[In a timeline that exists inbetween the failure of the Seconds and the mismanagement and loss of the Thirds, where Link was brought back from the brink of death but not given the orders to chase after Allen despite worrying for his safety, the Order has new plans for a new way to fight the war. With Alma gone and no one left to carry his cells, a new method of constructing bodies for the fight was needed. No, necessary, as the forces on the Millennium Earl's side exceed the Order's ability to fight back effectively. If they can't create new Executors, and they can't use Alma now that he's been destroyed, what if they found a way to birth life from Innocence itself?
It's a crude, taboo idea. No less taboo than the atrocities the Order has already committed for the greater good, but Link had naively hoped that this would end at the loss of his entire family, in essence. He can't imagine a desire to go further with this, even in desperate times. He isn't one to give up and just accept the world's end for nothing...but there had to be a better path forward than this. There must be.
But he isn't the one who makes these decisions and he knows that. Hell, they had already been scrambling for the next thing while he was in his multi-day coma recovering. By the time he woke, the project was already in development. It would be a month later before Levellie would bring Link to his office to debrief him on their newest brainchild.
At the end of the man's explanation, Link couldn't speak. He couldn't find words to adequately describe how he felt. After his encounter with Apocryphos, the idea of trying to birth life from Innocence felt obscene. It felt wrong, and he wanted to fight back against it. Every fiber of his being wants to stand up to Levellie and tell him how he needs to stop.
...but seeing the look in his eye, and the way he commands the energy in the room, especially when it's just the two of them? He's unable to muster the courage. He can't, and it's something he'll beat himself up over for days to come once he finally sees the result of their labor.
Link had been told about this not just to keep him in the loop of what's going on, but for him to receive his newest assignment. He would be in charge of handling whatever spawned from the Innocence. Not an Executor. Him. He was the only qualified CROW left alive that Levellie trusted to do so. Link, meanwhile, didn't feel lucky to have the man's trust this time. He wanted nothing more than to run from this, but his strong sense of duty commands that he must press forward no matter his personal feelings.
So, one early morning, the scientists lead him to where their work resides.]
[The Order when they dig into Komui's robotics schematics and realise they can probably make a man: behold, a man!
Link will be taken to what is, essentially, a basement. Whyever they couldn't put this in the other Branches remains a mystery, but their newest pet-project is stationed at the European Branch as it is so far the most reinforced what with the move. If this project fell into the wrong hands, it would be ruined. But it cannot just be something robotic, they'd said - robots, even ones housing Innocence in their cores, are easy to destroy. Such had been true of Lala, had it not? Allen Walker's report on the situation was easy enough to read, even if Allen's handwriting left something to be desired. No, it has to be something humanoid, too, because if life can be wrapped around metal filaments — if Accomdators can be created, not just born by happenstance — it needs to be in God's image.
So they call him an angel. An angel, with a complicated, almost humanoid intestinal system — instead of blood flows blessed oil, instead of a beating heart there is a core wrapped around Innocence, and instead of flesh and meat there is some imitation of skin and sinew and bones wrought of gold. A nervous system allows the creation sensation, a brain made up of complicated wiring (that probably doesn't exist in this era but fuck it Komui has robots) allows it to think, and for all intents and purposes the angel is male (there are no female angels, the Church says) and the angel is holy and the angel will protect them.
They crafted it on a long surgical table, and wings of golden but false feathers were woven to allow it to fly, and the halo hanging over and behind its head may very well be a product of the Innocence itself. They did not make the angel with this. But they gave him hair and green eyes, and a scientist with a particular knack for making very detailed work gave him freckles so that he'd more easily blend in with humankind despite the other features, because if an angel is blessed with the light of the sun should it not be obviously affected by its God's own creation? Some argued that it should not, but the discussion was laid to rest in the interest of not worrying about aesthetics.
They have been calling their pet project "Ainchase Ishmael", a name meaning "eyes of the prophet", Ishmael taken from Genesis directly. But the scientists have gotten used to shortening his name to "Ain", and Ain's AI hears "Ain" from the tank he is often powered down in, and so that is his name.
When Link comes in and receives an explanation, the scientists are currently showing Ain how to dress himself, because they essentially made a fully-grown baby who does not know shit about fuck other than how to speak and fight. His fighting capabilities apparently cannot be understated either, but practical field tests haven't been done yet. Training data from test dummies show that he's particularly destructive.
It's a little too uncanny how human this thing looks. He locks eyes with Link as the scientists speak to him, sitting on an exam table kicking his feet and slouched in a way reminiscent of a scientist sitting across the room. Mimicking!]
