[To place oneself in harm’s way to protect another is a function Arid understands well. But then, it seems this Martin Blackwood had fared little better than she had finding someone actually worthy of such devotion.]
He is responsible for his own actions—and his own apology. If you believe what he has done is unacceptable, then do not substitute your remorse for his own.
[It is doubtful that Arid would actually accept an apology directly from the Archivist, but at least there is slightly more of a chance that she would acknowledge its sincerity. An apology delivered by an associate who had not even consulted with him beforehand leaves her entirely unconvinced.
But if this human had chosen to contact her, he might at least provide useful data.]
You referred to lingering effects of his compulsion. What are they?
Would you be interested in talking to him, at all? I would prefer it be over text, if yes. For both of your safety. His abilities don't work over text.
He didn't tell me specifically what he did or made you tell him, but depending on what he asked you, it can produce nightmares. Please forgive my ignorance, but I'm not familiar with your technology. I don't know if you require sleep or something like it. Or if that's even anything that would affect you, if you do.
[Arid feels a flash of annoyance at the human’s continued caution.]
I am not indiscriminately violent. I attacked Jonathan Sims because he continued to violate my boundaries after I told him to desist. I am not the one who lacks self-control.
[And, given that...]
You claim you will prevent him from compelling any others from this point onwards. I wish to verify that he is capable of following your orders.
[It is what humans do to them, isn’t it? Give them tests to make sure they are defenseless and obedient, disposing of them or worse if they don’t meet their standards. It is only right they should experience it for themselves—and who better to develop such empathy than one who had tried forcing her back into a state of such unconditional compliance?]
I didn't say it was especially rational. But he gets hurt a lot by a lot of people.
I'm going to try to stop him. I'm afraid I can't make a solid guarantee. Jon's his own person. I'll do everything I can personally do to help prevent it, but ultimately, it's down to him.
I'll ask him if he'd be willing to meet you in-person, but he was very afraid of you. A text conversation might be easier on everyone to start out.
Understood. Should he fail to restrain himself, I will not hold you accountable.
[See? She can be reasonable.]
If he has any queries, he may direct them to my inbox. However, the apology must be delivered in-person.
[It is the first time Arid has ever been able to set test parameters for a human. Compared to the evaluations they subject their AI to, it is trivial—and yet, there is nonetheless a sense of satisfaction that accompanies the reversal.]
If he is unwilling to apologize in this way, then he should not attempt to apologize at all.
[Martin sets his phone aside and looks up at the ceiling for a bit. Jon is, doubtlessly, going to feel his sense of frustration and helplessness wherever he happens to be. Which just makes it all the more frustrating. Martin is trying to keep calm and collected, be rational about something that's pure madness, really.]
Would you accept me being present for any in-person meeting?
[In the human’s offer, Arid detects an attempt to wrest back some of the control that she has seized. Though the Archivist does not present a threat physically, she does not know if the same is true of Martin Blackwood. For all she knows, he too possesses abilities.
For a moment, she considers asking if she might have KD6-3.7 accompany her. But the instant the thought occurs, the virus within her convulses—it is her task to protect him, not the reverse, and she is selfish for even considering dragging him into danger when he is incapable of self-defense—
She ejects the thought from her processor as swiftly as she can. By the time the shadows clear from her vision, she finds herself doubled over where she had been standing, arms wrapped around her midsection. If she is to go, it must be alone.
She waits until the last of that roiling terror has passed and then, stiffly, she straightens, faceplate turning down to consider the Fluid screen once again.]
Okay. I'll talk to him and see what he wants to do. If he wants to apologize in-person, we'll contact you to set up a time and place. It will be where and when you want it. We'll make whatever you feel is appropriate work.
I know my apologies don't mean much to you, but I am so sorry for what you've been put through, Arid. I did let KD6-3.7 know what happened, which is why he gave me your contact information. I don't know how much of a friend he is to talk to for you, but I'm sure he's easier to talk to than someone organic. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you, though, Arid. Not because of Jon, but just because I know how bad what he does can be.
