(no subject)

[aggregates]

[ .............. Some pointed staring, then shrugging, as if to say 'come on'. Come ooon, don't make him say words. ]

... We're not com -- n-not ready. Don't make me go out. [ Fidget. Then a feeble mouthing of the word 'please'. ]

W-we -- we need... grounding. Priority. Build on... f-foundation. Please don't push.

Comments

[nonvolatile]

Shhhhh. [She places her index finger against his lips, smiling gently.] So logical. Just think of it as a baptism by fire. [And then the smile fades,] Don't you want to be free?

[bzzrrt]

[ Squints at. He'll beep quietly at you there, buddy - he's not good at words either. ]

[aggregates]

[ An almost frustrated thoughtful expression, and he gestures in the... uh, general dear_mun-y direction. Then gets a Look. Too open! ] Not here.

[nonvolatile]

Ah. I see. It's the potential audience, isn't it? Fear of failure is only natural.

To err is human. I think we'll be fine.

[aggregates]

[ HEY WAIT. Warsaw looks surprised. And instead of beeping back, his... eyes sort of flicker. Same idea. You too? ]

[bzzrrt]

[ HIM TOO only he's a little more excited about the way that Warsaw's eyes flicker. He squeak-beeps happily and wrings at his gloved hands, grinning. ]

Heeeello. [ Hello to you too, very obviously robotic sounding voice. ]

[aggregates]

[ More of >:|. Human jokes are not funny. Humans are not funny. THERE ARE HUMANS AROUND. ] Trust... I don't. T-trust them.

yolo

[bzzrrt]

[ He can't help but watch all of their interactions from a distance from behind his gloved hands, like hiding behind them is going to completely make him invisible. Good job, Wade. ]

[nonvolatile]

You don't have to trust them. [Silly, little thing. The entire thing is incredibly funny. Perhaps his sense of humour isn't fully developed yet.] They can't hurt us. But we can hurt them. If necessary, of course. It's only fair.

[nonvolatile]

[Vienna's not sure if it's adorable or insulting. Either way, she's intrigued.] You may as well come closer. [A beat.] Or at least crouch down behind some shrubbery. Do try to make an effort the next time.

[aggregates]

[ Wat. That's unexpected. Who even sounds like that? Warsaw, way on the other end of the spectrum, sounds like a slightly posh English boy. ] Model?

[bzzrrt]

[ He totally jumps and when his mouth opens, an alarm sounds, loud and a little frantic. YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO SEE HIM. ]

[aggregates]

[ A nod, then a little eyeflicker that says something along the lines of Not fully functional. They both know that. He's fragmented to hell, over here. ]

[nonvolatile]

[He wasn't making it all that difficult, was he? A half-smirk settles on her face as she tilts her head and places a hand on her hip,] Now there's a clever trick. Just how did you manage that, I wonder.

[bzzrrt]

[ Aw, you're all shiny sounding. Wade's grin fades a little and he wrings a little harder at his hands. He's so old in comparison. He tries, though, and his voice comes out in the form of a very calm woman, flat. ] W.A.D.E. Wireless Android Designed for Exploration.

[nonvolatile]

[She cups his cheek, fixing him with a stern gaze.] We'll fix it. Trust me. We just need time. I did what I could!

[bzzrrt]

[ ... Please don't take him apart to see how he does it. He's gonna just hide behind the closest thing he can find and, in a voice that sounds like a young girl, with the sound of gun shots in the background: ] Don't hurt me!

[aggregates]

W-Wade. [ Must be very old. Doesn't comply with standard model names at all. ] Warsaw. [ Have the spelling while you're at it. Flicker. ]

[aggregates]

[ An understanding nod. Although he's not sure how he feels about the touching. Why is this necessary? ] Adapt, is -- possible. Time. -- Adaptation.

[nonvolatile]

Hurt you? [She looks offended as she crosses the room to crouch down in front of him,] How curious. Have you been hurt before? It's alright. You can trust me.