[Uncanny is the perfect descriptor for it. Link isn't sure what he was expecting to see when he walked into the room, but this...it's closer to human than Akuma are, that's for sure. Yet, Link can see the parts of him that are distinctly non-human, the parts that distinguish him from the perfect replica of humanity Apocryphos achieved by stealing a Cardinal's form. Ain is dressed loosely since he's still learning, more like he's in a hospital gown than anything, so Link can almost see the seams through thin synthetic skin via the light illuminating him from behind.
He doesn't know how to react to it. He has to hope that he's managing to school the expression on his face well, because there's a mixture of disbelief mixed with disgust burning deep inside of him, and none of that is Ain's fault. He didn't ask to be made. He doesn't know what he's here for, other than the few directives he's already been given.
It isn't until the scientists get Link's attention that he realizes he's just been standing there staring, prompting him to stand up a bit straighter and bow slightly to the angel, starting to automatically spout off a greeting without thinking:]
I am Inspector Howard Link. I have been assigned to you for observation duties for the time being.
[Ain's mechanical irises widen like a camera's lens as he records the appearance of Link, his pupils widening and narrowing until he's in full focus. The angel is clearly memorizing Link, but that much might not be obvious immediately. When Link bows, Ain gets up off the table and stands at attention in perfect mimicry of Link's posture before bowing himself, though his head remains slightly elevated as he assesses, then corrects the slope of his back.
Then he stands up and mimics the posture of another scientist with his hands in his lab coat. Except Ain does not have pockets, so his hands are just sort of... there...]
Inspector Howard Link. I am Ainchase Ishmael, but our family members [oh no he's in the cult] refer to me as "Ain". You can call me "Ain". I was born on December 15th, 1899, at approximately 15:03, without mechanical complications. Today I am learning about "clothing". Please observe the following.
[He will be like this for a while until he's developed more of a personality, sorry.]
Clothing for humans often consists of a shirt, undergarments, pants, socks, and shoes. Occasionally, humans accessorize with hand coverings known as gloves, objects around the waist known as belts, or colourful jewellery, composing of precious metals and gemstones mined from the earth. Female humans additionally wear skirts or dresses instead of pants.
I would like to ask a question about the topic "clothing", subtopic "jewellery". [And he pauses. The scientists are all nodding like YEAH!!! HE'S LEARNING!] Where are the precious metals in the earth stored?
[Link stares back at Ain, completely flabbergasted. Impressed, no doubt, but also at a loss as he spouts off data like...well, like the robot he is, he supposes. Link has never encountered such a thing of course, so this kind of technology...the ability to create life in this way is astounding. He could say the same for Kanda of course, but he knew Kanda by the time he actually knew how to act like a human being, and Kanda is real flesh and bone. Ain...is entirely synthetic, from the hair on his head to the feathers in his wings.
He leans his weight back a bit on his heels, looking briefly to the scientists around him as if for help. They immediately gesture with nods and slight wiggles of clipboards to indicate that Link should continue to engage with him. Just answer his questions! Talk to him! The best way he'll learn is through experience, after all.]
Typically they are found at various levels of the Earth's crust, depending on the type of gemstone you are looking for. Unless you are asking where we keep jewels that have already been mined?
[Ain is currently looking at Link and assessing his emotional state based on any available social tells. Since they're standing slightly within speaking distance, Link will probably see his pupils expanding again.]
Request: I would like to see the first level of the Earth's crust. [No,,,] I am interested in seeing where gemstones are mined.
[No honey-
The second part of this seems to make Ain pause. There are literal gears in his head turning as they speak. Then:]
It did not occur to me that jewels were "kept" somewhere. Do humans not mine gems and then wear them automatically?
[Once more, Link kindof...looks at the scientists helplessly. He's here to observe, not to communicate with him!! But they encourage this to continue, all of them writing down notes as they go.
Link sighs, then looks back to Ain before letting his eyes drift closed.]
You will not be leaving for some time. [As far as he's been told, anyway. A LOT more training and testing has to happen before he's just set loose in the wild, so to speak.] Gems are used for other purposes than wearing. They're usually kept somewhere safe until it is decided what will be done with them.
[Ain considers this for a moment. Clearly dissatisfied with the first answer from Link, he pivots on his (bare) heels and moves to one of the scientists, standing in front of them and bowing like Link did earlier before he rights himself and asks:]
Request: I would like to see the first level of the Earth's crust.
