very tiring, but he gives Bennett a pat on the back and a smile. ]

I'm not going anywhere yet, little guy. And tell you what -- if you take a really good break, I'll show you a surprise afterward.

[ Train them with bribery... that's what 9S has learned!! Bianca isn't nearly as clingy as Bennett, but there's still some curiosity in her eyes before she shakes her head and pries her totally embarrassing brother off of 9S.

9S straightens and looks up at Lan Wangji. ]

Did you need something, sir?

[givethemhell]

[can't believe 9S is going to need to take a nap right along with these kids.

Also that's fair, honestly - Wei Wuxian uses bribes WAY TOO OFTEN. It's fine. He gives both kids a gentle hair ruffle each, and then starts herding them out of the room.]

Mm - give me a second. Let's get you two set up for a rest first, alright?

[AND AWAY HE GOES, ushering them off to their new room. Chicken's hanging out in there, so at least they'll have a playmate if they don't actually decide to rest, as children are wont to do.

When he comes back, he's still smiling, but there's a certain terseness to it. He closes the door behind himself.]

...I have another request, if you have an open schedule with everything going on right now.

YEEHAW HE'S BACK

[givethemhell]

[Before they even gET TO THE ROOM BENNETT AND BIANCA ARE IN, Wei Wuxian just pulls off to the kitchen first. It's not that he doesn't trust Nines - he's just already an extremely overprotective person when it comes to people dependent on him, and he's just been put more and more on edge with all of the goings-on here lately. He's trying desperately to maintain a feeling of comfort and safety in the apartment, but it is Hard.]

I know it probably doesn't need to be said, but I don't want to press either of them, especially after everything. If they start to look upset or distressed, let's save it for another day, alright?

[decryptic]

[ 9S takes off his hat, because hats seem to be the in thing and hey it's free eye shade, and holds it to his chest, nodding readily. ]

Understood. They're strong kids, but they are still kids, after all.

[ The reminder is helpful, honestly. 9S is fond of Bianca and Bennett, but he can be a little overeager when it comes to scrounging for information. ]

Whenever you're ready, sir.

[givethemhell]

[Hats are super in and 9S is killin it, good work team.

He seems satisfied by that answer though, so he'll gesture for 9S to follow him! Also they have snacks or something it's fine, when in doubt bribe your kids. He knocks on the door--]

Bennett? Bianca? We're coming in - Nines is here again, too.

[There's a little delighted squeal from behind the door that's most definitely Bennett, and Wei Wuxian is quick to open it the second he hears what sounds like little tiny demon feet start racing over.]

What did the doctor say about running? Come here, come sit with your sister.

action

[counterclocked]

[Hello, 9S!! Hopefully he's having a good day, because it's going to get derailed. As Hunter parks this very stolen car near his place, he's coming out to knock on the door. Much more casually than the situation calls for:]

Hey... Nines, right? You got a second?

[He glances towards WWX after knocking. Please help him determine how to explain this in the next five seconds.]

[givethemhell]

[Haha, Wei Wuxian is here again, darkening 9S's doorstep. TROUBLE FOLLOWS HIM WHEREVER HE GOES... That trouble is Hunter, the car thief.]

I know you're probably busy with requests and jobs and all, but we need a car dismantled! Quickly. [...] If it's identified, we'd all be in trouble.

[He has the face to at least look a little apologetic, though... SORRY THEY BROUGHT YOU THIS CURSED CAR, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO except the river, which he almost suggested driving it into.]

[decryptic]

[ Well if it isn't Hunter! And Wei Wuxian, yet again. 9S stares at the pair of them, processing. Finally, he just kind of shrugs and shakes his head. ]

You sure know how to keep yourself busy, Mr. Wuxian.

[ He steps out and closes the door behind him. It's not like he was busy working on like 50 guns or anything, it's not like he doesn't have time to dismantle a wholeass car!! ... Though really, messing with a car sounds more interesting, so he puts all that other stuff on the backburner out of reflex. ]

Alright, where is it?

action

[counterclocked]

[Here they all are, on a day in which nothing will go awry. Hunter is hunched down out of sight near the seemingly abandoned car, glancing at 9S and WWX beside him. Wen Ning isn't too close, but he isn't far away, either - for now, all the four of them are doing is waiting.