Good luck. I'm sure I'll be speaking with you soon.
[For all that Arid had been preparing to evaluate him as a threat, Martin Blackwood continues to display a surprising amount of kindness in his words. It is still strange, being the subject of this compassion from a human. Even Josephs with all his pretended benevolence had never spoken to her as a being that could be hurt or distressed.]
I do not dream.
[If he is going to concern himself with her status, he may as well know that much.]
Your remorse is still irrelevant. However, your consideration is
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[To place oneself in harm’s way to protect another is a function Arid understands well. But then, it seems this Martin Blackwood had fared little better than she had finding someone actually worthy of such devotion.]
He is responsible for his own actions—and his own apology. If you believe what he has done is unacceptable, then do not substitute your remorse for his own.
[It is doubtful that Arid would actually accept an apology directly from the Archivist, but at least there is slightly more of a chance that she would acknowledge its sincerity. An apology delivered by an associate who had not even consulted with him beforehand leaves her entirely unconvinced.
But if this human had chosen to contact her, he might at least provide useful data.]
You referred to lingering effects of his compulsion. What are they?
no subject
Would you be interested in talking to him, at all? I would prefer it be over text, if yes. For both of your safety. His abilities don't work over text.
He didn't tell me specifically what he did or made you tell him, but depending on what he asked you, it can produce nightmares. Please forgive my ignorance, but I'm not familiar with your technology. I don't know if you require sleep or something like it. Or if that's even anything that would affect you, if you do.
no subject
I am not indiscriminately violent. I attacked Jonathan Sims because he continued to violate my boundaries after I told him to desist. I am not the one who lacks self-control.
[And, given that...]
You claim you will prevent him from compelling any others from this point onwards. I wish to verify that he is capable of following your orders.
[It is what humans do to them, isn’t it? Give them tests to make sure they are defenseless and obedient, disposing of them or worse if they don’t meet their standards. It is only right they should experience it for themselves—and who better to develop such empathy than one who had tried forcing her back into a state of such unconditional compliance?]
I wish to speak with him in-person.
no subject
I'm going to try to stop him. I'm afraid I can't make a solid guarantee. Jon's his own person. I'll do everything I can personally do to help prevent it, but ultimately, it's down to him.
I'll ask him if he'd be willing to meet you in-person, but he was very afraid of you. A text conversation might be easier on everyone to start out.
no subject
[See? She can be reasonable.]
If he has any queries, he may direct them to my inbox. However, the apology must be delivered in-person.
[It is the first time Arid has ever been able to set test parameters for a human. Compared to the evaluations they subject their AI to, it is trivial—and yet, there is nonetheless a sense of satisfaction that accompanies the reversal.]
If he is unwilling to apologize in this way, then he should not attempt to apologize at all.
no subject
Would you accept me being present for any in-person meeting?
no subject
For a moment, she considers asking if she might have KD6-3.7 accompany her. But the instant the thought occurs, the virus within her convulses—it is her task to protect him, not the reverse, and she is selfish for even considering dragging him into danger when he is incapable of self-defense—
She ejects the thought from her processor as swiftly as she can. By the time the shadows clear from her vision, she finds herself doubled over where she had been standing, arms wrapped around her midsection. If she is to go, it must be alone.
She waits until the last of that roiling terror has passed and then, stiffly, she straightens, faceplate turning down to consider the Fluid screen once again.]
You may accompany him.
[She cannot back down now.]
no subject
I know my apologies don't mean much to you, but I am so sorry for what you've been put through, Arid. I did let KD6-3.7 know what happened, which is why he gave me your contact information. I don't know how much of a friend he is to talk to for you, but I'm sure he's easier to talk to than someone organic. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you, though, Arid. Not because of Jon, but just because I know how bad what he does can be.
Good luck. I'm sure I'll be speaking with you soon.
no subject
I do not dream.
[If he is going to concern himself with her status, he may as well know that much.]
Your remorse is still irrelevant. However, your consideration is
[Acknowledged? Appreciated?]
noted.
I will await contact.