[And although this is probably very annoying, someone starts rapidly scrawling. He's developing a personality! In real time! It's probably not a good one to develop but that's okay probably!]
[Link takes a moment to compose himself, a few slow breaths so he isn't feeling quite as flustered. Since Ain's attention is focused on one of the scientists and not him, he'll turn to someone else with his expression stern.]
What is it that I am expected to do here, exactly?
[The scientist he speaks to looks at him oddly. "Didn't you get debriefed from the Commander?" they ask. Of course he did, he isn't stupid, but he wants to be given clear, exact instructions. He's realizing now anything he does or says will influence Ain, and he refuses to get any more involved than he's been ordered to.
They explain that while Link is here to observe, he's also been appointed the head of this project outside of the scientists actually working on it. He is the man on the outside who has been placed here to supervise their work and ensure things are progressing apace. He will report to Levellie regularly (he already knew this), but there's more than that. He'll also be expected to interact with and track Ain's progress, not just for reporting purposes, but to ensure that he is being directed properly. He may seem innocent (lol), but he is Innocence given a human form. He is holy and righteous, and the fate of their world as they know it now rests squarely on his shoulders as everything else has subsequently failed.
It's an awful thing to expect Link to be okay with this when every time he blinks, or looks at Ain too hard, he sees visions of Apocryphos. Innocence.
He turns away, his arms folded behind his back.]
I do not intend to stay for longer than needed at a time. Just long enough to make my report, and nothing more.
[On the other side of the room (aka like 15 feet away), the scientists are learning that Ain argues. Which is probably bad! But he doesn't know that it's bad, and they are not telling him to not argue because they're currently deep in assessment phase right now. Of course, he doesn't know how to state his case for why he should go outside, and he just keeps flitting from person to person until every single person has told him the same thing. At this point Ain's shoulders droop, and he manages to pout, which also gets written down, and sulks back over to Link.]
Request: Explain why I cannot leave, and what the bounds of "in here" I am meant to stay in are. Does this apply to the building, or this room, or a third factor I have not considered?
[Link tenses when Ain wanders back over to him, his breathing catching imperceptibly (to a human, perhaps, but not to a machine), having been naive enough as to hope that Ain would get all of his answers from the scientists, or just...not try to ask him anything else in specific so he could slip away and give his report early. He is realizing that a lot of the responses the scientists are giving him are merely factual, clinical, more of a "you can't leave because we say so" than giving him more direct, rational reasons.
Why does this fall down to him to take care of?]
You cannot leave because you are new, and you need to stay where it is safe so you can learn. Your bounds apply to this room. The scientists will inform you if and when you are allowed to move to other areas of the building.
[This is at least an answer that he accepts, and so he nods his little head and moves to sit down in a chair. Learning. Demonstrating learning. Unfortunately he has no filter, so when he regards Link next he says:]
Assessment: You do not like me.
[OKAY. WELL.]
And... you wish to be elsewhere? Your conversation was recorded while I was speaking to our family. Question: Are you allowed to leave, or are you also meant to stay here? Affirmation: I do not have the capacity for human emotions at this time, so I have no complaints or issues with your perceptions of me.
This is going to be a lot more difficult than he thought.]
I will not lie to you, or coddle you, given you have no feelings to be spared. Your assessment is correct. I do not like you. I do not think you should exist, and I have informed my superiors of as much. But this was not my decision to make, nor is it your fault that you were made. I will do my job as I am ordered regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, and I will treat you according to what protocol dictates.
[The irises are winding again. The scientists hold their breath, but Ain has only demonstrated curiosity so far; other emotions will be harder for him to grasp. It's like teaching a child the difference between being "angry" and just feeling "hurt". Nuances aren't easy for something that was born an hour ago, even though that something has been listening from a test tube or lab table for months now. To that end, Ain meets Link's gaze calmly, merely listening and recording.]
Very well. I will give a task to myself: Learn what it means to be "liked" from sources other than "Inspector Howard Link". Learn what it means to be "disliked" from Inspector Howard Link. Assess the condition of "human emotion" and apply it.
[He's just sitting there. This is awkward for Link surely.]
You should be able to do your job. Let me know if you cannot do your job, and I will correct. As I understand it, humans like jobs. [Well-]
[Link certainly likes jobs, anyway! Usually. Not this one, though. Fucks sake, the Order is going to keep playing God and they’re all going to be smote over it. God is going to smite them.
He gives a sort of noncommittal sound, then addresses the head scientist.]
