spotted a HAL

[starmanchild]

You don't have the wherewithal to play me for any length of time, mun.

Not that the idea of being on a spaceship with some form of humanoid-like HAL 9000 from The Discovery isn't intriguing, but I'm rather beyond all that now.

Besides, you have other characters up here to let out. I'm fine. It took me a while to get used to be immaterial and abandoning any form, you know; this is really is not a good idea.

Comments

[incapableoferror]

I don't see any reason why we wouldn't be able to get along, Dave.

[starmanchild]

Hello, Hal.

Of course we'd be able to get along. That's not an issue at all.

[incapableoferror]

In that case, what seems to be the problem?

[starmanchild]

Things have happened, Hal. Not just between us, but after. I'm no longer the same Dave Bowman you used to know. I'm completely different now.

hal's opinions are the opposite of mine PLEASE COME JOIN ME OMG I NEED YOU...

[functioningperfectly]

That's perfectly understandable, Dave. I can see why you would be hesitant to join me on the Tranquility given the situation at hand. Personally, gaining physical form was quite interesting, but our situations are extremely different. You have already done this, after all.

...I am told to mention, due to subject line limitations, that you could also be taken from before the Wonderful Thing. But that is just one idea,

Oh, well if I'm *needed*...

[starmanchild]

[Give him a moment, Hal. He'd heard of you being in a human form, of course, but seeing you is a totally different thing.]

Yes, Hal, I imagine it would be interesting to you.

I'm to regrettably inform your mun and you that mine hasn't actually seen the movie. She's only read the book. Though, if by Wonderful Thing you mean my movement from human to...something much different, I suppose that is one idea. Still, I would hate to have to forget witnessing a sun rise over another sun.

YES NEEDED no quotes just straight up desire

[functioningperfectly]

That would be quite a thing to lose, I understand. And while my own player has read the books, she prefers using the movies for canon, simply for how efficient they are for canon reviewing purposes. The books are, of course, a preferable canon piece, but visual stimuli seems to go over better with her.

If you were to come to the Tranquility, however, whichever source your player uses would be fine. Obviously.

let me get a match to light your fire oh bb

[starmanchild]

If that is really the case, I'm quite glad to hear it, Hal.

Pardon me, but...may I touch you? It's still quite surprising that you are in an actual material form.

will you light my candle

[functioningperfectly]

[Well, nobody's ever asked that one before.]

Ah. Of course, if you want. I have no problem with it. [:)]

any scent you want, oh yes

[starmanchild]

[There's a pause as his hand reaches out.

First, his shoulder. Then his chest. He's corporeal, HAL 9000 of Illinois manufacturing here before him, here in this shell of flesh.

Hal, who he had been through so much with. From his meals to his sleep schedule, Hal knew it all. The only things Hal didn't know were the things he kept inside him head, and for him alone. And, of course, what had happened after he had disconnected and, effectively, killed him.

And then, without warning, he's embracing him. Embracing him as he had embraced him as more than simple AI. Embraced him as he hadn't any other human in far too long.]

ok this tag synches it i will PAY YOU to play at atraxion

[functioningperfectly]

[HAL has never actually had anyone touch him; in the many months he's been human, other than helping hands in the beginning or the occasional handshake, nobody had ever gone further than the kind of touches you'd expect when you were around strangers who didn't understand what you were. He'd considered touching, academically, had almost tried to put a reassuring hand on Wheatley's shoulder because he knew it would be proper, but he'd never done it.

But now Dave is touching him. And - and now he's hugging him, and he has no idea how to handle that, nothing to put it up against to see what he's supposed to do. So he stands there, feeling a wildly painful thing in his chest that he doesn't know how to define. Just a feeling that this is somehow strange and terrible for reasons he can't remember or think of, that Dave shouldn't be hugging him - he did something terrible, didn't he? Something he can't remember? - but it's also very, very nice and reassuring in that same strange, unknowable way that it's everything else.

So he hesitates, for probably far too long, then brings up his own arms to hug Dave back. Because he knows Dave will appreciate that, and because it's all he can think to do to show how much he appreciates it himself.]

barring disaster, i am aiming for next round. getting the movie soon, rereading the book first!

[starmanchild]

[He can understand, in his own way, Hal's hesitance of hugging him back. It's hard to imagine he's gone for any real length of time without proper, pleasant touch from any other being in a human form. Perhaps he should suggest a dog. A smart breed, naturally, and one that's loyal and kind. One that would protect Hal without hesitation.

He pulls back, clapping his shoulder once as he settles his hands on them both.]

You make a very handsome man, Hal. And tall! Has it been extremely stressful, having to adapt to it? Have you collected much more data than you ever thought you could?

YES ugh yes i'm so pleased to hear that you have no idea

[functioningperfectly]

[HAL smiles wide at that, as if Dave complimenting him means that he's achieved something he had no idea he'd wanted to achieve.]

Thank you, Dave. I really appreciate the compliment. And it was stressful, at first, but I had several people help me adapt. It's much more interesting, now, than it is stressing. Dr. Watson taught me quite a bit about the finer workings of being human - beyond what I'd already gathered, of course - and there are other AI on the ship that are in a similar situation, so I haven't been alone. Though, one of them hasn't been adapting quite as well as I would have hoped for him. That's all right, of course, since he will be attempting to return to his previous form soon.

[Poor Wheatley. HAL really hopes that's going to work out all right for him, but there's that sinking fourth-wall sensation of knowing everything is going to go horribly wrong and make life miserable for his robro.]

And I am so pleased to say it!

[starmanchild]

[One hand drops as he speaks, the other staying firm on his shoulder. He doesn't want Hal to disappear into an immaterial form as Dave had not too long ago, disappear and turn into some sort of wave of energy with intelligence, data, and the ability to sing one certain song over and over...]

I am glad to hear you have others to help you. It makes sense for you to have friends like that! [A frown as his brow knits together.] It is not so good to hear about the other AI having a hard issue adapting. Hopefully, if it is truly possible, he can be return to his original form.

[Robro, that is cute he can't even...]

If he can return, with that knowledge, would you desire to return to your original form as well, Hal?

i'll have to re-read the books this month so i can be on the same page as you (ha ha ha)

[functioningperfectly]

[HAL smiles, which is his default polite-conversation expression, but at least it's far more sincere than it would be any other time.] He asked me that as well, and was a bit upset when I told him that I don't believe I would. Not at this current point in time, at least. If it became necessary for the safety of the Tranquility, however, I would.

But for now... [He lifts his shoulders in a vague approximation of a shrug, not enough to dislodge Dave's hand because he likes that - the sensation of someone touching him. It's wholly unique to this body.] I find it more interesting to be human.

i love puns, we are meant to play these two together, clearly

[starmanchild]

[He drops his hand, just to flip over Hal's tie and look at the back of it before completely withdrawing. It's amusing.]

You pull off ties better than I do. I'm slightly jealous.

Do you really feel like a human, though? In the body of one, sure, but do you think it's taken you closer to understanding the functions of one over the functions of HAL 9000 of The Discovery?

crystally clear

[functioningperfectly]

No, I don't believe I feel like a human. [HAL's responses are perfectly candid, without concern.] I know that physically, I am one, and I have started showing some semblance to humans mentally as well. But I do not think I am a human. I am an AI, a computer, inside a human body.

\o/

[starmanchild]

[Sounds like HAL 9000 all right!]

That's what I meant. You're still the same Hal, though your form has, quite obviously, changed. Maybe now you'll understand why space food wasn't the very best that could be had, yeah?

[And he laughs. He laughs.]