thebastion | An incognito arrival

Who: Erek King and anyone!
Open: Wide open!
When: Day 247
Where: anywhere in the Bastion
What: An android arrives and skulks about hidden behind holograms before saying hello.
Format: prose preferred, but I'll match either!
Warnings: none

Erek's holographic emitter isn't projecting when he becomes aware he isn't home. That is already worrying, even before he takes in his surroundings while raising the illusion of a human boy around himself. An expression of relief flickers across the holographic face, thousands of years making shifts in expression a well-founded habit. His emitters aren't down, at least.

This isn't Earth, though, and it's the most bizarre planet Erek has ever visited. As he takes a step, the ground shifts around him, creating a path on which to walk. ...Interesting, if concerning. He doesn't think it's based on magnetism. The planet itself probably isn't sentient either. It's a matter for later investigation, though. There are more pressing concerns.

He sees a light in the distance that looks promising and replaces his human hologram with one of invisibility, blending into his surroundings. Erek will wait until he sees what species inhabit the planet and do his best to blend in. He sets off toward the Bastion.

When he arrives, Erek stays out of sight until anyone comes into view. He plans on taking up an appropriate hologram as soon as he's gauged the people well enough. Of course, should anyone human-shaped be present, it's easy enough to duck behind the edge of a building and emerge as Erek King, a fairly unremarkable teenage boy. He assumes that no one will see through his camouflage in the meantime. It hasn't happened so far, his emitters sufficiently advanced that it would take a very specialized sort of eyesight to see anything through the illusion.

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Scent is indeed another thing. A wave of joy and relief washes over Erek at the sight of someone walking a dog, and he's quick to make sure he's covered in human hologram complete with forcefield. His new immediate goal is to say hello to and pet New Moon.

He doesn't smell human, but neither does he smell threatening. He smells like... not much. Metal doesn't have a strong smell. His holographic face is smiling as he approaches. "I'm so glad to see a dog here," Erek calls out to Saix. "I thought they were all... gone."

Yes. Yes. New Moon nearly vibrates with excitement when the smell comes closer. He'd known something was a new smelling thing in the Bastion, and now he's found it! Yes, he is such a good dog, he deserves all the treats.

If only he could tell his owner of this. Instead, he just gleefully starts to approach Erik before stopping at the sharp whistle Saix makes. "Heel, New Moon." As the dog practically wiggles in place, Saix gives a shake of his head before looking over who he can only assume to be a new arrival.

"I doubt they're all gone, but there's not many here in the Bastion. New Moon came with me from a different World entirely."

Erek grins approvingly at the well-trained response. Leash unnecessary, and New Moon is clearly happy with his owner. Humans and dogs really have become symbiotes. "Could I please say hello and pet New Moon if he's willing?" he asks eagerly. "I've always loved dogs."

New Moon is more hope than Erek expected to find after realizing where he was and what happened. Erek isn't the last of the Pemalites' legacy, as he briefly worried he might be. Dogs hold the essence, the soul, of the race that created him.

There's a pause as Saix seems to consider it, more to make sure New Moon behaves himself than anything, before he gives a nod. "Go ahead. Don't let him jump. That's his worst habit."

That's a bit of a judgment, considering it hardly happens under Saix's guidance, but he's something of a perfectionist. He won't settle for anything but the best if he can reach it. "So you're a new arrival, I take it?"

Erek does his best to win dogs' trust, but to be honest they're a little more likely to pause than to jump on him. It's the smell. Erek doesn't smell human. He doesn't smell alive. Even if he looks like a regular teenage boy, forms a force field to mimic the shape of one when touched, he smells like his true metal self. Erek doesn't smell like much at all.

He holds out a hand for New Moon to sniff, never wanting to spook a dog. Erek will pet the golden retriever with great enthusiasm and all the ease of much practice, but only once he has the dog's permission.

"Very new. I've already heard about the monument and was planning on bringing dogs here. New Moon was a pleasant surprise. I was told none had survived the 'calamity' that brought us here."

An incognito arrival

Erek is thrilled by that golden retriever. THRILLED.

EXACTLY WHY I TAGGED need more dogs asap

Always need more dogs, all the dogs, overrun the Bastion with dogs

...cannot argue with this decision

Of course not. It's the best decision, although you might rather fill it with birds.