Are we done here? I would like to make my report now.
[The scientist seems reluctant to let Link leave, especially since they want that report to be a “good” one, otherwise Levellie may have all their heads. Link has never been known to let his emotions cloud his good work ethic though, so maybe it will be okay…
At the very least, Link will be honest in his feelings. That’s good for a learning angel. They ask him to stay, and he reluctantly agrees to stay for another hour to observe whatever they choose to teach Ain over that time. In the meantime, he’ll have a seat in a chair in the corner and pull out his notebook to document everything.]
[While Link is grouchy and religiously traumatized in a corner, Ain is being instructed on how to properly dress himself. The scientists who hand-made his buttcheeks clearly have no issue seeing them. Link... might, but that's what writing is for. For right now, they have Ain in a button-down shirt, pants, socks, shoes, you know proper housewear for men in this era. Currently he is stuck on "tying a bowtie", but they're essentially treating him like a dog anyway so they really don't care how often he fucks up until he gets it.
His shirts have to have holes carved in the back for his wings, and it is explained to Ain that this is not standard for humans and he should not do this to anything he finds because humans will not wear torn clothing.
When the debacle of clothing is solved for the moment, someone dips real quick to grab a children's novel so that they can assess his reading capability. Ain can read, his brain was programmed to do so, but it's slow going for the first while. It seems he takes to books quite quickly, though, which will leave Link with a lot to write down yet very little at the same time. The angel knows how to dress himself and tie a bowtie. The angel can read and is showing willingness to learn. Even after Link leaves, Ain will still be reading books, but his interest in fiction is very minimal because he can't imagine the things the books talk about... so they wind up giving him some nonfiction books about gemstones so that he shuts up about wanting to go to "level 1" of the Earth.]
[He hates being religiously traumatized, but that’s what happens when you’re Catholic he supposes.
There isn’t much to report, in the end. Link has no doubt that Lvellie (which I’ve spelt wrong this whole time) has come to see Ain long before Link even knew he existed, so he refrains from writing about his appearance so much as how he behaves, what he can and can’t do, things like that. He’s going to have to muster the balls to ask what his exact duties are before he comes back, because he knows Lvellie enough to know it isn’t just “watch him and report”, though that is most of it.
Malcolm expects his watchdog to mold Ain. He wants him to be made into the image of a perfect soldier for the holy war, and Link is the only person he trusts to do that without letting his emotions cloud his judgement. Mostly. Link will not apologize for his initial outburst about this, even though it was very quickly shut down.
He’ll leave with the impression nothing good will come from this. If they’re incredibly lucky, Ain will be some asset. But if things progress as they have been…his existence will end in tragedy. He pities him, he truly does.
Just as much as he fears him, and occasionally has flashes in his mind of Ain ripping his beating heart from his body.
After touching base with Lvellie, it’s as he feared: Link isn’t just to quietly watch and observe the scientists. He is supposed to have an active role in his development, if not moreso, because Lvellie wants Ain to be like Link 2 but with Innocence baked in. Perfectly obedient, righteous, and dangerous.
Link is here today, with Ain. For the first time…alone in his little room, sitting across from him with his clipboard. The scientists have left for the time being to give Link a chance to catch up on his development.]
Can you tell me what your role is? What were you made to do?
[Link is doing his job and Ain has read three (3) books by the time he's back the next day. The concept of sleep has not been imprinted on him yet. He will surely love to learn what that is! For now...
When Link asks him this, Ain who is yet again dressed nicely and politely recites his full date of birth and name again because he doesn't know better yet. Then:]
I was created to eliminate Akuma, Noah, and those who would threaten the existence of human life or the world at large. In short, my role is to protect humankind, so I have been equipped with the means to do so. My Innocence core allows me to heal, to shield, and to kill at three hundred times the effectiveness of a standard soldier, though I have reason to believe this information may be slightly exaggerated. This number is one I pulled from my own creation data. My ability has not been compared to Exorcists, because they are on missions. Request: I would like to be friends with Exorcists.
[Dude you're going to give Miranda a panic attack.]
I have recently learnt about the concept of friendship. This happens when two humans like each other enough to have regular interactions, but is different from a familial relationship. [you know when you ask chatgpt to tell you one thing and it tells you 400 others bc this is what ain is doing now] Through reading a book on human relationships, I have learnt that a human can like or dislike their family, however, this does not remove the family tie, but that a human should ideally like their friends.
[He's nodding.]
