SOTOPIA: Artificial Pseudo-God

As soon as he entered the door, Moskevich saw the Rabid Rabbit pillow on the sofa in the living room. It was not cute but its weird and soft image did not match Steven.The small powder blue drinking cup on the table also has a pattern of rabbits, most of which belonged to little girls.Next to the TV is a simple perpetual calendar electronic clock, which shows the time at 2009:7 pm on July 12, [-].There is a calendar on the wall, and there is a colored star next to the corresponding date, which is obviously a child's handwriting.

He looked around and asked Steven, "Where's that little girl—Caroline you're talking about?"

"At her friend's house." Steven signaled Moskevich to sit down casually, and he walked to the refrigerator and took out two cans of beer from it.The degree is not high, and it is a common type in the market. "That family is very friendly and trustworthy."

As if seeing what Moskevich was thinking, Steven hurriedly made a statement before the other party spoke: "I know what you want to say, and it's probably 'How dare you let someone like me who doesn't know the basics come in, say Might be a danger to her' to try and get me to change my mind."

"You said it yourself." Moskevich looked into his eyes, not quite sure what expression he should put on.

Steven shrugged -- Moskevich noticed that the American man seemed to enjoy dealing with his own questions -- and pulled the tab off the can of beer.He was careful when he took out the beer, barely shaking it, so that at this moment the golden foam just overflowed a little from the opening and ran down the can in a nearly straight line.

"Ideally, I know you're not that type of person. If you want to hear another kind of blunt statement - I'll be watching you like a sniper, and I won't give you a chance. Seriously, keep talking This kind of topic is very boring, it's tantamount to exposing each other's scars." Steven said with a smile, and handed over the opened beer by the way. "I haven't drank it before. It might be a little stimulating for the first time, but according to your bloodline, it shouldn't be a problem."

Moskevich hesitated for a few seconds, and finally took the strange drink. "Don't think I'm so ignorant of the world. After all, I've seen it in books. I have come into contact with and analyzed documents such as Prohibition, but there are deep reasons for it. Alcohol itself is just a means."

Steven also opened a can of beer for himself, and took a big gulp boldly: "Aha, you still haven't corrected the habit of long speeches. This change is not in place."

Like a demonstration, Moskevich raised his head and took a sip not to be outdone, but was choked by the strong smell of wine, and couldn't help coughing violently, his eyes were red, and there was a faint glint of water in the corners of his eyes, looking very embarrassed .

Seeing this scene, Steven couldn't help feeling a little guilty.He put down the beer in his hand, took away the other's can at the same time, and poured him a glass of cold water instead. "Sure enough, it's still too hasty."

Moskevich drank half a glass of water, and his face, which was slightly red from coughing, quickly returned to its original appearance.He calmed down his breathing, and replied as calmly as possible: "No, you should get used to it after drinking more."

"Next time I'll buy something milder, and if it doesn't work, I'll try fruit wine."

"There's no need for that. I was just acting on my head. Maybe I'll be able to drink vodka after a while." He smiled self-deprecatingly at Steven, reached for the can of beer again and drank it, but this time he had to be cautious Much calmer.

Moskevich was surprisingly frank, which made Steven a little happy.At least, they were no longer wary of each other's calculations during the period from Clovis to Los Angeles, but more frank and peer-to-peer.Perhaps it is because of the drawbridge effect in dangerous situations, or it may be due to the similar purpose of staying away from the center of the storm, as well as subtle self-blame and guilt, but the reason itself is not so important anymore.

After a while, Steven took the initiative to ask: "What are you going to do next? As I said earlier, I have to charge rent for living here."

Moskevich pointed to the paper bag at hand: "I have cash, it should be able to handle it for a while."

"What about your career, or more grandly, 'career'." Steven seemed interested in the question. "In the long run, until you find a new place to live and decide to leave, this can be your temporary residence. Until then, even as a job rehabilitation for me to find my 'next home', I will do my best to help you."

"I'm 27 years old. I'm not a teenager who is tired of the world. What's more, my theoretical knowledge is rich enough, but I just lack the opportunity to practice it."

——If he was only guilty of being an accomplice unintentionally at that time, he didn't need to do this step, not at all.

Moskevich looked at Steven, thinking so.

