Oddbomber wants a gosh-darn toaster. [IPC Application]

[Oddbomber]

BYOND Key: Oddbomber3768
Character Names: Aleksandra Petronovich (Roboticist), Ilya Orlova (Detective [new])
Species you are applying to play: IPC
What color do you plan on making your first alien character: N/A (IPC)
Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yep!

Why do you wish to play this specific race:
First of all, I'm a huge fan of robots/androids in science-fiction in general. A huge fan. Among my earliest favorite characters were Android 18, the Major from Ghost in the Shell (technically not a robot, but close enough), and that tall lady from Galaxy Express 999. Among my favorite movies of all time are ones that involve androids as a central theme, such as Blade Runner. I like the idea of a construct made in the image of mankind, but also with a completely alien or robotic way of thinking and perceiving scenarios - I'll explain more in the section below. Other than that, various IPC characters on-station that I've met have been huge inspirations for me as a writer and artist, and thus, IPCs have that sort of nostalgic attraction of "Whoa, that person is really good at writing". The early IRUs, such as Sentiment or Zenith, were characters that I greatly admired and enjoyed observing back in the day, and I continue to find cool characters that I take note of such as Likho, Gulrez, and Marianette. 

More practically, I'm somewhat tired of playing as humans and would like an interesting change of pace. Depicting an IPC would be a good challenge, and an opportunity to improve my skills and consistency as a writer. There's only so many variations of Solarian you can make.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:
First of all, the experience of an IPC is always tempered with oppression, both subtle and overt. Many IPCs are at risk of having their memories wiped, or worse, at a moment's notice for relatively minor shortcomings or mistakes - as compared to a human, who are not held to the same rigid, strict set of regulations. Additionally, the majority of IPCs are in a state of indentured, or contractual, servitude - desperately working as hard as they can, often with a forced smile, to buy their freedom. Simply put, IPCs are more often than not made to serve others, regardless of whether they want to or not. Additionally, they face harsher discrimination than their human contemporaries. Whilst the average Solarian may receive some passing racism (unlikely if they were not in the armed forces), IPCs are routinely considered demons and abominations by Dominians and viewed with suspicion by the Skrell, who associate them with Glorsh's massacre due to the nature of the source of positronic technology. 

Internally, the thought process of an IPC would be considered almost alien when compared to a human. Although it imitates human-like behavior, an IPC is driven by a binary, cause-and-effect model - making them both stilted in terms of their mimicking of human behavior, but also predictable to a certain degree.  They are also very precise and deliberate in their actions, even down to preferring to avoid contractions. However, similarly to humans, their top priority at any moment is self-preservation, followed by whatever rules they are given by their owners.

And, of course, mechanically/game-wise, IPCs play completely differently to humans.  Having to charge, susceptibility to EMPs, different means of healing (having to repair), being susceptible to overheating, and so forth.

Character Name: Marie-IV
Marie-IV was produced as a limited product-run AutoSecretary Executive, one of two "twins", by special request from a wealthy, private client. As requested, Aerodyne Synthetics - a small, specialty shell production company - produced both Marie-III and IV as exact replicas of each other, down to the dimensions and even materials used. As apart of the "Executive" model, they were fitted with a reinforced endoskeleton, improved servomotors, and an administrative module - that is to say, vast knowledge of paperwork, retractable micro-fingers for faster typing, and a small data-storage port; intended to act both as a low-risk personal protection, in addition to their traditional housekeeping and bookkeeping duties. As prided by the company, the shells were said to be utterly, ruthlessly efficient and with a unbreakable, polite composure. 

The client in question was an old, withered man who had made his fortune on undercutting prices on bulk ores and fuels all around the inner sphere of the Sol Alliance. Now, at the last legs of his life and in a foreign land, Sir Timothy H. Brooks had no family to look after him and no attendants to keep the estate tidy - which led to the commission of two, custom-made androids to his specifications. He modelled them after what he imagined - or hoped - his daughters would have looked like, had he not spent his life chasing business rather than a family. He loved the two rather dearly, and showered them with affection and gifts - as if they were of his flesh and blood. Over time, both III and IV grew to care for the old man as well - looking to his every need as he grew closer to passing. It would not necessarily be love, but a strange, borderline-defective affection for the kindly old man; perhaps a sort of pity? The old man was unable to take them to receive regular maintenance, and the two were already preoccupied with keeping the manor tidy and tending to Sir Brooks to leave on their own. They remained almost constantly by his side for over 7 years. 