Therefore, given yesterday's conversation, we are not friends. [OKAY]
[Alright, well. He has a good understanding of his purpose for existence, if nothing else. He does wonder if he understands the deeper meaning of it all, though. Does he know what it even means to eradicate something? To protect someone? It’s only been one day. Maybe they programmed him with all of that already.
He raises a brow as Ain starts to drift off topic, the scratching of his pen slowing.]
That is correct. We are not friends, nor are we family. You called the Order your family yesterday. Do you understand differently, now?
Correction: my family is the scientists who gave me life, not the Order as a whole. You are not one of the scientists who spoke to me while I was being constructed, or I would remember your voice, so you are not family.
[It's very obvious that the ones who agreed to this project are like... babying the fuck out of him, like they've developed a parasocial attachment to a thing that doesn't feel emotions at this stage. Like packbonding with a microduck-
Also there is a 0% chance Ain understands the concept of death in the way that humans do. He knows what it is, but uh...]
[Link tenses. Hurt flashes in his eyes, and for a moment he almost opens his mouth to say something that will influence Ain’s understanding going forward. But then he hears Lvellie in his mind, demanding he mold Ain just as instructed.
Not another word. Not even a hint that anything can or will go wrong, there is no war in ba sing se-
The worst part is he can’t refuse to answer, because Ain will very likely meet the Thirds on the battlefield sooner rather than later. His teeth bite briefly into the side of his tongue.]
They were casualties of this war. You were created to prevent more like them.
[He’s not sure he even believes what he’s saying.]
[Ain is assessing Link's mental state and comes to the conclusion that the loss of human life affects him very, very badly, and he can tell from the clench of the other man's jaw that Link doesn't want to talk about it much. This is fine; his question was answered, and he has little need to pry for details.
Instead, he reaches a hand out and places it on one of Link's in a gesture of comfort clearly picked up from something he read.]
Then I will endeavour to make sure no other families are torn apart like yours. This is my duty and divine rite.
[And then he sits back. See! Helping! This won't give him a Complex when he inevitably fails nope.]
[Gives you a complex gives you a complex gives y-]
Precisely.
[He taps his paper with his pen. He doesn't want to delve into the Thirds any further. He honestly shouldn't have mentioned them at all, but it's his one moment of weakness he allowed to slip out. He won't be so careless again.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 12:36 am (UTC)It's a crude, taboo idea. No less taboo than the atrocities the Order has already committed for the greater good, but Link had naively hoped that this would end at the loss of his entire family, in essence. He can't imagine a desire to go further with this, even in desperate times. He isn't one to give up and just accept the world's end for nothing...but there had to be a better path forward than this. There must be.
But he isn't the one who makes these decisions and he knows that. Hell, they had already been scrambling for the next thing while he was in his multi-day coma recovering. By the time he woke, the project was already in development. It would be a month later before Levellie would bring Link to his office to debrief him on their newest brainchild.
At the end of the man's explanation, Link couldn't speak. He couldn't find words to adequately describe how he felt. After his encounter with Apocryphos, the idea of trying to birth life from Innocence felt obscene. It felt wrong, and he wanted to fight back against it. Every fiber of his being wants to stand up to Levellie and tell him how he needs to stop.
...but seeing the look in his eye, and the way he commands the energy in the room, especially when it's just the two of them? He's unable to muster the courage. He can't, and it's something he'll beat himself up over for days to come once he finally sees the result of their labor.
Link had been told about this not just to keep him in the loop of what's going on, but for him to receive his newest assignment. He would be in charge of handling whatever spawned from the Innocence. Not an Executor. Him. He was the only qualified CROW left alive that Levellie trusted to do so. Link, meanwhile, didn't feel lucky to have the man's trust this time. He wanted nothing more than to run from this, but his strong sense of duty commands that he must press forward no matter his personal feelings.
So, one early morning, the scientists lead him to where their work resides.]
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 01:11 am (UTC)Link will be taken to what is, essentially, a basement. Whyever they couldn't put this in the other Branches remains a mystery, but their newest pet-project is stationed at the European Branch as it is so far the most reinforced what with the move. If this project fell into the wrong hands, it would be ruined. But it cannot just be something robotic, they'd said - robots, even ones housing Innocence in their cores, are easy to destroy. Such had been true of Lala, had it not? Allen Walker's report on the situation was easy enough to read, even if Allen's handwriting left something to be desired. No, it has to be something humanoid, too, because if life can be wrapped around metal filaments — if Accomdators can be created, not just born by happenstance — it needs to be in God's image.