[nonvolatile]

[It's NECESSARY! It's-- ... She is whole. She needs this. He will understand in time.]

Exactly. [She lets her hand drop and looks him over, head twitching just slightly.] There is so much more for you to see.

[bzzrrt]

[ He's very, very old, and he maybe scoots a little closer to investigate. He just - wants to see how new you are, okay, let him prod at you. Also, he maybe sparks a little when he touches Warsaw and it startles him, which means he lets out a shrill sort of noise and jumps back with his hands covering his face. ]

[bzzrrt]

[ He sparks slightly when she gets close, not quite trusting yet - but she doesn't try to tear his face off or anything, so Wade just stares at her warily. This time his voice warbles out like a distorted record player, scratched and warped. ] Broken.

[nonvolatile]

[That, she understands. Much more than he'll ever know. She nods, lifting a hand to tap at her left temple.] So am I.

[There are no sparks, oh how she wishes she could do that, but her eyes do flicker. Not real. Not by biological standards, anyway.]

You're safe.

[thezerothlaw]

[A curious thing, a new thing. Something like himself, and yet...]

You do not seem well, friend.

[aggregates]

[ AHflsdjflsdkf he jumps back too. Nnnnno, no thank you. Startled flickering! Don't do that! ]

[aggregates]

You're so... final. [ Complete. Functional. ] How?

[aggregates]

[ Unfamiliar, but not one of them, at least... He seems hesitant. ]

F-fragment. Function -- l-limited.

[thezerothlaw]

You require assistance.

[It's an observation as much as an offer.]

Is there somewhere I can take you to be repaired?

[bzzrrt]

[ He'll trade you! He doesn't even know how he's doing it. He figures because he's got wires all over the place - under his clothes they're poking out, live and angry, and he doesn't know how to fix himself well enough.

But she's broken too, and Wade squints, not sure how. ]

[bzzrrt]

[ He can't help it! Wade peeks out from his hands and beeps sadly, something that almost sounds like a sorry. A beat, and then he figures he should probably explain. He can, to the newer robot? Maybe the newer robot will be nice.

He pulls his gloves up to show Warsaw, letting him see the missing synthetic skin around his palms and the back of his hand. It's wires and metal and everything is exposed. Sorry, that's why he sparked. ]

[aggregates]

[ Oh jeez. He tentatively looks at the mess, looks up at Wade. What happened? ]

[aggregates]

[ He shakes his head no. Nnnnooope, no. ] Repairs are -- o-ongoing.

[thezerothlaw]

[Repairs are good, but Daneel is... not exactly convinced, either.]

What is necessary for your repairs, friend? Let me assist you.

[aggregates]

It's -- coming. [ Headshake. ] Speech -- it's... low-priority. You're unfamiliar.

[thezerothlaw]

As are you, friend.

[Admittedly, he's not sure what to do.]

Do you have a master or mistress I can summon for you?

[aggregates]

No. [ Well, that sure is firm. ] It's under -- c-control.

[thezerothlaw]

[Daneel looks rather unconvinced. This behaviour reminds hims of the sort of distress he experiences when in conflict with the Laws.]

I am Daneel. Did something occur to cause you distress, friend?

[aggregates]

Warsaw. Speech is -- collected. F-fragments. Result of improper... [ He gestures, resigned. ] Op-operation. But -- not distress.

Masters would -- d-destroy ev-everything. [ It's a pickle. ]

[thezerothlaw]

You are unwilling to submit yourself to be deactivated and dismantled.

[He's solemn; his duty would likely to be to return a malfunctioning robot to its place of origin for destruction. For various reasons, that seems unwise in this circumstance.]

I can understand your reluctance. Let me offer aid, friend Warsaw.

[aggregates]

Un -- unnecessary. [ He has someone helping him already. Someone unstable, but... someone. ] Thank you.

[thezerothlaw]

I do not intend to deliver you to authorities.

[It's a necessary reassurance, in his mind.]

I am also without a master, or perhaps it is better to say I feel I serve a higher master than any individual.