Of course, in time, the old man finally passed away at the ripe age of 95. He left the two their freedom, and a rather significant portion of his wealth - the rest went to various charities, a last act of philanthropism before death. Both III and IV were saddened by the loss of their owner, and friend, although they could not possibly comprehend the feelings running through their subsystems. A loss of purpose, a loss of a friend, it all did not make sense to them. Together, they purchased a small, efficiently-sized apartment on Biesel and found work with Nanotrasen, initially as assistants and later transitioning to Service-related positions.

 
What do you like about this character?

Marie-IV is a shell that was built to be emotionless and efficient, struggling to work through and comprehend decidedly inefficient emotions - whether through intentional programming or a malfunction/defect. It doesn't even know if the emotions are wanted, or unwanted. Throughout this, it must maintain an outward appearance of composure and grace, as that is the only thing it knows for certain to hang on to. 

Additionally, Marie-IV - while having grown up in servitude - was not necessarily exposed to the discrimination of other shells, and was relatively sheltered throughout it's lifespan. How will it react with the vast melding pot that is the Aurora? 

How would you rate your role-playing ability?

Not particularly anything great, decent enough. 

Notes:

Yes, it will have a twin with it. Probably. It doesn't need to have a twin around, however.

Edited February 25, 2021 by MattAtlas
Removed information that can be used to metagame PCs.

[Carpe Venenum]

I can't really say much about the application itself, but Ilya Orlova (did you know Ilya is a male name and Orlova is a female surname?) is, at least outwardly (i.e. on the radio), is a really bad and flat Russian/Soviet stereotype. I can't really endorse this. -1

Edited February 25, 2021 by Carpe Venenum

[niennab]

Thank you for applying! How do III and IV feel towards one another? Is there a sense on comradery, competition, etc etc. How do III and IV feel having gone through a sheltered life only to find themselves thrust into the world? What do they think about freedom?

As a side note, since IPCs are made for certain tasks and thusly would require expensive databases to take up roles in workplaces, I would have them start in their respected service fields upon starting work on the Aurora, rather than the assistant path.

[Oddbomber]

@Carpe Venenum I will note, both as Ilya is a relatively new character and because the lore for Pluto atm isn't necessarily dense, I have been trying to avoid stepping on the lorewriter's toes in terms of coming up with completely original things as related to Pluto, and thus trying to really figure out her character as well. I suppose it's a valid point that she's flat, because she-- really is; although, she doesn't really speak on General Comms frequently, other than to communicate info or make a snarky remark.  

[Oddbomber]

@niennab III and IV feel - as close as positronics can metaphorically feel - as sisters; that is to say, with a healthy mix of competition and care/concern for one another. They tend to be very synergized and work better together, even going as far as to occasionally complete each others sentences or predict with a fair degree of accuracy what the other will do. They're very much familiar with one another and could be described as being made to be together, much in the way an artisan-crafted teacup fits perfectly well with its matching saucer.  Bad metaphor, but it gets the point across.

III and IV, to combine the last two questions, feel absolutely lost in a world they've been tossed into without any prior experience or exposure beforehand. Freedom, arguably, is a bigger prison than tending to Sir Brooks had been - the boundaries of their programming, whilst giving them many skills needed to survive (such as knowledge of paperwork, finances, and so forth), did not give them any preparation or goal past self-preservation and assisting their owner. This is partially the reason why they moved to seek out a job so quickly - despite the slight software malfunctions, they have been made to constantly keep busy and to prioritize efficiency. To sit around and "retire", so to speak, would be unthinkable for the two at the moment. 

[niennab]

I convened with my team and we have no further questions. The characters themselves are in a way withdrawn from a number of concepts inherent to IPCs, however you have demonstrated an understanding of these concepts in your application. Accepted.