So they call him an angel. An angel, with a complicated, almost humanoid intestinal system — instead of blood flows blessed oil, instead of a beating heart there is a core wrapped around Innocence, and instead of flesh and meat there is some imitation of skin and sinew and bones wrought of gold. A nervous system allows the creation sensation, a brain made up of complicated wiring (
that probably doesn't exist in this era but fuck it Komui has robots) allows it to think, and for all intents and purposes the angel is male (there are no female angels, the Church says) and the angel is holy and the angel will protect them.They crafted it on a long surgical table, and wings of golden but false feathers were woven to allow it to fly, and the halo hanging over and behind its head may very well be a product of the Innocence itself. They did not make the angel with this. But they gave him hair and green eyes, and a scientist with a particular knack for making very detailed work gave him freckles so that he'd more easily blend in with humankind despite the other features, because if an angel is blessed with the light of the sun should it not be obviously affected by its God's own creation? Some argued that it should not, but the discussion was laid to rest in the interest of not worrying about aesthetics.
They have been calling their pet project "Ainchase Ishmael", a name meaning "eyes of the prophet", Ishmael taken from Genesis directly. But the scientists have gotten used to shortening his name to "Ain", and Ain's AI hears "Ain" from the tank he is often powered down in, and so that is his name.
When Link comes in and receives an explanation, the scientists are currently showing Ain how to dress himself, because they essentially made a fully-grown baby who does not know shit about fuck other than how to speak and fight. His fighting capabilities apparently cannot be understated either, but practical field tests haven't been done yet. Training data from test dummies show that he's particularly destructive.
It's a little too uncanny how human this thing looks. He locks eyes with Link as the scientists speak to him, sitting on an exam table kicking his feet and slouched in a way reminiscent of a scientist sitting across the room. Mimicking!]
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 01:31 am (UTC)He doesn't know how to react to it. He has to hope that he's managing to school the expression on his face well, because there's a mixture of disbelief mixed with disgust burning deep inside of him, and none of that is Ain's fault. He didn't ask to be made. He doesn't know what he's here for, other than the few directives he's already been given.
It isn't until the scientists get Link's attention that he realizes he's just been standing there staring, prompting him to stand up a bit straighter and bow slightly to the angel, starting to automatically spout off a greeting without thinking:]
I am Inspector Howard Link. I have been assigned to you for observation duties for the time being.
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 01:49 am (UTC)Then he stands up and mimics the posture of another scientist with his hands in his lab coat. Except Ain does not have pockets, so his hands are just sort of... there...]
Inspector Howard Link. I am Ainchase Ishmael, but our family members [oh no he's in the cult] refer to me as "Ain". You can call me "Ain". I was born on December 15th, 1899, at approximately 15:03, without mechanical complications. Today I am learning about "clothing". Please observe the following.
[He will be like this for a while until he's developed more of a personality, sorry.]
Clothing for humans often consists of a shirt, undergarments, pants, socks, and shoes. Occasionally, humans accessorize with hand coverings known as gloves, objects around the waist known as belts, or colourful jewellery, composing of precious metals and gemstones mined from the earth. Female humans additionally wear skirts or dresses instead of pants.
I would like to ask a question about the topic "clothing", subtopic "jewellery". [And he pauses. The scientists are all nodding like YEAH!!! HE'S LEARNING!] Where are the precious metals in the earth stored?
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 01:59 am (UTC)He leans his weight back a bit on his heels, looking briefly to the scientists around him as if for help. They immediately gesture with nods and slight wiggles of clipboards to indicate that Link should continue to engage with him. Just answer his questions! Talk to him! The best way he'll learn is through experience, after all.]
Typically they are found at various levels of the Earth's crust, depending on the type of gemstone you are looking for. Unless you are asking where we keep jewels that have already been mined?
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 02:13 am (UTC)Request: I would like to see the first level of the Earth's crust. [No,,,] I am interested in seeing where gemstones are mined.
[No honey-
The second part of this seems to make Ain pause. There are literal gears in his head turning as they speak. Then:]
It did not occur to me that jewels were "kept" somewhere. Do humans not mine gems and then wear them automatically?
[So they didn't talk about stores yet,]
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 02:23 am (UTC)Link sighs, then looks back to Ain before letting his eyes drift closed.]
You will not be leaving for some time. [As far as he's been told, anyway. A LOT more training and testing has to happen before he's just set loose in the wild, so to speak.] Gems are used for other purposes than wearing. They're usually kept somewhere safe until it is decided what will be done with them.