The white-haired young man tilted his head as if thinking, and quickly gave a clear answer: "I have a brain, and you have a way to make money. This can completely become an opportunity for cooperation."

"Wait a minute, what you said seems to be mocking my IQ." Steven put on an exaggerated expression of regret.

Moskevich smiled apologetically: "Sorry, I didn't mean that, it's just a poor expression."

"I remember you said before that you wanted to write some kind of novel."

"I don't think so anymore. It doesn't matter if it's just me, but if Caroline saw it, wouldn't I be committing a crime. I guess you wouldn't agree either."

"Fortunately, you still have the most basic understanding of law and public order and good customs." Steven shook the beer can with only one third left in his hand. "Tell me, what are your plans. I thought you would refuse to continue to use the knowledge and thinking skills you have acquired, and even have symptoms similar to PTSD-to be honest, I have prepared the contact information of a counselor .”

Moskevich shook his head, and took another sip of wine with the idea of ​​a challenge: "On this issue, I have made a clear distinction, at least I have thought about it carefully in the past few days. I hate the life of being imprisoned and used. But there is nothing wrong with these abilities in themselves, and I can use them without reservation. If I forcibly separate the relationship, it will be like showing weakness."

Steven nodded appreciatively—the other party's mentality was much more positive than he thought. "By the way, you mentioned sex - albeit in a literary sense. At your age, I suppose they've tried to do - um - some kind of research. Of course, 'Is there experience' is extremely personal and probably not easy to answer."

Seeing that the other party seemed to be still worried that he didn't understand the true meaning of the words, and looked like he wanted to add, Moskevich couldn't help but raised his hand to stop him: "I understand what you mean-the meaning of metaphor and symbolism. Condoms don't work for me."

"Oh, I almost forgot that you are also a person who likes to play with words." Steven tapped his fingers on the edge of the table with great interest, as if expecting Moskevich's answer.

The young man who was asked helplessly spread his hands, and his response was as direct as ever: "In the later stages of the experiment, they sometimes told me about the research plans that were shelved in the early and mid-term, and they also asked about 'whether some topics can be carried out' My opinion. It must be admitted that the plan of using □□ to explore the biological nature of rational machines and cultivate the "second generation of seers" from the first generation of seers did appear, but almost because of ethical issues when the plan first took shape It was rejected. Otherwise, it would be like breeding, but would deviate from the original intention of the research - Sotopia really pays attention to this point."

Steven didn't know whether he should be thankful for this for a while——the rare 27-year-old virgin with no experience (although he seems to be apathetic) who is going to live with him, if Kay finds out, he may become a hard-working man again. Chat while drinking.Of course, this, like the issue of drinking, is clearly not the point of the matter. "Speaking of which, in order to have a long-term happy relationship, let's make an agreement in three chapters, such as never touching troublesome topics again."

"That's what I mean." Moskevich said with a smile.

"—Don't talk about Sotopia." Steven first raised the point.

Moskevich nodded approvingly, and added with two fingers up: "Don't talk about the FBI."

"Hmm." Steven had no objection.

The third point is Moskevich's meaning: "Cut it here, no more investigation; the existing results will be put on hold. Anyway, when it comes to special times, those people will always come to the door."

Steven was silent for a moment, then nodded in approval.After a while, he casually said, "Sotopia should be preparing your legal status."

Perhaps because the other party had no choice but to mention that name again, Moskevich's expression was subtly tangled: "Yes."

"After I get those identity documents, I'm going to take you and Caroline back to my hometown in Texas." Seeing Moskevich's puzzled expression, Steven added: "One is to visit my parents, One is to attend the wedding of my ex-girlfriend-ex-fiancée. Her husband is a friend of mine back home."

Moskevich asked with a smile: "Don't you feel jealous?"

However, Steven had a free and easy expression: "There is no need for this."

"You have been robbed of love by a knife."

"This kind of statement is not accurate-because of the danger of work, I was the one who proposed to end it first. Now, we are still good friends. After all, I have always believed in the principle of 'non-interference' in life, and there is no need for us to bind each other wishfully .”

Moskevich rested his elbows on the table, rested his chin on his palms, leaned forward, and looked at the former agent who had left that dangerous job with a look between admiration and sympathy: "Well, good man .” And this is not the first time he has commented on the other party in this way.