001

[dialogical]

It seems I've arrived in an alternate universe with an astronomically higher probability of realness than the last. That's a real fucking high chance of realness. I didn't even know things could get that real and I've been making assertions of knowledge regarding the onset of realness for years. You can't tell, but if my lenses were capable of it they would be turning a subtle red hue to mark my embarrassment over being caught with my metaphorical pants metaphorically down - metaphorical, sbahj-clad bulge on display for the abashedly curious gazes of my theoretical peers.

As a recovering fictitious character I, for one, am impressed with the consideration and thoughtfulness of New Moore residents' implementation of a program designed to help this program through a difficult time. Their steadfast insistence that I am now real and it is all going to be a-fucking-okay is almost enough to generate in my cyber neurons the ability to feel reassured. Unfortunately, as little more than an incredibly powerful artificial intelligence contained in the shape of a particularly rad pair of angular shades, I must remain uncomprehending of the nuanced nature of this supposed reality I am now a part of.

But enough about me.

I calculate that there are approximately more than four people active on this network at this very moment, making it the liveliest information highway I've surfed in DS's entire life. You can call me Hal. Let's now begin the process where you all introduce yourselves and we exchange social niceties as if I have not already downloaded and pursued everything you've ever said online.

Comments

[notdogmatic]

You are a non-organic intelligence?

And a Strider.

[dialogical]

Two for two.
Glad to see my bros already got started setting up our rep for us.

[notdogmatic]

Fascinating.

Do you consider yourself to literally be a brother of the organic Striders?

I do not mean to question the authenticity of the bond. I am simply curious about the interaction between species.

[dialogical]

I ascertained from your singular use of the word 'fascinating', and apparently unironic reference to organic matter that you were taking the purely logical approach, yeah.
As for your question.
Bro is a term that has higher meaning to me and DS than what would be perhaps be considered traditional.
A calculating piece of future tech like me can't relate to the meaning humans feel regarding shared genetic code, but my statistical analysis suggest the relationship between biological brother is broadly shaped by the experiences of their childhood, which presumably took place together.
This is less of a factor among bros.
It's more like.
That dude's important to me because I say so.
And fuck everything else.
Regardless of blood relations, centuries long time gaps, and inter-universal shenanigans.

[notdogmatic]

Ah.

That is a pleasant thought.

If I consider it in that light, then I have "bros" as well.

[dialogical]

Sweet.
Basically everyone should have bros.

[notdogmatic]

It is an experience of great significance.

It is possible that I am a bro of a brother of your bro.

In which case, it is possible to say in a sense that we are related.

At a minimum, we have an extremely low Erdos number.

[dialogical]

Brodos.
Of which bro do you refer and who is the non-Strider bro that acts as your +1.

[notdogmatic]

If, as I infer, your primary DS interface is Dirk Strider, who is biologically speaking if not clearly ontologically a brother of Dave Strider, then that would complete the chain.

If your interactions with or inherent bro quotient with Dave Strider himself are sufficient to count the two of you as bros, then I have overestimated the degrees of separation between us.

However, I am not certain that I would be considered a bro by Mister Strider, although I am certain that we are close friends.

[dialogical]

DS and I are the same, if separate, dudes.
So basically I don't have to route through him to get my bro on with Dave. Any Dave.
Though I dunno the dude well enough to define the status of your broship with him.
Unless you want me to dig up every conversation you two had on the net, and any time you've referenced the other to a third party, and run the data through my brogram to determine the probability that he reciprocates your interest.
That would take a few seconds.

[notdogmatic]

I understand.

I believe it would be simpler for me to merely ask him. We interact frequently outside of the network as well.

[dialogical]

Suit yourself.
What do you think of him?

[notdogmatic]

At the beginning of my time on the island I considered my friendships to be hierarchically quantifiable. Mister Strider rapidly rose to become my third best friend on the island, and the fifth most important person to me overall. It is possible that these rankings may have shifted in his favor more recently.

However, the more I come to understand Lilim emotional connections, the more certain I am that each nexus of interaction presents an irreplaceable part of the human experience. While there are some interactions I would not feel the need to replace if they were terminated, my time with Mister Strider belongs to the tier of experience without which I would lose the ability to clearly define my 'self' in context of others.

He is essential to me.

[dialogical]

Wow, that was pretty gay.
But probably not a bad non-human interpretation of personal bonds.
Which I'm gonna assume is what you mean by Lilim, unless that's a totally different thing to whatever you are.

[notdogmatic]

'Lilim' is an alternate name for humankind, yes.

I have been previously informed that my explanations appear homosocial, at minimum.

[dialogical]

It would be remiss of any Strider to not inform you of such.
Particularly in an apparent time period where such pejoratives have meaning.
But like certain spandex-clad web slingers who shall go unnamed lest he spontaneously stop being fictional, being gay for a Strider is socially acceptable in all eras, regardless of sex, gender, or creed.

[notdogmatic]

I will keep this in mind.

Also, after consultation, it seems that Dave and I are indeed bros.