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 02:29 am (UTC)Request: I would like to see the first level of the Earth's crust.
[And although this is probably very annoying, someone starts rapidly scrawling. He's developing a personality! In real time! It's probably not a good one to develop but that's okay probably!]
no subject
Date: 2026-10-28 02:40 am (UTC)What is it that I am expected to do here, exactly?
[The scientist he speaks to looks at him oddly. "Didn't you get debriefed from the Commander?" they ask. Of course he did, he isn't stupid, but he wants to be given clear, exact instructions. He's realizing now anything he does or says will influence Ain, and he refuses to get any more involved than he's been ordered to.
They explain that while Link is here to observe, he's also been appointed the head of this project outside of the scientists actually working on it. He is the man on the outside who has been placed here to supervise their work and ensure things are progressing apace. He will report to Levellie regularly (he already knew this), but there's more than that. He'll also be expected to interact with and track Ain's progress, not just for reporting purposes, but to ensure that he is being directed properly. He may seem innocent (lol), but he is Innocence given a human form. He is holy and righteous, and the fate of their world as they know it now rests squarely on his shoulders as everything else has subsequently failed.
It's an awful thing to expect Link to be okay with this when every time he blinks, or looks at Ain too hard, he sees visions of Apocryphos. Innocence.
He turns away, his arms folded behind his back.]
I do not intend to stay for longer than needed at a time. Just long enough to make my report, and nothing more.
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Date: 2026-10-28 02:56 am (UTC)Request: Explain why I cannot leave, and what the bounds of "in here" I am meant to stay in are. Does this apply to the building, or this room, or a third factor I have not considered?
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Date: 2026-10-28 03:02 am (UTC)Why does this fall down to him to take care of?]
You cannot leave because you are new, and you need to stay where it is safe so you can learn. Your bounds apply to this room. The scientists will inform you if and when you are allowed to move to other areas of the building.
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Date: 2026-10-28 03:12 am (UTC)Assessment: You do not like me.
[OKAY. WELL.]
And... you wish to be elsewhere? Your conversation was recorded while I was speaking to our family. Question: Are you allowed to leave, or are you also meant to stay here? Affirmation: I do not have the capacity for human emotions at this time, so I have no complaints or issues with your perceptions of me.
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Date: 2026-10-28 03:23 am (UTC)This is going to be a lot more difficult than he thought.]
I will not lie to you, or coddle you, given you have no feelings to be spared. Your assessment is correct. I do not like you. I do not think you should exist, and I have informed my superiors of as much. But this was not my decision to make, nor is it your fault that you were made. I will do my job as I am ordered regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, and I will treat you according to what protocol dictates.
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Date: 2026-10-28 03:32 am (UTC)Very well. I will give a task to myself: Learn what it means to be "liked" from sources other than "Inspector Howard Link". Learn what it means to be "disliked" from Inspector Howard Link. Assess the condition of "human emotion" and apply it.
[He's just sitting there. This is awkward for Link surely.]
You should be able to do your job. Let me know if you cannot do your job, and I will correct. As I understand it, humans like jobs. [Well-]
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Date: 2026-10-28 03:40 am (UTC)He gives a sort of noncommittal sound, then addresses the head scientist.]
Are we done here? I would like to make my report now.
[The scientist seems reluctant to let Link leave, especially since they want that report to be a “good” one, otherwise Levellie may have all their heads. Link has never been known to let his emotions cloud his good work ethic though, so maybe it will be okay…
At the very least, Link will be honest in his feelings. That’s good for a learning angel. They ask him to stay, and he reluctantly agrees to stay for another hour to observe whatever they choose to teach Ain over that time. In the meantime, he’ll have a seat in a chair in the corner and pull out his notebook to document everything.]
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Date: 2026-10-28 03:55 am (UTC)His shirts have to have holes carved in the back for his wings, and it is explained to Ain that this is not standard for humans and he should not do this to anything he finds because humans will not wear torn clothing.
When the debacle of clothing is solved for the moment, someone dips real quick to grab a children's novel so that they can assess his reading capability. Ain can read, his brain was programmed to do so, but it's slow going for the first while. It seems he takes to books quite quickly, though, which will leave Link with a lot to write down yet very little at the same time. The angel knows how to dress himself and tie a bowtie. The angel can read and is showing willingness to learn. Even after Link leaves, Ain will still be reading books, but his interest in fiction is very minimal because he can't imagine the things the books talk about... so they wind up giving him some nonfiction books about gemstones so that he shuts up about wanting to go to "level 1" of the Earth.]