Until Hunter sees a familiar face wandering into the scene, holding a stack of what look to be... flyers? Weird. Either way, since 9S has never seen this guy before, Hunter is elbowing him lightly as he whispers:]

Hey, that's him.

[decryptic]

[ Oh!! 9S perks up from where he's been boredly staring out into space and thinking about other things like...... hats. If Wei Wuxian looks like he needs it, 9S will dutifully chain-elbow him too before targeting in on the new man on the scene. He squints at the loose flyer in his hand, trying to make it out from this distance. ]

"LOST CAR"... Geez, he's really desperate to have it back. I kind of feel bad about us weaseling it away for so long.

voice

[counterclocked]

[Sometime the day after their Shenanigans, 9S is going to be experiencing the sudden voice in his head that comes when someone who doesn't have false memories of this world tries to contact another. Ring ring!!]

Hey - can you hear this at all?

[decryptic]

[ 9S perks up and lowers the automotive manual he was flipping through. Say one thing for 9S, say that he likes to learn -- and there's plenty to learn about the sweet new ride they've acquired. ]

I read you loud and clear. Hello, Mr. Hunter. Is everything alright?

[suddenlybees]

[ SINCE THE WORLD IS ENDING IN A WEEK

bang bang bang bang bang on 9S's front door, either he's inside the house and will answer the door or maybe he's outside and gets to come home to Kano doing a poor job of breaking down his door with his fist, either way, hello. ]

[decryptic]

[ 9S is home!! He answers the door in a slightly-too-big apron. The smell of baked dough wafts out of the house.

When he opens the door to find Kano, he takes a moment to lean out and look both ways down the street first. ]

Alright, who's after you this time?

[doublesmall]

Oi, Nines.

[Chuuya has just shown right up for a visit, dropping in rather than calling 9S to his offices; he's got a few stops to make, so honestly, why not? It just makes it all easier.

He seems like he's got something on his mind, though; this isn't just a friendly check-in.]

Got a few minutes?

[decryptic]

[ 9S answers the door in a slightly-too-big apron. The smell of baked goods wafts out the door. Any friendly greeting he might have offered Chuuya dies away as he takes in the man's tone, and he steps back to let Chuuya in. ]

I've got as many as you need, sir. Is everything alright?

[givethemhell]

[A LETTER is eventually delivered to 9S!! Thanks buddy.]

Nines,

Thanks for all of the help, and for taking such good care of Bennett and Bianca and the other kids. They're pretty fond of you, you know? When they come back into town, make sure to visit them a lot, alright? I've tried to make it so things won't be quite as difficult for them, but I don't know how well it will work.

Even though you're Mori, I think you should talk to Xie Lian's people once you get the chance, too. We need more in support of unity on both ends. He wants to work for it, and I think you can help. Chuuya listens to you, right? Try to get him to listen to this. It's important. Unity and peace are the most important things if we want every child in this city to grow up safe and not too fast.

That's my hope for the future here, anyway. I hope you can all see it come to fruition, too.

But maybe remember to get that concussion looked at, when you can.

Take care,
Wei Ying

[decryptic]

[ With all the information that's come to light practically overnight, 9S is grateful for the letter, really. It's light on explanations -- slightly frustrating for an information-hungry android -- but it's reassuring to read a letter from Wei Wuxian that still sounds like him and not a deranged killer-on-the-loose as he might be painted in a more lawful society.

Not for the first time, and almost certainly not for the last, 9S is troubled by the value of human life. His programming cries for objective quantification; it insists that all humans have equal potential, and that he should guard them all with utmost reverence. Yet here now is a man accused of killing many. A stubborn, willful human who likely regrets none of his actions, who could very well kill again, and whom 9S happens to like and admire.

Maybe it's better that Wei Wuxian was able to make his escape, then. It spares 9S from having to consider the merits of killing him, or through inaction allowing others to be killed. It's too big a conundrum for one lone android to contemplate. He carefully tucks the letter away, and wonders if he'll see Wei Wuxian again soon. ]