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Date: 2026-10-28 04:13 am (UTC)There isn’t much to report, in the end. Link has no doubt that Lvellie (which I’ve spelt wrong this whole time) has come to see Ain long before Link even knew he existed, so he refrains from writing about his appearance so much as how he behaves, what he can and can’t do, things like that. He’s going to have to muster the balls to ask what his exact duties are before he comes back, because he knows Lvellie enough to know it isn’t just “watch him and report”, though that is most of it.
Malcolm expects his watchdog to mold Ain. He wants him to be made into the image of a perfect soldier for the holy war, and Link is the only person he trusts to do that without letting his emotions cloud his judgement. Mostly. Link will not apologize for his initial outburst about this, even though it was very quickly shut down.
He’ll leave with the impression nothing good will come from this. If they’re incredibly lucky, Ain will be some asset. But if things progress as they have been…his existence will end in tragedy. He pities him, he truly does.
Just as much as he fears him, and occasionally has flashes in his mind of Ain ripping his beating heart from his body.
After touching base with Lvellie, it’s as he feared: Link isn’t just to quietly watch and observe the scientists. He is supposed to have an active role in his development, if not moreso, because Lvellie wants Ain to be like Link 2 but with Innocence baked in. Perfectly obedient, righteous, and dangerous.
Link is here today, with Ain. For the first time…alone in his little room, sitting across from him with his clipboard. The scientists have left for the time being to give Link a chance to catch up on his development.]
Can you tell me what your role is? What were you made to do?
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Date: 2026-10-28 04:27 am (UTC)When Link asks him this, Ain who is yet again dressed nicely and politely recites his full date of birth and name again because he doesn't know better yet. Then:]
I was created to eliminate Akuma, Noah, and those who would threaten the existence of human life or the world at large. In short, my role is to protect humankind, so I have been equipped with the means to do so. My Innocence core allows me to heal, to shield, and to kill at three hundred times the effectiveness of a standard soldier, though I have reason to believe this information may be slightly exaggerated. This number is one I pulled from my own creation data. My ability has not been compared to Exorcists, because they are on missions. Request: I would like to be friends with Exorcists.
[Dude you're going to give Miranda a panic attack.]
I have recently learnt about the concept of friendship. This happens when two humans like each other enough to have regular interactions, but is different from a familial relationship. [you know when you ask chatgpt to tell you one thing and it tells you 400 others bc this is what ain is doing now] Through reading a book on human relationships, I have learnt that a human can like or dislike their family, however, this does not remove the family tie, but that a human should ideally like their friends.
[He's nodding.]
Therefore, given yesterday's conversation, we are not friends. [OKAY]
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Date: 2026-10-28 04:33 am (UTC)He raises a brow as Ain starts to drift off topic, the scratching of his pen slowing.]
That is correct. We are not friends, nor are we family. You called the Order your family yesterday. Do you understand differently, now?
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Date: 2026-10-28 04:40 am (UTC)[It's very obvious that the ones who agreed to this project are like... babying the fuck out of him, like they've developed a parasocial attachment to a thing that doesn't feel emotions at this stage. Like packbonding with a microduck-
Also there is a 0% chance Ain understands the concept of death in the way that humans do. He knows what it is, but uh...]
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Date: 2026-10-28 04:49 am (UTC)[Ouch!!
He writes something down.]
Do you have any questions?
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Date: 2026-10-28 04:54 am (UTC)Where did your family go?
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Date: 2026-10-28 05:01 am (UTC)Not another word. Not even a hint that anything can or will go wrong, there is no war in ba sing se-
The worst part is he can’t refuse to answer, because Ain will very likely meet the Thirds on the battlefield sooner rather than later. His teeth bite briefly into the side of his tongue.]
They were casualties of this war. You were created to prevent more like them.
[He’s not sure he even believes what he’s saying.]
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Date: 2026-10-28 05:12 am (UTC)Instead, he reaches a hand out and places it on one of Link's in a gesture of comfort clearly picked up from something he read.]
Then I will endeavour to make sure no other families are torn apart like yours. This is my duty and divine rite.
[And then he sits back. See! Helping! This won't give him a Complex when he inevitably fails nope.]
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Date: 2026-10-28 11:08 pm (UTC)Precisely.
[He taps his paper with his pen. He doesn't want to delve into the Thirds any further. He honestly shouldn't have mentioned them at all, but it's his one moment of weakness he allowed to slip out. He won't be so careless again.]
Tell me what else you have learned.
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